Rihanna Is The Face of Pharrell William’s Louis Vuitton Campaign

By: Gentel Sharrie

Pharrell Williams is making major moves with Louis Vuitton after being named the Men’s Creative Director. Pharrell even dropped a major billboard with Rihanna being the face, standing proud in front of it. Pharrell’s post comes a week before Paris Fashion Week.

Pharrell gained recognition in the late 1990s as one-half of the production duo The Neptunes, alongside Chad Hugo. The Neptunes produced numerous hit songs for artists across various genres, including Britney Spears, Nelly, Jay-Z, and Justin Timberlake. They became one of the most successful production teams in the music industry.

Hip Hop Artist Pharrell

Photo: Johnny Nunez/Getty Images

In addition to his work as a producer, Pharrell also pursued a solo career as a recording artist. In 2003, he released his debut solo single, "Frontin'," which achieved commercial success. However, his breakthrough as a solo artist came in 2013 with the release of the worldwide hit song "Happy" from the soundtrack of the animated film "Despicable Me 2." The song topped charts around the world and earned Pharrell numerous awards and nominations, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song.

Virgil Abloh Photographed by Sebastian Kim, Vogue, October 2015

Pharrell has released several successful albums as a solo artist, including "G I R L" (2014), which featured the hit singles "Happy" and "Come Get It Bae." He also had a single with Rihanna called Lemon.

Before Pharrell was named the Men’s Creative Director the late Virgil Abloh, Pharrell was head of the department before he passed away.

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Nelly Strikes Multimillion-Dollar Deal Selling Catalog Assets

By: Adonis Armstrong

Nelly appears to be enjoying life in 2023 with a continuous stream of performances and a lucrative multimillion-dollar agreement to solidify his enduring legacy.

Variety verified the speculations when reports unveiled that the artist from St. Louis had joined forces with an asset management company to transfer a "select" portion of his catalog. Nelly has reached a mutually satisfactory agreement with HarbourView Equity Partners, reportedly valued at $50 million, as reported by TMZ. The deal encompasses some of his iconic songs, including "Ride Wit Me," "Hot in Herre," and "Dilemma" featuring Kelly Rowland.

In reference to the deal, Nelly expressed, “As artists, we put our heart and soul into each track, and there comes a time when you consider preservation of that artistry. My music is my legacy, which I want to last beyond me, continuing to make my existing fans happy while reaching new generations and new audiences. I am excited to partner with HarbourView to create opportunities for discovery of my music decades from now.”

As mentioned earlier, the St. Lunatic, has won three Grammy Awards, has been making waves in the music industry. In the past month alone, Nelly treated his fans to an exciting Hot In Herre Festival featuring renowned artists like Ne-Yo, Ja Rule, T.I., and many others. In February, he also graced the 2023 Grammys to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip hop. Furthermore, Nelly has captivated audiences with his performances at notable events such as Juneteenth: A Global Celebration For Freedom, Lovers and Friends Music Festival, and the Stagecoach Festival.

Sherrese Clarke Soares, the founder of HarbourView Equity Partners, also shared her thoughts on the deal with Nelly. “This catalog has made an incredible impact on generations of fans,” she stated. “Works such as “Hot in Herre” and “Shake Ya Tailfeather” defined an era of music of a unique blend of hip hop, R&B, and country music that is undeniable. We are thrilled to add these influential pieces to our repertoire and work with the team to continue supporting the artistry within our ecosystem.”

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Erica Banks Gets The Last Laugh With The "Buss It" Challenge

By: Prince Hakeem

In today’s music landscape, there is a plethora of different artists, genres, sounds, and aesthetics. The competition is more fierce and audiences have attention spans which seem to be growing shorter and shorter. In addition to the multiple ways music is distributed and shared via the internet and social media, rising above the clutter can be challenging for new acts looking to break out. That is why whenever an artist catches a record exhibit organic reach and free promotion, it’s best they ride that wave as long as they can. For Texas rapper Erica Banks, that’s exactly what happened. 

Erica Banks - Buss It [Official Music Video]

Hailing from Dallas, Texas, 22-year-old rapper Erica Banks is currently enjoying some breakout attention thanks to a viral challenge which uses a record of hers as the musical backdrop. Thanks to social media platform Tik Tok, Banks is quickly shedding her unknown, yet local, rapper image and is turning into a possible rising star to look out for this year.

The “Buss It Challenge” is the latest dance trend on Tik Tok to go viral. Much like the “Don't Rush” Challenge and “Savage” Challenge, this latest social media craze has cultivated a lot of attention for the artist whose record is featured as the anthem. The Buss It Challenge uses Banks’ song, “Buss It” and is a creative way for users to show off their transformative “glow-up” skills. With some make-up, minimal editing skills, and seemingly Meg thee Stallion-esque knees, the challenge is fun and easy to pull off.

Released in June 2020, “Buss It” uses a looped sample of Nelly’s “Hot in Here” record as it’s sonic foundation. It also makes for a catchy chorus as well. The record never really caught on after it’s initial release. However, thanks to a woman named Erika Davila, “Buss It” found new life almost immediately.

Davila was the first one to create and do the challenge. She posted a video of herself doing the drop-down-to-twerking process back on January 1. Featuring Banks’ “Buss It” as the soundtrack, the #BussItChallenge was soon born, becoming a viral sensation within the first few weeks of 2021. The hashtag has been trending on Twitter for several days, with celebrities including Gabrielle Union and DaniLeigh getting in on the fun. 

Okay Gab with the good knees! pic.twitter.com/u4YgaySorJ

— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) January 12, 2021

What started as a song, from a generally unknown artist, going nowhere has turned into a social media hit. It’s garnered Erica Banks elevating exposure and a break out introduction to larger audiences. The challenge, more importantly, is a clear testament to the power of social media. The Buss It Challenge gave the record a completely new vibe and image seemingly overnight. Banks also attested to this, revealing that it wasn't all love when it came to “Buss It”.

Just a couple days ago Banks took to IG and clapped back at the several haters and nay sayers who’ve dismissed her and the record. “It’s funny to see some of y’all who was talking sh*t months ago dropping that #BussItChallenge. Y’all had a change of heart huh,” she wrote. From constantly compared as being a diet Meg thee Stallion to accusations of biting her flow and style, Erica Banks now has an opportunity to separate herself and prove she’s her own artist.

Social media has become the biggest promotion tool for artists who may not have the machine behind them. It’s time to take as serious note of that. In Banks’ case, she’s definitely garnered a more focused visibility among general hip-hop fans. And now thanks to Tik Tok, she ended up having the last laugh. Mission accomplished.

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