Talking With Sincere
I5: Whatsup Sin! Thanks for taking the time out to build with us. Ok, so we see your name all over the place…tell everybody how you got started in the biz?
I actually started just taking pictures at shows I never EVER expected all of this! I had a bit of knowledge about events and PR from my past work with athletes, I have a best friend who has been in the music industry with his own label for over 10 years, and I have (sometimes) a lot of common sense (laugh) and I pay attention. The more I was in the scene the more I learned, the more I learned the more I realized I could help and do what I love, and that’s being around music 24/7.
It really started because I saw artists getting used for their talents by promoters and others, it was kind of sad. To see a grown man or women use another grown mans talent to make a few dollars but with nothing to really offer in return or real knowledge to share to help them. It’s actually pathetic to me. I’m not the best never claim to be, BUT I do try and help if I can, many artists I am proud to say got paid their first time EVER because of mine and my staffs concepts, and I know what we have been a part of some things behind the scenes that have helped and that’s what it should be about, at least for me and what I do….Helping see someone shine selflessly. Our Network is open for ANYONE who needs it or asks for it, I can’t say the same for everyone.
Anyone can tell you I and the people I work with are true ADVOCATES for the artist and the music not the industry or the dollar but I do understand why things are they way they are and I RESPECT that, like DJ‘s charging for slots or hostings, eblast charges, banner placement costs ect. THIS IS A BUSINESS at the end of the day.
I first stepped in working with Shimmy from the Main Dealer, met a bunch of good people, I was with him for a really short time but learned a lot and had doors open for me because of him. When I left I had already known Quincy Taylor of ITW and liked what I had seen him do so I asked him for a job, I ended up working directly for Quincy as his right hand woMAN for a while.
I started from the bottom up. I booked events, took pictures of promos ITW was working on, worked the door, checked artists in, all of it. I worked mostly on The Underground Show when it was held over at the VIP area of Metropolis and then onto bigger events ITW would have in the city. Working for Q gave me a lot of courage to be the person I am today. He will always be one of my mentors.
From working with Q, I made a lot of connections and got to meet some amazing people from the Cleveland scene.
I then sought out vets in the business to give me knowledge on the foundation of the city. After about 2 years a little less, I left ITW and created by own company called Added Bonus Entertainment aka A.B.E. less then 6 months out the gate we were nominated for Marketing Company of the Year at the 2007 OHHA’s.
A.B.E was created not only by me but I joined up with my former personal assistant now Co-CEO/A&R of A.B.E Ivette aka Chi Chi (pronounced Shy Shy don’t call her cheechee *laugh) who has worked in clubs in her home town of Chicago and had a love for music and respect for the artists that are unmatched!People think she is the calm one, but no one has had the balls to really piss her off yet, and I don’t suggest it! (laugh)
I also brought in MJK (director of ops for A.B.E) CEO of Check Loyalty Ent. who had done some amazing work with some of the hottest mixtapes as far as getting them in stores and out to the hands of the public, and his street team grind IS crazy! He is one of those people you NEVER see coming, but is behind the scenes making moves from OH to the Carolina’s to Florida. He’s something like a ninja! (laugh) I really and truly would not be here if it wasn’t for Ivette and MJK I owe my entire career to them and will forever be grateful to them for standing by me in good times and bad…UNCONDITIONALLY!
We implemented things we had learned and stayed away from the things we had learned NOT to do. We created something that we could be proud of and a network that is crazy unbelievable!
Like the way we put together the shows with up and coming artists from all walks of hip hop back in 06/07
We would bring in an out of state DJ or use a fresh new DJ in the city (shout to DJ Xplosive and XTC Soundcrew), We would share the money off the door with the artists&DJ and give artists 50% of their ticket sales. Other promoters were paying the artists from their tickets sales, but not at that high of a percentage and NO one (That I knew of) was sharing their door money. I felt like it was a team effort from me to my staff to the artists to the DJ so everyone should eat (the only time this is not applied is when being on a bill lets say opening for a major that will help your resume that is completely different story)
We would try and give the artists more then what we had been seeing them get out of other a non major shows. We also felt it important to treat them like artists and go as far as to invite media outlets, respected members of the hip hop community, possible sponsors ect. In order for the networking opportunity for the new artists on the scene to be there in the building.
And really give them more reasons to come and do the show. Artists have to take time away from work, family and other things in order to do a show, so I did what I thought should be done for these up and comers my own way with the help of the A.B.E staff. We also spent our time to do college radio for promo’s from in studio interviews/promos to call in’s . I also put expectations on artists to make sure they did their job correctly, made a mandatory check in time hour that was reasonable or they would not get their money or slot, if an artist was going to be late they had to call at least 1 hour before check in or again they would loose their door money, artists had to have at least 1 person designated from their camp stay for the ENTIRE show or they would not received their door percentage which we did at the end of the night. I felt like we were doing a job, and so are they so certain things have to be done as a job, we also made the show start on time, no matter what. It should be fun, but it still is a job for everyone.
It did work out very well, but it was a lot of hard work and to be honest, I got a LOT of heat from “promoters” in the city 1 in particular even had the balls to try and “check” me when I attened one of his events, needless to say that didn‘t go over so well…for him! (laugh)I think I was getting heat because some of the artist we had worked with were getting smarter and realizing what the deal was and started demanding more from lazy “promoters”
. *and a side note I have never been or will be a promoter, there is nothing wrong with being a promoter but what we do is more of what I call events coordinating, not a promoter, nor have I ever claimed or want to be a promoter. Just had to clear that up*
At the end of the day I stopped the shows but I know in my heart that what we had done had impacted people because to this day I get asked EVERY time I’m out when we are doing another show by artists who had been booked and even asked by artists who had heard about what we had created. That says something, at least to me, that well over a year later people still asking about those shows, it says a lot about the way we did business. I am still very proud of those shows.
I got into management but hated that part of the business, I took advice from several people around me and affiliates and mentors and late last year decided to cut out the management factor (at least on my end) and become a full time Publicist and do more writing.
I5: That’s whatsup. So tell us about Added Bonus Entertainment…who's down?
Our client listing is CRAZY! Officially A.B.E handles PR and more for:
K.justice-Artist (Painesville OH), Jay-Five-Artist (Warren OH) Gotta Husle (Group) and Gotta Husle Ent. (Youngstown OH) Klassik-Artist (Tampa) The Beat Moguls (FL) A Klassik Design ( FL) LBS Clothing Co. (FL), Kalam aka Killah Beats (Zoo Boyz) Producer-(OH/NY) MR 44-Artist (Cleveland OH), The Sound Teckz-Production DUO (Cleveland OH), Raphead.com(World wide, based out of Chicago)
I as also an independant Publicist am the publicist for the following, who are obviously affiliated with the brand A.B.E but are not directly working with the company A.B.E: Paulie Rhyme (Bay Area, Cali), Young Yonny-Producer (OH), L.T. mOE-Producer(Atlanta) Hunned Buck-Artist (Erie PA) DJ Nitro (Pittsburgh PA)
I5: Aight with that, tell us about yourself…have you ever sang or rhymed…any youtubes we can find out there of you freestyling?
(Laugh) I love to be BEHIND the scenes so NO you will not see me on camera freestylin’ or singing UNLESS I’m just clowning. I am the biggest goof ball in the world. I love to laugh and make others laugh, but as I can plainly say it HELL TO THA NAW! (laugh)
I5: We got wind of some heated discussions you had with someone from out of state regarding Ohio and its current impact on hip-hop. Tell us how you feel about the current state of Ohio hip-hop…the good and the bad.
I think people need to chill the F* out and GROW UP! (laugh) Ohio hip hop is a very different breed then any other scene I have EVER been around. I have heard it said and I have to agree the Ohio hip hop scene is like “crabs in a barrel” but there is hope, I have faith like many others in not only the scene here but hip hop in general, but if we don’t want it bad enough we will continue to be stuck on Idle.
People don’t like to hear the truth, and fool themselves into believing BS and wonder why they don’t get ahead…LOOK IN THE MIRROR! Maybe if you stopped pointing the finger for one second and looked in the mirror you would find the problem! It can’t be EVERYONE around yous’ fault for whatever BS YOU got yourself into! People are LAZY at times (yes I said it!) Hate it or love it it’s the truth! I hear artists complain all the time why they not getting paid or why they not getting booked or getting spins, but YOU have NO fan base you are not SUPPORTING the DJ‘s you are not BUILDING relationships (knowledge reinforced from attending the NMS in NOV) YOU (the artist) don’t do any proper promotions for the shows you booked yourself on, you don’t help the situation YOU got yourself into, then they book again and again with the same person they bitched about taking them for a sucker…WTF? Does that make ANY sense? Or they compain the DJ wont spin their music, BUT you have never ever gone to one of their events, talked to them, hell got them a drink or held a convo with them but you EXPECT them to play your music or even know who you are? ARE YOU KIDDING ME??
If the promoter isn’t getting paid because YOU brought something to the table like FANS, why should you get paid? 20 rappers on the bill in the crowd are the only ones watching you perform IS NOT A FAN BASE, they HAVE to be there just like you! Amd guess what they didn’t pay to get in, JUST LIKE YOU! And YES a proper promoter should be able to get people to come other then the artists but you have to do your part as well!
People act as if they are OWED something, but for what? Just cuz you can rap? I can find rappers all over the state and world that would give anything to be on a stage just once, NO one asked you to rap so why does anyone OWE you anything? COME ON!
People tend to take advantage of situations and if you that sucker they lickin on that’s all on you!
I am going to say it, A LOT of people are straight dick riders! Prime example, I came back from NY last year and had heard people in the NYC talking about Cleveland native Kid Cudi, (I had NO IDEA who he was til NYC) but NO ONE (expect Chip and a very FEW select artists producers and DJ’s) was saying anything about him out here, from the bottom to the top of the Cleveland hip hop scenes food chain I had come into contact with No one was talking about Kid Cudi, NOW all of a sudden the SAME people I said something to who had NO love for him before, are now screaming KID CUDI! He left OH, got on in 3 short years with one of the biggest hip hop super stars on the planet and NOW you want to scream his name, COME ON!FAKES and dick riders make up 50% of the scene, and the other 50% are hard working, true to the core, love what they do, good people, it just seems sometimes the dick riders and fakes have better budgets (laugh)
But all that applies to hip hop as a whole not just the Cleveland Scene, I came in thinking that artists like AZ and NAS were “the real Hip Hop” and nothing else was hip hop. That an artist had to have crazy lyrical skill or bars for days. I couldn’t have been MORE wrong! Hip Hop is a lifestyle, hip hop was created on a foundation and fundamentals that has been watered down and blurred over the years. Rap, hipster, cappin whatever you want to call the music an artist releases, it is all a branch of hip hop.It may not be YOUR personal preference but it’s hip hop!
Hip Hop, the music, is about human expression. Any way shape or form they choose to express it. Stop telling each other what they do isn’t hip hop, that’s stupid to me.
If people don’t get what I’m saying, I recently watched Brother Ali talking about hip hop and broke it down in a way that I couldn’t have said better myself.
This is the link to that Brother Ali convo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IHn0RuCQtw
He basically said hip hop is many different forms, when we mad we listen to one thing when we happy we listen to something else, when we want to party we listen to something else. That underground rappers are really no different then main stream rappers. I think the way he says it is awesome and very clear and direct. WE ARE ALL HIP HOP!
Hip Hop can’t be put in a box, I tried that, and I was WRONG….DEAD WRONG! and to many people try and do that. I think what needs to happen is that PEOPLE need to RESPECT the CRAFT! From backpackers to hipsters to cappers to whatever RESPECT OTHERS. Doesn’t mean you have to work together, but you have to show some kind of RESPECT. And if you don’t know what respect is let me give you the definition via Wikipedia:
Respect is esteem for, or a sense of the worth or excellence of, a person, a personal quality, ability, or a manifestation of a personal quality or ability. It is sometimes, but should not be, confused with loyalty or fear for a person.
I think hip hop because of the economy is def in a state of emergency, but I also think technology plays a huge role in the lack of sales and low ticket sales. You can get ANYTHING off the net.
A big thing that applies to Ohio as well, is people not playing their positions right and to the best of their abilities. I also think (shout out to Big Ced of the IndustryCoSign.COM) Media outlets (not the stories in the outlets but the actually editors in chiefs and publishers) are to blame for the current negative stigma (some I fight everyday!) that is attached to our culture and music. Media outlets need to be more responsible in what they feed to the masses!
I5: You stay active and keep your hand on the pulse of the local scene… Who is the best artists we HAVENT heard yet (in or outside of your crew)?
WOW! Local talent you havent heard, I know you hear everything and it all comes across your desk because you also keep your hands in the scene as well, but some up and comers in the scene that I think are WAY over looked or underestimated and are INCREDIBLY talented. Jesty Beatz, D.Roof, Scheme D, Lost Nation, Johnny Givens, Machine Gun Kelly, Carlicia (mark my words she will take over the R&B game) J.Bang. They are all from Cleveland, and in Ohio, Team Tuck (Akron), Zelakhan (Painsville), Young Reese and Blaze (Columbus), Slick Watts (the OV) and so many other talents all over Ohio, it is Ridiculous! Just travel a little and you will see what I am talking about. I think DJ’s like Scratch Master L and Steph Floss and DJ G-Spot are over looked way to much by the artists in our scene, but they are amazing DJ’s to connect with. And People like Marlo Jackson, Fresh and X of Nublud, Suave Goddi, Poomanchew, and many others who have industry or other kinds of knowledge and tools that can help you are way unappreciated in our scene!
BUT you have to seek them out and be willing to LEARN not just listen!(and I don’t know but their knowledge may not be free, but they have the credits to charge if they do charge I don’t know, but do the homework you‘ll see what I’m talking about!)
I mean don’t get me wrong every single person in my camp is making moves and are extremely talented but I have to take this time to shine on some in the city and state while I got you (laugh).I love my A.B.E family and the entire network I work with and they all keep me grounded and humble I really am blessed!
I5: OK, plug time…what can we expect next from A.B.E.?
We will be helping to put together a few events this year, We will be bringing back the H.I.V/aids awareness show working with Nappyhead Ent. I really needed 07 to regroup and do the event total justice (thanks to everyone who supported the event in 06!) We will be helping the Grind Hard DJ’s put on event this year in Cleveland, as well as Raphead.com, Mine and MJK’s Bday Bash. AT that bash I have booked NYC MC Donny Goines (just google his name he THAT MC!) to headline so you all know that’s going to be crazy and the Bday Double Bash will be back in Cleveland this year so it’s ON! We will be finished up the video for “Love You So” (thank you for dropping the track on the site by the way!) and it will be edited and mostly filmed by Trillvision/Velocity’s own David Velo Stewart, who by the way is one of the MOST incredible human beings on this planet!
As far as our clients: OMG (laugh) not even sure where to start on that one, let’s see, MR 44 will be back and forth from Ohio to NYC which he has been doing the past few months, and really getting a LOT of love in the NYC so we are excited to see what happens he is also working with Legendary DJ Showtime to create from FIRE for 09! Klassik in Rapfanatic this quarter has an EP, LP, and new mixtape coming out this year, Hunned Buck will drop his first mixtape in 2 years through us and exclusive to Datpiff.com, DJ Nitro is nominated for a Pittsburgh Hip hop award this year again in Feb are the awards so get out an VOTE for DJ Nitro and Plan B (grind hard Djs) for Best Mixtape DJ’s of the year. Paulie Rhyme has 2 tours planned for 09, the green giants tour 2.0 and another for later in the year and will be dropping music all year as well as an up coming mixtape with DJ Nitro called Style Warz Vol. 1, Kalam officially remixed in late 08 S.E.A nominee Jackie Chain’s song Rollin with Modesty XO and has a ton of work coming out and beat placements, Young Yonny will continue his exclusive Vblog for yoraps.com called producers corner which is Biweekly, but he just landed a deal today as a matter of fact, working with MAX GOUSSE (Def Jam) & LIVIO HARRIS, and has a lot of placements coming including Na’Shay’s first single “Lovin You” coming in Feb. L.T. mOE has some crazy projects I can’t talk about but when I can I will be SCREAMING them, I can tell you that his group The Plague (he rhymes under the name Buddy Boie) will drop an album this year. Gotta Husle is coming out with a new album spring time, The Sound Teckz are working with a ton of artists from OH and even out in NY getting their extraordinary beats heard and placed, they will also drop a project with A.B.E late spring early Summer along the lines of a street album. Kjustice should be back in the studio by June, Jay-Five going to Tampa for a show this month, and getting new music out, we just dropped 5th element themixtape hosted by the League Crew’s own DJ Fresh, I hear there is a mixtape in the works with DJ Panic as well.
Me personally I will be going to the S.E.A’s in March as a nominee for Yoraps.com (nominated online magazine of the year) I was the rep with Sharrah (yoraps PR manager) in NYC last year for the UMA’s were yoraps.com won website of the year, so I am very excited to get to the south! Shout out to Kim Ellis and Janiro and Wendy day who I will get to meet and probably cry (laugh) I know myself and I am a bit sensitive when meeting people I admire and look up to. Kim Ellis has been there for me for over 3 years but we have never been able to meet her in person, Janiro’s been so helpful to me understanding the process of the S.E.A’s and his grind is CRAZY, and Wendy Day what can I say It’s WENDY DAY!
I will be traveling a lot this year, I will be going to many different events, and doing some judging as well. The Almost Famous Showcase (from Atlanta) is planning on coming out to Youngstown this year, and I have been asked to be a judge and from what I hear I may be judging along side TJ Chapman of TJ’s DJ’s and several other high profile industry people so that will be a great experience I am honored to have been asked to be a part of the event.(shout to Tiffany and Rovella)and other then that, continue to work hard as everyone else does around me.
I5: Any parting words to leave the INDIEFIVE readers out there with?
Yes.. I’m going to give advice that I have been given by people throughout my career things they have taught me…Some I have said above, but just have to say again!
STAY HUMBLE!
Support websites like Indiefive.com who support you and your scene back.
Stop letting people who don’t know what the hell they doing take you for a sucka! Support local music
RESPECT each other
Some people need to realize that THEIR opinion of what Hip Hop is isn’t FACT!
Love yourself and your scene
When times are down and you think it’s time to throw in the towel…dig deep and go harder!
DON’T GIVE UP!
STOP stabbing other in the back!
This is NOT high school! If you have a problem instead of running around running your mouth, confront that person in a professional manner! Again, WE ARE NOT IN HIGHSCHOOL!
Invest in yourself, no one else will!
Stop taking advantage of each other, you don’t need to work together but you do need to respect each other I cant stress that enough!
Support college radio.
Stop letting your homeboy who is a wanna be rapper be your manager!
From The promoters, publicists, managers, to the record labels and everyone in-between they WOULDN’T MAKE MONEY IF IT WASN’T FOR YOUR TALENT!
Sometimes you have to bend in order to be heard.
If someone has an idea DON’T stealing it just create your own.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK on people.
STOP BEING LAZY!
Your biggest enemy is YOURSELF!
Be as fair as you possibly can.
This business only gets harder every step you take, but it is worth every inch you fight for if you truly love what you do!
LOVE YOUR HATERS!
Be Honest! They may not like what you are saying, but you were honest.
NEVER steal from others!
When you run your mouth, expect any outcome to come and stop acting surprised when you get put on blast!
Always TRY your best!
Be able to take constructive critism from those who are honestly there to help!
Just because your homeboys or your mama play your music doesn’t mean you hot!
TRAVEL!
NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK
Treat everyone how you would want someone to treat you!
Whether its 5 people or 5000 people ROCK THE STAGE LIKE A PACK STADIUM!
Try and have some FUN!
Be YOURSELF!
Seek out Knowledge, people are around who know what they are talking about and are willing to help you!
It aint all about the money but not everything is FREE!!!!!!!
STOP thinking people owe you something or you deserve something, NO ONE asked you to be in this business or do what you do no handouts in this game!
Respect those that came before you and laid the foundation for you to do what you do (shout out to Suave Gotti, Al Porter, PoohManchew, Paulie Rhyme)
and last but not least…
THANK YOU goes a long way, when its hard felt and genuine!
Thanks to Speed and the entire staff at Indiefive.com for doing what you continue to do and this interview.
I am a work in progress and I live with NO REGRETS, I may bump heads with people but at the end of the day I don’t owe anyone money, those I dont get along with dont pay my bills, I dont work for them with them or affiliate with them so I really dont give a F* what they have to say. I am professional to a point, a lot of the BS in the past that the public people have seen in come to light have a huge silent history that they have NO clue about, so I suggest to people to think before they run their mouths. It's funny those that run their mouths, how come I don't ever see you anywhere out of town, how come no one knows your name other then a few in the local scene? You say you doing something but really all you are doing is giving free promos to your peoples no one else because no one knows you! I suggest you spend more time branding yourself instead of hatin on what other have worked hard for, and kind your business and shut the F* up!
and when it comes to hard work and feeling like nothing is working in your favor:
I recently heard someone use this quote “I didn’t fail, I just found 10,000 ways that DIDN’T work” and I think that is such a good way to look at things!
And a little help for those looking for knowledge on your own:
I suggest you scrape together 49$ and attend one of the In The Know Seminars. www.intheknowseminars.com
The concept is BRILLIANT! You can sign in/join the seminar from your home computer or cell phone 1 time a month (each months new panelists and topic)
You can get some knowledge from some of the best in the business that is PRICELESS! I have been able to attend 3 of the ITK Seminars via webinar, and I have can’t even begin to tell you all the things I have learned about this business from REAL industry insiders!