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The catalog of one of Hip Hop’s greats, the late Notorious B.I.G., is reportedly up for sale. Various artists have seen massive profits from their music catalogs, including John Legend and Nelly, who sold 50% of his catalog to HarbourView Equity Partners in 2023 for $50 million, as previously reported by AFROTECH™ . That same year, Wiz Khalifa also sold a portion of recorded music and publishing assets to HarbourView, and R&B artist Jeremih followed suit in 2024. The estates of late artists have also sold catalogs. David Bowie’s estate cemented a deal with Warner Chappell Music in 2022 to acquire his 27 studio albums for $250 million, Variety reports . Sony Music Group also acquired half of Michael Jackson’s publishing and recorded music catalog in a deal valued at a minimum of $600 million in 2023, according to Billboard. The Hollywood Reporter states that by 2030 the publishing rights asset class will reach more than $10 billion. Now, it appears that the estate of Notorious...
Carol’s Daughter has been sold to an independent entrepreneur in the beauty industry. Born in her Brooklyn, NY, kitchen with just $100 in cash, Lisa Price began selling her hair and body products in 1993 from the comfort of her living room and at flea markets and craft fairs. Her brand attracted the attention of notable names such as Jada Pinkett-Smith, Erykah Badu, and Halle Berry. Carol’s Daughter gained further momentum after Price appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which led to the company’s website crashing due to 17,000 interested buyers, Inc. reports . Two years later, Steve Stoute, CEO of UnitedMasters, joined the company as a partner, and the first Carol’s Daughter flagship store debuted in Harlem after receiving an investment from Jay-Z, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Will Smith, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. By 2011, Price was leading a top haircare brand, and three years later, she sold the company to L’Oréal USA. Carol’s Daughter had a $27 million valuation at the time....
Gillie Da Kid and Wallo helped squash a longtime beef between Cam’ron and Mase, leading to a major financial win. Cam’ron and Mase had been longtime friends as Harlem, NY, natives who played on the same high school basketball team, HotNewHipHi mentions . The duo later collaborated in the Hip Hop scene, forming the group Children of the Corn in 1993, which lasted for four years. Beyond the group, Cam’ron and Mase worked together once more on the single “Horse & Carriage,” featured on Cam’ron’s album “Confessions Of Fire” (1988), released by Sony. However, it was reported that Mase, who was signed to Bad Boy Records, requested $40,000 from Cam’ron to appear in the video, per The Fadar. Mase did not appear in the video, and a body double was used instead. Shortly after, in 1999, Mase stepped away from the music industry and became a pastor the same year he released his album “Double Up” (1999). “He went to church. I kinda didn’t understand it at the time because that’s my man all day,...
Dame Dash claims Drake may have interests in buying his stake in Roc-A-Fella Records. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Dame Dash is in the midst of having his shares sold after an $800,000 judgement was placed on him in regard to a copyright infringement and defamation of character lawsuit. With a chance to invest in Roc-A-Fella Records, the interest is high as it brings partial ownership of the copyright to Jay-Z’s debut album, “Reasonable Doubt.” “Based on feedback I have received from interested parties (and I can’t mention names), this auction will likely bring out many household names in the sports and entertainment industries as well as those interested in a piece of a historically significant company, which holds an interest in a timeless debut album,” Dame Dash’s attorney Natraj Bhushan explained to Billboard. Bhushan’s prediction may be ringing true as Dame Dash recently shared on the “America Nu Network” show, he received a direct message from Drake, who was looking to...
Dame Dash claims he is broke. In a video clip on Instagram, the music executive states that his desire to pursue his dreams has also led him to lose his wealth. “Somebody asked me how I got so broke. Investing in my dreams,” Dame Dash explained. “You know, when you’re investing in your dreams and you dream big, you’re always gonna be broke… or have a lot of sh-t. But I don’t have no money for nobody else. That’s what you call broke. But that’s what it is.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dame Dash (@duskopoppington) Currently, Dash is facing a financial bind due to a $800,000 judgement amount that he will now owe as a result of a prior copyright infringement and defamation of character lawsuit, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. As required by the court, the U.S. Marshals are selling Dame Dash’s shares in Roc-A-Fella Records, which amount to 33% and are reportedly worth $1.2 million. They will be up for auction on Aug. 29, 2024. There is great interest surrounding the...
Manifested in his nickname, Michael Williams quite literally made it. The producer, known professionally as Mike Will Made-It, started his career in Atlanta’s underground. His journey led him to work on hits like Rihanna’s “Pour It Up,” Beyoncé’s “Formation,” and Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble.” In 2013, he took greater control by launching Ear Drummer Records and signed the label to Interscope Records. The label birthed the Hip-Hop duo Rae Sremmurd, and he helped produce their singles “No Flex Zone” and “Black Beatles.” Today, Mike Will Made-It can see how he “made it” from his earnings. He estimates he’s made $40 million within the last two years thanks to his music production catalog and publishing fees, notes Forbes. “I’m great,” Mike Will Made-It told Forbes. “I’m in a position I never imagined.” With his multi-million-dollar fortune, he has invested in Atlanta, Georgia, real estate. In 2017, he opened The Wxllxm Culture Center after purchasing a warehouse located on Joseph Lowery NW...
11-year-old Quentin Hines is his own boss. According to CBS Mornings, Hines founded QJ’s Professional Lawn Care in 2022. His lawn-care company offers services like mowing, edging, weed treatments, and leaf pickup. His interest in lawn mowing began when he could walk, and he began to take greater control in mowing alongside his father when he was 8 years old. “I really enjoy it. It makes me feel very soothing,” Hines told CBS Mornings. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Quentin Hines Jr. Lawncare (@qjsprofessionallawncare) In the summertime, Hines invests extra time into his business. When he returns to school in the fall, his business activities are limited to weekends. Hines’ father Quentin Sr. and his mother Shirley run the business’s social media accounts to support their son’s business efforts. Hines’ fifth-grade classmates also support his business venture, and he is in the process of recruiting some of them to help expand his business. His overarching dream for his...
Doing things on one’s own terms often pays off. In February 2023, Cam’ron launched the podcast “It Is What It Is.” While on a panel at Black Enterprise’s 2024 Disruptor Summit in May, the rapper recalled brainstorming the vision for his sports talk show and investing in himself. “All the sports shows to me were pretty much the same… So what I did was, I said I’m gonna invest $250,000 into this project,” Cam’ron told the outlet. “And I said, what I’m gonna do is I’mma build a professional setting and put on a suit, but talk how we talk to each other when it comes to basketball.” @blackenterprise From arguing with friends to a $20 million deal! Cam’ron breaks down the journey of his podcast and how it all started with a passion for sports and a $120k investment. #PodcastGoals #SuccessStory #Camron #ItIsWhatItIs ♬ original sound – BlackEnterprise Although Cam’ron chose $250,000 as the cap number for his investment, he shared that he only spent around $120,000. Plus, the show started to...
Damon Dash’s shares in record label Roc-A-Fella Records may soon be no more. According to a report by Rolling Stone, despite his estranged relationship with fellow Roc-A-Fella owners — music mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Kareem “Biggs” Burke — all have remained connected to the label on paper. However, this could all change soon. The latest development in ownership occurred in February 2024 when “a New York judge ordered Roc-A-Fella Inc. to deliver Dash’s company shares to the US Marshals to satisfy a $823,000 judgment from movie producer Josh Webber and Muddy Water Films.” The judgement was the result of a 2019 lawsuit against Dash led by Webber and the production company, accusing him of defamation and copyright infringement related to the movie, “Dear Frank,” according to Rolling Stone. Dash had been fired as its director and allegedly attempted to sell the movie on his own under a new title, “The List.” Manhattan lawyer Richard Roth of The Roth Law Firm stated that the most...
When you reach success in life, it’s important to recognize and appreciate the individuals who have supported and influenced your journey. This was the case for famed rapper Ma$e, who took time to give award-winning producer Jermaine Dupri his flowers. Ma$e had been impacted by Dupri early on. As a member of Hip Hop group Harlem World, he and the group signed a production deal with Dupri’s label So So Def Records in 1998, according to MTV. Through a partnership with Dupri, Ma$e would then launch his own label to release the group’s music, reports Vice. What’s more, the deal proved to be instrumental for Ma$e, who was also a Bad Boy Records artist, as it allowed him to reach financial success. “I want to tell you thank you from my heart. You were the first guy to ever pay me what I was really worth talent wise, and that just goes a long long way,” Ma$e said on the “ Come And Talk 2 Me” podcast. “And I want you to know if there’s ever anything I could do, anything I could be a part...
History states that hip-hop started in New York in the 1970s. With early acts like DJ Cool, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa, the genre took off and developed despite early critics and skeptics. The persistent will of the people paid off as more rap and hip-hop artists, executives, and producers came onto the scene, providing space for people like the Notorious B.I.G., Lil Kim, The Lox, Diddy, Wu-Tang Clan — and Damon Dash. Dash is a New York native most known for creating Roc-A-Fella Records alongside partners Jay-Z and Kareem Burke. Officially founded in 1995, according to TIDAL, the label saw some early success by releasing Jay-Z’s debut album, “Reasonable Doubt.” With significant success throughout the ’90s and 2000s, Variety reports that Roc-A-Fella Records became a division of Def Jam, selling 50% of its ownership stake for $1.5 million. Dash would lead the company in signing artists like Cam’ron, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Dipset, and a young Kanye West. via GIPHY...
While some businesses may be suffering from the coronavirus pandemic, others may be cashing out on business investments. As customers flood local grocery stores to buy essentials in preparation for the indefinite quarantine, those companies who provide must-have items might see an increase in sales. Check out this list of Black celeb backed businesses who could possibly see their investments prove to be lucrative. AQUAhydrate Sean “Diddy” Combs and Mark Wahlberg invested more than $20 million in the water company, AQUAhydrate, that specializes in alkaline water. The Los Angeles-based company has its water on shelves across the country and even offers an online shipment option for customers. With water being on the top of most Americans’ list of quarantine must-haves, AQUAhydrate could cash out big time. CORE Juicy J of Three 6 Mafia invested in CORE Hydration , a water brand centered around producing purified and electrolyte infused water. The company was acquired by Keurig Dr...