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Sony Music had a successful quarter, reportedly driven by the success of popular artists like SZA. The St. Louis, MO-born artist is still basking in the success of her sophomore album “SOS,” which was released on Dec. 9, 2022. Billboard reports the album claimed the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart when it debuted, selling 318,000 equivalent album units and setting a record for the best streaming week for an R&B album. Hit singles on the album included “Kill Bill” and “Snooze.” Speaking to the album’s inspiration, SZA told Rolling Stone, “I think this album was partially inspired by love lost, but mostly inspired by my departure from attempting to be a nice girl. I’ve tried to be a nice girl for so long and it’s just not who I am, inherently. And I think I’ve done nice things and I am a kind person, but I’m not a nice girl. And that’s okay. And I think coming to terms with that and really expanding upon that and exploring that is kind of like this new chapter in my life.” “SOS”...
50 Cent claims he received a six-figure payout from the late Steve Jobs. During an interview shared by “Tha Row TV” on YouTube, the rapper -turned-business-mogul took a trip down memory lane to recall being paid handsomely for a product placement in one of his music videos. This became possible thanks to a conversation with Jobs, who had a meeting with Beats By Dre co-founder Jimmy Iovine at his office. In the interview, he claimed that within the first 10 minutes of meeting, he was able to get his hands on an iPod, which had just been released in 2001. He then convinced Jobs that he could help market the iPod, leading to a $150,000 payday. “I told him ‘Let me see that.’ They gave it to me I said ‘What’s it called. It’s called an iPod? How many songs you said?’ ‘You think you could sell an iPod? I can sell an iPod.’ H e looked at Jimmy, Jimmy said ‘Believe it or not, the kid is gold. I don’t care whatever he says right now it’s gonna go’ and h e just went with it and gave me...
Victoria Monét put her earnings from a publishing deal to good use, and it’s paying off. For more than a decade, the “Alright” singer has put time and dedication into the entertainment industry. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the Atlanta, GA, native developed a knack for performing as a pre-teen at a dance camp. This early experience sparked her interest in songwriting and motivated her to move to Los Angeles, CA. Since 2010, Monét has collaborated with prominent artists, putting pen to paper for talent such as Brandy Norwood (“Rather Be”), Chloe x Halle (“Do It”), and Ariana Grande (“Thank U, Next”), USA Today reports. Investing Into Her Dreams While creating hits for other artists, she was also in the process of cultivating her fanbase. At one point, she described herself as a “struggling songwriter,” but her early belief in success inspired her to invest more deeply into her craft. However, she encountered several learning curves, including vocal production and engineering....
Attending an HBCU helped Lance Gross realize his dreams of becoming an actor. The Oakland, CA, native had envisioned he would establish a career in entertainment. However, his parents initially had other aspirations, encouraging him to pursue finance and business . “I went against the grain. I like to take a chance on myself. I always bet on myself,” Gross told AFROTECH™ on Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Off The Yard Festival at The Bullpen in Washington, DC. There he served as an event partner for the spirit company DIAGEO, celebrating Howard University’s 100th anniversary and sharing in its mission to elevate HBCUs. “I had to do what I loved and what I loved was entertainment. And I’m a creative person, and I feel like I’m not living unless I’m creating. For me, it was a no-brainer. Now, I had some convincing to do with my parents, and also I was on a full track and field scholarship, so I had to convince my coach as well. But, I’m from Oakland, CA, so I’m gonna make it work. We know...
Timbaland turned down the opportunity to earn publishing from a successful song in his catalog. First released in 2006, “Apologize” was OneRepublic’s lead single that was later featured on their debut album “Dreaming Out Loud.” It was originally written and sung by the group’s frontman Ryan Tedder. OneRepublic was then approached by hit producer Timbaland to remix the song, which was later listed on his 2007 album “Shock Value.” Their collaboration was a success, reaching the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Tedder says he is grateful to Timbaland, as the remix was “a life changer.” It allowed him to purchase a home, made possible through their publishing agreement, which amounted to Timbaland waiving his portion. “The truth of the matter is when they called me about the publishing splits, I was grimacing,” he said during a recent interview on “Behind The Wall” podcast with Daniel Wall. “I was ready to just be like, ‘I’m gonna get creamed on this. They’re gonna take half...
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...
LL Cool J’s mother played a crucial role in launching his career by investing in his music when he was faced with countless rejection. The rapper, born to Ondrea Smith in Bay Shore, NY, has released his 14th studio album, “The Force,” after a decade-long wait. Released Sept. 6, the project features 14 tracks, including “Post Modern,” which holds a significant line about his mother’s support that came from a tax refund. “My mother took her tax return and invested it. She bet it on her kid and look at what he did with it. 2,000 in ’84 that’s a 100,000 x multiple from keepin’ you on the floor,” he rapped. During an interview on the podcast “Sway In The Morning,” LL Cool J shared the backstory behind that line. He revealed his mother was not making a lot of money, so tax season was an exciting time for her as it led to extra earnings in her pocket when she received a refund. “Here’s this Black woman who worked really hard, who got a tax return — and just for the record — the majority of...
Embracing technology has helped Tems evolve her artistry. Born Temilade Openiyi in Lagos, Nigeria, the Afrobeats R&B star had a deep passion for music from a young age — even joining a choir as a teenager — and recognized the art of making music was always more than just a side interest for her. “The way I love music, the way I loved writing and making music, producing, it was more than a hobby,” Tems expresses on “The Breakfast Club” podcast. “It’s just something that I just genuinely enjoyed. I didn’t expect ever to make anything from it. I was just like, ‘Yeah I could do this all day. If I can get a job to sustain me, and I’ll just be doing this all day.’ Literally that was my mindset.” Tems’ fire for music followed her in higher learning. She attended Monash South Africa, a university in Johannesburg, South Africa, GQ reports. In her dorm room, she continued to write songs and relied on YouTube to learn how to make beats. She also used Logic software to record and produce....
Method Man has hesitations around the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). During an interview on Hot97, the rap artist had several reasons for his heart posture toward the technology. One of his reasons include Drake’s single “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which was a shot at Compton’s Kendrick Lamar. It also featured AI-generated audio using the lyrics of the late Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg. “Kendrick we need ya, the West Coast savior/Engraving your name in some Hip-Hop history/If you deal with this viciously … Call him a b-tch for me/Talk about him liking young girls as a gift for me,” a AI-generated Tupac Shakur lyric read at the song’s intro, per Rolling Stone. The song was later removed by Drake after Shakur’s estate stated they were willing to move forward with legal action, per NBC News. Method Man expresses the song is one of the reasons he is raising an eyebrow toward AI. He also mentions challenges around intellectual property (IP) and streaming, which he says complicate...
Pusha T may be steadfast in the music business but has adopted a “business-first” mindset. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the Virginia-born rapper has made some wise decisions over the years, investing in his friend’s company, Caring Hands Medical Transportation, which has proven to be “lucrative and fulfilling,” according to a 2022 interview on “The Breakfast Club.” “That business is like 25 vans strong running through seven cities [in Viriginia]. It’s called Caring Hands Medical Transportation. It has helped my mother, sick cousins, family members, and friends,” Pusha T said during a conversation on “Assets Over Liabilities.” In 2022, the rapper turned a supposedly sour business decision with McDonald’s into a vital learning lesson that benefited him while working with another fast food chain. Alongside Pharrell Williams, Justin Timberlake, and Pusha T’s brother No Malice, he claims they reportedly wrote the McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle in 2003, noted Rolling Stone. Pusha...
Gunna continues to pour into the Georgia community. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, rapper Gunna, born Sergio Giavanni Kitchens in College Park, GA, has proven to have an affinity for the state by engaging in philanthropic efforts such as launching a free grocery store for his former middle school (McNair Middle School) with the support of Goodr Founder Jasmine Crowe in 2021. He also provided Gunna’s Drip Closet, an in-school clothing store that makes all items available free of charge. Improving the standard of living for those in Georgia is still a priority for the rapper. According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, he has partnered with Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) to launch the Gunna x BMAC 30349 Guaranteed Income Program. It will benefit the lives of 30 families per month residing in the 30349 zip code of South Fulton, GA, by allocating $1,000 monthly stipends for a year that will be supported through a $500,000 commitment. Beyond financial assistance,...
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...
Beyoncé generated significant gains for a major technology company. The release of “Cowboy Carter” led to a boost for Sony. The album was released on March 29, 2024, in partnership with Beyoncé’s Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. The album featured 27 songs, including “Blackbiird,” “16 Carriages,” “Jolene,” and “Levii’s Jeans.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) As a Houston, TX native, Beyoncé reflected on the album’s creation in an Instagram post, writing,” This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical...
Rene McLean, partner and founding advisor at Influence Media Partners, has a new music venture to share. Influence Media and McLean have announced SLANG, a new independent front line label under the music and entertainment company, according to a press release shared with AFROTECH™. One of the label’s first signees is Will Smith. Prior to the announcement, the winner of both Grammy and Academy awards debuted his single “You Can Make It,” featuring Fridayy and Sunday Service Choir, at the 2024 BET Awards, per Variety. Marking Smith’s first time performing at the award show, he was joined by Kirk Franklin, Chandler Moore, and Sunday Service Choir. “Through some of my darkest moments, music has always been there for me – to lift me and help me grow. It’s my humble wish that it can do the same for you and bring you all the joy and light you deserve,” Smith wrote in an Instagram post ahead of dropping the single, according to Variety. Along with Smith, SLANG’s roster includes...
Storytelling uses a plethora of mediums, and animation is one of them. During the 2023 AFROTECH ™ Conference, director and animator Chaz Bottoms and singer Dawn Richard led a session called “World Builders: The New Storytelling Frontier” to discuss how the technologies within the animation industry are creating revolutionary ways for people to tell stories. In their respective career journeys, Bottoms founded CBA Studios — one of the few Black-founded animation studios globally — and has worked with companies such as Disney, Hulu, and Adult Swim, per Forbes. Aside from Richard’s music career, she has a passion for animation. She created a comic book series called “Danity Kane” and works with Adult Swim as a creative consultant, as AFROTECH ™ previously reported, to amplify and create opportunities for Black animators in the space. “We are a beautiful people to draw, but we are a difficult people to draw in the sense that for people who aren’t us, they don’t know what they’re doing,”...