Fresh off the 20-year anniversary of the chart-topping hit, It Wasn't Me, dancehall megastar Shaggy has linked up with Cheetos to bring some nostalgic feels to Super Bowl LV.
The ad features Shaggy alongside celeb couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis in a comedic rendition of the classic hit centered around Cheetos' new Crunch Pop Mix. The Boombastic rapper told Cheddar that it's been an amazing ride to be able to celebrate a song that has stayed relevant for two decades, especially on such a massive stage like the Super Bowl.
"The thing about this song is it's relatable. I think that's what really did it," he told Cheddar.
"It's big because this is arguably one of the biggest Super Bowls in decades because of the fact that for the first time it's during COVID, of course," he added.
Much like the NFL pressing on through the pandemic, Shaggy said he hasn't let the impact of the virus lower the volume on his mic. Last year, he released Hot Shot 2020, a re-recording of the 2000 release.
This year also is shaping up to be a good one for the rapper as he gears up for a new release. "I just did an amazing record with my friend Anthony Hamilton that I'm really, really proud of," he said.
When it comes to adapting to the times, the proof is in the pudding, Shaggy explained, and he attributed his keeping a finger on the pulse of the culture by connecting with young creatives. He also touted championing artist empowerment and the new age of music discovery on social media apps like TikTok.
"It's amazing to watch, amazing to be a part of and to have gone through the journey from when it was cassettes all the way to CDs, to downloads, to ringtones, to streaming," he said. "We have seen music gone back into the hands of the artist, where a lot of it is controlled by the artist interaction with their fan base and that determines them getting on playlists and stuff like that."
Shaggy also shared similar sentiments circulating among musicians in regards to what many of them deem as unfair practices on the part of the record labels when it comes to fair payment in the age of streaming.
"Of course we're hoping legislation comes down to really bring a lot more money to streaming for a lot of these artists. These record companies have been having a field day for quite a while, and I've seen throughout this pandemic, where artists didn't get to tour a lot, especially [when] they were really counting on their streaming income," he said.
In efforts to help support black-owned brands. Ulta Beauty says it will make a commitment to not only give these brand shelf space but also help them navigate the ins and outs of growing a business. Last week, the beauty retailer announced in order to reach those goals, the company will spend $50 million on diversity and inclusion programs, including an accelerated program to mentor entrepreneurs of color. CEO of Ulta Beauty, Dave Kimbell, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Inflation remains hot as the January PPI has increased by 1 percent, twice what analysts had been expecting with a jump of 9.7 over the year. Beth Ann Bovino, the U.S. chief economist, for S&P Global Ratings, joined Cheddar News to discuss the rapid pace of inflation alongside higher wages, predicting the Federal Reserve will act quickly and forcefully this year. "They haven't changed their forecast, yet, that's gonna come out soon. But we expect that a March rate hike is basically pretty much baked in the cake," she said. "We think six rate hikes in total for 2022."
For black history month, Cheddar is highlighting black business leaders who are driving the need for representation forward. On February 10, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted an event called 'Developing the Black-Owned Business Ecosystem.' The virtual event was organized under the lobbying group's two initiatives -- the Equality of Opportunity Initiative, and the Coalition to Back Black Businesses. The event highlighted the developments needed to develop more black-owned businesses in the U.S. Dr. Anthony Wilbon, Dean of the School of Business at Howard University, joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss his experience as a speaker at the event.
Black spending power reached a record $1.6 Trillion in a 2021 report from the University of Georgia Selig Center for Economic Growth. Ayesha Selden, certified financial planner, breaks down why real estate is the key to closing the racial wealth gap and how Black Americans are using social media to improve financial literacy. "If we look at home ownership as being a primary driver of wealth, when you look at the equity that Americans have in their homes, that equity can be used to buy additional assets like other rental properties. That equity can be used to educate our children," Selden said, noting that lower rates of home ownership meant Black Americans tend to incur more debt on average for their student loans.
A new survey from Etoro suggests that talking crypto might actually help Americans on the dating scene find love...or at least land another date. The survey found that 74% of respondents would be more interested in going on a second date with a person that pays the bill in Bitcoin. Callie Cox, Etoro's U.S. investment analyst, joined Cheddar News to discuss.
