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Tracy Morgan finds fulfillment in his charity work. The actor and comedian recently told PEOPLE that through his partnership with the Edison, NJ–based Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, he has donated more than $200,000 to provide food and support to 19,000 families. According to the foundation’s website, it raises funds for programs and services across the Hackensack Meridian Health network, helping modernize facilities, advance treatments, support research, train future physicians, and strengthen healthcare delivery in local communities. “It’s fun to get the love and support, but it’s better when you give it back,” Morgan said, according to PEOPLE. “That’s what I want to teach my children. More than a great education, I just want [Maven] and her brothers to be empathic.” Morgan, 57, told the outlet that his personal experiences, including a serious car crash in 2014, shaped his outlook on life. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he was among several people injured in a...
In a recent interview, T-Pain shared he could have made more money from his hit song, “Buy U A Drank.” The rapper from Tallahassee, FL, first experienced commercial success with the release of “I’m Sprung” in 2005, which was the lead single from his debut album “Rappa Ternt Sanga.” The song peaked at No. 8 and remained on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart for 26 weeks, Revolt reports. In 2007, “Buy U A Drank” was released and was even more successful. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart and went triple Platinum, according to Genius. T-Pain reflected on the success of the single and how it impacted his wealth on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast. He made revenue, but suggested he could have earned more if the masters and publishing rights agreement had been different. His song paid respect to rappers Lil Scrappy and Lil Jon, prompting the artists to claim publishing rights. “When I did ‘I’mma Buy U A Drank, then I’mma take you home with me. I got money in the bank.’ As soon as I...
Tabitha Brown is clearing the air about her partnership with Target. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the retailer rolled back on its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments in early 2025, a move that helped fuel a consumer boycott that remains ongoing. While Target was not the only major retailer to scale back DEI efforts, many critics focused on the company because of its previous push to support Black-owned businesses and other minority groups. Brown is among those business owners whose products are sold at Target stores. She is under a licensing deal with the retailer, and her haircare brand Donna’s Recipe — launched in partnership with Gina Woods — is shelved in the store, as AFROTECH™ previously told you. Brown made a discreet Instagram post on January 24, not mentioning a single word, but the implication that she was referencing the retailer was evident. During an interview on iHeartPodcast’s “Not My Best Moment” hosted by KevOnStage, Brown shared how Black...
Victoria Monét wants to see more guardrails regarding AI’s role in the music industry. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the “On My Mama” singer discussed Xania Monet, an AI artist who topped Billboard charts and secured a multi-million-dollar record deal, as previously reported by AFROTECH™. The AI artist was created by Telisha “Nikki” Jones, a Mississippi-born poet and entrepreneur who writes Xania’s music. “There’s real emotions and soul put into those lyrics,” Jones said in an interview with “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King. Victoria is among the artists criticizing Xania, suggesting it may have been created using her likeness. Victoria also added that when her friend submitted a prompt to ChatGPT asking it to create an image of “Victoria Monét making tacos,” and the image it generated resembled Xania. “It’s hard to comprehend that, within a prompt, my name was not used for this artist to capitalize on,” she told Vanity Fair. “I don’t support that. I don’t think that’s fair....
Shaquille O’Neal has once again invested in Atlanta’s youth. In 2021, the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation opened the Shaquille O’Neal Boys & Girls Club of Henry County, which included a learning center, computer lab, arts & crafts center, music studio, game room, multipurpose room, and gym, according to its website. Prior to its opening, the foundation invested over $1 million to support renovations with the support of additional partners. According to Empower Atlanta Magazine, staff acknowledged that the club has been helpful to families by providing academic support, mentorship, and after-school programming. “The Boys & Girls Club always provided a safe space for me when I was growing up,” O’Neal said in a 2022 news release. “It shaped who I am today, and I’m proud to help create similar pathways to success for the kids of Henry County.” O’Neal has doubled down on his commitment to the youth at the 2025 Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta Youth of the Year Gala, which recognizes teens...
The late Michael Jackson is still at the top of his game. Jackson’s influence on music began in his childhood as a member of the iconic sibling group The Jackson 5, formed in Gary, Indiana. The group produced classics such as “I Want You Back,” which sold over six million copies worldwide and was later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, according to Jackson Dynasty, along with hits like “ABC,” “I’ll Be There,” “Blame It on the Boogie,” and more. Jackson’s track record as a solo artist cemented his status as a legend, with albums that have stood the test of time and changed the trajectory of the music industry. His albums include “Thriller,” which followed the success of “Off the Wall” and was the brainchild of both Jackson and Producer Quincy Jones. “Thriller” sold over 70 million copies worldwide, The Root reports. It is regarded as one of the best-selling albums of all time and led Jackson to earn eight Grammys in one night. View this post on Instagram The King of Pop...
Tracee Ellis Ross has weighed in on why beauty brands are failing. Many Black founders have noted that the industry has shifted and no longer offers the level of institutional support seen in 2020 following the murder of George Floyd. While the social reckoning of that moment pushed many to open their wallets, creating opportunities for Black-led brands, it has since become a stark reminder that some of those commitments were never built to last. This reality has only heightened under the Trump administration, which sees the upholding of diversity, equity, and inclusion as a threat. This sentiment was echoed by Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye, the founder of clean- beauty brand Ami Colé. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Ami Colé was launched in 2021 and targeted individuals with deeper skin tones. N’Diaye-Mbaye received over $3 million in investor support from G9 Ventures and Greycroft, as well as angel investors including Hannah Bronfman and The Cut Editor-in-Chief Lindsay Peoples Wagner....
Paris Jackson’s ongoing estate dispute over her late father Michael Jackson’s holdings hit a legal hurdle when a Los Angeles court struck portions of her petition. According t o People, on Nov. 10, retired judge and specially appointed referee Mitchell L. Beckloff sided with executors John Branca and John McClain, granting a special motion to strike sections of her filing. The court found that several claims targeted documents protected under California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which shields certain legal petitioning from retaliatory lawsuits. The ruling also leaves Paris responsible for some of the estate’s attorney fees. In July 2025, the outlet notes, Paris raised concerns about “premium” payments to attorneys for unrecorded work, including non-contractual sums of $125,000 and $250,000. She asked the court to compel the executors to file requests for attorney compensation and reimbursement of costs for 2019 through 2023, arguing that the estate’s slow filings and irregular approvals...
Stephen Curry is saying goodbye to Under Armour. The Golden State Warriors player has been signed with the brand since 2013. Under Armour debuted Curry’s first signature shoe during All-Star Weekend two years later , which eventually grew into a 12-model line, according to Sports Illustrated. The success of the partnership paved the way for the creation of Curry Brand in 2020, as AFROTECH™ previously told you. Three years later, Curry was appointed president of the Curry Brand and received 8,823,530 restricted stock units of Under Armour’s Class C common stock, valued at $75 million, and supposedly secured a lifetime deal, notes a separate AFROTECH™ article. “There’s always been a continuation [in mind] with Stephen,” Under Armour Founder Kevin Plank said in March 2023, per ESPN. “I couldn’t imagine Under Armour without Stephen, or Stephen without Under Armour.” According to a press release, the tides have shifted for the partnership. Curry Brand is now independent after parting...
AI is causing Morgan Freeman to take legal action. In conversation with The Guardian, he flagged AI’s growing use within Hollywood. There has been a frenzy following the debut of Tilly Norwood, an AI-generated actor created by comedian Eline Van der Velden, who owns AI talent studio Xicoia and production company Particle6, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Velden plans on launching at least 40 more digital performers. Norwood has received flak from across the entertainment industry, including from “The Color Purple” and “Sister Act” star Whoopi Goldberg. “The problem with this, in my humble opinion, is that you are suddenly up against something that’s been generated with 5,000 other actors,” Goldberg explained while co-hosting “The View,” according to Variety. “It’s got Bette Davis’ attitude, it’s got Humphrey Bogart’s lips… And so it’s a little bit of an unfair advantage. But you know what? Bring it on. You can always tell them from us. We move differently, our faces move...
K. Michelle wants to find a lawyer to fight against AI’s use of her unique skill and style. On a livestream, the singer responded to a comment about a request to write a song for her. She rejected the request while throwing shots at those leveraging her tone and voice to create music with AI. “You know what? I don’t need nobody writing me no songs right now. I got so much built-up tension. AI people using my tones, and my voice, and all of that. And now I gotta go find a lawyer. All types of stuff going on,” she said in a video shared on X. “Last thing I really need is for somebody to write me a song.” There were speculation that K. Michelle was likely referring to Xania Monet, an AI-generated artist created by entrepreneur and poet Telisha “Nikki” Jones, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. Jones writes all the lyrics for Xania Monet but uses AI platform Suno to create the music and vocals. “I hope that K Michelle and Muni Long sue the creator and win,” Mary Pryor, a director and...
Patti LaBelle has struck a deal with Primary Wave. LaBelle, the independent publisher, has closed a deal with the legendary artist for the income stream from her royalties, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This will include LaBelle’s full catalog, which includes 18 studio albums and three live albums. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, the outlet reported. “We are so honored to be in business with a legend such as Ms. LaBelle. She’s a true icon and trailblazer. We are looking forward to doing great things together,” Primary Wave’s Steven Greener said in a statement, according to The Hollywood Reporter. LaBelle’s hits over the years include “On My Own,” “New Attitude,” and “Lady Marmalade,” which regained momentum after it was covered by Christina Aguilera, Mya, Pink, and Lil’ Kim in the movie “Moulin Rouge!” (2001). “If Only You Knew,” which was released in 1983, is a personal favorite of LaBelle. “I enjoy ‘If Only You Knew.’ It’s a hard song to sing, but I can...
Even successful entrepreneurs face investments that don’t work out. Kevin Hart, known for his comedy and film career, has shared one of his most difficult business experiences: investing in his friends’ ventures. Kevin Hart On His Worst Investment In a clip from an episode of “The Late Late Show with James Corden” in August 2022, Hart discussed his various business ventures and revealed, midway through the interview, that his worst business decision came from supporting friends’ ideas. “The worst business investment that I’m currently involved in is the business of investing in your friends,” he said to Corden at the time. “You never want your friends to feel like their ideas are not good ideas, but thus far, these ideas have been an endless pit of bankruptcy,” he also added on the show. On the 2022 episode, Hart highlighted one particular venture as the most regrettable: a friend’s company that designed headphones that could open up into speakers. The concept was intended to allow...
Jidenna has shared his thoughts on technology’s influence on the music industry. The artist, recognized for “Classic Man,” has personal ties to the tech sector, which traces to his father, Oliver Mobisson. During the AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 in Houston on Oct. 29, Jidenna referred to his father as “Nigeria’s Steve Jobs,” but he was underfunded . His father taught at Anambra State University of Science and Technology (Now, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University) and was a part of a group that created West Africa’s first commercially produced PC, CNN reports. “I didn’t come up as a billionaire trust fund baby because Nigeria was commissioning him, but didn’t necessarily see the full vision at the time for what PCs would become,” Jidenna said during a panel moderated by Senior Vice President of AFROTECH™ and Live Events at Blavity Inc. Simone Ashley Tyler. Photo Credit: Adrianna Hall Jidenna pursued studies at Stanford University, originally on track to earn an engineering degree, but...
Qatar Airways is breaking new ground in the world of art and culture. The airline has teamed up with Grammy Award-winning producer and entrepreneur Swizz Beatz to launch the Qatar Airways Creative 100, a global initiative celebrating 100 of the world’s most influential creatives, according to a press release. The partnership was unveiled during Art Basel Paris 2025, where Qatar Airways serves as a Premium Partner across all five of the art fair’s international exhibitions. The Creative 100 is the first platform of its kind for an airline, designed to highlight visionaries shaping global culture across music, fashion, technology, design, sports, and more. The initiative will debut with a flagship event at Art Basel Qatar in February 2026, showcasing the work of creatives whose ideas cross borders and influence multiple industries. The first inductees include Grammy-winning South African DJ Black Coffee, Olympic fencing champion Miles Chamley-Watson, and Kristian Teär, CEO of luxury...