Kedar Massenberg
Encyclopedia
Kedar Massenburg is an American
record producer
and record label
executive, who was the president of Motown Records
from 1997 to 2004. Massenburg is the current president and CEO of Kedar Entertainment. Massenburg is best known for bringing Erykah Badu
to fame, and for coining the term "neo soul
" to describe Badu's sound and that of several like-minded artists.
neighborhood, Brooklyn
, New York.
Massenburg is a 1981 graduate of Erasmus Hall High School
. He is also a 1985 graduate of Central State University
in Ohio.
In college, Massenburg had his eye on the music business. After college, Massenburg spent several years in well-paying marketing positions, including two years as a district manager for Pepsico
(maker of Pepsi Cola
), and more than a year with SmithKline Beecham Clinical Labs Pharmaceuticals. But he still had his eye on the entertainment world. He was saving money for law school, having accurately noticed the close relationship between the worlds of popular music and the law. "One of the reasons I wanted to be a lawyer is I realized that everything in this business is controlled by legal documents and contracts," Massenburg recalled during an interview with Black Enterprise Massenburg graduated from University of North Carolina Law School, Chapel Hill
, North Carolina
having completed a project while he was there on the legal problems involved in developing a home-based business. In 1995, he established Kedar Entertainment, originating out of his New York home, with a meager $1,700 outlay from his own pocket and consisted of a desk set, fax machine, copier, and portable phone. He became President and CEO. Involved in artist management, he directed the career of the pioneering rap group Stetsasonic
for a time.
, and Freestyle Fellowship
as well as Erykah Badu
to their first major recording contracts. He was also in involved in the production of Chico Debarge's Long Time No See album which received high acclaim after Debarge's release from prison.
. D'Angelo
an early beneficiary of Massenburg's energy. The singer's debut single, "Brown Sugar", had done well at radio on Massenburg's East Coast home turf, but had failed to get crucial West Coast airplay. EMI
worked with Massenburg and flew dozens of West Coast radio programmers and their dates, into New York for a D'Angelo
performance, and for upscale dining and lodging accommodations. Massenburg later said to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "Was it worth it to spend the money to fly all those programmers in? Absolutely! We saw a substantial increase in radio airplay immediately after the show."
. Massenburg's work on behalf of Badu
got him wide notice in the industry. His first move was to pass out 1,000 copies of Badu's
debut single, "On & On", at the 1996 Soul Train Music Awards
. "And man, when I heard it banging out of somebody's car going down the street that same night, I knew I had something." Badu
elucidated the new approach Massenburg was looking for.
, merlot
and cabernet sauvignon
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
executive, who was the president of Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
from 1997 to 2004. Massenburg is the current president and CEO of Kedar Entertainment. Massenburg is best known for bringing Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
to fame, and for coining the term "neo soul
Neo soul
The term neo soul was originally coined by Kedar Massenburg of Motown Records in the late 1990s as a marketing category following the commercial breakthroughs of artists such as D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell...
" to describe Badu's sound and that of several like-minded artists.
Biography
Kedar was born in 1963 and is the son of a single parent in FlatbushFlatbush, Brooklyn
Flatbush is a community of the Borough of Brooklyn, a part of New York City, consisting of several neighborhoods.The name Flatbush is an Anglicization of the Dutch language Vlacke bos ....
neighborhood, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Massenburg is a 1981 graduate of Erasmus Hall High School
Erasmus Hall High School
Erasmus Hall Campus High School is a four-year public high school in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, United States operated by the New York City Department of Education....
. He is also a 1985 graduate of Central State University
Central State University
Central State University, commonly referred to as "C-State", is a historically black university located in Wilberforce, Ohio, United States. It is the only public HBCU in Ohio.-History:...
in Ohio.
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
In college, Massenburg had his eye on the music business. After college, Massenburg spent several years in well-paying marketing positions, including two years as a district manager for Pepsico
PepsiCo
PepsiCo Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Purchase, New York, United States, with interests in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of grain-based snack foods, beverages, and other products. PepsiCo was formed in 1965 with the merger of the Pepsi-Cola Company...
(maker of Pepsi Cola
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
), and more than a year with SmithKline Beecham Clinical Labs Pharmaceuticals. But he still had his eye on the entertainment world. He was saving money for law school, having accurately noticed the close relationship between the worlds of popular music and the law. "One of the reasons I wanted to be a lawyer is I realized that everything in this business is controlled by legal documents and contracts," Massenburg recalled during an interview with Black Enterprise Massenburg graduated from University of North Carolina Law School, Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
having completed a project while he was there on the legal problems involved in developing a home-based business. In 1995, he established Kedar Entertainment, originating out of his New York home, with a meager $1,700 outlay from his own pocket and consisted of a desk set, fax machine, copier, and portable phone. He became President and CEO. Involved in artist management, he directed the career of the pioneering rap group Stetsasonic
Stetsasonic
Stetsasonic was an American hip hop group formed in 1979 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. It is remembered as one of the first hip hop crews to use a live band, and the group's positive, uplifting lyrics made it forerunners of alternative hip hop and jazz hip...
for a time.
Career
By 1994, Massenburg was negotiating artist contracts to the tune of more than $1 million a year. His own salary was in six figures, and he had hired two assistants, one of them working out of a satellite office in Los Angeles. Massenburg later expanded his activities into production, music publishing, and publicity. Massenburg was also responsible for signing the young rapper A+A+ (rapper)
Andre Levins, also known as A+ is an American rapper. As a teenager he released albums in 1996 and in 1999.-History:...
, and Freestyle Fellowship
Freestyle Fellowship
Freestyle Fellowship are a rap group from Los Angeles consisting of rappers Aceyalone, Myka 9, P.E.A.C.E., Self Jupiter and producer J Sumbi...
as well as Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
to their first major recording contracts. He was also in involved in the production of Chico Debarge's Long Time No See album which received high acclaim after Debarge's release from prison.
D'Angelo
Massenburg started managing, the smooth soul crooner D'AngeloD'Angelo
Michael Eugene Archer , better known by his stage name D'Angelo, is an American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known for his production and songwriting talents as much as for his vocal abilities, and often draws comparisons to his influences,...
. D'Angelo
D'Angelo
Michael Eugene Archer , better known by his stage name D'Angelo, is an American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known for his production and songwriting talents as much as for his vocal abilities, and often draws comparisons to his influences,...
an early beneficiary of Massenburg's energy. The singer's debut single, "Brown Sugar", had done well at radio on Massenburg's East Coast home turf, but had failed to get crucial West Coast airplay. EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
worked with Massenburg and flew dozens of West Coast radio programmers and their dates, into New York for a D'Angelo
D'Angelo
Michael Eugene Archer , better known by his stage name D'Angelo, is an American R&B and neo soul singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. He is known for his production and songwriting talents as much as for his vocal abilities, and often draws comparisons to his influences,...
performance, and for upscale dining and lodging accommodations. Massenburg later said to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, "Was it worth it to spend the money to fly all those programmers in? Absolutely! We saw a substantial increase in radio airplay immediately after the show."
Erykah Badu
In 1995, Kedar Entertainment signed one of its first artists Erykah BaduErykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
. Massenburg's work on behalf of Badu
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
got him wide notice in the industry. His first move was to pass out 1,000 copies of Badu's
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
debut single, "On & On", at the 1996 Soul Train Music Awards
Soul Train Music Awards
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show which previously aired in national television syndication, and honors the best in Black music and entertainment...
. "And man, when I heard it banging out of somebody's car going down the street that same night, I knew I had something." Badu
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright , better known by her stage name Erykah Badu , is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Her work includes elements from R&B, hip hop and jazz. She is best known for her role in the rise of the neo soul sub-genre, and for her eccentric, cerebral musical...
elucidated the new approach Massenburg was looking for.
Neo Soul
Massenburg wanted to start a genre that in no way ignored or minimized the influence of hip-hop and of other electronics-influenced musical styles. Massenburg was quoted in an interview on Kedar Entertainment's World Wide Web homepage, " I am committed to signing and grooming the careers of artists who reflect a return to performing, writing, and live instrumentation." Massenburg even coined a new genre name, "neo-classic soul," to describe the music that was taking shape under his influence and blew up the industry with a new musical genre that made everyone check out the evolution of R&B.Kedar Beverages LLC
Massenburg founded Kedar Beverages LLC in 2005, which makes chardonnayChardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
, merlot
Merlot
Merlot is a darkly blue-coloured wine grape, that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. The name Merlot is thought to derive from the Old French word for young blackbird, merlot, a diminutive of merle, the blackbird , probably from the color of the grape. Merlot-based wines...
and cabernet sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley...
.