“New Marketplace” Thought Leaders Honored For Industry Excellence on Crain’s “40 Under 40” List

Commonground Co-Founders Aim to Master the Art and Science of Universal Appeal

Chicago, IL – The award-winning, cross-consumer marketing agency Commonground has announced its co-founders, Ahmad Islam and Sherman Wright are among Crain’s Chicago Business Magazine’s annual Top 40 under 40 list for 2009.
Each year, Crain’s selects forty individuals under the age of forty from the Chicago-land area, who are considered champions of their respective industries. Past lists have included presidents and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies, high ranking political figures and thought leaders from various industries.

While the 2009 list features a wide array of business mavens and marketing peers, Commonground’s Ahmad Islam and Sherman Wright stand out as the only African-American entrepreneurs on the list, with a flourishing agency that can boast an authentic and multi-faceted multicultural philosophy. The agency takes a non-traditional approach to multicultural marketing, leveraging what they’ve coined, the “New Marketplace”, as an means of dimensionalizing multicultural, being inclusive of the general market as well as the traditionally defined multicultural marketplace.

Launched in 2004, and approaching their sixth self-funded year of providing a full-range of marketing disciplines, the Commonground team is forecasting an $11 million revenue stream for the coming year. “We are very honored to be recognized by Crain’s for the work we create on behalf of our client roster,” offered co-founder Sherman Wright, “it’s a symbol of the perseverance of our agency, our diverse culture and our commitment to building a foundation for mutual understanding.” In addition to the Crain’s honor, the agency heads have also been recognized as Gillette “Men of Style” and Commonground was the recipient of the 2009 Ex Award, for Best Nightlife Marketing Campaign.

Committed to being an active partner-in-process to their roster of blue-chip clients, such as The Coca-Cola Company, MillerCoors, General Mills and others, Islam and Wright foster an environment of cultural and professional diversity. “By making a conscious effort to walk the talk, we find the middle ground and we lead by reflecting the true diaspora of our country,” said co-founder Ahmad Islam, “and it manifests in the ways our clients benefit from our style of service.”

The agency partners will be feted along with the other 40 under 40 honorees during an upcoming event held by Crain’s Chicago Business. The evening is a compliment to the approaching anniversary the agency will commemorate in January 2010, and a testament to growth in spite of challenging economic times.

To view the full article with video on each, visit:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/40under40-2009/index.html#wright
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/40under40-2009/index.html#islam

About Commonground

commonground: that powerful place where deep insights and creative spirit make the difference in the new marketplace

Commonground is a full service, multi-discipline marketing agency with headquarters in Chicago, and offices in Atlanta and Houston. Launched in 2004, Commonground is 100% independently owned, with a roster of talented multicultural professionals who have a body of industry expertise and experience servicing some of the globe’s most influential brands. The client partner roster includes blue chip brands such as MillerCoors, Nike, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Bacardi, American Family Insurance, Nickelodeon, General Mills and Alberto Culver.
For more on Commonground – visit www.discovercg.com

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Interviews are available.
Please direct media inquiries to: Tanya Ward – email: pr@discovercg.com

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Alot of you know Africa Hot from his DJ life at Back of the Bus radio – but very few know he’s an amazing singer and songwriter.

I am so proud to have him as a friend, a confidante and a sleeper hit client.

If you’re still alive – still breath and feel music… enjoy your got-damn self.

These are the keepers of the SOUL – riding this mutha til the wheels fall off.

Live at Morseland – CHI GO ILL!  Backed by the lovely ladies of Allegra Dolores…

DREXEL SQUARE

SANCTION

RICH IN THE DITCH

I love Chicago…  period.

Greetings from the J.Dilla Project,

Thank  you to everyone for their support in helping to show that Hip Hop brings more to the table than music and fashion!

We have shown them the compassionate and caring side of the culture, and that a change can be made in medicine, as well as technology.

As we continue to fight the battle for James Yancey aka Jay Dee aka J.Dilla, his mother, Ma Dukes and many others who have lost their lives, or have been affected by this dreadful disease,we must take the time to celebrate our accomplishments over the past three years since our very first Lupus walk in October 2006.

Therefore – we have deemed October 24th,2009 -  Dilla Day in the A!

We will start the day with our walk at Highwoods Century Center Office Park (I-85 at Clairmont rd.  exit 91)  – right after the walk we will head over to the Bench, located at 602a Marietta St. Atlanta,Ga.

The Bar-B-Q begins at Noon, with DJ sets going on throughout the day; from 2pm  to 6pm will be the first installation of Dilla’s Dream Camp, which consists of Production, MPC, Emcee and B-Boy lessons for kids (16 and under) who sign up and participate in the Walk for Dilla.

EVERYONE is enlisted to please help us recruit those kids who really want to learn these skills – we are seeing the rot of the culture, let’s help bring it back to the fundamentals.

At 7pm we will have the Name Blessing Ceremony for Dilla Premier Wonder Jackson, officiated by the Minister Server of the Temple of Hip Hop.

At 8pm – the live performances will begin -we will showcase some of Atlanta’s underground artists with a special performance by Illa J (little brother of J. Dilla).

The entire day will be hosted by Ma Dukes and Uncle Herm, and if you could please pass the word, sign up and come out and enjoy this special day with us.

Here is the sign up link http://walk.lupusresearch.org/goto/jaydee ….you can contact us at disfadilla@yahoo.com or officialmadukes@yahoo.com ….also check in often here at www.officialmadukes.com for any thing you need to know about Dilla…much peace love and Donuts

Hey gang… it’s cold, wet and we’re all freakin’ crabby.

Solution? Let’s go out to the movies…

My home-slizzle Reggie Ponder aka The Reel Critic has been doing checks and balances – let’s see what he thinks about
the latest drops from Hollywood.

Capitalism: A Love Story – Michael Moore

FAME

and the word from me is GO SEE GOOD HAIR!

Yo… I been missing, but IN ACTION.

Sorry for not staying up on my blogging, but a sista is moving around – scoping out the markets – popping up in your town next.

October is the month for indies on the B.I. – as we find hotness happening from Chicago to NYC to gorgeous city of Atlanta.

So what’s first?

CHICAGO  – OCTOBER 10, 2009

Of course it’s the 2nd city of wind – blowing you back to the days of funk, rock
with the ones known as ROOM 11 busting that funk all up in yo’ earhole.

It’s Big Ced’s Birthday – and if yall came last year or the year before, YOU ALREADY KNOW
they are gonna invoke the funk in there.

Early arrival strongly suggested!  This show will be recorded for a live dvd of your favorite funk/rockers ROOM 11…
So come on out and be a part of it!

_______________________________________

NEW YORK!!   October 20,2009

Brooklyn’s own KEL SPENCER is celebrating the launch of Salon Stories, the album.

sneak peek that joint here:

_________________________________________

ATLANTA!  October 24, 2009 is DILLA DAY in the A!

“DILLA DAY in the A” is Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009 & we are expecting to have an incredible time.

BREAKING NEWS: DUE TO THE INTEREST IN THE EVENT – PERFORMANCES WILL BEGIN AT 8pm.  Stay posted here for  updates.

Volunteers, Walkers, and the all important Dilla Lovers are asked to take a piece of the action and tell THE WORLD about DILLA DAY 10/24 in the beautiful city of Atlanta.

MA Dukes and Uncle Herm are hosting – so you need to bring yourself down to share in the blessings.

This is the grassroots, the griot, the voice of the community speaking – this is a collective effort – come in and get in where you can fit.

All the real soldiers overstand that last line, so let’s get it!

To get on behind the scenes, holla at taj@mobbb.org.

For more information: www.officialmadukes.com or you can e-mail us at disfadilla@yahoo.com and officialmadukes@yahoo.com

WALKERS: please sign up at http://walk.lupusresearch.org/goto/jaydee

mikeflo done dun it again…

My family.  Hometown Hero.

Fresh off kickin’ the real to some unknown knowns at the African Fest last time he was in the CHI.

He committed to do it – and so it shall be.

This is a CHI-CITY – FAKESHORE DRIVE EXCLUSIVE.

ENJOY THAT!

About a year ago, I stumbled upon an artist on Myspace…

Wait, let me back up.  Since the end of music as we knew it, circa early 2001, I’ve been exclusively searching the net for independent artists and independent sounds.  I love music… need it  to live most days.  So, I hunt the web for choice items for my mentals.

I found this artist on Myspace – named Kel Spencer – with something popping called the Global Connection Mixtape.

I checked it – downloaded it and followed these massive links this guy Kel Spencer had posted ALL over – and wondered WHO IS THIS?

His moniker says he’s the  ” Best Rapper You’ve Never Heard Of” – and I think that’s an accurate description.

I downed the Global Connection Mixtape and was hungry for more…

Fast forward through a few months of  Twitter chat and like any good publicist SHOULD – I saw an awesome  talent and SNATCHED IT!

So yeah, this review is kinda biased, because Kel Spencer IS INDEED my friend, my client and someone I admire greatly.

That said… Salon Stories the album, hosted by the legendary MC Lyte, and presented by Perfect Results haircare – www.perfect-results.com,
is an album that speaks to some of the questions that we as women, BUT ALSO men have about our dealings with each other in relationships.

It’s a dope offering that features the likes of Jesse Boykins, III, Q-Tip, GrandMaster Flash, Hal Linton, Lydia Caesar, Quana and others.
The following videos are an inside peek at what this dude brings – it’s a listening event for the Salon Stories album.

The setting – HiLightz Salon in Rosedale, Queens, with the lovely stylists and customers who made this process beautiful.
Shout out to those sisters – you all made me feel a part of the family.

Ok.. enough chatter…here’s the juice.

For more on Kel Spencer:

www.twitter.com/kelspencer

www.twitter.com/salonstories

www.facebook.com/kelspencerfamily

Download links are found here also: http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=249100130310

The Hood Film Festival is a bit of an underground phenomenon in the “community” that is the South Side of Chicago.

My dear friend and brother in the struggle, FX has been doing this thing for years – various venues, various films – all thought-provoking.

It’s homegrown, down home and low key… and once again, it’s that time.

This time – the venue is the place where Black men can let their “hair down” and get real REAL.

This year’s film is one that I’m sure all brothers have discussed, so it’s fitting to bring this grassroots festival to THE BARBERSHOP!

Now, before the sisters light fire to the blog and the barbershop…you need to watch this.
We have some responsibility too… but that’s another blog for another day.

Just the facts, ma’am!

It’s Black Mens Turn To Exhale

If you’re free on Friday, September 25, 2009 8pm, bring yo’self here:

AT DA BARBERSHOP

446 East 43rd Street (2 blocks east of King Drive)

For More Information: 773-799-4360