There are many giants in this great city of Philadelphia. I want to write about one of them who I greatly admire. For those who know me, you know what Independent Art and its artists mean to me. I'd like to think I am a community-minded person. And that means I care about my community almost as much as I care about myself. It's a close second.
(Library-Black Cease) Rap artist Black Cease (Jon McKay) Rallies
youths to march, in his 2010 campaign to save the Nicetown Branch library.
Jon's efforts with the help of Black&Nobel and Tyson Media in part saved the library.
They are a haven for both Main stream and New and or Unknown artists of all genres. They equip artists with a marketing plan to insure they move their products, they do photo shoots for artists, promotions and other media as well as help you get into business. Half the time they ask for nothing.
Recently I found out through my own research that they sell more Indie CD's, DVD's and Books by new artists on the East Coast than any other company. This is largely because every week wholesalers from around the world order or arrive, and buy up nearly half their inventory. This is EVERY WEEK! The company folks are also activists for any community who needs them.
(Tyson Gravity, Cornel West) Cornel West stops in to visit
his colleage and activist Tyson Gravity (co-owner of Black & Nobel)
Like many well known and notable persons from the Entertainment
Industry to the intellectual stops in to visit Black and Nobel when in
Philly because the they have created such a positive atmosphere from
the start and over a few short years that people talk about and word
has spread all over the world.
The company founders, Hakim Hopkins and Tyson Gravity have created an environment in Philadelphia of SERVICE and are a shining example for all of us. Their websites are WWW.BLACKANDNOBEL.COM and WWW.ERIEAVE.COM. Take some time to check them out. If you are an artist and have Poems, spoken word (on video or in print) and/or you are a rap artist or other musical artist and have a video, you can visit them. You can also give them your product and they will put it on their website that plays host to millions of people everyday. The exposure is free. Yes I said free.
For example, last July 5th VIDEO CITY TV came there and taped their TV show on location at Broad and Erie, and afterwards took in videos and music from Indie artists to put music on large websites and the videos on their TV show. All this for free. In this day and age where we are charged for everything I'm certainly not arguing against that. Charging is necessary at times, but not every time.
It is refreshing to find a company that truly has yours and my interests in mind. I salute Tyson and Hakim, Black and Nobel and all involved. We need them. I thank God for them. Who can you serve in your community? When you have the answer, let what Black and Nobel is doing be your example and act on it. You will love how it feels.
(Hakim Hopkins Co-owner of Black & Nobel) Co-owner
Hakim Hopkins doesn't just exchange cash for books and
Cds's, its at the cash register where he forges relationships
with customers that last for years.
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