All results
Playing the long game paid off for Lady London. While speaking with Revolt CEO Detavio Samuels on “The Blackprint” podcast, the Bronx, NY-born artist spoke candidly about her journey into securing revenue through brand partnerships. It all began by considering the brands she often used and researching what she needed to build relationships and land opportunities. “I started YouTubing things like how are people reaching out to brands and figuring out like who’s their key point? Who handles talent? Who handles like brand partnerships within this thing? Reaching out to them with emails, forming a deck. Get your one-sheet or your EPK (Electronic Press Kit),” she explained on the podcast. Key metrics she flagged that help individuals determine their brand value included follower count, the number of females and males interacting with content, and the top five target areas. Lady London added, “Show all the things that make you a person on one thing, and send it off to brands and say,...
Angel Reese plans to retire her mother. Reese, born in Randallstown, MD, on May 6, 2002, to Michael Reese and Angel Webb Reese, has grown into an influential athlete, already making her mark in the WNBA by holding the record for most single-season rebounds — before being surpassed by A’ja Wilson. Reese’s athletic genes come from her parents , both of whom played basketball in college. Her mother, Angel Webb Reese, played for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and was inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame, notes Today. She also had a professional career in Luxembourg. Michael Reese played at Boston College and Loyola University (Maryland) before competing overseas in Luxembourg, Austria, and Portugal, mentions USA Basketball. “My whole family played basketball. My aunts played basketball, my brother plays basketball, my grandparents played basketball. So, it kind of was like, ‘You’re gonna do this,’” Reese told Just Women’s Sports. Unsurprisingly, Reese picked up...
Khaby Lame is letting the numbers do the talking. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Lame, now one of the most-followed creators , was once a factory worker in Chivasso, Italy. “I was really poor,” he said on a panel during Forbes Creator Upfronts in partnership with Walmart Creator on Oct. 29, 2024. Lame was later fired from his job, returned to live with his family, and decided to not look back. Instead, he chose to bank on what was once merely a hobby — TikTok — during the onset of COVID-19. “When I started making videos, people told me to get a proper job,” he mentioned to Forbes in 2023. “But I continued to make videos because that’s what I like doing, even though no one was watching them.” It would ultimately become a money machine because he stood out for reacting to memes and viral videos without saying a word. “It’s my face and my expressions which make people laugh,” he told The New York Times in 2021. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Khabane Lame (@khaby00)...
Dwayne Johnson decided to fire his agents because he saw the bigger picture. Johnson first put his name on the map as a professional wrestler, inspired by his father, Rocky Johnson, who had a legendary resume within the sport and was honored as a WWE Hall of Famer. “I think I’m going to like professional wrestling,” Johnson remembered, according to a conversation with GQ. “So we fought. [My dad] didn’t want me to get into it. And then I wound up having the career that I had. And he was proud. But he also wrestled with a lot of my success, and I know that as his son.” Johnson would later find a commonality between wrestling and acting. He revealed to GQ that he pivoted attention towards Hollywood, understanding that he could still reach the masses as an actor. “When I got into the business of Hollywood and moviemaking, it’s like, ‘Okay, well, what kind of movies do I want to make? I want to make movies that hopefully are good, that don’t suck. But also reach as many people as...
A handful of Michael Jordan memorabilia has sold for millions. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, a jersey worn by the former Chicago Bulls star during a 45-point game in the 1996-1997 season sold for $4.7 million at auction. This met expectations, as the auction house Sotheby’s had projected it would sell for between $4 million and $6 million. “One of the finest Michael Jordan jerseys ever to come to auction, MJ wore this road-red jersey for 5 months and 17 games during the Chicago Bulls legendary 1996-1997 championship season,” Sotheby’s commented on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) Brahm Wachter, Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles, commented to the Chicago Sun-Times: “This jersey symbolizes not just Michael Jordan at the height of his celebrity and prowess, but also a pivotal moment in basketball history. Today’s results highlight the enduring strength of the game-worn market, especially those pieces associated with Michael...
Druski has the content creation game on lock. As previously reported by AFROTECH™, the Maryland native’s foray into comedy dates back to skits he shared on Instagram under the handle druski2funny. According to Forbes, he was known for his humor as the class clown at an early age, though it wasn’t always to the amusement of his teachers and parents. “I think just being a class clown early on that’s what kind of grooved me in my career,” he told Forbes. “Sometimes when you’re young you really don’t know what your purpose is. But thankfully I have good parenting, so now we figured it out in the midst of all the craziness, but they don’t always support being a c lass clown while in school and being young. I had to figure it all out later in life. I came back to it, and I was like ‘All right this is my purpose.'” Before his big break, Druski faced various challenges, leading him to work different jobs — some he was fired from, others he quit. He considered pursuing higher education and...
Marlon Wayans has announced the return of the “Scary Movie” franchise. This represents a significant change for the series, which was originally rooted in the Wayans family. USA Today reports that the first two films were directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, with Marlon and Shawn Wayans serving as writers and actors for some of them. According to ABC News, the original “Scary Movie” (2000) grossed over $277 million worldwide. Despite “Scary Movie” becoming a pop culture staple, the Wayans family’s involvement in the franchise fizzled out after the second film. According to AFROTECH™, Marlon Wayans claimed that The Weinstein Co. “snatched” the franchise from them after it was initially passed over by other production studios. The Wayans family reportedly learned through a publication that they would no longer be involved. “The second one they rushed us into, and by the third one, they didn’t want to pay the money, so they snatched it. We found out on Christmas that they hired somebody...
Chiney Ogwumike has been a trailblazer in both sports and media. Ten years after being drafted as the No. 1 pick in the WNBA by the Connecticut Sun, Ogwumike has had numerous opportunities to reflect on her illustrious career, which began at Stanford University. According to her Stanford profile, she held the title of all-time leading scorer by the end of her time there. Her collegiate achievements include: Pac-10 All-Freshman Team (2011) Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (2011) Pac-12 Tournament MVP (2013) 3x Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year In October 2024, Ogwumike was inducted into Stanford Athletics’ Hall of Fame. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chiney (@chiney) Embracing It All Although talented in sports, Ogwumike initially dreamed of a career in politics and even considered becoming a lawyer. “I always loved politics. As a kid, my family would always catch me watching the news, not like cartoons. I was a super nerd,” she told AFROTECH™ in an interview. In college,...
Mathew Knowles was inspired to invest in a sports team due to a former Destiny’s Child member. On Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, Knowles graced the Main Stage during the Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow (BWTT) Financial Empowerment Summit at the UIC Forum in Chicago, IL. The event promoted wealth-building among the Black community through workshops moderated by local financial experts and insightful discussions from panelists, including Keke Palmer, Larenz Tate, and Knowles, among others. Photo Credit: Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow “Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow is the largest financial education program of its kind,” Chicago’s City Treasurer Melissa Conyears Ervin explained in a statement shared with AFROTECH™ . “It brings together experts and leaders from businesses, community organizations, and city, state, and federal agencies to lead workshops and discussions that help Chicagoans build a more financially secure future.” Knowles shared insights into his family history —...
Team ownership is not completely off the table for billionaire Mark Cuban. Cuban was former majority owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks since 2000, purchasing stake in the team for $285 million, mentioned Fortune. At the time, he felt he was at an advantage due to his knowledge in technology and media. However, in recent years he recognized a shift towards real estate as necessary to be successful in team ownership. As a result, he chose instead to sell most of his stake to the Miriam Adelson family, controlling shareholder of Las Vegas Sands Corp., in December 2023 in a deal valued at $3.5 billion. He now maintains a 27% stake in the Dallas Mavericks and is in control of its basketball operations as well as serves as the alternate governor, according to the NBA. “When I first bought [the Mavericks] in 2000 I was the tech guy in the NBA. I was the media guy. I had every edge and every angle,” he explained on the “All-In Podcast.” “Now fast-forward 24 years later. In order to...
Coco Gauff has scored a new victory. The tennis star reigned supreme in her match at the China Open held in Beijing on Oct.6, 2024, against the Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova, which led to a 6-1 6-3 victory. In the process, she has become the first American since Serena Williams to become a champion in the China Open, CNN reported. Furthermore, this brings her Women’s Tennis Association tour finals record to 8-1, per Blavity. “I‘m happy with the fight I showed during the past two weeks here in Beijing and very grateful to walk away with the @chinaopen title❤️. Thank you for all of the love and support! #Histimingisperfect #title,” Gauff, 20, wrote on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Coco Gauff (@cocogauff) According to AS USA, Gauff also walks away with $1.1 million in prize earnings as a result of the match. She now adds to her $27.1 million net worth, which was last updated by Forbes on Aug. 23, 2024. At the time, this consisted of salary and winnings...
Stephen A. Smith knows his worth. The ESPN sports journalist and host of “First Take” is currently signed to an annual $12 million deal with the network that will be intact until June 2025. As previously shared by AFROTECH™, his salary includes an $8 million yearly salary and a $4-million-per-year production contract. Furthermore, with talks of renegotiations on the table, it has been rumored that Smith is seeking a $100 million contract to remain with the network for an additional five years. Recently, he addressed those rumors during a taping of “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace” on Max. He was asked by Wallace, “Your ESPN contract is, what we’re told, up next year and the word on the street is, you want something in the range of $100 million for five years. True?” While Smith did not confirm whether there was any truth behind these numbers, he did confirm he is looking to be paid his worth. “I’m not getting specific as it pertains to numbers, because only a fool discusses his own...
Meghan Markle has been intentional about investing in female-led companies over the years, The New York Times reports. Markle, a former actress and Duchess of Sussex through her marriage to Britain’s Prince Harry, has taken advantage of the limelight to provide greater visibility to brands. A bag she wore from Scotland brand Strathberry after her engagement in 2017 was sold out in 11 minutes. She said that moment “changed everything in terms of how I then looked at putting an outfit together.” It has led her to become more intentional about what brands she aligns with and wears. Markle also mentioned, “Times where I know there is a global spotlight, and attention will be given to each detail of what I may or may not be wearing, then I support designers that I have really great friendships with, and smaller, up-and-coming brands that haven’t gotten the attention that they should be getting. That’s one of the most powerful things that I’m able to do, and that’s simply wearing, like,...
Kordell Beckham spoke his dream partnership into existence. Beckham, a Houston, TX, native and brother of NFL player Odell Beckham Jr., was among the Season Six cast of “Love Island USA” and ultimately won the coveted $100,000 cash prize with fellow contestant and love interest, Serena Page, US Weekly reports, with the two still a couple today, according to Forbes. Beckham plans to invest his portion of his “Love Island USA” earnings, per Access Hollywood. Beckham’s knack for business was highlighted during the season in a chat with Page, with whom he explained his career as a model and an aircraft fueler. Blavity reported he has even worked for Odell Beckham Brands, which offers men’s grooming products. Beckham also mentioned that he would like to be a homeowner in the future and is interested in securing a sponsorship with snack brand Cheez-It. “I can’t get enough of Cheez-It,” he told Page. Upon exiting the villa, Beckham and Page conducted a series of interviews, including one...
Charles Barkley claims to have left a considerable amount of money on the table to remain with TNT. The former- basketball -player-turned-television-host joined the network back in 2000, and viewers have since watched his take on “Inside the NBA” alongside Ernie Johnson Jr., Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal. In 2022, Barkley extended his commitment to TNT, signing a 10-year $210 million contract, according to Front Office Sports. His impact in the field has been valuable to the network and media landscape earning him four Sports Emmys and leading to his induction into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, CNN reports . However, recently the future of “Inside the NBA” was brought into question when it was announced TNT may lose media rights to the NBA. USA Today reports the NBA did, in fact, decide to move forward with “a long-term arrangement with Amazon” because TNT Sports’ parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, did not match Amazon’s offer. The NBA said the move would go into...