The Industry Cosign BIG CED

Growing up in the New York City area is challenging, yet fulfilling, especially back in the 1970s- 1990s. A young boy, born in the Bronx but raised in Long Island took a chance by entering the world of hip-hop at a time when hip-hop was still considered a fad and wasn't expected to last long. In fact, it was given the same lifespan as disco. But, Darryl Mitchell decided to try his hand at it anyway and joined his friends, Gene "Groove" Allen and Belal "DJ Belal" Miller, and using the moniker "Chill," the three became the hip-hop group, Groove B Chill. 

Groove B Chill appeared as one of the first acts on a new independent label named "Uptown Records." The label had many acts throughout the years which featured Guy, Al B. Sure!, Father MC, Christopher Williams, Jodeci, Jeff Redd, Monifah, and Mary J. Blige, just to name a few. But, Groove B Chill was one of the first acts on the label's debut project, "Uptown Is Kickin' It" which started with the first song and video, "The Uptown Crew- Uptown Is Kickin' It" featuring Heavy D and the Boyz, Finesse & Synquis, Marley Marl, Woody Rock, The Brothers Black and Groove B Chill.

You recognized Chill right away with his trademark hat as Grove B Chill ended the song and video with their lyrics and recognizable dance. 

Shortly after the group made its debut, they appeared in the Kid N Play-led movie, "House Party." After appearing in the first and second House Party movies, Chill caught the acting bug and never looked back!

He has appeared in shows like "The John Larroquette Show," "Veronica's Closet," "Brothers," "NCIS: New Orleans" and "Fear the Walking Dead." He has also made appearances in movies like, "Inside Man" and "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate."

I got the chance to speak to Chill about a variety of topics, including how he coped with and overcame the tragic car accident that made him lose the use of his legs. He discusses coping with everyday life as an actor and performer and even speaks about becoming a comedian. 


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Not everyone can handle entrepreneurship, but for comedian Jamie Roberts, owning a business is not a funny thing. The man has been on the comedy scene for years and has had a hand in running several shows in the New York City area. Roberts was the host and executive producer of a weekly show every Sunday called Sunday Night Live, the longest-running Sunday comedy show in NYC. There you were able to see many comedians honing their skills while hosting some recognizable names like Mike Epps, George Wallace, David Spade, and Marlon Wayans.

He currently owns Harlem's Home For Comedy, 'Comedy In Harlem' which is located at 8 E 117th St where he has several shows per week featuring up-and-coming talent as well as established comedians. He also hosts a class that will help comedians handle their business called The Business of Comedy 101 with instructor Jamie Roberts. "The class is geared to show comedians how to make money as a business in comedy, how to obtain different streams of income within comedy, how to build your brand, and several other great tips and techniques for generating cash flow as a comedian." 

Roberts has also been featured on MTV, Tidal, Sirius XM Radio, The Grio, The Root, 770 WABC Radio (NYC), NBC’s Law & Order, Channel 7 ABC’s (NYC) Eyewitness, Channel 6 ABC News (Philadelphia) commercials. He, along with his partner-in-crime, Nicky Sunshine appeared on FYI’s A Question of Love for 10 episodes. The husband and wife team also tours with their brand “Married and Funny.” The Long Island native is the founder and executive director of 'Comedy With A Purpose,' a business that uses comedy to address some serious social matters.

Being the entrepreneur he is, he also owns a radio station, 108 Soul NY Radio Station where you can listen to R&B and hip-hop.

The Industry Cosign got a chance to talk to Roberts about his business endeavors and how he uses his talent and skills to keep his business going!


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You've heard many of their songs throughout the past 40-plus years. When it comes to legendary, this man and his music family fit the bill. He and his family, Full Force, which was comprised of brothers, Lucien "Bowlegged Lou" George Jr. "Paul Anthony" George, Brian "B-Fine" George, and cousins, Hugh Junior "Shy Shy" Clark, Curt "Curt-T-T" Bedeau, and Gerry "Baby Gee" Charles worked with artists like Kid N' Play, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Samantha Fox, and the likes of *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, James Brown, Britney Spears, Lil Kim, Patti Labelle and many in between them. They made music history when they produced and released UTFO's "Roxanne, Roxanne" which spawned more answer records than ANY record in history.

You've also seen him and his brothers in the "House Party" movies and they are well-respected by young and old people who appreciate the musical talents of the musical family.

I got a chance to kick it with Bowlegged Lou about his storied career, the health issues he and his family have had to face and deal with, as well as the charitable work and efforts he partakes in. The respect this man garners is well-warranted and through our discussion, you'll get some surprises you did not know, and with good reason. 


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There are many recognizable songs in hip-hop history that all you have to do is hear four bars and you instantly know the song. Or, you know the most known and heavily recited lines, in this case, "Engine, engine number nine on the New York Transit line, if my train goes off the track, pick it up! Pick it Up! Pick it up!"

Well, the next person I speak to in this series of "My Friends Are Better Than Yours" and "Beyond 50" is Andres Vargas Titus! We know him as Dres from Black Sheep!

The Industry Cosign got the chance to chop it up with Dres as he talked to us about his latest project with late producer, J. Dilla, and the documentary, "The Choice Is Yours" streaming right now on Paramount +.

THE CHOICE IS YOURS, directed and edited by Clark Slater (DMX: Don’t Try And Understand), is the story of rapper and artist Andres “Dres” Vargas-Titus, part of the legendary 90’s hip hop duo Black Sheep, and his incredible journey from being on top of the game to struggling with civilian life and staring down the barrel of his last chance at success. Along the way, he meets Maureen Yancey, aka Ma Dukes, mother to music icon J.Dilla who gifts him with a hard drive of unreleased Dilla beats and tasks him with creating the next great Dilla record. As Dres attempts to uncover the mystery behind his story, which hasn’t been told in full until now, Dres meets with artists, celebs, music executives and journalists to better understand who Dilla was, only to discover that not everyone is happy about Dres being gifted these beats. The accompanying controversy threatens not just the release of the album, but Dres’ very legacy.

Dres also touches on the 50th anniversary of hip-hop which has helped many artists. He also discusses what he has been doing, as well as a little update on the class lawsuit against the record labels that he is spearheading.


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The importance of educating the youth is not lost on Brooklyn, NY's own Chip Fu. A founding member of the hip-hop group, Fu-Schnickens, his dedication to hip-hop helped shape his focus to making sure the youth have direction and focus for the future. The child of an educator, Chip is a natural for the program he started and is currently running M.A.A.T.H. (Music Appreciation, Art, Time, and Healing) 

Being a Facebook friend for years and running into each other over the years at hip-hop events, once I saw the program he was doing, I had to feature him on Black Enterprise. The importance of showcasing the positive aspects of hip-hop was definitely a mission to get him to tell the world what he was doing. When I decided to pick up the podcast again, a conversation was again needed from this Brooklyn artist who hadn't yet put down the microphone and pen and pad.

I got the chance to speak to the Trinidadian, East Flatbush representative about the journey he is currently on and his plans beyond the 50th anniversary of this thing we live in called hip-hop. We discussed the re-emergence of artists who were able to perform due to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and even got to talk about one of his friends, Shaquille O'Neal, and his return to the studio.


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Lemar Ingram is involved in corporate America for his day job, yet, he has instilled the learnings and culture of hip-hop in order to become successful in his line of work. The self-described hip-hop head is also the author of the self-published book, "The G-Code: Behind the Bars: Hip-Hop Connoisseur's Guide Through Corporate America."

Ingram's tome offers a thought-provoking list of "commandments" crucial to success (and survival) within corporate working environments. The lessons that the once-Queens resident has learned over the years through the halls of hip-hop have given him the chance to bring some of the logic and thought processes to this book.

"Lessons can be learned via positive or negative environments; all that matters is how we apply them," he wrote as the opening to The G-Code before he made his way into the first chapter, I Wrote Me a Manual. A manual it is indeed. "My goal with The G-Code was to help those with less traditional or socially acceptable forms of education visualize how their life experience is replete with transferable skills that will most definitely translate to success in the proverbial boardroom—if applied strategically.

The Industry Cosign got an opportunity to hear some of the blessed words this author had to say as he explained the reason he wrote the book and what people can use it for. It's not just for the corporate world, you can use some of the advice in everyday life!

Coincidentally while the world is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the culture we all love and live, his book comes around at the right moment. He recently debuted the book at the Museum of Graffiti in Wynwood. It is Miami's creative and cultural hub and outdoor museum to some of the world's best-known street artists. The book was also featured at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center's 11th Annual South Florida Book Festival.

Watch the video to see how he used hip-hop to become successful in corporate America and give you the tool to do the same!!




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