Showing 108 results for:
Celebrities
Popular topics
All results
Tabitha Brown is thriving in business alongside her close friend. Known for her witty humor and vibrant personality, Brown has captured America’s heart through her social media presence. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, her viral video featuring Whole Foods’ TTLA sandwich garnered one million likes in just a week, ultimately leading to her role as an ambassador for the brand. By continuing to leverage her social media platforms, Brown has transformed into a powerhouse, seamlessly extending her influence into entertainment and business. As of this writing, she boasts an impressive 9.2 million followers across Instagram and TikTok. Her ventures span various industries, including television shows on YouTube and the Food Network. Brown’s portfolio also features Donna’s Recipe, her natural haircare company, and a signature line at Target , offering plant-based grocery items, kitchen essentials, home décor, and more. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tabitha Brown...
Lupe Fiasco is stepping into academia to share his insights on rap! The artist, born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco, announced on Instagram that he will join Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute this fall as a professor for its four-year Hip Hop degree program. The program is led by Hip-Hop producer Wendel Patrick, who serves as an associate professor of music engineering and technology at the Peabody Conservatory. “Thrilled to share that I’ll be joining the faculty at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute in Fall 2025 as a Distinguished Visiting Professor,” Lupe Fiasco wrote on Instagram. The rapper behind “The Show Goes On” later added, “The @peabodyinstitute is one of the oldest music conservatories in America. World renowned for its rigorous training and for producing some of the world’s greatest musicians, and I’m honored to contribute to this legacy doing what I love most, Rap.” As for what students can expect, the course will include lessons with a...
Janet Jackson is returning to the stage for another Las Vegas, NV, residency, bringing her timeless talent back to Sin City once again! The artist captivated fans in 2019 during her Metamorphosis residency at Las Vegas’s Park Theater. According to Billboard, Jackson sold over 4,000 tickets per night, with a total of 76,813 tickets sold, generating $13 million in earnings. More than five years following the successful tenure, fans will be able to sing along to more of Jackson’s hits in light of her second residency, which kickstarted at Resorts World Theatre on Dec. 30, 2024, with a sold-out crowd, notes KSNV. “So excited to be back in Las Vegas with the new residency starting December 30th of this year, and moving into the new year 2025. Please join us. We cannot wait to perform for you. We cannot wait to see you. See you soon,” Jackson told fans on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Janet Jackson (@janetjackson) According to Vibe News, Bobby Reynolds, senior...
Tobe Nwigwe’s investments in himself and his savvy networking have paid off immensely. At Art Basel Miami, the artist and fashion designer took part in a panel discussion, reflecting on his journey so far, moderated by “Earn Your Leisure” podcast hosts Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings. He shared a memorable story about invest ing in his own artistry by funding a feature with Pharrell Williams , who was already a fan of his work. “Pharrell charged a lot of money for his beats. It costs a lot of money. So when he hit me up and was like, ‘Yo, I love what you’re doing.’ I was like, ‘Man, appreciate it.’ He was like ‘Man, the industry been waiting on somebody like you.’ I was like ‘ Man thank you, man.’ He was like , ‘It’d be honor if you could come up to Miami ‘ and we met Pharrell,” Nwigwe said on the panel. Photo Credit: Earn Your Leisure Their collaboration resulted, and as part of the agreement, Nwigwe received an invoice for the feature — a testament to the professional exchange that...
Tyler Perry understands the responsibility of leading by example when working with talent, a principle that shapes his unwavering commitment to ensuring actors receive fair and deserving compensation. Perry has received recognition from countless actors who revealed he was the first to ensure they were compensated fairly. This includes Taraji P. Henson. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Henson received her first $500,000 paycheck for a role from Perry. “I was asking for half a million. I didn’t get paid that until I did my first Tyler Perry film. He was the first person that gave — that broke the standard that I was getting paid for films, and he gave me $500,000,” Henson said during an interview on Variety’s segment titled “Actors on Actors.” Actor Cory Hardrict also revealed that Perry paid him generously during his time starring in “Divorce in the Black,” which was directed, written, and produced by Perry. “He paid me the most I’ve ever made in a film for three weeks ever [of...
Snoop Dogg reportedly earned a substantial paycheck for his appearance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Beloved by generations, the “Gin and Juice” rapper was one of the final torchbearers at this year’s games. View this post on Instagram A post shared by snoopdogg (@snoopdogg) “At the same time, it says a lot about France as far as connecting the dots and allowing me to do this. I look at this as a prestigious honor and something I truly respect,” he expressed, as reported by the Toronto Star. “I would have never dreamed of nothing like this. I’m going to be on my best behavior. I’m going to be on my best athleticism. I’ll be able to breathe slow to walk fast and hold the torch with a smile on my face, because I realize how prestigious this event is.” Snoop Dogg also took on the role of NBC Olympics correspondent, as reported by AFROTECH™ , leading to segments like swimming with Michael Phelps, traveling with the U.S. men’s basketball team, and cheering on athletes such as decorated...
Inspiration can come from many sources. For Yara Shahidi , the star of “Grown-ish,” one of the many influential figures in her life is her cousin — Grammy-Award-winning rapper and entrepreneur Nas. During a recent appearance on the “Sherri” show, the actress, producer, and Harvard graduate shared Nas’ role in inspiring her to attend the Ivy League institution , according to Because Of Them We Can (BOTWC). “There’s so many artists in your family. I did not know that Nas is your cousin. And that Nas, the great, inspired you to go to Harvard ,” host Sherri Shepherd told Shahidi. The actress replied, “Yes! I think the one thing people know about him just through, even his music, is just how smart he is. And he has such a deep passion for our culture and for education. And so, the first time I got to step foot on Harvard’s campus was when he was announcing a fellowship for graduate students that were studying hip-hop.” Harvard launched the Nasir Jones Hiphop Fellowship in 2013. Designed...
Celebrity hair colorist Kadi Lee has secured an investment from Meghan Markle. Markle became acquainted with Lee through a recommendation from Serge Normant, the stylist behind her wedding hairstyle for her 2018 marriage to Prince Harry. According to People, Markle has worked with Lee for more than four years. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Highbrow Hippie (@highbrowhippie) Markle joins a star-studded client roster that includes Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Brad Pitt, Lee’s bio mentions. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Lee operates out of her salon, Highbrow Hippie, and her work has been featured in renowned publications such as Vogue, Elle, and Vanity Fair, among others. Her career, which dates back to Frederic Fekkai in Manhattan, NY, where she received training under chemist and color director Constance Hartnett, now spans more than two decades, her LinkedIn notes. She also counts Normant as her greatest mentor. “I work with some of the most visible women in the...
24-year-old actress Yara Shahidi felt protected when she entered the entertainment industry. At just 6 weeks old, she landed a photo shoot gig for a life insurance company, and by 6 years old, she had her first movie audition. In an interview with SoFi, led by Vivian Tu of Your Rich BFF, the actress reflected on her experience, noting that she was able to enjoy acting as a craft rather than as a means to support her family — a privilege she acknowledges isn’t always afforded to child stars. “My parents were able to set it up so that we had either family members or people that were helping us that were on set with another brother that were looking after me where they were able to dip out and do things for themselves,” she told SoFi. “So it was under that environment where I was able to have a fulfilling career at a young age and even be in my 20s, and say I’m happy I started that young. But it was so particular to being under those set of circumstances, which allowed me to enjoy...
Keke Palmer has no regrets about being the breadwinner for her family. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, Palmer earned her first $1 million at just 12 years old as a child actress . At that time, her parents, Sharon and Larry, also hired a business manager to help oversee her finances. “They wanted me to know that they weren’t the ones controlling my money. They had heard these stories, and my mom said ‘I don’t want money to come in between me and my child,'” Palmer said on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast. Her parents would remain her backbone as she found her footing in Hollywood. Her early acting footprint included roles in “Barbershop 2: Back in Business”, “Akeelah and the Bee,” and “Jump In!” In 2008, she landed her own show on Nickelodeon with “True Jackson, VP” and her “life was changed after that,” she told People. “I was happy my family, we came to California for me to pursue my dreams I got my own show, right. H oney, my parents at their best made $40,000 a year growing...
Rumors surrounding Cynthia Erivo’s and Ariana Grande’s compensation have been addressed. T he two actresses star in “ Wicked ,” directed by Jon M. Chu. The film impressed with a stellar opening weekend, earning $162.5 million globally, according to Deadline. Based on the Broadway adaptation, it was produced on a budget ranging from $145 million to $150 million, per Screen Rant. Grande plays Glinda the Good Witch while Erivo plays Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West. Speaking on their roles, Grande commented to Blavity’s Shadow and Act, “I think it’s such an incredible honor and privilege to be trusted with the responsibility of playing Glinda, a role that I’ve loved since I was 10. And it does in a way, feel like a reintroduction. I feel like for both of us [Cynthia and I], this baby of ours has been a secret for such a long time. And I know it’s coming fast, and it’s loud, and it’s everywhere, but it’s been such an intimate part of our lives for the past three and a half years...
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is making significant moves in the real estate sector. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, the boxing world champion has invested $402 million in an affordable housing project in New York, which includes over 60 buildings with more than 1,000 units “Growing up, I used to dream about owning just one home by myself, when you work hard you can achieve anything,” Mayweather told TMZ. Mayweather’s investments in real estate also include ownership of nine skyscrapers in New York through a partnership with SL Green. “‘You see that building right there? Yeah, we own that. You see this building? We own it.’ So we was walking and walking . Then he said, ‘You know, a boxer makes money when he’s boxing. A football player makes money when he’s playing football. A basketball player makes money when he’s playing basketball.’ He said, ‘But New York real estate, you make money when you sleep.’” On Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, Mayweather also invested in a $10 billion office portfolio...
Issa Rae has opened a new restaurant in Los Angeles. The actress and serial entrepreneur , already renowned for the community-focused Hilltop Kitchen + Coffee, is expanding her presence. With the same spirit, she brings a new energy to Los Angeles through her latest venture, Somerville. “Always wanted a neighborhood lounge to complement the special community that is View Park-Windsor Hills. The genius GVO Gentlemen said, how about a restaurant? @somerville.slauson — an ode to the classic, artistic past of Black South Central L.A? And sure, the ambience will be fantastic, but the food and cocktails will keep you coming back,” Rae said in a post shared on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Issa Rae (@issarae) Customers can visit Somerville at Park-Windsor Hills, which GVO describes as a “progressive American dining experience.” According to the restaurant’s website, its extensive menu includes the Somerville burger, pan seared ora king salmon, and Mary’s organic...
Michael Rainey Jr. has teamed up with partners to launch a financial literacy initiative that will benefit his hometown of Staten Island, NY. Hot97 reports the actor has collaborated with the Restoring America through Recovery Education (R.A.R.E.) Foundation, which aims to provide financial education and training to underserved communities. “We are dedicated to giving every individual the opportunity to recover, improve, and thrive financially. Our mission is rooted in the belief that everyone, regardless of their past or current circumstances, deserves a respectable chance to achieve financial stability and success,” its website reads. The partnership facilitated Rainey Jr.’s appearance at Port Richmond High School, where he shared his personal journey in wealth building and provided meaningful advice to students. “As a kid being in this room I would definitely go home, ask my parents what their credit score is and then start the conversation of when can I become an authorized user...
Katt Williams has purchased land to open a movie studio. During an interview with GQ, the comedian revealed he has acquired a former military base located in Alabama. It has been confirmed by Williams’ publicist, Amy Sisoyev. “I can’t disclose the amount or exact location just yet, but I can confirm that he has purchased a former military base in Alabama,” Sisoyev said via email to AL.com. Williams shared that he aims to follow in the footsteps of other celebrities, such as Tyler Perry. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Perry, a self-made billionaire, opened the world’s largest Black-owned studio. The studio, which Perry self-funded, reached a valuation of $280 million in 2023. Speaking of wanting to be next in line, Williams commented to GQ : “It’s just not fair to put all that pressure on Tyler Perry. He can only do so much.” At the time of this writing, it is unclear when the movie studio will break ground. Williams is part of a growing number of Black figures seeking to disrupt...