It has been 1 year, 1 month, and 5 days since my passion for music grew legs and started on a nonstop journey to make something of myself. Last night was one of my most humbling experiences to date. I started this blog talking about my meeting The Grammy nominated Alternative hip-hop quintet
The Nappy Roots. Today I write about how meeting them changed my life and how it has put me in positions I never expected. Ever since the updated tour schedule was emailed to me I patiently awaited their arrival to Orlando. Not only were they coming back to Orlando, but they were performing at the same venue where everything started!! It was like DeJaVu, except this time was different. I was now doing freelance work with
The Nappy Roots! The day started with a trip to
Rollins College for a radio interview on
WPRK 91.5 fm that I set up for the quintet on behalf of
Rising Phoenix Entertainment Group (
RPEG). As usual THEY ROCKED IT!
Next is the show. Last time I went I was just a fan admiring what hip-hip used to be, this time I was a proud manager watching her client touch people's lives with the words he spit into the microphone! Prior to the show, I enjoyed sitting backstage with my Nappy fam as they did what they do best!! As soon as I turned into the room Big V showed me so much love & immediately said "Take a shot w/me" Of course I said "LET'S GOOOOOO" SHOTS UP PATRON ON DECK!! Anybody who knows me knows I cannot turn down PATRON! lol Being back there was so surreal as Scales & I remembered on our 1st encounter & where POOSSIBLY THE DEAL OF MY LIFE WENT DOWN! Scales sat in the same place & everyone else kind of just found their places. Scales mentioned, "This is where it all started for us" (meaning the formation of
RPEG. Trying not to show any emotion (ya'll know I'm quick to have a teary eyed EMO moment when I overcome with happiness lol), I nodded and said "Yup it is & I thank you all for everything.” Being back in the same place where RISING PHOENIX ENTERTAINMENT GROUP started was definitely A NATURAL HIGH!!! To be embraced by the whole Nappy fam not only as a fan but AS A BUSINESS WOMAN still leaves me a little speechless. Scales took a chance with an Entertainment Business masters student (2nd month in the program at that) and saw the potential I had before I truly understood what talent I possessed. For that I am eternally grateful Scales. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!
The crowd as usual was so super involved and full of energy.......if you weren't "getting CRUNK" I don't know WHAT WAS WRONG WITH YOU! I additionally thank Skinny, Clutch, BStille, and BIG VITO for allowing me to become apart of the Nappy fam. Special S/O to
GRINGOS LOCOS for looking out for us last night. S/O to
Derwin aka
D II I couldn't let them come to Orlando & not have THE BEST TACOS & BURRITOS EVER!!! Scales & Vito, as well as myself, SMASHED that food!!! PERFECT ENDING TO SUCH AN AMAZING NIGHT!!! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ENTIRE NAPPY ROOTS on your 5th album!!! Make sure you go out and get
NAPPYDOTORG in stores now! It's available on iTunes if you get it there you receive 2 bonus tracks! Also super excited Scales got the go ahead to start on other projects...... Keep your eye out for a solo album from him under Rising Phoenix Entertainment Group (management division)!! Patience is a virtue and the reward is definitely worth the wait!!
Thank you everyone who has supported RPEG whether it's been from the beginning or not....YOU ARE APPRECIATED! My Daytona fam... I'm doing this for our city; My Orlando fam....some have come & gone but the TRUE REMAIN, Special S/O to my “hosting” mentor
Barnard Fleurima... I thank you for EVERYTHING, S/O to Jae Johnson for all of the support and KC Preston for taking a chance on me too.....It is an honor to be working with you all. My Full Sail fam....
BAMN Ent (CJ, Derrick aka Blu, SonDog, & Lukes); KSav;
Bill Hudson (Graphic Artist extraordinaire; Sentel (my RIGHT HAND MAN & BUSINESS PARTNER); To my girl Krystyn.... thank you for being the person to keep me motivated whenever I felt discouraged in our masters program; Staci....my LEO Partner in Crime & soon to be business). To
The Secret HairLounge (Liz Mateo) You ROCK!!; To Reggie King (My co-host for
Escape WednesdaysHappy Hour)...I am so ready for our future ventures. To my clients...
Fish Scales (thank you so much for taking a chance & believing in me!!),
Ya Za (We have weathered the storm, we are CLOSER TO OUR DREAMS),
DJ Duffy (Let’s goooooo),
P89 (You already know what it is fam),
Nadiya Serrano “Ms Florida US United" (Thank you for becoming apart of this team...HUGSSS),and
89 Music Group (
O-soo,
Young 3rd,
D&R,
AwJr Music, Naijee, & Hot Rod McFly....LET’s GOOOO) To my Tallahassee fam....thank you new & old for holding me down for 10+ years...
Chris Cannon I see you going far in this entertainment world because you refuse to let the negativity of the business affect you. Thank you to my future business collaborators....together, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!!! To my BEST FRIEND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.....SHALONDA SANDERS-CLIFFORD (Thank you for keeping me grounded); To my parents ....I love you words cannot express how thankful I am to have such an amazing support system; and most importantly THANK YOU LORD FOR BLESSING ME WITH ALL THAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED.....I know this is all of your doing!!!
This is BARELY THE BEGINNING.....only left to do is “ELEVATE OUR CLIENTS TO THE TOP” I REFUSE TO SEE THE GLASS CEILING!!!
BLESSED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!!!!