In our recent chat, we spoke with Dupree about his childhood, working in the music industry as a manager, and company amongst a list of things below. Check out the full interview below.

Walk me through your childhood, what was it like growing up?

Growing up I was heavily into sports, playing baseball, basketball & football at a young age I was very competitive. My childhood was fun I had great memories, coming from a single-parent home my mom did a great job raising me and she never gave me excuses for anything. That drove me at a young age to never have excuses only solutions.

How did you initially gravitate to the music industry?

I gravitated to music at a young age, my mom always played music in the house when she cleaned but I never knew that the music business will be my calling. After HS I started to find myself as a young man. I went to Job core to learn a trade and that wasn’t for me, I worked fast food 9-5 jobs and that wasn’t for me either even factory jobs just didn’t cut it. I always was good at connecting ppl together though so I joined a party promotion team in Louisville, KY “CPK” College Party Kings and that was my introduction to the Entertainment Night Life. I quickly gravitated to it, it was easy for me and fast money. Once I started to feel that I can do my own events I started to throw house parties on the University Of Kentucky campus and started to get a big buzz off my epic parties. Around this time 2011-2012 I met Bryson Tiller through an artist, I worked with closely named Dray Baby.

From then to now, what is one of the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far?

I’ve learned so much since then, the main thing I learned so far is separating personal & business. understanding the business field I’m in. You have to be a shark with the sharks in the music business. Also, don’t put yourself in a box be a sponge and soak as much game as possible on the come up.

You’ve managed several budding acts from Bryson Tiller to OBN Dev, what’s your day-to-day life like?

My day to day life can be hectic at times with conference calls, making sure my artists stay on schedule and most important being organized. Most ppl as consumers don’t see the hard work that managers like me put in. We often get looked over more so because we behind the scenes. consumers only see the product which is the artists but then again the artist is an extension of us. From the time I wake up daily, I check emails, send out emails, come up with creative ideas for my artists for social media to connecting them with other producers & writers.

How are you adjusting and staying productive while everyone is on lockdown and things have shifted to digital?

I really didn’t have to adjust much due to me doing 90% of my work digitally. I have been learning new things and creative ideas that I’ll be implementing into my company.

Talk to me about Dupree Entertainment, for anyone just being introduced to the brand, what exactly does it offer creatives?

Dupree Entertainment is a management company created by me and my business partner Omer Cowherd. I always felt I had a special ear when it came to finding talent so I saw that there was a big market in the artist’s development due to Labels not doing artist’s development anymore. I got the name Dupree from my middle name and I felt it had a ring to the name so I went with the name and formed a company. For creatives on my roster, they are able to live free and be as creative as possible. Our goal here at Dupree Entertainment is to build a buzz for our clients and ultimately solidify ourselves as a consistent resource and go-to place for the artist’s development.

What is some advice you could give to younger creatives looking to follow your footsteps?

I would tell young creatives to always believe in what they dream to become. the first step to done is do so put a plan to action and go for it. understand that you will have a failure, but take the failure and learn and turn it into positive. don’t give up if things don’t start off as you planned. with anything in life there’s trial and error.

In terms of legacy, what are some of your short-term and long-term goals for these next few years?

Right now I’m currently in my 3rd year to my 5yr plan. Starting my company in 2017 I took a year to learn the business and how to upkeep a corporation/LLC. From there my next step was to signed talent to my company. Within 2yrs I plan to have a joint venture deal with a major label. Being able to sign acts and get funding & distribution with a major ill be partnering with.

The post Stephon Dupree Talks Music Management, Dupree Entertainment, & More appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

It’s an understatement to say Lyfe Harris is a talented artist. As DATA-X states “he is one of the pioneers of that 2014/2015 Future R&B Wave”. Lyfe dominated the Future R&B lane along with artists like Roy Woods, TYuS and Bryson Tiller at the time. Fast forward to 2020 and he brings his seasoned and ultra well-rounded mastery of the genre with him as he sets the tone for what his fans can expect from him this year. He is gearing up to release his EP at the end of April with another video dropping soon but until then his latest music should keep the viewers on their toes.

Lyfe Harris starts the years off right with torrid, ultra slap-worthy new music. Following up on his first release of 2020 “Don’t Panic” with a new song titled “Decisions”. The BatmanOnTheBeatz and Sledgren-produced track receives a video treatment to compliment the hard-hitting song. Shot by Stop Sign Production and directed by Woozie World. The video brings Lyfe Harris’ obvious decisions to life. The clip is set in the night time with plenty of lights to illuminate the motel in the back drop as Lyfe confidently performs the song. He’s very upfront about his sound in conversation with RESPECT:

“My sound is airy, R&B with dark undertones and textures. I like anything with a melody I can convey and be more creative that way.”

Lyfe Harris’ reverence in contemporary conversations of trap soul authenticates through “Decisions” which boasts a lux lifestyle with lines like “you look way too good to be dining in, i got you out in the latest Mercedes Benz” – the song in its obvious frame is for sophisticated women who enjoy a certain design attention to their daily persona. 2020 should be a lot of fun if it’s gonna sound like this.

Watch the video below.

Follow Lyfe on instagram to keep up with his latest releases.

The post Lyfe Harris Brings Booming Sultry Vibes With ‘Decisions’ Music Video appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Image credit: RCA/Sony

DJ Khaled/Rihanna collaboration aside, Bryson Tiller hasn’t really been on the radar since 2017’s True To Self, which itself didn’t exactly receive the same accolades as its ground-breaking predecessor, TRAPSOUL.

Currently, the Kentucky singer-songwriter is working on a third release titled Serenity, and he’s officially begun the momentum for that with the new single “Blame,” which is produced by Teddy Walton, Aaron Bow and J. Louis. Check it out below.

Suggested Articles:

Ryan Trey & Bryson Tiller Come Together For “Nowhere To Run”

H.E.R. Delivers ‘I Used To Know Her: Part 2’ EP; Drops “Could’ve Been” Visual with Bryson Tiller

The post Bryson Tiller Returns with “Blame” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Image credit: RCA

She’s back. Ultra-talented music wunderkind H.E.R. delivers a new EP titled I Used to Know Her: Part 2, which follows its predecessor — The Prelude — from last August.

Added to that, she’s also reached back to The Prelude to deliver a new visual for “Could’ve Been,” which sees her opposite the equally-talented Bryson Tiller. Enjoy that below.

Suggested Articles:

H.E.R. is Going on Tour This Winter

H.E.R. Pays Tribute to Aretha Franklin on “Let’s Get Away”

The post H.E.R. Delivers ‘I Used To Know Her: Part 2’ EP; Drops “Could’ve Been” Visual with Bryson Tiller appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Image credit: Soundcloud/Bryson Tiller

It looks like Bryson Tiller is slowly building momentum towards his forthcoming album, Serenity. Following a few drops a little while ago, the Louisville singer is back with a cover of Drake‘s Scorpion cut “Finesse.” Check it out below.

Check Out Bryson Tiller’s Latest Drop, “Birmingham”

The post Bryson Tiller Covers Drake’s “Finesse” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Suggested Articles:

“Keep In Touch” with Tory Lanez & Bryson Tiller

Check Out Bryson Tiller’s Latest Drop, “Birmingham”

The post ICYMI: Check Out a New Track, Cover & Remix from Bryson Tiller appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

With all the new music being released now-a-days, it’s almost impossible to be fond of just one artist/musician, but Vory is ready to have the limelight on him. Assuming that not many have heard of Vory, it’s about time you get acquainted.

Mainly known for his contribution on “Don’t” alongside his Kentucky peer Bryson Tiller, Vory has been behind the scenes for quite sometime. The recent release of his project Lucky Me has taken the majority of streaming services by storm, bringing a new level of energy to the masses. Being able to produce a final product such as this isn’t easy, and only comes by being precise and being able to soak in all the good and bad around you.

Lucky Me is a six-song EP that provides a a distinct style of R&B, a melodic feel that somehow adds to the mystery of Vory’s image. Having that Tiller co-sign allowed more doors to open, giving him the opportunity to flourish properly the way he sees fit.

With the chance to make a difference, not only for himself, but for future artists to come, Vory is the one carrying the baton to the finish line. With there being so many creatives throughout the world, not many get the chance to step up and show their worth. Lucky Me is more of a story than anything, putting into perspective one’s ability to change the world just by being themselvs.

Suggested Articles:

Quavo Drops Off Three New Tracks

Lil Wayne Jumps on PARTYNEXTDOOR & Quavo’s “More”

The post Taking Streaming Services by Surprise is Vory with ‘Lucky Me’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.