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Posts: Tony Balasandiran
Hispanic Heritage Month: The Latin Influence on Hip-Hop
by Tony Balasandiran| October 10, 2019
When DJ Kool Herc and his sister Cindy threw a back to school jam on August 11, 1973 at a rec room in the South Bronx, it was the birth of a nation. As the Bronx was burning, hip-hop rose from the ashes – a culture born from the socioeconomic oppression and racist policies targeting Black, Latin, and Caribbean American […]
Can’t Knock the Hustle: The Blueprint of a Billionaire Brand
by Tony Balasandiran| June 26, 2019
This month, Forbes reported that JAY-Z’s fortune “conservatively totals $1 billion.” You already know the king in America’s royal couple is super rich, but how he built his dynasty is remarkable. Twenty-three years ago this week, he dropped his debut album with business partners Damon Dash and Kareem Biggs through their own imprint, because major […]
Watch #DemThrones
by Tony Balasandiran| May 17, 2019
At this time in human history, there are two types of people in this world. Those who religiously watch Game of Thrones. And, those who have never seen it. While we are as much at odds as the humans and White Walkers, we somehow coexist in a world in which the former group is talking […]
The Marathon Continues & Tha Hussle Don’t Stop
by Tony Balasandiran| April 19, 2019
Media worldwide has been consistently covering the death of a cultural icon, Nipsey Hussle. Knowing Nipsey’s work and mission very well, I’ve been surprised to learn that many of my colleagues don’t fully grasp his impact, and what it means for all of us who connect people every day. The story of Nipsey Hussle is […]
“You Never Thought That Hip-Hop Would Take It This Far”: How The Culture Took Over Culture.
by Tony Balasandiran| February 22, 2019
“We are culture. Nothing moves without us.” – JAY-Z In 2009, fashion photographer Tommy Ton posted a pic of Kanye West and his crew on his blog during Paris Fashion Week. You may not remember that pic. But, you may remember the infamous South Park episode it led to. No one pictured was technically supposed to be there, […]
Beyond the buzzword: Do you even multicultural, bro?
by Tony Balasandiran| December 19, 2018
If I had a dollar for every time I heard someone say they have a client interested in multicultural outreach, my bank account would look like Jeff Bezos’. That interest is the first step in the right direction. And by first step, I mean baby step. While it’s a good thing brands are interested in […]
