{"id":193,"date":"2015-01-07T03:44:35","date_gmt":"2015-01-07T08:44:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thedoublescoop2.com\/?page_id=193"},"modified":"2015-01-07T03:44:35","modified_gmt":"2015-01-07T08:44:35","slug":"the-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/thedoublescoop2.com\/dev\/the-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"The Spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Josh Waters<\/strong><\/p>\n

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20 year old singer and song-writer Joshua Waters knew at an early age he had a passion for performing and singing, but it wasn\u2019t until around his freshman year in college that it became clear to him music is what he wanted to pursue professionally. Josh was so adamant about his music career that he decided to drop out of college to eliminate having a plan B option. \u00a0He knew not having a plan B would force him to put everything he had into his music.<\/p>\n

Check out our interview here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Quavius Black<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Quavius Black, known to most as \u201cKway\u201d made a choice to determine his own fate when he decided to drop out of college after the first year to pursue music as a career. He was a straight A student in high school with a 3.7 gpa, and after graduating he was awarded a full academic scholarship to Alcorn State University. Kway had a smooth path to success majoring in computer engineering and graphic design, but things are never clear cut when it comes to what your heart wants and what your mind thinks is right.<\/p>\n

Read more about his story here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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What’s Up Elly J!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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As a blogger it is always nice to meet fellow writers \u00a0who are on the same path as myself. Most new bloggers face the challenges of creating a brand, building a following, and trying to earn a few coins on the side.\u00a0At times blogging can become frustrating and even challenging when you aren\u2019t \u00a0seeing a financial gain or when your followers don\u2019t seem to be growing.\u00a0Blogger Elly J started her blog to create a platform for young aspiring entrepreneurs to share their dreams and success stories. \u00a0After blogging for a few years, her readers expanded and she made numerous connections with writers, directors and other successful entrepreneurs. Because of her perseverance she even got an opportunity to work on a film set.<\/p>\n

Read more about Elly here:<\/a><\/p>\n

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Calligraphy<\/strong><\/p>\n

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While scrolling through Instagram a few months ago I randomly came across a musician\u2019s page named Calligraphy. So like most people do when they come across a stranger\u2019s open page on Instagram, I lurked to get a glimpse of what this person\u2019s life was like. While lurking I came across a video that he posted of himself playing a keyboard and singing. Not to sound cliche or corny but his voice was mesmerizing and he had a unique sound especially coming out of Mississippi.<\/p>\n

Read more about him here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Miss PhaShunta<\/strong><\/p>\n

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I think most celebrity media contributors will tell you that their dream is to make it big; they want the opportunity to be able to walk red carpets and interview the top celebs in the entertainment industry. \u00a0Well in only three short years PhaShunta Hubert has done just that. She created her blog\u00a0MissPhaShunta.com<\/a>\u00a0in 2013 and started off interviewing radio\u00a0personalities, rising music artists, and local businesses in her city. After\u00a0studying how to brand and market herself she later transitioned into\u00a0interviewing celebrities such as Keke Palmer, Justine Skye, and even legends\u00a0like Pattie LaBelle.\u00a0As a blogger with a growing media company I wanted to get success tips on how to excel in the media industry so I reached out to PhaShunta for an interview. \u00a0Check out the interview here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Prymo<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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Looks can be deceiving, especially when it comes to 18 year old hip-hop artist Prymo. Hip hop are actually two of the last words you would even think to associate with the Philippines native. I didn\u2019t know what to expect the first time I saw him live at a show in Jackson, Mississippi. He walked up to front of the room, grabbed the mic that was taller than him, and while fixing his glasses introduced himself just as articulate as a college professor. The lights dimmed, the music started, the beat dropped, and then he opened his mouth and for a second I questioned was he the same person. I love those type of artists, the ones that come with a shock factor. \u00a0I caught up with Prymo for a quick interview to get to know him better and to discuss his new project The broly ep.<\/p>\n

Check out the interview here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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TEMI<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

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I wouldn\u2019t be the first to say that the state of R&B has become stagnate. \u00a0I like some of the music played on the radio today but I don\u2019t think the newer artists are as innovative with their lyrics or sound compared to prior artists. \u00a0I recently came across the profile of an artist named Temi (pronounced) Tay-Me and his music was a breath of fresh air. Instantly listening to his sound I was reminded of the old school soul music from the late 90s and early 2000s. I wanted to learn more about the talented artist so I reached out to him for an interview. \u00a0Check out the interview\u00a0here.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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L Sherie<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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Mississippi native L Sherie Dean stumbled upon her passion as a joke. Known among her family and friends as the \u201cgo to girl\u201d for information about the who, what, when and where in her city, Sherie decided to turn her niche into a business. Shortly after The L Sherie Alert was born. I caught up with Sherie for a brief interview to learn more about her business and the face behind the brand.<\/p>\n

Check out the interview here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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IMG<\/strong><\/p>\n

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About a month ago while scrolling through Instagram I came across a young artist\u2019s page from Atlanta named Naomi The Goddess. She had one of those rare, distinct and mesmerizing voices that you couldn\u2019t help but to stop and listen to, so I immediately reached out to her to see if she would be interested in being a guest on our music podcast. When we finally met in person I learned that she was a part of a talented group called IMG which stands for \u201cInstrumentalist Music Group.\u201d They are definitely not your average music group and it\u2019s apparent when you listen to the lyrics in their music; they\u2019re on a mission to spread a message.<\/p>\n

Read more about the group here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Keyone’ Starr<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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And a \u201cStarr\u201d<\/em> was born\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026..<\/p>\n

Almost every aspiring artist dreams of the moment they catch their big break. Mississippi native Keyone\u2019 Starr caught hers a little over two years ago when she was approached by songwriter\/ record producer Mark Ronson after he saw her perform at a club in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. Starr signed with Mark Ronson and Jeff Bhasker in 2014 and since has been featured on Ronson\u2019s Grammy nominated LP Uptown Special<\/em>.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not familiar with Ronson by name, more than likely you are familiar with his work. He has produced multi-platinum Grammy winning albums for Amy Winehouse and Adele, and has worked with various other talented artists over the years.<\/p>\n

I was able to catch up with Keyone\u2019 for a brief interview as she preps for her Grammy nomination celebration which will be held next week in her hometown.<\/p>\n

Check out the interview here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Cassia “Jonesie” Jones<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Can you imagine being dumped by your live-in boyfriend of nearly two years over text messages shortly after buying a wedding dress!? Well that\u2019s what happened to actress, writer, and producer Cassia Jones. \u00a0Instead of crying about the situation Cassia wrote about it which led to the creation of her blog and web series calledTo Live & Date in LA<\/a><\/em>, which chronicles the dating life of a young woman in her early 30s.<\/p>\n

I came across Cassia\u2019s Instagram page a few months ago and I was instantly drawn to her vibrate personality. \u00a0As an aspiring filmmaker and screenwriter I wanted to learn more about her career and the challenges that she faces in the entertainment industry.\u00a0In our interview Cassia discusses the challenges of being a black actress and writer, her web series, being single and dating in her 30s, and she also gives advice to aspiring actors and writers.\u00a0Check out the interview here<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Sneakerboxx<\/strong><\/p>\n

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They say anything great started off as an idea that was developed and put into action. That was the case for Mississippi native Terrell Winters, aka \u201cSneakerboxx.\u201d Terrell started collecting sneakers back in 1999 and today owns over 400 pairs, hence the nickname. One day he looked around at his huge collection of shoes and decided he wanted to start making money for himself instead of paying somebody else for their products.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to make money for myself so I created my first design which was a refrigerator with the words \u201cKeep em fresh\u201d on it. It was real simple and stupid but dope. I got 24 shirts made and sold each one for $25. I advertised them on social media and they sold out within 2 days.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Read more about him here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Qulanda Moore<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The chances of making a good living as a filmmaker or director are very slim since the entertainment industry is already over saturated with so many.\u00a0 This can be very discouraging for aspiring screenwriters or directors struggling to make it in the industry.\u00a0I recently came across the profile of Qulanda Moore, a young writer, director and producer.\u00a0At only 28 years old Qulanda has quite an impressive resume. \u00a0She has directed a feature film, started her own media production company, produced a web series, and served as a technical director for a Broadway play in New York. \u00a0Because of my interest in film I decided to reach out to Qulanda to get some advice about entering the film industry. Check out my interview with her here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Jeanine Daniels: The Mafia Boss<\/strong><\/p>\n

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For most of us there are two paths to choose from in life; the path working to make someone else\u2019s dreams come true, or the path making your own dreams come true. The latter path is so rewarding and fulfilling but there are many sacrifices that will have to be made and several obstacles that you will encounter before you can reap the fruits of your labor. A lot of people can\u2019t handle those obstacles and aren\u2019t willing to make certain sacrifices to turn their dreams into a reality, so they do like most and settle for the unfulfilled 8 to 5 and glide their way through life on a conveyor belt. Jeanine Daniels, an upcoming producer, writer, and filmmaker chose to take the road less traveled and although she has run into a few road blocks on her journey, she wouldn\u2019t trade the life of living out her dreams for a life with no purpose or passion. We were able to catch up with her for an interview about her aspiring career.<\/p>\n

Check it out here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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CANDICE J: THE UNFADING BEAUTY<\/strong><\/p>\n

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At only 24 years old Candice J. was diagnosed with ovarian cancer which is very rare \u00a0for young women. She had to endure months of chemotherapy and lost so much weight that she weighed only 89 pounds. Now almost four years later Candice is a proud cancer survivor who uses her blog \u201cThe Unfading Beauty\u201d <\/a>\u00a0to inform and educate women about ovarian cancer.\u00a0 In our interview she shares her story on how her experience brought her closer to God and family.<\/p>\n

Read the interview here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Ni’cola Mitchell<\/strong><\/p>\n

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As any aspiring writer will tell you, trying to make a full time career out of writing seems almost next to impossible. My sister and I left our unfulfilling\u00a0 careers over a year ago to pursue our love for writing and we have definitely encountered many obstacles on our path to success. We came across the profile of Ni\u2019cola Mitchell, a published author of several best-selling novels, a blogger, and founder of the independent publishing company NCM Publishing.<\/a>\u00a0 In our interview with Mitchell she discusses her love for writing, shares how she overcame obstacles, and gives advice to aspiring writers. \u00a0Read more about Ni’cola here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Kelvin Armstrong<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Rising artist Kelvin Armstrong is a singer\/songwriter and guitarist from the small town of Irmo, South Carolina. Armstrong is really starting to make a name for himself in Columbia, South Carolina and surrounding areas; he released his EP \u201cIn Due Time\u201d last month and recently charted #67 out of the top 100 on Itunes. We were able to catch up with him for a brief interview before he geared up for his album release party on August 23rd. Check out the interview here.<\/a><\/p>\n

Miss Naturally Crowned Carolina<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Raw Demand Productions photographed by Maurice George Columbia South carolina Photographer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We were excited to find out about the Miss Naturally Crowned pageant which is held in Columbia, South Carolina. The pageant was founded by Jessica Boyd and Maureen Ochola who are the owners of Quench Natural Beauty Boutique based out of Columbia. This year marked the second year for the pageant and we were excited to be in attendance for the big event. \u00a0Check out our interview with last year’s winner Chanelle Johnson regarding her experience in the pageant here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Ray-Vaughn<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Working as a police officer and personal trainer by day and an R&B singer by night, Ray-Vaughn\u00a0<\/em>proves he is a man that can juggle many hats. \u00a0The Mississippi native is breaking his way into the music industry and he is not letting anything stop him from sharing what he calls his \u201cGod given talent\u201d with the world. Born into a family of singers and musicians Ray-Vaughn discovered his passion for singing at the ripe young age of 5.<\/p>\n

Read more about the artist here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u00a0Jay Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n

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When you decide to pursue your passion or dream, it can cause you to make some serious sacrifices. You might risk losing relationships, stability, income, and even peace of mind. Jay Smith is an upcoming comedian and actor who decided a few years ago he wanted to pursue his passion. He got his start in the industry as a student at Jackson State University when he joined the MADDRAMA Performance Troupe. Over the years he has made a name for himself in his hometown and has also built a pretty large social media following. You can even catch a glimpse of him in the latest James Brown biopic Get on Up.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Mississippi native recently moved to Atlanta, Georgia to broaden his career, but his journey to chase what he loves has been met with some highs and lows. I caught up with Jay recently to ask him a few questions about his dream chasing journey.<\/p>\n

Check out the interview here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Black-Ice Bell<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"chris<\/a><\/p>\n

With only a high school diploma, Black Ice has become a poet, an author, and an accomplished professional photographer. He has worked with many talented people such as Janelle Monae, Russell Simmons, and Lloyd Banks.\u00a0 Some people call him \u201cMr. Bell\u201d and\u00a0others call him \u201cChristopher\u201d or \u201cChris,\u201d but now he also goes by\u00a0\u201cBlack-Ice Bell.\u201d\u00a0 It was actually a name given to him as a joke because\u00a0people could recognize his work before\u00a0they recognized him. There are hardly any pictures of him online so many people don\u2019t know the face behind his work.\u00a0 Black ice is a substance that is transparent; it\u2019s practically invisible, but you can feel its presence and know it\u2019s there. You may not see Mr. Bell, but you will definitely feel his presence by his work. Since he tends to be a very low key guy who lets his work speak for him, I wanted people to get to know the artist behind the work.<\/p>\n

Check out the interview here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Gulf Coast Blues Boy<\/strong><\/p>\n

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I met Jamell Richardson on the set of the movie Get On Up<\/em> a little over a year ago.\u00a0 I was cast as an extra in the movie and he was cast to play Jimmy Nolen, the lead guitarist for James Brown.\u00a0Jamell had one of those contagious personalities; the type of personality that people are immediately drawn to. He was very personable and funny and was well known among the other cast and crew members.\u00a0 His outgoing personality makes it hard for him to ever meet a stranger so it wasn\u2019t a surprise that we connected on the set.\u00a0 Since the movie ended Jamell\u2019s career has really taken off so\u00a0Ashley and I decided to catch up with him for an interview so that people who\u00a0are unaware of the artist can get a better idea of who he is.<\/p>\n

Check out our interview here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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Finesse’<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"trey\"<\/a><\/p>\n

South Carolina artist Finesse\u2019 recently teamed up with the South Carolina Film Institute<\/span> in Columbia to produce the music video for his single LiveWire<\/em>. The 18 year old came to Columbia to attend college at the University of South Carolina and to expand his music career. Believe it or not he has been rapping for almost 10 years and making music for about 3 years.<\/p>\n

Learn more about the young talent\u00a0here<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Josh Waters 20 year old singer and song-writer Joshua Waters knew at an early age he had a passion for performing and singing, but it wasn\u2019t until around his freshman year in college that it became clear to him music is what he wanted to pursue professionally. Josh was so adamant about his music career … Continue reading “The Spotlight”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-193","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thedoublescoop2.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thedoublescoop2.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thedoublescoop2.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thedoublescoop2.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thedoublescoop2.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/thedoublescoop2.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/193\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thedoublescoop2.com\/dev\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}