Up-and-coming indie hip hop/reggae artist Dez Nado announced earlier today that he was one of the few artists selected to perform at this year’s BET Hip Hop Awards. The event is held annually at the Atlanta Civic Center in midtown Atlantaand is part of a full weekend of highly publicized events collectively regarded as the “Super Bowl” of hip hop. Past Hip Hop Awards performers have included several big names in the hip hop world such as Lil’ Wayne, T-Pain, Outkast, Ludacris,2 Chainz, Kanye West, Eminem, and more major artists as well as rising independent artists who are gaining the industry’s attention. Dez Nado is the first and only indie rap artist from Florida to be selected to perform at the Awards, which will be hosted by hip hop legend Snoop Dogg and televised nationally on the BET Network Tuesday, October 13th at 8pm EST.
The BET Hip Hop Awards has become a staple event not only to the hip hop community here in the U.S. but to international music industry executives, artists, and fans throughout the world. The Awards event regularly gives several rising independent stars a chance to shine in the national spotlight between the performances of A-listers like J Cole,Drake, and Atlanta’s own breakout star Future. Dez said that he felt “blessed” and is looking forward to representing the state of Florida this year during BET’s famed Red Carpet Experience, which is one of the aforementioned segments that will be filmed and televised as the stars arrive at the Awards. The local rapper neither confirmed nor denied the rumor that being selected to perform at such a premier, red carpet event like the 2015 BET Hip Hop Awards means he’s close to inking a deal with a major label, stating that “right now anything can happen, [the independent artists selected] are competing for a chance to achieve a dream in front of the people with the power to make that happen”.
Dez, who graduated from UCF in 2013, is most known in central/north Florida for producing and starring in his own locally airing, cable reality TV series “Life & Grind” (airs Sundays at 8pm on the Bounce network). He remarked that he felt “slightly nervous, but confident and relieved” when he first heard the news.
“A year ago, I was just starting a new TV show to showcase the talent here in town, like myself, that very few people even know about, now I’m performing on national TV at the Hip Hop Awards”, he commented.
Benefiting from a noteworthy buzz that more and more people are picking up on, Dez Nado gave credit to the supporters of his TV program, “Life & Grind”, which highlights independent musicians and entertainers and gives viewers a firsthand look into their daily efforts to “make it big”. Support for Dez’s movement is evidenced by his recent accomplishments, including being named 2014 Artist of the Year over other artists like YMCMB’s T-Rone, and heavy hitter Swordz by Jacksonville’s hip hop music hub duvalhiphop.com, being nominated twice (2013 & 2014) for Best Male Hip Hop Artist at the Georgia Music Awards, and being featured on daytime television show “The Chat” (ABC25/NBC12; viewable atwww.whoisdeznado.com) following the success of his TV show becoming the most watched new program on the Bounce Network for Fall 2014.
Currently working on an independent project featuring Lola Monroe of Wiz Khalifa’s Taylor Gang, Caskey of YMCMB, and Super Bowl XLVIII halftime performer Bruno Mars, Dez stated that he intends to take full advantage of the opportunity to perform in front of the industry’s heavyweights as well as a national television audience, with the ultimate goal being to “put central and north Florida on the map” in the often overlooked and under-appreciated genre of indie hip hop.
For info on the Awards, passes to attend, or info on Dez Nado, please contact VIPSquad Entertainment atvipsquadent@gmail.com, or visit his website http://www.whoisdeznado.com and/or http://www.facebook.com/deznado, or contact manager J Scott at 904-651-7960. Season 1 and 2 of “Life & Grind” can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/LifeGrindDuval
PR/Event Inquiries:
Jay
JSPR Firm
vipsquadent@gmail.com
(904)651-7960
J Scott
Media Relations, VIPSquad Entertainment, L.L.C.
904-651-7960
vipsquadent@gmail.com
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