Gimel “Young Guru” Keaton
News provided by
Long Island University
Award-Winning and Chart-Topping Engineer Will Serve as Director of Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production Program
NEW YORK, June 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Long Island University today announced Grammy Award-winning audio engineer and producer Gimel "Young Guru" Keaton has joined the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment as Director of the Music Technology, Entrepreneurship & Production program.
The Roc Nation School and Young Guru also announced a full-tuition scholarship to be awarded to one highly qualified student. Apply for the scholarship today by visiting apply.liu.edu/rn.
Keaton is an accomplished music producer, record executive, audio engineer, and DJ who works with the music industry's top artists, ranging from JAY-Z to Rihanna to Mariah Carey. He has garnered multiple Grammy nominations, and in 2019 Keaton won a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album for mixing the album Everything Is Love by The Carters.
Keaton co-founded and co-leads the label Jamla, which houses Grammy-nominated and critically acclaimed lyricist Rapsody, and newcomers Reuben Vincent and Ian Kelly.
"Education is a valuable platform to show talented students how to navigate the music industry, preserve music history, and share their culture with the world," Keaton said. "Joining the Roc Nation School is an incredible opportunity to offer my experience as a guide for up-and-coming artists and producers."
Keaton previously served on the faculty of the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music as an artist-in-residence and has lectured at New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Music and Emory University.
"The Roc Nation School is the premier destination for the next generation of professionals in the music industry who have the opportunity to learn directly from top executives and artists," said Long Island University President Kimberly Cline. "We are thrilled to welcome Young Guru to the Roc Nation School's leadership team. His decades of experience and expertise in the music business will be an incredible asset to the school."
The Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment offers undergraduate degrees in applied music; music technology, entrepreneurship and production; sports communication and marketing; and vocal performance. It also offers a BS, MS, and Ph.D. in sports management.
Keaton joins a growing roster of exceptional artists and industry elites such as super producer 9th Wonder, visiting professor, and artist in residence at the Roc Nation School, who teaches courses in hip-hop history and the making of an album.
The Roc Nation School Speaker Series features nationally and internationally recognized speakers who are invited based on their expertise and accomplishments providing Roc Nation School students with incredible opportunities to interact with these global leaders. Recent speakers include:
Andrew Gould: VP, Music Publishing, Roc Nation
Adam Silver: NBA Commissioner
Don Garber: MLS Commissioner
Desiree Perez: CEO, Roc Nation
Michael Rubin: Executive Chairman, Fanatics; 76ers Partner
Keith Sheldon: President, Hard Rock
Bernadette McGlade: Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner
Jon Platt: CEO, Sony Music Publishing
Adam Petrick: Global Director of Brand and Marketing, Puma
Roc Nation Hope Scholarships provide 25% of enrolled students with full tuition and individualized support and mentorship. The Roc Nation Hope Scholars are selected from a pool of academically competitive, first-time freshmen with the highest need.
International sportswear brand PUMA announced the establishment of the PUMA Hope Scholarship Fund for students in the Roc Nation school. Previous scholarship opportunities have also been sponsored by NBA Charlotte Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball and artist Megan Thee Stallion.
About Roc Nation
Roc Nation, founded in 2008 by JAY-Z, has grown into the world's preeminent entertainment company. Roc Nation works in every aspect of modern entertainment, with recording artists, producers, songwriters, and more. Roc Nation's client list includes some of the world's most recognizable names: from Rihanna and J. Cole to Buju Banton and Snoh Aalegra. Roc Nation is a full-service organization, supporting a diverse roster of talent via artist management, music publishing, touring, production, strategic brand development, and beyond. Roc Nation Sports was founded in 2013, bringing the organization's full-service touch to athletes across the NFL, NBA, MLB, and global soccer including Todd Gurley, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Robinson Cano, Kevin De Bruyne, and more.
About Long Island University
Long Island University, founded in 1926, is a leading research and teaching university that continues to redefine higher education by providing high-quality academic instruction by world-class faculty. Recognized by Forbes for its emphasis on experiential learning and by the Brookings Institution for its "value-added" to student outcomes, LIU has a network of over 285,000 alumni, including industry leaders and entrepreneurs around the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information.
SOURCE Long Island University
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From Nylon Trax: Achickwitbeatz returns with “Joke’s On You” — a deep and compelling release that blends raw honesty with hypnotic grooves. Inspired by the idea of denial and pride masking true desire, the track delivers both a message and a mood: you can’t hide from the truth when the rhythm exposes it.
The release features the pulsing Original Mix, a bold statement of Achickwitbeatz’s sonic identity, and a masterfully layered Jaymz Nylon Afro Tech ReShape, which lifts the track into a transcendent dancefloor experience. Together, these cuts remind us that music, like honesty, has the power to cut through façades and reveal what’s real.
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Produced, written, and performed by Achickwitbeatz, available on all major platforms. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
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Adding to the magic, Jaymz Nylon lends his dynamic touch with a mesmerizing Afrotech ReShape remix, enhancing the brilliance of the original.
Achickwitbeatz's 'Right Now' is a masterful release, endlessly playable and imbued with heartfelt emotion, destined to leave a lasting impression.”
Written, Produced and Vocals by Achickwitbeatz
Additional Remix Production by Jaymz Nylon
Mastered by James Thomas @ The Cottage
Executive producer: Jaymz Nylon
Published by Man Made Nylon Music / BMG Chrysalis
(p) & (c) 2024 Nylon Recordings/Nylon Trax
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A collection of gritty, yet soulful instrumentals produced by Achickwitbeatz, available on all major platforms. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
A collection of gritty, yet soulful instrumentals produced by Achickwitbeatz, available on all major platforms. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
Catch Music Industry News With Achickwitbeatz on Music Marvels Radio Show Saturdays at 7pm ET on Grander Radio & Achickwitbeatz.com and on A Show With ABrothaNamedSherm Tuesdays at 2pm ET & 8pm ET on Dream Access TV.
Hip Hop instrumental produced by Achickwitbeatz. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
Hip Hop instrumental produced by Achickwitbeatz. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
Hip Hop instrumental produced by Achickwitbeatz. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
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Hip Hop instrumental produced by Achickwitbeatz. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
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Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
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#IndieIsWhereItsAt 😉 | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
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Free download of a compilation of music from when I first started doing open mics & shows as well as collaborations with a few of my favorite emcees from Michigan. All tracks produced by me of course. Interested in being on Vol 2? Get at me =o)
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Tips and information to help you achieve your artistic goals. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for you instrumental needs, resources for artists & dope stuff for music lovers.
Free Game Friday offers brief synopses of topics that independent artists need to know for success in the music industry. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
Artists who have taken the reins of their music careers can obtain valuable insight to achieve the success they desire. Knowing how often your music is played, how many people are listening and where your fans are located can help you determine where to focus your efforts. If you haven’t already, sign up for both to secure access to your artist account and learn more about how your music is performing across platforms. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
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Many of the popular music blog sites that Hip Hop, R&B, House Heads & other genre lovers gravitate to are owned by/affiliated with just a handful of companies. While monetization of your hard work is generally a goal of many in the music industry, the question is how much of the content is influenced/sacrificed for the sake of those who fund the effort?
It happens sometimes. People you thought were down for the trials and tribulations on your path to success disappear, but when things are looking better they don't make the return you thought they would. It's NOT your problem and here's why.
This topic causes a bit of confusion among some artists on occasion, so I created an infographic to make it easier to see the differences at a glance. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
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Now is the time that many businesses and organizations begin focusing on their strategic plan for the upcoming year. If you're an artist, producer, engineer, etc. without a major machine behind you, you should consider yourself as a business. While it’s important to plan and adjust throughout the year, December tends to be popular as it’s a great time to reflect on how things went and what you wish to accomplish heading into the next year.
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This was my fifth post for my dearly departed friend & colleague Praverb.
Collaboration is an awesome tool when executed effectively. The benefits to the parties involved can make a huge impact on their individual careers but occasionally, they can go wrong. Sometimes things just happen that can throw off planning, other times people just happen.
When “people” happen, it is not due to anomalies but rather reoccurring habitual actions that lead to expectations not being met. Some of these characteristics can leave a bad taste in the mouths of collaborating artists, producers and promoters, potentially causing social backlash.
If you recognize these traits in anyone you have worked with, are working with or desire to work with you can make adjustments accordingly to spare yourself some headache. If you recognize any of these traits in yourself, reflect on it and take the opportunity to become a person people love to collaborate with.
Here are some simple tips to make the process of budgeting for your project a less daunting task and easily attainable. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.
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This was my third post for my dearly departed friend & colleague Praverb. He was a HUGE assistance to this post and I will forever be grateful for his guidance, help and the ability to broadcast my ideas and thoughts on his platform.
Social media has become a megaphone for the masses. As music artists and producers we recognize the value that it holds for getting our talent to the ears of people who will enjoy it.
Chances are, you’re connected with others in the industry and have witnessed the various tactics employed to get people to listen.
Some strategies work well for some people, while others...not so much.
Every artist is unique and has a unique fan base, therefore a variety of strategies tailored to your personality and those you are trying to reach is important.
No matter what your style is, make it work for you. Here, I will point out 7 types of social media music promoters.
I worked on a list that I thought would be helpful for independent artists. There's a lot of focus on only a few outlets but there are many to choose from. This list was originally published on Praverb.net, many thanks to Praverb for the assistance and support.
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A homage to the golden era of 1990s instrumental beat vinyl. Crafted as the perfect partner for freestyling MCs, dancers, and DJ culture. | Visit Achickwitbeatz.com for your instrumental needs & dope stuff for music lovers.