I
can’t begin to say how excited we
were to secure Steve Lobel for a
feature within Urban Grandstand. As someone who dreamed as
a child of working in the entertainment industry, he’s someone
I sure followed along the way. When many others were literally
playing games, Steve was running things, making things happen
not only for himself, but for so many others. Coming from Cleveland, I watched, almost first hand, as he helped create some of
the biggest opportunities for Bone Thugs N Harmony as a group,
as well as each member in their solo efforts. He’s worked with
a wide variety of other artists in addition to them, but his history
began well before that. Brought into the fold of entertainment by
the legendary Jam Master Jay, the same love, respect, and admiration he shows for helping artists build their brands and careers
was extended to him by one of the greatest. Actually growing up
with Jam and Run DMC, he saw first hand from some of the best
to ever do it just what it took to survive in this industry. Now, having been in this business for nearly three decades, he’s working
to sharpen his brand even more, and not only continue offering
greater opportunities, but show the younger generation just what
the business of music is all about. The magic that he has brought
to this industry is unparalleled. This article is a way for him to
showcase his world, and it’s an opportunity for us to honor a man
who anyone interested in any part of the music business should
know. It’s our chance to salute the incomparable Steve Lobel!
ugd exclusive
UG Digital Mag: This is an amazing opportunity connecting with
someone like yourself. You’ve done so much here in this industry
that we can’t help but learn from you. It’s a great opportunity to
emphasize the things you’ve done for those who have followed,
and it helps to continue to introduce you to those who have in a
sense been under a rock. You go back a number of years, and
the positivity from many artists comes from them having worked
with you. What does it do for you to know that you have left that
type of impact, when you’re still building?
Steve Lobel: To be honest with you, if people don’t who I am, it’s
OK. I do have a resume in stripes, and that’s what I try to tell the
younger generation. Hard work pays off, and you have to build a
resume. You have to put that work in to become who you want to
be. I’m just blessed. I’m a man of my word, and I’ve worked hard.
I’ve done a lot and it’s a gift and a curse. I’m blessed, but humbled to work with so many different people from different eras,
genres, and states so to speak, from Bone Thugs N Harmony in
Cleveland, to Run DMC in New York, to Nipsey Hussle in Los Angeles, to Sean Kingston in Miami. Three Six Mafia in Tennessee,
Fat Joe in the Bronx, so on and so forth.