Written Content

Being born in 82’ in a predominately Black neighborhood placed me in a position to witness the growth of hip-hop culture. As a young Black male witnessing performing artists close in age, with representative styles and communication skills resonated with me. This was uniquely balanced by watching my parents develop a professional practice. Interestingly, I have found many parallels in both worlds.

Notorious BIG (Christopher Wallace) is recognized universally as one of the most talented and skilled hip-hop performing artists. His first nationally recognized single ‘Juicy’ is an introspective narrative of his appreciation for hip-hop. Sharing stories, names, and moments throughout his understanding of hip-hop is what this song is about. As a hip-hop performing artist myself I appreciate the song. Developing my marketing firm today I apply lessons from this song in business. I have the competitive advantage of combining my 10 years of business acumen with my parents 30 years of business application as well. Notorious BIG’s ‘Juicy’ is an example of 3 great business networking skills.

Three Business Networking Skills I Learned from Notorious BIG’s ‘Juicy’

• Edify and Introduce: Notorious BIG’s ‘Juicy’ song begins with him sharing rap lyrics with the listener about his adoration and introduction to hip-hop. By presenting his understanding of hip-hop as ‘a dream’ it takes the listener to believe his relationship with hip-hop is almost euphoric. In business to humbly present the best qualities you initially connect with others is extremely advantageous. For, compliments and positive attitudes galvanize and populate the minds of all people. Doing business you’d rather interact with someone who sees potential and talent between one another.

• Functionality: Notorious BIG lets the listeners know he played tapes, listened to the radio, posted up posters, and bought magazines while connecting with hip-hop. In business networking establishing what, how, and why are in business are essential. For meeting a potential client, partner, or connection to both is only useful if he/she knows what you do.

• Visualization: ’50 inch screen/ money green leather sofa/ got two rides a limousine and a chauffer’ Juicy by Notorious BIG. Those rap lyrics are examples of the visual elements Notorious BIG would offer listeners. Communicating while business networking will draw attention the same way. The more descriptive language you can use while using reasoning behind your descriptions will connect with everyone.

“In the days when regional music was very clearly defined and had a clear personality, Detroit had a tradition that was very distinct and unique,” John Oates of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Group Hall & Oates.

According to the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau hundreds of restaurants, thousands of entrepreneurs, and millions of visitors have come into the heart of Detroit recently. Adding to the fabric of the culture that engineers this mecca of creativity. Missing in this new chapter of Detroit history is the soundtrack of Detroit music that has impacted the world. Detroit music has changed the course of sound, icons like Aretha Franklin, Madonna, and Stevie Wonder honed their skills, talents, and artistry in Detroit. Today the mix of Jazz, Rock, Soul, Hip-hop, and Reggae artists living in Metro Detroit is as strong but lacks performance venues. A pervasive belief has grown that to succeed in music Detroiters must leave Detroit. Detroit is Different wants to change that narrative.

Detroit is Different is an online home for the people and places that enrich the culture of the city. Through creative visions, personal experience, imaginative tales, and future opportunity, Detroit is Different comes to life. August through December 2016 will be the inaugural Detroit is Different concert series featuring the talents of Detroit performing artists.

The Detroit is Different Concert Series will be a welcoming experience for people to witness Detroit culture in an active way. Detroit is Different has a history of commitment to present the musical culture of Detroit, which strengthens the intrinsic value people find here.

By sponsoring this concert series and associating your brand and business with these artists you are ingratiating your business with the ‘Pro-Detroit’ cultural movement growing throughout the region. You’re investing in and choosing to support artists that have performed, lived, rehearsed, and have family rooted here.

When your brand purchases a sponsorship package, it isn’t just helping to bring this concert series to life; it is pledging to bring firsthand significance and worth to a myriad of industry influencers, including press, artists, and their collective followers.

With social media and logo placement as well as product integration, your brand has the ability to inform, interest, and involve an attentive audience.

Online Magazine YourEDM’s editor Peter Rubinstein recently wrote an article on how millennials interact with brands that sponsor music events, “It’s no secret that big events have become inextricably linked to big companies, namely Red Bull, 7-Up, Bud Light, and T-Mobile. What you might not know is that the greater the presence these brands attain at these big events, the more their image and services are benefited.”

The branding company Momentum Worldwide and the live promoter group AEG came together to do research on this very issue, and found that 93% of those millennials surveyed claimed that they liked the brands that sponsor live events. You might think “liking the brand” doesn’t mean much, but to further the notion, 80% said that they would purchase a product or service following a music festival experience.

It’s simple. By associating with this series and these artists, you are adding value to your organization. This isn’t just an advertising opportunity, it’s an opportunity to craft experiences that will resound long after your brand makes an initial impact.

Thank You,
Khary Frazier

Detroit is Different presents a series of compelling, engaging, and creative concerts featuring a mix of Detroit performing artists and venues.

Performers will include*:

The Detroit Blues Diva Thornetta Davis Hip-hop Artists Khary WAE Frazier and Sheefy McFly Jazz Straight Ahead, Alex White, and Mike Jellick Funk the Legendary Undisputed Truth Comedians Coco, J Bell, J Will and the Motown Laugh Kings Soul Singers Kymberli Wright and Kenny Watson R&B Angela Davis, Alex Way, Ashley Nicole Reggae Artists Mollywop Rock Artists Carolyn Striho & Joey Spina Spoken Word Artists Claretha PEACE Bell and many more comedians, DJs, musicians, poets, rappers, and singers.

Sponsership:

Marketing the Detroit is Different Concert Series will take an aggressive tri-lateral approach using social media, traditional media, and guerilla marketing. By sponsoring this concert series your organization will reach an audience of over 100K Metro Detroiters one time, there after concentrated efforts will reach multiple audiences 8 – 15 times throughout the concert series promotion. The concert series promotion will last July through December of 2016.

Social Media Marketing:

Detroit is Different has led a series of organic campaigns engaging, encouraging, and using the interaction of social media networks. Each artist connected with the series will use videos, photos, graphics, and attention engagements (polls, votes, replies) to promote each show. Each show will have a strategic marketing campaign designed to accompany the theme of the show.

Traditional Marketing:

Detroit is Different has a long standing relationship working with Comcast Cable to touch markets throughout Metro Detroit. A series of 60 second commercials will highlight different events throughout the concert series. Radio commercials will be placed on AM910.

The following are examples of past social media campaigns developed to market Detroit is Different events: ‘Lipstick in Mirror’ and ‘Detroit Lions Comedy Roast’

Guerilla Marketing:

Detroit is Different will have printed materials (flyers, banners, posters, tickets) and ticket locations for all events for the concert series.

Added Bonus Produced Content:

By joining the concert series your business will have a You-tube commercial (scripted, shot, directed, & edited) and professional photos/graphics (shot, designed, & edited) placed on Detroit is Different. To market your business you will be able to use this content during and after the concert series.

I KNOW DETROIT $1,500
Business name listing and logo placement on all Flyers for all 10 concerts
Business name listing and logo placement on all Posters for all 10 concerts
You-tube commercial placement on Detroit is Different social networks
2 Tickets to each concert

I LIKE DETROIT $3,000
Business name listing and logo placement on all Flyers for all 10
Business name listing and logo placement on all Posters for all 10
You-tube Commercial placement on Detroit is Different social network
You-tube Commercial teaser placement for 3 concerts promotional campaigns
throughout the concert series
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram listing in logo placement throughout the social media
campaign for 3 concerts
Listing in all 10 concert press releases
4 Tickets to each concert

I AM DETROIT $10,000 (Title Sponsor)
Business Name listing and logo placement on all Flyers for all 10 concerts
Business Name listing and logo placement on all Posters for all 10 concerts
You-tube Commercial placement on Detroit is Different social networks
You-tube Commercial teaser placement for 10 concerts
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram listing and logo placement throughout the social
media campaign for 10 concerts
Listing in all 10 concert press releases
Listing, name mention, and logo placement on 10 of the Comcast commercials
Name mention on 10 of the 910AM radio commercials
Business listing on all tickets printed for all 10 concerts
10 Tickets to each Concert for the Detroit is Different Concert Series

I LOVE DETROIT $6,000
Business Name listing and logo placement on all Flyers for all 10 concerts
Business Name listing and logo placement on all Posters for all 10 concerts
You-tube Commercial placement on Detroit is Different social networks
You-tube Commercial teaser placement for 5 concerts
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram listing and logo placement throughout the social
media campaign for 5 concerts
Listing in all 10 concert press releases
Listing, name mention, and logo placement on 5 of the Comcast commercials
Name mention on 5 of the 910AM radio commercials
Business listing on all tickets printed for all 10 concerts
6 Tickets to each Concert for the Detroit is Different Concert Series

Thornetta Davis and James Cornelius Anderson were engaged (for marriage) in 2005. At times during her stage performance Davis will joke about the time it took for her to find ‘the right man.’ If you’ve had the opportunity to witness James and Thornetta together, the impact of their bond is humbling. Thornetta is a gem of Detroit’s vocal talents. Thornetta carries a historic tradition of Soul, Blues, and Rock divas of Detroit. James is world class percussionist. James has performed alongside a collection of Funk, Reggae, and Rock artists across the globe. Together their marriage is a mix of business, artistry, and spirituality built upon love.

This is the story of their memorable wedding day August 17th 2008 at the 26th Annual African World Festival in Detroit’s Historic Hart Plaza.

For the three years during their engagement James and Thornetta were consistently approached with the same question from nearly everyone, “when and where is the wedding?” Originally the wedding was planned to take place on Belle Isle. The Detroit Grand Prix derailed that. Shortly after the Grand Prix at Detroit’s Tastefest during a performance Thornetta and James realized they should have been married there between performance sets. “We always wanted to get married outdoors while allowing the city to join the ceremony and celebration. So when I saw the crowd full of family and friends I felt we missed a perfect opportunity to host our wedding,” Davis.

Days after our Tastefest performance I received a call from Njia Kai. (Njia is an event specialist that has helped execute and produce performance arts associated with most of the Cultural events throughout Detroit for over 25 years.) Njia knew of Thornetta and James plans to host their wedding outdoors and before Detroit. So when Njia took the helm as the event coordinator for the 2008 African World Festival she called Thornetta with the news and the instructions as so: “I’m running the African World Festival this year and I got three days so pick a time for your wedding.” Thornetta immediately shared the news with James and planning for the wedding began.

Leading into the wedding the most difficult dynamic was the catering. Thornetta and James planned their dream wedding. This dream was full of a mix of African, Caribbean, and Southern American foods. The director of Detroit’s Board of Health was originally not on board with the plan. “Our caterer visited this lady (Detroit’s Board of Health Director) a series of times and felt she was disrespectful towards her. Specifically she said she was ‘evil.’ The director of the Board of Health requested our caterer pay for an African World Festival vending permit, Hart Plaza kitchen access, and city permits. The collective costs for all this access was unreasonable. James and I talked our caterer into a final meeting with the director of the Board of Health and one faithful Friday morning we visited her office and waited. Luckily as we waited 3 hours for the director of the Board of Health to arrive to work we had the chance to fill out all the paper work needed to cater the event. So when the director of the Board of Health finally arrived to her office 3 hours late, and welcomed all of us (James, Thornetta, and the caterer) into her office we were ready. We sat down at her desk and she asked us: ‘so ya’ll still wanna’ do this thang?’ As angry as I was that she called my wedding a ‘thang’ I patiently responded yes. After that the director of the Board of Health continued to question us with every possible reason why a wedding at African World Festival was a bad idea … ‘where will people park?,’ ‘where will people sit?,’ ‘why do yall’ want to get married outside?,’ and finally she asked ‘what if it rains?’ I told the lady I don’t think it will rain because God got this. Immediately after I said that her whole attitude changed. She went from questioning everything I said, to helping us out. She provided clearances for kitchens, tables, chairs, and full access to Hart Plaza. Upon leaving her office that day she thanked us all (James, Thornetta, and the caterer) for starting her day off so well.

The stage was set for wonderful occasion. Kem agreed to sing at their wedding years before and flew in from San Fransico on tour. The Bill Moss Jr. choir that performed shortly before the ceremony for African World Festival sang during the ceremony. Finally Kenfense Chike lead a group of African percussionist and dancers that were performing at the African World Festival as well. Every element that was planned to be in the wedding of Thornetta and James came together naturally as the ceremony captured culture, love, and Detroit. Thornetta remembers the honor of spending the day preparing for her wedding with her mother and daughter (Thornetta’s daughter Wanakee Davis was a fellow classmate of mine when I attended King HS for Freshmen and Sophomore years in 1998 & 1999). The ceremony was one of the most memorable moments in the history of Detroit’s African World Festival.

Today eight years after the ceremony James and Thornetta are still approached by many Detroiters with the statement ‘I was there.’ “The wedding was also moving for so many people and their relationships. Many of our friends who attended mended broken relationships and began new ones from that day forward,” James.

After the ceremony James and Thornetta led their percession to the Prymaid stage in hart Plaza for her performance. In her wedding day head dress Thornetta performed for Detroit sharing the joy of her wedding day. She opened her set with “Honest Woman,” written in honor for James. This song will be featured on her upcoming album to be released this year.

James wrote a poem that was placed on the invitation laminates that were given to all guests for the ceremony. Here is the poem James wrote in honor of Thornetta:

Once upon a time in the city by the river …
There was a girl
The blues she would sing
A voice heard the world over
There was a boy
The music he would promote
For the people in the city by the river
Two people in the city by the river
Two people who share
The same hopes, dreams, aspirations
For Detroit, for music, for love,
On Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 3:30pm
At Phillip Hart Plaza
At the African World Festival
On this day of love will be fulfilled
As two unite as one in holy matrimony
A reception jam session from 7pm to 9pm
At the Nile River Jazz Club Stage
With music to share and love to give
A charmed life they will live
And all is well in the city by the river

Greetings and Best,

Today I continue to provide the perspective and depth of the culture that adds to Detroit to make it Different. The March 2015 Detroit is Different theme is “the Singer” Thonetta Davis.” I feature the ‘My Detroit Story’ about the wedding of Thornetta Davis and James Cornelius Anderson. Their wedding at the 26th Annual African World Festival in Hart Plaza was historic.

In Appreciation
Khary WAE Frazier
Hip-hop Artist & Detroit Advocate

Click here to read the Thornetta Davis ‘My Detroit Story’ on Detroit is Different

One of the most symbolic figures in Detroit is the ‘Spirit of Detroit.’ Today artist Michael Willingham gives his interpretation. What if … Mike Willingham designed the Spirit of Detroit?
In 1955 the city of Detroit commissioned artist Marshall Fredericks to create the ‘Spirit of Detroit.’ The statue was completed in 1958 as the second largest bronze statue in the world. Fredericks created the piece inspired by the 2 Corinthians 3:17 quote ‘Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty.’
“My vision for the Spirit of Detroit is the Warrior,” Michael Willingham. “(Rapper Young) Jeezy says Detroit is the home of the hustler. The hustler has a warrior spirit, and that’s a spirit that won’t stop,” Willingham. The make-up of the Detroit warrior has many components: the athlete, the fighter, the endurance, and the look.

If Detroit were represented by an athlete, Mike’s would be Antonio Gates. Gates is the NFL superstar Tight End for the San Diego Chargers. He also is a Detroit born hero. In 1996 he led the Central High School Trailblazers to the only PSL won championship of the decade. “GOAT is from the hood. I remember hooping with him back in the day when I played more,” Willingham. Even in high school Antonio was recognized as an all-around athlete. The nickname GOAT carried with him throughout the city. He stands today as one of the only future NFL hall of fame football players who did not play college football. Antonio’s story of walking on to the San Diego Charger team for a Monday Night Football game and catching multiple touchdown passes matches Detroit’s spirit. Detroiters have always been unexpected, phenomenal, and world renown.

“300 Spartan’s have the uniform I’d have on a Detroit warrior. The cape and the shield protect you, but you can easily battle without it,” Willingham. The film 300 which chronicles Spartan battles displays a soldier shielded and cloaked for battle. The ease to maneuver with or without both is the versatility of Detroiters.

“A Detroit warrior would have a weapon that’s used for close kills. Hand to hand combat and tough situations is what Detroit was built n. I see the Detroit warrior having the Zulu spear,” Willingham. The African general Shaka Zulu that ruled an empire of southern Africa created a series of weaponry and war tactics to excel in battle. The Zulu spear was specifically designed for close kills in combat. Detroit’s harsh winters, hot summers, and tempered culture builds tough people ready for battle.

I believe Mike’s image of this warrior is an example of the fight Detroit has. This warrior would have the tools to win any war. This will match the struggles Detroit’s endured.

Greetings,
Today for Detroit is Different I provide visual artist Mike Willingham’s imaginative take on Detroit. “What if … Mike Willingham designed the Spirit of Detroit?”

Click here to read the What if … Mike Willingham designed the Spirit of Detroit?”