December 12th 2024.
At the highly-anticipated Art Basel event in 2024, a startup founder struck gold when he secured a $50,000 investment for his revolutionary AI-powered music platform. Jeff Darko, the brains behind Mixplug, was declared the winner of this year's "Earn Your Masters" competition, as reported by Forbes. The competition, spearheaded by industry giants like Steve Stoute, Ally Bank, and the hosts of the popular financial literacy podcast Earn Your Leisure, Troy Millings and Rashad Bilal, aims to support and uplift emerging talent in the music industry.
Darko had been selected as one of the finalists in the competition, and his innovative approach to music production caught the attention of the judges. With the generous prize money, Darko plans to continue his mission of democratizing music production and making it accessible to all. In addition to the financial support, Darko will also gain access to a network of influential mentors and valuable resources, which will undoubtedly propel his platform to greater heights.
The Art Basel event was the final stop in a series of touring events, with previous stops in Charlotte and Chicago. The grand finale featured a thought-provoking "Mogul Talk" with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN from Drink Champs, as well as a panel discussion titled "Creating Cultural Capital in Women's Sports" featuring WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Renee Montgomery. The panel highlighted the impressive achievements of women athletes in both the business and sports world.
During the event, creative artist Tobe Nwigwe sat down with Millings and Bilal to share his insights on taking calculated risks and investing in oneself. Nwigwe recounted a pivotal moment in his career when a chance encounter with Oscar-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya led to a meeting with a Reebok executive. This eventually resulted in a collaboration opportunity with the iconic sneaker brand, set to launch in 2025. Nwigwe's story serves as a testament to the power of authentic connections and the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise.
Speaking of seizing opportunities, Nwigwe also shared an unforgettable experience he had with Pharrell Williams. After vibing together, Pharrell invited Nwigwe to the studio, where they collaborated on a song. However, the next day, Nwigwe received an invoice at a discounted "homie" rate - although still quite steep for an independent artist. Despite the hefty fee, Nwigwe recognized the value of the opportunity and paid for the song. Months later, Pharrell invited him to collaborate on a Moncler campaign, which paid double the cost of the song. This was a full-circle moment for Nwigwe, proving that his investment in their relationship had paid off in the end.
The "Earn Your Masters" event was not short on entertainment either, with an acoustic set by Mystic Marley, granddaughter of the legendary Bob Marley, a surprise performance by Rotimi, and appearances by stars such as Buju Banton, Grammy-winning producer Bangladesh, artist Fredo Bang, and journalist Shaheem Reid.
This event was the talk of the town, and it's no surprise that it attracted big names and even bigger opportunities. Even Jay-Z was in the spotlight, but for a different reason. He was recently named in a federal lawsuit, alleging that he sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl back in 2000. Despite this controversy, the "Earn Your Masters" event shone brightly, celebrating emerging talent and inspiring others to take risks and invest in their dreams.
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