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Meet Damian Davenport of The HardHeaded Group

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Damian Davenport.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started my music entry with me and a friend started an Indie platform (PreciseEarz) based in Atlanta in November 2013. Helping new up-and-coming music artist in the city because music media was rare in Atlanta at the moment. Helping curate events and helping Atlanta artists build a name outside of the Atlanta. The site became started for local artist but expanded to promote artists from across the world. I been on three media panels for A3C in 2015 & 2016.

I grew up in Monroe, Louisiana and moved to Norcross, GA in 1998 during my 5th-grade year. I grew up in Gwinnett County until high school, is when I start branching out. I started college for a while until my friend came up with an idea in 2013 to create a music blog. It all started with Tumblr until we created a website from Wix to WordPress.

The end of 2015 is when Atlanta’s Hot 107.9/Shade 45 DJ Iceberg and I linked up to create www.Djiceberg.com to bridge the gap with artists from across the world from the suburbs to urban areas to meet the masses with mainstream content as well.

Going to many panels at A3C, SXSW and watching panels on Youtube from Midem helped me on this journey. One of the biggest people in Atlanta helped me on this way is FortKnox, Terrell Thomas and Jerry White. Also been a speaker for three media panels at A3C from 2015-2016.

During the time helping artists build up their recognition and value, I realized why not partner with some of the artists I found via my website or from events. That’s when I started my management company, The Hardheaded Group. I been working with Tommy Swisher, Maui Max, NayStar and Cherae Leri.

I been in Los Angeles all of 2018 to build a studio space to expand my media company and to work with one of my artists. The studio space is made for artist in Los Angeles and really more for artists coming from the East and South coast to have a place to record or produce. I realized everyone sound is not meant to stay in Atlanta and gotten diverse into other genres.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It have not been a smooth road when you build your own platform and do not want to work with a big company or platform. Me and my friend built a brand (PreciseEarz) with no funding or backing. We got Atlanta respect for almost two years being consistent with content and promoting our local artists and curators. Getting shout-outs from bigger artist after they made it helped out with the company brand. Then me and him separated from each other during the same time we did co-management with Defient that ended ugly. So beginning of my career was good to great to horrible. Separate from two partnerships in less than a year. Me and the artist Tommy Swisher had to figure it out ourselves and also creating a new brand for a website.

Took over a year for people to forget about me with PreciseEarz to have everyone remember DjIceberg.com. Doing the A3C media panel in 2016 and having DJ Iceberg on Sway in Morning in November 2015 to help introduce the new website help jump off the branding to the new blog. Being a “blogger” not a “journalist” did not held me back but certain peers looked and wonder why I was in certain rooms. Being a rare person that be in the streets (traveling) and also being heavily online just as much helped me network with artists, producers, djs and taste-makers.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the DjIceberg.com and The HardHeaded Group story. Tell us more about the business.
DjIceberg.com is platform that is set up to learn about music not from Atlanta and mainstream artist but. The motto is on the website that says “Our Blog.” We mean by that is all the content is made for everyone. Since Atlanta’s Hot 107.9/Shade 45 Dj Iceberg have done a lot in his career helping new artists to even going on tour to being on 106 & Park over ten times. He had made a name for himself in his short career and wanted to expand his brand. I have more of the independent scene and have more of a label/executive mindset on music and artists. He seen what it takes to make an artist a star. Me being traveling meeting and working with different artists and taste-makers showed me that music is everywhere. Being in Atlanta alone is a blessing when traveling around just like the old days telling people you are from Los Angeles or New York in entertainment. Weekly promote over 20-30 new artists from our website to our multiple playlist we have. More to help artists from Atlanta heard in Canada, Dallas, TX to London, Miami to Los Angeles and etc.

Also, promote over creators content from interviews and events to help everyone know what’s going on in different cities. Felt like only making an Atlanta music site would not do much justice if I’m not helping artists get known outside of Atlanta’s 285. Everyone don’t make music for only Atlanta. Multiple had to expand their wings outside of Atlanta to get heard or to build a fan base. That what set our site from others. Honestly, I started DjIceberg.com website before the main DJ’s in Atlanta created one. Most Dj’s were just mixtapes dj’s so before mixtapes game fell off, I was able to create a blog-site to keep artists intrigued on what Dj Iceberg had to offer. I stay in the loot with other dj’s outside Atlanta to tell them about artists to look at. Help creators come to Atlanta to throw their own event here. I want to create more diversity in the music scene in the south. Everyone do not make only hip-hop. We have a lot of creative talent in Atlanta.

The Hardheaded Group was created after separating from PreciseEarz because outside a blog, we was a management company as well. It’s basically a marketing and management company for all the talents I have for my roster. I preach taking accountability into my artists that nothing will not come easy and this is a. I believe in artists having artist development. It’s no rush when I’m working with artist if I feel like they going to put in just as much work as me. Longest artist I been working with been over five years when he was 17 years old. Teach self-discipline and be self-sufficient.

I’m most proud of the company know because of the growth from the past few years with no major platform to work under or myself. I want to show people that as long you can build a brand (does not matter how long it would take), you are building up value for your next job or partnership.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m going to say more bad luck happen in my life dealing with the business and people at the beginning of my career for the best. Nobody teaches you about how you adapt to new and old people when the spotlight is on you. The lost friends and partnerships taught me a lot more than a mentor could tell me. I’m kind of hardheaded so, I have to experience things to understand than just listen and watch. This is the entertainment industry, it have its ups and downs. Any good or bad luck that happens, you have to learn to have short memory. The good or bad luck is only temporary. Just how you change or take advantage of the luck when it comes your way to make it count. Live and learn. Just don’t make the same mistake twice. It’s okay to take a step back to re-evaluate what went wrong and how you can make the right choices in the future. Don’t be in a rush for success because it’s not going anywhere. It’s just a process that nobody can cheat.

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