Below, on Our World with Black Enterprise, Warwick talks about building her own legacy after years in the entertainment industry . Click here to register for this year’s Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm at The Ritz-Carlton, Orlando, FL. Register now and use code DGED12 to receive a $200 discount off the price of registration! (Cannot be combined with other offers).

Job: Musical Director and Band Leader, The Rosie Show

Responsibilities: Composition of music and conducting the band

Previous Position: Musical Director, Saturday Night Live

Talents: Songwriter, musician, producer, singer

A classically trained musician, Katreese Barnes began playing the piano at age 10. By age 14, after playing in a band her father managed, she believed she could make music her profession. Originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado, she has since collaborated with the best artists in pop, rock, and soul and has won two Emmys for Saturday Night Live musical numbers. She is currently the only African American female to lead a television band.

Collaborations: Barnes has toured with Sting, Mariah Carey, and Carly Simon, and has written for Roberta Flack and Chaka Khan, among many others.

Training: Barnes received private lessons for seven years from age 10. She has also studied voice, saxophone, and guitar. She recently began studying the fiddle. “The best education has been to work with great talent and great musicians along the way. Being in people’s bands you get to hone in closer to the things you need to be a working musician. Or you learn the kinds of things that are needed to support talent. One thing I would have never learned on my own is how to listen. You have to play with great people to learn to listen because you get the best feedback.” Barnes compares listening to great artists to sitting in on a great lecture: “You’re listening to someone who is very wise.”

Influences: “Roberta Flack is a great singer and a great musician. One of the things she’s mastered is her sense of phrasing—how she phrases a song. If you’re a piano player, you shouldn’t be just playing all the way through her phrasing, but listening to her and learning how to play to her phrasing. Sometimes when people have spent a long time practicing they just want to show off their chops, but it’s a conversation.”

Job Expectations: Barnes says general responsibilities for a musical director can range from teaching music to booking talent to, in her case, composing the music.

Skill Set: Part of her responsibility is leading the band in the instrumentation of guest artists. “I’m a quick study. What I learned at SNL is that I can compose a lot of music in a short amount of time and execute pretty well. Out of 40 sketches there can be eight pieces of music, which can range from a tongue-in-cheek musical number to a hip-hop track to a quick little jingle. And all of that has to be put together and rehearsed between Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon.”

Advice for Aspiring Musicians: “Learning to read music is the bottom line for me. No matter how complex the music is, if someone brings me the score I can understand it. When you can read music, you can troubleshoot problems, you can get gigs, you can take on things last minute. If someone gets sick in a Broadway pit, if you can read you’ve got the job. You increase your chances of working and surviving in a very tough industry. Also understand music technology. People don’t spend what they used to spend [on music production in studios] because they know that things can be produced digitally for less money. You need a command of that today.”

Omisore and Gentles met at Manhattan College, where they both ran track.They became fast friends when they realized they both had a passion for IT and Web design. Partnering to form the MusicLife Entertainment Group (MLE Group) they set out on a mission to “Live.Create.Entertain.”

Click here to read the full article at BlackEnterprise.com/BENext

(Un)Common: The rapper, the poet, the actor, the author. (Image: Courtesy of Subject)

Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr. is anything but ordinary. Even with adopting the moniker Common, the Windy City’s award-winning rapper spread his hip hop gospel about everything from socio, eco and politico issues to how he used to love h.e.r with an ease that was anything but…common. As his music fans eagerly anticipate his next album, The Dreamer, The Believer (scheduled for release in December) Common, the actor, is quickly becoming a marquee fave starring opposite screen gems such as Taraji P. Henson, Queen Latifah and Angelina Jolie. And in his latest endeavor as an author, he’s sharing his life’s journey in his New York Times best-selling tome, One Day It Will All Make Sense (Simon & Schuster), hailed as a “magnificent memoir” by Dr. Maya Angelou.

Blackenterprise.com talked to the busy lyricist about why he thinks his book resonates with readers, love lessons learned from relationships with Erykah Badu and Serena Williams, and his plans to make one lil’ golden man an integral part of his future.

Blackenterprise.com: Congrats on becoming a New York Times best-selling author. Why do you think your story has been so well-received?

Common: The book is honest and people can relate to a lot of my experiences and what I have gone through in life. You don’t have to be from the south side of Chicago to relate. Everyone goes through love, a heart break, being ridiculed, feeling insecure or trying to reach that moment when you really believe in yourself.

After completing your book, was there anything you changed or thought about omitting?

On the real, after I wrote it I didn’t read it too much. I said what I said and let it go. Sometimes you ask yourself if you should revise your thoughts. I didn’t want to have that feeling of, Awww man, maybe I shouldn’t have said that because people might think this or that of me. If you think wrong of me then that’s something I’d have to accept. What I wrote were my first thoughts and that’s the way I wanted it to remain: authentic.

At one moment in your life, you were often perceived by others as a Mama’s Boy. Do you agree?

I wasn’t that much of a Mama’s Boy. In many ways, as young man, what I knew about most were women because my mom is a very important piece of my life. Although I was doing other things, I still was influenced by my mother because that’s what happens when you grow up and don’t have your father there. Even with my stepfather, I didn’t connect with him enough to be able to take in what he was saying. I definitely felt I had to establish who I was.

Which chapter of your book resonates most with you?

My open letter to [my ex-girlfriend, singer] Erykah [Badu] is a chapter in my life that resonates with me. It was a time of reflection. I learned a lot about Rashid Lynn when I was with Erykah. During our relationship, I often chose to think, I’ll chill and let other people get their way, because that’s just who I was in all of my relationships with friends and family. I’d choose to take a [backseat], and getting to see that in myself while she and I were together was enlightening. I eventually realized I don’t need to be that person. I learned to speak my mind and be the man I’m supposed to be. It was a release.

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Just Right: Common and Serena Williams at the 'Just Wright' wrap party in 2009 (Image: Getty)

What lessons did you learn while dating tennis great Serena Williams?

As far as me being in love, I’ve learned to just be myself—more of a man—in any relationship, whether I was dating Serena or whomever. Finally, I feel I’m able to be me and really know what I want and make steps toward those things that are special to me. Like I want children, I want to have a home, I should be starting a family. One difference between Erykah and Serena was that the [presence of] paparazzi is much stronger now than it was in 2000 and 2001. Serena’s a super international star and my profile [when we were] together was a [big deal] for some people. I remember when I made the cover of the Chicago Sun Times for the first time it was in the middle of our relationship and I’m thinking, This is for real. People are paying attention. But I handle [the attention] the way real men do: Keep family and personal business in your home. Now, that doesn’t mean if that’s your woman you go out with her and not feel proud about [being with] her [like it's a big secret]; but you don’t have to let everyone know what’s going on in your relationship.

Even with living under a microscope, you’ve excelled in your music and film careers, even making it to the White House despite Fox News coining you a “gangster rapper.” How did you combat the negativity?

That was a monumental moment for me to recite poetry at White House for the first Black president and the first lady. I wondered if [the Fox News report] affect my participation, but once I was reassured that I was going to be able to go to the White House, I was honored. The crazy thing is Fox News knew who I was and did a story on me a few years ago saying I was a positive and good artist. Then later on down the line you have Bill O’Reilly saying I’m not. It makes you wonder: Are they even communicating with one another? I’m not here to pick them apart. I just really thought, they don’t know who I am and they are trying to bring Obama down and it’s not working.

What’s the most sound business advice you’ve received?

To save as much money as possible, spend wisely and always observe and surround yourself with intelligent people who have goals.

Make sense. Now what’s this we hear about you playing a slave?

(Laughs) It’s [a TV show] called Hell on Wheels and airs on AMC [Sundays, 10pm EST]. It deals with issues of the transcontinental railroad set in 1865, and I play a freed slave rebel. We address issues that are relevant today—relationship drama, racial injustice and how greed affects us.

As you look to the future, what is your five-year plan?

To be married, have a family, own a television production company, become a Hollywood leading man, own homes in L.A. and New York (well, I have that, but more), keep my foundation Common Ground more elevated and…oh yeah, win an Oscar.

See a clip from Common’s new show, Hell on Wheels, airing this Sunday, below.

What compelled you to do The X Factor?
I always liked the idea of platforms to discover and identify talent. In the music industry, we have often struggled with those platforms, and one of the most innovative ideas was television talent competitions. So Simon [Cowell] talked to me about it, and I loved the idea and signed on. It’s really that simple.

You started your career in music as a drummer. Had you always planned to be an executive?
A little bit, yes. I’m inspired by legendary record men like Berry Gordy, Ahmet Ertegun, and Clive Davis. I always wanted to be a record man, at least probably since I was 18. So I came into the industry on the creative side and then I started management and learned more about the business.

You took some classes at Harvard Business School.
Harvard was a great experience. I did not attend college. I took the Harvard Advanced Management Program for close to 10 weeks, and I lived on campus in a dorm. I stopped running my business and I put 60 to 70 hours a week into the studies. I already knew how to successfully run my business, but it really prepared me to speak the language of corporate America and deal with some of the expectations. I am proud, though. I have Harvard paraphernalia around my office.

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What steps should an aspiring music executive take to get to that level?
Start with music—whether you’re learning music, working around music, working in recording studios, or being a DJ. While what we sell and what our passion may be is music, executives have a great general education and a great general knowledge of the industry.

What are you passionate about outside of music?
I love my family. When I’m not with my family, I’m working. So I don’t have hobbies. I’m fascinated by successful people or people who I see on that course. I’m inspired by what’s in the DNA of a successful person. I want to do movies, biopics, on people that motivate me. I’d love to do Miles Davis. I’m inspired by him. I’d love to do the Mariah Carey story. I think she’s a fascinating woman. People who come from very trying backgrounds. I wish I could do the Jay-Z movie. I think he’s one of the most charismatic men on the planet.
You mentioned Mariah Carey, and she’s somebody you’ve worked with. One would think that she would say you inspire or motivate her.

I can’t work with artists unless they inspire me. I don’t even know what my effect on them may be; it doesn’t even matter to me. But I have to find something particularly compelling about them.

How did you get interested in music?
My father [moved] me and my brother to Bremerton, Washington. We broke into an armory one week because we heard there was lemon meringue pie and ice cream. I broke into this supervisor’s room and I saw this piano and almost closed the door, and thank God something above said ‘Go back to that door, idiot,’ and I went over to that piano and I knew when I hit it, that was what I would do for the rest of my life. Every drop of blood and cell in my body could tell me that. And I stayed after school and played tuba, sousaphone, trombone, so I could be up front with the majorettes in the marching band. I really wanted to play the trumpet, and I finally got to trumpet. That’s why I love to write for brass. I write for anything from a dance band to symphony orchestra.

Most people don’t have that range. Was that something that somebody mentored you to do?
In a way Ray [Charles] did. In Seattle in the ’40s you had to play everything, from Jewish weddings and bar mitzvahs to the black clubs. I studied in Paris in the ’50s with the greatest composition teacher on the planet [Nadia Boulanger], who was a mentor for Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, and Leonard Bernstein. No genre has ever bothered me whether it’s big band, bebop, doo-wop, hip-hop, nothing.

You’ve taught artists to own their stuff, whether it’s copyrights,
masters, or negatives of film. How did you know to do that?
If you don’t have a copyright, a negative, or a master, then you’re not in the music business. The value is in the ownership of those things. [Early in my career,] I’d go in on a record and I’d sign a contract, and they’d say, “You can say anything you want, but you’re only getting 1%.” And I’d sign it, and they’d put somebody else’s name on it as the writer, and they’d publish it. They owned 75% of the song before I walked out the door. I said we’re not going to have that. That’s some plantation stuff. It took me a few years, though, because everybody was going through that back then. The exploitation, especially of black entertainers, was probably at its peak in the ’50s.

Tell me your thoughts about the future of music.
We are at an amazing crossroads right now. We’re at the end of the recording industry as we know it, and that hurts me a lot. All over the world, there’s piracy because of digital, CDs, and DVDs. The kids just take the music now. I’d say in 10 years there won’t be a recording industry. We’re going to have to reinvent it.

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Northern Exposure
Following in an old German tradition, Inniskillin Icewine is made from grapes harvested at the height of the Canadian winter at -8 degrees Celsius (18 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Niagara Peninsula and Okanagan Valley regions. Yielding just 10% to 15% of the average table wine harvest in a year, this gold-medal white offers guests rich and fruity blended notes that range from peach and lychees to papaya. $50

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Boom for the Room
Enhanced with a number of proprietary features, Bose’s SoundDock 10 digital music system was designed for iPods and is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, 3G, and original iPhone model. It is portable, elegant, and provides superior sound with detailed efficiency at low levels and without distortion at high volumes. At 9 inches high, 17 inches wide, and 10 inches deep, it is perfect for indoor or patio mixers. $599

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Summer Spirit
Chilies, cheeses, barbecue, or skewers—Don Julio Blanco’s citrus notes of lemon, lime, and grapefruit complement a range of summertime fare. In the tradition of clear tequila, the award-winning Blanco is bottled immediately after distillation, a practice that contributes to the richness of its pure agave flavor, which can be savored neat, as a spicy accent to mixed cocktails, or as the foundation spirit for a memorable margarita. $45

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Classic Royalty
An icon of pop culture and the standard bearer of soul is captured like never before in the 12-disc boxed compilation Take A Look: Aretha Franklin Complete on Columbia. The expanded studio sessions, a 64-page booklet with never-seen-before photos, and the Aretha ’64! Live on The Steve Allen Show bonus DVD celebrate her work from 1960 to 1965. A musical collection that will delight guests, it is available online at www.arethafranklin.net for $129.99, and at physical and digital retail outlets.

Throughout the month of June, BlackEnterprise.com has a diffrerent spin, exploring the business of black music–from the power players who are changing the game to the women who are making waves, from the legends who set the foundation to the artists of the future. We examine all through articles, photo galleries, timelines, videos and more.

Whether you’re interested in getting into the biz or you’re simply intrigued by those behind the scenes, be sure to visit BlackEnterprise.com each day in June to see, and learn from, those who are rising, rocking and ruling in black music.

Meka Udoh is one dope boy online

• Blog: 2DopeBoyz
• Niche: Hip-Hop Music/Culture
• Founders: Meka Udoh & Joel “Shake” Zela
• Twitter: @2dopeboyz

Getting laid off in 2007 was one of the best things that ever happened to Meka Udoh. As a way to make up with the idle time on his hands, the California native and friend Joel “Shake” Zela launched 2DopeBoyz.com, a music site that started as a way to share their thoughts on new music but has since grown into a successful online brand that also hosts artist showcases and benefit events.

With Meka’s snarky commentary and Shake’s humorous Photoshop skills at the fore, the site now boasts over a million unique visitors a month and has the distinction of being part of the Complex Media Network, which has helped the duo make a living off of blogging about what they love—music. As Black Blogger Month continues, BlackEnterprise.com catches up with Udoh to get his take on growing a brand online and the benefits of working with an ad network. ⎯Starrene Rhett

2DopeBoyz stands out because…

We’ve never fallen into that ideal that either posting a video of two idiots in the ghetto fighting or being financially backed by a major label, then have the audacity to claim we’re “documenting the culture” would make us successful or influential. Shining a light to the under-the-radar [artist] was more important to us than a Gucci Mane shout out. The site was started when two friends with vastly different musical tastes decided to start a site to spotlight what we liked, and by the grace of whatever deity watches over us it became a success.

People trust the 2DopeBoyz brand because…

We’ve tried not to be something we’re not. We have no need to reach a certain quota with our backers, which gives us the liberty of posting anything from Jay Electronica to the latest video game preview.

The biggest mistake I ever made in business was…

Being too nice sometimes. I’m still having problems with that today.

What I learned from that was…

You’ll never be universally liked, and some people only tolerate you simply because you’re in possession of something they don’t have and/or require.

I realized blogging was a business when…

I was actually able to use the revenues from it to take my family out to dinner, which was something no day job gave me the luxury of doing.

The importance of a good ad network is…

Great when you decide you don’t want to work a day job anymore.

Networking has helped me to…

What’s networking, really? Glorified self-promotion? Talking to a bunch of people with the hopes they’ll be able to put you in a position that’s better than your current one? The only times you really see that kind of stuff actually work these days are on crappy “reality” shows. If anything, building your name and reputation works even better than trying to advertise yourself amidst a sea of other people doing the same thing.

Building a brand is important because…

I hate when people talk about “building a brand.” It’s not a “brand,” it’s a reputation. If what you do is reputable, then your peers will see, respect and in some cases envy it.

Having a good business partner means…

They’re as equally willing to risk everything to be successful as you are.

The best piece of business advice I ever got was…

Never give up, not matter how bleak it may be.

I measure my success by…

How proud my family is of me, and right now they’re very proud of me.

Be sure to check out the rest of the digital thought leaders as they’re revealed each day by logging on to BlackEnterprise.com/BlackBloggerMonth.

Videographer: Melissa Johnson; Video shot on location at The Inn at Irving Place & Lady Mendel’s, New York City