Almost a month since my last entry, pardon my absence! It takes time working on this dream of mine.
I hit the ground running here in New York City. After almost four months at home in Australia and out of the “loop” of entertainment industry buzz, I was filled with excitement, nerves, fear and determination to get back in the saddle.
I touched down on a Monday afternoon and hours later was back on air with my partner DJ Green Lantern for Invasion Radio (Hip Hop Nation, SiriusXM 44). Man, did it feel good! Jetlag was nothing in comparison to the adrenaline spurring me on. Radio is now truly a passion of mine and having rocked with the show for exactly two years, I’m super eager for more opportunities in this field.
Of course I checked in immediately with DrJays.com, who’ve transitioned their sponsor role with me on this new O-1B visa from Full-Time Employer (on my previous E3 visa) to Agent/Management. The company has had my back for over six years now and continuing a relationship with them has been an absolute blessing. We’re working on some great projects for the rest of the year ahead.
Towards the end of last year I began a great working relationship with Unified Society clothing, a Bronx-based company that shares my passion for giving back to the community and empowering our young people. We’ve come up with a “Boss Lady” line of apparel, kicking off with tees and wifebeaters that match the color scheme of my sneakers with Reebok Classics. We’re rolling that out at the end of this month with promo events at some Bronx sneaker and fashion stores and then moving sales online. Don’t even think for a second a portion of the proceeds aren’t going to my non-profit of choice! Once again I’m reppin’ New York Youth At Risk with all my heart and showing my support not just physically as a mentor but financially as well.
Perhaps the greatest achievement in this short month back in the swing of things is my appointment last week as Director of Marketing & Talent Relations for Sprayground, an über-popular new brand of bags and accessories. Headed by creative genius David Ben-David, the company is small but passionate. I have my work cut out for me in this exciting new role and I can’t wait to keep everyone updated on the great things we have in store.
May will be closed out on a great note with the arrival in Australia and New Zealand of my new posterbook, Stars Of Hip-Hop And R&B (the territory still needs a rudimentary title to get as much attention on newsstands as possible, sad to say). I’m so blessed to have been able to come back home for the short amount of time I was there and put together a publication like my first one which came out exactly ten years ago.
Tomorrow my Dawn Raid Entertainment family from New Zealand touch down for the next month and I’ll be introducing my girl Aaradhna to New York for the first time, welcoming her as a signed artist to Universal Republic Records. Good times ahead!
The journey continues.
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