Authenticity has remained Kordell Beckham’s superpower beyond the villa. Beckham and his girlfriend, Serena Page, were crowned the Season 6 champions of Peacock’s “Love Island USA,” which had become the most-watched series on streaming platforms in the U.S. ahead of the season finale in July 2024, per NBC Universal. Beckham and Page also made history as the first Black couple to win on the show, The Hilltop mentions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Jennifer Hudson Show (@jenniferhudsonshow) Investing Cash Prize The couple — who now have 7 million followers combined across their TikTok and Instagram accounts — earned a $100,000 cash prize on the show, which they split evenly, according to US Weekly. Beckham has decided to be wise with a portion of his earnings going toward investments, and this will include the launch of his own clothing brand now in the works with his team. “We’ve been talking with a bunch of businesses to see what we can do to jumpstart a clothing...

Missy Elliott has officially become the third female rapper in U.S. history to gross over $2 million from a single concert. According to Touring Data, the legendary rapper, singer-songwriter, and producer joins the list with Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj. With her unique style, innovative sound, and powerful performances, Missy Elliott continues to break barriers and remains a vital force in Hip-Hop. In a separate post, the rap icon achieved her highest-grossing concert ever on Aug. 8, 2024, bringing in $2.05 million at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. during her “Out of This World Tour.” . @MissyElliott earned her highest grossing concert of all-time on August 8, 2024, with $2.050 million at Capital One Arena in Washington as part of the “Out of this World Tour”. — Touring Data (@touringdata) September 26, 2024 As AFROTECH™ reported, Missy Elliott made NASA history when lyrics from her song “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” were transmitted approximately 158 million miles to reach Venus...

Drake is once again proving himself as a dominant force in the music industry. According to an Instagram post by Genius, the rapper’s “It’s All a Blur Tour” has grossed $320.5 million across 80 shows in North America, making it the highest-grossing Hip-Hop tour of all time. Each of the 80 shows sold out, reached 100% capacity, and totaled 1.3 million tickets sold. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Genius (@genius)   The first leg of the “It’s All A Blur Tour” started on July 5, 2023, in Chicago and wrapped in Toronto on Oct. 7, 2023. The second leg commenced on Feb. 2 in Tampa and ended in Newark on April 4. Fans enjoyed an unforgettable experience with a setlist of chart-topping hits and a star-studded lineup of guests that included 21 Savage, J. Cole, Sexyy Red, and Travis Scott . During the tours, Drake made his charitable spirit more evident than ever. The “God’s Plan” rapper repeatedly made headlines for surprising fans with cash gifts, Billboard reported . From...

Porsha Williams is a well-known television personality, actress, and businesswoman who rose to prominence through her appearances on The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA). Over the years, she has built a considerable net worth through her television career, entrepreneurial ventures, and various endorsements. As of 2024, Porsha Williams’ net worth is estimated to be around $6 million, reflecting her financial growth and business savvy. Early Life And Background Porsha Stewart, now Porsha Williams Guobadia, was born on June 22, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia . She comes from a notable lineage, as her grandfather, Hosea Williams , was a prominent civil rights activist who Martin Luther King fondly referred to as “my wild man, my Castro” due to how effectively he could organize a protest. Porsha’s upbringing and her family’s background instilled in her a sense of ambition, which would later drive her success in both the entertainment industry and business. Television Career And Rise To Fame...

The platform formerly known as Twitter has gone through some major changes since Elon Musk’s 2022 takeover. The billionaire renamed the company “X” and eradicated the blue checkmark system used to verify celebrities and public figures; now, anyone can be verified for just $8/month, causing some serious chaos in the early days as parody accounts posed as actual celebrities. For the most part, those who still use Twitter/X have become accustomed to the new features and moved on from mourning what Musk has taken from them. These days, the father of 11 owns 74% of the company , although Forbes estimates his stake “is now worth nearly 70% less than he paid for it” two years ago. This clearly indicates Musk is making less money, but what does this mean for Twitter’s net worth? New Reports Reveal Twitter’s Net Worth Is Down By Billions (Julian Christ/Unsplash) In October 2022 (after trying to back out of the deal), Musk paid $44B for X, then-known as Twitter. A company named Fidelity...

Eve is making major business moves — specifically by securing a major deal. According to Music Business Worldwide, Olivier Chastan’s acquisition firm, Iconoclast, announced on Wednesday, Sept. 25, that it acquired the publishing rights to the double platinum-selling Hip-Hop artist’s catalog. “Eve’s contributions to hip hop and popular culture are unparalleled. She’s not only a great artist but a true pioneer for women in the genre,” Chastan, founder and CEO of Iconoclast, said. “We are honored to help preserve and elevate her incredible legacy, ensuring that her influence continues to inspire future generations of artists and fans alike,” he added. Eve’s claim to fame came in the late 1990s with her debut album, “Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady,” which catapulted her to top the Billboard 200 — the third female rapper ever to do so. Iconoclast described her as a “trailblazer” and a “defining voice in hip-hop, known for her lyrical prowess, dynamic flow, and unique fusion of...

It’s hard to discuss Hip-Hop’s legendary impact without mentioning certain names, and one of those is West Coast icon Snoop Dogg. From his debut song “Who Am I? (What’s My Name?)” to his commentary on the 2024 Olympic Games, Snoop Dogg has become a household name across various intersections of the entertainment industry. As the current owner of Death Row Records, he is reconnecting more intentionally with his musical roots. According to a previous AFROTECH™ report, the deal follows the release of Snoop Dogg’s latest album, “B.O.D.R.,” which dropped on Feb. 11, 2022. “I am thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value,” the 52-year-old emcee said in a statement to NPR in 2022. “It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members. This is an extremely meaningful moment for me.” Snoop Dogg is now...

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...

Tyler James Williams will be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor. The trajectory of Williams’ career as an actor, which began when he was 4 years old, has reached new heights due to his role as Gregory Eddie on the ABC hit sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” created by Quinta Brunson. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Quinta Brunson (@quintab) Williams’ character centers a first-grade teacher in an underfunded, public school in Philadelphia, PA. According to NPR, he worked closely with Brunson to workshop the character. “I think from the minute we got on the phone about it, Gregory became a collaborative effort,” he explained to the outlet. “We very quickly had a conversation about the importance of showing an active Black male struggling with and attempting to do a really good job in raising the next generation, because those are the men I grew up with, and those are the men that she grew up with.” Williams later added, “I love that his story isn’t rooted in some sense of...

Today’s young adults had no shortage of dolls to play with in childhood, from Barbie and her fabulous friends to the always stylish Bratz crew. There was Polly Pocket and MyScene too, but it wasn’t until late 2016 that the girls of L.O.L. (Lil Outrageous Littles) Surprise! entered the chat. The miniature dolls come from MGA Entertainment Inc., which founder Isaac Larian has an 82% stake in. Interestingly, the remaining 18% belongs to his family. While they quickly became a hit among young fashionistas , the L.O.L. Surprise! dolls have faced some controversies over the past decade, which have caused a noticeable cut in quality and quantity. Now that rapper T.I. and his vocalist wife, Tiny, have successfully won a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against MGA, it’s unclear what the future holds for L.O.L. What Exactly Are L.O.L. Surprise! Dolls? Photo Credit: Dan Kitwood Not long after the L.O.L. Surprise! line debuted, it became America’s No. 1 toy for most of 2017. The next year, MGA...

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...

At 6’10” tall, Ben Simmons is a force to be reckoned with both on and off the basketball court. He’s been playing in the NBA for almost a decade now, although injury has kept him away from playing more than one season. After the drama surrounding his departure from the Philadelphia 76ers and failure to play more than a few games since being traded to the Brooklyn Nets , basketball lovers are curious about what the Australian will have to offer this season. According to the athlete’s agent, he’ll be a “full participant” at the latter team’s upcoming training camp scheduled for Oct. 1. As The Score notes, Simmons has only made 57 appearances since being acquired by the Nets in exchange for former MVP James Harden. All eyes are on the 28-year-old as he gears up for what could be his first great performance in years. Simmons Looks At Home On America’s Basketball Courts, But He’s A Long Way From His Native Country (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images) Ben Simmons was born on July 20,...

50 Cent faced some growing pains when launching his series “Power.” While speaking on the podcast “Earn Your Leisure,” he notes a time when there was a clear division between television and film production. When he was looking to introduce “Power,” he felt there was major pushback. “A ctors that were successful on TV, the film actors wouldn’t go near them, like they would stay away from it because they felt like it was a higher grade of quality, that they wanted to stay with more cachet with you being a movie star than you being a television star,” he recalled. “Now we’re producing premium projects that allow Forest Whitaker and “Godfather of Harlem.” You see Academy-Award-winning actors choosing television ’cause it builds a consistency, and they can pay out the money that keeps the talent happy with staying there, but you do need to know with ‘P ower’ everybody told me no. I pitched that show to all of the networks, and they were like ‘No,’ and I wanted to make the project so...

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...

In the entertainment industry , some of the biggest players live most of their lives out of the spotlight, securing multi-million dollar deals and planning world tours for today’s creatives. Among them is 56-year-old Kevin Liles – the son of an accountant and railway conductor from Baltimore, Maryland. After graduating from Woodlawn High School, the future millionaire was off to study electrical engineering at Morgan State University on a scholarship from NASA . He later dropped out and changed his focus to music, joining a group called Numarx in the 80s before securing an unpaid internship at Def Jam in 1991. Kevin Liles’ net worth was low then, but in just seven years, he was offered the role of record label president, which he held from 1999 to 2004. What Is Kevin Liles’ Net Worth? (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage) While he presided over Def Jam’s artist roster and handled day-to-day business, company revenues doubled to $400M. This was through diversification of the brand, “...