OOOH I THINK THEY LIKE ME!

KEYINFLUENCER: THE HTML EMAIL NEWSLETTER IS COMING
If you are reading this right now, consider yourself on the “bleeding edge” of next generation thinkers. We are in the middle of launching another monster newsletter and we are really excited. If you are priviledged enough to receive this you are on our list of high level KEY INFLUENCERS. Our menu of offerings include: http://www.keyinfluencer.com, Podcast program, Events, HTML newsletter and this good ol’ blog. Please send feedback to keyinfluencer@gmail.com

FAITHLOGIC INDUSTRIES IS NOW BRAND INFLUENCE, LLC
FaithLogic Industries (shameless plug!), the Atlanta based strategic marketing company that owns KEYINFLUENCER has shifted its name to BRANDINFLUENCE, LLC. Consisting of principals James Andrews, Michael Calloway and Monica Hooks, BrandInfluence provides development and management of non-traditional business strategies that attract consumers within the emerging markets. Their clients have included Vibe, Honda, McDonald’s, Turner, and Disturbing The Peace.

GO WEINSTEIN BRUTHAS. GET THAT MONEY!!! $190mm MORE TO GO

MY COUSIN XAVIER GOT A RAP GROUP. NO FOR REAL!!
I’m proud of my cousin Xavier from the Group Blackalicous, he’s the one in the back playin the cool glasses. I have watched him grow from being a college dj (along with his partner DJ Shadow) to a straight up businessman. He probably tours 65% of the year spending the bulk of his time in Europe. Totally under the radar, both of his albums individually have sold 200k copies. Their newest release THE CRAFT is currently being downloaded by some college kid in a dorm room right now so go out and support this record on the way to going to see THE GOSPEL.

BUZZING:
Houston
Vibe Magazine
New artist Short Dogg Signs to Russell’s New label
Kirk Franklin’s new album HERO

The Future of Worldwide Hip Hop & Soul

So my boy Matt Jones turned me on to this group J*Davey that he discovered on myspace.com several months ago and I think we may just have the NECESSARY ingredients for them to be successful. I’m really shocked because there is an entire “soul” movement happening in LA of all places. J*Davey is comprised of Bree and her producer partner Brook DeLeau. I see it as Groove Theory meets SaRa meets some new West Coast/Baldwin Hills funk. She’s a babe with a hot mohawk and tons of style. I’m feelin it, it excites me. It’s raw and honest and I think that it represents this new direction I see “soul” music taking. Thanks in advance Stephen Barnes for the great deal we are going to do together!

Hung out with our friend and client Jeffrey Townes aka “The Magnificent DJ Jazzy Jeff”
last week in Atlanta. He was here for that travelling DJ Circus that Scion puts on. If you have not heard Jazzy Jeff spin you are missing out–Go See Him Now. For those of you in London he is there it seems once a month. Whats really dope about his set is that he will take you from Mizell Bros to Michael Jackson to Eric Roberson to Diamond D to Masters At Work and you will feel like you have been taken on a musical amusement park attraction. The set he did in “The A” was strictly old school hip-hop and the loyalists stayed till 4am for the ride. Shout out to my road dogs Skills (Jeff’s trusty MC Sidekick who’s no longer MAD) Irize Refined and Darnell Jenkins. Jeff and crew are on their way to their 15th tour overseas THIS YEAR this time hitting London and Asia. Upon his return we got some projects planned that will change the course of music and radio–Mark My Words!

Little Brother may have just released one of the best hip-hop albums this year in THE MINSTREL SHOW. You may not be hip to them now but trust me by the end of the year, ya’ll will be “Lovin It.” This is not a shock to me though because in 2003, their debut ABB Records release THE LISTENING was one of the best albums released that year. Not to mention that my other favorite records this year were a Little Brother “mixtape” called THE CHITLIN CIRCUIT and FOREIGN EXCHANGE, an album recorded entirely over AOL IM with prolific producer Nicolay and LB’s Phonte. ABB Records Benni B did a good thing by taking the group over to Atlantic for the second album. I’m not sure what other labels would be able to “get it.”

Heard MTV2 is just now picking up on the video for “Lovin It” after BET found the content a little too cerebral for their viewership! (Comon Stephen Hill-I thought you were a music head). Don’t let MTV show you up now…..In other LB news Atlantic/Lava Records “refugees” O.A.R added the group to open up for them in some of their tour dates. Hats off to James Lopez, Atlantic’s SVP of Marketing who is doing a great job sticking to an agressive grassroots gameplan

BIG UP TO BIG RICH MEDINA and the release of his Connecting The Dots album which FINALLY comes out today. I have known Rich as ballplayer, poet, Ecko model and DJ. I do not go to NYC without stopping by APT on Wednesday and don’t let JUMP AND FUNK coincide with your visit. Fela Kuti lives in NYC once a month via the sounds of Rich Medina.

R.I.P. Nipsy Russell and August Wilson who have gone Home.