Linked up with a real one✊🏽 @ohgeesy speaks about how he got on, and his first big check on @elevatingicons We gon continue to give yall the blueprint on how to get on! Following IG & Subscribe on YouTube @elevatingicons S/O my dawg @bankrollgotit.jb 🙌 #music #rap #ohgeesy #elevatingicons #podcast

ELEVATING ICONS - On The Rise: UGLY MONEY NICHE (@uglymoneyniche ) Everybody with influence didn’t get there the same way! Some artists stay artists. Some personalities stay personalities. And some people build themselves into a whole platform. @uglymoneyniche is one of those guys. From music to media, from personality to platform, Niche has built a name that moves across culture. CEO of Ugly Money Entertainment. Owner of HVM Network. Host of the Ugly Money Podcast. A voice that knows how to turn attention into conversation and conversation into brand power🔥 His run is different. He didn’t just show up online. He built an ecosystem. Success highlights: • CEO of Ugly Money Entertainment • Owner of HVM Network • Host of the Ugly Money Podcast • Built a strong digital presence with 1 Million+ followers across all platforms • Expanded his brand into interviews, live content, speaking, entertainment, and film • Added acting credits to the resume while continuing to grow his media presence Ugly Money Niche represents a new kind of media figure — part host, part brand, part entrepreneur, part culture commentator. Salute to the ones who know how to create motion, build community, and turn their personality into a business. Follow @elevatingiconsnetwork for more exclusive content and music biz gems! Shot by @ted.ture Edited by @ww.kai #money #fyp #explore #podcast #facebook

ELEVATING ICONS: ARNOLD TAYLOR (@arnoldltaylor ) Not every superstar stands in front of the camera. Some build the stage, spot the vision early, and create the run before the world catches on. Arnold Taylor is one of those guys💪🏾 Founder and CEO of South Coast Music Group, Arnold turned years of industry game into a real movement. From building his own DJ record pool and learning the business around legends like L.A. Reid and Sylvia Rhone, to signing DaBaby in 2016 and helping position him for a major breakout, Arnold has shown he knows how to find it early and scale it big. His track record is serious: • DaBaby to the top • Toosii to a Capitol deal • Tia Corine to Interscope • South Coast stamped as a real force in the business And the run is still running. Right now, @DaBaby “Pop Dat Thang” is back moving, showing real chart motion. That matters because it speaks to staying power. Not just one hot moment. Real motion. This is what a superstar behind the superstars looks like. Arnold Taylor didn’t just sign artists. He helped build trajectories. He helped turn regional energy into national impact. He helped make South Coast Music Group a name the industry has to respect. Success highlights: • Founder and CEO of South Coast Music Group, one of the biggest labels to come out of the Carolinas • Built his early name through Taylor’s Record DJ Pool • Turned that momentum into South Coast Marketing • Worked through Blackground, Def Jam, Interscope, Universal Republic, and Epic Records • Recruited by L.A. Reid to become VP of Marketing & Promotions at Epic • Built South Coast Music Group into a respected label and launchpad for major talent • Recognized by Billboard on its R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players and Indie Power Players lists Salute to the architects. The tastemakers. The executives with real ears. The ones who see it before the world does. 🎥 @ted.ture #ElevatingIcons #music #explore #DaBaby

ELEVATING ICONS: YUNG JOC (@joclive ) Yung Joc is one of Atlanta’s real success stories. He didn’t just make hits….he made records that moved the streets, the clubs, radio, and the culture. Highlights: • Broke out with “It’s Goin’ Down,” which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on Hot Rap Tracks  • Followed it up with “I Know U See It,” proving he was way bigger than a one-hit run  • Debut album New Joc City dropped through Bad Boy South, Block Entertainment, and Atlantic Records  • New Joc City debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 with 150,000 first-week sales  • His second album Hustlenomics hit #3 on the Billboard 200  • Built his name beyond rap with business ventures including Mastermind and Swagg Team Entertainment  • Reinvented himself again as a media personality and now co-hosts the hit radio show Streetz Morning Takeover  Yung Joc represents more than a rap run. He represents longevity, reinvention, and staying connected to the people🤝. From hit records to business to radio, he found a way to keep evolving while staying rooted in Atlanta culture. That’s what Elevating Icons is about ✊🏽 Shot by @ted.ture & Edited by @ww.kai

In the bag I started with🎶. Feels great writing and producing records with the people I luv ✊🏽. The business isn’t missing Execs that know how to create, we right here just doing the work!! @sean_da_firzt we not playin 🔥. Let’s Go! @kayothewizard @ted.ture @tredfool @fate_f250 @essenceisfunny @g.lazzzo . Thank you @loudhousejules @hrhkingfame @loudhousestudios 🎥 @ww.kai Hit me or @sean_da_firzt for a rocket 🚀 We doing another camp in May🤝 Keep running POP DAT THANG up them charts 🙌🌎

ELEVATING ICONS: BANGLADESH (@bangladeshproductions ) Bangladesh is one of them ones. Born Shondrae Crawford in Des Moines, Iowa, he built a sound that cut through everything and helped shift the direction of hip-hop. His beats had space, knock, bounce, and attitude — and that formula made artists rap different! Highlights🌟: • Produced @liltunechi “A Milli” — peaked at #6 on Billboard Hot 100, won a Grammy, and went 6x Platinum • Produced “6 Foot 7 Foot” — cracked the Billboard Top 10 and went Platinum • Also behind major records like @ludacris “What’s Your Fantasy,” @beyonce “Lemonade,” “Diva,” “Bossy,” and “Break Up” • Helped create a sound that influenced a whole era of rap • Catalog has generated millions of sales and major cultural impact Bangladesh didn’t just make beats. He helped create a sound, a feeling, and a whole moment in music. That’s what Elevating Icons is about🙌 Thanks for letting us use your space @raydaniels 🎥 @ted.ture @ww.kai #music #lilwayne #rap #explorepage

ELEVATING ICONS: Solomon Sounds @solomonsounds really one of them ones. Quiet dude, loud resume. A lot of people may not know the name right away, but they for sure know the impact✊🏽 Highlights: • Managed XXXTentacion • Discovered @6ix9ine •Signed @IceSpice , @theslumpgod ,@cochise , @mayorcapellagrey and more • Played a part in records and artists that generated BILLIONS of streams • Helped build real moments in the culture, not just songs • One of those behind-the-scenes people with a real ear, real relationships, and real results! This is what real exec work look like. No gimmicks. No extra talking. Just being involved in some of the biggest artists and viral moments of this era. A lot of this game moves because of people the public don’t even see, the STARS behind the stars🌟 Follow @elevatingicons on Instagram and YouTube #explore #Music #XXXTentacion #IceSpice

ELEVATING ICONS: KEVIN WEAVER Everybody sees the artists… but they don’t always see the people putting the plays together behind the scenes. Kevin Weaver is one of those guys✊🏽 He started at Atlantic back in the 90s and really built his name through A&R and soundtracks—finding ways to connect music to culture in a bigger way. Not just songs… moments. Now he’s the President of Atlantic Music Group, and his fingerprints are on some of the biggest records, soundtracks, and artist runs of the last few decades. He’s worked with and helped push records involving artists like Ed Sheeran, Cardi B, Bruno Mars, Lizzo, Kehlani, Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Puth, Gucci Mane, FloRida and more…either directly through A&R, soundtrack curation, or major label strategy. But what really separates him is how he turned soundtracks into real cultural drivers… not just background music. S/O @bigblockesc for making this happen ✊🏽 KEY ACCOLADES: • 30+ years at Atlantic Records — worked his way all the way up • President of Atlantic Music Group • Helped drive projects totaling 50M+ albums sold & 65B+ streams • Executive behind major soundtracks: → Barbie The Album → The Greatest Showman → Suicide Squad → Furious 7 • Multi-GRAMMY winning & nominated projects • Involved in Academy Award & Golden Globe winning music • Consistent Billboard Power List / Power 100 executive • Known for bridging music, film, and culture at a high level That’s the real play… Not just making hits. But knowing how to position the hit so it lives bigger than the record. This is what Elevating Icons is about— the architects behind the moments. #music #explore #business #fyp #mindset

@o_teagle is a respected A&R executive at Universal Music Publishing Group known for his strong ear, strategic creative matchmaking, and impact on today’s R&B and hip-hop landscape. Through his work in publishing, talent development, and high-level collaboration building, he has helped shape major records, support standout talent, and earn recognition as one of the key players behind the scenes in music. Highlights: • Named a 2024 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Player • A&R executive at Universal Music Publishing Group • Helped build collaborations involving Raphael Saadiq, RAYE, JT, Metro Boomin, A$AP Rocky, Ice Spice, and ATL Jacob • Signed Mariah The Scientist • Credited with helping connect Feid and ATL Jacob for “Luna” • Invited to speak on major music industry panels and conferences • Known for strong talent discovery, creative pairing, and culture-shifting A&R work He’s one of the most solid people in this business! Tap in and follow @elevatingicons for more music biz gems💎 #mindset #podcast #music #explore #business

@sean_da_firzt & @kayothewizard @fate_f250 aka @the.wizardz are real hitmakers with real receipts. The trio and @tobiaswincorn produced “POP DAT THANG” for @dababy . From NBA YoungBoy, and City Girls to Toosii, Rob49, Flo Milli, Lakeyah, Hunxho, Skilla Baby, Saweetie and more, their production resume is stamped across major records and major moments. @sean_da_firzt public credits show 481+ credits, plus multiple @billboard Hot 100 entries and 12 platinum certifications💿💿💿 @the.wizardz also did “OFF THE RIP” and “PRACTICE” for DaBaby, “Bestie” and “BBL” with DaBaby x NBA YoungBoy. DaBaby’s Kirk and Blame It On Baby, both of which hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, while the DaBaby x NBA YoungBoy collab project Better Than You debuted at No. 10 with 28,500 equivalent album units first week🚀 Bottom line: this isn’t just talent, this is Billboard-charting, platinum-level, major-placement production from producers who helped shape records heard around the world🌎‼️ 🎥 @mobbaveli @ted.ture #TheWizardz #DaBaby #NBAYoungBoy #rap #explore

Watch the music legend @zaytovenbeatz share what he did to get on, his relationship with God, and more on @elevatingicons . Thanks @bigblockesc for making this happen🤝 🎥 @ted.ture Some producers make beats. Some producers make history. @zaytoven is one of the architects of modern trap music and the sound of Atlanta. Check out some of his accomplishments below: 🏆 Grammy Award Winner for his work on @usher Raymond v. Raymond 🎹 Produced the trap classic “So Icy” — the record that helped launch @laflare1017 and shift the culture 🔥 Produced “Versace” by Migos, a record that exploded globally after the Drake remix 📈 Key producer behind @future Beast Mode era 🎶 Produced records for Gucci Mane, Future, Migos, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross and more Collectively, the music he’s been part of has generated billions of streams and millions of records sold worldwide. That’s not just production… That’s cultural architecture. A true STAR behind the stars. ⭐️ Subscribe to Elevating Icons on YouTube and follow on IG @elevatingicons ✊🏽 Stay tuned for the more information to help your music career and your life….from the best of the best‼️ #trap #rap #music #musicbusiness #mindset

VP of Columbia Records @naim.ali.mcnair shares life-changing Music Business advice🙌 Tune In x Take Notes x Take Action‼️ Thanks to my bro @bigblockesc for making this happen 🤝 Follow @elevatingicons for Music Biz gems from the best in the game! #music #business #musicbusiness #podcast #tv