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...

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...

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...

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...

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, “...

It’s been two decades since Fantasia Barrino’s “American Idol” win. The Grammy Award-winning singer was crowned in the show’s third season in 2004, at just 19 years old. In the finale, she had three standout performances including “All My Life,” “I Believe,” and “Summertime,” which was also performed earlier in the season and is the song she believes changed America’s heart towards her. “For me, going back to ‘Summertime,’ it means a lot because that’s the song that made people change their mind on me. When I first was on ‘American Idol,’ you’re thinking someone who’s clean, polished, who has somewhat of a perfect story, and I do not have that,” she told AFROTECH™. “I was already a young mom. I had already been speaking about how I got there.”   An ode to that special moment in time for Barrino, she is reimagining “Summertime,” collaborating with music director and producer Adam Blackstone — known for his work with Rihanna, Jay-Z, Janet Jackson, and Jazmine Sullivan — in its latest...

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....

Juicy J says he has consistent revenue coming in from music sampling. The artist was a part of Hip-Hop group Three 6 Mafia, which formed in the early ’90s. BlackPast reports the original group members included Paul Duane “DJ Paul” Beauregard, Jordan Michael “Juicy J” Houston III, Lola Chantrelle “Gangsta Boo” Mitchell, Darnell “Crunchy Black” Carlton, Ricky “Lord Infamous” Dunigan, and Robert Cooper “Koopsta Knicca” Phillips. The group paved their way first in Memphis, TN, before they found success across the country in the later ’90s, ultimately selling millions of albums, mentions Genius. Among their records includes “Stay Fly,” “Doe Boy Fresh,” “Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body),” “Who Run It,” and “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” which earned an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 2006 for its feature in the film “Hustle & Flow.” Before making an imprint for innovating the Hip Hop space, it had not dawned on Juicy J to consider the business side in addition to  the art form. “I...

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,...

T-Pain had reportedly become a multi-millionaire at 18 due to his first record deal. Following the success of his popular single “I’m Sprung” in 2005, the artist was able to secure a record deal with Jive Records, Hot97 reports. The deal presented him with a $40 million advance, and many around him encouraged him to sign the deal. However, the deal also included a 15/85 split, in favor of the label, which he didn’t know at the time. He didn’t learn about it until 2022 when people started showing interest in buying his catalog, he said during a podcast interview on “Good Compenny.” “My first deal that whole first joint was 15/85 but they gave  me crazy money,”  he told rapper LaRussell on the podcast. “So, I didn’t even think about it. I didn’t care. Like, bro, they, like, straight up was like, ‘Alright, deal’s done. Here you go.'” T-Pain added, “So publishing, we worked around that. After probably about 10 years in that deal I was like ‘Yo we need to restructure this it’s crazy.’...

R&B sensation Eric Bellinger isn’t afraid of artificial intelligence (AI) and the role it’s taking within the music industry. Instead, he’s embracing how it can enhance his work as an artist. As one of the first artists to appear on Hooky, a music startup specializing in artist-first solutions in voice AI, Bellinger is allowing creators to experiment with their songs using his AI voice model. “If you aren’t afraid of it, it could be your best friend,” he told AFROTECH™ about AI technology. “But I think if you’re afraid and thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m going to lose my job,’ it’s different in other fields. But for music, I definitely think it could be beneficial as a tool. I use it in all my sessions in different ways — whether it’s coming up with an idea for artwork, titles, or something else. There are so many different platforms, and I personally take advantage of all of them.” No stranger to using technology like social media to connect with his fans, affectionately known as the...

MC Lyte wrote her first single at 12 and later became a pioneer in Hip Hop. The Brooklyn, NY, rapper, born Lana Michele Moorer, would bet on herself early on and auditioned for First Priority Records, in front of its signees Kirk “Milk Dee” Robinson and Nat “Gizmo” Robinson, as the label, ran by Nat Robinson, were looking to sign a female artist. With the permission of her mother at the time, she went to the audition, which was held in a basement. “Here I am going to this guy’s basement in Brooklyn. It could have ended so many different ways. However, I laid the first rendition of ‘I Cram to Understand U’ down on there,” she said in an interview with “The Breakfast Club” podcast. Ultimately, MC Lyte’s talents led to her signing to the label in 1986, per Blackpast. She reveals she was given a $5,000 advance, which was spent to purchase a vehicle. “I got an advance, which was $5,000, and I took that $5,000 and I put it on my Jetta, the whole thing like ‘Yeah that’s all I need is a...