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London’s Finest DJ Kofi Releases New “Afro Space” Single

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London based creative DJ Kofi is crafting up an original sound destined to be heard by the masses worldwide. Returning to the music scene with an impressive new single titled “Afro Space” his international fanbase has new vibes to get into as Kofi continues to take his talents to new heights as premiere DJ and music influencer.

Getting his start back in the 90’s finding success early, he won the UK DMC DJ championship back in 1995 and never looked back. After recently celebrating 30 years in the industry this release could not come at a better time. Featuring OG The D – Lyfe Show & songstress Triece, these three creatives partnered to gether to create a one of a kind record that is destined for greatness. The uptempo best mixed with the original flows are a match made in Heaven.

On “Afro Space” you will hear the London legend’s original sound reaching new heights creating an infection vibe that can be heard throughout. DJ Kofi’s superb production skills paired with Triece’s melodic vocals set up the kill for D’s raw banter. You will hear him paying homage to all of Africa saying things like “North Africa, South Africa” in a catchy sonically pleasing manner.

DJ Kofi is creating unity, and promoting black excellence through song for the entire world to partake in. Press play below to stream his new “Afro Space” single.

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Interview

Exclusive Interview: Rising Artist Yung Dub D

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What is your name and what city do you rep?

 

My rapper name is Yung Dub D and the city I represent is Dallas Texas.


Tell us about your latest releases, what inspired you to create them?
 
On my latest releases what inspired me was family and friends experiences and some that I had as well.

 

What is unique about you and your music?
 
That I try to deliver a message that can be taken several ways to get different reactions for the flair I bring.

 

What shaped your music? 
 
The thing that shaped my music is different beats from producers I was introduced to and problems that came my way.

 

When did you realize you were going to make music professionally? 
 
When I started seeing income and decided to go all in with it because my fans love it too.

 

What type of music do you listen to? 
 
I have no range for music but I lean more to other genres to stay on my own wave.

 

What inspires you to write music? 
 
The expression I can release and the reactions I get from fans, friends and family that keeps me going with a drive.

 

What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about? 
 
I like playing basketball and am very passionate about hooping.

 

Happiness to you is… 

Happiness to me would be feeling good doing something everyday that would not get old and have the same energy as I did at the beginning until the end.

 

What do you wish you were told when you first started making music that you think would help artists just starting out? 
 
I would tell artists to focus more on themselves and try to find your flow and sound by working on yourself and don’t get distracted.

 

Tell us about your upcoming projects…
 
My upcoming projects are going to be a couple of EP’s.  Continuing with “For the Dub 2.”

 

Where do we find you music / music projects?  
 
Where you can find my music will be on https://YouTube.com/@yungdubd

 

Any last words for the readers?
 
My last words to the readers is remember the name because you all witness the upcoming of my journey and it does not stop here

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Interview

Introducing Big Hulk the heart of Franklin, Louisiana

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Thank You for spending time with The Grynd Report. Please Introduce yourself and tell us where you are from?

My name is Scott Burdett. My stage name is “Big Hulk“, which was given to me by some former band mates some years ago. I’m from a small town in southern Louisiana called Franklin.

Describe what it was like growing up in your city?

Growing up in Franklin was great for me. I had a really diverse group of friends – and I’m still cool with a lot of them today. We grew up playing sports all day, riding bikes all over town, drinking out hoses – normal country stuff. We had some tough times too, but we had way more good than bad – mostly because we made it that way. My town has some ways about it, but it’s home and I wouldn’t trade it for anywhere else.

When did you decide to get into the music business and why?

I started doing music back in high school, probably around the age of 14. Started playing guitar at 16. I got into the business because music is my hobby. Music has put me on stages and in rooms with some great people, and I’ll forever be thankful for that. I got into the industry as the lead guitarist and rapper/vocalist for Undivided Band. For reasons I won’t get into, I left the band. When I left, I was still in writing mode. I grabbed some beats from a couple producers I know, started writing, and the rest is history. Rap and Hip Hop have always been my first loves, so I’m really excited to see where this new journey will take me.

Talk to us about the concept of your latest release Tick Tock?

“Tick Tock” came about in kind of a weird way. You see all the dance challenges on TikTok and the other social media platforms. I was listening to a beat and scrolling through social media and came across a video where the girl was dancing to a song called “Throw Dat A** in a Circle”. I might be dating myself since most people don’t use analog clocks anymore, but I got to thinking in my head “throw that a** in a circle like a clock – tick tock, tick tock…” I wrote the hook, and after that it took about 30 minutes or so to finish the rest of the song. It is an up tempo dance song. More than likely there will be a “Tick Tock” challenge coming after the release on March 29th. Get ready ladies. 26 and up, start stretching NOW!

How Would You Describe your music to someone who has never heard it before?

I would say that my music is like a good gumbo. It is truly a sum of its parts. Growing up in south Louisiana, I had a lot of musical influences, so I had a lot to draw from. With that being said, I make whatever the beat tells me to make. If I hear a dance track, I’m making a dance track. If I hear it telling a story, I’ll tell a story. If it’s talking noise, I’m talking noise. Sometimes I might get on a kick where I’ll make a track that sounds like it’s straight from Houston. I even have a couple where I bust out the guitar. I said all that to say – I have something for everyone. Grab a bowl and enjoy some gumbo!

Talk to us about your work outside of the music Business?

Outside of the music business, I’m going into my 12th year as a teacher and coach. I started my career in my hometown at Franklin Jr. High. I’m currently in my second year at another school in St. Mary Parish called Centerville High School. I coach junior high football and baseball, and high school football and basketball. My kids are some of my best supporters. I try out new songs on my high school kids. I know they’ll give me the real if it’s good or not. Anyone with kids knows they don’t care what comes out of their mouth. I love them for it though. It is my goal to be able to use my music to make life better for the kids in my community. Some of them don’t have the best situations at home, and I’ll do anything I can to help them make it out.

What do you want people to feel when they listen to your music?

When people hear my music I want them to feel like they’re getting an experience. Even with songs like “Tick Tock” I want them to be able to visualize the lyrics – like they’re watching a music video even though there isn’t one. I want people to know that the guy they’re listening to had fun making the track they’re hearing. Lastly, I hope that they feel the freedom I feel making the music. Too many people are afraid to pursue their passions because of fear of what others will think. I am pursuing my passion unapologetically – and I can only hope hearing me do that causes someone else to feel free to pursue theirs. We all deserve our release from this crazy world we live in.

What is your definition of Grynd?

I can sum up “Grynd” in one of my favorite quotes.

“Don’t make excuses, make s*** happen.”

Either find a way, or make one.

What can we expect from Big Hulk in the Future

I’m constantly working on new music. My song “You’re Not Alone” with my good friend Adolph “AdoSoul” Davis released on February 23rd. I have a track with Spitta from Baton Rouge dropping March 8th. My album “Swamp Stories” will be coming out March 29th. I’ll be writing and releasing singles and more than likely another album before the end of the year. I have a couple podcasts and radio interviews lined up. I really hope I can get on some shows while I’m off over the summer. I traveled across the south with the band, and I’d love to do it again with my own music. Anyone wanting to stay up to date or wanting more information can sign up for my mailing list on bighulk337music.com.

Any Shoutouts?

God for the talent. My parents for always supporting me. My producers for the first album BeatFreak and Mikki Gunz. My engineers Teyrance “Titan” Alfred and Eddie Bodin. My students at CHS and former students at FJH and FHS. Anyone who chooses to take this journey with me. All the people who can’t support me in public because they talk about me in private. My bro Showstoppa Da Real Sick Patient – been solid since I met him and we got a track on the album together. And lastly to Grynd Work Enterprises/The Grynd Report. Hopefully we can work together again soon. Salute to y’all and keep doing what y’all are doing.

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Interview

Ilias, dubbed as “100 Must-Watch Entrepreneurs in 2024,” celebrates the 6-year anniversary of TCC Entertainment.

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I am sitting down with Ilias Anwar in Hudson Yards, New York. We’re inside a Five Guys; originally, we requested to meet in a Dunkin’ Donuts, but he preferred Five Guys next door. Not sure why he didn’t want Dunkin’ Donuts, but I was eager to start the interview.

I had heard about his story from a colleague and was keen to sit down with him to hear about his U.S. journey over the past year.

He’s been buzzing on social media in the tech space with his recent involvement in Buildspace and Antler, programs that accelerate and develop early startups.

This year, he’s been constantly on the move from LA to DC, NYC, Virginia, and Texas.

So, my first question was, why all this travel?

He replied, “I have been working on TCC Entertainment and Tapped for a couple of years now. I want to work on these for the rest of my life. I have a small window to chase my dreams and work on my companies, so I will do whatever it takes. If I need to take a plane to Japan tomorrow for Tapped, I will drop everything and go if it’s for the betterment of the company. I want to do this for life, because it doesn’t feel like work to me.”

The next question on my notebook was about what he actually does, as it was hard to pin down from my research.

He answered, “I don’t really know how to classify what I do either. I suppose people describe me as an entrepreneur, creative or a creator.”

Ilias has executively produced songs, designed for musicians and streetwear brands, directed music videos/commercials, released a book, livestreamed on Twitch, runs a tech startup, acted in small gigs, and much more.

Here is the breakdown of the different companies he’s working on

TCC Entertainment- a media company specializing in event/video production and digital marketing.

Tapped Ai- a tech startup helping independent artists get more bookings.

Cheat Codes- a book series teaching skills for the internet age.

Blank Kanvaz- an independent record label focusing on global talent.

The three things he wants to focus his professional career on are entertainment, education, and technology. He believes that those industries will never go away no matter how advanced we get.

He also wants to model his career after the likes of Childish Gambino or Mark Wahlberg, who can create any form of art while running multiple businesses.

“Gambino can run a marketing campaign with his creative agency, drop a song, act in a tv show, direct a movie, and drop a book all in six months. That’s a superpower,” he said.

What is a regular day for you?

“To be honest there is no stability. I can’t sit here and tell you I wake up at 5am every day. Some days I might wake up at 7 am and have a super productive day in NYC hopping from meeting to meeting. Then link up with my best friend Kenny who’s a DJ out in NYC and we’ll grab food from the bodega then go to one of his sets. One day, I might wake up at 10 am and spend all day with Phil, Niral, and Bryan in my hometown. Then come home and hop on discord with Charles and just play Madden.”

Here’s a fun question: you’re at a 7/11 and have $20. What are you buying?

he said “with $20 he said he’d buy cashews, a white macadamia protein cookie, topo chicos, and mango slices.”

What do you have coming up that people can be excited about?

“I’m starting an agency with Ali Aljundi from Dubai and others he has gotten close with, where people can donate to the needy by watching YouTube videos. The agency will be named “Hayat.”

What is this Tapped Ai thing you’re working on?

“It’s a platform for independent musicians, helping them find places to perform at. While focusing on creating world tours from your iPhone, offering opportunities to open for artists like DaBaby, Lil Wayne, Bobby Shmurda, and Meg Thee Stallion.”

“If you are looking to get booked and make money and you haven’t download “Tapped Ai” on the App Store you are messing up. It’s free to make an account and apply. Artists don’t have the connections to be able to find performances and there is a lot of gatekeeping.

We just had four artists headline a festival and get paid the most amount of money they have ever made within the past year. This app was made in mind of the artists first, not the music execs who are supposed to make money off them.”

Are you scared of Ai?

“If you look back decades ago, people were scared of computers in this very way, and it is a natural human instinct for us to be afraid of something new. But, I don’t want to sit here and be fearful of it, I am going to embrace it and use it in the way that it can help me and people around me. Computers can be scary, cellphones can be scary, it just depends on how you are using it.”

What is TCC Entertainment?

“TCC is a media company that does digital marketing, video production, and throws events. I have been working on this company for the past six years and it is my baby. It is the vehicle that brought me to do all the fun things I am working on now.”

What did you do to celebrate six years of TCC Entertainment?

“Nothing too crazy. All I did was go to RVA and link up with Charles and Johannes. Next year we will celebrate the right way and enjoy, but as of right now we are too caught up with work for Tapped.”

Do you ever think about anything that isn’t work related?

“I don’t commend myself for this but I am non-stop thinking about work. Do not glorify me for this, I wouldn’t recommend anyone else to work this much. This is only for myself, and to be honest I find “hustle culture” stupid. But, I am in a blessed situation to do what I love so how do you not expect me to think of it 24/7?”

What is your focus in 2024?

“A majority of my career has been helping others in the limelight but 2024 I want to prioritize myself and further my own personal brand to elevate Tapped Ai and TCC Entertainment.

Content creation is also going to be huge for me. Podcasts, live streams, vlogs all coming very very soon.

I am also excited for Buildspace season 5, I think we can make it far this upcoming year in January. Big fan of Farza and Alex and what they are doing with Buildspace in general. It is a school for ideas and this upcoming one I am going to be the first person to go in with 4 different ideas instead of just one. ”

Is there anything you want to focus on that isn’t work related in 2024?

“This year I prioritized getting closer with distant relatives and spending more time with my direct family. I would say I do a good job at spending time with them and talking to them but you can always do better. What is all this success and work for If I don’t have anyone to share it with? Spending time with family is great, because it also gets you to turn off your mind and not think about how you can solve problems or work on certain things.

When I spend time with relatives, I actually never even look at my phone. If you know me as a colleague, as a friend or an acquaintance then you know I am glued to my phone on calls or texting someone for work. But, when it comes to family I know where to set the line and adopt a healthy balance.

Artists you are excited about?

“I am gonna have a lot of people mad at me for this answer if I don’t consider them here.

But off the top of my head Zoe Gabrielle, Maya Soufi, and Niral Desai. ”

Is there someone who does more than you?

“Infamou$ G. That man is a Swiss army knife, he can do everything and he does it with quality. He’s like the best kept secret but give him 2-3 years he will be doing some high level sh**. Most importantly like an older brother to me. He actually recently did a song with Mardyny and he dropped this crazy verse. If you have time I’ll have you listen to it after this. “

Who are your inspirations?

“This answer always changes for me but it’s always the people around me. I’d say my co-founder Johannes is definitely one of them. He is one of the smartest guys I know and just being able to work with him and pick his brain has been massive for me. I got thrown into the tech/Ai world and having him around has helped me assimilate very very fast.

Alongside my other co-founder Phil who is also a nut when it comes to analytics and being on top of trends. Statistically and culturally speaking, that man really has his finger on the pulse.”

Who is a young founder you are excited about?

“Mo Bamby and Arib Khan. I haven’t caught up with them in a long time but those kids are mad young and already figuring it out. I think in a couple years they are going to tear up the tech world.”

Favorite clothing brand?

“I really mess with Artificial Fever. It’s workwear with a touch of streetwear intertwined with internet culture. What I’m wearing the most right now though is Godsend, StuckUp, and Vain Studios which are all brands that originated from Northern Virginia.”

What is one thing you think people don’t know about you?

“I spend a lot of time talking with my mentors. They are much older than me, and I know that whenever I talk to them I learn so much. I try to have a mentor in a different field like one for music, tech, media, and personal. One of my mentors recently passed who put a battery in my back when I came to LA. He introduced me to so many labels, music execs and really furthered my music career. The first year of knowing him was by cold dming him on LinkedIN because I saw that he had worked for Universal, Sony, and Warner. I was hoping to get a job at one of the three and one day we got on a call. What was supposed to be a 15 minute convo turned into 4 hours. The TLDR of the convo after I had told him everything I was working on was that I don’t need to join a label. It was better for me to grind it out with TCC and Tapped over the next couple of years and build it on my own.

There were times where I doubted myself but he always spoke so much confidence in me and was sold on me. He always said that when I became super successful he wanted nothing from me.

Just a subway franchise because it was his favorite restaurant. So that he could stop spending all that money on subway sandwiches.

So one day I will own a Subway shop in his honor.

My other mentors include Damian who owns one of the biggest media agencies in Washington D.C. and that man is one of the best dudes I have ever met at communicating. I learned a lot of negotiation and partnership skills from him.

Dave, who is the CEO of Blank Kanvaz Records and a music exec who owns a multitude of other companies. His business sense is impeccable and I’m honored to even sit in some high level meetings with him.

Then Chibu and Mic who are some of the most plugged people in the music industry. In terms of connections, and making shit happen those two are their respective rulers in the LA and NYC scene.

Then I would say my cousins Sal and Aaron as well when it just comes to guidance on personal stuff or tech.”

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

“I will own multiple different businesses in the tech, media, music , fashion space and rent out a couple properties so I could live through financial freedom. A majority of my time I want to dedicate to making art and working on different projects that fuel my passion and interests. I want to build my family as well and be settled in my own property.”

Wrapping it up, this interview went way differently than I expected. Ilias seemed really driven and I bet money this kid is gonna go far. There was something about how passionate he sounded every time he spoke. When I left the meeting, I thought to myself that this is what conviction sounds like. I’m curious to see where he goes, but I would be lying if I didn’t say he got me hooked.

I also felt like he didn’t really talk about himself, the whole interview was just him shouting out other people. Which leaves me with a lot of homework to find out who half all these people are.

Nonetheless, if you are interested in finding out more about his companies check the websites out here:

www.tapped.ai

www.tccentertainment.com

Purchase his recent book here: https://tccentertainment.com/products/the-art-of-social-media-success-building-your-brand-as-an-entrepreneur-content-creator-or-musician

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