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Wu-Tang’s RZA is leaning into AI to accelerate his creativity across both film and music. Born Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, RZA admitted during a CES 2026 panel titled “ From Concept to Reality: Creatives Using AI to Bring Big Ideas to Life,” that he views the technology as a strong creative assistant. It has provided a foundation for his work, enabling him to operate more efficiently. “Creativity is time … It could take three days to get something good with today’s technology. And with AI assistant, I could turn that three days to three hours. So even quicker,” RZA told the audience. Gemini He also shared he uses Gemini, Google’s AI assistant that can turn words into videos and create images in seconds, according to its website. While working on a film project where he wanted the characters to board the Staten Island ferry, then travel across a frozen Hudson River with RZA’s logo, RZA used Gemini to create those conditions, which would typically be difficult for productions to achieve,...
Kevin Hart has just signed a deal to give his brand a stronger global presence. According to a news release, the comedian and serial entrepreneur has entered into a strategic partnership with Authentic Brands Group, a leading sports, media, entertainment, and lifestyle intellectual property platform. This will permit Authentic Brands to co-own and manage the Hart brand and expand it into new areas across consumer products, digital channels, and live experiences, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Authentic Brands produces new products and merchandise for its portfolio brands and can license it for digital media, hospitality, and more. Authentic Brands has more than 50 brands in its portfolio, including the rights to names such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jackson, and Shaquille O’Neal. Additionally, it has a social media reach nearing 1 billion followers and generates $32 billion in annual systemwide retail sales worldwide. As AFROTECH™ previously told...
50 Cent has tapped into the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) industry. 50 Cent Action His FAST channel, 50 Cent Action, debuted with Roku in 2025 before expanding to LG Channels, Deadline reports. The FAST channel is also available on Pluto TV, Prime Video, DIRECTV, Philo, and more, and includes the rapper’s curated selection of movies and TV shows. This month’s lineup will feature “Escape Plan,” “Freelancers,” “Empire State,” and “Den of Thieves,” according to the channel’s website. Photo Credit: 50 Cent Action During a CES 2026 session titled “ A Media Realignment: Streaming, The Creator Economy & Podcasts,” Tony Marlow, chief marketing officer of LG Ad Solutions, spoke about 50 Cent’s involvement in building publicity for the FAST channel. “This channel is something he feels very passionately about … He and his team were very engaged in saying, ‘We would love to come to a new front, discuss this on stage, let the advertisers know that this is a thing that they can get...
Shaquille O’Neal is making more money with his fast-food chicken chain than he did while in the NBA. NBA Career The center was drafted to the league in the first round as the first overall pick in 1992. He started out playing for the Orlando Magic and spent the majority of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, leading to three consecutive national championship rings. In total, he won four, per StatMuse. He retired in 2011 with $286.3 million in career earnings, with $30 million earned annually at his peak, according to Entrepreneur. Business Moves After The League O’Neal’s earnings have only soared after his exit from the league through a slew of strategic decisions that have paid off, including serving as the second-largest shareholder of Authentic Brand Group; having his own investment portfolio, which includes Google; accumulating endorsement deals such as with The General and The Hershey Co.; and a business empire with an affordable shoe line that has sold more than 470...
Drake has been named in a class-action lawsuit tied to the betting industry. Lawsuit Explained As AFROTECH™ previously reported, the Canadian-born rapper, born Aubrey Drake Graham, has bet more than $1 billion on Stake.us, a casino and poker website, since 2021. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Virginia by LaShawnna Ridley and Tiffany Hines — and representing other residents in the state who lost at least one wager through Stake Cash within the last three years — it claims that they were “influenced to participate” and engage in its “predatorial gambling environment,” through Drake’s promotion of the platform, which includes live-streamed gambling sessions and giveaways, according to Rolling Stone. View this post on Instagram The lawsuit also mentions as defendants Adin Ross, a popular streamer on Kick, and an Australian national named George Nguyen, who allegedly acted as a “broker and operational facilitator” and receive cryptocurrency through Stake channels. Their efforts...
Actor Mike Colter, known for portraying Luke Cage in Marvel shows like “Luke Cage” and “Jessica Jones,” has launched a haircare venture inspired by his children. While traveling in Europe with his wife, Iva, they were scouring the area for products for their daughters who have mixed-textured hair. After running into the issue time and again with no luck, one of their daughters suggested they create their own products. For Colter, the idea didn’t feel far-fetched, especially considering the expertise of his wife, whom he describes as having “business acumen” in a conversation with Forbes’ senior writer Jabari Young. Iva previously served as Netflix’s vice president of talent acquisition and is now chief people officer for the Wonder Project, according to information on her LinkedIn. “She thought, ‘Let’s try it. Let’s see first can we engineer and find the right products that we can actually stand behind that are sustainable, that are paraben-free, that are vegan , that don’t have any...
Luol Deng has an impressive real estate portfolio. NBA Career The South Sudan native first generated wealth while playing in the NBA. He was drafted in 2004 by the Phoenix Suns as the seventh overall pick, but was quickly traded to the Chicago Bulls, according to Marca. He went on to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves across his 15 seasons. He was a two-time NBA All-Star and retired in 2019 with $166.1 million in career earnings, Spotrac reports. Mentorship From Current JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon The money is still rolling in for Deng as a result of the seeds that were planted ahead of his foray into the league. Forbes reports that while playing at Duke University, Deng befriended the daughter of JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon. That relationship led to mentorship in real estate from Dimon, who at the time was living in Chicago as the CEO of Bank One. Dimon also welcomed Deng to the city after the Chicago Bulls drafted...
T.I. is reshaping his perspective around AI. On the rapper’s podcast “expediTIously,” which has more than 619,000 subscribers (at the time of this writing), he weighed in on technology, — something that has a stronghold across various industries including music. Some in the industry are banking on AI-powered music creation platforms like Suno. Timbaland is an advocate for Suno and serves as its strategic advisor, as AFROTECH™ previously told you. Dr. Dre is also leveraging AI while producing works for Bruce Springsteen, T.I. confirmed on the podcast. It was the Compton, CA-born and “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” artist who changed T.I.’s viewpoint around AI. “I think it’s dangerous. Initially I have been emphatically against it,” T.I. explained. “However, I talked to Dr. Dre and you know he was telling me about you know he’s producing for Bruce Springsteen and he telling me that he’s using some AI. He sent me some stuff that he did on AI, and he was like ‘No it’s still work. You still...
Beyoncé has officially reached billionaire status. The Houston-born entertainer and businesswoman has been working professionally since she was a child as a member of Girls Tyme, which later became Destiny’s Child. The group was managed by her father, Mathew Knowles. Parkwood Entertainment Beyoncé has taken greater agency in her career through a slew of moves. In 2010, she launched Parkwood Entertainment, formerly Parkwood Pictures, which is responsible for her music and video production, management, marketing, digital, creative, philanthropy, and record label, Parkwood Music, according to its LinkedIn page. “When I decided to manage myself, it was important that I didn’t go to some big management company,” Beyoncé explained at a Q&A held during a SVA Directors Screening in 2013. “I felt like I wanted to follow the footsteps of Madonna and be a powerhouse and have my own empire and show other women when you get to this point in your career, you don’t have to go sign with someone...
As a child, Oprah Winfrey understood she was destined for greatness. While many are familiar with her industry start as a broadcast reporter turned television host, she initially aspired to be an actress. However, that was frowned upon by her father, she admitted on the “NXT Chapter Podcast,” hosted by Bishop T.D. Jakes. “I had to make a decision. I’m going to go to college , and I’m going to end up, I thought, teaching. I will teach acting,” she explained. She then received a call during her sophomore year at Tennessee State University from a local television station, which she described as being divinely orchestrated. The station learned about her through a competition she had won in Nashville, TN. She was 16 years old at the time and the only Black girl in the contest. At age 17, Winfrey began working as a part-time radio announcer at Nashville’s WVOL Radio Station. She became the city’s youngest and first Black female news anchor at a station, Poynter reports. She later became...
Mike Tyson has filed a lawsuit against his former cannabis business partners. Tyson owns a venture-backed cannabis brand called Tyson 2.0, as AFROTECH™ previously told you. Tyson also acquired Ric Flair Drip, Inc. in 2022 to commercialize pro wrestler Ric Flair’s intellectual property, leading to the launch of cannabis products featuring Flair’s likeness. Front Office Sports reports Carma HoldCo Inc. and LGNDS partnered to distribute products from Tyson 2.0 and Ric Flair Drip. Tyson also assumed the role of Carma’s chief executive officer in April, according to a press release. “Carma HoldCo was built on the belief that powerful stories and even more powerful products can change how people connect with wellness, entertainment, and culture,” said Tyson in the release. “This isn’t just a title — it’s a responsibility I take seriously. I’ve wanted to be more involved for a long time, and now is the right time to take that step. I’m fully committed to making sure everything we create...
Paul Pierce balled out with his first check in the NBA. Getting Drafted The California native was drafted in 1998 by the Boston Celtics, where he would later win his first and only championship ring in 2008. He signed a four-year deal valued at $6.3 million, which amounted to an average salary of $1.6 million annually, per Spotrac. Splurging First Check Pierce said his first check in the NBA amounted to $1 million during his rookie year. However, most of it was gone within the blink of an eye. “When I got drafted No. 10, my check for the year was $1 million,” Pierce said on the “Club Shay Shay” podcast. “We had a lockout (a pause in pay during league negotiations), so cut that in half. So then $500,000, right? Taxes. Cut that in half. So really all I had was about like [$200,000].” Shannon Sharpe, the podcast’s host, interjected about having to pay an agent, which would lower Pierce’s cut further. “Yep. So knock that down,” Pierce said in response. “I needed me an apartment to rent,...
Angel Reese admitted that the WNBA doesn’t pay her bills, yet her efforts beyond the court place her among the highest-paid in women’s sports. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Reese comes from humble beginnings. She shared that she “used to be broke” and would clock in to work at Smashburger before going to practice in high school. Then the name, image, and likeness (NIL) policy, which went into effect in 2021, allowed Reese to find financial security. She secured deals with brands such as Coach, Wingstop, McDonald’s, Raising Cane’s, and Reebok. She transitioned to the pros, signing with the WNBA’s Chicago Sky as the seventh overall pick in 2024. According to Spotrac, she is under a four-year contract worth $324,383, with a base salary of $74,909. In a 2024 live, she admitted her league salary doesn’t cover her bills. “The WNBA don’t pay my bills at all. I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. Literally,” she said in a 2024 live. Partnerships Reese’s business moves off the...
Usher is teaming up with Big Sean to invest in Detroit youth. According to a news release, the pair is investing $1 million to launch an innovation incubator that will support youth looking to become content creators. The investment is poised to tap into the growing creator economy, which, according to Goldman Sachs, is projected to become a $480 billion industry by 2027. The incubator will be situated within the Michigan Central Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, which is set to open in February 2026, notes the press release. Both Usher and Big Sean bring their experiences as Boys & Girls Club alumni, to this investment. The incubator will offer young people ages 14–24 access to creative technology, hands-on learning, and mentorship from executives and creators, preparing them to pursue careers in film, television, and music production, as well as in AI, 3D, immersive technologies, and special effects. What’s more, it will also provide seed funding to launch paid creative...
Anthony Joshua, one of the highest-paid boxers in the world, is returning to the ring with Jake Paul. Jake vs. Joshua Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix announced Anthony Joshua — the two-time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medalist — will face Jake Paul at the Kaseya Center in Miami, FL, on Friday, Dec. 19, a release shared with AFROTECH™ states. There will be three eight-minute rounds fought in 10 oz gloves, BBC reports. The preliminary card starts at 4:45 p.m. ET/1:45 p.m. with the main card at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT on Netflix. The live matchup can be viewed on Netflix’s Tudum and Most Valuable Promotions’ (MVP) YouTube Channel. Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of MVP, said regarding the match, “From legendary champions to world-class broadcasters, this group reflects the standard we’ve set for Jake vs. Joshua: Judgment Day. Together with Netflix, we’re building a fight week and fight night experience that feels truly historic, and this team is central to bringing that vision to...