User talk:Violet Brown, Hip Hop Godmother
Born in Inglewood, CA, raised in Lawndale, Violet has been a lover of music since an early age (5 years old, to be exact). She had an early obsession with buying mostly singles. She spent a lot of summers in Compton with family friends, and it was there she got her "ear". She learned the new dances first, knew what was going to hit first, etc. She too, would eventually become a DJ.
Even as a youngster, you could probably find her at The Roadium buying records, where she would eventually work at the age of 12 to the age of 15, recording compilations of various singles on one recording. This was before copyright laws, so there was no stress of getting caught… just profit.
When she turned 15, she took over the store. Grossing over $800 a week, she decided to ask her mother if she could drop out of school. At first she resisted, but she finally allowed her to drop out. By the time she turned 18, however, copyright laws became “a thing”, and the government began cracking down on that. She maneuvered towards "head shops", which she was already investing in. A head shop is a retail outlet specializing in paraphernalia used for consumption of cannabis & tobacco, and items related to cannabis culture and related countercultures. Anyway, “Mrs. Natural Nickel Bag” was born. Her love of music was still strong, however, so her mother took over the shop, while she finessed her way into a job at Wallach's Music City. The owner resisted at first, because he refused to hire an 18 year old kid”, but after a little back and fourth game of “who knows music”, she was hired on the spot. Of course, he didn’t stand a chance! After a year, she outgrew it, and found herself at Knee High Record Distributors (I hope I got that name right).
While working as a singles buyer for Knee High, she would have access to a TON of music. Quick story: On her way home one day, she found herself with a flat tire near La Brea and Stocker Ave.. Cell phones weren't around yet, so she took her records inside a nearby bar called, The Summit, to use the phone. While waiting for her brother to come fix her tire, the owner, a Black man, asked her what she had in her box. Personally, alarms would’ve sounded off in my head, but, that's just me (bless her soul). Violet, calm as could be, shares the story of where she works and where the records came from. He was REALLY impressed with her collection; many of the songs haven't come out yet. Geeking through her records, he tells her she should "really" come back one night and bring them. She was hesitant, but she said she would think about it.
One weekend, she found herself going back with her collection. She found herself being the only White face. Was she shook? Nah. No surprise though; that's how bosses get down. The owner took her up to the DJ booth, introduced her, and as she overlooked the dance floor, that's when she got bit by the "DJ bug".
Later, this love for music landed her a assistant managerial job at Warehouse Records store in Long Beach. She moved up the ladder higher and higher and higher. This is around the time her character portrayal ran into Rza in the Wu-Tang series. If you seen it, you know what I’m talking about.
She rapidly moved up to Director of Urban Music for not one but TWO of America’s largest and best-known entertainment retailers. She was the mind behind the purchasing and marketing of Urban Music at Wherehouse Music & F.Y.E. stores. During her time at these chains she was instrumental and known for high profile events and promotions that led to breaking many new acts. She was responsible for MC Hammer, had a hand in Hi-C & Tony A’s signing at Hollywood Records, AND was instrumental in the deal Mark Cerami made to sign NWA to Priority Records. The story goes, he was really scared to sign them, but speaking to Violet, he was convinced he should go through with it. In fact, he told her to take all the credit for it… which she won't.
Her music knowledge stretches far beyond hip-hop and she has the rare talent of picking hits and talent within many genres of music. Violet has been successful in other areas of the business with executive production on top selling gold and platinum releases, documentaries, artist management, concert and festival production AND as a club DJ.
She has received several high profile awards and accolades within the music industry. She was the first and only Retail Buyer to be presented with the Source Magazine’s prestigious “SOURCE POWER 30” award for 5 consecutive years and the Living Legend Award from the Living Legend Foundation, alongside some of the biggest names in music. After more than 30 years of picking hits that “broke” in her stores, picking singles for labels, spinning records at clubs, shopping projects to labels and holding A&R consultant positions at Hollywood Records, Priority and Interscope Records, Violet has moved into an artist and label development position with Strange Music where she helped identify new talent and guide the careers of acts like Tech N9ne, Rittz and others.
If this doesn’t convince you she is the “godmother of west coast hip-hop”, then you still don’t understand the culture. If you know her, you probably made a name for yourself in this industry, OR know someone who has. No one in this entire culture deserves their flowers more than Violet Brown. Hopefully, these words last forever on “these internets”. Her and her contributions should NEVER be forgotten or slept on. That's why I'm here. I am hoping to preserve all this!
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