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Quinta Brunson, creator of “Abbott Elementary,” has received a major pay increase for her role in the show. Premiered via ABC on Dec. 7, 2021, the Emmy-winning sitcom took inspiration from her sixth-grade teacher, Ms. Abbott, who was instrumental in helping her navigate a new school after attending the one where her mother taught for five years, according to NPR. “I was scared to go into the real world or what I looked at as the real world at the time, and [Ms. Abbott] just took me under her wing,” Brunson, who plays Janine Teagues, told the outlet. “She was an incredible teacher who put her all into it, making sure that her students felt special and were ready for the world.” “Abbott Elementary,” depicts the experience of attending a Philadelphia, PA, school in a predominantly Black area. Its humor has been the superpower of the mockumentary-style show, supported by Brunson — who also serves as executive producer and a co-writer — and her castmates, including Tyler James Williams...
Juicy J’s late mother, Shirley Houston, played a part in his knowledge of the music business. At 13 years old, Juicy J, born Jordan Michael Houston III, was already learning how to make music by relying on the tunes from his grandfather’s piano, he explained on the “Springhill” podcast in conversation with Wiz Khalifa. “I used to always tell him, I used to be like, ‘But I got to be on the piano.’ He like, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘I got to get ready.’ ‘Ready for what?’ I said, ‘Man I’m going to be rich, famous,” Juicy J explained. “ I always felt that I was going to be great in music.” The “Bandz a Make Her Dance” hitmaker had so much belief in his musical potential, he also made it his mission to to learn about the business side as well. He asked his late mother, who was a librarian, to check out some books that would expand his knowledge. “My mom saved my life. Rest in peace,” he said. “She saved my life, because when I was 13 she worked as a librarian, and I told her I want to know...
Master P is launching a health-focused food venture. On Juneteenth, June 19, the rapper- turned-businessman took to Instagram to announce the launch of Miller Family Foods. The company will promote healthy living by offering consumers better “alternatives in cereal, oatmeal, breakfast bars, pancakes, waffles and more, deliciously made with the highest quality, using natural ingredients and flavors from the earth it grows.” By design, its foods will be made without artificial preservatives, hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and colors, GMOs, and BHA/BHT. Furthermore, Miller Family Foods’ mission will be to diversify the products shelved in grocery stores. “We are evolving as a culture, we are no longer just consumers,” Master P said in a statement shared on Instagram. “We spend trillions of dollars annually with no real ownership, but that’s changing. African Americans want healthier food alternatives. I heard them loud and clear. And that’s why...
In 2015, Bryson Tiller released his debut studio album, “Trapsoul.” In a Complex interview, the singer and rapper described the album as “a super slow burn.” “Trapsoul” introduced the music industry to a new genre, a combination of Trap and Soul, a nd it is still appreciated by fans today. Its trajectory ultimately took Tiller from first releasing his music on SoundCloud to his debut album reaching triple-platinum status with over 5.8 billion streams in the United States, per RCA Records. What’s more, the singer-songwriter earned a Grammy nomination for “Best R&B Song” for “Exchange,” one of his hit singles, along with “Don’t” and “Sorry Not Sorry.” Tiller shared that his success in the music industry reminds creatives that it’s important not to listen to outsiders for validation. “People are going to love your sh-t, and they’re going to hate it,” Tiller told Complex during the promo run for his eponymous album released in April 2024. “Now, when I create music, I don’t really care...
Fat Joe has gotten very candid about his view on record labels. During an Instagram Live, the New York rapper elaborated on why he previously told Forbes that he believes record labels are Ponzi schemes. He claimed he noticed a trend where music companies will find talented artists who come from less fortunate backgrounds and fund their music careers. However, Fat Joe emphasized that to him it’s a tactic for record labels to swindle musicians. In addition, he shared how he thought the majority of the time ownership is in the labels’ hands. “Though they make the profit of the records, they charge you whatever they spend on the video,” Fat Joe shared on Instagram Live. “It ain’t like we 50/50 partners.” He added, “You could bring a scientist who wins the Nobel Peace Prize to do the accounting on major labels’ math, and they always can’t figure it out. So it’s robbery, all the way through.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by THE HIP-HOP WOLF® (@thehiphopwolf) In short,...
Co-founders Jillian Anderson and DeVynne Starks are breaking ground in one of the nation’s busiest airports. Anderson and Starks are leading HERide, a rideshare company that prioritizes women’s safety. The concept was born in 2017 after Anderson dedicated time to pursuing a professional basketball career. Anderson then moved to Atlanta, GA, and worked in the gig economy as a rideshare worker. On her routes, she recognized a pattern among female passengers — they expressed hesitation about rideshares. “There were a lot of women that were hesitant with riding with men at night using Uber and Lyft. I realized that this was just a consistent problem that those platforms did not have any intention on solving. So I decided to solve it myself,” Anderson, 31, chief technology officer, told AFROTECH™. Bootstrapping the venture, HERide launched in 2019. Anderson brought her insights from her undergraduate years at Albany State University in Albany, GA, where she completed a Bachelor of...
Tapping into a new venture, Nicki Minaj described it as “an absolute dream come true.” In an Instagram post, the “FTCU” rapper announced her collaboration with Løci for her first-ever sneaker collection. What’s more, she made it clear that she had ownership in the partnership rather than just having her name and likeness used. “Thank you to my team for helping me make this dream come to fruition,” Minaj wrote in the caption. “This isn’t a sponsorship. I’m an owner & partner & we will be showing you the first complete collection on 4/12. Love you, BARBZ. THANK YOU.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Barbie (@nickiminaj) Following Minaj’s announcement, the Barbz, her fanbase, created a big spike in traction for Løci. According to Forbes, the company’s website crashed after a 3,500% surge in traffic. Launched in 2021 in London, England, Løci is a Black-owned vegan luxury sneaker brand, according to a press release. Founders Emmanuel Eribo, Philippe Homsy, Frank Eribo,...
Posthumously, Josephine Wright has successfully secured ownership of her land. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Wright encountered a legal challenge concerning a 1.8-acre plot of land situated on Hilton Head Island, SC, which had been in her family’s possession for over 30 years. Wright presumed ownership in 2012 following the passing of her husband. Per a 2023 lawsuit, Wright was being sued by the Bailey Point Investment Group for encroachment on its land next door where it was planning to build 147 homes. The group had offered $30,000 to Wright to buy her land to include in the project. However, Wright showed no interest in selling her property and maintained this stance despite alleged tactics employed by the investment group including “intimidation, harassment, [and] trespass,” Wright’s lawyers said. “My porch is not on their property,” Wright told CNN at the time. Wright’s story attracted the attention of Snoop Dogg and Kyrie Irving, who collectively donated $50,000 toward...
The first Black-owned restaurant in Napa, CA, will be opening soon. The Press Democrat reports that Kansas City, MO-born Executive Chef Darryl Bell and his business partner, Jeremy Threat, plan to open a permanent location for their barbecue restaurant, Stateline Road Smokehouse, in the California city. Before entering the restaurant industry, Bell had already made a mark in entrepreneurship by introducing his hometown-inspired barbecue sauce, 816 BBQ Sauce, in 2014. Bell relocated from Kansas to Napa to pursue a new opportunity at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro. There, he steadily rose through the ranks to become the executive sous chef within seven years. Bell soon had an epiphany to start his venture as a restaurateur following the success of his signature barbecue sauce. He told the outlet in an earlier interview, t his decision came during the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was COVID-19, to be honest. I’d get off work and see In-N-Out would have a line all the way around...
Co-hosts of the “Earn Your Leisure” (EYL) podcast are bringing more financial education to the masses, and it’s a full-circle moment. During an interview with Bloomberg, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings revealed they are piloting financial literacy courses in 10 public high schools in the Bronx neighborhood in New York City. Reflecting on their own adolescence, they recalled the lack of exposure to such education. They have also observed minimal change in the schools today, reinforcing the importance of the curriculum. “If you think about New York City, the capital of capitalism, but financial literacy is not mandatory in schools, and the school that we went to, there was no financial literacy 20 years ago, and there’s no still financial literacy to this day,” Bilal, a financial advisor, explained, according to Bloomberg. “So, we developed a financial literacy curriculum for different modules: investing and financial literacy; entrepreneurship; savings; investing; credit.” EYL’s...
Allen Iverson grew up loving Jordan shoes, and he almost could have signed with the brand. During an interview with Complex, the basketball legend expresses feeling enamored with Michael Jordan and always desiring to sport his shoes. Little did the Hampton, VA, native realize, he would not only grow up to land his own shoe deal before his rookie season in the NBA but he would be in talks for a signature sneaker with the Jordan Brand. Sports Illustrated mentions that when Iverson was drafted to the NBA in 1996, he caught the attention of every major sneaker company. The Jordan Brand even created a prototype named after Iverson’s nickname “Bubba Chuck” to entice him. Had he signed to the Jordan Brand, he would have became its first signature athlete, Sports Illustrated reports. However, Iverson found Reebok to be the most convincing in its pitch. “Remember that like it was yesterday because that was a big decision for me,” Iverson told Complex. “Just looking back on it, I feel good...
Ter’Dricka Fresh is making history during Black History Month. WLKY-TV in Louisville, KY, reports the entrepreneur opened her first brick-and-mortar shop on Feb. 9. She is the proud owner of bakery and cafe Drick’s Treats, which was three years in the making, according to the self-taught baker. The outlet states Drick’s Treats is reportedly the third Black- and women-owned business to open in the Prospect area, outside of Louisville. “I’ve taken it all in. Like, I’m breaking history in Black History Month. What could be better,” Fresh told the outlet. The shop’s opening was a soft launch, as it is currently testing out its business model. According to the Drick’s Treats Instagram page, customers have a chance to try baked croissants, hot cocoa, cakesicles, chocolate-covered strawberries, and cupcakes that come in flavors such as strawberry crunch, banana pudding, and blueberry, among others. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🌟 Drick's Bakery + Cafe | Norton Commons 🌟...
Master P and Snoop Dogg believe Walmart And Post Foods are stifling the success of their cereal venture. In a press conference held on Feb. 6, it was revealed the rappers-turned-businessmen have filed a lawsuit as a result of their belief that the “industry giants” allegedly colluded to impact Broadus Foods’ Snoop Cereal’s visibility on store shelves, a press release mentions. Several alleged grievances were mentioned including a breach of the implied covenant of good faith dealing, breach of contract, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, collusion and conspiracy, and aiding and abetting an infringement, among others. During the conference, a video displayed interested customers looking to purchase Snoop Cereal in Walmart stores. While navigating the cereal aisle, one customer who visited a Walmart in Long Beach, CA, Snoop Dogg’s hometown, discovered the brand was allegedly missing from the store shelves. Other snippets displayed customers with a similar discovery. After further...
Rejection can be redirection, and this is the testimony of Grammy winner Coco Jones, who took home the win for 2024 Best R&B Performance. The South Carolina-born actress and singer claims music is her first priority, however acting would be her window of opportunity to make her mark in the music industry. With acting taking a front seat, she went on to land roles on Disney shows and movies, which included “So Random!” (2008-2011), “Good Luck, Charlie” (2009) and “Let It Shine (2011-2012), according to TV Insider. Jones showcased her musical talents by singing on multiple tracks for the “Let It Shine” movie, where she played Roxie and co-starred with “Abbott Elementary” actor Tyler James Williams. This elevated her visibility in the music realm and established a more secure position for her in the industry as an actor, she said during the 2024 Grammy In The Schools Fest (GITS Fest). “Acting would be something that I saw around music, especially on Disney Channel, when typically if...
