Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Bryant.
Hi Kevin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey I started out having big dreams and desires at a very young age. My mom often tells at 6months of age I would cry in perfect melody while she would hold me in her arms at her choir and gospel group rehearsals. She had a feeling early on I would be singing. for the first 5 years I had the only child syndrome. I would take stuffed animals and line them up as if they were my audience and be in full concert, I was the performer and the MC. My parents divorced when I was nine, I developed some major abandonment issues with the absence of my dad and then my mom moving to a whole new state and leaving me and my lil brother with my grandmother. I didn’t realize she was leaving to prepare a place in Virginia until she came back to get us a year later. Yep a new life not knowing anyone I relied on myself and occupied my time singing commercials and sneaking to talent shows coming home with the winnings.
My mom was very surprised that people became aware of me for singing in a serious way so that is how my mom started to say wow your singing but you will grow out of it. I continued to sing and perform all the way to college through multiple scholarship awards and grants. I knew I wanted this as a career but felt Virginia would not give me what I needed. I figured out a way to move to secretly pursue a career in music because I wanted to be a star. Atlanta was the destination where this shooting star fell. I would enter every talent show there was, and I learned how to gather fans and built a bonafide entourage. I started to become very popular as a young talent and found people to help, then I started sing background for professional artists at the time. I had opportunities to work with a lot of mainstream artists such as Bobby Brown, Toni Braxton, Keisha Jackson, Millie Jackson, Usher, TLC, Pebbles and the list goes on and on.
I worked with many producers over at Laface which nothing was released. I used to sit in studios with artists such as Outkast, Arrested Development and so many more. While traveling on this journey I managed to run across a manager who was then Nelly’s manager right before he was Nelly. They sent me to St. Louis to record a demo. It was then where I met the engineer who was also a producer, he wanted to ask me about going to New York to do a demo with him. I just happened to be in a musical on Broadway with Millie Jackson called Young Man Older Woman, so I was in New York working on a demo to go to Pebbles label then Savvy Records. I was asked to do a house music record which landed the deal for me with the largest house music label at the time called Strictly Rhythm. That’s where it really began.
I start to be demanded all over the world not realizing how different it is in the European market for artist like me. I quickly got used to it and kept it moving with guest vocal appearances, remixes, and more. I was becoming an international success. I was still doing background on my downtime for several artists, I was able to tour with Blue Cantrell, Maxwell, and a few others while still doing my thing. Later I realized that all business is not good business. I was always helping other artists so I then embarked on Artist development and vocal coaching.
For some reason, I felt that helping other artists reach their star potential was my purpose, and that’s when I became the “Star Coach” It was then that I felt so powerful because I had the unique ability to spot good talent and then cultivate it into something great. I then got with a good friend who would write with me and start producing and writing film projects, then I got into casting. I developed all these titles because I didn’t have money to hire anyone so I had to rely on my God given instincts. So yes I am now a Singer, songwriter, producer, director, casting agent, artist manager, and influencer on my way to being a mogul. I have no intentions of stopping lol
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road at all, but what is worth having. There were times when money wasn’t there, and most of the time people who you think you can trust, you later find out that you can’t trust them at all. For some reason the more success you have the harder it is to trust some people.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a singer/songwriter first. I also produce independent film and podcast shows for Radio one. I specialize in performance and artist development. I am mostly known for being a singer and what they call “The Plug” because I know so many people. what sets me apart I think is my approach to everything, I always believe that any and everything is possible. If you want it go and get it.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I learned during this covid crisis that nothing is promised, but I also learned that we really do need to be there for each other as a people, not just family but a loving and unified way of life.
Contact Info:
- Email: KevinBryant@Bak11Blak.com
- Website: Bak11Blak.com
- Instagram: @Yeskevinsaidit
- Facebook: @IamkKevinBryant
- Twitter: @IamKevinBryant
- Youtube: @KbryTv
