i.am+ was founded by will.i.am, who is globally known to be the founder of The BEPs, which he started with no money.

this story about i.am+ going broke is likely planted by H1B workers that are turning on him and the somewhat notorious Indian CEO that has had his hand in will's pocket for far too long. if they had done their job right, or even done what they obviously promised to do, they might be in better shape over there, don't you think?

by the way, one of those people that you think has "this coming" is widely known to be Marc Benioff, the Founder of Salesforce, who is himself fighting hard to ensure that people treat you right (and let you keep trying to start a tech company) after you finally become homeless.

But there's a broader aspect to this. will.i.am is a pop musician. Obviously he's successful in the music industry but why would anyone think he can suddenly found and run a tech company?

Beats by Dre seems to be doing OK.

Is “Beats by Dre” a “tech” company? I would class it as a traditional manufacturing/sales company that sells audio equipment. And his role as a prolific rapper and producer makes that a good synergy.

Beats is a marketing company IMO

That’s the music equivalent of Martha Stewart slapping her name on some pans. Of course it can do ok.

will.i.am was touring in middle school and he was a signed recording artist years before he and others formed the black eyed peas. Where the are you coming up this lie that he created the group from nothing?

That label famously (and tragically) tanked (due to the death of its founder) and he created the Peas from its ashes using nothing but his own skills. The Peas went on to be signed by a new label and the rest is history. What you are implying is that somehow what was left of that original label bankrolled and promoted and released The Peas, which is just pure bullslit.

I didn’t imply anything about Ruthless Records bankrolling the black eyed peas, but good job calling me on my non-existent bullshit.

Ruthless Records didn’t “famously tank”, they simply changed hands, and the new ownership dropped Atban Klann from their label cause they didn’t share Eazy-E’s enthusiasm for their work. Ruthless Records is still around.

And will.i.am couldn’t have created the Black Eyed Peas from the ashes of Atban Klann, because Atban Klann never dissolved, they (as in a group comprised of more than just will.i.am) merely changed their name and continued to recruit new members and put on shows until they were picked up by Interscope a year later.