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Is a $2000 stimulus check from the IRS on the way? $2,000 Stimulus Check Over the past couple years, taxpayers have received varying stimulus checks (Economic Impact Payments) dependent on certain qualifications. Under the first Trump administration, and in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act ( Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) provided eligible individuals with up to $1,200, plus an additional $500 per qualifying child under age 17 in 2020, a press release mentions. Married couples were given up to $2,400, notes PhillyBurbs. Payments were reduced for those with an adjusted gross income of less than $75,000 or married couples who filed a joint return and earned $150,000. Later that year, in December 2020, a second round of payments was issued under the COVID-related Tax Relief Act, providing up to $600 to qualifying individuals; $1,200 to married couples; and $600 per child under 17. A third stimulus check was sent out in March 2021 allowing eligible...
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)...
NBA player Jalen Williams is paying it forward to his parents. Williams was drafted into the league in 2022 by the Oklahoma City Thunder as a 12th overall pick, notes ESPN. He was signed to a four-year rookie contract valued at $20.3 million, data from Spotrac reveals . That milestone felt like a natural next step as Williams had long believed the league was within reach due to affirmations instilled in him by his parents, according to Andscape. “I would say my parents were big on if I wanted to get to the NBA, I could,” Williams recalled to the outlet. “From when I was young, I knew what I wanted to do, so I always had a good support system in regard to that. There was never a time that I didn’t think I could.” NBA Championship Fast forward to 2025, and Williams has already secured the league’s most coveted honor as the team won the 2025 NBA Championship during Game 7 on June 22, 2025, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, NBC mentions . Williams was instrumental in the team’s stretch...
Odell Beckham Jr. has no regrets with going against the grain. Decision To Accept Bitcoin In 2021 As AFROTECH™ previously told you, Beckham made the decision in 2021 to accept bitcoin as the form of payment for his contract at the time with the Los Angeles Rams, in partnership with Cash App. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of Russell Okung, who was the first player in the NFL to be paid in bitcoin. In fact, Okung reportedly agreed to receive half of his $13 million salary at the time ($6.5 million) in the form of bitcoin, which was later worth $20 million by 2024, according to Bleacher Report. As for Beckham’s investment, he reportedly received a $750,000 payout from the Rams, which was converted into bitcoin, a separate article from the Bleacher Report mentions. To commemorate the announcement, Beckham Jr. also gave money to his fans in the form of bitcoin. “It’s a NEW ERA and to kick that off I’m hyped to announce that I’m taking my new salary in Bitcoin thanks to Cash...
JaNa Craig knows how to get to the bag! Craig was among the cast members on Season 6 of Peacock’s “Love Island USA,” which spurred an “unprecedented audience boost” for the franchise, notes Deadline. While Craig was not the overall winner, she is still winning in the business world. Following Craig’s time in the villa, she has landed a slew of brand deals, particularly in the beauty space, which includes: Flamingo Axe Maybelline Shea Moisture Revolve Lemme Covergirl Shark Beauty @jana.craig GRWM for a top-secret mission! 😉🔎 #MaybellinePartner New episodes of #LoveIslandUSA every day except for hump day – 9/8c only on Peacock. ♬ original sound – NayNay However, even before her time on reality television, she had a knack for spotting business opportunities. During an interview on the “Baby, This is Keke Palmer” podcast, she joked about living nine lives. It all started when she was in high school and was selling 50-cent chocolate bars from the corner store for $2. “I just told...
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...
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...
Former Carolina Panther player Mike Rucker filed a lawsuit against his financial advisor, Jon Kubler, claiming that Kubler mismanaged nearly $3 million of his earnings. Rucker and his wife, Kristina, filed a lawsuit in a North Carolina Business Court in March, alleging that they had unknowingly invested in a Ponzi scheme. The couple, who met Kubler while Rucker was playing football for the University of Nebraska, claims that Kubler persuaded them to invest in his Nebraska commercial real estate company Aksarben in 2009, according to The Charlotte Observer. They say the investment was a failure and that Kubler did not return their funds or money from other investors. Of the $5.6 million Kubler and his companies — including Steelpool Inc. and Capital Synergy Partners — had raised for commercial real estate companies, only 4% of the funds were reportedly invested in the ventures. Kubler had been the Ruckers’ financial advisor for 21 years and in the early 2000s had “integrated himself...
July is here and social security recipients across the country—particularly those who rely on Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—are keeping a close eye on their bank accounts. For now, the SSI payment schedule remains steady, but a shakeup is right around the corner that could catch some recipients off guard. Here’s what to expect this month and why August’s calendar calls for a little extra attention. July Payment Dates: What You Need To Know If you’re receiving traditional Social Security benefits, your July payment date depends on your birthday. The Social Security Administration will distribute payments throughout the month using the following schedule: Wednesday, July 9 – for birth dates between the 1st and 10th Wednesday, July 16 – for birth dates between the 11th and 20th Wednesday, July 23 – for birth dates between the 21st and 31st For SSI recipients, it’s more straightforward: your monthly payment will arrive on Tuesday, July 1, according to The Hill. However, that won’t...
The third-most valuable Michael Jordan trading card has sold at auction. JOOPITER The rare card has made its way to JOOPITER, an auction house owned by Virginia legend and award-winning music producer Pharrell Williams. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Williams had been a serial collector and launched the platform in 2022 “to embrace the energy that is released when objects change hands, and to respect the value that’s been created around these objects.” “Joopiter was founded to not only introduce a new voice into the auction landscape, but to recalibrate what it means to be a collector… We are excited to bring these objects to the world,” Williams said , according to WWD. Signed 1986-87 Jordan Card JOOPITER’s latest auction item was a signed 1986-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan rookie card, according to information shared on Instagram. Jordan’s card had been one of nine trading cards that he signed back in 2024 on his private golf course in Florida, per the auction’s page. The card...
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...
Your life can change in the blink of an eye, and this has been the case for Monet McMichael. In 2022, McMichael was a graduate of Rutgers Nursing School. That same year was also when she started taking off on social media and scored her very first brand deal with Priyanka Chopra’s Anomaly Haircare, according to Teen Vogue and WWD. “There was definitely a fork in the road where I had to decide like which one I was gonna put like my all into,” she told Forbes in a 2023 interview. “I mean this being my career now is an absolute dream and I definitely am chasing it right now, but I’m so glad I graduated. I got my degree and I learned so much in nursing school that I feel like could never be taken away from me.” Content creation was nothing new for McMichael. She uploaded her first YouTube video when she was 9 years old, admitting she wanted to become a “beauty guru,” notes WWD. She certainly has achieved that goal of becoming an influence in the realm of beauty, securing partnerships...
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...
American Express (Amex) is planning a major refresh of its flagship Platinum card. In a news release, the company described it as the “largest investment ever” in the Platinum product line, with changes coming to both personal and business versions later this year. “We’re going to take these cards to a new level,” said Howard Grosfield, president of U.S. consumer services at American Express. “Not only in what they offer in travel, dining, and lifestyle benefits, but also in how they look and feel.” Big Moves For Business Builders And Jet-Setters The refresh comes as competition among premium credit cards continues to grow. With options like Chase’s Sapphire Reserve and Capital One’s Venture X gaining popularity, American Express appears to be stepping up to stay ahead. For cardholders who use the Platinum card to manage a busy travel schedule or handle business expenses, the new perks may make it even more worthwhile. Here’s what the company has confirmed so far: New Lounge Access:...
Actress and trailblazing producer Marsai Martin is taking her commitment to youth empowerment to the next level. Through her nonprofit, Marsai’s Way Foundation , the young mogul has partnered with Seeds of Fortune Inc. to reach 10,000 young women over the next three years with financial education, mentorship, and access to wealth-building resources, according to a press release. The partnership officially kicked off June 6 at the Seed Forum: Women of Color Creating Wealth Summit, an event designed to offer young women a rare opportunity to connect with financial leaders and gain insight into how they can grow into economic powerhouses of their own. “At Seeds of Fortune, we believe education is the foundation of economic equity,” Nitiya Walker, founder and executive director of Seeds of Fortune Inc., said in a statement. “Our partnership with Marsai’s Way Foundation allows us to scale this mission and deliver financial literacy, mentorship, and career access to thousands of young...
