Ori Inu: In Search of Self film premier

Lol bloop, caught on candid. Had an awesome time at the trailer release party for Ori Inu: In Search of Self, a true passion project to look out for this year! The creators of the film - Emann and Chelsea Odufu and Danielle Bonilla - spent the summer shooting on location in Trinidad, and partnered with MoCADA museum in Brooklyn to celebrate this not to be missed movie. Watching so much of the creative, financial and production process unfold everywhere from NYU to my living room, made the BTS as much of a coming of age tale as the film itself, and I couldn't be more proud to support the brilliant work my friends put together. So happy to be a part of a project bringing one of the many stories of our shared Caribbean heritage to the forefront of the artistic community. For more on Ori Inu: In Search of Self check out the website here, and the trailer below!

#IYRTITL: How Drake and Meek Mill got us to brand our content for free

Whether you're a product or a person there's never been more ways to promote your brand in today's media climate... this also means you have to get creative to stand out. That could mean anything from a corporate partnership with Sprite, to leveraging seemingly bad press. Drake saw a huge return on investment after he turned a tweet from Meek Mill, questioning the validity of his songwriting, into a platinum record last week. From bloggers, to radio hosts, to fans and haters of the two, the social media frenzy launched organic engagement that also resulted in Meek finally "Earning gold status for two of his 2012 singles: “Dreams And Nightmares” and, to wit, the Drake-featuring single “Amen,” that very week as well. Best part for the both of them is we, the music obsessed internet junkies, did all the investing, even if it was just 140 characters of content. Just goes to show the power of one of our favorite mantras in advertising, "join the conversation." Who else kind of wants a check for their tweets though haha? Read Gary Suarez's story for Forbes here. 

One of my fave designers back with another fearless ad campaign

I love seeing strategic creative marketing that really has its finger on the pulse of our ever so bizarre society. Last week Calvin Klein and Mother NY literally took their fingers there... via sexting. If you haven't already, check out this incredibly thought out, weird and insightful campaign via AdWeek -- in 2015 sexting sells!

The Bravo Upfronts: TV, Content strategy, Nene and Armani

Press upfronts, which are best described as the Millionaire Matchmaker of TV execs and potential advertisers, can be a chore for some, but as a true media nerd, I love being in a room full of people who shamelessly love to create it, write about it and sell it. This week I went to NBC Universal's presentation for Bravo, Oxygen and Esquire Network. When modern day visionaries come to mind, Andy Cohen is definitely one of my industry idols; say what you want about reality television, but not only did he conceptualize a now unrecognizable identity for Bravo's programming, he simultaneously developed his personal brand. From concept to production to talent to advertising, content and the retention of viewership is built on all these levels of trust within the system, so my hat is forever tipped to Andy. By making "the executive" a personality, he's made his rendition of reality TV all the more "real." When the brains behind the operation breaks the fourth wall, it enhances that trust for viewers and advertisers, making you think ...humm is it the magic of media or does this guy put himself in the thick of things because he's got nothing to hide, maybe there's some new level of authenticity here, and that's interesting - it reminds you authenticity in this business is all relative.

Ha and it's funny, you tend to notice the higher you go up in entertainment, and obviously I've been everywhere from your Bushwick DIY show to Fashion Week, that man, does the quality of people's clothes really get insanely better at every level. The DIY scenesters range anywhere from not caring to trying way too hard to stand out, while the bloggosphere is generally frumpy to casual; sometimes I wonder if film production people own anything other than naturally distressed jeans, and yet music producers are always fashion conscious and usually pretty fly looking, while promoters, understandably so, just look like they're on the brink of death. TV people always look incredibly sharp though, and this was no exception. I swear I spent as much time admiring fabrics as much as I did taking notes. Either way I got to meet NeNe and Kim from The Real Housewives of Atlanta, see some really cool drag queens and talk to a lot of people about how we love content development and strategy, and how whether it's online or TV, we could stare at screens all day... without any caveats, about how sculpture and cartography and stuff is uh... really cool. 

I visited The Hit Factory and it was awesome!!

Remember the snowy hot mess of a first day of spring we had last Friday? Well I got the pleasure of spending it with up and coming music industry mogul Lori Trigonis at The Hit Factory-- home to Gibson Brands, and more music history than you could ever handle! Kay Lori helped me escape this year's millionth snowpocalypse by taking me to the room where Beyonce recorded "Crazy in Love," the studio John Lennon left right before getting shot, and to the spot below filled with mad guitars. Once she told me this was the most Instagrammed room, I let my fangirl flag fly free and took my only pic of the day (I KNOW! #fail).

Music, and music history are two of my greatest interests, so getting to actually stand in the studio where Paul Simon returned to mix and master Graceland after pulling an original Dave Chappelle in Africa - the hallowed ground where Biggie laid down, in my opinion, the most visceral of his cannon, "Everyday Struggle" - and the place where after a cosign from his then protégé Usher, Diddy gave a group of high school friends from Atlanta the opportunity to record their debut, 112, in the city where dreams are made... from which you KNOW "Cupid" still is THE CUT - I found myself less focused on the idea that I was there standing on the shoulders of giants, but rather standing face to face with the fact that, despite whatever misses I could spend all day criticizing myself about, I HAVE to do whatever it takes to make my own hits. That's passion to me. 

Kehinde Wildin' at Brooklyn Museum (had to lol)

Finally went to check out the Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic exhibit at Brooklyn Museum, and it was pretty interesting. Honestly I thought a lot of it was pretty homoerotic, which is def something to think on if you know anything about various echelons of the black male experience, and hip-hop and other stuff. Neither a professional social nor art critic, I also know absolutely nothing about this artist or what this was supposed to be, beyond the fact that I've always loved that MJ painting, and I wanted to go see some more cool stuff. I did notice that every single one of his cherubs was throwing mad shade, which I found kinda funny. Haha like some commentary on the proverbial gods laughing at our belief in any level of manifest destiny-- gotta say, that's pretty apropos. 

#PRIVATEEYES

THE JAM ALL DAY. #tbqh my girls and I have a very special place in our heart for easy listening, adult contemporary, the hilaire names of those genres ...and wall to wall cream carpet. A simpler time. Yes the 90's, or 80's, *I dunno, and I don't care, because I'm a millennial and I'm not responsible for anything other than consuming and creating content for your viewing or fiscal pleasure... content like this song that reminds me of being a carefree baby haha. The pressure generated by the necessary tunnel vision it takes to attain any type of success today, especially given how easy the time we grew up in led us to believe it would be, makes these songs, reminiscent of when my biggest problem was getting used to sharing my toys with a brand new brother, all the more fire sometimes.

*Oookay just looked it up and this song actually dropped 7 years before I was born... I guess even then I had classic tastes hahaha B-)

**Photobooth opp courtesy of Franklin Park, which is more or less in Crown Heights for now, but judging the clientele last night, it will somehow be located in something called "CroHo" within the year. Oh Brooklyn, Oh 2015, how I love thee!

Suicide Party -_-

Things I'm never doing again: painting a room. Thank god this new @Father just dropped, and um pretty much no song embodies what I'm dealing with in my apt right now more than "Suicide Party." Lmao also the lyric "where's our advisor?" kills me ...hopefully finishing this paint job wont. I dunno, he just makes it sound like this cult is so fun, and laid back, which I guess is how they get ya huh? Either way, after that heavy Kendrick album this is exactly what I needed to help me cleanse my palate, for which I'm sure will take me at least the next three days haha. Check out my faves below.

Chinatown adventures aka Jin Fong food frenzy

Haha it's def been a min since I've explored Chinatown, but had a blast yesterday celebrating the biffster Samantha's 28th b-day! When she told me she was doing a dim sum brunch, I had no idea what I was getting into. Semi lost going down this little strip on Elizabeth Street, I found myself in front of what could have been mistaken for a movie premiere. A crowd of people lined up in front of a red carpet... only the red carpet led to two escalators, where atop sits Jin Fong: the most bizarre place I've been to in a while. Jin Fong Restaurant is probably best described as a nonstop foodie flashmob of insanity. Packed with what looked like everyone on earth, the food kept coming faster than we could eat it. Despite the fact that it was buzzing like a telethon the entire time, it was a cool experience... but notice in the pic, I'm the one who's only drinking the tea ; )

Too much Neo-Soul at BB's

*Picture courtesy of RedBull.com

Check out these kids OSHUN here, they mentioned they go to NYU numerous times, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

Went to go check out Red Bull Sound Select's Lion Babe thing at Baby's All Right on Tues, upon my friend's request ...and because my mom always says LB and I are soul sisters since SHE and Vanessa Williams where pregz at the same time haha. First off it was raining so I was shocked to see a long line of PoCs waiting outside the spot, so I'm like this has gotta be amazing for us to be willing to get our hair wet over (I immediately walked to the front with purpose, always worth a try guys). Alas these jams just weren't for me... every act sounded like something that would be playing at a buppie's condo after a long day at the office, in 1996, out of a 5 disk CD changer (changer? player? I don't even know, because it's MODERN DAY!). I found myself sitting at the bar wishing "Trap Queen" would just come on ....and that's when you know it's time to go. 

SUICIDE AT WEBSTER HALL! #unreal

Lol the perils of being short were totally worth it to see Suicide this weekend! These guys are about 118 years old, and there's no way they're not deaf, but Martin Rev still KILLED the synth. Incredible.  Brooklyn Vegan got way better pix, so if you didn't make the show check 'em out here!

Get at me on LinkedIn!!

Lol I don't think anyone pictured here would understand if I made the caption for this screenshot "LinkedIn on fleek!" ...so I wont. Nice to be most viewed, so let's connect already! #careerhighs

#TBT Fun times at Fools Gold Day Off

Aw this is like my all time fave pic!! Hanging out backstage last Labor Day with my Northside Media Group ...and extended fam. We produced Fools Gold Day off at Bushwick Inlet Park in the Burg and it was awesome to be around rap music all day! Makonnen, Cam'Ron and French Montana not pictured, likely because they were too turnt (guys, this was the pre "lit" era, crazy to think huh?)-- that being said I was more starstruck seeing the music bloggers I read feverishly every day haha.

Bronson, Bieber and NBA All-Star Weekend

Always impressed by The Fader and the creative partnerships Cornerstone Agency develops, so it was no surprise they hosted the coolest slash most bizarre event I've ever been to. Haha yup that is J. Biebz obliterating a very blurry image of my boo Action Bronson at ping pong at The Fader's NBA All-Star Weekend party at SPiN New York. Hilarious and unforgettable night!

Gettin' cute at the Diesel Hardcore Holiday extravaganzzza!!

You'd never guess this was the end of an 8 hour day... the second in a row... a Sunday. Lordy! But days like that are easy when you have amazing clients and an amazing photog (hi Rezzie!) to keep you entertained during the grind. We make branded content look good haha. Managing this six month 12 part event series for Diesel from just a bitty brainstorm to a full blown pop-up shop party house was def one of my favorite projects ever, and we gave the Diesel fam a send off to remember that weekend.

Converse Rubber Tracks presents Deafheaven

Majorly sold out free Deafheaven show at Music Hall of Williamsburg in November. I cried the entire time.

Forever framed in my heart... and desk <3

The unsung champions  of Brooklyn Magazine, The L Magazine and Northside Festival--- my babies, the Northside Media Group Sales Assistants. Love these guys!! Makisa, Baby Alex, Phil and Mandy on location at our Diesel pop-up celebrating the sponsored content piece "Brooklyn Fashion Influencers: 50 Stylish People You Need to Know."

I saw Remy Ma's first performance since she got out of jail!

I usually can't with Santos Party House, but it was Lil Dej's first performance in NYC at Noisey's CMJ showcase... for Noisey, I'll go to Santos, or any other dark corners of the city that my fave bloggers have to tweet from. AND THEN REMY MA CAME OUT. Lol it was all kinds of bizarre, which I love. #freeremyma

*That week I listened to "Try Me" and "We Good" back to back on loop all day at my desk. No it was not a dark time, thanks.

Errrrmm Chicago is cool... and by cool I mean FREEZING.

My co-workers always clown me for being a picky eater, but unlike Taste Talks Brooklyn, I found something... and SOME TIME to eat at The All-Star BBQ at Taste Talks Chicago. After managing talent and production staff at the inaugural Taste Talks in 2013, it was great to expand my role to overseeing sponsorship as the company expanded the event to another major outlet... an extremely cold outlet.

Ahhhh Marnie at 4Knots over everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yea so tons of awesome bands performed, and The Village Voice sure does know how to thrown down a VIP section... and I'm not just saying that beacuse there's nothing I love more than being on boats, especially with my bb Northside Media Group Executive Sales Assistant Alexandra Aller : ) ---but she'd agree that meeting Marnie was the day's highlight! One day I hope to have a career as far reaching as this bad b*tch haha.