User:FashunVP

Keith “Fashun VP” (Pronounced Fashion) Rivers otherwise known as “FaSean” or “Sean” was born February 29th, 1984 in Jacksonville, North Carolina to Francetta Marlene Edwards and Keith D. Rivers Sr. Fashun father was active in the marines so while Fashun was still in the infant stages his parents decided to move back to their hometown of Port Huron, Michigan where Fashun was raised and graduated from High School. Fashun is an established music artist/producer/entrepreneur/tech startup owner/ and music manager. Originally from Michigan, now hailing from Atlanta, GA. Fashun VP career spans from his early music industry beginnings by opening up for the likes of Lil Wayne in Detroit, MI. with an up and coming rap group called "The HardHittaz" comprised of Diezel, Big Fell, Rush and Skig. Managed by Alex “The Promoter” Thomas owner of Detroits The Promoter Magazine which was issued throughout the midwest.

Fashun's aunt Tina asked him if he could draw a logo for an indie label called “New Independence Records” in Detroit which was the label owned by her boyfriend at the time, Anthony “Putt” Knight so he agreed not knowing that this would start the beginning of their consistent adventures to Detroit with aunt Tina and Fashun would meet a group of people that became his Detroit family. The HardHittaz took on the older brother/mentor role for Fashun VP and were the FIRST along with his first manager Alex Thomas to give him a taste of constructive criticism that helped define his initial rap work ethics. To being able to witness the talented Slum Village create their Detroit Deli album. Fashun's manager whom had a good relationship with Rj Rice Sr. the owner of Barak records would take him to their office/studio near what was Northland Mall inside a building called Northland Towers and as Rj and Alex would converse Fashun would be in awe to the sound that was coming out of the studio. But Fashun would only observe as most visits to their studio was utilized playing John Madden with the other younger hungry artists like Black Milk and DJ Speed that were around at the time awaiting their opportunities which happened rather quickly as they were able to assist with the creative process of Slum Villages projects with their in-house producer Rj Rice Jr. But it was Fashun's first time seeing the work ethic of major label artists that fueled him to want to be great. Alex would travel to California with Rj Rice Sr. and Slum Village as they would go to record the song “Selfish” with Kanye West and John Legend. RJ would setup a meeting with himself and Alex along with Wendy Goldstein (A&R at Capitol Records). Alex would return back to Detroit to inform Fashun that there was an artist that highly favored Fashuns appearance that had just recently signed with Capitol Records. This artist would later come to find out be the artist Chingy signed to Ludacris Disturbing Tha Peace label.

When “Right Thurr” debut on BET Fashun was so shocked by the similarity that he and Chingy had shared at that time. Alex began to re-brand Fashun's sound to a more gritty sound to distinguish his image from Chingy. At the time Alex had a strong relationship with Kevin Black (Vice President of Interscope Records). So they began to incorporate him more into the battle rap and underground hip hop scene. As Fashun VP made traction in Detroit he developed a great kindred respect and friendship with Miz Korona from the movie 8 Mile whom he considers his Detroit sister and her showmanship on stage showed Fashun VP the intensity, energy, and professionalism necessary to deliver a great performance. When Fashun met Korona they were at a venue called “The Hayloft” in Mount Clemens, Michigan where she was performing with her hype man at the time named Cuzzo and Fashun was at the front of the stage, studying her showmanship where they had a synchronized two step that went with her lyrics and the beat. Fashun took mental notes on the performance and how he needed to tighten up his lyrics and most importantly his show presentation. All of a sudden during her show she pulled Fashun up on stage and had him rap. Miz Korona seen the potential in him and that's where their relationship began. From that point she would keep in touch with him while he resided in Detroit and gave him tips. As Fashun VP management contract came closer to expiring, he started to notice the momentum that Atlanta,GA was building and seen early on that Atlanta was not going anywhere so he had made his mind up that he was going to move to Atlanta and have a new start and approach to the music industry. After receiving a call from Alex that he and The HardHittaz would be arriving in Atlanta to perform his first and initial response was to of course attend the show and support his previous manager and his Detroit rap role models. But attending this show would be more than that as it became the key moment that changed Fashun VP life. Also attending this show was Akina and Big L Love who had their girl group “NIA” headlining the show along with the original Final Draft members of that time.

Fashun VP had met one of the original members named Lamar "Playboy" Thompson after the show inside of StoneCrest Mall who became one of Fashun's good friends and would bring Fashun VP along with him over to Akina and Big L's home who discovered that he had an amazing rap talent and eventually decided that he would be a great asset to what they already had. Prior to this point Fashun VP was raised and only participated in individual activities, such as solo sports and a solo rap career. This would be the first time that Fashun VP would become a part of a group and an r&b one for that matter. But in his mind he felt that God was directing his life from a solo career to a group setting to learn more about himself and to become more of a team player. By November 11th, 2005 Final Draft had secured a deal with MadBoy Records/Block Entertainment/Bad Boy South and they started negotiations with Warner Music in regards to the album distribution. Fashun made his first tv appearance with Final Draft in March of 2006 on Don Cornelius historically produced Soul Train show with host Dorian Gregory performing two singles on the show, along with Cruna, and Flipsyde. The following six months after the Soul Train episode there were disagreements in regards to different factors regarding the contract presented by Warner Music so Akina and Big L decided to remove Final Draft  from that situation and Big L would go to secure his own deal with his label moniker Earl Jam Productions through EMG/Universal Music Group through a digital imprint. As the years progressed Fashun VP would begin to secure tv placements, having his production via Fashun Productionz featured on BET, MTV, and many more projects. Fashun would work with some of the music industry legends like Teddy Riley from Guy, Ralph Tresvant from New Edition, Lil G from Silk, Sam Salter of LaFace Records, and other credible musicians in the music industry. During this progression the tolls of the industry turmoils would remove members of the group collective to eventually become the latest version of Final Draft (2010 and up). "Prior to this generation of Final Draft, Fashun was a core member of the original Final Draft in 2005. By 2015 Fashun became one of the veteran members of the revamped Final Draft  and so when they assembled the most current Final Draft which is comprised of Divine and Voice and veteran members D-Nyce and Lucky, Fashun felt it was time to transition into the next chapter of his career which was into the music distribution and corporate realm of the music industry. Fashun was a part of the most current Final Draft  group from 2010-2015 in their beginning stages to help the new members adjust, get comfortable, and assist with the artist development with their artistry being they had no previous industry experience.

Fashun's favorite basketball player was Kobe Bryant and so he observed the way Kobe Bryant assisted with D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle on The Lakers prior to announcing his own retirement, once Kobe announced so Fashun was inspired to follow suit. Fashun felt like a new passion and direction was opening up for him and so he decided to transition full time on the business side. In 2015 Fashun VP became the Vice President of marketing for Earl Jam Productions whom was owned by one of the previous owners of the indie label MadBoy Records “Big L” so it was like becoming an executive with the company he started with. Fashun was the Vice President of marketing assisted in the social media marketing direction of the group Final Draft. In 2018 Fashun VP stepped down from Earl Jam Productions to further the growth of his own music distribution company KDR Music Group which he established May 26th 2015, and now owner of his consultant and media company KDRMG (KDR Media Group ). Fashun being the musician he has become has dedicated his business to ensuring the success and development of artists like the ways of old. In this new age of technology musicians have been able to bypass the experience which established growth and understanding and stumble across a viral sensation to where they end up in the hands of greedy individuals that only look to exploit their talents and use them for temporary gains. Being a musician first Fashun relates to the needs of the musician before he think of the needs of the business but so he understands the balance. Fashun now strives to become a pivotal leader in the next phase of the human experience, teach business ethics through his journey, display the wonders of being a vegan/vegetarian and ultimately do his contribution to change the world for better. So welcome to my life story and hopefully you can be a part of the next chapters."