Today we’d like to introduce you to Rocky Bivens.
Rocky, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started my journey into the music industry in 1994 when I met an up and coming Superstar by the name of R. Kelly I met him at a club called the Cotton Club in downtown Chicago Illinois. We played one game of basketball after we met at a gym called Hoops which at the time was famous because it was where you could always find Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen playing pick up games, at this particular game they were present to watch Rob and I defeat a Big time crew for a lot of money.
Shortly after that Robert invited me on his World tour The “12Play Very Necessary Tour” Feat Salt & Peppa and Xscape. I began just being Roberts personal security and watching his back until one day Rob and his Brother “KILLA” got into a fight and Robert kicked his brother off tour, because Killa was the one performing with Rob every night in front of 20 Thousand people Robert felt I could fill his shoes since I stood on stage every night watching the show. So while performing, I met two significant people who came to se R.Kelly show “Jermaine Dupree” & “Tupac Shakur. Jd invited me to Atlanta and asked me if I wanted to work for So So Def but I had my sights set on his female group “XSCPAE” I eventually worked my way in close enough to end up managing Xscape Tupac insisted that I begin managing artist because he was impressed by the way I was able to move R.Kelly around so often time Pac would remind me of my skillset because it wasn’t easy to move him around. After I started managing Xscape Barry Hankerson told me I would be running a new record label name after me called “RockLand” which was a joint venture between Interscope (Jimy Iovine) & R.Kelly. I assembled what I called a dream team for Xscape which consisted of an up & coming attorney by the name of Larry Rudolph & the famed business manager “Bert Padell”. Quickly the industry got notice that R.kelly’s right-hand man was managing artist and the rush began. I signed “Brittney Spears” with Larry Rudolph to Jive records then I went on to manage and sign “Tamar Braxton” to Dreamworks records.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road I think that with any road to success it’s going to be so Hurdles you have to jump over to get to the top. For example, after R.kelly didn’t give me a check on tour when everyone else was getting paid and I was doing two jobs 1. Security 2. Performer I decided that I never wanted him to pay me and I used that motivation to begin my managing career as long as I was around him I could position myself to make my own money. So in the beginning I was working for free closing 20 million dollar deals and not getting paid.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Biv Global Management – what should we know?
My company is a multi-faceted entertainment company. We specialize in taking artist to a different mental level beyond the art from business finance to investments to building a portfolio that will allow them to retire early and become knowledgeable of what the world had to offer outside of entertainment. That is what sets me apart from other managers I take artist and turn them into viable brands beyond their craft. What we are most proud of as a company is “LaTocha of Xscape” creating and building her “Made Girl” empire into multiple brands that will soon be a Household name she has already generated over 14 million for one brand and continuing to grow.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I most definitely have a lot of people to credit beginning with my parents who are no longer with me. Barry Hankerson was the first person to teach me the music game and school me on how to negotiate. L Barry Rudolph shooed me the legal side of the industry and allowed me to participate in all of his deals to include Brittney Spears.Clive Calder (Owner of Jive records) He saw that I was the One unique individual around R.Kelly and he let me sign artist to his label. Craig Kallman (CEO of Atlantic Records) Craig for the last 25 years have continued to do deals with me from artist to writers to producers for many hit records. Jon Platt (Ceo of Sony Music Publishing) Jon has continued to allow me to give artist writers producers a chance to live their dreams and become wealthy while doing it and remained a great friend in the process. Last My wife Latocha she has championed me along with our son Jamon (2020 Nba draft pick) throughout my entire career it was her confidence in me that got me the Xscape job and the rest has been History.
Contact Info:
- Website: Bivglobalmgmt.com
- Instagram: bivglobalmgmt
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