CEO
Stars are born everyday and hard-working music industry executives are like a needle in a haystack. When asking Aries about what he's the most proudest of in his blossoming career, he will proudly say becoming a music executive. "That has taken the most work and honestly what I'm the most proudest of," says Aries.
In 1998 Aries launched The Music Hall (T M H), a messageboard named after the home-made mixtapes given to family and friends when he was younger. The online messageboard is where people came to discuss the music industry as well as the artists involved. T M H rapidly grew to a full-fledge entertainment website in 1999 named T M H Entertainment.
T M H eventually expanded in the realms of fansites by creating sites especially designed for promoting artists new projects. Aries worked day in and out creating sites online viewers would notice. After opening a fansite for Faith Evans, he was determined to meet someone from the Bad Boy Records camp to let them know of the site. Faith happened to be visiting the Twin Cities. With his driven nature in overdrive, his dream came true when he met Todd Russaw, Faith's manager and husband. This chance meeting eventually led to phone calls placed to Aries to create Faith's official site for her third album, Faithfully. In 2001, Faith Evans first ever official site debuted in time for the release of the album. The site was designed and maintained by T M H Entertainment. That wasn't all, T M H also had creative and full control of the site. In English terms, not even Bad Boy Entertainment, could go in and access or modify the site content without T M H Entertainment's permission. T M H had its first major project under their belt and little did Aries know, more was on the horizon.
As he embraced his success with open arms, a tragedy nearly caused him his life. In June of 2003, Aries was in an automobile accident on Highway 94 West in St. Paul. He lost control of his car causing it to flip numerous times and crash. The car was totaled but he walked away with a broken right femur. Anyone who saw the car after the accident was shocked to know the person survived. I was introduced to God at an early age by my grandmother, so I knew the power of prayer. Since I survived the accident, God had another plan for me," says Aries. After months of therapy and determination, he made a full recovery.
In 2006, Aries and business partner Jason Richards decided to take T M H in a new direction. They both decided to re-invent their mission and provide more services than fansites. "I've always wanted to do so many things but it seemed with T M H, people expected us to do sites and that's it,"Aries said. Urban Bridgez Group was now born with a mission to tackle multi-media, marketing and management, with their first artist debuting in spring of 2009.
With Urban Bridgez Group as a whole, some of their current and past clients include Music World Entertainment, Blackground Records, KnockOut Entertainment; recording artists Faith Evans, Ray J, Monica and Brandy. Now in 2008, T M H/UBG are celebrating their 10th year online! "It's such an accomplishment & I never realized it until someone said it to me very clear recently," says Aries. "I then thought back to everything we've done & went through with both businesses in the last ten years and just sat in amazement! I'm ready for the next chapter now!"
When you return to your tree to see how your roots evolved, you can't help but to applaud Aries for his determination and talent. "It hasn't been easy, but it's definitely been worth it! I can't wait to branch out even more and I honestly won't be satisfied until I hear one of our artists on the radio," says Aries. "Scratch that, I won't be satisfied until one of our artists brings home their first platinum plaque. By then, I'll have another list of goals to accomplish!"
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Senior Writer/Features Editor
CJ "Dhaani James" Daniels is 30 years old from Kentucky and is a junior at Indiana University Southeast where he's finishing up his B.S. in Journalism and B.A. in Fine Arts with a minor in Communications. Dhaani brings his pop culture expertise along with his sharp sense of humor to Urban Bridgez which is the main reason he enjoys listening to and reviewing music. Dhaani's work includes online promotions and contest development with Hidden Beach Records, working with FanAsylum handing out promo materials for Ashlee Simpson's debut tour, and currently a consultant with Ebonics Clothing developing their monthly newsletter material.
When Dhaani isn't involved in music, he dedicates his time by inspiring youth at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana where he models children in becoming the best they can be. He also was a recipient of the 2008 George W. Bush Award for volunteer service and the 2008 recipient of the WLKY (CBS affiliate)/Spirit of Louisville Bell Award for Honored Volunteer Service.
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Writer
Bryan "BryWoo" Woodson is 22 years old from Kansas City, KS and is a Senior at Iowa State University where he is majoring in Communications Studies with a minor in African American Studies. Having been a member of the UBG Family over the course of 8 years, Bryan has interviewed several artists for the eZine as well as spearheaded different projects himself. Bryan's other work includes online promotions and project management, not only for the site, but for other artists including local groups back in his home town and also national recording artists aswell. When he isn't involved in music, he likes to spend time with family, friends, and also within his community. In 2006, Bryan was named "Local Hero" in the Ingram's Business Magazine for his strong dedication to community involvement and social services.
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Writer
Rory is 20 years old and originally hails from Boston, Massachusetts, though he currently calls New York City his home. He is currently a junior at NYU where he is working on his B.S. in Media, Culture, & Communication. His real passion, however is his music. Rory is and up-and-coming R&B artist with big plans to do big things. He cites the likes of Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, and Mary J Blige as major influences. Rory is also known for his popular blog- The Rory Blog, started in September 2006, in which he regularly writes about music, life, and his music. In the summer of 2007, Rory co-starred in the popular weekly online talk-show "The Rory & Summer Show," which received very positive local press coverage. He has also made appearances on "TRL" and MTV's "Man & Wife" and "FN MTV."
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Writer
LaRonda N. Gillette is 23 years old from Tallahassee, FL and will hopefully be attending Florida State University in the spring of '09 majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. LaRonda has been in the UBG family for 4 years and over the course of those 4 years she has contributed in many ways to the e-zine, it being interviews or writing music reviews. Outside the site/music LaRonda devotes as much time as she can with her family and friends.
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Writer
After a year at NYU living in New York City and a year at Temple University in Philly, the City of Brotherly Love, Brianna Colell has come back to the state in which she grew up, currently attending Northeastern University in Boston. She majors in Communication Studies with a minor in Music Industry. In Boston, Brianna interns at Big Night Promotions (a nightlife/liquor promotions company), in conjunction with assisting at several nightclubs in the city. She also contributes to Boston culture/nightlife blog, Boston T Parties (www.bostontparties.com).
Brianna's passion has always been music, and anything that had to do with music. After attempting to sing and some lessons in guitar, she decided that she would focus on the business aspect of music (and live vicariously through artists she works with!). She feels that she is an excellent fit for this industry, and hopes to work in A&R, artist management, or publicity in the future.
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