Meet the Next Generation of Music Moguls Posted by Nathan S. on 05/29/12 | Filed under Features

(Spike Lee with the Future Music Moguls.)

As Ol' Dirty Bastard once said, "RefinedHype is for the children!" Allright, that may not be a verbatim quote, but the sentiment is the same. Hip-hop is a living culture, and if we want it to survive we need to work to pass that culture down to the next generation. That's why I've got nothing but the utmost respect for programs like Future Music Moguls, run out of the The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU.

For a semester 16 talented high school students sacrificed their Saturdays to study the music business and learn how to become the artists, producers, managers and writers of tomorrow. In addition to mentors like Lisa Ellis (Former EVP of Sony Music), Ant Demby (Manager, Quadron, Childish Gambino) and Blue Williams (Manager, Cee-Lo, partner in Primary Violator), the students got to hear from some of the game's true veterans. In other words, I'm now officially angry that high school didn't offer this program back in my day. .

For the group's final project, the students divided into four teams and were tasked with producing, promoting and marketing new music composed from a capellas from Najee's upcoming "Settle For Greatness EP", produced entirely by DB2 (a graduating Clive Davis senior).

Because we need these kids to actually find careers in music, and help make the music industry better, I'm giving them some well deserved hype here. One track from each team is below, and word to Marat Berenstein, Abhita Austin and all of the other Future Music Moguls staff for making this happen.

Shoestring Records "Supernova"


Futuristic Fire "Paradise"


Short Roots "Exodus"


Movement of Four "The Next Big Thing"