I grew up in the music business as the grandson of Jack “The Rapper “ Gibson, legendary Black Music & Radio Pioneer & founder of the famed black music convention Jack the Rapper Family Affair. Those years I spent working & hanging at the Family Affair shaped not only my love for music but also the business that made it work. Watching my grandfather work a room with a VP of a major label or sitting on a couch telling stories with small market DJs taught me the value of relationships in business. When an act like Prince came & performed at the JTR convention, all of us became passionate music fans hanging off chairs in a packed hotel ballroom going crazy! That was Black Music! Little did I know that would be seed for the passion of the business & in 1993 I borrowed a couple thousand dollars from my grandfather to launch an independent label, Rip-it Records.
Along with my business partner Barry Myers, we took that investment and went on to sell over 6 million records with acts like the 69 Boyz double platinum hit “Tootsie Roll”, 95 South (Rodeo), Raab (Foreplay), 911 (Cutie) & legendary R&B group Club Nouveau. We were recipients of many prestigious industry awards from Billboard, Soul Train & BRE. In 2013 the 25th anniversary of Billboard Magazine’s Hot Rap Songs charts ranked “Tootsie Roll” by 69 Boyz the #2 rap song all time! September 26, 1996 was even proclaimed Rip it Records Day in Orlando, recognized for our business success & community involvement.
Even as the Midas Touch seemed to be in full effect, things began to change underneath us. Our independent distributor INDIE filed for bankruptcy, then Napster came & ultimately changed the music industry. We finally decided to sell the business in 2003. For the past 17 years I’ve been a Financial Advisor to very successful entrepreneurs, senior executives, professional athletes & families, helping them achieve their financial & personal dreams. I tell my clients “you never get on a highway without knowing your exit”. The same has to be true about your finances. “Where are you going & how do you want to get there” is the mantra. Hit me up at Louis.belljr@gmail.com, LinkedIn & Facebook – Louis Bell Jr.