Carnegie Hall

(NEW YORK, NY; February 3, 2023)— Carnegie Hall is excited to announce that a special presentation of Power Network: A Black History Month Conversation and Concert has been added to its schedule on Monday, February 27 at 8:00 p.m. featuring a performance by legendary hip-hop artist Busta Rhymes, plus a panel discussion with Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners Robert F. Smith, and Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings of the Earn Your Leisure podcast.

Hosted by radio personality Ed Lover, this one-night-only event also features special musical performances by DJ Clark Kent plus multi-genre orchestral ensemble Revive Big Band led by Music Director Igmar Thomas who will join Busta Rhymes on stage.

This dynamic evening in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage will offer audience members the opportunity to achieve a greater understanding of how to build wealth in the new digital economy. Mr. Smith and the Earn You Leisure hosts will be joined by additional panelists Derek Ferguson, Lisa Francoeur, Dr. Paul Judge, and Ibrahim Sagna to share their invaluable business insight through empowering conversations.

Tickets for this event will go on sale to the general public on Monday, February 6 at 11:00 a.m.  

About the Panelists
Robert F. Smith is a business leader, investor in transformative companies, a champion for diversity and inclusion, and a steward of culture, the environment, equity, and education. Smith founded the technology investment firm Vista Equity Partners. He is dedicated to serving and giving back to his communities and our planet through innovative and expansive philanthropic endeavors and in 2016 was elected as Carnegie Hall’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Originally a podcast created and hosted by financial advisor Rashad Bilal and educator Troy Millings, Earn Your Leisure is a revolutionary media platform which gives rise to emerging and established content creators from the world of business, finance, and entrepreneurship whose perspective, expertise and in-depth insight has been undervalued and overlooked. At its core, its ultimate ethos is to focus on the power of building community, highlighting collaboration over competition. Today, Earn Your Leisure has over 2 million followers across social media, and 900,000 YouTube subscribers. It hosts live events across the globe, which includes the biggest financial literacy festival in the world “Invest Fest.” Earn Your Leisure has three Top 100 podcasts under its umbrella as well as an interactive online educational platform, “EYL University.” One of the fastest-growing private business education communities, it includes over 200 archived webinars and has more than 12,000 active members.

Derek Ferguson is the Chief Administrative Officer at TIAA where he is responsible for leading the evolution of the company's strategy, planning, and delivering strategic initiatives. Before joining TIAA, Ferguson was at the Robin Hood Foundation, New York's largest poverty fighting organization, where he was interim Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, he was Chief Growth Officer and CFO of Combs Enterprises, where he managed various business ventures and brands on behalf of entertainment artist and entrepreneur Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Lisa Francoeur is a proud Haitian American, world-renowned motivational speaker, and often called the "Oprah of Tech" as she pursues her vision of "scaling empowerment globally." She interviews thought leaders in tech discussing topics that range from scaling billion dollar businesses to strategies to increase representation and elevate Black and LatinX professionals to leadership positions. Francoeur is also the co-founder of CryptoTutors, an educational platform teaching diverse professionals how to generate wealth via CryptoCurrency.

Dr. Paul Judge is a technology entrepreneur and investor. He has cofounded three companies that were acquired and has invested in over 30 companies. He is Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Pindrop and, prior to that, was cofounder of TechSquare Labs. Judge was also Co-Founder of Purewire, a web security company, that was acquired by Barracuda in 2008. Judge served as Chief Research Officer at Barracuda through its IPO in 2013. Prior to this, he was Chief Technology Officer of CipherTrust, a leader in email security, that was acquired by Secure Computing in 2006. Judge is the lead inventor of over 30 patents and has received many awards including being named to the Fortune’s Top 40 Under 40.

Ibrahim Sagna is an institutional platform builder with over 25 years of experience in global finance. His track record includes enabling over USD 30 Billion of Africa-related investments spanning telecom, media, and technology projects; across consumer spaces, traditional infrastructure, and natural resources. Mr. Sagna serves today as the Chairman of Silverbacks Holdings, an alternative investment firm focused primarily on acquiring minority stakes in select professional sports franchises, media properties and technology companies.

About the Artists
Multiple award-winning songwriter, rapper, producer, and actor Busta Rhymes launched his musical career in the early 1990s with the hip-hop crew Leaders of the New School. He moved on to become an in-demand collaborator, appearing on numerous tracks for other artists before he officially went solo in 1996 with his massive hit, "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check." The single was quickly certified platinum, earning him his first Grammy Award nomination. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, he was a creative force, topping the charts, including debuting at number one in 2006 with his seventh studio album The Big Bang. Several of his hit songs, such as "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See," "Break Ya Neck," "Dangerous," "Gimme Some More," and "What's It's Gonna Be?", featuring Janet Jackson, became hip-hop anthems, solidifying his place as one of the most sought-after rappers in the industry. In 2020, he independently released the critically acclaimed ELE 2: The Wrath of God, with UK music publication NME saying it was "arguably one of the best-produced hip-hop albums of the last five years."

Throughout his career spanning over three decades, Rhymes has received numerous accolades and awards, including six BET Awards, eight BMI Awards, a Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Award, a Soul Train Award, as well as 12 Grammy Awards and 16 MTV Video Music Award nominations. Beyond his work in music, Rhymes has appeared in several films and television series, including Shaft, Finding Forrester, Master of None, The Rugrats Movie, and he competed in The Masked Singer on FOX.

This super producer and turntable superstar Clark Kent has earned the respect of the ever growing, ever-changing music industry. Kent continues to travel the world as a DJ, playing clubs, arenas, and corporate events. He was the performance and tour DJ for Dana Dane, JAY-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Rakim, and Puff Daddy. In addition to JAY-Z and The Notorious B.I.G. his producer credits include Junior M.A.F.I.A., Mariah Carey, Rick Ross, and Kanye West.

Heralded by the Village Voice for having New York City’s “most electrifying young lions in jazz,” the Revive Big Band is a 20-plus piece big band led by Igmar Thomas, current Musical Director for Ms. Lauryn Hill, and former bandleader for Nas. Combining jazz, hip-hop, funk, soul, blues & gospel, the band's members are all-stars in their own right, collectively garnering 27 Grammy nominations and 13 Grammy Award wins between them.
 

Program Information
Monday, February 27 at 8:00 p.m.
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage
Power Network
A Black History Conversation and Concert

Busta Rhymes
DJ Clark Kent
Igmar Thomas and the Revive Big Band
Ed Lover, Host

with Panelists
Robert F. Smith
Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings of Earn Your Leisure
Derek Ferguson
Lisa Francoeur
Dr. Paul Judge
Ibrahim Sagna

Title Sponsor: The Humanity of Connection of AT&T.

With additional contribution from Fidelity Investments to the discussion on wealth, technology, and networking and from Greenwood Bank Modern Finance for the Culture. 

Music performance powered by the newly launched Vibranium Network.

 

 

Ticket Information

Tickets are now available to Carnegie Hall and Earn You Leisure notables. The public on-sale date is on Monday, February 6 at 11:00 a.m.

Tickets priced from $64—$225 will be available at the Carnegie Hall Box Office or by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800, or online at carnegiehall.org. Artists, programs, and prices are subject to change.

For Carnegie Hall Corporation presentations taking place in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, a limited number of seats, priced at $10, will be available day-of-concert beginning at 11:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:00 noon on Sunday until one hour before the performance or until supply lasts. The exceptions are Weill Music Institute and gala events. These $10 tickets are available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis at the Carnegie Hall Box Office only. There is a two-ticket limit per customer.

In addition, for all Carnegie Hall presentations in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage a limited number of partial view (seats with obstructed or limited sight lines or restricted leg room) will be sold for 50% of the full price. For more information on this and other discount ticket programs, including those for students, Notables members, and Bank of America customers, visit carnegiehall.org/discounts. Artists, programs, and prices are subject to change.

For the most up-to-date information about health and safety guidelines, please visit carnegiehall.org/SafetyChecklist.