TITANIUM: THE NEW BLACK (A new, yet now defunct, American Express Card)

Chronic Magazine (a blazin' source of hip-hop news) ^

[Vision Thing]

Peace to the hip-hop nation!

[conservativeinferno]

I have a black Master Card. What!?

[mwyounce]

The Black American Express card was one of those urban legends that became real:

http://www.snopes.com/business/bank/blackcard.asp

[PBRSTREETGANG]

By now, you’ve probably heard of and seen several of your favorite hip-hop artists toting the "Black Card."

I thought they were toting the "Race Card".

[brwnsuga]

I don't have any credit cards anymore. Hubbie paid them and helped me cut them up....... I have a debit card and no debt. Debt makes you a slave to whomever you owe.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

They only ever offer me the platinum card. I'm really going to have to step it up.

(Apparently, I had better start working on a hip-hop album in my garage.)

[conservativeinferno]

I have 6 credit cards that I use rarely just to keep open lines of credit. It helped me qualify for my 4.5% 100K loan. (:

[Vision Thing]

The Black American Express card was one of those urban legends that became real.

Based on this article, AMEX didn't 'keep it real' for too long. As others on this board would say: "He's dead, Jim."

However, you have to hand it to AMEX. As the Snopes article mentions, they tried to capitalize on an urban legend instead of being the victim of it.

[happinesswithoutpeace]

If you want to see a "real" Titanium credit card, google "Nemisis Knives Titanium".

[mwyounce]

That's why I said "was" and "became" ;-)

[commonasdirt]

They should have kept it going the faster these hip-hop morons blowing all their money on "Bling" is good for the economy

[Vision Thing]

I thought they were toting the "Race Card".

I think you're mistaking the Amex card with this one:

[brwnsuga]

Okay, we are slaves to our mortgage company too. But other than that, we are free.

[Vision Thing]

I use two credit cards to pay for everything, including rent. However, I pay them off completely on the due date. It's a good cash-flow tactic.

[thegreatbeast]

Watching MTV's Cribs, I can't help but wondering what small fraction of the artists and athletes will be able to maintain their Mcmansions. Ten years from now will they have the money to cover the property tax or later the $60,000 to redo the roof?
Few of these celebrities seem to have the sense to develop a business acumen. Combs is one of the few. But how long before Michael Jackson will be shorn of the last illusion of great wealth?

[Koblenz]

I'm very happy with my Amex Platinum Cash Rebate card. Yeah, it says "Cash Rebate" on the card, but so what. It has no annual fee, and pays back 1.50% in cash each February. I got something like $1,800 last year. Yeah, I charge a lot. But I pay the bill each month in full. Last year, I had some special charges: I charged a big home remodeling project and the down payment on my wife's SUV. And we had a baby. But everything goes on that card: groceries, prescriptions, diapers, furniture, etc. And I'm self employed, and frequently charge things on behalf of clients and get reimbursed (travel to sites, database subscriptions, etc). So all the charges aren't really mine... But the 1.5% is really quite nice.

[Vision Thing]

It's the same old story with most people who are'blessed' with a large cash windfall. Most people don't know how to handle it, much less milk it for all it's worth. And you're right: P Diddy is an exception. Another exception is Usher. He was all the rage last year, but he knows his fame won't last, so he's taking steps now to diversify his income and preserve his current wealth.

[em2vn]

Doesn't American Express require full payments at the end of each month?

[Vision Thing]

Sweet! Sounds like you're making money on the card, despite the high yearly fee on it.

[djf]

Hell, I could charge $250,000.00 a year.

Didn't say I could pay it back...