This past weekend I was asked to play a key role in Rapper Afro Preachah's video for his hit single "Hot Girls". The video would portray Afro's Manager contacting 'My Inception Magazine' (a local men's magazine) in hopes of gaining the 'hottest girls' available. Being that this was my very first time in a music video I was nervously excited yet overwhelmed by the professionalism shown by Afro, his (real-life) Manager Kimberly Steward, and the rest of the cast, crew and models.
It's not that I believed our 'local' artists didn't have enough education, maturity or fiscal backing to pull off such a professional event, but I just really had no clue. Being asked to be in videos isn't something I really care for. Most requests are met with a simple 'no, thank you' as I never 'trust' an artist to ensure whatever role I'm playing is a good reflection of who I am. But knowing Afro, and his Manager, Kim, I was more than confident that I'd be 'ok'. On set: I was privileged to work with the great Producer, Sandman, the extremely talented Afro Preachah, and the extraordinary businesswoman behind it all, Ms. Kimberly Steward. The event was epic to say the least. With more than a dozen professional models, hair stylist, make-up artists, photographers, directors, assistants and a couple 'gophers' the video shoot resembled what most people would imagine a major production shoot looks like. Afro and his models were literally hitting bull's-eyes, rarely having to do additional takes, and perfecting each line and adlib of every single verse. Even the 'hiccups' were handled with poise, professionalism and ease; leading me to believe that there's a bigger reason why this team is so successful. Anyone with a nice voice, good writer, team and money can become a rapper, but a businessman (or woman) takes maturity, professionalism and humbleness. Lesson learned. I've had a bloggers block for months now. Everyone I know has asked me when I would post again, when would I resurface and end my self-created drought. Each inquiry yielded the same response "when I feel like there's something great (in my culture) to write about, I will write"…well, this experience was great. It brought me back home, back to the original me. It made me realize that the industry that I have chosen to support does still have life, is about more than partying, and most of all, does include business men and women who are about more than just artificial things…Tripple Sul Entertainment gets that this industry is about business, it requires a level of professionalism and dedication. And, with a little time, each can be perfected and may excel you to the next level of any career you chose. I can only hope that others within this local 'Urban' Music/Entertainment scene can 'get' this. Just imagine where we'd be…. Special thanks to Afro-Preachah, the entire Tripple Sul Entertainment group, Sandman, BRM Photography, "Hollywood Shugg" Robinson and the 'My Inception Magazine' Models! DeSeandra Sheppheard
www.DeuceCitySwag.com
www.Twitter.com/DeSeandra
