Category: Artist & Personalities

There is no definite guide that maneuvers go-getters in the direction of their dreams nor is there a written rule about what to do once they get there. For some, they capitalize on the achievements they have snagged under their belt to reach greater heights and cement their reputation even more solidly while others bank on their platforms to make a difference in the lives of those who are aiming to make a name for themselves. Donald Elvin Robinson, Jr., the strategic mind behind Black Art Records, is an emerging powerhouse in multiple fields who has chosen to wield his considerable influence not only to enable the success of those under his wing but also to give back to his community. 

This purpose-driven personality, also known as Motivation, originally hails from Philadelphia. From the get-go, he has demonstrated a knack for music and the arts, showcasing his creative prowess through numerous endeavors. It came as no surprise when he eventually decided to follow a musician’s journey. Today, the twenty-five-year-old African American hip-hop artist, author, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur is making significant strides toward the forefront of several industries. 

The Black Art Records founder, who graduated from Roxborough High School, studied business for two years. While pursuing a degree, Motivation realized that, although the traditional path of graduating and landing a job has worked for countless individuals, it was not necessarily his destiny. His preference for learning from hands-on experience ultimately led him to take a gamble and start managing his father’s properties and companies. This particular move allowed him to understand the nitty-gritty of the commercial realm and hone his competence as a leader and entrepreneur. 

Backed by years of experience and highly fueled by the vision of leaving a positive impact through his initiatives, Motivation has launched Black Art Records, a company that is strategically designed to propel his name toward the spotlight. His all-out approach in succeeding as a musician is driven by the desire to have the means that will allow him to buy land and provide low-income housing opportunities for families. On top of starting this promising label, the self-starter has also released several books, all of which were written to guide people looking to improve their personal lives and handle the stress that comes with everyday affairs. Notably, the all-rounder offers books on fixing credit, as well, sharing insights on the ways individuals and families can repair their credit score and begin the process of securing a financially stable future. 

Through Black Art Records, Motivation delivers a plethora of services that cater to a diverse set of clients. Under his leadership, he hopes for the fast-growing venture to make waves in different industries and rise through the ranks in the coming years. Additionally, he plans to utilize the company and his own inspirational story to send across a powerful message of hope to aspirants from all walks of life, emphasizing how he managed to soar despite coming from humble beginnings. 

Learn more about Motivation by visiting his Instagram page. More information about Black Art Records can be found on its website.

With the industry shutdown created by the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clearly apparent how vital entertainment, specifically film and TV, are in everyday life. As we look closer at what makes a film or television show capture our attention, it is clear that production design would come at the top of the list. The art of production design is often elusive, but for discerning individuals, it is a powerful layer of storytelling that speaks volumes. Great production design can elevate how people grasp a story and create an experience. It is certainly an incredibly demanding and challenging job, and it is one of the harder fields to break into. 

As the nationwide lockdowns are being lifted and the entertainment industry is beginning to thrive again, we caught up with Vivienne Liu—an international set and production designer who has designed award-winning shows in China and America since 2015. Her theatre works have been on the stages of National Theatre of China, Beijing Poly Theatre, City Theatre Company in Pittsburgh and many more. Vivienne received her MFA in Scenic Design from Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, which is known for its history of churning out graduates who go on to make an indelible impact in film, TV, and theater. 

Vivienne expanded her work to major network series just at the height of the global pandemic and  felt distressed by how things were turning out in the industry. “It was hard to see the entire entertainment industry turn silent all of a sudden due to the pandemic,” said Vivienne. “I was nervous about how I would best position myself so that when the industry returned, it would realize I exist. I was relieved to find that as things picked back up, I was able to join the Art Department of the new CBS show The Equalizer starring Queen Latifah.”

Vivienne’s experience in the Art Department on The Equalizer has cemented her decision to pursue Production Design. Like the apprenticeships of old, Production Design follows a structured hierarchy—from production assistant, to set designer, to art director, and then if lucky, production designer. The next steps for her professional development include joining the union and working as a set designer for network TV shows. 

Vivienne Liu is a versatile Production Designer who is passionate about creating visual entertainment that heightens people’s imagination and particularly is inspired by stories that feature the marginalized and highlight aspects of life that are often ignored. In every design, the goal is to tell the story in the clearest and most exciting way. “It is amazing to really understand the amount of work that goes into the design of a TV show. The sheer amount of small details to consider and make choices about is staggering. That’s part of what I love about design—every choice adds to creating a unique world where only this particular story could happen,” Vivienne noted. 

Up next for Vivienne includes designing an indie feature film, It Came from Within, with Framework Productions and serving as the associate designer on the Broadway production of Lackawanna Blues. Vivienne would love to rejoin The Equalizer team for its second season. In the near future, Vivienne Liu is excited to collaborate with more industry-leading artists and hopes that the shutdown of the pandemic will allow a new crop of emerging production designers greater chance at navigating the challenging path to success. “The downtime has offered a chance for the industry to reflect on the systemic and institutional barriers that affect the artists, especially those trying to break in. I hope that more BIPOC artists will join teams as exciting collaborators and we will see a revitalization with diverse stories being told,” reflected Vivienne.

Overall, Vivienne Liu is a young production designer to watch. To know more about Vivienne Liu, don’t forget to check out her official website.

“I had six followers on TikTok,” said Zev Burton, author of Two Fish in a Tank (New Degree Press, 2021). “The marketing team kept encouraging me to push the envelope — but it was my younger sister who encouraged me to try TikTok. And that decision was game-changing.” 

Burton represents a new category of author: the audience builder. As the publishing industry has seen its power fade from being able to “make” successful books and authors and drive breakout success, the role of the author has become central to the success of any book.

“When I began leveraging TikTok, my reach exploded,” remarked Burton. “Now my videos are seen by tens of thousands of people every day, and brands are reaching out to me to represent their products. It’s a big change from having six followers to 150,000 followers in six months.”

Burton credits the support of his fellow authors and his publisher with embracing innovative and untapped channels.

“You can’t just put out a book and hope the audience finds it,” shared Brian Bies, an author and the publishing head at Burton’s publisher New Degree Press. “We have to partner with our authors to unlock and expand their audiences for their books to succeed today. And that’s why it’s incredible to watch authors like Zev and Haley [Hoffman Smith] explode on new platforms like TikTok.”

Haley Hoffman Smith has become a full-time influencer as her following on TikTok swelled to over 300,000 following the launch of her book Her Big Idea (New Degree Press, 2019).

“It just works for my audience,” Hoffman Smith shared. “As an author people want to know more about what I teach and share in the book. So short-form videos have been amazing as a way to grow. People find me on TikTok or Instagram and then discover they can get more through my book.”

Jason Fiefer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine and a serial author, remarked, “you need to start building the audience for your book the moment you start writing it — probably even before.”

As Fiefer rightly notes, most first-time authors don’t consider their role in establishing the audience for their books. That often leads to disappointing sales and results from debut books of most authors. It’s forced publishers to think very differently about supporting authors.

Remarked Bies, “as a publisher, it’s much harder for us to sell books for our authors because readers are buying the author as much as they are the book. That’s forced us to spend much more time — much earlier — working with authors to activate their existing audiences and then build upon it. We see our role in helping authors find new channels and plug into those channels. We know authors are the stars and if we can get them and their books in front of their audiences that will drive book sales. But you have to think differently and embrace how fast things aren’t changing.”

“You just can’t give up too early,” says Burton. “It took me at least a month to find my authentic voice and the right balance of education and entertainment. But once I did, everything started to trend up and to the right. I never expected it.”

To find additional information on New Degree Press or to purchase the books of Zev Burton or Haley Hoffman Smith, visit www.NewDegreePress.com.

 

Who Is Sha’haun Williams?

Sha’haun Williams is a superstar from Youngstown, Ohio, who is a six foot three, 265-pound defensive lineman preferably labeled as one of the best available pass rushers in the 2021 free-agent market. He played football at Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio, where he played in 41 games and managed to rack up 178 total tackles, 50.5 of which were tackles for losses and 38.5 of those were sacks. It’s very questionable why Sha’haun Williams hasn’t been selected to play for one of the 32 teams in the NFL. His superstar strength and quick ability to get to the quarterback is a reflection of his idol NFL DE, Aaron Donald. With similar playing styles, Sha’haun Williams and Aaron Donald both managed to use their superstar talent to earn over 20+ sacks in one season in 2018. 

How COVID-19 Has Affected His Career

The year 2020 was a disaster for many college athletes pursuing a career in the NFL. Most teams have managed to look past a lot of very talented athletes. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all 32 NFL teams have been slow to invite players to their facilities to meet coaches and work out. Sha’haun Williams, being one of those players, believes he has what it takes to not only play in the NFL but also compete at a very high level. Sha’haun Williams hoped he would’ve been invited to a try-out in order to showcase his talent; unfortunately, he never received an opportunity. This past year, he’s been training harder than ever and staying ready for an opportunity to come. Sha’haun still currently believes he’s still one of the best at his position and is in the best shape of his life and can still dominate in the game of football. 

Expressing Feelings through His Music

Sha’haun Williams is also known as Haun when it comes to his music. Haun shows a similar passion for music as he does for the game of football. Making his first song in December of 2020, he has already shown his ability to be versatile. Haun’s fan base has been growing rapidly. His songs have already been played on the radio station in Ohio. The same work ethic Haun has shown in his fantastic football career he has reciprocated in his music career, and it is very noticeable. He plans on releasing more songs soon in the summer all while still training for the NFL.

We asked Haun what’s the most exciting part of his most upcoming music, and he said, “I can’t wait until I release new music and people see how much I’ve grown as an artist. I’ve created songs with a passion, and I’ve been giving my fans something they can relate to.”

Haun has become a very relatable artist, and he has overcome a lot of adversity. He was a very talented college athlete, and he has also just became a father to a beautiful girl named Melesia Sheree Williams, born in April 2021. Haun expresses these things in his music and has been very open to being transparent in order for his fans to relate to him through music.

What We Recommend

For an update on his music career, make sure to follow Sha’haun on Instagram. There, he will be posting new music and any other live updates on his music career. Also, Sha’haun has provided a link in his bio that will direct fans to some of his superstar college highlights that come highly recommended. His highlights are very impressive, and we hope to see him on a NFL team soon all while his music is playing on radio stations all over the world.

There is a saying that goes “Country music is three chords and the truth.” The unique blend of storytelling and songwriting weaving tales of love, hope, heartbreak, and sadness that resonates with its listeners. One country music artist that has managed to keep the broadly sonic genre of music for modern culture is Michael Monroe Goodman, a country music star named after his parent’s family friend, country music legend Bill Monroe.

Hailing from southern Kentucky in a town that only had an asylum for the insane and a women’s prison as its most notable structure, Michael Monroe Goodman grew up surrounded by country music. He spent his childhood hanging out backstage at the Grand Ole Opry with family friend Bill Monroe. He started singing in his church and then in school plays at a young age but only found his passion for country music when he was sixteen. 

Surrounded by country music as he was, Micheal spent years in Nashville and Kentucky writing songs and playing in music bands. He later moved to Chicago to improve his act and ultimately got into broadway shows and even auditioned for SNL before deciding that Chicago was not the city to manifest his dreams. He packed up and moved to the land of Hollywood, where he began working on his music and built his brand.

Now a seasoned country artist redefining the landscape of country music, Michael Monroe Goodman has headlined performances at Wrigley Field, Soldier Field, the Grand Ole Opry House stage, Chicago Motor Speedway Nascar race, and many other notable locations. His upcoming new single “Not Today” gives credence to his artistic talent as a lyrical genius and has been an enormous success all over various music charts nationwide. 

Sharing his inspiration for the song, Michael said the song is about drug addiction, “I wrote this song for people who are battling an addiction and the struggle they go through days of trying to break the cycle. I lost my dad to alcoholism, and my wife lost her best friend to heroin addiction.” He continued, “I started this song when I was a kid watching my dad struggle and felt that it is very relevant in today’s world. It’s maybe the heaviest song I have ever recorded as It’s a song of darkness but hopefully also a song of hope.” 

Michael Monroe Goodman draws motivation from his innate love for country music and its authenticity that resonates with real people. He continues to channel all his influence and passion for music to tell stories through songwriting distinctive in his dedication to making the best music. In the coming years, Michael wants to continue making music that resonates with his listeners and help them feel connected to a community that cares about them. He hopes to get back to the stage as soon as restrictions lift, go on tours, play new tunes, and bring a honky good time to his fans who have remained patient through the pandemic.

To learn more about Michael Monroe Goodman, you may visit his official website.

Amanda Marie Wilkinson is a woman who has passionately dipped her toes into multiple ventures. Through the years, she has succeeded on all fronts coming out into the world as an empowered woman who wears many hats in many industries. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she has lived her life rooted in the creative arts and extending her branches of television and modeling to share her voice and her story through songwriting. 

Amanda has never limited herself in any shape or form, connecting with people not just from a social media perspective but through a strong platform of Unity with Community. Amanda Marie Wilkinson is a graduate nurse and a businesswoman first and foremost, working her way up into society through hard work, passion, and dedication alone.

Growing up, Amanda didn’t have the cushy lifestyle that some of the most successful entrepreneurs seem to have. She was not born into a life of privilege, so she learned that life alone is the largest privilege most of us have. She had to learn this the hard way when she got into a freak accident that almost cost Amanda her life in 2007. 

Miraculously, she was healed from all her injuries which ran all the way from her back, femur, hips, and pelvis. She was physically crushed, but she never let it hinder her growth. She expresses much of her gratitude to the community that helped her recover along the way. Amanda Marie Wilkinson expresses that her community’s support was the largest contributing factor to her optimal healing. 

“I wouldn’t be in the position I am in if it weren’t for Unity with Community,” said Amanda. “This is the platform I created and promised myself to always give back to help support others where I can because I genuinely understand how a crisis of any sort can be crippling to anyone’s life, goals, dreams, and livelihood,” she added.

All her personal struggles and challenges strengthened her to become the empowered woman she is today. “I know that if I never forget my stories, I will continue to grow and inspire others too,” she explained. Amanda Marie Wilkinson is taking things day by day. In the foreseeable future, she envisions herself simply continuing to live passionately. 

“Every day is a day for growth, so as long as I never stop learning, in five years, I can’t imagine where I can be, but I will always look forward to where I will be,” eloquently exclaimed Amanda. She hopes that her story will ignite a flame of passion within everyone. She hopes to connect with other people through her experiences and her remarkable story. “When you experience true peace and happiness, that road doesn’t end. Just keep going and go around the potholes and bumps that might try to hinder your journey.”

To know more about the amazing Amanda Marie Wilkinson, make sure to check out her official website.

The music industry, especially the male-dominated hip-hop industry, is hard to break into for their female counterparts. However, over the last decades, many female performers have made their mark, dominating the charts and carving a unique niche for themselves as if to say, “we’re here to rule.” One amazing artist standing out from the rest and staking her claim as a force to be reckoned with in hip-hop culture is Mone Symone, an artist single-handedly redefining the landscape of hip-hop music.

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, with her real name Simone Kimbrough, Mone Symone is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and civil rights advocate carving a global niche for herself as an acclaimed artist. Growing up in Chicago, Mone had it rough with life as she grew in a troubled neighborhood filled with unexpected violence. However, even at a young age, she found solace in music and started performing at the age of ten, honing her talents by engaging in various singing and modeling competitions. As she grew older, her skills shone, and she became known for her powerful vocals and witty lyrics.

Like all life choices that come at the stroke of adulthood for most women, Mone was faced with the decision of continuing her music career or becoming a mother when she got pregnant with a baby girl at 19. Standing at the crossroads, Mone chose her baby girl and raised her as a single mother, temporarily discouraged from making music after disputes occurred over a contract. She took on several businesses to fend for herself and her little girl.

Once her daughter came of age, Mone Symone knew it was time to stop playacting with the “regular” life and get back to her true passion – making music. She made her way back to the recording studio, channeled her love for her daughter and love for music into a raw and powerful  R&B single called  ‘Need Somebody’ released in 2020. The song was a wake-up call for everyone, and it quickly went viral, earning her a loyal fanbase. Her long hiatus paid off as she quickly became the most sought-after artist from Chicago, even recently dropping a  mixtape in collaboration with hip-hop celebrity Trina.

Planning to dominate the hip-hop scenes for a long time,  Mone Symone recently released a hot new single called “New Thang” which is available on all streaming platforms. Mone constantly reaches for new milestones, unafraid and undeterred by her circumstances or societal labels. She continues to pour her heart and soul into every beat and every lyric inspired by her daughter to reach her maximum potential as an artist, take a leap of faith and land among the stars.  

Asides from music, Mone Symone is making a huge impact and making her presence felt. She has been a strong advocate in her communities for years, lending her voice and platform to make the change she wants to see in others and herself. In the coming years, she hopes to become an internationally acclaimed artist and contribute more to society by providing foster care for children without parental supervision. With her priorities set, and her heart in the right place, Mone Symone is an artist to watch out for as she dominates the hip-hop industry.

To learn more about Mone Symone, visit her website. You can also listen to her music on  Spotify, check her live updates by following her on Instagram and watch her recent projects on YouTube.

The music industry is highly competitive, with many new talents who aspire to build a meaningful career and an enviable fanbase out of it. For talents like Tempest Styles, who have an insatiable passion for their craft and incredible voice and style to match, becoming a massive star is anticipated.

Tempest Styles is an emerging powerhouse who is not afraid to dip her toes into a cutthroat trade in order to transform her visions into reality. Her diligence in perfecting her craft has captured the attention of various legends and established authorities, slowly cementing her reputation across a highly competitive industry. This power player not only shows an impeccable command over beats and rhythm, but she also demonstrates the power of passion, commitment, tenacity in developing one’s career.

Hailing from Bronx, New York, Tempest Styles, with rap names formally known as Nina and Lolanina, is a fast-rising hip-hop artist craving a name for herself as an artist with a unique vibe and sound. As a child, Tempest was surrounded by music as she watched her father, hip-hop artist Tito Navedo, set a distinctive trend for himself as part of the hip-hop movement in the Bronx. As a matter of fact, her father made so much difference in the world that music legend Funk Master Flex attributed his successes to Tito. Inspired, Tempest picked up the pen and started writing music, opening the gateway to her innate talent. She experimented with different voices and styles until she found hers. The first few songs she uploaded on SoundCloud were so infused with her vibrant personality and raw musical ability that the songs gained her an instant fanbase.

Emboldened, Tempest Styles released her music to a global audience, constantly putting in the required hard work to please her growing fanbase and leave a footprint of musical greatness in the sands of time. And while music was a massive part of her childhood, Tempest was also into performing arts, track, cheerleading, talent shows, and many more, with an enviable record of excellence in everything she sets her mind to.

“Growing up, I have always been interested in performing,” Tempest shares.

An artist and entertainer at heart, Tempest Styles is a powerhouse of talents as she can draw, sing, act, and dance. Her incredible track record only shows her passion, versatility, and dedication to her craft. As a matter of fact, Tempest recently released a song entitled “Bronx Tales,” in which she pays massive tribute to her late father. With her exceptional arsenal of talents, this go-getting individual hopes to share the center stage with a number of notable figures, such as Jhene Aiko, Nicki Minaj, J Cole, among others. 

Although Tempest Styles always had a keen ear for rhythm, beats, and lyrics, this power player would not have reached impressive heights of a highly competitive trade had it not been for her determination to climb the industry’s summits. As she continues to thrive and rise above, Tempest hopes to make a mark someday. 

In the coming years, Tempest Styles wants to travel the world, top the charts, go on tours, and fulfill her dreams, all while upholding her father’s legacy.

Learn more about Tempest Styles and her music by visiting her official website.