Client Dahlak
Date 2007
Service Provided PR Management

Dahlak Brathwaite (Leon Legend) has been a member of iLL-Literacy since 2004. He featured in two consecutive seasons of the hit HBO series Russell Simmons Presents: Def Poetry, performed on the Tavis Smiley Show, and co-starred in the internationally-acclaimed hip hop theater production Scourge. In 2007 he released his debut LP Dual Consciousness, and in 2008 he followed with his mixtape Live From the Boondocks: Commencement.  He currently stars in Word Becomes Flesh, a remake of the groundbreaking play by Marc Bamuthi Joseph. In 2010, Dahlak wrote, directed, scored, and starred in his one-person show Spiritrials, an exploration of drugs and the criminal justice system. Dahlak earned his B.A. in English at UC Davis in 2008.

www.thisisdahlak.com

Click here to view the embedded video.

May 12, 2010, New York, NY - Ruby Veridiano (www.rubyisill.com) is a writer, speaker, arts educator, VJ/media personality, and most recently was announced a candidate as head blogger for Alicia Keys’ women empowerment campaign “I Am A Super Woman” (www.IAAS.com). The search is powered by Monster.com, and consists of four intense rounds of selection. The top ten quarter candidates will be flown to New York City to meet the Selection Committee for another round of interviewing. On May 26th, 2010, three semi-candidates will be flown to London, England to see Alicia Keys live in concert at the KCA Blackball and have a face-to-face interview with Alicia. On June 21st the Head Blogger will be announced on IAAS.com.

My entire career as a writer and an artist has been devoted to representing a strong female voice that could inspire and uplift women. By offering universal truths, I strive to be the bridge that unites all women together, offering them a space to let their ambitions take flight. Because of this, I know that partnering with Alicia Keys for “I AM A SUPERWOMAN” is the perfect opportunity to unite fellow sheroes across the world. – Ruby Veridiano

As a candidate, Ruby’s chances of getting into the top three spot will partly be dependent on the support of her fans and community.  By rating and leaving comments on Ruby’s blog entries, the judges will be motivated to keep Ruby through to each round.  Ruby’s profile on IAAS can be viewed here: http://www.iamasuperwoman.com/users/rveridano

An active member of the community, Ruby works tirelessly to create opportunities that will help women (and men), find their own “super powers” within, and embrace their full potential. The access to have a platform that will be heard by thousands of people through IAAS, is a responsibility that Ruby is ready to take on with pride and excitement.

For up to date info on Ruby’s progress in the interviewing process you can check twitter.com/rubymsuniverse

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About: Ruby Veridiano is a writer, speaker, arts educator, and VJ/media personality, born in Manila, Philippines, and raised in the Bay Area.  Through her writings, workshops, and video projects, she aims to create an empowering space for women in media.  From the beginning of her career as a spoken word poet with iLL-Literacy (www.ill-literacy.com), Ruby has traveled throughout the United States and Europe, inspiring young people to reach their full potential. Her self-published book of short writings and poems “Miss Universe”, was released in 2008, and scheduled for a re-release in the near future. Ruby is currently exploring the “Glamourbaby Trails” of Brooklyn, NY, and developing a curriculum for a girls club, with the organization Lit World (www.litworld.org), that will be launched in New York high schools this summer (2010). For more info visit www.rubyisill.com

About: IAAS (I Am A SuperWoman) was founded by Alicia Keys to ignite super women with empowering content, delivering vibrant and optimistic news, opinion, and entertainment at a supersonic pace. IAAS will give powerhouses everywhere one source to connect with each other–and the world. For more info visit www.IAAS.com

I’ve been watching the iLL crew work on this musical project for over a year now, and although I haven’t been as involved this time around, watching from the outside has been just as exciting.

iLL-Literacy always seems to impress me with not only their artistic direction, but their business savvy thought process.  For the release of their first album (ever), they took their promotional campaign to the digital streets, and created a viral campaign that values QUALITY over QUANTITY.

Discussing this with Drizzletron the other day, we both agreed that getting a feature on a blog, magazine, etc., has more value when the person writing about the album actually listened to it, as opposed to just copy and paste features.  With over 50 blogs invested in iLL-Literacy for this campaign, the sonic virus that is iB4the1.1, is sure to make a few folks iLL out there. (sorry, i can’t help making these puns!)

I’m excited to see how iB4the1.1 pushes iLL-Literacy to the next level in their career… watch, listen, partake in all that is iLL…

iLL-Literacy Experience: The Live Show from ill-literacy on Vimeo.

screen shot from iLL-Literacy website

iLL-Literacy (formerly a spoken word collective from Oakland), recorded a music project, moved across the country to form a new city – “Brookland” (Brooklyn+Oakland), and hooked up with Brooklyn based entertainment marketing and publicity firm,(hi Michelle!) Audible Treats

The release of their first EP, iB4THE1.1, is putting them in the same shark tank as some of their favorite artists, so the pressure is on to make the right moves.  From spoken word to recording artists, iLL-Literacy has been plotting these moves for a long time.  Research has been done, money has been strategically invested, and the power of the iLL is with them.  These next few months will prove to test their persistence, not just cause they’ll experience LIVING in the snow for the first time, but also because it’s game time!!!

NOTE TO ASPIRING ARTISTS – If you’re just starting out, it takes TIME, lots of strategic planning, (some collage making), and a solid team to work with. It also takes courage… to jump.

http://www.illshare.net/koolaid

Aug 21, 2009

Whew! I stayed up till 3am last night, (haven’t had one of those in a while…)! Finalizing the promo material for PapaLoDown, and now I want YOU to be filled in on all the exciting projects and adventures coming ahead as we end the year of “shine in 09″!

Just to fill you in, I quit my day job and legally licensed my business, it’s official! I’ll forreals be an independent hustler now, and I’m excited to finally let go of my security blanket of a steady paycheck to maximize my full potential as an entrepreneur.

If you’re in The Bay tonight, begin the celebrations with me, and support the Beats, Rhymes, and Life Film Project at Club 6!

I’m currently setting up meetings with potential clients, please contact me at paloma@papalodown.com for your first steps in mastering the independent hustle

One of the reasons why I appreciate working with iLL-Literacy is because they are CREATIVE! They don’t stick to the norms, always pushing through what’s been done, and using their resources to create art and to create the marketing/press materials to be a successful independent artist.

A few years ago I worked through the process of writing a press release to announce that Kiwi and Bambu of Native Guns would be pursuing solo careers.  Most recently I found myself in the same situation with iLL-Literacy.  Although this time the iLL crew took it upon themselves to break the news.

Now granted, each situation is different, and sending out a formal press release is still relevant today. What’s important to remember here is that you should always consider the audience you’re reaching out to, and what avenue of communication to take that makes sense to that audience.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ruby left for New York today… (yay!)

All this moving to New York preparation with Ruby the past few months, has given me the chance to revisit the process I had went through six years ago I when moved to New York.  A few days ago, I found an essay I wrote shortly after I had moved there, below is an excerpt from that writing:

…Growing up in the Bay Area (Northern California), I have been exposed to many cultures, sounds, and experiences, but I truly believe that my decision to move to New York is the deciding factor in my future.  My passion for retail and the fashion industry has led  me to the fashion capitol of the world – New York, to pursue my education and career.  This will be one of the most significant experiences in my life…  - winter 2003

Six years after I wrote that I find myself back in the Bay Area, right where I started, full circle!  Being able to reflect is a trip…  I guess you can say that’s what I’ve been doing lately – A spring cleaning of the soul, an emotional cleanse, and a detox from the computer! (although I have an iphone, which is technically a computer, right?)

Soooo, I guess it’s time for me to formally say – I’m NOT moving to Los Angeles after all! (siiiike! LOL)

While  in the process of making moves to get to LA, I ended up realizing that I can have everything I want right here, in the Bay – my home area, right where I started!  That’s not to say, Los Angeles isn’t in the cards for the future, but now is not the right time, and I’m glad I was able to recognize that before it was too late.

Lesson to learn – It’s all about timing, and knowing when it’s the right time to make your move, literally and figuratively.  Part of that is navigating yourself through the process of making the right decisions (ie. listen to your instincts), and everything else will fall into place.

The rest of the iLL-Literacy crew  - Adriel, Nico, and Dahlak will also be moving to New York this year!  I’m excited to see what moves are made while they experience the “city that never sleeps”.  I’ll be holding down homebase in the meantime…

SAVE THE DATE  - MONDAY JUNE 1st:  
iLL-LITERACY site relaunch!
www.ill-literacy.com

ps. wouldn’t it be dope if we had a Devil’s Pie NY edition…?! hmmm…

www.devilspiesoul.com

Well, this has been in the making for a while now… I remember chillin with Ruby, Phatty, and Adriel at the pool in Berkeley last year, and this concept of “pretty bouyant” came up… long story short – we got some fresh, funklectric music coming out the speakers ya’ll!! 

Across cyberspace, and all up in your interface–it is with technically-advanced pleasureness that we present to you, Pretty Buoyant Society: a hi-octane force of musical extravagance that finds its roots in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and America.  PBS ambassadors Drizzletron (of iLL-Literacy) and DJ Phatrick serve a first taste entitled “Schizophrenic Love,” a tale of romance so forlorn, the volcanic powers of the lava lady Golda Supernova had to be summoned.  Add the eruptive heat from the b-side “Hot Chocolate,” and you have the most delicious download your hard drive will ever coax into its cache. – PBS

DOWNLOAD HERE: http://www.illshare.net/schizophreniclove/

WWW.PRETTYBUOYANTSOCIETY.COM

“In our obsessive wish to arrive, we often forget the most important thing, which is the journey.”  – The Pilgrimage, Paulo Coelho

Working with iLL-Literacy for the past two years has been a blessing and an amazing journey.  I often get on them about not taking the time to reflect on their accomplishments,  but hey, I can’t knock the hustle and the never ending determination to maximize their potential as artists, educators, and entertainers, which often leaves minimal time for reflection.

So let me take you through iLL-Literacy’s journey in 2008 and give you a brief summary of what was accomplished, the lessons learned in the process, the achievements, and what my role was in the adventure.

- “iLL-Literacy” name and logo legally trademarked 
- iLL-Literacy experiments performing with a live band and writing songs as a collective
- Dahlak (and I), negotiated (our first!) licensing deal with mycypher.com
- Ruby releases her first published work “Miss Universe”
- Dahlak releases mixtape “Live From The Boondocks – Commencement, A Kanye West Tribute”
- Ruby has earrings designed for Miss Universe by MADE Jewelry
- Ruby’s first feature on the cover of a magazine (OAKBOOK)
- Ill-Literacy tours nationwide on the “Natural Electricity” Tour

hmmm…. I might be forgetting some things, but considering I took a personal hiatus for more than half the year working with ANY clients, I must say that iLL-Lit did quite well with minimum help from Papa Lo. 

I want to highlight one particular accomplishment which actually began back in 2007 when I first signed on with iLL-Lit.  The first thing I did as their PR manager was to help them trademark their name and logo.  This process takes about a year, and we really couldn’t have picked a better time, because early 2008 iLL-Literacy was sent a cease and desist letter from another group with a similar name.  To make the long story short, iLL-Literacy was proactive and thorough with their paperwork and now legally own the name and logo “iLL-Literacy”!

For me personally, if I don’t ever get them on the cover of Fader Magazine, or a clothing sponsorship with Creative Recreation, or help them get booked on a stage at SXSW, at least I did help them secure their brand and gave them peace of mind, that no one can take away the name they have worked so hard to build. 

As an independent artist, the smartest thing you can do for yourself is to make sure you OWN all your work.  From your name, your logo, website, lyrics, beats, etc., legally owning all your work should be the first step you make when you’re ready to really make this a lifelong career.  The process is time consuming and can be very confusing, so you have to be serious about yourself and your art, or else you’re just wasting a lot of time and money.

Overall, 2008 was a good year for all of us, we worked hard, we played hard, and we continue to push each other in our careers and personal relationships.  Every year there is progress, which is a positive sign that independent artists DO NOT need a label to be successful.  What is needed, is strong management skills, open communication, accountability, organization, and a dope graphic designer (thank you soooo much Adriel!).  It is a team effort, a community effort, and although there are struggles, there is comfort in knowing that compromising yourself and your work is not a factor in the success.  I’m not saying, that getting signed is a bad thing, but you are definitely going to be trading off some freedom for luxury.   But why trade in your freedom, when you can have your cake and eat it too…

While iLL-Literacy was on tour Karma Loop TV got a glimpse into the world of spoken word.  Adriel tells an amazing story about the history of iLL-Lit at the end…

This is an example of what an independent artist has to do in the daily hustle -  Ruby was the one that actually hooked up the interview and feature with Karma Loop, using savvy networking skills and having the information and confidence to promote for the group.  So even though the crew has me in their corner, each individual member has their own networks and contacts that play into the overall success of iLL-Literacy. 

(Although I will give myself some credit for teaching Ruby the secrets of PR   She’s a natural, and I would hire her in a second if she decides to retire as an artist and join the dark side with me!)

www.ill-literacy.com
www.karmaloop.tv