Today we’d like to introduce you to Jelani Kimble.
Hi Jelani, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It was Cypress Hill Smokeout in 1999. My mind was blown! I remember telling myself, “This is something I just have to be a part of!” And two years later, the opportunity arose with Audiotistic Music Festival.
On the bottom of the flyer, there was some information about an upcoming meeting for those interested in joining the street team. Passing out flyers was something that I was always interested in, So it was a no-brainer to seize the day and jump on with being a part of this amazing show. Audiotistic at the time was a huge festival that blended some of the biggest names in electronic and Hiphop.
Meelo Soli was the head producer of the event via his company Channel 36 in collaboration with Guerilla Union and Goldenvoice. I worked under Jeff Williams of Streetworks Promo and Turtle of GU (Guerilla Union).
That eventually led to me promoting the other GU festivals over a number of years, such as the original Rock The Bells Festival, Paid Dues Festival, Cypress Hill Smokeout, and a few others that weren’t as long-lasting. I was able to work as a stagehand for the first Paid Dues, thanks to my best friend Veronica Amador, which was a great experience being able to take part of the process from start to finish.
Once the second Paid Dues came along, I was offered my first paying gig as a driver for artist transportation. My first pickup was El-P, most known for Run The Jewels. From then on, I worked event production gigs as well as street teaming.
Years down the line, GU came to an end, and I realized I could offer my promo expertise elsewhere which led me to form my street team based on volunteers from all of the years that stood out amongst the rest.
I started my company Higher Ground Promo, and shortly after launching my brand Da ILL Spot which started off as Daillspot.com, a blog which caters to highlighting lesser-known artists that I was a fan of.
As I got familiar with many of the talented indie artists in the LA area, it piqued my interest to throw shows as well. I manifested those thoughts and began my series of events labeled Da ILL Spot with a local collective known as The Noise Academy.
Higher Ground Promo ended a few years ago but transitioned into my current company, We Live This Ent. We have worked with countless numbers of clients on corporate and indie platforms and generated millions of dollars in ticket and revenue sales for events and businesses of other sorts.
Da ILL Spot is now going on year 15 as a whole and year 14 as a show. Some of my proudest bookings are Freddie Gibbs, Planet Asia, Reverie, Ras Kass, and many more! I have also gotten heavily into making clothing as well as my own cheesecake business, Cheesecakes By J.
I am beyond grateful for anyone that has ever shown the slightest bit of support for what I have brought to the table, and I have never taken this for granted or sold anyone short. I appreciate this opportunity to share my story. We have only just begun. All of the love!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One thing that has always been a challenge and is also just human nature is finding reliable and accountable people. I always say everyone says they want to work until it’s time to work!
Being that we primarily work in a party atmosphere, it is easy to get distracted from handling the task at hand, whether it be the perks of getting free into an event, substances, or the opposite sex. I do not believe in anything ever being a smooth road.
Such is life that there must be a balance.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a go-getter to the fullest. I have never lacked the drive to make things happen. And to my detriment, sometimes I expect the same from others. I try to give everyone a chance until they show me a reason not to. Needless to say, I have been through countless amounts of people over my two-plus decades in this business.
I am most proud of those people that have stuck by my side for a good duration of my journey. You know who you are!
What does success mean to you?
Success is something different for everyone. To some, it’s attaining a certain goal, and they feel they’ve made it. To others, it’s reaching a certain point financially. To me, success is living comfortably and being happy with the overall path I’ve chosen.
But I’ll never feel like I’m at the point where there is nothing left to achieve. Once you think you know it all and you’ve done it all, that’s where you screwed up.
Contact Info:
- Website: Welivethisent.com | Daillspot.com
- Instagram: @smoothj.14 | @daillspot | @welivethisent | @cheesecakes_by_j
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jay.akil.56808?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrkimble
- Twitter: @daillspot | @welivethisent
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@DaILLSpotTV
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=NXw6yq6MLZxgYp9H1UmjZA&utm_source=ishare
- SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/N69g2v1hsV7v7UZu5
- Other: https://pin.it/HekH0MV
Image Credits
Photo 2 – Macksimo
Photo 3 – Big Flutta
Photo 4 – JVue Imagery
Photo 8 – OMGJenniO
