Ajamu Kambon

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Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for deprecated parameters".Template:Wikidata image Ajamu Kambon (born December 7, 1991)[1] is an American entrepreneur, record executive, investor, and author,[2] best known as the co-founder of Deep Root Records.[3] On February 16, 2021, Kambon was named on to Forbes's Next 1000 List.[4] On July 21, 2023, Kambon was inducted as a member of The Recording Academy.

Early life

Born in New York, Kambon grew up in New Jersey. Raised by his single mother, he grew up in poverty for the majority of his life. For most of his childhood he lived with family members, moving in and out of public housing. Later living, for close to a decade, in a mobile home with his mom and sister, until moving into an affordable housing neighborhood in Princeton, for a chance at a better life in 2007.

Despite this from 1997 - 2008, Kambon studied various forms of dance, ranging from modern, contemporary, ballet, african, tap and jazz, at The Atlantic City Dance Theatre & Company, under Pattie Harris.[5] In addition he would further strengthen his dance repertoire with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, during his summers with family in New York City. Towards the later years at the dance company Kambon began dancing professionally, touring along the east coast, competing and performing at The Atlantic City Convention Center, The Boardwalk (across from Boardwalk Hall), and Off-Broadway.

During the summers of 2006 and 2007, before beginning his studies at Princeton High School (PHS), Kambon received a scholarship to attend the Wyoming Seminary Performing Arts Institute (PAI), where he further cemented his love for music and the arts, learning how to play and perform various percussion instruments. In the summer of 2008 Kambon was accepted into The W.E.B DuBois Scholars Institute’s Business Academy,[6] at Princeton University. There he took 8 college level courses in business, marketing, and business ethics.

In 2009 Kambon was awarded the Gold Key Award, and in 2010 he individually qualified for the 400 meter hurdles and also took his PHS Track & Field 4x400 relay team to the Meet of Champions, Penn Relays, and Nationals, breaking several school records during his time at PHS.[7] His goal of continuing sports at an elite level in college, were cut short due to injuries sustained in a car accident. In 2010 he was one of the few speakers for his graduating high school class, receiving high honors.[8] Shortly after he was inducted into the Princeton High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

College Life

In the Spring of 2010 Kambon was accepted into the University of Virginia (UVA). In the summer of 2010 he worked as a sales rep at Vector Marketing, becoming one of the top earning sales representatives on the east coast, in order to help pay for his tuition, not covered by his scholarships. In 2012 he was accepted into the UVA’s undergraduate business school: McIntire School of Commerce, majoring in Finance, Business Management, International Business, and Marketing, with concentrations in Advertising and Digital Media, Entertainment & Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, and Global Commerce.[9] In the summer of 2013 he worked in risk management and insurance at Tower Group. In 2014 he earned a B.S. in Commerce degree, with a minor in Religious Studies, concentrating in Buddhism.

Music Career

In 2014 Kambon became Francis Mercier’s manager, and in 2015 they started Deep Root Records[10] and opened up their first office in NYC.[11] Currently Deep Root Records consists of 4 imprints: Deep Root Records, Deep Root Tribe, Deep Root Underground, and WYN Records.[12] The 4 imprints' primary focus is Electronic Dance Music, with signed compositions within House, Deep House, Disco, Chicago House, Afro House, Tribal House, Melodic House, Progressive House, Tech House, Future Bass, Electro Pop, and Techno. It also houses two publishing entities: Music By DRM and DR2 Publishing. The parent company Deep Root Records houses three departments: artist management, sync & licensing, and event production and management.[13]

In 2016 Kambon grew its sync & licensing department to one of the most profitable departments in the company, with over 40+ signed producers and over 140+ syncs a month to date. With sync placements with Spotify, Snapchat, TikTok, Netflix, Facebook, Amazon, Red Bull, PayPal, Disney, Riot Games, The NBA, Epic Games, Madison Square Garden, EA Sports, Dior, Vogue, Google and more, spanning all music genres worldwide, including hip-hop, R&B, trap, indie pop, rock, country, and film scores.[14]

The record label currently has ownership in over 200+ masters, with its artists amassing over 30+ million streams across their compositions, and 30+ global partnerships.[15]

It produces over 100+ shows and events a year globally, under its many imprints and its Deep Root Sessions brand.[16] Promoting and producing events in New York,[17] Miami,[18] Paris,[19] London,[20] Ibiza,[21] Morocco, Egypt (one of the first festivals where bookings were accepted in Ethereum),[22] India,[23] and many other major cities worldwide.[24]

Deep Root Records remains a private company with over 7 figures in annual revenue and a recent valuation of $2.5 million USD.[25] To this date Deep Root Records is still one of the few EDM record labels in the world, 100% black owned and self funded, with no outside capital, investment, or funding.[26] In 2021 Forbes named him 1 of the “10 Standout Black Small Business Owners From The Next 1000 List”.[27]

In 2022 Kambon became a partner in the We Belong Here Festival, which included performances from Bakermat, Don Diablo, Lost Frequencies, Nora En Pure, Purple Disco Machine, Yotto, and a Deep Root Tribe stage at Virginia Key Beach.[28] The 2023 festival will be held between February 25 - 26, and feature artists such as Kaskade, Lane 8, Themba, Dirty South, James Hype, Yotto, Francis Mercier, and more.[29]

Philanthropy and leadership

In 2020 with the Covid-19 pandemic at an all time high, Ajamu launched the #UnitedByMusic live stream series & fundraiser, in partnership with Paris’s Radio FG and the Recording Academy’s non-profit MusiCares.[30] With over 2 Million people reached, #UnitedByMusic continues to serve as one of Kambon’s main initiatives of support for the artist and nightlife community.[31] Artists involved in the project over the years: Roger Sanchez, Kenny Dope, Barbara Tucker, Moon Boots, LP Giobbi, DJ Chus, Tube & Berger, OFFAIAH, Layla Benitez, Leftwing : Kody, and CID.[32]

As a partner on The We Belong Here Festival, a portion of proceeds from every ticket purchased directly contributes to the “We Belong Here Scholarship Fund”, which grants musical education scholarships to Scratch Academy, within underprivileged areas, nearby each We Belong Here festival and/or experience.[33]

In 2013 Ajamu self-published his book “Do You”, which made it in the Top 200 Books within Amazon’s “Business & Money” Short Reads in 2016.[34] The book discusses several ways in which one can build residual income and wealth, as well as how to navigate the world as an entrepreneur and small business owner.

Currently Ajamu is working on growing his “No Regrets” podcast to further teach and share with entrepreneurs, the knowledge and skills to navigate their industries.[35]

Gallery

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References

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External links

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