Trini-born US-based artiste to launch new album

BRE is currently listed as “black entertainment’s premier magazine for 35 years”.

This month, the magazine’s cover is featuring The PVIPE Group, PVIPE Music and PVIPE Media, which is deemed as one of the US West Coast’s most successful conglomerates.

Its president, David Marshall Pryce, is a native of Chicago, who now resides in Phoenix, Arizona. Pryce oversees his creation, the PVIPE Group, Phoenix VIP Events, which encompasses PVIPE Media, PVIPE Music and Episential Skin Care Company.

Headquartered in the Universal/NBC Building in California, the home to the entertainment industry’s most prestigious businesses, the PVIPE Group is a unique multi-media marketing agency creating cost-effective marketing planning over multiple channels.

PVIPE Music, meanwhile, is an exciting record label that boasts distribution, publishing and digital outlets.

Pryce began his career in the entertainment and fashion industry as a professional model, before becoming the national sales director of BRE.

From there, Pryce became the senior vice-president of D3 Entertainment/Rivera Entertainment, where he oversaw the label’s management of Deathrow Records’ multi-million dollar catalogue.

He has worked with everal top artistes, including Daryl Hall, Snoop Dogg, Insane Clown Posse, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Juvenile, RZA, Layzie Bone, Coolio, MC Eight, Mac 10, ONYX and Percy “Master P” Miller.

Pryce, who was recently introduced to the talented ABM, partnered with him (ABM) and together, recently visited Trinidad to promote ABM’s latest hit “Dat Body Gyal”.

The single features Qwes Kross, who is a well known artiste from the record label 50/50 Music/Konvict Muzik. Kross has released the tracks “In the Night” and “Hold on Tight” with good friend Akon. Pryce fully funded the trip and is taking care of all the marketing for ABM throughout the US and Europe.

ABM, who is originally from Pentecostal Road, Tunapuna, met with a producer named Chris Gunn after migrating.

After a lot of hard work, ABM landed a distribution deal with Universal Music Group/Fontana, but it was strictly a distribution deal with no up front money for marketing or promotion. ABM then started his own independent record label, called “Platinum Trini Entertainment” - www.platinumtentertainment.com , and released his first single “Wine Down”.

After working with several artistes and getting record deals for them, ABM decided to “brand” himself and the label.

As part of this branding, ABM and Pryce, while in Trinidad, gave several interviews at Synergy TV and various radio stations. ABM even performed live on Synergy Nights and at a “boat” party in Chaguaramas on July 23.

Speaking with Sunday Newsday, ABM revealed that he would be back in Trinidad later this month to shoot a music video for one of his “soon to be released” hits “Island Girls”.

“I first performed ‘Dat Body Gyal’ about one month ago at the BET Awards, and after that it was uphill.

“The hit took off and now I am here (in Trinidad) promoting the song and trying to brand myself and my label and work on my album Overdue. “For that album, I plan to revisit the other artistes that are also signed to my label.

“Currently I have seven artistes on my label but concentrating on four,” ABM said.

“I am versatile in my music. I have conscious lyrics, dancehall, lovers rock, soca, hip hop and rap.

“There is music in there for everyone of every ethnicity and genre,” he added.

Before he left Trinidad, ABM attended the St Augustine Senior Comprehensive School, where he ran track and played soccer.

He was eventually awarded a track scholarship to attend Jackson State University, where he excelled in track and field for two years, and then transferred to Grambling University, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering.

On completion of college, he moved to Los Angeles, California. Pryce told Sunday Newsday it was a great idea to visit Trinidad to do the promotions.

“It was like thinking out of the box, especially that ABM is going to be featured in the magazine – what better way in promoting – showing that he came back to his home country, which all would be highlighted in the magazine under PVIPE.

“I guess it was all in luck and timing and God’s will and I thank God for that. We were lucky to work through with the US Embassy and put everything in place here in Trinidad, where I can understand the culture and experience it myself.”