Chuck Wilson (multimedia executive)
Encyclopedia
Chuck Wilson is a multimedia executive. He is currently the CEO of Triumph Media Holdings, a multimedia company formed to explore media opportunities that target African Americans. Wilson is also the founder of Babygrande Records
. He has served as the executive producer on over 100 titles. In addition, Wilson was the Director of A&R at Priority Records
as well as Director of Business Affairs at Black Entertainment Television
(“BET”). He also conceived and co-wrote the 2004 film, Soul Plane
.
on the set of 1994's Crooklyn
.
Wilson sold his first script to Danny DeVito
in 1999. The film was about wealthy African Americans in the Hamptons, which Wilson said was akin to “a black Great Gatsby". The same year, Wu-Tang International optioned his music-based urban drama Trife Life and Jersey Films purchased his untitled urban comedy pitch, centered on golf. Trife Life was set to star Mos Def
, but never came to fruition. He went on to write and direct the short film, Breakfast At Ben’s which was also a part of his deal with Wu-Tang International. Wilson was granted rare access to shoot the film in the historic Washington, D.C. restaurant Ben's Chili Bowl
where his father used to take him to eat as a child. Breakfast At Ben’s appeared on Warner Brothers’s compilation, Afrocentricity and premiered at the 2000 Urbanworld Film Festival. It also appeared in the DC Independent Film Festival as well as the Maryland Film Festival. Wilson went on to co-write the film, Soul Plane which was described by Variety
magazine as a next generation Airplane. Soul Plane came under fire from several members of the black community including Spike Lee who accused the film of being exploitative of African Americans.
In 2004, he was slated to write “a black wedding comedy” titled, Meet The Mo’Fockers, parodying such films as Meet The Parents
and The Wedding Singer
. The film was part of a deal with Maverick Films company, then owned by Madonna
. Despite its comedic nature, the film was also set to examine class differences within the black community.
Wilson has also collaborated with RZA
on a screenplay entitle "Black Shampoo" based on the Wu-Tang Clan
leader’s alter-ego, Bobby Digital.
which he A&R'd. In 2001, Wilson left his position as Director of A&R at Priority Records to found the independent label, Babygrande Records. Wilson said, “Early on, when I saw the whole consolidation trend starting to occur with major labels, I decided to branch out and start a small indie label”. Babygrande was initially funded by the money Wilson made from selling his scripts to Hollywood and operated from Wilson’s apartment. The label has released over two hundred titles, including albums from M.O.P.
, GZA
of Wu-Tang Clan
, U-God
of Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon
, Brand Nubian
, Grand Puba
, Jedi Mind Tricks
, Army Of The Pharaohs
, Canibus
, Hi-Tek
and Sa-Ra
, among others.
In 2004, SOHH
recognized Wilson as a “player to watch”. He was also named one of Billboard Magazine’s 2005 Power Players. He has also been cited as an authority on piracy by Billboard Magazine.
, earning a Bachelor of Arts from the School of Architecture in 1990. He continued his graduate studies at The University of Virginia and went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law and a Masters of Business Administration from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration
(JD/MBA) in 1994. As an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, Wilson was President of the university's NAACP chapter, and was selected to live in Thomas Jefferson's Academic Village also known as The Lawn
which is among the highest student honors at the university. Wilson has been a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity since 1987. He also studied film at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts
.
In 2005, he married Jenise Campbell. He currently splits his time between Manhattan, New York City and Beverly Hills, California. He has two sons.
Babygrande Records
Babygrande Records is an independent record label based in New York City founded by Chuck Wilson. Babygrande is distributed by the The Orchard, and represented by the Creative Artists Agency in Hollywood.-Discography:...
. He has served as the executive producer on over 100 titles. In addition, Wilson was the Director of A&R at Priority Records
Priority Records
Priority Records is an American record label, owned and operated by EMI, which has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop, pop and world...
as well as Director of Business Affairs at Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
(“BET”). He also conceived and co-wrote the 2004 film, Soul Plane
Soul Plane
Soul Plane is a 2004 comedy film starring Kevin Hart, Method Man, Tom Arnold, D.L. Hughley, Mo'Nique, Loni Love, K.D. Aubert, Godfrey, and Snoop Dogg.-Plot:...
.
Film
Wilson broke into the film industry as an intern for Spike LeeSpike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
on the set of 1994's Crooklyn
Crooklyn
Crooklyn is a 1994 semi-autobiographical film co-written and directed by Spike Lee. The film takes place in Brooklyn, New York and the neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant during the summer of 1973. Its primary focus is a young girl, Troy , and her family...
.
Wilson sold his first script to Danny DeVito
Danny DeVito
Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
in 1999. The film was about wealthy African Americans in the Hamptons, which Wilson said was akin to “a black Great Gatsby". The same year, Wu-Tang International optioned his music-based urban drama Trife Life and Jersey Films purchased his untitled urban comedy pitch, centered on golf. Trife Life was set to star Mos Def
Mos Def
Dante Terrell Smith is an American actor and Emcee known by the stage names Mos Def and Yasiin Bey. He started his hip hop career in a group called Urban Thermo Dynamics, after which he appeared on albums by Da Bush Babees and De La Soul. With Talib Kweli, he formed the duo Black Star, which...
, but never came to fruition. He went on to write and direct the short film, Breakfast At Ben’s which was also a part of his deal with Wu-Tang International. Wilson was granted rare access to shoot the film in the historic Washington, D.C. restaurant Ben's Chili Bowl
Ben's Chili Bowl
Ben's Chili Bowl is a landmark restaurant in Washington, D.C., located at 1213 U Street, next to Lincoln Theatre, in the Shaw neighborhood of northwest D.C. It is known locally for its chili dogs, half-smokes, and milkshakes, and has been an integral part of the neighborhood's history since its...
where his father used to take him to eat as a child. Breakfast At Ben’s appeared on Warner Brothers’s compilation, Afrocentricity and premiered at the 2000 Urbanworld Film Festival. It also appeared in the DC Independent Film Festival as well as the Maryland Film Festival. Wilson went on to co-write the film, Soul Plane which was described by Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
magazine as a next generation Airplane. Soul Plane came under fire from several members of the black community including Spike Lee who accused the film of being exploitative of African Americans.
In 2004, he was slated to write “a black wedding comedy” titled, Meet The Mo’Fockers, parodying such films as Meet The Parents
Meet the Parents
Meet the Parents is a 2000 American comedy film written by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg and directed by Jay Roach. Starring Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller, the film chronicles a series of unfortunate events that befall a good-hearted but hapless male nurse while visiting his girlfriend's parents...
and The Wedding Singer
The Wedding Singer
The Wedding Singer is a 1998 romantic comedy film written by Tim Herlihy and directed by Frank Coraci. It stars Adam Sandler as a wedding singer in the 1980s and Drew Barrymore as a waitress with whom he falls in love....
. The film was part of a deal with Maverick Films company, then owned by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
. Despite its comedic nature, the film was also set to examine class differences within the black community.
Wilson has also collaborated with RZA
RZA
Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, better known by his stage name RZA , is an American Grammy-winning music producer, multi-instrumentalist, author, emcee, and occasional actor, director, and screenwriter. A prominent figure in Hip Hop, RZA is the de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. He has produced almost...
on a screenplay entitle "Black Shampoo" based on the Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
leader’s alter-ego, Bobby Digital.
Music
During his tenure at Priority Records, Wilson worked extensively on several projects, including the Training Day original soundtrackTraining Day (soundtrack)
Training Day: The Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 2001 crime film, Training Day. It was released on September 11, 2001, through Priority Records and contained mostly hip hop music...
which he A&R'd. In 2001, Wilson left his position as Director of A&R at Priority Records to found the independent label, Babygrande Records. Wilson said, “Early on, when I saw the whole consolidation trend starting to occur with major labels, I decided to branch out and start a small indie label”. Babygrande was initially funded by the money Wilson made from selling his scripts to Hollywood and operated from Wilson’s apartment. The label has released over two hundred titles, including albums from M.O.P.
M.O.P.
M.O.P., short for Mash Out Posse, is an American hip hop duo. The duo, composed of Billy Danze and Lil' Fame, is known for the aggressive delivery typically employed by both emcees. Although they maintain a strong underground following, they are mainly known for the song "Ante Up," released on...
, GZA
GZA
Gary Grice , better known by his stage names GZA and The Genius, is an American hip hop artist and founding member of the seminal hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. He has also appeared on his fellow clan members' solo projects and has maintained a successful solo career...
of Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
The Wu-Tang Clan is a hip-hop group from Staten Island that consists of RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard. They are frequently joined by fellow childhood friend Cappadonna, a quasi member of the group...
, U-God
U-God
Lamont Hawkins , better known as U-God , is an American rapper and member of the hip hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. He has been with the group since its inception, and is known for having a deep, rhythmic flow that can alternate between being gruff or smooth...
of Wu-Tang Clan, Raekwon
Raekwon
Corey Woods , better known by the stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. He released his solo debut, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... in 1995, and has since recorded four solo albums, as well as work with Wu-Tang and an extensive amount of guest contributions with...
, Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian
Brand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, consisting of three MC's: Grand Puba , Sadat X and Lord Jamar , and two DJs: DJ Alamo and DJ Sincere...
, Grand Puba
Grand Puba
Maxwell Dixon is an emcee best known as a member of the group Brand Nubian.-Biography:He made his debut with the group Masters of Ceremony. Its album Dynamite was hailed by critics, but probably due to lack of sales, the group soon disbanded, and Puba emerged as the lead emcee of Brand Nubian...
, Jedi Mind Tricks
Jedi Mind Tricks
Jedi Mind Tricks is a hip hop duo with Vinnie Paz from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Jus Allah from Camden, New Jersey. The group was founded by two high school friends, rapper Vinnie Paz and former producer/DJ Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind...
, Army Of The Pharaohs
Army of the Pharaohs
Army of the Pharaohs is a hip hop supergroup originating from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed by Jedi Mind Tricks MC, Vinnie Paz in 1998.-Recording history:...
, Canibus
Canibus
Germaine Williams , better known by his stage name Canibus, is a Jamaican-born American rapper. He is a part of supergroup The HRSMN. Canibus rose to fame in the mid-nineties...
, Hi-Tek
Hi-Tek
Tony Cottrell, better known as Hi-Tek, is an American record producer and rapper from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is best known for his work with Talib Kweli on his Reflection Eternal album and on Black Star...
and Sa-Ra
Sa-Ra
Sa-Ra is a hip-hop group based in Los Angeles, California, also known by its full name, The Sa-Ra Creative Partners. The group is composed of Om'Mas Keith, Taz Arnold, and Shafiq Husayn...
, among others.
In 2004, SOHH
SOHH
SOHH is a hip hop news website. Felicia Palmer and Steven Samuel founded the website in 1996. In 2000, Rolling Stone magazine writer Mark Binelli called it the "best overall hip-hop site".- History :...
recognized Wilson as a “player to watch”. He was also named one of Billboard Magazine’s 2005 Power Players. He has also been cited as an authority on piracy by Billboard Magazine.
Television
Wilson served as Director of Business Affairs at Black Entertainment Television. Among other initiatives, Wilson assisted with the company's launch of its first made for television feature film division, BET Pictures and the production of its initial ten "Arabesque Films." The original slate of ten films was historic in that they represented the largest single slate of African-American themed films ever produced.New Media
In 2006, Wilson and several other partners formed Triumph Media Holdings, Inc which launched the first Hip-Hop social media network, Crackspace. The press dubbed the website, "A Myspace/YouTube for hip-hop". In 2008, the site re-launched under the name iHipHop.Personal life
Wilson graduated from the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, earning a Bachelor of Arts from the School of Architecture in 1990. He continued his graduate studies at The University of Virginia and went on to earn a Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law and a Masters of Business Administration from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration
Darden Graduate School of Business Administration
The University of Virginia Darden School of Business is the graduate business school associated with the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Darden School is one of the world's leading business schools, offering MBA, Ph.D. and Executive Education programs...
(JD/MBA) in 1994. As an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, Wilson was President of the university's NAACP chapter, and was selected to live in Thomas Jefferson's Academic Village also known as The Lawn
The Lawn
The Lawn is a large, terraced grassy court at the historic center of Jefferson's academic community at the University of Virginia. The design shows Jefferson's mastery of Palladian architecture...
which is among the highest student honors at the university. Wilson has been a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
Fraternity since 1987. He also studied film at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts
Tisch School of the Arts is one of the 15 schools that make up New York University ....
.
In 2005, he married Jenise Campbell. He currently splits his time between Manhattan, New York City and Beverly Hills, California. He has two sons.