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Usher’s nonprofit organization, Usher’s New Look, is working to make tech career paths more accessible for underserved youth. Essence reports that Usher’s New Look teamed up with IBM’s SkillsBuild program to provide young people who are supported by the nonprofit with free tech training including in AI. IBM’s free global platform provides educational pathways and content, particularly focused on career prep resources. “We serve more than 1,500 youth per year, and all the students we serve will have access to SkillsBuild,” said Usher’s New Look CEO and President Careshia Moore, according to Essence. “AI is being infused into every part of our lives, particularly the workforce. We want to make sure that our young people are prepared for what’s coming.” IBM Vice President and Chief Impact Officer Justina Nixon-Saintil chimed in, “In the United States, we very much focus on partnerships like Usher’s New Look, where we can to bring the free training, the expertise from IBM, even job...
A resolution has been reached for a song that was removed from Kanye West’s “Vultures 1” album. Per Rolling Stone, “Good (Don’t Die)” had been pulled from streaming platforms Spotify and Apple as it allegedly infringed on the rights of Donna Summer. Her estate claimed the song was created through a “blatant theft” of her single “I Feel Love” and had filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in February 2024. “In the face of this rejection, defendants arrogantly and unilaterally decided they would simply steal ‘I Feel Love’ and use it without permission,” the lawsuit said, according to Rolling Stone. The outlet also stated: “The filing accused the songwriters of re-recording ‘almost verbatim’ the most ‘memorable portions’ of Summer’s song, using the material as the hook for their own song, and releasing their infringing track ‘knowing they had tried and failed to secure legal permission.’” Furthermore, the official Donna Summer account had shared in its Instagram Story on Feb. 10 that...
Mary J. Blige’s fans have been asking her for a boot collection for years. Now, the music legend has delivered on her promise. In May 2023, the “Good Morning Gorgeous” singer exclusively shared with AFROTECH™ that her signature boot line was on the way. “It’s in the works,” Blige told AFROTECH™ at the time . “For some reason, this is taking longer than everything else, but we’re gonna get there. Trust me. Everything else is here so that’s on its way.” The time has officially arrived as Blige teamed up with Giuseppe Zanotti in May 2024 for “The Mary Boot.” What’s more, she was a part of the design process. “Giuseppe Zanotti and Mary J. Blige have transformed their longtime friendship into an exclusive, limited-edition collaboration,” Giuseppe Zanotti shared on its Instagram page. “‘The Mary Boot,’ a stunning over-the-knee boot co-designed by the two talents.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Giuseppe Zanotti (@giuseppezanotti) During the 2024 Strength of a Woman Festival...
A trademark has placed Pharrell Williams in legal drama. In April 2024, Pink, also known as Alecia Moore, sued Williams for trademarking “P.Inc” for his music-focused promotional marketing services, Rolling Stone reports. The pop singer’s lawyers are requesting for the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to not authorize his trademark as they claim that it resembles the “PINK” trademark, which court documents show she applied for in 1999 and registered in 2001. Pink’s lawyers also claim that Williams’ trademark has the potential to damage her business and create confusion for her fans as they both operate in the music industry. “[Williams’] P.INC Mark is similar to the PINK Marks in sight, sound, meaning and commercial impression,” the filing wrote, according to Rolling Stone. “[Williams’] and [Pink’s] goods and services are identical and/or closely related. … [Williams] is likely to market and promote its goods through the same channels of trade...
Disruptors, in the evolutionary sense of the word, are people who have abandoned the status quo. They thrive in their differences and are typically unbothered by the societal boundaries designed to box them in. There are countless examples of these people in the world, but one clear example is Tyler, the Creator. Evidenced by his stage name, Tyler Gregory Okonma is a California native and award-winning producer and musical artist. He burst onto the scene co-founding the Hip-Hop collective Odd Future and releasing his debut mixtape 2009, titled “Bastard.” However, it was in 2011 when he released his first studio album, “Goblin,” that he started getting noticed. Reflecting, he acknowledged his musical growth and was honest about his work then. In a conversation on the “Rap Radar Podcast,” Tyler was pretty candid that while his lead single, “Yonkers,” is still one of his favorites, the album itself was not his favorite body of work. “Bro, ‘Goblin’ is f-cking terrible, but I still love...
Cash Money Records Founder Birdman experienced several losses by the age of 16, and he was determined to steer clear of any losses in the music business. Birdman, born Bryan Christopher Williams, started the label in 1991 alongside his brother Ronald “Slim” Williams, according to BET. They were able to gain traction and had the support of independent distributors such as Gonzales Music and SouthWest Distribution, XXL Magazine reports. Building popularity in the South, the label caught the attention of Universal Records and signed a deal with the company on May 10, 1997, per a Max Volume Media interview Birdman gave. He later discussed the deal during an interview on the “Wilde Ride!” podcast, revealing that he was looking to retain ownership of his music due to his upbringing. “I felt like I lost everything already. I lost my family,” he explained on the podcast. “Nothing can repay me for what I already lost. I lost my mama, my daddy, my brother, my sister… I lived a hell of a life...
Quavo is diversifying his portfolio with a new restaurant venture. On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, the rap artist took to Instagram to share with his 23.8 million followers the development of V12 Restaurant & Sports Bar in Atlanta, GA. “We finally here. We finally here,” Quavo expressed on an IG story. “The top secret project is almost finished. Yeah V 12. We live.” It was also revealed in the same clip, a soft opening will be held at the restaurant located at 610 Spring St NW, near the Varsity restaurant, per Hip-Hop Vibe. He continued, “We will be ready for the light open and light flex on Huncho Day, man. We appreciation the prayers. We’re appreciating the guys giving back. Where we at? Right across the street from the Varsity man. The heart of the city. Big blessings. It ain’t done. We ain’t done.” It appears Quavo had a jam-packed day as he was also seen promoting a white cognac in Georgia. View this post on Instagram A post shared by QuavoHuncho (@quavohuncho) According to a news...
Damon Dash’s shares in record label Roc-A-Fella Records may soon be no more. According to a report by Rolling Stone, despite his estranged relationship with fellow Roc-A-Fella owners — music mogul Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter and Kareem “Biggs” Burke — all have remained connected to the label on paper. However, this could all change soon. The latest development in ownership occurred in February 2024 when “a New York judge ordered Roc-A-Fella Inc. to deliver Dash’s company shares to the US Marshals to satisfy a $823,000 judgment from movie producer Josh Webber and Muddy Water Films.” The judgement was the result of a 2019 lawsuit against Dash led by Webber and the production company, accusing him of defamation and copyright infringement related to the movie, “Dear Frank,” according to Rolling Stone. Dash had been fired as its director and allegedly attempted to sell the movie on his own under a new title, “The List.” Manhattan lawyer Richard Roth of The Roth Law Firm stated that the most...
Music fans are not the only ones feeling the impact of Beyoncé’s influence. On March 29, 2024, the Houston, TX-born songstress released her country-influenced album “Cowboy Carter.” According to Billboard, her eighth album debuted at the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 407,000 equivalent album units. Additionally, the album reached the top spot on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, a first for a Black woman to accomplish. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) The Beyoncé effect is evident not only on the music charts but in business, too. Her 27-track album includes the single “Levii’s Jeans,” featuring music artist Post Malone. As reported by CBS News, Levi Strauss & Co., the clothing company that actually invented denim jeans, saw a rise in its stocks by 20%, nearly one week after the song’s release. The moment also drove sales to increase for its denim skirts and pants. “Beyoncé’s influence has been all organic and is clearly...
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,...
Cordell Broadus seems to be on the move like his father Snoop Dogg. For his latest move in the space, the Web3 and crypto entrepreneur is working to support emerging artists on the Tezos blockchain through a $1 million fund — the Champ Medici Arts Fund — in partnership with the Tezos Foundation.
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Snoop Dogg has plans to take Death Row Records to the next level. As AfroTech previously reported, the rapper is now a label owner. And, we must say he is not taking the role lightly as he recently announced Death Row Records would become the first label in the metaverse. Plus, that’s not all the rapper has in store. During a recent Drink Champs interview, Snoop Dogg revealed he will be attempting to give Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music a run for their money by launching a streaming platform and app for Death Row Records. “First thing I did was snatch all the music off those platforms traditionally known to people, because those platforms don’t pay,” Snoop Dogg said. “And those platforms get millions and millions and millions of streams and nobody gets paid other than the record labels, so what I wanted to do is snatch my music off, create a platform which is something similar to Amazon, Netflix, Hulu. It’ll be a Death Row app, and then the music, in the meantime, will live...