Reginald Curry - CEO / Shawn Eckles - PRESIDENT As CEO of YOWD Group, Reginald Curry has vision. He started his first record label in 1998 called Catawba Street Boys (CSB). It was later changed to Yowd Group in 2004. The purpose of the label is to put N.C. on the map with more than just music; but with film, books, clothes and soon real estate. There are four solo acts and one group on the label. Although he has his artist lined up and ready to blow the worlds mind, it did not come easy. He built his studio piece by piece and started laying tracks down in Gastonia, North Carolina. Then he got up with an old friend and thats when they started to reap the benefits of their hard work. Shawn Eckles, who is the president of the label, came on board with a vision of his own, to create a legacy. This man has so much on his plate, he is amazed that he even finds time to sleep. Yowd Group is just the beginning for him. While attending school at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA, he is constantly going back and forth to Charlotte so that he can continue to help and develop his artists. Shawn wears many hats, producer for Lo-BudgetTv and author of Niggology: The Making of a Ni**a. These men are fulfilling their dreams one step at a time. Yowd Group is one big umbrella that houses many different projects. Reggie and Shawn are strong believers of helping others to help themselves, if you are trying to be in the rap game, these are two guys you definitely want to get on with. © 2006 Yowd Group Inc HOOVER Born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hoover represents the QC to the fullest. His rap style is diverse and can’t be put in a box whether he is freestylin on a hot track, rapping his own lyrics or battling another mc. Hoover is always on point and consistently bringing his game to a another level. When asked what is his purpose in the rap game he simply replies, "to teach people his truth about life, survival, and to be heard. For Hoover, life ain’t been no crystal stair; he lived with his family in a tractor trailer when he was younger and he never got his diploma from high school. He was kicked out for possession of marijuana and he never went back because he knew that he was going to make it in this rap game and he felt a diploma wasn’t necessary to reach his goal. On top of dropping out of school, Hoover started running with gangs. At first he felt obligated and was involved with criminal activity, but now he is not an "active" member, but still continues to chill with his "folk." A lot of things in Hoovers life has changed, including his name. Growing up, people called him Romeo, because all the ladies loved him. He shortened it to Rome and used it as his rap name, but there was other cats in the game with similar names so he decided to be known by his last name, Hoover. Inspired by rappers like Tupac Shakur, Hoover wants to bring joy, pain, and hope to peoples lives. At 18, Hoover has completed two c.d.’s and has been heard from Charlotte to ATL. And now that he is affiliated with YOWD Group Inc., the only way to go is up. By: Ricci Pullum riccipullum@hotmail.com YOUNG VEDO When you hear the name Vedo, know that he’s not your average rapper. He is a talented 19 year old money making machine. Whether it’s hustling at his day job at Wal-Mart or taking classes at Central Piedmont Community College, he has a plan a, b, and c if rapping doesn’t justify his end. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina as Brandon Lee Russell III, Vedo raps mostly about southern life, southern depression, and the southern drought. You gotta love it! If it don’t pertain to him, he don’t rap about it. So you won’t hear about 24 inch chrome rims, icy chains, or candy painted hoopties; at least not yet. Vedo’s style comes from the real-life situations he has dealt with. No, he hasn’t been shot multiple times like the late Tupac Shakur and he hasn’t got a rap sheet as long as T.I., but he says "that’s not what makes you real." "A real ni**a don’t have charges and hasn’t been locked up, that means you were smooth and didn’t get caught doing dirt." With his rap skills, Vedo plans to put Charlotte on the map. This won’t be an easy task seeing that Charlotte seems to have a lack of support for some of their own. That just means that him and the rest of the Y.O.W.D. Group will have to bring it and bring it hard. For someone who has been rapping for less than 5 years, he already has one formula down on how to write his lyrics. When he gets pissed off, he uses a pen to express himself. Although he free styles, he prefers to put his mind on paper and next thing you know, he has a complete song. His music is something you can feel and relate to, but don’t take his word for it. Put his c.d. in and just bump his sh*t. When you’re an artist who is inspired by other artist like Kurt Cobain, a little Linkin Park, Pastor Troy, and Project Pat, you can’t help but to be nice. By: Ricci Pullum riccipullum@hotmail.com Kenny Hanson If you take a teenage rapper and a twenty something year old rapper, who would you think had more life "experience" to speak on? Just listen to Kenny Hanson’s music and you’ll see. Kenny Hans, for short, has been rapping for 10 plus years and he can speak on various topics. Everything to females, clubs, and just life period. Learning the rap game by a fellow friend he calls Mr. T, gave him a mentor and someone who could help perfect his skills as an artists. "Mr. T knew how to put his lines together and I would just listen to how he did it," says Kenny. Formally a DJ, Kenny was born and raised in Staten Island, NY and this is where his story begins. He has a melodic flow and what he talks about, people can relate to. Being a writer, a true writer, gives you a leg up on the competition, especially if you’re sick with the way you put your words together. And trust, Kenny Hans is "sick" when it comes to his skills with the pen. He likes to write his lyrics down because it allows his collective thoughts to come to one point. And speaking of collective, Kenny Hans is also part of a group with his friend Poke called "Dubo Barro." Now residing in Gastonia, North Carolina, a.k.a "the gas house," Kenny is still creating that "real-life music." People are overlooked in this music industry because they may be older, but for the people who doubt him because he is a "mature" rapper Kenny says, "music is music, so whoever it appeals to, let them be the judge." By: Ricci Pullum riccipullum@hotmail.com S.A.M Fortune Only 27 years old, S.A.M Fortune has his strategy to the rap game down. He’s like the Trojan Horse, there’s more to him than meets the eye. "To get your record played in this industry, you have to rap about shakin your a** and droppin it like it’s hot," says S.A.M Fortune. But he has more substance than that, he is also an MC. MC’s can be rappers, but rappers can’t be MC’s. One minute you can catch him spittin lyrics, then next minute he is on the turn tables. S.A.M Fortune is truly fresh-to-death. What does S.A.M Fortune stand for? Studied And Mastered Fortune, but not just monetary fortune. S.A.M Fortune’s musical tastes are just as eclectic as his style. Listening to different artists like Red Hot Chilli Peppers, James Brown, and KRS One. But his favorite MC is Busta Rhymes. Living in Gastonia, North Carolina, S.A.M Fortune has been rapping for 10 years and his background is his credibility. He was born to a drug addicted mother of five children and lived with different foster families and stayed in different group homes. Next thing you know he found himself in prison for armed robbery. Although going to prison was a set back, he found support behind those prison bars. "People would request my songs on the prison yard," says S.A.M He was so nice with his flow that he decided he would use rapping as a catapult to get to where he wants to be. Eventually, S.A.M wants to act and direct his own movies. Writing is something he knows, so why not make money at it. S.A.M Fortune is a young man doing his thing and doing it well. By: Ricci Pullum riccipullum@hotmail.com E.N.S Originally from the D.C. area, E.N.S will tell you that it ain’t where you from, it’s where you at. He now lives in Gastonia, North Carolina and has been rapping for over 12 years. His experience alone is enough to validate him. He knows what "real" hip-hop is and his style can’t be cloned. As part of the group "Dubo Barro," he represents conscious rap, which is lacking heavily in the rap game right now. When the air waves are filled with nothing but sex, diamonds, and cars, it’s no wonder why he is anti-radio. People like E.N.S are the messiahs’ of the rap game, somebodies gotta save us. Don’t get it wrong, E.N.S speaks on what goes on in the hood, but his opinions and views are different, so what better way to express that than through music. "It’s revolutionary how I come at it," says E.N.S This is one cat that has "quality" music and he has the track record to prove it. In 1991, he sold 1,500 hundred copies of his album "Pokeology" the frist week out. Poke is his underground name, he later changed it to E.N.S which stands for Ernie No Smiles. "You do it for the cause, or you do it all in vain," he says. With a name like E.N.S, you know he must have a cause. Being motivated by musicians like Prince, The Ohio Players, and Dead Prez, E.N.S wants to build communities and families up; let listeners know that there is more to life than icy diamonds. E.N.S makes soundtracks to life, so turn it up. By: Ricci Pullum riccipullum@hotmail.com