Management

KANDI - Entrepreneur. Singer. Songwriter. Star. Still. That’s a pretty remarkable thing when you consider it was seventeen years ago that we first heard KANDI’S deep, sensual voice leading “Just Kickin’ It” – the breakthrough single from Jermaine Dupri’s platinum-selling R&B quartet, Xscape. Now here she is a Grammy winner. History-making songwriter. Self-made millionaire and mother to 7 year old Riley. She is the newest addition to Bravo’s rating sensation “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” and has a hot sophomore solo CD titled, coming in 2010.

“I feel like I’m at a turning point in my career,” Kandi confides with obvious excitement. “I know that I’ve accomplished a lot in the entertainment business, but I’m still a young woman, so I’ve got to set new goals and take things to a new level. I am proud to say that I’ve proven that I have staying power. The real achievement is staying relevant.” As if that has ever been a problem.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.KANDIONLINE.COM

GRANDMASTER FLASH - There are lots of stories about the birth of jazz and the beginning of rock n’ roll, but hip-hop has founding fathers: one of them is DJ Grandmaster Flash.

In the early 70’s Joseph Saddler was living in the South Bronx and studying electrical engineering. However, Saddler, a native of the Bronx, had a much deeper passion for music; he had been experimenting with his father’s vinyl since he was an adolescent. His knowledge of audio equipment led him to an idea that would revolutionize music: the turntable would become his instrument. Although Flash has been in the business for many years, he shows no sign of slowing down: this coming year promise, a new album, and he will began his descent from the analog vinyl world of DJing to enter the digital world of DJing.  His DJ application of choice will be “Traktor Scratch” by Native Instruments.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.GRANDMASTERFLASH.COM

BOW WOW - Bow Wow has been stepping outside of the box since he was 5 years old.  That’s when he was discovered by Snoop Dogg and featured on the entertainment icon’s groundbreaking Doggystyle album. 

After being teamed a few years later with Jermaine Dupri, Lil Bow Wow exploded onto the music scene in 2000 with Beware of Dog, the first in a string of platinum and gold albums (he’s sold more than 10 million albums to date) that spawned six No. 1 singles and such platinum songs as “Let Me Hold You,” “Like You,” Shortie Like Mine” and “Outta My System.”  He is also the Youngest Solo Rapper To Ever Hit No. 1, as recognized by the Guinness Book Of World Records.  He’s also sold more than 14 million digital assets.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.PRINCEBOW.COM

OTIS REDDING ESTATE – Forty years after his passing, the legacy of Otis Redding remains stronger than ever. As the decades have gone by since December 10, 1967 when the world tragically lost one of its greatest soul singers, the power and impact of this Georgia-born R&B pioneer’s music and career shows no signs of diminishing. Through a recorded legacy that spans a mere six years (less than a decade?) but is filled with classic after classic, the man whose distinctive music influenced British rock stars and his American soul music peers alike continues to be accorded and afforded the global recognition and (borrowing the title of one of his most enduring compositions) respect he richly deserves.

And beyond those precious recordings (mostly cut in Memphis at Stax Records between 1963 and 1967), there is The Big “O” Youth Educational Dream Foundation, created by his widow, Mrs. Zelma Redding which reflects the deeply held commitment her husband expressed to giving back to the community with a special emphasis on education.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.OTISREDDING.COM

URBAN SPEED ASSOCIATION - The Urban Speed Association (USA) is a multi-cultural, automotive, social lifestyle powered by motorsports, music, technology and community. A Global movement, driven by an exclusive network of fashionable youth, young adults and the young at heart.

Michael Mauldin, president of Mauldin Brand Agency stated that, “MBA & the Urban Speed Association (USA) has created a unique grass roots, urban influenced marketing platform, designed to reach and penetrate teens & young adults; with a particular focus on a multi-cultural audience through music, fashion and custom cars.  We call this urban influenced lifestyle movement, The Fast Life!  

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.FASTLIFE360.COM

COMMON - What does it take to create something timeless? How do you make art that speaks to the human experience? How do you make music that crosses boundaries of gender, class, ethnicity and geography? You speak truth from your heart, filter it through your mind and put your soul into all you do. This is the process of finding forever; and COMMON’s approach to music.

In the age of disposable ringtone rap and one-hit wonders it’s rare to find a rapper who asks himself “what am I giving to the world?” every time he steps into the studio. In rap these days how many people really aspire to make classic material? The man born Lonnie Rashid Lynn does. You see Common isn’t just a dope emcee; he’s the perfect example of hip-hop’s potential for growth.With multi-platinum iconoclast and creative dynamo Kanye West as his executive producer and the chief beatsmith on FINDING FOREVER COMMON has crafted an LP for his fans past, present and future.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.COMMON-MUSIC.COM

SCREAM STAR ENTERTAINMENT - A multi-dimensional artist development and entertainment brand driven by content and focused on youth ages 13-25, the Atlanta-based SCREAM Star Entertainment is dedicated to maximizing its relationship with the elusive urban teen market through interactive programs and platforms.

The jewel of SCREAM Star Entertainment’s growing roster of platforms is the massively popular SCREAM Tour concert series, which has, over its seven-year run, become the definitive youth-oriented R&B/Hip-Hop annual roadshow. Featuring such bona fide superstars as Ne-Yo, Bow Wow, B2K, Chris Brown, Nick Cannon, Omarion, Atlantic’s Pretty Ricky, and Bad Boy’s Yung Joc, the SCREAM Tour has entertained over one million fans and counting.

Most recently, SCREAMFEST, headlined by T.I. and Ciara, thrilled sold-out crowds in 20 markets, and featured special guest appearances by such artists as Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Kanye West, P. Diddy, R. Kelly, Nelly and Common.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.SCREAMSTAR.COM

KENNY LATTIMORE - “Songs have so much power,” states Kenny Lattimore. “Great songs are universal, and a great song can transcend time and speak to people all over the world. A great song can be interpreted in so many different ways and still communicate emotionally. That’s what we set out to achieve with the new album, Timeless.”

Indeed, Kenny Lattimore’s new album (and Verve debut) Timeless is a testament to the transcendent properties of classic songcraft, as well as a vehicle for the performing talents that have long made Lattimore one of the most popular and respected vocalists in contemporary rhythm and blues. Although he’s known for his own songwriting skills, Timeless finds Lattimore reaching into the past to apply his interpretive abilities to a compelling set of familiar—and not-so-familiar—material drawn from a wide range of sources from the worlds of pop, R&B, rock and jazz.

FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.KENNYLATTIMORE.COM