Be careful what you wish for.

So I was talking to a friend about how I wanted to have some time off from work because I've been working long 10-12 hours days and it started taking it's toll on me. 

 I woke up at 3:30 with one of THE most intense pains I've ever experienced in my life. I lost feeling in my hands and they turned pale, my legs were wobbly, I couldn't breathe, I was lightheaded and my left kidney felt like it got stabbed. One ambulance ride/ER visit later I'd passed my second kidney stone. I got home at after 6am, ate a McDonald's breakfast and crashed til after noon.

BUT good things came.

The Routine

I think I'm finally comfortable enough with my routine that I can really get some things done. I live far enough away that I can still take a nice walk to work (save gas $ and get exercise).

There is SO much going on, though. Not only with the clients I have at Royal Heir Ent but with my work at Indie Power. From the Indie Entertainment Summit to and the DVD series, there is a lot to do. PLUS I'm [still] waiting on my site to be done and I'M updating the Indie Power sites (some of which are in desperate need of makeovers).

 The main focus is on my clients, though. Some people are just so IMPATIENT that it's frustrating. No one "gets discovered" anymore. Paying for followers doesn't make you famous. Paying for YouTube views doesn't make you a star. If some exec IS dumb enough to sign you off that then you most likely get a crappy deal and won't last long.

 It's not worth it.

I'm working on some tour flyers for an artist we're working with named Copywrite for his west coast tour (possibly more dates). His new album God Save the King got an XL from XXL mag and broke the Billboard top 100.

. Earlier I spent the day with a pimp named Slim Diamond who was in the office with our designer on the cover of his new book. You may remember his documentary, The 10 Pimp Commandments.

Working on finally finalizing a deal with a drink company. I'm excited to see where this will go. I'm sitting in on a meeting but I've been in the office for 10.5 hours so far and I'm just tired.

Til next time.

What You Don't See

With many things there is always a side you don't see. Like with my last post, even. I tell you all the things I'm working on but you don't hear about the hiccups along the way, the inconveniences, the difficult clients who argue, won't pay, or just have no understanding of business.

One of the projects I took over last night is a DVD documentary series called "Real Life Gangsters" which is pretty much just what it sounds like; exclusive documentaries and soundtracks about Real Life Gangsters (freeway ricky ross, BMF, etc).

Their website made no sense. The "buy the dvds now" image isn't a clickable link, there were DVDs and CDs that weren't under the right tabs, the original creator wouldn't give the password to fix things so when we finally got it I had to go thru and fix (what I could) but I still have a bit of work to do (no videos, bad descriptions, etc).

I'm NOT a web guy. I can DO these things but that's not my area of expertise and this combined with difficult clients really slows everything down.


You'll see the finished product but not sit in on the angry meetings with clients who threaten to sue US if their CD ends up online for free (newsflash: there's nothing you can do to stop that).


But that's the business. It's not all platinum plaques and steak dinners, sometimes it's 30,000 unsold CDs in storage and mac&cheese for dinner at 11:30pm. But dues must be paid in order to weed people out. I'm blessed to be where I am and learning from the mentors I have.

Meeting with Krayzie Bone tomorrow so that should be cool. And I woke up to a paid invoice which is always nice.

So Many Hats

Here is where it gets crazy. I feel like I need to wear a lot of hats. The problem is making room for the hats without letting my head get big. Here are SOME of my current projects.

MY CLIENTS (Royal Heir Entertainment)
The two main people we're working with are Iron Solomon and Owey. I'm always taking more and we're in the process of signing a few more right now but these are the people we really believe in and support.

I do midwest marketing and tour managed for Iron Solomon on a successful west coast tour with Boot Camp Clik to promote his debut album, Monster (featuring Talib Kweli, Paul Wall, Cassidy, DMC from Run DMC and more).

We're working on a big marketing/branding campaign with Owey for the next installment of Donks, Dimes, and Diamonds. I'm designing a logo for him and producing a web show for him.

COMING SOON
On June 16th we're presenting the 2Pac's Birthday Celebrity Basketball game in Venice Beach. More details coming soon.

Indie Entertainment Summit 5 day music seminar featuring the industry's best in over 80 workshops and seminars from August 1-5 in N. Hollywood.

My new CD is in the final recording stages. This has been 3 years in the making and I'm so excited to show how I've grown. I love this cover that Vinnie Scullo did for me. He's a wizard.

I'm also finishing up my first book, "Do You Have Any Advice" and will be posting a sample chapter soon. Here's the cover done by my girl, Gabby in London. I can't wait for her to come visit the states soon.

We're distributing/promoting a documentary series in a new company called Real Life Gangsters with exclusive soundtracks featuring the best in hiphop (snoop, jeezy, etc) and documentaries for BMF, Freeway Ricky Ross and more.

I'm also working with Get Signed Magazine to produce A&R showcases in the midwest and will be writing a monthly column in their magazine and am helping a midwest recording artist book his west coast run. Details TBA.

I know I'm forgetting something but yeah...those are the main focuses right now. If I didn't have my main team (Bryce & Cam in Ohio and Charles in St. Louis) I'd be sinking right now. Not only do they work their asses off they keep me focused and support me.

I know this will sound like a lot but ask anyone in the business and this is just a normal day.

I can't wait to eat something and go to sleep tonight.

- @Essince

P.S. Did I mention I'm co-developing a clothing line?

Going Going Back Back to Cali Cali

What's going on, everyone. My name is Essince. I'm an artist and entertainment professional who recently relocated to Hollywood, CA.

When I was 11 I wrote my first rap verse and started playing sax. I haven't played my sax in about 2 years but I've been performing a lot since. I toured Japan twice and performed in Thailand and the Philippines. I've interviewed Slim Thug, Chuck D, Treach from Naughty by Nature and tons more and did transcription work for the critically-acclaimed "Ghostride the Whip" documentary about the hyphy movement in California. I also wrote MGK's bio before he was signed.

This is Me (que guapo!)

I learned everything in the industry from personal experience and through mentors and in 2008 I started Royal Heir Entertainment which specializes in Marketing and Branding and music business consulting.

I have a few clients (including hiphop star, Iron Solomon. We do midwest marketing and tour management for him) and also doing marketing for entertainment company, Indie Power. I'm preparing to help market Chino XL's album, Ricanstruction and promoting the new, 5-day entertainment seminar, the Indie Entertainment Summit (august 1-5, 2012).

I started this blog as a journal of my experiences here in Hollyweird. The ups the downs the successes and the even bigger successes.

Welcome to E's True Hollywood Story.

- @Essince

With Nelly at the private grand opening of his new school. STL

Flyer for my most recent show in Tokyo

with B-Real [Cypress Hill] in Hollywood when I interned for the Latin Rap Conference in 2008