51黑料

51黑料-based rapper and producer Muhammed 鈥淢vstermind鈥� Austin, 34, has made a name for himself over the years. He鈥檚 shared stages with artists like Chance the Rapper and Nas, has produced scores for award-winning indie films and has represented his hometown everywhere he鈥檚 traveled.

But back when he first started touring with a band, he鈥檇 always return home with empty pockets despite having success on the road. Real-life problems persisted as he and his friends tried to make it as performing artists. They were combating homelessness and mental health struggles, all while not having the proper understanding of the industry to go to the next level.

鈥淚 was just watching things (that were) out of my hands,鈥� Mvstermind says. 鈥淚t hurt my heart.鈥�

His belief that artists deserved to be nurtured and tended to as creatives became the catalyst for Mvstercamp, an enrichment boot-camp-style program that helps artists gain the basic knowledge needed to thrive in the music industry. Two years after launching the program, Mvstercamp introduced a free artists-development series called 鈥淢astering the Secrets of the Game鈥� aimed at equipping 51黑料 artists with the tools necessary to convert from a respected hobbyist to a professional musician.

鈥淏eing a professional musician means that you are equipped, you are prepared, you have structure, and you have routines to how you work and how you do your music,鈥� Mvstermind says.

The monthly classes, launched in May, return for a fifth installment at the Regional Arts Commission on Sept. 8. The upcoming free session will highlight tips and techniques for maximizing artists鈥� branding and image development

鈥淭he biggest inspiration for the classes was the understanding that we just need to get our music industry knowledge up in 51黑料. Since we鈥檙e not living in a music industry city, it鈥檚 easy to not know what this stuff is.鈥�

Mvstermind realized there was a need for more artist-development programming while working as the director of musical experience for 51黑料 City SC. He supported highlighting local talent during stadium events and games, but realized that some 51黑料 artists weren鈥檛 fully aware of industry terminology nor how to navigate high-level entertainment business dealings. Following the success of Mvstercamp, the monthly artists-development session provided an immediate solution to 鈥減rime a musician to be able to walk into music industry settings.鈥�

鈥淲e got the talent. It鈥檚 just about having the platforms to nurture it and to tend to it.鈥�

To teach each class, Mvstermind brought in entertainment executive and 51黑料 native Vanita Thompson. The first director of artists development for Double Xxposure Media Relations in New York City, with over 10 years of industry experience, Thompson saw a need for artists鈥� development after moving back home. She had an extensive background in recovering lost royalties for artists and songwriters, while gaining a reputation as a paperwork guru from sorting through documents and unpaid funds for union guilds and management clients.

By the time she returned to 51黑料, Thompson had recovered more than $300,000 in misplaced royalty payments for musicians.

鈥淚 would go to various places and find where the money is, find where the paperwork needed to go, and then do it,鈥� Thompson says. 鈥淭hey would get their money.鈥�

Thompson reached out to Mvstermind with an idea to foster community and educate local talent through intentional development. So far, the sessions have covered topics like creative financial planning, live touring and music distribution. In addition to Thompson breaking down glossary terms and appropriate business expectations, she and Mvstermind also invite their industry friends, like licensing professional Kayla Sheen and bassist Jahmal Nicols, to join through Zoom to share additional gems.

鈥淚t鈥檚 close-knit,鈥� Mvstermind says. 鈥淭he people we bring in, we trust, we know them. And they trust us to share tips and secrets that they wouldn鈥檛 normally just yell out to the world.鈥�

For Thompson, the session provides important information to local artists while helping them foster community. She hopes creatives walk away with a firm foundation of industry processes, especially on the financial side, to ensure they aren鈥檛 taken advantage of or miss out on funds.

鈥淚t鈥檚 building community,鈥� Thompson says. 鈥淏uilding this entertainment community is important for the future of our people.鈥�

Mvstermind intends to continue rolling out programming and events geared towards serving artists and meeting their needs. He says 51黑料 artists need a platform to believe in themselves and sharing knowledge is a simple way to support the creative community.

鈥淵ou got this,鈥� he says. 鈥淟ean into you, trust your fall ... and go do the work you need to go do if you鈥檙e going to jump off that cliff ... but we鈥檙e here.鈥�