He’s taking hip-hop into the future!
Hip-hop legend Rakim is taking his influence beyond music and into the world of financial technology with the launch of “Notes Technology,” an AI-powered fintech platform designed to provide artists with financial tools, capital access, and financial literacy education, AfroTech reports.
The rap pioneer is still going strong nearly 40 years later, releasing his studio album “G.O.D.’s Network” in 2024 and now stepping into the fintech space to help independent artists gain control over their finances and careers. “Notes” aims to bridge the gap between music, finance, and technology by equipping artists with access to loan and credit providers to fund creative projects, AI-driven financial education, and fintech tools to manage income and capital.
“With Notes, getting ‘paid in full’ is beyond just the money,” Rakim shared in a statement on the company website. “It’s also about the knowledge and understanding of the urban music game from a position of being conscious of how it all works as a business, and how to leverage that to thrive and succeed as independent urban music artists and creators.”
A key feature of “Notes” is an AI-powered voice assistant modeled after Rakim himself. The platform is also set to expand with additional financial wellness tools, including business banking, debit cards, P2P payment services, and cryptocurrency solutions.
“Independent urban music artists and creators often struggle to gain financial stability despite their market impact,” Rakim said in a news release. “With Notes, we’re building a community- and lifestyle-driven platform that combines cultural connection, technology, and empowerment to give them the tools they need to thrive.”
The initiative is further strengthened through a partnership with fellow rap pioneer and fintech entrepreneur Divine Lombard, who founded Solvent, the world’s first “super neobank,” helping users optimize their financial lives, in 2022.
“The opportunity to partner with Rakim and build a platform like Notes, to empower and support artists and creators in the urban community who have been underserved and exploited for so long, is unprecedented,” Lombard shared.
For artists looking to take control of their financial future, “Notes” is opening doors to new possibilities. Those interested can join the waitlist today.
Cover photo: Hip-Hop Pioneer Rakim Launches New ‘Notes’ Fintech Platform to Empower Independent Artists/Photo credit: Keith Hutter/Billboard