Hip hop pros Shanti Das and Marlon Nichols used their ATL Live on the Park platform to present “Hip Hop Pro” awards to Atlanta’s top industry movers and shakers including Malissa “Mali” (the Boss) Hunter. She is partner and GM of Treesound, producers of OWN TV’s Flex and Shanice show and 11 Alive News Atlanta & Company celebrity chef. She’s known for private industry dinners, her ad agency, as a label consultant, and being all things to the hip hop community, helping artists all the way to mainstream success.
Shanti Das introduced Hunter as a sister, friend and someone she met and instantly felt like she knew for a lifetime. The other honorees were Ayisha Obafemi (“Hip Hop Legend”), Devyne Stephens (“Hip Hop Pro Pioneer”), Keinon Johnson (“Hip Hop Trendsetter”), Jennifer Drake (“Hip Hop Pro Legend”), and Hurricane Dave (“Hip Hop Pro Trailblazer”).
Every year, Das pays homage to the hip hop community and to the people in Atlanta that are making things happen consistently who probably get overlooked at bigger events like the BET Hip Hop Awards. People like Das, Marlon Nichols, Rico Wade, Derek Harper (program director for Praise and 107.9), and DJ JOne (who is very instrumental in organizing events like “Birthday Bash”) have to be recognized for their local efforts that in turn do help mainstream artists, as well.
I think it’s great that Das and Nichols have this annual event at ATL Live on the Park, in addition to the monthly event that’s held at the same location the second Tuesday of each month. The regularly scheduled event features R&B and real singers accompanied by a live band as participants eat and drink the night away.
Check out the photo gallery, after the break.
