Category Archives: Videos

Alessia Cara’s “Four Pink Walls” EP (8/28)

Posted on by

0

I initially came across Alessia Cara about a month ago when I heard her debut single, “Here” on Beats 1 Radio. As soon as I heard the record, I instantly tagged it to add to my personal playlist. Other than the Isaac Hayes “Ikes Rap II” sample which was also used by Portishead and stems from the Wallace Collection’s “Daydream”, there was something about this record that reminded me of something that I heard in the past. At the moment, I just couldn’t put a finger on it. Now I know. “Here” reminds me of a record that was released about 6 years ago by an artist named Portia Monique entitled “Get To Know You.” It has a similar soulful feel and vibe to it which I love!

When I found out that Alessia Cara was signed to Def Jam, I reached out to a friend of mine who told me that they were very excited to have her as an addition to their roster. I myself am eager to hear more. On August 28, Alessia will be releasing her debut EP, “Four Pink Walls.”

Stay tuned for more!

_________________________

(Uh • Kway • Us) Aquaus Kelley is a forward-thinking Creative Consultant, Educator, and Music Publisher. As the Founder of A Lovers Ambition Lifestyle Group, he specializes in identifying talent and creating opportunities for brand development, exposure, and growth. Aquaus has worked with companies such as Cornerstone Agency, Universal Music Group, and W Hotels. He is extremely passionate about helping companies adapt to culture and building value between brands and their consumers. His ultimate mission is to use his influence to project positivity across the globe.

Why Did Doug Choose Sony Over Apple?

Posted on by

0

In 2011, Doug Morris made the decision to depart as the Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group for various reasons. Under the mentorship and guidance of Doug was his successor, Lucian Grainge. Lucian was appointed as the Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group in March of 2011. When Doug spoke at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School in 2013, he mentioned that he was met with two job opportunities when making the decision to leave UMG. One offer was from Sir Howard Stringer, who at the time was the Chairman and CEO at Sony Corporation. Another offer was from a guy over at Apple by the name of Steve Jobs.

Steve wanted to bring Doug on board to open up a “Digital Record Company.” By the look of things today, it may have been Apple Music. Instead, Doug made the decision to become CEO over at Sony Music Entertainment. Steve was not very pleased. At the time, many people may have thought, why would Doug choose Sony over Apple? However, here is the part that I particular find to be very interesting. One of Doug’s very close friends is Jimmy Iovine. For those of you who may not know, Jimmy Iovine is a long-term record man and former chairman of Universal Music Group’s Interscope, Geffen, and A&M records division. He’s also the co-founder of Beats by Dre which was acquired by Apple last year. Jimmy is now an important part of the Apple team. Although his exact title is yet to be disclosed, we do know that he occupies an important space in a very influential capacity.

I would be curious to know:

  • What role did Doug play in any of the “behind closed door” conversations between Apple, Beats, and Jimmy Iovine?
  • Was Doug aware of Apple’s interest in purchasing Beats?
  • How likely is it that Doug may decide to make a move over to Apple Music?

These are all questions that I find to be quite intriguing. I guess we’ll see what the future has in store!

_________________________

(Uh • Kway • Us) Aquaus Kelley is a forward-thinking Creative Consultant, Educator, and Music Publisher. As the Founder of A Lovers Ambition Lifestyle Group, he specializes in identifying talent and creating opportunities for brand development, exposure, and growth. Aquaus has worked with companies such as Cornerstone Agency, Universal Music Group, and W Hotels. He is extremely passionate about helping companies adapt to culture and building value between brands and consumers. His ultimate mission is to use his influence to project positivity across the globe and raise awareness to help uplift the condition of humanity.

Izzy Bizu – Adam & Eve (w/Bonus Track)

Posted on by

0

I remember my first post almost 2 years ago on how I initially came across the lovely and talented, Izzy Bizu. To have the opportunity to both witness and play a role in spreading awareness on her projects early in her career is very fulfilling. Identifying emerging talent upon entry into the commercial marketplace is something that I have a deep passion for!

2 years later, and now 21 years of age, Izzy only continues to blossom into a more experienced and seasoned artist, performer, and storyteller. She now has the backing of a major label after inking a deal with Epic Records. She has supported major acts such as Jamie Cullum, Milky Chance, and Sam Smith. She is also in the process of recording her debut album which is due to be released sometime this year.

Here is the video for her newest release entitled, “Adam & Eve”…Enjoy!

…Are you searching for more ear candy? Here is another lovely release from Izzy entitled, “Diamond” which is a super smooth cut!

_________________________

(Uh • Kway • Us) Aquaus Kelley is a forward-thinking Creative Consultant, Educator, and Music Publisher. As the Founder of A Lovers Ambition Lifestyle Group, he specializes in identifying talent and creating opportunities for brand development, exposure, and growth. Aquaus has worked with companies such as Cornerstone Agency, Universal Music Group, and W Hotels. He is extremely passionate about helping companies adapt to culture and building value between brands and consumers. His ultimate mission is to use his influence to project positivity across the globe.

Kanye West x Adidas Fashion Show (Awesome Is Possible!)

Posted on by

0

Hello Lovers…Happy Valentines Day! NYC has been buzzing since earlier this week and the festivities will continue over the course of the next 24+  hours or so. Not only is it fashion week, it also happens to be NBA All-Star weekend. On top of that, Monday is Presidents Day; which adds another layer to the madness. With everything that is going on this weekend, what is there not to love?

Yesterday night, as I was making rounds through Jersey City and Manhattan, I received a call from one of my good friends. I couldn’t answer at the moment, but when I called her back, she asked if I heard about Kanye’s fashion show with Adidas. I told her that I did and she sent me an email to check out an article and some footage of how the show was received.

As I began to read the article, the number one statement that initially caught my attention is when Kanye mentions, “I want people to think awesome is possible.” I immediately identified with that philosophy. Too often we idolize the achievements of others to a point that we no longer believe that it’s possible to achieve great things in our own right. We become desensitized to mediocrity. We view greatness as an anomaly. We become comfortable with things being fine just the way that they are. I extremely disagree! I believe that our existence in itself grants us an opportunity to achieve profound accolades beyond our imagination. Why settle for anything less?

Push culture forward. Push creativity forward. Live legendary, leave a legacy!

– Enjoy!

Empowered: The Story of MankoFit

Posted on by

0

Earlier today, I was talking to a friend of mine about fitness, health, and wellness. She asked me if I knew of someone by the name of Massiel “MankoFit” Arias. Although the name sounded slightly familiar, it still didn’t quite ring a bell. A few seconds later, I asked to see her Instagram. After a few quick glances, I knew that I had seen her somewhere before. I sent out a quick text to one of my close childhood friends, Thomas Johnson. I wanted to see if he was familiar with her. 5 minutes later…he replied, “Yes, I am.”

Thomas is a Health and Fitness Coach and also the CEO of GetUpNGetFit. GetUpNGetFit is a health & fitness company that helps clients learn how to implement healthy and safe lifestyle habits that will allow them to live an optimum lifestyle. This past weekend, Thomas, my brother, and I all went out to celebrate my brothers birthday and the release of one of my other friends mobile app. When we returned from the city, Thomas shared with me some insight on MankoFit. He told me how she is very well known within the world of fitness and how she is doing a great job at making a positive name for herself.

Hearing about someone once might gain my acknowledgement. Hearing about someone twice definitely gains my attention. It was finally time to hit that search button. As expected, I did all of my preliminary searching via Google. I also checked out her Twitter, Youtube, and website. I liked what I had seen. I could tell that she is very passionate about her work. She has the drive of someone who is out here fighting to prove something. The ambition of someone fighting for a specific cause. What really caught my attention however is her mini-documentary above. ‘Empowered – The Story of MankoFit’, does a great job at portraying how Massy utilized fitness as a medium to overcome her depression.

We all know that life is full of obstacles, hardships, and setbacks. How we choose to overcome the challenges that stand in our way is ultimately what helps to build our character and craft our own unique story. Ask yourself, what are you doing today to make your journey more fulfilling tomorrow?

This video (which is very well shot), was directed by Eliu Cornielle of EC Media Studio. It’s super empowering, inspiring, and motivating…Enjoy!

_________________________

(Uh • Kway • Us) Aquaus Kelley is a forward-thinking Brand Strategist, Educator, and Music Publisher. As the Founder of A Lovers Ambition Lifestyle Group, he specializes in identifying talent and creating opportunities for brand development, exposure, and growth. Aquaus has worked with companies and organizations such as Cornerstone Agency, City Year Miami, Universal Music Group, and W Hotels. He is extremely passionate about helping companies adapt to culture and building value between brands and their consumers centered around love. His ultimate mission is to use his influence to project positivity across the globe and invest in the collective future of society through the arts, education, entertainment, and leadership.

Common Interview on Bristol Presentz #ALOVERSAmbition

Posted on by

0

On September 14, 2014 I received an email inquiry from Lekan Latinwo of Amon Creatives out of Bristol, UK. Lekan happened to see my 3 Lessons Learned interview with Jaha Johnson on behindthehustle.com. In my interview on BTH, Jaha mentions that he co-manages Common along with some other well-known artists and producers. Before reaching out to me, Lekan had obviously done his research. He requested an interview with Common knowing that he would be at the O2 Academy in Bristol, UK during his ‘Nobody’s Smiling’ Tour. All that Lekan needed from me was to connect him with Jaha. After collecting some additional information, I reached out to Jaha to see if he was cool with Lekan’s request. Thankfully, Jaha gave me the green light and I was happy to connect the both of them.

I wanted to share this with you all because it’s a great example of how to go about bringing your dreams and goals to fruition. If you have an idea, act on it! Find the people who can help you to connect those dots and make things happen. Yes, you definitely have to play your part. It’s also important to know exactly what you want while being strategic and smart about your approach. Once you have things together on your end, life becomes more simple. There are people in this world such as myself who do want to help others out and see them succeed. As Cortez Bryant, one of Billboards 2014 Top 40 Under 40 honorees once said, “I got into this business to help artists fulfill their dreams.” That’s the ethos of A Lovers Ambition. It’s more than a creative agency. It’s more than a lifestyle group. It’s an all around lifestyle based movement founded on helping to make others dreams and passions come true. We all have ‘A Lovers Ambition’ to achieve something in life. Ask yourself, what do you aspire to achieve?

Enjoy the video!

Childish Gambino – Sober

Posted on by

0

Ahhh yesss…Childish Gambino recently released his video for “Sober” which is one of my favorite tracks off of his Kauai EP.

What are your thoughts on the video?

Calma Carmona – When I Was Your Girl

Posted on by

0

Nothing pleases us more than coming across new talent and Calma Carmona is definitely no exception! We came across her recent interview earlier this month via Afropunk.com and thought that it would be worth sharing her work and thoughts with you all…enjoy!

Maxine Ashley – Perpetual Nights

Posted on by

0

Maxine Ashley dropped this video earlier today and of course it gives off that classic Neptunes vibe that we always love to hear!