Lloyd understood the importance of being a student of the game when he entered the music industry as a child. Industry Journey The R&B crooner is known for hit songs such as “You,” his “biggest earned streamed song.” He spent a lot of time in the studio learning from those who paved the way such as Dallas Austin, Gerald Busby, Tricky Stewart, as well as Joyce Irby, a mentor of his who signed him to Atlanta-based teen pop group N-Toon in 1997 when he was just 10 years old, noted Foxy 107.1/104.3. “She basically just poured a lot of time and love into me so that I wouldn’t make kinda the same pitfalls in the beginning. So by the time I was 18 years old, I was really headstrong. I knew exactly what I wanted. I knew exactly how to find my sound, and I wasn’t gonna let anybody tell me what I already knew, “ Lloyd said following a performance on the Coca-Cola Stage at the Convention Center during the 2025 Essence Festival of Culture, held in his hometown of New Orleans, LA. Photo Credit:...

Playboi Carti , born Jordan Terrell Carter, is an influential figure in the modern hip-hop scene known for his distinctive sound, fashion influence, and cult-like fan following. Emerging from Atlanta, Georgia , Carti has quickly risen to prominence since his debut, carving out a niche with his minimalist beats and catchy ad-libs. His unique style blends elements of punk, trap, and avant-garde aesthetics, influencing a new wave of artists and shaping contemporary hip-hop culture. As a performer and cultural icon, his financial standing has been a subject of curiosity, especially given his rapid rise and high-profile collaborations. How have Playboi Carti’s career, business ventures , and earnings contributed to his net worth in 2025? From album sales and streaming revenue to merchandise and endorsements, we’ll break down how he has built his financial portfolio beyond just music. Early Career And Rise To Fame Playboi Carti first gained attention with his self-titled mixtape, which...

Kendrick Lamar and SZA have made history in the music industry. Grand National Tour The Grammy-award winning artists are frequent collaborators and performed together at the 2025 Super Bowl LIX performance in New Orleans. The pair later embarked on the “Grand National Tour,” which kicked into gear on April 19 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, according to USA Today. The tour, presented by Live Nation, pgLang (Lamar’s agency), and Top Dawg Entertainment, made its way to 19 stadiums in cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, Las Vegas, and Atlanta, mentions Seattle’s Lumen Field. Concluding the North American leg on June 18, the tour will continue throughout the U.K., Europe, and Australia. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar)   This has marked the first stadium tour for both artists. “There’s so many firsts happening back to back,” SZA said on the “Sherri” show . “I can’t express what it’s like to go through life for the first time but in front...

David Banner is thanking T.I. for making it possible for him to have a lucrative career as a producer . On the “Club Shay Shay,” podcast, Banner reveals how important a tag in a song is for producers to ensure they receive full recognition. He also claims he is one of the first rappers to put his name before a beat in contemporary Rap and says the decision was inspired by Jay-Z, who would shout out producers on his songs. “I noticed Jay-Z would say ‘Kanye, you a fool fool fool. Just Blaze, you did it again,’ and every time he would say their name they could charge $10,000 extra right,” Banner told host Shannon Sharpe on the podcast. “Southern rappers hid their producers. It hurts me to this day. KLC from Beats By The Pound, as big as ‘No Limit’ was, don’t nobody know who they are. They’re some of my mentors… I really think Beats By The Pound is as big as Timbaland and Pharrell, because they changed music in the same way that those people do but we don’t know who they are.” He...

Memphis Bleek’s trust in Jay-Z led him to turn down a five-figure signing bonus. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Memphis Bleek splashed onto the music scene by being featured on the “Coming of Age” track of Jay-Z’s “Reasonable Doubt” album. He later became the first artist signed to Jay-Z’s label, Roc-A-Fella Records. The pair had also grown up together in the Marcy Projects of Brooklyn, NY. “He really grew up with me, on the third floor of the same building in the same project,” Jay-Z said recently on Power 105.1 with DJ Envy. During an interview with “The Breakfast Club,” Memphis Bleek was asked by co-host Jess Hilarious, born Jessica Robin Moore, about his dynamic with Jay-Z and if he believes his fate would have been different if he had signed with another label. Memphis Bleek eventually parted ways with Roc-A-Fella Records, and while Jay-Z went on to launch Roc Nation, Memphis Bleek admits he likely wouldn’t have become a bigger artist — or reached where he is today — even if...

Salt-N-Pepa are taking Universal Music Group (UMG) to court. Comprised of Cheryl “Salt” James and Sandra “Pepa” Denton, the rap duo Salt-N-Pepa — who has released 11 albums since their debut in 1986, according to Genius — has filed a lawsuit over their masters . According to the Associated Press, they allege that ownership of their masters should be transferred to them and that UMG is in violation of the Copyright Act of 1976, which states that artists have the right to reclaim ownership of their masters and can void previous agreements after several decades. In 2022, the pair first filed to terminate the terms they had established with UMG, stating they were “eager to retake full ownership of their art and legacy,” and adding, “inexplicably, UMG has refused to honor” their rights. The pair believe they should have ownership of their masters for albums such as debut “Hot, Cool & Vicious” (1986), “Push It” (1987), and by 2026, “Very Necessary” (1993). In response, UMG said in a June...

SZA is thanking Beyoncé for a kind gesture tied to her sophomore album. SZA released her long-awaited sophomore album “SOS” on Dec. 9, 2022, featuring 14 tracks, including “Snooze,” “Love Language,” and “Kill Bill,” the latter of which earned the artist her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2023, notes Billboard. “The sound is a little bit of literally everything. It’s a little angry as an overview, but some of it is really beautiful and soft and heartfelt. It’s about heartbreak, it’s about being lost, it’s about being pissed,” she told People in regards to the album. “It’s my first album in five years, so I’m ready to be a different person and step into this new part of my life.” Like with any music project, collaborations with various producers, songwriters, and other artists are key to help an album reach the finish line. It appears SZA’s project was no different as Beyoncé also contributed to her first single, “SOS,” which features an interpolation of Beyoncé’s song...

Teyana Taylor has become a household name thanks to her work throughout the entertainment industry. Although she comes from a well positioned family, the mother of two has come into her own. Over the years, Taylor has developed her own image, style and money, even going on to coach other starlets into their most confident selves. W hether she’s topping the charts with her latest album, exercising her famous abs for a photoshoot or working on brand collabs , the multi-talent is making money moves. Teyana Taylor has built her own financial empire that just keeps on giving. Although she has been making headlines for her multi-million dollar divorce from NBA champion Iman Shumpert, she’s still got it . Here is what we know about Teyana Taylor’s net worth in 2025. How Did The “Rose In Harlem” Hitmaker Become Famous? (Brian Ach/WireImage) Teyana Taylor’s fame stems from a number of sources dating back to the mid-2000s. The performer grew up in Harlem, New York, as fans who listened to her...

The catalog of one of Hip Hop’s greats, the late Notorious B.I.G., is reportedly up for sale. Various artists have seen massive profits from their music catalogs, including John Legend and Nelly, who sold 50% of his catalog to HarbourView Equity Partners in 2023 for $50 million, as previously reported by AFROTECH™ . That same year, Wiz Khalifa also sold a portion of recorded music and publishing assets to HarbourView, and R&B artist Jeremih followed suit in 2024. The estates of late artists have also sold catalogs. David Bowie’s estate cemented a deal with Warner Chappell Music in 2022 to acquire his 27 studio albums for $250 million, Variety reports . Sony Music Group also acquired half of Michael Jackson’s publishing and recorded music catalog in a deal valued at a minimum of $600 million in 2023, according to Billboard. The Hollywood Reporter states that by 2030 the publishing rights asset class will reach more than $10 billion. Now, it appears that the estate of Notorious...

Smokey Robinson’s journey in the music industry was one filled with humble beginnings. The multi-hyphenate artist and producer was the lead singer of The Miracles as early as 15 years old, Vulture reports. The group was instrumental to Berry Gordy, who helped bring their talent to his record label, Motown Records, making them one of its first artists when it was founded in 1959. “Berry sat us down. He said, ‘Imma start my own record company. Ain’t nobody paying. Imma start my own record company, and we gonna be the crew, and we’re not just going to make Black music,'” Robinson said on the “R&B Money” podcast. “‘We’re going to make music for the world. We’re going to always have some great beats and some great stories, and that’s going to be our quality control to have that when we put our records out, but we going to make music for the world.'” Robinson’s early days at the label were filled with sacrifices. He recalls earning just $5 a week when the label first started. “Berry had...

Technology is enabling fans to immerse themselves in the music of legendary artists like Janet Jackson. The “Anytime, Anyplace” songstress is currently headlining a residency at Resorts World Theatre in Las Vegas, NV, running through May 31, 2025. Fans can relive 42 of her timeless hits, including “I Get Lonely” and “When I Think of You.” The latter, released in 1986 as the third single from her “Control” album, became her first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, as Billboard notes. Jackson’s Vegas residency carries deep significance. Her career began when she was seven years old at MGM Las Vegas. She performed alongside sisters Rebbie and La Toya, as noted in Las Vegas Magazine. “I will always have a very, very special place in my heart for Las Vegas. I started my career here 51 years ago. I love you so much,” Jackson said during her performance on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Photo Credit: Resorts World Theatre L-Acoustics With a career spanning five decades, Jackson’s passion for performing...

Beyoncé’s influence is undeniable. Spotify has finally released Spotify Wrapped 2024, revealing that the music icon inspired over 36 million people to listen to country music for the first time this year. Beyoncé released “Cowboy Carter” on March 29, 2024, in collaboration with Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records, according to AFROTECH™ . The album’s 27-song track list includes “ Blackbiird ,” “16 Carriages,” “Jolene,” and “Levii’s Jeans.” While creating the album, Beyoncé noted that in the rising age of artificial intelligence (AI), she wanted to focus on authentic sounds, as reported by AFROTECH™ . She made good use of various instruments, such as the accordion, harmonica, washboard, acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar, mandolin, fiddle, tack piano, banjo, and her fingernails as percussion. On its release day, Spotify announced on X that the album was the most streamed on the platform in a single day in 2024, marking the first time a country album held this distinction...

Lady London chose to pursue rap after being accepted into medical school. While speaking on Revolt’s podcast, “The Blackprint,” the rapper born Zaire Miylaun Stewart reflected on the pivotal moments that led to her transition into music. She boasts two degrees, starting with a bachelor’s from Howard University, where she double-majored in sports medicine and chemistry. Lady London holds her time at the Historically Black College and University in high regard. “I was a rambunctious teenager. I went away to school because I was always told I had to go to school..and if I was going to be a part of community it had to be the Black community. So I went to a HBCU. I wanted educational goals but I didn’t think I would come out with so much experience of life. I know there’s like this whole thing where they say like ‘PWIs are the real reality of school because 72% of the world is white. The reality is if you learn how to make it in these communities and at Howard, if you can make it at...

If you’re tuned in to the world of early 2000s hip hop , or the world of modern Belizean politics, you may already be familiar with the name Shyne Barrow. The former rapper and current Opposition Party leader in Belize’s House of Representatives has one of the most fascinating backstories in all of pop culture and politics. Though he may not be as well known as his contemporaries like Busta Rhymes and Jay-Z, Shyne’s story is finally being told with the recent release of the Hulu original “The Honorable Shyne,” which dropped on the streamer earlier this month. In the documentary, Shyne outlines the untold truth about his time laboring under Bad Boy Records , his lengthy incarceration and his pivot into politics within his home country. Given that the 46-year-old politician has led such a storied life, fans are justifiably wondering about other personal details, including his net worth, investment portfolio and various streams of income. Luckily, we’ve got you covered, with a quick...

Mathew Knowles has made a name for himself in the business world without the help of investors. Entrepreneurship In His DNA The businessman was seated center stage during the Building Wealth Today for Tomorrow Financial Empowerment Summit held at the UIC Forum in Chicago, IL, on Oct. 12, 2024. The event is designed to connect the community to tools, resources, and conversations that encourage the desire to create long-term wealth . “Bringing Mathew Knowles to our summit reflects our dedication to teaching real, sustainable wealth-building principles,” said Melissa Conyears-Ervin, the city’s treasurer . “His focus on generational wealth and self-funded success aligns with our goal of helping Chicagoans achieve true economic mobility. At the Treasurer’s Office, we believe everyone deserves access to the knowledge and resources to build wealth on their own terms, creating a legacy that will benefit future generations.” Photo Credit: Antwan Collins Knowles is well regarded as the...