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Very few events grasp the nation’s attention like the Super Bowl. Each February, the NFL’s top teams come together for a head-to-head competition to determine who will be crowned the national football champion for the year. Although the game is the primary reason for the gathering, the Super Bowl is also home to one of the biggest cultural gatherings — the Halftime Show. The History Of The Super Bowl Halftime Show The Halftime Show didn’t have a lot of excitement in its early iterations. According to the New York Times, the first Super Bowl, in 1967, included collegiate marching bands, with Grambling State University and the University of Arizona being the first to perform. This mid-show performance would set the standard for the next two decades. Though New Kids On The Block signaled a shift in 1991 to modernize the format, things drastically changed in 1993 when Michael Jackson took the field in an iconic performance. This set the stage for some of the entertainment industry’s...
Roc Nation has spearheaded a “first-of-its-kind” financial commitment to the Hell’s Kitchen community in New York City, NY, as part of the proposal for Caesars Palace Times Square. According to a press release, the initiative includes an initial $15 million investment aimed at supporting local residents, including those at Manhattan Plaza, the popular affordable housing development for performing artists. “We are New Yorkers,” Roc Nation founder Jay-Z said. “Supporting and providing opportunities for our neighborhoods and community isn’t just a part of Roc Nation’s ethos; it’s our collective responsibility.” As part of its dedication to enhancing Manhattan’s West Side and investing in New York, approval of the bid will see Caesars Palace provide the $15 million, along with ongoing grants derived from 0.5% of casino performance. The press release notes that the Caesars Palace team is committed to collaborating with various local organizations to ensure the proposed gaming and...
There’s been an update in Dame Dash’s sentiments regarding ownership of “Reasonable Doubt.” In a recent Instagram video, Dame Dash acknowledged that there is “a lot going on” but he was surprised the media hadn’t covered what he considers “very relevant” news regarding his dispute with Jay-Z over the 1996 debut album. Dame Dash asserted that the City of New York, not him, filed a significant court document on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, stating its concern over alleged misleading comments by Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records (RAF). Per a report by All Hip Hop, the City, represented by the NYC Department of Social Services, requested a pre-motion conference as well as a stay of Dame Dash’s auction sale as a result. The petition was reportedly submitted to U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. “’Jay-Z’s statements to the press have poisoned the environment for the auction,'” Dame Dash read from the City’s alleged statement. “‘He has claimed that he has a termination right under the...
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...
The year was 2003, and Jay-Z’s iconic “Black Album” would be released on Nov. 14. According to the Grammy Awards website, the album would also be his sixth-straight No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 and was initially signaled to be his retirement project. All of this was riding on the moment of an earlier debut that summer, with the launch of Sean Carter’s 40/40 Club. A New Type Of Night Club Situated in New York, NY’s Flat Iron district, the 40/40 Club was created as a luxury sports bar that doubles as a nightclub. Based on a report from Rolling Stone, the name pays homage to a rare achievement in baseball: hitting 40 home runs and stealing 40 bases in a single season. The nightlife concept saw success. Two years after opening, additional locations opened in Atlantic City, NJ; Las Vegas, NV; Atlanta, GA’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and Brooklyn, NY’s Barclays Center. “I love sports,” Jay-Z said via Flatiron Nomad. “[I] wanted to create an environment that is conducive...
New changes are underway at Roc Nation to empower independent artists. According to a news release, Jay-Z’s label has merged its Roc Nation Label and Equity Distribution (EQ) divisions to form ROC Nation distribution, with plans for it to bolster artists by giving them greater freedoms across technology and the music business. “The formation of ROC Nation distribution is a natural transition in the music space,” the press release states. “The mission is to support and empower independent artists while providing them the tools and services to distribute their music. All artists signed to Roc Nation Label will join and benefit from the new ROC Nation distribution structure.” Variety reports the distribution segment was established in 2019 and is being led by President Krystian Santini. The segment allowed artists to maintain ownership of their masters, and it will continue with an artist services division that includes marketing, publishing administration, and data analytics available...
Jay-Z wants to reclaim the body of work that started it all. TMZ reports Jay-Z’s legal team has sounded the alarm that in 2031 the rapper-turned-billionaire will obtain full rights to “Reasonable Doubt,” his debut album released in 1996. Per the outlet, these rights would have reverted back to Jay-Z 35 years after the release as part of the business deal either way. This announcement follows the news of an impending sale of Damon Dash’s 33% share in Roc-A-Fella Records, which is set to hit the auction block sometime on Aug. 29, 2024. Its listing at auction was set in motion earlier this year to cover the more than $800,000 judgement amount Dame Dash owed in a past copyright infringement and defamation of character lawsuit related to the making of the movie “Dear Frank.” As AFROTECH™ previously mentioned, Josh Webber, director of “Dear Frank” filed the lawsuit in 2019, claiming Dame Dash was trying to make the movie on his own after being fired as director himself. More recently,...
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation has announced its support of an initiative focused on students in Philadelphia, PA. The full-service entertainment company is backing the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS) in its goal to provide scholarships, according to Fox-29. The educational campaign is said to offer students from low-income households and underperforming schools access to private schools. “PASS — which is also known as Senate Bill 757 — is legislation aimed at increasing education opportunities for underprivileged youth attending the state’s lowest performing public schools,” a press release detailed, per Fox-29. The outlet notes that Roc Nation has spearheaded “Dine and Learn,” an event series to educate students and parents in Philadelphia about PASS. “We have enjoyed such a special connection with Philadelphians, so we’ve made it our mission to invest in the long-term success of the city’s changemakers,” Dania Diaz, managing director of philanthropy at Roc Nation, said. Amid...
Major changes may be on the way for Jay-Z’s Marcy Venture Partners. The rapper’s venture capital firm, established in 2018, was created to build “innovative businesses and mass-market brands,” its company website mentions. Its areas of investment focus on sustainability, inclusivity, empowerment, accessibility, and health and wellness. As AFROTECH™ previously mentioned, its investment portfolio includes at least 24 companies such as Wheels, an electric transportation company; Hungry Marketplace, a food tech company; and Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty lingerie brand. MVC also participated in a $33 million funding round for premier beauty brand Madison Reed in 2022 and backed 24-year-old technologist Iddris Sandu to embolden his tech incubator, Spatial Labs. “Aligning with Marcy Venture Partners assists with our vision for elevating the youth as it relates to access and a means to true technological empowerment,” Sandu said at the time. “The lasting impact of this relationship is not simply...
Jay-Z is known for breaking barriers in music. However, his secret to reaching billionaire status has been his ability to succeed in areas beyond the billboard charts. Among his various ventures, he reminds the world that the shoe brand Reebok is one of the successes documented in his portfolio. According to Finurah, Jay-Z signed a sneaker deal with Reebok in 2002. In 2003, the rapper became the first non-athlete to sign an endorsement deal with the shoe and apparel company, per ABC News. At the time, record executive Steve Stoute was working with Reebok and convinced Jay-Z to accept the deal; the rapper signed on as a 50/50 partner with the brand. “Jay-Z’s not the ambassador of anything except himself. He was a partner. He was a 50/50 partner,” Stoute said in an interview on “Club Shay Shay.” The first collaboration to result from the partnership was the “S. Carter Collection,” which had a better debut than any of its previous shoes, surpassing the sales of Allen Iverson’s shoe...
Nas is spearheading a plan to change the landscape of New York City. The music icon has partnered with Resorts World Casino New York City and its parent company, Genting America East, to revitalize his beloved Queens neighborhood. As reported by Commercial Observer, Genting America East executives, including the artist, shared plans for a $5 billion redevelopment endeavor to transform the Resorts World establishment into a “Las Vegas-style casino.” The blueprint for the project includes amenities such as 30 new opportunities for food and beverage vendors, a 7,000-seat performance space, and 1,600 new hotel rooms inside the existing Hyatt Regency at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Genting America East also proposed a 350,000-square-foot extension of the Resorts World casino floor. If approved, the move would position the casino as the largest gambling establishment globally, per the outlet. Beyond revenue-generating additions, the proposal includes housing units that could...
