Black History Month is dedicated to celebrating our roots, as we look toward the future of Black America. Typically, we revisit the legacy of black leaders who laid the ground work for the opportunities we take advantage of today. However, this year there's a certain energy swelling within Black America that feels like the dawn of a new era. Our community is no longer looking for recognition or acceptance, we're looking for our piece of the American Pie based off of the billion dollar influence we have on pop culture, which shapes the American identity. The New Black Renaissance is here, we understand the dollar value of our culture, and we're owning our responsibility to uplift each other mentally, spiritually, and financially. To celebrate the new black history made within the last 2-3 years, that is helping to mold the future of the African-American existence in our country, the REVOLT team debated for 3 days over who the cultural paragons are, leading the way through new standards of achievement, thought-leadership, innovation, and creative output across politics, fashion, sports/entertainment, and art. We give to you, the Leaders of the New Black Renaissance.
1st artist to win a Grammy, without selling music.
Petitioned the Recording Academy to include music solely offered through streaming services for Grammy Award consideration, leading to an effective rule change.
1st artist to chart on Billboard 200 with a streaming-only release
Donated $1 million dollars to Chicago public schools
Partnered with the Chicago Public Library for over 15 Open Mike Night events in effort to provide a creative outlet for Chicago youth.
Brought social justice to the forefront of sports by sparking league wide protests against racial injustices, and donated $1 million to 24 charitable organizations. His protest spread over into other professional leagues as well as the NCAA.
Cited as a catalyst for the drop in national NFL ratings by as much as 14% as a result of the "kneeling controversy".
Founding Partner, Loud Speakers Podcast Network featuring Lip Service, Taxstone Podcast, Combat Jack Show, and more
Provided legal representation for producers and entertainers, such as Jay Z, Damon Dash, Roc-a-fella Records, DJ Clark Kent, Nice & Smooth, Capone-N-Noreaga, Deric "D. Dot" Angelettie, Ski Beatz, and others, starting from an internship in legal affairs for Def Jam Recordings
Former Vice President of Audio/Music DVD at MTV Networks
Multiple title belt holder across 5 weight classes
Retired undefeated at 50-0
Ranked by ESPN as the greatest boxer, pound for pound, of the last 25 years
Topped the Forbes and Sports Illustrated lists of the 50 highest-paid athletes of 2012 and 2013, 2014, and 2015, listing him as the highest paid athlete in the world
Generated approximately 23.8 million in PPV buys and $1.67 billion in revenue throughout his career through, Mayweather Promotions
Included in the Trans 100, the first annual list recognizing 100 transgender activists in the United States
Listed in Time Magazine's "12 New Faces of Black Leadership"
Listed in Fast Company's "Most Creative People in Business"
Honored by Planned Parenthood with the Maggie Award for Media Excellence in "Social Media Campaign" for her work in creating a powerful and safe space for trans voices online
Turned TIDAL into the first artist-owned streaming platform, partnering with Sprint bringing the platform’s net worth to $600 million
Acquired 1.2 million TIDAL subscribers according to Forbes
Generated conversation surrounding generational wealth and ownership in the black community through the platinum selling 4:44 album, and nationally trending Rap Radar Podcast interview
As San Francisco's District Attorney, Harris instituted the Back on Track program putting first-time offenders ages 18-24 into month long college apprentice programs, dropping the city's rate of repeat offenders by 44%
Under Harris' direction, the CA Justice Dept. adopted body cameras and police were made to undergo implicit racial bias training
Presented legislation to close gender pay gap and co-sponsored bills to raise the federal minimum wage
Widely reported by ESPN, Bleacher Report, and more for potentially disrupting the sneaker industry by launching an independently owned and manufactured sneaker through Big Baller Brand.
Announced plans to launch Junior Basketball Association as an alternative to the NCAA for All-American athletes who wish to be paid to play as they prepare for the NBA.
Debuted one of Facebook's first original shows with "Ball in the Family"
Negotiated son's (LiAngelo and LaMelo) Lithuanian team to leave it's league to participate in the Big Baller Brand Challenge, a five-game scrimmage series in partnership with Facebook to promote Big Baller Brand.
Reported as setting a precedent for player contract negotiations by leveraging his value for the max amount of money, while signing for the shortest amount of time.
Signed $1 billion lifetime deal with Nike
Surpassed Michael Jordan as NBA's all-time playoff scoring leader. A record held by Jordan for 20 years.
World's 2nd highest paid athlete
Donated $41 million dollars, sending over 1,000 students to college.
Founded 1st media and tech company for Black Millennials
Blavity reaches an audience of 20 million a month
Through Blavity, leads the largest Black tech conference in Silicon Valley establishing partnerships with Comcast, WeWork, eBay, Bank of America, and more.
Director of Black Panther, Marvel's 1st big-budget film starring a black hero. The movie broke records with $700 million in revenue in first 2 weeks of release
Wrote & directed critically acclaimed Rocky spin-off "Creed"
Sundance Film Festival, Best First Film and Grand Jury Prize winner for directing "Fruitvale Station"
Named to Time Magazine's 30 People Under 30 Changing the World.
Executive Production for the Black Panther movie album
Acquired Top 2 spots on Billboard simultaneously with CTRL and DAMN
Leading Black owned independent label (with distribution from Interscope and Dr. Dre’s Aftermath) with five number one albums and millions of records sold worldwide
One of the first designers to launch a unisex line
2017 Council of Fashion Designers Award Winner
Innovated fashion show release parties with zip code specific releases at White Castle and giving 100% proceeds to justice fund and RFK Human Rights Liberty
Created Bevel razor, the first razor designed for people with coarse hair, specifically popular among black males.
Bridged the gap between beauty and tech after securing $24 million in funding for research and product development from Institutional Venture Partners, Andreesen Horowitz, Google Ventures, and Felicis Ventures
Secured national distribution deal through Target within 20 months of first sale
Established 95% customer loyalty rate across 14 countries
Led the Fatal Force Project, the 1st database tracking every fatal police shooting nationwide. This led to the justice department announcing a pilot program to collect a comprehensive set of use-of-force statistics
One of the Washington Post’s lead reporters covering Ferguson protests after Mike Brown’s killing
Debut book "They Can't Kill Us All: Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America's Racial Justice Movement" won the 2017 Christopher Isherwood prize for autobiographical prose from the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes
Wrote, produced, and executive produced over 30 films and television shows including Being Mary Jane, Girls Trip, Straight Outta Compton, Think Like a Man, etc.
Produced fastest million-dollar grossing film independently distributed by African American
Produced 5 number 1 films, Stomp the Yard, Obsessed, Takers, Think like a Man and Ride Along grossing over $246 million
Co-founded production company Rainforest Films, which was #34 on the list of Top 100 Film Distributors by The Hollywood Reporter
Listed among the "New Establishment" of Black power brokers in Hollywood