Hidden Beach "black History For A New Generation"

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f e b r u a r y

Jill Scott

Kindred the Family Soul

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hen I heard about the Harvard lawyer who was running things for Jheryl Busby at Motown Records, I groaned, hoping this label, an icon like no other in Black music, wasn’t being entrusted to a stuffed shirt who didn’t know anything about the music or the history of it all. Lawyers as ‘creative’ had caused a few train wrecks-often you could find more suits in the studio control room than artists. It was not a good scenario. So I was a little squinty-eyed when ushered into his office to talk about the future of Motown. But then I grinned. On the wall behind the desk was a giant blowup of a toddler so in love with his piano, he couldn’t take time to get dressed before sitting down to play. His sweet little face was a study in joy. The same joy was evident in the grown man as soon as he started talking about music. Steve McKeever wasn’t your conventional lawyer--not then, not now. The complexities of his nature and dimensions of his dreams have provided ample conversation in the years since that first meeting.

Cornel West

He’s from the kind of family that expects accomplishments and stellar careers and he fulfilled those expectations, but he’s done much more. McKeever is the architect and propellant of Hidden Beach Recordings, the music label that has changed the model for upstart young companies in the minefield that is today’s music business. On that long ago day at Motown, some of the philosophies that would spring full blown at HB were beginning to emerge. McKeever, in talking about his vision for MoJazz intended to make music that was “true” to the artist; he was looking for artists like Norman Brown, who could deliver the best in live performances and powerfully connect with the public that way. McKeever was successful and with MoJazz guitarist Brown created quite a stir

in 1992 being joined by other acts before history took on a darker chapter for Motown. McKeever started Hidden Beach Recordings in 1998, on a miniscule operating budget--three million dollars. In the earliest days, there were three acts: Brenda Russell, Jill Scott and Mike Phillips. Old sage heads thought McKeever might be a pretty smart guy and all that, but there just wasn’t enough money for him to do things the right way. He had no intention of trying the old ‘conventional’ ways. In fact, this label was not even going to have titles for its executives because titles often box people in. He and his group had their eye on making music that was steeped in truth that would resonant with the buyers, so they chose carefully, structured their approach and their corporate culture and along

Onitsha

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the way made a new kind of Black History. Today Hidden Beach is a leader in the music industry, with acts such as performer Jill Scott, revered scholar Cornel West, saxophonist Mike Phillips, singer Darius Rucker, new gospel star Onitsha and Kindred the Family Soul. McKeever has also introduced a variety of unconventional initiatives under the Hidden Beach banner. Most groundbreaking, is the College Internship Program, an international effort that provides college students with hands-on music business experience. This program of nearly 400 members became a model for the entertainment industry In 2008’s Black History Month, Hidden Beach Recordings marked the celebration with an outdoor media campaign in Los Angeles. Timed to maximize industry awareness to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the Grammy Awards, the campaign consists of one dozen 30-sheet billboards in the Hollywood, SouthCentral, and Crenshaw districts of Los Angeles, as well as the City of Inglewood. Thornell Jones, Marketing for Hidden Beach explains, “People often think of history as something from the past.” But Jones notes that Hidden Beach is creating Black History for a new generation with its “commitment to quality music and artists. In a declining marketplace – it’s a notable distinction which sets this label apart, not to mention the fact that Hidden Beach is Black owned and operated.” One of the artists featured in the campaign can be said to have made history right from the beginning; it’s Jill Scott. She encapsulates everything HB was about. She is the real thing. When her first recording came out, there really wasn’t an existing slot in R&B/hip-hop where the album fit. HB brought its marketing concept to the front and it worked miracles for the midnight funk, soul, and jazz verbal virtuoso. HB said they were going to grab onto the new. In her first album, the CD put a new spin on the use of bonus and hidden tracks. There’s at least a dozen, including an alternate version of “Love Rain” which gives us a peek into the future pairing of Scott and Mos Def on Collaborations. Scott, in fact, nominated for three Grammy nominations this year, just won her latest Grammy for her duet with Lupe Fiasco on “Daydreamin’.” In her own words, Scott says, “for an artist like myself, it has been my saving grace to work with Hidden Beach, to be a part of their family. I don’t know any other place, any other label that is as understanding of what it means to be an artist. I think that Hidden Beach feels mythical, because of what it means. It is a safe haven for artists to express themselves and share the God-given talents that they have, and that I’m so grateful for. I’m just really, really grateful for that. With Hidden Beach creating the intern program, it’s almost like an adoption of children that are waiting for a reason to believe in music. And that is really powerful. It’s really, really powerful to be able to invite young people into the industry so they know how it works, and I really hope that the program will continue to bloom so that music may save the world.” When McKeever first spoke of discovering artists who were Renaissance figures, he didn’t know about Jill Scott yet, but that is exactly what she has proven to be. In addition to her 12 Grammy nominations and rousing live performances (captured in the “Live in Paris” DVD that debuted in the Top 5) she is currently proving herself to be an actress of considerable depth Following her debut in Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married,” she says acting has become a new joy for her. She made the scene at Sundance earlier in the year in support of her role in the movie “Hounddog,” starring Dakota Fanning, in which she plays Big Momma Thornton, the artist who originally sang the Elvis Presley hit. Jill is also currently in talks to star in several upcoming films and the singer/actress will star in her first lead role with Oscar winning director Anthony Minghella (Cold Mountain/The English Patient) in “No.1 Ladies Detective Agency” (Weinstein Co./HBO). Meanwhile she’s on the road now with On the Road NOW: The Real Thing Tour featuring special guest Raheem DeVaughn.

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For an artist like myself, it has been my saving grace to work with Hidden Beach, to be a part of their family. I don’t know any other place, any other label that is as understanding of what it means to be an artist. —Jill Scot

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McKeever called in to talk and in the background Cornel West could be heard holding forth. It’s nearly impossible to listen to any other voice when Dr. West is in full throttle mode, which he was on this day. MTV was rolling the cameras for its 52/52 MTV Artist feature and the challenge would be how to capture the complex and challenging West. You never know what you might hear from a man who is known to intertwine such disparaging themes as religion, racism, love, homophobia with Danish existentialist Soren Kierkegaard and the ideas of Martin Luther King Jr. and all other of the wide ranging subjects that fall under his riveting gaze and provoke that wicked grin. He has won numerous awards, including the American Book Award, and has received more than 20 honorary degrees. In his scholarly work, he has authored more than 17 books including the best-selling “Race Matters” which has sold nearly 400,000 copies to date and continues to influence a national dialogue on race. A political theorist who’s worked on presidential bids by Bill Bradley, Al Sharpton and now Barack Obama, West has also been involved with such projects as the Million Man March and Russell Simmons’ Hip Hop Summit. He continues to be an integral part of social change as well as a driving force in pop culture. That’s why BET Honors recently recognized him. His third album project, Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations, under the Hidden Beach Forum label was produced by Mike Dailey and Clifton West of Black Men Who Mean Business, Sacramento-based writers and producers. The project has served as the focal point of discussion at locations across the country. West’s new CD project gives an explosive critique, addressing major issues such as racial profiling, politics, 9/11, war, and a litany of other concerns of not just Black people but Americans at large. West comments, “As a label, Hidden Beach takes seriously its calling to be a channel for edutainment in the genre of Black music, having to do with the traditional function of music in the Black community not only as a source of entertainment, but also as a source of education as well. Hidden Beach takes seriously that calling and continues to carry that banner in these bleak times.” Another of the subjects of the Black History Month campaign is Onitsha. The ‘Church Girl’ on Hidden Beach’s gospel label, Still Waters, who just received a Dove Award nomination for Best Urban Album, is the voice of KJLH radio’s “Spread the

Word” gospel program. Onitsha proudly says, “Hidden Beach is dedicated to true music, free from discrimination, never compromising sound nor substance for the trends of today’s market.” Also currently appearing on this season’s “American Idol,” Onitsha adds, “With great artists like Jill Scott, Mike Phillips, Kindred, and a prolific figure such as Dr. Cornel West, you will always find positive, lyrical content and soothing music that makes you feel good and reminds you of who we are as a people. I am honored to be a Hidden Beach/Still Waters gospel artist, where I have the freedom to express who I am and share the love Christ has shown me.” Saxophonist Mike Phillips, in the studio recording with Prince, will begin the BMW-Pop-Jazz-Live Tour in April and is working on his third studio album. Kindred The Family Soul, currently working on their next project due this summer, also exemplifies what Hidden Beach is all about. Family. Literally, they just added twin girls to their growing nest, making five children in their family. Says the father, Fatin Dantzler, “Hidden Beach has always tried and succeeded in giving people what they want, sneaking in what they need. These days it seems that many of our independent black labels are not as concerned with the latter. This is the kind of responsibility that seems to come naturally for Steve and his staff. This is why we will always be honored to be associated with Hidden Beach Recordings. Our image has become a mirror for the average young black family just trying to survive in a world that would soon see it destroyed. Most companies wouldn’t come near it, but HB has never had a problem “getting it.” In fact, their complete support of our concept is damn near a revolutionary act in the current state of the music business.” That could be truth, Hidden Beach has always been revolutionary which is how they’ve made Black History for a New Generation.

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