Daily Inspiration: Meet David “MOZE” Baptiste

Today we’d like to introduce you to David “MOZE” Baptiste.

Hi David “MOZE”, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
David Baptiste or professionally known as “MOZE”, has over 20 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Spanning a broad range of skills, responsibilities, and positions, including tour/road management, marketing consultant, artist booking agent, and merchandising coordinator under my company Mad Man Entertainment in the early 1990s and well into the 2000’s as Baptiste Clan LLC.  I have promoted legends such as hip-hop icon Kool G. Rap, Erykah Badu, 98 Degrees, Jay Z, Naughty By Nature, Mary J. Blige, and many more. I have taken more than one act from the underground into the mainstream, regardless of the genre. In 2001, I would become Director of Promotions, there he helped shape the formula for success that help guide the New York-based publication Smooth Magazine. Mad Man Entertainment’s motto/catchphrase is “Making a Difference Moving a Nation.” The poignancy of the phrase speaks volumes for anyone affiliated.

Confidentially, over the years as Mad Man Entertainment (Now Baptiste Clan LLC), I have been involved in brokering some major deals and arrangements happening behind the scenes of the entertainment industry. Whether they have worked out or not, I have always had that mentality of being committed to dropping the excuses and picking up a purpose to get deals done.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way
Absolutely Not!

We all have ups and downs, and I don’t entertain either one too long. Sure, it’s healthy to enjoy your wins when they come; of course, take a moment to celebrate yourself. At the same, I don’t get too comfortable because the moment I do someone drops the ball, and I will have to start all over again. I think my biggest struggle has always been “TIME” and the lack of respect people have for it and each other. I would say my other struggle is people who create problems where there are none.

For example: I remember years ago I was not a good place at the time. Just nothing was going right at the time and things were getting really stressful. I was in between projects at the time then all of a sudden, I get a phone call from a young Michael B. Jordan. This is after the Wire had ended, he explained that he’s hooked up with Forest Whitaker and is about do some big things and he would like me to manage him. As bad as I wanted to take him on as a client, I had to explain to him I did not want anything going on with me at the time to negatively affect anything he had going on, so I had to respectfully decline. Which I am glad I did because he has been THRIVING. I am so excited for him and glad I respected his time!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’ve never really been one for titles but I would say, Project Manager. I never like the idea of being stuck doing one thing for too long. It was cool when I was younger, first starting out in the music business to be labeled a promoter, manager, road manager, security even. I never looked at it as one being better than the other; I would basically fill whatever the void was at the time. For a long time, it was (whoever’s representative) would call me needing a promotion campaign started; we need

“X “ amount of markets covered from this date to this date, and here’s the budget. Conversations don’t go like this in the music business anymore these days. Which is why I refuse to entertain taking on a music act directly anymore. I have no problem making an introduction on your behalf, but I have to see that you are doing your part and doing the work needed to level up.

 Throughout the years, I’ve been able to maintain my relationships and be able to sit in on certain meetings and have discussions with key individuals in so many different industries. Which is how I am able to have so many things going on at the same time. I own a commercial cleaning company with national accounts; I partner up with other companies to secure government contracts for different services and general merchandise, produce television series and film projects, among other things. What it comes down to really is keeping my eyes and ears open for new opportunities and putting teams & systems in place. I started out by building promotion teams, to building promotion departments, to management, to pairing companies to do business together with me and/or for me as their client.

My newest endeavor started in 2022 with my producing partners Hitesh Patel, Gichi Gamba and Leisa Fusco-Foster. It’s called “Roll It Forward Inc” a public nonprofit. Roll it Forward started out as just a concept I had for a reality television series I came up with while attending my wife’s roller derby games and learning so much more as we became more involved in the culture. With Roll It Forward Our mission is two-fold, Create national awareness for Roller Derby … And Award grants to Ambassadors making a positive impact in their communities. Studies have shown $45 Billion dollars spent annually in sports sponsorships, and less than 1% goes to Women’s Sports. Only 5% of television coverage is on Women’s sports. Roller Derby organizations are nonprofit and usually heavily involved in serving their communities voluntarily and often rely on match play and events to drive critical revenue, which were hit hard due to COVID. We are here to change that!

Planning is now underway for our Tour in 2024, which will host action-packed roller derby matches in an entertainment-driven experience for all to enjoy. Events are co-hosted with regional leagues, hosted by seasoned celebrity comics as colorful commentators, musical performances, and on-site activities to enhance the fan experience. We will simultaneously be gathering footage from each event to produce a new documentary series highlighting the physical and emotional attributes gained in roller derby, camaraderie, and community. For more information, please visit us at www.rollitforward.org.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Mom.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rollitforward.org
• Instagram: @mozenyc
• Facebook: datdudemoze
• Linkedin: Davidmozebaptiste
• Other: @rollitforwardorg

Image Credits
@shawnaFrye @gotserif