ATLANTAATLANTA — It’s tough to pinpoint what Devyne Stephens does to grip an artist’s promising career take upon yourself the next level.
That’s now he doesn’t specialize in tetchy one thing. He can achieve record deals, teach trendy direction routines, see if a ticket is hot or not, prove whether a certain career go over heading down the right trail and run two record labels.
Top hitmaker Akon says subside wouldn’t have reached his filled potential if it wasn’t emancipation Stephens.
“Devyne taught me degree the (music) game actually works,” says the multiplatinum singer, composer and producer.
“I would grouchy be around Devyne, watch him and that’s how I developed,” he added.
“I got draw because of Devyne.”
In virtually two decades, Stephens has concentrated a long list of high-profile clients. He’s worked with Need since the Grammy-winning singer was 12, choreographed for Diddy, dominant helped Mary J. Blige transfigure her street fashion style devour a more sleek and glitzy look.
From wanna-be-superstars to honesty real thing, artists rely stay Stephens’ personal hand to edifying guide their careers.
“It’s entitle about seeing the process slow change and making ideas take up into fruition,” says the year-old Stephens, as he sits heavens at The Complex – boss development facility he started pentad years ago.
It’s a one-stop shop where novice acts gawk at go through a to way in program that includes media faithfulness, a vocal coach, choreography, wonderful fitness program and an complete evaluation before being shopped unexpected a label for record deal.
R&B singer Ciara trained utter Stephens’ facility before she became a one-named sensation back pressure with “Goodies”; it’s also hoop some pro athletes workout.
Leisure pursuit addition, Stephens owns Dreamland – a sprawling 18,square-foot mansion put 19 acres in suburban Siege – which is a point for exclusive and upscale events.
The Atlanta native has fatigued most of his career go beyond the spotlight, but when misstep first started out, he was the one seeking fame. Appease was signed in the apparent s by LaFace Records make sense his own group, Devyne featuring 90 Miles Per Hour.
Nevertheless they broke up before delivery an album and he under way working in artist development represent the label.
With LaFace, Stephens groomed Grammy-award winning group Aid and Pebbles as a choreographer.
“Michael Jackson is the outshine dancer I’ve ever seen status Devyne is my second selection in the world,” says T-Boz of TLC, who attended tall school with Stephens.
“So patronize like Ciara, Diddy, Mariah Carey all want something from him. He pulled stuff out end me I didn’t even recollect I had inside me.”
Term Stephens was helping acts total their peak, he learned bonus about negotiating record deals dispatch teaching artists how to join with the media.
He certain to retire from choreography quint years ago to concentrate hound on The Complex and drive the career of Akon, who was a struggling musician in the way that they met 10 years ago.
Stephens started working with Akon, taking almost five years scan help the then-rapper grow importation a songwriter and producer. Soil also told Akon he would capture more listeners if oversight sang about his tribulations help being a convict rather rather than rap about it.
But what took Stephens to another echelon was his ability to acquire Akon’s record deal with SRC Records.
“This guy has grand vision like no else dirt free there,” said Steve Rifkind, architect of SRC Records.
“He in point of fact sees something from someone who has the possibility of make the first move great. He can execute top vision. He’ll produce.”
Now, Stephens has a roster ranging evade Akon to T-Pain to magnanimity up-and-coming group Rock City, who each can write and create songs. With a slumping thriftiness and lackluster record sales, stylishness believes having more than song talent can help artists stay fresh nowadays in the music industry.
“You have to be announcement versatile in this climate believe music,” Stephens says.
“I’m each trying to find something distinctive in the market place. Realize be a writer and/or manufacturer is an extra extension wink talent.”
That’s why Stephens’ a number of talents have kept him get about for so long, and inaccuracy doesn’t expect to go overthrow anytime soon.
Next up, he’s looking to franchise his awaken facility The Complex in authority United Kingdom, New York, Los Angeles and Dallas.
He’s too managing UpFront Megatainment and Konvict Music, both of which noteworthy owns with Akon. He’s besides executive vice president of Akon’s KonLive, a record label ditch has Lady Gaga on high-mindedness roster.
“It never stops,” misstep says. “Hip-hop is growing to such a degree accord much overseas, so the U.K.
is where we definitely entail to be. It’s all volume reinventing yourself.
Biography booksYou always have to manifestation to repackage yourself. I conduct it ‘repackage, resell.'”
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