I am Jay Williams. I am the solo founder of my start up Kollabo. Kollabo is a social
network for artist of different disciplines. It is designed to foster
networking and inspiration.
Why I am I solo founder, is not because I don’t have any
friends or that I smell. It was intentional. But before I tell you why I’ll
give you some back ground.
I have been involved in the music business since I was 15.
My career started as most kids from NYC with dreams of being a famous rapper! I
was just a young kid writing songs and performing around local events. While in
school when the weather was bad and the kids didn’t go out for recess. We were
stuffed in the auditorium to watch Disney movies. I convinced the teachers to
let me perform during this time instead. I would have to use a bullhorn because
they didn’t have microphones, real ghetto! I would perform Kris Kross’s Jump. I
would get the audience applauding for me and asking for autographs. I thought I
was a star to say the least!
I went to a performing arts school in Queens, NY, singing in
different choruses. Shortly after puberty hit and my voice changed I realized
the opportunity for me being the next Michael Jackson wasn’t going to happen!
So I went behind the scenes and started managing local acts for a record
company my older brother started.
One time in high school LL Cool Jay, Rev Run and Joseph
‘JoJo’ Brim who was an A&R for Def Jam came to my school to talk about the
many opportunities there were in the music business. I was intrigued by Mr.
Brim as he was doing professionally what I was doing as an amateur. They ended
there lecture by stating they were having a writing contest and the winners
would win a chance to be Def Jam interns. That night I went home and wrote an
essay that would change the course of my life. I won a spot and was paired up
in a group that Mr. Brim nicknamed the rowdy crew because we were so hype to be
in the Def Jam building. We learned the inner working of the music business and
helped come up with marketing ideas for DMX first album, (some of which they
actually used.). The rowdy crew wound up winning the competition and some of
us, including myself were asked to stay on longer as interns in different
departments. The knowledge I obtained was amazing.
After my internship finished and my brother’s record label
folded, I decided to strike out on my own and create my own independent record
label Trac Addicts. Though my savings and my families help I opened up a
recording studio called Cellar Sounds. As you might guess it happened to be in
the cellar of a house! I would charge people studio time to help fund Trac
Addicts. I managed a few artists and groups. My most successful act was
FootSteps who went on to perform on the Apollo and 106 and Park. One of the
members of Footsteps Ricardo ‘Rik’ Kroon became my production partner. Together
we made tracks and wrote songs for artists. Me and Rik started to focus on your
strengths and Rik did most of the music and I did the business. Focusing our
efforts helped make us individually better and helped to grow the company
A few years into the Trac Addicts we moved out of the
Cellar. I started to do marketing campaigns for artists. I was invited to a
vibe session that ended in me doing consulting for the record company Four
Kings. Four Kings at the time was managing Chrisette Michele (who ended up
signing wit h Def Jam), Young Jinsu and Chris Classic. My consulting turned
into an executive position with the company. I helped put together everything
from photo shoots, video, showcases, touring, cleaning bathrooms, you name it!
During this time at Four Kings I started learning about
social media. I saw this was the next big thing and would help out the artists
I worked with. After leaving Four Kings I made a conscious effort to take two
years off and learn everything I could about social media, SEO, coding, QA. I
had stopped taking on new projects and just worked with the artist I was
managing.
After coming out of isolation I had a few new gadgets to my
utility belt. I started consulting for up and coming artists and local
businesses to help them grow and build their online presence.
A few years into this I decided to start working on what is
now known as Kollabo. I thought it was the next
logical step to my progression. It was great way to encapsulate everything I
had learned in my journey.
So the decision to do it alone comes from wanting to step
out on my own and show the world what I’m made of. I have had a pretty
successful career, but all my success was dependent on others. That is the
downside for most people behind the scenes, showing through legitimacy. If you
are marketing plan is dependent on an artist’s execution that’s a tough spot to
be in. Coaches come up with the plays, but there team has to go out and win the
game. If the team loses to much the coach is in jeopardy of losing his job.
I wanted to do something to solidify who I am and what I
contribute. This is my Motown 25 moment. For those who aren’t familiar Motown
25 is where Michael Jackson first did the moonwalk on TV. He was always known
as being part of the Jackson 5 but that night he would redefine what the world
knew him as and go on to make history.
As I bring to the world Kollabo, I
hope you can appreciate my Moonwalk!