Today we’d like to introduce you to LaMar Williams. Them and their team share their story with us below:
LaMar “Finsta” Williams grew up on St. Louis’ South Side.
He honed his MC skills throughout the 1990s as part of the hip-hop group The Ruckus Crew and as host of St. Louis’ longest-running the iconic hip-hop club night, the Hi-Pointe Café, (where up-and-coming artists honed their skills and platinum recording producer scouted for talent) as a part-time on-air personality for a show called, “Phatlaces” with DJ Needles.
He was eventually laid off due to a format change in December of 2004.
His focus turned to the youth in 2003, when he worked with Better Family Life, teaching children from ages 7 to 11 about the world of hip hop: breakdancing, graffiti writing, rapping, and DJing. He then ran a summer program (in 2005 – 2006) with Human Development Corporation for on-the-job training experience with inner-city kids (15-17) and for those that wanted to learn more about the music industry.
He also brings national recording artists to talk with the children at the local Boy & Girls clubs about getting an education and listening to their parents. He joined the Center for Recording Arts staff in 2005 and is an integral part of the teaching team there.
Later that year, he became the Music Director for a Prison Performing Arts (Literacy) program entitled ‘Hip Hop Project Project’ where the kids in the Juvenile Detention Center learned how to write poetry, rhyming skills, and choreographed dance and perform in front of their peers and family.
In 2007, Finsta was called back to the airwaves to host a new show called, ‘STL Home Jamz’ with DJ Sno (after Chingy got too busy to host the show) that was dedicated to showcasing underground artists in St. Louis and surrounding areas. Due to a change in regime in 2011, the show was canceled until further notice.
Continuing as Staff Coordinator at Ch’rewd Marketing, Finsta soon became an account manager for Capitol Records, Interscope Records, and Atlantic Records, among supervising other Major Label account managers as well. In 2005, he was re-hired by Radio-One as a part-time on-air personality and Promotions Assistant.
In 2007, Williams made his exit from Ch’rewd to pursue his own goals in the Entertainment Industry. After a few demands, Finsta started his own Marketing and Promotion company (AMP St. Louis – Authentic Marketing & Promotions) in 2008 working with local, indie, and National record labels until today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For my marketing company, we have been doing pretty well overall until COVID hit.
We had to downsize and relocate our office to cut overhead down just to keep from going under. It was tough but I was very determined to weather the storm.
With so many changing times in the music industry, it has made me very aware of some difficulties keeping the business afloat by pivoting to digital marketing which in my opinion comes a dime a dozen.
With that in mind, we have been doing more artist consulting which helps alongside grassroots marketing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
In a nutshell, I am an advocate of Hip-Hop and preserving the culture.
Whether it’s thru music, hosting, events, or concerts. marketing and promotion. Since I was 7 years old, it has been living in my soul and pours out of my skin at every given moment.
My specialty is my vast knowledge of urban marketing here. I actually receive calls from major label representatives and national concert promotion companies all wanting to pick my brain about the climate in Saint Louis.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Books: 1. Make It Happen: The Hip-Hop Generation Guide to Success by Kevin Liles, 2. Hip Hop: A Cultural Odyssey Book, and 3. Dilla Time: The Life and Afterlife of J Dilla, the Hip-Hop Producer Who Reinvented Rhythm Book by Dan Charnas (Reading now).
Podcast: Questlove Supreme and The Cheat Code with Wendy’s Day.
Pricing:
- Grassroots Marketing starts at $350.00
- National Single Distribution starts at $900.00
- Local Single Distribution starts at $75.00
- Song/Album Registration starts at $40.00
- Local Flyer Campaigns start at $150.00
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ampstlouis
Image Credits
Logo created by Illustrious Visions
