Atlanta musicians celebrate giving back to the community

Antwan “Big Boi” Patton, one half of the rap duo OutKast, recently launched his “Big Kidz” Foundation at the Atlanta Aquarium. Comedienne Earthquake hosted the night of entertainment, fashion, food and fun, as family, friends and celebrities came out by the hundreds to help Patton launch “Big Kidz” Foundation.

“Big Kidz” Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to expose youth to the arts, with plans to build playgrounds, libraries and computer labs throughout metro Atlanta. “Its time for our kids to be exposed to things that make them well-rounded… to be cultured. That’s what I’ve been about,” says Big Boi. “It’s something that I always wanted to do.”

The elegant star-studded fashion affair included a live auction, hosted by Actress Jane Fonda and a television & film influenced fashion show, hosted by Actress Terri J. Vaughn, with actresses Tichina Arnold (Every Body Hates Chris), Elise Neal (All of Us, Hustle & Flow, The Hughley’s) and BernNadette Stanis (Thelma on Good Times) as some of the models. Patton’s “Purple Ribbon” recording artists Scar and Jonelle Monae performed. The event had a 1960’s feel, in line with OutKast’s new movie Idlewild. Smooth jazz sounds were played by Jaspects, with a performance by Isaac Hayes’ daughter, Heather Hayes. Big Boi’s performance was the finale, accompanied by Scar and the Morris Brown College Marching Band.

Celebrities such as Daron and Que of 112 were on hand to support Big Boi’s efforts along with comedienne/actor Katt Williams, members of the dungeon family including C-Bone and Andre “3000” Benjamin, the other half of the rap duo OutKast. Lieutenant Governor Mark Taylor was also in attendance, giving Patton a proclamation on behalf of the State of Georgia. Actor/producer/director Tyler Perry was even on hand, donating over $20,000 to Patton’s foundation by purchasing auctioned items.

Big Boi is the most current Atlantan/entertainer to develop a foundation, following in the footsteps of Atlanta natives Ryan Cameron of V103 and the “Ryan Cameron Foundation”, Shandon Anderson of the Miami Heat and “The Shandon Anderson Foundation” as well as super music & film producer Dallas Austin who has the “Dallas Austin Foundation”. Other entertainers living in Atlanta that are impacting the lives of Atlanta’s youth are rapper/actor Ludacris through the “Ludacris Foundation”, Usher with his “New Look” Camp and Greg Street’s Operation Correct Start “Street Academy”, just to name a few.

“You have these artists that have grown big, but they also set up their base right here," said Tony Baraka, CEO of Southeast Urban Music Conference (SUMC) and a longtime Atlanta music industry executive. “They are reinvesting back into the community with their programs.”

The Economic Impact

In addition to community development, these same entertainers and a host of others are building big businesses in the city of Atlanta, making more jobs available for local residents.

Big Boi runs four different businesses: a real estate company, recording studio, record company and a dog kennel. Big Boi’s recording studio and record company employs 20-30 people, where he encourages entrepreneurship among his employees and supports their endeavors. “I got people working for me now that want to have their own businesses. And, if they want to use me, my talents and my knowledge and what I got as a vehicle to get where they want to get, then I’m all for it.”

Music is diversifying, giving artists a chance to gain and maintain wealth outside of entertainment. Jermaine Dupri owns a café in Buckhead, appropriately named “Café Dupri”. Ronnie DeVoe of the legendary R&B group(s) New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe, who was also in attendance for the launch of “Big Kidz” Foundation, moved to Atlanta in 2001, looking to explore the real estate industry.

In 2006, DeVoe owns and operates Remax’s “The DeVoe Team”, with plans to expand in and around metro Atlanta and beyond. DeVoe says his goal is to become the first black owned franchise to move across the country, “headquartered right here in the hot city of Atlanta”. DeVoe says the City of Atlanta is a place where major things are happening and he has firmly planted his roots here. “I see so many other individuals here that are doing major and that just gives me energy to move forward and wake up that much earlier everyday.” Atlanta native/R&B singer Monica, says that’s what makes Atlanta special, because “we really really motivate each other. We just believe in supporting each other like that.”

Music is a great influence not only to Atlanta’s economic development, but also to companies across the board. Both Monica and New Edition have partnered with Lincoln on different campaigns to build their brands and influence their fan base to purchase the Lincoln vehicles. As an icon in the music industry DeVoe’s popularity has influenced his company’s growth potential. “I’m able to walk in so many doors I probably wouldn’t be able to walk into as the regular real estate agent or brokerage. So the 20+ years that I’ve been in New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe is definitely shedding the light on my company and making it easier to move across the country and do what I do,” says DeVoe. I can’t help but have thanks and just feel like I’m blessed.”

According to Georgia Film, Video & Music Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Georgia’s music industry has an economic impact of $989.5 million, with approximately $1.9 million in gross sales. It’s also estimated that the industry supports 8,943 jobs, both direct and indirectly, and generates $94.7 million in tax revenues annually.

The popularity of Atlanta musicians and its budding film industry has people, businesses and conferences flocking to the city in droves. Baraka says, “Atlanta’s considered the Motown of the south because companies here like Grand Hustle, So So Def, Purple Ribbon and Sho’nuff have label deals with the majors”, which is what “attracts a lot of people coming to the market”.

Billboard Magazine, who recently held its 7th annual conference and awards show in Atlanta, is in its second year of hosting the event in the city. “The scene in Atlanta for music has just been growing and it was just a very logical step to come here next,” said Michele Jacangelo, Executive Director of Billboard Conferences & Events. “We are going to come back in 2007.”

As the Atlanta music scene continues to develop, radio stations across America, and beyond, are playing the sounds that Atlanta musicians have created. And Atlanta’s urban radio has played a very important part in its musical growth. Popular radio personality Ryan “KING” Cameron has been here to see it all. As one of the first DJs to play rap music in Atlanta, Cameron knows the legacy that record companies such as LaFace, So So Def and Rowdy Records have created. “Atlanta wasn’t playing rap music and then in the early 90’s, Dallas put out ABC (Another Bad Creation), Jermaine with KrissKross, and then LaFace with TLC, (and it) kinda blossomed from there,” says Cameron, who went on to say, “everybody knows that the ( Atlanta) music industry is a force now. How do you go from OutKast getting critical acclaim to this snap music phenomenon, now with Monica, TLC...?”

As a true Atlanta son, Ryan has been able to sustain a 15-year radio career in Atlanta. “I signed in 1991, for $21,500, that was a long time ago.” Cameron didn’t want to confirm or deny his current millionaire status, but he did say, “I never thought I would be able to do this, make a living and raise a family off of it. I’m very happy for how it’s all turned out.” Cameron, who left Atlanta for 9 months, just to build his brand value, has worked for two very popular radio stations in Atlanta V103, where he started, left, and after 9 years recently returned, (he’s on Monday – Friday, 2pm-6pm) and Hot 97.5 / 107.5. Cameron said he didn’t think radio could be so plentiful, “which goes to show you, if you work hard you can make a career out of this”.

Although 85% of the radio and video play lists across the country is Atlanta artists, from Ludacris to Ciara, TI, Lil Jon and Young Jeezy in between, Cameron says no one artist can really take the credit for putting Atlanta on the music map. However, “I think you can say that OutKast is the first to really cross over to mega sales.”

Cameron went on to say “OutKast, what they did with “Ms Jackson” and “Hey Yah”, it crossed over to the whole MTV, (and) a whole other (world) VH1 that nobody (in Atlanta) had ever done before.” The apologetic Cameron says, “I’ve been here for the whole thing. I was the only person playing rap music, so if anybody wants to dispute me, I don’t know how they going to say that because I was here for the whole thing. OutKast really made it mainstream.”

And as mainstream artists, with businesses, film companies and foundations, OutKast still remains just as humble from the day they started. “It’s just good to be apart of it,” says Big Boi. “We started out under Organized Noize and the whole dungeon family and for us to help be one of the pioneers to help open the door and still be here, young fresh like we just started is just a blessing. You know”.

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