Not that he needs to hear it from us, but we’ve got so much respect for Raheem DeVaughn that we wanted to write something that acknowledges his tremendous contributions to entertainment in Washington DC and beyond. We were reminded of his impact a few nights ago when we caught a replay of an interview he did with Big Tigger on Direct Access. What we saw was a professional at the top of his game.
In this business creating an image, cultivating it, and using it to connect is just as important as having enormous talent. Honestly – and YouTube and all the television talent shows are proof of this - there are thousands of folks who have star quality talent in America, plenty of them in the DMV. But along with talent they need another ingredient that’s harder to define. Let’s call it industry acumen. The music industry is a business and folks who do well in it don’t stray too far from remembering that it’s a profession. The moment on the stage doesn’t end when the lights go down. The whole world is a stage. Performing is the easy part.
A three-time Grammy nominated artist, Raheem DeVaughn has called himself his own “best marketing tool.” And he is. He can smoothly update an audience on his radio show , his new mixtape, “Freedom Fighter”, and his upcoming appearances as if they were lines from a ballad. But he markets more than himself. Follow his Twitter account to see how he’s created a platform for the artists of 368 Music Group and for social causes. That’s the critical ingredient – knowing what to say and when to say it, knowing what enhances your career and when to act on it, creating and keeping a connection with your audience. It’s a winning formula. There may be three or four personalities in the DMV who have it, and Raheem right now is the leader of the pack.
Here’s one of our favorite videos in the OnStage Video Showcase; “Mo Betta” Raheem, for all you do, we appreciate you!