Brian is definitely making moves. I relate a lot to Brian with his tactics of making moves, and not necessarily being in the limelight...check it out..
On BET's "Ultimate Hustler" Brian Rikuda impressed Damon Dash and most of America with his business savvy. Now the Stanford graduate is teaming with Dash and DJ Envy to release the quintessential Bay Area mixtape while also taking his record label Conduit Inc, and a host of other businesses to the next level, signaling the industry that he's a Player to Watch in 2006.
Brian Rikuda has been on a mission, building his existing businesses (Okonali and Conduit) while also developing a DVD series and turning his Harlem real estate pitch from the "Ultimate Hustler" into reality. Since his win, he's shrugged off rumors claiming that Dash wouldn't be entering business deals with the contestants and that aside from a chain there was no prize for winning.
"I don't mind the rumors because I don't mind people not knowing what I got. Cool you think I just got a chain, so you'll leave me alone. There wasn't a formal position set up for me to enter, but me and Dame talked after the show and there were areas that it made sense for us to work together on, for example -- real estate. For Dame to make a stamp on the neighborhood that he credits for his style and tenacity was a no-brainer," Brian told SOHH.
"Our relationship has been good," the Cali native added. "When I'm in New York I go by the office. Every time I see him he says 'B when are you gonna make me some money?' The affiliation with him has opened a lot of doors - he's good for making it happen if I need to get in contact with someone, but he expects me to do a lot on my own because that's what he did. They call it the 'Ultimate Hustler' - you're not supposed to just get a job. Dame didn't start with a job, Russell didn't start with a job, Puff didn't start with a job. I didn't necessarily just want a job - it gave me the platform to take what I have and multiply that by ten. If I couldn't do that, I need to square up and get a regular job."
Aside from the assist to his career, Rikuda credits "Ultimate Hustler" for teaching him some valuable lessons about the entertainment industry.
"I really learned the extent to which this is entertainment. What I said is really what I said and what we did was what we did, but the way it was framed everyone gets characterized. Even Dame - behind the media image is a living breathing human who is a father, who cares about his community. He's a funny dude. He's gonna have jokes and he'll call you out, but he'll also pull you aside and drop real wisdom about his industry experience and I don't think that always came out in the show. Just watching the process I understand why it has to be like that because it has to be entertaining. The negotiations that take place, deals that happen, all that stuff that happens off camera is not glamorous," Brian explained.
Much like the show, Rikuda's steady grind is keeping him sleep deprived.
"I've gotten 2 hours of sleep a night working on the financials for this fashion line. Typically I wake up at 7:00 read the news and by 8:00 I'm checking emails. Working on so much, I have multiple investors that I owe expense reports. Yesterday I was finalizing the Bay mixtape, finishing drops and sending stuff to Envy. Today I'm working on the script for the DVD and formally bringing in the line producer so we can start taping in August," Rikuda explained.
Brian Rikuda's Play-o-graphy
Projects
Hustler's Handbook Vol. 1 - The first DVD in a series. First volume hits in December.
Conduit Entertainment- First nat'l release within 6 weeks - in Dec. dropping first nat'l release from label
Mixed Use Property - (Brian's final business pitch on the Ultimate Hustler) He is currently developing a mixed use property in Harlem branded with Dame Dash - the developer is onboard and they are in negotiations for control of a site right now.
Okonali Fashions - Brian's Clothing Line - Currently in the middle of closing the bridge financing round - enabling them to take the company nationwide. Check them out at the Magic Show in Las Vegas this August.
Speaking Engagements- Brian has been invited to speak at events, schools and colleges, he's just returning from Chicago's Nat'l Hip-Hop Political Convention where he spoke about entrepreneurship and finance.
"On Bay Watch Vol. 1" - Mixtape hitting shelves in 2 weeks. Hosted by Dame mixed by DJ Envy - features the hottest artists coming out the Bay Area and also features classic songs from the Bay. The brainchild behind it is Datari Turner - who also put together the "Ultimate Hustler." Mixtape features classic E-40, Too Short, the Luniz, RBL, Mac Dre, Keak da Sneak, The Jacka, Balance, Hood Stars
www.myspace.com/b_dot
On BET's "Ultimate Hustler" Brian Rikuda impressed Damon Dash and most of America with his business savvy. Now the Stanford graduate is teaming with Dash and DJ Envy to release the quintessential Bay Area mixtape while also taking his record label Conduit Inc, and a host of other businesses to the next level, signaling the industry that he's a Player to Watch in 2006.
Brian Rikuda has been on a mission, building his existing businesses (Okonali and Conduit) while also developing a DVD series and turning his Harlem real estate pitch from the "Ultimate Hustler" into reality. Since his win, he's shrugged off rumors claiming that Dash wouldn't be entering business deals with the contestants and that aside from a chain there was no prize for winning.
"I don't mind the rumors because I don't mind people not knowing what I got. Cool you think I just got a chain, so you'll leave me alone. There wasn't a formal position set up for me to enter, but me and Dame talked after the show and there were areas that it made sense for us to work together on, for example -- real estate. For Dame to make a stamp on the neighborhood that he credits for his style and tenacity was a no-brainer," Brian told SOHH.
"Our relationship has been good," the Cali native added. "When I'm in New York I go by the office. Every time I see him he says 'B when are you gonna make me some money?' The affiliation with him has opened a lot of doors - he's good for making it happen if I need to get in contact with someone, but he expects me to do a lot on my own because that's what he did. They call it the 'Ultimate Hustler' - you're not supposed to just get a job. Dame didn't start with a job, Russell didn't start with a job, Puff didn't start with a job. I didn't necessarily just want a job - it gave me the platform to take what I have and multiply that by ten. If I couldn't do that, I need to square up and get a regular job."
Aside from the assist to his career, Rikuda credits "Ultimate Hustler" for teaching him some valuable lessons about the entertainment industry.
"I really learned the extent to which this is entertainment. What I said is really what I said and what we did was what we did, but the way it was framed everyone gets characterized. Even Dame - behind the media image is a living breathing human who is a father, who cares about his community. He's a funny dude. He's gonna have jokes and he'll call you out, but he'll also pull you aside and drop real wisdom about his industry experience and I don't think that always came out in the show. Just watching the process I understand why it has to be like that because it has to be entertaining. The negotiations that take place, deals that happen, all that stuff that happens off camera is not glamorous," Brian explained.
Much like the show, Rikuda's steady grind is keeping him sleep deprived.
"I've gotten 2 hours of sleep a night working on the financials for this fashion line. Typically I wake up at 7:00 read the news and by 8:00 I'm checking emails. Working on so much, I have multiple investors that I owe expense reports. Yesterday I was finalizing the Bay mixtape, finishing drops and sending stuff to Envy. Today I'm working on the script for the DVD and formally bringing in the line producer so we can start taping in August," Rikuda explained.
Brian Rikuda's Play-o-graphy
Projects
Hustler's Handbook Vol. 1 - The first DVD in a series. First volume hits in December.
Conduit Entertainment- First nat'l release within 6 weeks - in Dec. dropping first nat'l release from label
Mixed Use Property - (Brian's final business pitch on the Ultimate Hustler) He is currently developing a mixed use property in Harlem branded with Dame Dash - the developer is onboard and they are in negotiations for control of a site right now.
Okonali Fashions - Brian's Clothing Line - Currently in the middle of closing the bridge financing round - enabling them to take the company nationwide. Check them out at the Magic Show in Las Vegas this August.
Speaking Engagements- Brian has been invited to speak at events, schools and colleges, he's just returning from Chicago's Nat'l Hip-Hop Political Convention where he spoke about entrepreneurship and finance.
"On Bay Watch Vol. 1" - Mixtape hitting shelves in 2 weeks. Hosted by Dame mixed by DJ Envy - features the hottest artists coming out the Bay Area and also features classic songs from the Bay. The brainchild behind it is Datari Turner - who also put together the "Ultimate Hustler." Mixtape features classic E-40, Too Short, the Luniz, RBL, Mac Dre, Keak da Sneak, The Jacka, Balance, Hood Stars
www.myspace.com/b_dot
