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The Gathering Spot Bounces Back, Securing $30M To Date With Investors Like Charles Barkley, Will Packer,  Big Sean, And More

The Gathering Spot has secured strategic funding. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, The Gathering Spot, co-founded by Ryan Wilson and TK Petersen, is a private membership club that has made its way to major cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Detroit, Charlotte, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Houston. The Gathering Spot, which prides itself on creating an inviting and collaborative atmosphere, recently rolled out The Retreat, a 60,000-square-foot space that includes a pool, private dining rooms, and cabanas, all while overlooking Atlanta’s skyline. “I wanted our community to have access to the best spaces around,” Wilson said on “The Black Tech Green Money” podcast. “This is world class space that we we can go head-to-head with any favorite rooftop that you have around. It really is that sort of product. But the second thing is that I’ve always known that people connect or want to connect for different reasons.” He added, “If there’s a meaningful community conversation...

Jul 23, 2025

Black Promoters Collective Surpasses $100M In Year-End Revenue Following Announcement Of Brandy And Monica's 'The Boy Is Mine Tour'

Brandy and Monica’s R&B tunes are still high in demand. The pair released “The Boy Is Mine” in 1998, which was a single featured on Brandy’s album “Never Say Never” and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine,” both launched that same year. The song led to the first Grammy win for both artists in 1999, according to That Grape Juice, and went double platinum, notes “Good Morning America.” It has stood the test of time. In fact, the classic was also remixed by pop star Ariana Grande in 2024, introducing the hit classic to a new generation. In 2020, it became apparent that fans wanted to see more collaborations by Brandy and Monica. The pair lit up Verzuz, a one-on-one music battle platform co-founded by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, garnering 1.2 million viewers on Instagram, Billboard reported. That battle played a key role in the women’s upcoming co-headlining “The Boy Is Mine Tour,” which was announced on June 24, 2025. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 4 e v e r b r a n d y ♠️ (@brandy)...

Jul 18, 2025

Lloyd Signed His First Deal At Age 10 And Years Later Platforms Like TikTok Are Helping His Music Reach Generations

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:...

Jul 18, 2025

After Helping Other Brands Generate Revenue, Jackie Asamoah Bet On Herself And Launched FORVR Mood With Her Husband, Denis Asamoah

Jackie And Denis Asamoah are conquering the world of business hand in hand. Inception The married couple are the co-founders of FORVR Mood, a shared passion project that birthed a brand. Their company launched with distinctive candles and later expanded into a fragrance collection that includes I Am Her, You Remind Me, Hard To Get, and NDA, all intentional priced at $79. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FORVR MOOD (@forvrmood) For Jackie, it was a full-circle moment to enter an industry she believes has long been gatekept from Black founders and Black creators, she shared in an interview on the “Black Tech Green Money” podcast. She remembered the first beauty product she could afford was perfume — a purchase that not only helped her bond with her mother but also proved useful in managing the hyperhidrosis (a condition that causes excessive sweating unrelated to heat or exercise) she developed at age 10. “I tie it back to bonding with my mom and also attributing it to the...

Jul 16, 2025

Shaquille O’Neal Invested In Beverage Brand BeatBox After A Call From Mark Cuban — Whatever 'Mark Is Investing In, I'm Investing In'

Shaquille O’Neal is paying close attention to Mark Cuban’s investment moves. Respectively, both are serial investors. Cuban’s portfolio includes Richualist, maker of The Mint hair tool. Created by Founder Dawn Myers, the company secured a $150,000 joint investment from Cuban and fellow “Shark” judge Emma Grede in 2024. The investors offered the amount up in exchange for 15% stake in the company and 5% stake through advisory shares, as AFROTECH™ previously told you. In January 2025, Cuban doubled down on an investment in Beanstack, a Black-led edtech company, participating in a $1.5 million seed round led by Riverside Acceleration Capital and Evoce Capital, per a press release. He also is the a minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks, after selling his majority stake in December 2023, per The New York Times. One of Cuban’s earliest deals, in particular, caught the attention of O’Neal, which was Broadcast.com, launched originally as AudioNet. According to CNBC, the platform,...

Jul 14, 2025

Judge Reverses Decision For T.I. And Tiny Harris To Receive Full $71M Award From Lawsuit Involving MGA And OMG Girlz

An award allocated to T.I. and Tameka “Tiny” Harris surrounding OMG Girlz has been reduced. As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the couple, who co-founded the OMG Girlz group — made up of Bahja “Beauty” Rodriguez, Breaunna “Babydoll” Womack, and the Harrises’ daughter Zonnique “Star” Pullins — had sued doll maker MGA Entertainment Inc. The pair alleged that MGA released its L.O.L. Surprise! O.M.G. (Outrageous Millennial Girls) dolls collection in 2016 using the name, image, and likeness of the girl group. The couple was awarded $71 million from a jury that included $17.9 million in actual damages and $53.6 million in punitive damages in September 2024. By January 2025, a judge considered reducing the amount but ultimately decided against it and stayed with the original decision in the case, allowing the couple to maintain the full amount awarded. It appears in the latest update that another judge has disagreed with the verdict. Rolling Stone reported on July 9, U.S. District Court...

Jul 11, 2025

Voletta Wallace’s Estate Sues Faith Evans Alleging Refusal To Share Profits From Sale Of Notorious B.I.G. Rights

The late Notorious B.I.G.’s estate has filed a lawsuit against Faith Evans. New York-born rapper Christopher George Latore Wallace, best known as The Notorious B.I.G. and for timeless hits like “Big Poppa” and “Mo Money Mo Problems,” was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1997. His legacy continues to live on, thanks in large part to his mother, Voletta Wallace, who had played a key role in managing his estate before she recently passed away. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, she successfully secured rights to most of his catalog from Bad Boy Records, increasing her ownership of his music from 50% to 85%. The Notorious B.I.G. was originally signed to the label by founder Sean “Diddy” Combs. In 2020, Voletta acquired the remaining 15%, gaining full control of her son’s music catalog. “Securing control of my son’s publishing and masters was a hard-fought journey, one that was not easy to accomplish,” Voletta explained, according to The Wall Street Journal. Voletta died at 78 years old...

Jul 11, 2025

Outside Of The Villa, 'Love Island' Star 'Amaya Papaya' Has Her Career In Cardiac Nursing And Major Brands Waiting To Work With Her

Amaya Espinal, also known as “Amaya Papaya,” may have a new career once she exits the villa. From A Nurse To A Reality TV Star The 25-year-old from New York is a first-generation American with roots in the Dominican Republic and is among the cast members on Season 7 of Peacock’s “Love Island USA”. Her search for love could lead to a $100,000 prize, one she may split with her partner if they make it to the finale — unless one of them decides to take it all. Espinal, who is currently coupled up with fellow cast member Bryan Arenales, has quickly become a fan favorite among viewers for wearing her heart on her sleeve. She already has a viral sound on platforms such as TikTok, where she currently has 2.3 million followers (at the time of this writing). @printedofperfection Song of the summer ✨ #fyp #loveislandusa #casaamor #amayapapaya ♬ original sound – Love love love A personal moment was captured of her singing in front of a mirror on the show. The sound bite of the original song has...

Jul 10, 2025

Snoop Dogg And Telegram Reportedly Sold $12M Worth Of Digital Collectibles Within 30 Minutes

Snoop Dogg is on to his next venture in the NFT space. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he agreed to be compensated in Bitcoin back in 2013 when he released his album “Reincarnated.” In a separate article, AFROTECH™ shared Snoop Dogg had been revealed as the hidden figure behind Cozomo de’ Medici, a popular non-fungible (NFT) Twitter platform, which had 175 tokens worth millions of dollars by 2021. That same year, he also released an NFT collection, titled “A Journey with the Dogg,” to pay homage to his early years as an artist. Snoop Dogg x Telegram Now in his latest move, t he “Drop It Like It’s Hot” artist has partnered with Telegram, a messaging app founded by Pavel Durov that claims to be one of the most downloaded apps with over 1 billion users, its website mentions. Snoop Dogg can be shown in an Instagram post commemorating the partnership with a theme song, titled “Gifts.” He also currently has 212,218 subscribers on the platform (at the time of this writing). View this...

Jul 10, 2025

Davido Admits He Began To Take His Approach To The Business More Seriously When Afrobeats Became More Commercial

Early in life, Afrobeats artist Davido learned to think on his own, a trait that unexpectedly led him to discover his passion for music. During an interview with AFROTECH™, Davido, who was born in Atlanta and raised in Lagos, Nigeria,  reflected on the formative years that shaped his path in the music industry. The youngest of five siblings, Davido lost his mother at 5 years old and was raised by his father, Adedeji Adeleke, a Nigerian billionaire who serves as CEO of Pacific Holdings Limited and President of Adeleke University. Despite his family’s wealth, Davido credits the freedom his father gave him as a key factor that allowed him to carve out his own lane in music. “He traveled a lot for business”. “He was a busy man…I think I had a lot of time to kinda find myself and know exactly what I wanted to do in life,” Davido said. “In the beginning, I didn’t really have him in my face, like, how he was with my siblings like, ‘Oh, dude. Go to school. I want you to be this.'” Davido...

Jul 10, 2025

Anthony Anderson And Cedric The Entertainer Open Their BBQ Brand To A Storefront In An Outdoor Los Angeles Mall

Anthony Anderson is succeeding in business alongside fellow comedian and “Barbershop” castmate Cedric the Entertainer. AC Barbeque The pair fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming owners of a lifestyle barbecue brand named AC Barbeque in 2022, as previously reported by AFROTECH™. According to the company’s website, the brand seeks to uphold pillars of Black excellence and family tradition while helping consumers improve their grilling skills through tools, flavor and community. Speaking on the transition from acting to entrepreneurship, Anderson emphasized that the key to successfully navigating the food industry is surrounding oneself with business-minded individuals who understand how to identify opportunities for success. This was during an interview with AFROTECH™ while at the Essence Festival of Culture — presented by Coca-Cola — in the New Orleans Caesars Superdome. “To know what you don’t know and to prepare for that and to surround yourself with people who are much smarter...

Jul 7, 2025

Gunna Partners With Former Division I Athlete To Co-Own Innovative Hydration Brand

Rapper Gunna has been prioritizing his wellness and has become co-owner of hydration brand Flerish Hydration, according to Rap Industry. For the Georgia-born entertainer, this move is fully aligned with his brand and serves as a well-intentioned strategic addition to his business portfolio. “I don’t put my name on just anything. Flerish is different, it’s clean, it works, and it’s become a part of my everyday lifestyle. I’m happy to be coming on board and look forward to the journey ahead,” Gunna told Rap Industry. View this post on Instagram A post shared by FLERISH HYDRATION (@flerish) The company offers watermelon-based products with electrolytes, real ingredients, and vitamins E, B6, and B12, as well as L-Theanine, Zinc, and Magnesium. The intention is to increase performance and recovery, which was ideal for Gunna’s on-the-go lifestyle as a performing artist. “Right now, I’m focused,” Gunna told the outlet. “There’s no off switch. I needed something that supports me naturally...

Jul 7, 2025

Will Smith And Jada Pinkett Smith’s Westbrook Media Company Joins Forces With Studio Azuki For Global Anime Push

Westbrook Inc., the entertainment studio founded by Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Miguel Melendez, and Ko Yada, is entering the anime world — and not quietly. According to a report from Variety, the company has announced a partnership with the newly formed Studio Azuki, signaling a global push that connects Hollywood storytelling with next-generation anime development. The collaboration pairs Westbrook with a new kind of anime studio, one rooted in Japanese tradition, driven by fan participation, and powered by digital culture. “…Our mission has always been to tell stories that connect, inspire, and transcend borders,” Yada, CEO of Westbrook, said via Variety. “…[Studio Azuki’s] creative vision and cultural insight align seamlessly with our global strategy.” Studio Azuki is a joint venture formed by digital-native brand Azuki, manga publisher Comisma Inc., and animation house Xenotoon Inc. Each brings something different to the table. Azuki, born from an NFT project, has already...

Jul 1, 2025

Is This The Future of Music? Timbaland Signs AI-Generated Artist At Stage Zero After Previous Controversy With The Technology

Mega-producer Timbaland has reaffirmed his commitment to artificial intelligence. Stage Zero and TaTa Timbaland is taking greater ownership in the advancement of artificial intelligence. The Grammy Award winner launched the AI-focused entertainment company Stage Zero in partnership with Zayd Portillo, his creative partner, and film producer Rocky Mudaliar, as reported by Rolling Stone. The label has also “ signed ” its first AI-generated “artist,” TaTa. Timbaland says TaTa is not an avatar or character, drawing a clear boundary that he believes she is “a living, learning, autonomous music artist built with AI,” according to Music Worldwide. “TaTa is the start of something bigger. She’s the first artist of a new generation. A-Pop is the next cultural evolution, and TaTa is its first icon,” Timbaland told the outlet. Partnership with Suno During the 2023 AFROTECH™ Conference , the rapper stated that AI should not only be embraced but that the community should also be at the forefront...

Jun 26, 2025

Watch Now: Bun B Explains How His Music Career Influenced His Business Strategies

A legendary Hip-Hop artist, a force in the community, an entrepreneur , and a professor — it’s no secret that Bun B’s résumé runs deep. At AFROTECH™ 2024 , the Port Arthur, TX, native — born Bernard Freeman — joined Jeff Nelson , co-founder and chief operating officer of Blavity Inc. , for an insightful fireside chat that explored innovation, entrepreneurship, branding, and building wealth and success beyond the music industry . Highlighting his influence as an artist and how it carried over into his success in other business ventures, like his fast-food restaurant Trill Burgers, Bun B shared how he has leveraged his platform to create multiple streams of income and leave a lasting cultural imprint. Purchase your ticket to AFROTECH™ Conference 2025 now!   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by AFROTECH (@afro.tech) During their conversation, Bun B traced a pivotal turning point in his life back to 10th grade, when a simple journaling assignment revealed his love for writing....

Jun 26, 2025

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