Today we’d like to introduce you to Rodney Simpson.
Rodney, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, my name is Rodney Simpson, also known in the entertainment industry as AKSHUN I hail from Mobile, Alabama attended college at Alabama A&M University. I started out there promoting parties with friends, which led to forming a friendship and partnership with Anthony Ransom. Anthony was related to Brian and Brandon Casey of the Multiplatinum R&B group Jagged Edge. Through this relationship, I was able to move to Atlanta and start my first of several internships. I began my Internship at JOI studio’s and moved quickly from answering phones and taking food orders to studio manager, then A&R for the 581 Muzik Group their label, which led to me judging lots of talent showcases around the city and building relationships with some famous people. But while I was there, I worked with a host of artists from R&B, hiphop and Jazz. While managing the studio, I was able to play a major part in the production of Keshia Cole’s initial reality show, which they shot at our studio. As studio manager, I was in charge of everything from cleaning, hiring interns, and depositing checks to picking up kids and putting gas in cars. After a year there, I felt that I needed to spread my wings to grow.
During my tenure there, I met a legend in the music business Mr. Ian Burke who soon left to become Head of A&R at Purple Ribbon Entertainment the record label formed by Andre Patton (Big Boi) of the hip-hop duo Outkast; he offered me another Intern position with him there. I went over and assisted in the A&R department by developing events and more for the label. At this time, our roster of artist included Killer Mike, Janelle Monae , Scar and Koncrete. One of my projects was called High school high, a school talent showcase that one of the A&R’s and myself cultivated, which turned out to be a big success. It gave students a chance to showcase their talents and our artists had the opportunity to perform at the schools. After Purple Ribbon, I worked as an intern with the Atlantis Music Conference, the longest-running music conference in the world at that time.
I was in charge of selecting artists to perform in our Urban showcases and also assisting in the organization of our fashion events. This is the place I met Kevin Shine, whom worked as A&R consultant to Jive records head of A&R Wayne Williams. Kevin gave me the opportunity to be a part of providing exposure to teen sensation Jacob Latimore (The Chi and numerous feature films to date) which eventually got him signed to Jive Records. This also allowed me to work on Jive records recording artist Robert Kelly aka R-Kelly’s album, Untitled, which was nominated for a Grammy award. After all of these great learning experiences, I have been totally focused on building my company Grassroots Marketing Media Consulting Group LLC which is now Fame Live Enterprises’s LLC. Over the past ten-plus years, we have toured a number of colleges around the southeast with our F.A.M.E The Experience Tour. One of our tours stops at Daytona Beach Florida for spring break included Jay-Z and Damn Dash Rocawear clothing line and also Young Jezzy 8732 brand. The college tour also worked with a host of record labels in the past.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been bumpy, lots of sacrifices from sleeping my car, renting rooms from strangers to having my car repossessed. Navigating the fake people in this industry is the hardest part and not burning bridges while nurturing and maintaining healthy and prosperous relationships. I would say not having a personal life also, I have been single for the seven years and i am still single now. So that is a major sacrifice, I would say but not a struggle I stay focused on being GREAT.
As you know, we’re big fans of Fame Live Enterprises. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a multimedia company that specializes in creating platforms to assist artist with showcasing their talents to the world. We have a few divisions to include film, music, TV and publications. Our film division has taken home a indie short film award here in Atlanta and honorable mention at another festival in Florida. I am known for being a connector of brands and people. What sets me apart is that I do me and focus on what I am doing, not what others are doing, period. My fame brand started as a college tour in 2007 and it has grown into a magazine and film company with clients all over the world.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My faith and strong belief in self that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. I am a visionary that can see what’s coming from a distance. A no to me means move onto keep building until people fully understand your vision.
Contact Info:
- Email: rsimpson.grm@gmail.com
- Website: http://grassrootsmarketingmedia.com/
- Instagram: @akshunceo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rodney.simpson.39750/
- Twitter: @akshunceo
- Youtube: Rodney akshun Simpson
Image Credits
Pic one in black John Kelly and selfie Rodney Simpson
