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Money > Decoded

DEF DIVIDENDS

At just 17 years old, LL became Def Jam Record’s flagship artist. His debut album, Radio, went on to go platinum and his 13-album catalog features many more million-plus sellers, including 1992’s Mama Said Knock You Out and 1997’s Mr. Smith, which both sold over two million copies and earned LL a pair of Grammies. To date, the Queens rapper’s catalog includes a dozen proper albums chockfull of classic records, and all that songwriter publishing means plenty of guaranteed money in the bank.

LL Cool J Decoded: The Greatest Brand of All Time

Taking home I Am Hip-Hop honors at the BET Hip-Hop Awards the entertainment veteran gets Decoded

From artist to actor to author to businessman, LL Cool J is a brand that…

By Alvin Blanco

Posted: October 11, 2011 Tags: BE Decoded, BET Hip-Hop Awards, black hollywood, Cedarview Capital, Decoded, Def Jam, FUBU, Gendarme Fragrances, Grammy, hedge funds, Hip Hop a Cultural Odyssey, I Am Hip-Hop Award, James Todd Smith, LL Cool J, NCIS: Los Angeles, Sears

EDDIE MURPHY AS "DR. JOHN DOLITTLE" IN DR. DOLITTLE (1998) The central character in a series of children's books by Hugh Lofting (1920–1952), Doctor John Dolittle shuns human patients in favor of animals that he can communicate with in their own languages. Actor Rex Harrison played the lead role in the 1967 film adaptation, but Murphy helped revive the character with his 1998 remake, which grossed over $250 million worldwide and spawned several sequels.

Eddie Murphy Decoded: Road to the Riches & the Oscars

Breaking down the economic influence the Oscars' new host has over Hollywood

Veteran comedian/actor Eddie Murphy was recently tapped to host the 2012 Oscars. The Hollywood veteran…

By William E. Ketchum III

Posted: September 27, 2011 Tags: Anne Hathaway, Aubrey O'Day, BE Decoded, Danity Kane, Decoded, Eddie Murphy, James Franco, Oscars, Rick James, Saturday Night Live, stand-up comedy, Weird Al Yankovic

Steve Harvey Decoded: A Brand Suited for Success

The enterprising funny man is no joke when it comes to business and brand extension

More than a comedian, Steve Harvey has built a profitable brand that spans across various…

By William E. Ketchum III

Posted: August 9, 2011 Tags: Act Like A Lady Think Like A Man Cedric The Entertainer, BE Decoded, Decoded, Denzel Washington, Family Feud, Ford, Gabrielle Union, Hoodie Awards, Kevin Hart, michael ealy, Spike Lee, Steve Harvey, Steve Harvey Collection, Taraji P. Henson, The Steve Harvey Morning Show, Tom Joyner Morning Show, Young Kings Collection

President Barack Obama changed the game when it came to utilizing a powerful tool of influence: social media. Since his successful 2008 bid for the U.S. presidency, he has held a prominent role, using social networking as a way to reach the masses, gain support, and create one of the most transparent presidencies in history. Here's a look at his social media presence, and how his administration has successfully leveraged it as a vital resource. --- Janell Hazelwood

Decoding Barack Obama’s Social Media Campaign Strategies

A look at the Head of State's prowess with social Web

President Barack Obama changed the game since his successful run in 2008, utilizing the most…

By Janell Hazelwood

Posted: July 7, 2011 Tags: Barack Obama, BE Decoded, Decoded, Facebook, LinkedIn, Michelle Obama, MiGente, MySpace, political campaign, president barack obama, President Obama, Social media, social networking, social Web, Twitter, White House

Michael Jackson: Decoding the Brand Power of a Black Music Legend

A reflection on the King of Pop's musical and business impact two years after his passing

As a musical icon Michael Jackson’s legacy spans from record breaking album sales and groundbreaking…

By Andreas Hale

Posted: June 24, 2011 Tags: BE Decoded, black music month, Decoded, Jackson 5, Janet Jackson, King of Pop, Michael Jackson, MTV, Pepsi, The Wiz, Thriller

Oprah Winfrey Decoded: Makings of a Multimedia Master

Over the past 25 years Oprah Winfrey has inspired us as a billionaire businesswoman. Here's a snapshot of her financial power

Oprah Winfrey airs the finale of her top-rated talk show The Oprah Winfrey Show today,…

By Tamara Warren

Posted: May 25, 2011 Tags: Barack Obama, BE Decoded, Carol's Daughter, Decoded, Harpo Films, Lisa Price, O magazine, Oprah Book Club, Oprah finale, Oprah Winfrey, Oprah Winfrey Foundation, Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, Oprah's Angel Network, Oprah's favorite things, OWN, the Oprah Effect, The Oprah Winfrey Show, We Take the Cake

LeBron James Decoded: A Slam Dunk Brand

Moving to Miami only amplified LeBron James' stock in the NBA and is having a similar effect on his business and bank account

Since joining Dwayne Wade on the Miami Heat, LeBron James has made millions more and…

By Andreas Hale

Posted: May 20, 2011 Tags: Aaron Goodwin, BE Decoded, Boys & Girls Club, Chris Bosh, Cleveland Cavaliers, Decoded, Dwayne Wade, ESPN, Fenway Sports Management, Kobe Bryant, lebron james, Liverpool F.C. Soccer Club, LRMR Sports Marketing Company, Maverick Carter, Miami Heat, Michael Jordan, NBA, Nike, Pat Riley, The Decision

New York Knicks Slam Dunk Contest Trophy

Decoded: The Economics of a Winning Knicks Team

How the Knicks making the playoffs gives New York City businesses a boost

By Christina Tapper

Posted: April 22, 2011 Tags: Amar’e Stoudemire, Anheuser-Busch, BE Decoded, Boston Celtics, Carmelo Anthony, Coke, Decoded, Delta, Harlem Lanes, J.P. Morgan Chase, Knickerbockers, Madison Square Garden, Modell's, New York Knicks, playoffs, Spike Lee, Ticketmaster

Evolving in the public eye, Chris Brown has gone from teenaged heartthrob to pop music megastar to vilified brute and then repentant sinner. At the heart of his image downturn is the 2009 assault of then girlfriend, Rihanna, which showed a darker side to the talented singer/dancer/actor. Brown’s subsequent apologies, paid debt to society in the form of community service and an emotional performance of Michael Jackson’s “Man In The Mirror” at the 2010 BET Awards seemed to have almost wiped his slate clean—that is, until last month’s Good Morning America appearance. Following an awkward and defensive interview with GMA co-host Robin Roberts, Brown threw a tantrum backstage, smashing a window at ABC’s Times Square studio in the process. Though Brown has since apologized for his behavior (again), many speculate that he’s running out of second chances and that’s bound to hit him in the pockets. BlackEnterprise.com takes a look at how all the drama has or hasn’t affected the troubled star’s money.

Chris Brown Decoded: The Finances of a Tarnished Brand

An exploration of how much the troubled star's scandals have adversely affected his bottom line

An exploration of how much the troubled star’s scandals have adversely affected his bottom line

By timmhotep aku

Posted: April 7, 2011 Tags: BE Decoded, Body by Milk, Chris Brown, Decoded, Doublemint Gum, endorsement deal, Good Morning America, Got Milk, Michael Jackson, Paul Chibe, Rihanna, Robin Roberts, touring, Wrigley's

Over the course of the past decade Tyler Perry has dominated. His stage plays, motion pictures, DVDs, sitcom series, online talk show and book, based on commentaries from his popular character of Madea, have collectively grossed hundreds of millions of dollars. As the most commercially successful Black filmmaker in history, Perry is quickly making his way to billionaire status not by following the rules but by breaking them. Staying true to his core audience and pushing his message of family values, the media mogul has a lock on a lucrative slice of the African American market. Whether you love him or you hate him, you definitely can’t ignore him. If there’s still any doubt, here are a few reminders of Perry’s influence.

Tyler Perry Decoded: The Deals, the Brand, the Influence

A breakdown of the media mogul's empire and reach by the numbers

A breakdown of the media mogul’s empire and reach by the numbers

By Darralynn Hutson

Posted: March 21, 2011 Tags: BE Decoded, black church, church, David Talbert, Debmar-Mercury, Decoded, Forbes, George Lopez, Gospel, Halle Berry, Ice Cube, Janet Jackson, Langston Hughes, Lee Daniels, Lionsgate, Lorraine Hansberry, Madea, TBS, Tyler Perry

Money > Decoded

By Alvin Blanco

By William E. Ketchum III

By William E. Ketchum III

By Janell Hazelwood

By Andreas Hale

By Tamara Warren

By Andreas Hale

By Christina Tapper

By timmhotep aku

By Darralynn Hutson

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