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Detroit Startup Week | Fireside Chat: Music + Entrepreneurship feat. Big Sean, Google & Def Jam

6/23/2018

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Detroit Startup Week had a ton of GREAT events for entrepreneurs and business owners. These informative sessions were held throughout the city this week, all  hosted by amazing businesspeople. So many featured valuable insight shared with the crowd learn and it is a really valuable place for meeting like-minded people while networking. 
 

Music & Entrepreurship

A Fireside Chat about music and entrepreneurship was held on Friday at the David Whitney Building. This session included Big Sean, Katrina Turnbow and Drew Rives. All three were born and raised in Detroit.

The intimate session was produced and moderated by Katrina Turnbow, a 
Google Digital Coach and owner of Kanopi Social, a digital marketing agency based in Detroit. She is  one of nine people in the United States that helps Black & Latino create and improve their business's online presence. 
 
Drew Rives is a music exec at Def Jam, currently based in Detroit. He's been in the music industry since 1992, and at Def Jam since 1999. He went to school to be a lawyer, but ya know how that goes-

Big Sean has been on the Detroit music scene since he was a kid, and was picked up by Kanye West's label GOOD Music in 2007. He signed with Def Jam a year later, and Roc Nation in 2014.  


We're gonna kick off the Q&A session with Drew Rives. 


Name five artists that you feel had entrepreneurial traits:
"Jeezy, Jay-Z, Jadakiss, Big Sean, Kanye."

"Jeezy was one of the most successful stories I’ve ever seen. He had the mind state of going from streets & selling drugs to owning his own liquor company, clothing line. 
Now he’s makin money moves."

What is something that was an obstacle to overcome?
“Thinkin’ that u are hotter than I really are.” You cannot believe the hype. Master what you’re good at first. “Don’t spread yourself too thin too quick.” 
[If you get] "
knocked out 8x get up 9. “

Mr. Rives went on to say how important a team is for entrepreneurs who can't and shouldn't do everything themselves. He stated that "a team is what makes it work" and that “the successful ones never give up.” He said it's crucial to “find people who want to go just as hard as you. “

Then Big Sean stepped in through the glass doors. He  came through with a team of 25 deep, flanked by a security team and his mother.
 
He took his seat and was ready to go, piggy-backing onto what Drew Rives had said. 


He started off saying that building a team successfully had allowed him to scale. He stated that “you definitely  have to go through trial & error. At first I had all my friends working for me (during mixtapes) but I realized not everyone is meant to be on the team. It did set me back."

He said making the decision to drop people in his team was not easy. He said sometimes, if he had to let someone go— he’d call his mom about it. 

He then stressed that, in regard to business, it is important to ask yourself  “Are you doing a job or a hobby? Are you’re homies qualified to work for you and do the job that you need them to do. 
My 1st manager isn’t the one I have now. One was good at breaking an artist. My new manager is good at making deals & creating a superstar." 


Do you have advice on standing out in the business world? 
Big Sean dropped this gem: “The biggest secret to business is: supply & demand.” You wanna stand out- supply something that is different. That's the most obvious but overlooked thing. 


Being an artist in Detroit 

As mentioned, all three on stage were born & raised in Detroit. Ms. Turnbow said, "I don’t know about y’all, but I come downtown and I swear that I never thought I’d see Detroit lookin' like this. I never thought I’d see these building look like this in my lifetime.” 

Big Sean said “Detroit is one of the most creative places in the world. I feel like Detroit gave me everything so it’s [his involvement in the city] my way of giving back.”

And he's not just talking. 


There's so much going on in the city, and Big Sean is playing a role in the transformation. He's the creator of D.O.N. Weekend- kicking it off on June 21 with a Fashion Mogul event sponsored by Puma. This five day event includes a  block party for families on the East-side. It concludes on June 25 with a private event honoring kids that are at the top of their game in school. Dubbed "Lightfest," it's an award ceremony to recognize kids enrolled in Detroit schools that maintain good grades.

As if that weren't enough Big Sean  is on the Board for the Motown Museum. He is also singlehandedly responsible for bringing a movie theatre downtown. He went on to say that he's also "Doing lots of things with Ford. I'm doing my best to not just be an example- but be the best for myself."

Drew Rives said that it's an “Exciting time to be in this business in Detroit." He continued, "
Our new CEO is from Detroit-- Paul Rosenberg and we just signed Payroll— and we're looking for more Detroit artists." 

Big Sean agreed and said that, "These guys [Detroit musicians] had no opportunities and no one to look up to--- before, it was Berry Gordy."  He said that's changing and now, with the evolution of the internet- it doesn't matter where you're from- we're all on a level playing field. 
Related:
Ok Playa 
Back in Black 
Wayne's World 
Interview with Kevin Saunderson 

The Wu-Tang Supper Club
​The Throne Reigns The Palace 
​Amerykah the Beautiful

Annie Get Your Gun 
For Whom the Bell Tolls 
Kanye West + Kendrick Lamar 
Trey Day 

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Lil Yachty Rolls Through Royal Oak

8/27/2017

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                  Photo ©Faye Webster for Lil Yachty 
Lil Yachty caught my eye when he appeared on a Tee Grizzley track, ‘From the D to the A.’ Since then, he’s popping up everywhere. He’s done collabs with everyone from Diplo and Young Thug to Macklemore and T-Pain.

He came onto the scene where nowadays every rapper worth knowing comes outta- the ATL.

He kicked off ‘The Teenage Tour’ in Dallas earlier this month. He’ll be hitting Detroit Metro on Monday at Royal Oak Music Theatre. 

This weekend, he showed up in NYC in an unconventional way— at a pizza joint. In a marketing move reminiscent of 2 Chainz Pink Trap House, Yachty did a takeover of a Soho pizzeria, transforming Famous Ben’s into Yachty’s Pizzeria for a couple of days.

Check him out when he rolls through town tomorrow. Grab tickets here. 

See what he's up to
insta

twitter 
website
 
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City Sculpture | Party in the Park

8/27/2017

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​Artist Robert Sestok knows how to throw a party. He invited the public to view his finished work at the 2nd Annual ‘Party in the Park.’  Last night’s main event featured a one-two punch of art and music, held in the glorious little enclave known as “City Sculpture.’

City Sculpture is a park teeming with artwork and trees, both of which tower over attendees. The sculpture park opened in the summer of 2015, spearheaded by Sestok himself. He purchased the land with the intent of finding homes for pieces that he has been fabricating for decades. Sestok himself has been an integral part of the Detroit art scene since the sixties.
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The stars of the show- the sculptures, are welded together in the artist’s studio down the street in Cass Corridor. The finished pieces end up in the park on Alexandrine, on view for everyone to enjoy.

Back to the party: The soundtrack for the evening shifted as different groups of musicians played their instruments and sang their songs. There was a little bit of country, and a whole lotta rock & roll, with some EDM thrown in.
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​As the crescent moon rose over the park, people danced under the canopy of trees, swinging and swaying to the music that filled the night air. It was a magical evening filled with sparkling conversation and community and art that told stories without even saying a word.

City Sculpture 
955 W. Alexandrine 
Detroit, MI 48201
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Daktyl | Cyclical 

2/12/2015

 
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Daktyl, an instrumentalist from the UK-  has it on lock as a soundscape producer. Mad Decent thought so too, picked him up + threw him on the label. Daktyl dropped his new single "Salters" yesterday. 

Daktyl's debut Cyclical LP comes out on Mad Decent, with an April 21st release date, but fans can pre-order starting March 17th. Can't wait. Take a listen for yourself, and see why I'm excited. 

https://soundcloud.com/daktylmusic
https://twitter.com/daktylmusic
https://www.facebook.com/daktylmusic

Jack White Comes Out on Topp[s]

1/26/2015

 
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Jack White performs in Detroit ©Nicole Wrona|MLS
Jack White’s smiling face will be featured on a baseball card repping Detroit (it's true- he's really smiling).

A born + raised Detroiter, White catapulted himself to fame while performing as singer and guitarist for The White Stripes, a garage band he founded with bandmate & wife, Meg. 

He sometimes returns back home to perform and last year made a pitstop at Comerica Park to throw out the first pitch at a game. 

That event is now commemorated in all its glory on a Topps baseball card. The Jack White card will be included in the Series I set. 

Now, leeeetttttt's play ball!

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Mad Decent Block Party

8/18/2014

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Women Who Rock | Henry Ford Museum 

8/4/2014

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©Nicole Wrona|MLS
Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power is an exhaustive exhibition at the Henry Ford Museum that contains  over 250 artifacts from 70 female artists. This stellar exhibit was curated by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

Get up close and personal to things you would never otherwise have the chance to see. It’ll give you goosebumps.™

The selected pieces range from the extraordinary to the “ordinary.” Highlights include everything from handwritten notes and lyrics to recognizable ensembles from stage performances and album covers. Every musician I've ever dressed up as for Halloween [so far] is represented here! Every. Single. One!

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Guess Who's Coming to Dinner 

6/19/2014

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                                 Press Photos ©Nicole Wrona|MLS
Bruce Weber, Anna Wintour + VOGUE/Conde Nast & ultra special guest: Grace Coddington!

On Thursday, June 19 I was honored to attend the exclusive media preview for the photography exhibition Detroit- Bruce Weber featured at the Detroit Institute of Arts. In attendance was the famed photographer himself, Bruce Weber. The event was presented by Conde Nast and Vogue. Other notable guests in attendance were the infamous Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of VOGUE magazine, Patti Smith, musician extraordinaire and Grace Coddington, the illustrious creative director of Vogue.

The exhibit features a collection of portraits shot by Weber on numerous visits to Detroit. The images, mostly shot in black and white depict the different faces that represent the city. 

But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to get the full scoop...         ↓↓↓

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For Whom the Carillon Tolls

6/4/2014

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Belle Isle ©Nicole Wrona|MLS
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Movement

5/25/2014

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                                  Photos ©Nicole Wrona|MLS
Over 100,000 people packed into Hart Plaza during the Memorial weekend to dance to the music that filled the expansive venue. The grounds were saturated with techno fans from every country, state and city imaginable- and those living in Detroit repped the city hard. It seemed like everyone was a proud Detroiter during the massive party weekend, a prelude to summer.

Movement, the electronic music festival that takes place in downtown Detroit, has become the standard event to kick-off the summer right since 2000. They got it right this year too. Movement always has been, and continues to be, the biggest underground electronic fest that always has the right mix of acts to keep crowds coming back again and again.

With six stages, finding your vibe was simple. The hard part was deciding who to hear when great acts performed on different stages. That's not really a problem though. Chances are you could hear the beginning of one set on the Moog stage, then hit Beatport to see the end of the set. There were tons of chances to see what you came to hear, and check out music.

The Moog Stage pumped up crowds with artists like Action Bronson, Just Blaze, Riff Raff and Flosstradamus throughout the three-day weekend. Pounding down the Beatport Stage was Claude VonStroke, Heathered Pearls and Tiga.

The Red Bull Music Academy Stage played home to greats such as Carl Craig, John Digweed, Amp Fiddler and Richie Hawtin. The Made in Detroit Stage featured local artists including Stacey Pullen, Kevin Saunderson and Kevin Reynolds.

Notable acts that hit the Underground Stage were Chris Liebing, Robert Hood and Jeffs Mills. A new addition joined Movement this year, the Silent Disco Stage. Performances by Annie Hall and Shawn Michaels were standouts.

The scene around Movement was filled with tons of people wearing over-the-top outfits. Gold lame vests seemed to be the costume of choice for the guys while the best accessory I saw was the artistry of many girls makeup brushes as they transformed their eyes into glorious butterflies and detailed rainbow creations. A gal named Pookie rocked an inflatable inner tube resembling a donut with lighthearted conviction, adding to the free-thinking attitude that makes Movement work.

Aside from Detroit's stoic skyline that has always stood watch over Hart Plaza, art installations were scattered throughout the park to add to the landscape Movement creates. The pieces always add a unique and unexpected element to the festival, and this year, the interactive art stood out. Chess boards were set up and each board was occupied by friends facing off as competitors, while others opted to chill in the treetops and listen as the sounds from the stages rushed in and took over.

Every detail is covered to enhance the overall experience, right down to the picture-perfect weather that was probably ordered in advance for this event. And if the sun didn't shine, Paxahau, the event promoters would have flown in from somewhere. Everyone ready for next year?

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