Please introduce yourself. What do you do? Why? What do you want people to know about you?
I am Jaleel Harley, Co-CEO of Open Hand Entertainment and owner of Open Hand Catering!
What qualities make you different and unique from everyone else in the industry?
I have my own style. I infused R&B with drill to create my own lane with the soul touch of old-school R&B! I call it RanDrill with full creative control!
Describe THAT moment when you realized you’re doing what you were born to do.
One time I was performing when I was 18, the DJ was being rude and messing up everyone’s music.
All of sudden my music doesn’t play at all and I hear the DJ arguing, so I took the mic started rapping my first verse and hook and the whole crowd surrounded me with their phones with the lights on. The security guard came in and started filming me too. Halfway through, the music started to work and they asked me to restart.
Music has an untold power and I felt it that night!
What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to go through and how did you grow through it?
Moving to LA with 300 dollars in my pocket and no direction. The original job I had didn’t fall through and my roommate I was moving in with sold me a lot of lies. I ended up having the toughest first 6 months of my life.
Nobody knew, so I decided to start grinding harder. Started hitting open mics and positioning myself around people who can help guide me to where I wanted to be by already being there! Next thing you know my bro Niall and I decided to invest in a company and decided that we would do this our way. And now a quarter-million streams later, we’re on our way to flourishing.
In the words of the late Nipsey, the marathon continues.
Who are the TOP 3 people you’d want to meet that could elevate your career or business? Why these specific individuals?
50 Cent because he is a business guru. He came from the bottom and attacked with a plan and that’s something we can relate with.
Jay Z because he is a branding genius for 20 plus years. Plus he will help you make yourself worth more than what they present to you.
Last but not least is Kanye West for his musical genius. How he constructs multiple components into a beat or song is absolutely remarkable.
Drop your social media links.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sirrok.ntl
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/sir_Roche91