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ORIO/FLICKR.SURF:THEDIGITALCREATOR.THE ROAD TO WELL-BEING “We’re making it one of
our 2020 missions to further the conversation on
mental health and implement programs to help,”
says Abaidoo, 27. Beginning with Walker’s tour this
fall, he says, “Our management team will be working
with a specialist to offer self-healing and mindful-
ness sessions to the tour’s crew and artists.”
Cortez Bryant
CO-CEO, THE BLUEPRINT GROUP; COO, YOUNG MONEY
ENTERTAINMENT; PARTNER, MAVERICK
THA CARTER FREE Bryant, 40, and his Young Money
partner, Mack Maine, helped longtime client Lil
Wayne settle his lawsuits with Cash Money Records
and Universal Music Group in June 2018, which gave
the rapper sole ownership of Young Money Records
and its releases moving forward. That paved the
way for the long-awaited release of Tha Carter V
(which debuted at No. 1 in October 2018 and earned
480,000 equivalent album units in its first week),
a branding deal with American Eagle clothing, a
national commercial for the Ghost Recon video-game
franchise and a joint summer tour with Blink-182.
BLUEPRINT OF THE FUTURE “It’s time for evolution,”
says Bryant of The Blueprint Group’s next chapter.
He is working with BPG Records president Jean
Nelson to develop the company’s label, which
counts G-Eazy among its roster.
Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter
FOUNDER, ROC NATION
Jay Brown
CEO, ROC NATION
Desiree Perez
COO, ROC NATION
TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE NFL During the past year,
JAY-Z, 49, and Roc Nation’s sports deals have gener-
ated as much news as the company’s music roster. In
August, the NFL announced a partnership with Roc
Nation that gives it an advisory role as live-music en-
tertainment strategists for events like the Super Bowl
halftime show. Roc Nation also will support Inspire
Change, the social justice initiative created by the
NFL and the Players Coalition. Given the NFL’s rela-
tionship with Colin Kaepernick, JAY-Z’s deal with the
league has generated controversy, but as the rapper
turned entrepreneur observed at the time of the deal,
“Entertainment and enacting change are not mutually
exclusive ideas.” In other sports news, Roc Nation
unveiled its new global sports division — which will
focus on soccer — in London.
ALL ABOUT EVE Women rocked the Roc’s music
department in 2019. Rapsody’s acclaimed Eve hit
No. 9 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Album Sales chart and
has generated 22.1 million on-demand audio streams.
Roc Nation also signed Megan Thee Stallion to its
management division after she scored her first top 10
album on the Billboard 200, Fever, and two top 40
Hot 100 singles: “Hot Girl Summer” with Nicki Minaj
and Ty Dolla $ign (No. 11) and “Cash Shit,” featuring
DaBaby (No. 36).
J. Cole
CO-FOUNDER/CEO, DREAMVILLE
Ibrahim “IB” Hamad
CO-FOUNDER/PRESIDENT, DREAMVILLE; MANAGER, J. COLE
DREAM ACADEMY Dreamville’s 2019 compilation
album, Revenge of the Dreamers III, for which chief
Ace of Spades supports
local acts as well as
stars like Big K.R.I.T. and
YG, while Holy Diver
and Harlow’s offer a
more cozy setting.
New artists looking to
cut their teeth in the
biz aim for stage time
at the Showplace
Theater and
Town Ballroom.
Eminem’s 8 Mile made
The Shelter famous, while
fellow hometown hero
Danny Brown has repped
El Club. Rising pop singer
Siena Liggins notes:
“Detroit will take an un-
derground warehouse
or a parking lot and
have performances
anywhere.”
The Prudential Center
attracts A-listers like
Chris Brown and WWPR
(Power 105.1) New
York’s annual mega-
show, Powerhouse. The
Roots and Chaka Khan
frequent the New Jersey
Performing Arts Center.
Squeeze Burger
made Guy Fieri drool.
Chando’s Tacos cooks
up authentic Mexican.
Head to Kiki’s Chicken
Place for your chicken-
and-waffles fix.
“In this city, good food
is as easy as finding a
stop sign,” says Buffalo
rapper Mad Dukez,
who’s partial to Frank’s
Sunny Italy, The Trap-
haus and La Davina,
which has “tacos done
to perfection.”
Detroit has become
a foodie destination.
Legendary diner
Lafayette Coney Island
and the jerk chicken
at The Jamaican Pot
are musts.
Hamburgao offers a
Brazilian twist on the
classic burger that’s
topped with ham,
eggs and corn, while
Ambassador Fish &
Chicken serves up
classics like fried catfish
and barbecue wings.
Need to line up your
haircut and get your
drip right in the same
spot? Still Grindin’/
Upgrade Cuts can
handle both.
Signature Cutz is
basically the unofficial
barbershop of the
Buffalo Bills — nearly
every member of the
team comes by on Fri-
days before games.
Revive specializes in
designer streetwear,
boasting brands like
AMIRI, Fear of God
and Off-White. Once
your outfit is on point,
head to Burn Rubber
Sneaker Boutique or
Bob’s Classic Kicks to
complete your
look.
Check out Cut Creaters’
unisex salon for a fresh
shave, a silk press or to
get your locs retwisted.
“Dave O [manager of
fellow Sacramento rap-
per Mozzy] hosts studio
sessions that put all the
most talented artists
and producers from the
city in the same room,”
says rapper C Plus.
Local mainstay Chuck-
ie Campbell runs Hip
Hop at the Hostel, a
monthly showcase
focused on indie acts.
Its MCs have gone on
to open for legends like
Pharoahe Monch and
Black Milk.
Royce Da 5’9” offers
guidance to rappers
who come to his
Heaven Studios,”
says Detroit authority
BEWARE. “He’s doing
whatever he can to
take their career to the
next level.”
“Hopefully, in a few
years, I can become
one of this city’s OGs,”
says Tsu Surf. “If New-
ark gets behind you,
you’ve been doing your
thing. We don’t get
spoon-fed here.”
C Plus, trap&B artist
Nate Curry and R&B
singer-songwriter
Allyn.
Rappers Westside
Gunn, Anthony 1999
and Armani Caesar.
Rap duo Drego & Beno,
trap artist 42 Dugg and
Liggins.
Rappers Tsu Surf,
Mach-Hommy and
Sonny Breeze.
The new Downtown
Commons district has
become a nightlife
staple. The Punch Bowl
(a diner/bar/bowling
alley hybrid) is just
steps from the Golden 1
Center arena.
Buffalo native Latisa
“Lisa” Roosevelt and
her husband, Chris, run
The Rose Bar & Grille.
The lounge is the per-
fect stop for calming
jazz and R&B.
The city’s hot spots
serve as the muse
for the music. Hit the
tables at MotorCity Ca-
sino and then head to
The Coliseum for some
adult entertainment.
The DJs at Rio Lounge
spin hip-hop three
nights a week. Simi-
larly, expect to hear
the hottest rap and
R&B hits at Kilkenny
Alehouse.
WHERE
TO GET
CLEANED UP
COOLEST
STAGES
TOP
HANGOUTS
ARTISTS
TO WATCH
LOCAL EATS
PUSHING
THE SCENE
KEEPING IT FRESH
WHERE TO GET YOUR DRIP RIGHT, YOUR DRINK ON OR YOUR LOCS
RETWISTED IN FOUR OF R&B/HIP-HOP’S EMERGING CAPITALS
BY EDDIE GONZALEZ
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. BUFFALO, N.Y. DETROIT NEWARK, N.J.
OCTOBER 19, 2019 • WWW.BILLBOARD.COM 5 7