Entertainment

Shawn Prez, Former Bad Boy Exec, Succeeding Solo

Published

10 years ago

June 30, 2015

Oakland Post

Power Moves CEO Shawn Prez (left) and DJ Whoo Kid (Courtesy of RadioPlanetTV)

by Stacy M. Brown
Special to the NNPA from the Washington Informer

Shawn Prez isn’t your typical CEO. He also isn’t the average business owner.

Prez got his start working to help legendary rap mogul P. Diddy build Bad Boy Entertainment Group.

Prez is now the head of his own company, Power Moves Inc., a promotions-oriented enterprise whose clients include EA Sports, And 1, MGM Studios and others.

“I’m an entrepreneur, so for me, I didn’t get into business with less than the expectations of creating a Fortune 500 company,” said Prez, who worked with the late Notorious B.I.G., Ma$e, Black Rob, and others and who has helped to launch the careers of some of hip hops biggest stars.

Working side by side with rap impresario P. Diddy – Sean Combs – presented him with significant business opportunities and the experience he needed to become successful, he said.

“I’ve been blessed to have a company that’s continued to grow over the years. You have to stay humble or life will humble you,” Prez said. “Bad Boy helped me immensely because I was with [Diddy] in the beginning, in the early days building Combs Enterprises.

“But before there was a Sean John, a Justin’s Restaurant or a Ciroc [P. Diddy’s Vodka brand] there were a group of young hungry kids and P. Diddy has been very instrumental in my success because you can go to school and study, but there’s nothing in life like real world experience and I had a front row seat sitting in on key meetings and being a part of building something that’s a part of history” he said.

Starting out as an intern for Bad Boy Entertainment, Prez, a South Bronx native, worked his way up to becoming P. Diddy’s road manager. He eventually became vice president of promotions, earning the affectionate nickname of “P. Diddy’s Ambassador to the Streets.”

The recent unrest in Baltimore over Freddie Gray’s death reminded him of a different time, Prez said.

“I remember having a long conversation with a friend and saying that the generation before us, my parents’ generation, fought for something. They stood for something and there were causes whether it was Women’s Rights or Equal Rights for all races, they were willing to die for their beliefs and many did,” he said.

“History repeats itself. As long as the demonstrations remain pointed in terms of the message, there is hope.”

Prez has also provided another kind of hope, this time for disc jockeys who are finally receiving recognition thanks to the new Global Spin Awards the entrepreneur has founded.

“We still continue to face hardships and face obstacles. For one, the DJs themselves, we had to make this credible for them. As a friend of the DJ community for many years I understand how they think, so we had to come up with a very fair, unbiased and credible award show that the DJs themselves could not question,” he said. “We have now a Grammy Awards for the DJ and the DJ community is growing at an enormous speed. Once upon a time being a DJ wasn’t considered a true career path, now you have young men and girls who want to be a DJ and the best, like Funkmaster Flex, and others are making millions of dollars per year.”

While staying busy with his company and other interests, Prez said he stays close to his family with a son just graduating from Morehouse College in Atlanta.

“I’ve taught my son from Day 1 that you’ve got to get an education and I’ve been educating him since before he was able to speak,” he said. “I try to lead by example and who him the importance of no excuses and making things happen. To see what others don’t see. I’ve had a lot of success on a lot of levels and, as I get older, what’s important in life is the air that we breathe. Everything else is icing on the cake.”

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Related Topics:Bad Boy hip hop music P. Diddy Power Moves Inc.rap music Shawn Prez

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Bo Tefu

Gov. Newsom Highlights Record-Breaking Tourism Revenue, Warns of Economic Threats from Federal Policies

“California dominates as a premier destination for travelers throughout the nation and around the globe,” said Newsom. “With diverse landscapes, top-rate attractions, and welcoming communities, California welcomes millions of visitors every year. We also recognize that our state’s progress is threatened by the economic impacts of this federal administration, and are committed to working to protect jobs and ensure all Californians benefit from a thriving tourism industry.”

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Oakland Post

iStock.

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom, along with the nonprofit organization Visit California, announced that tourism spending in California reached a record $157.3 billion in 2024, reinforcing the state’s status as the top travel destination in the United States.

The Governor made the announcement May 5, referencing Visit California’s 2024 Economic Impact Report, which highlights a 3% increase in tourism revenue over the previous year.

According to the report, California’s tourism sector supported 1.2 million jobs, generated $12.6 billion in state and local tax revenues, and created 24,000 new jobs in 2024.

Despite the gains in tourism revenue, Visit California’s revised 2025 forecast points to a 1% decline in total visitation and a 9.2% decrease in international travel. The downturn is attributed to federal economic policy and what officials are calling an impending “Trump Slump,” caused by waning global interest in traveling to the United States.

To offset projected losses, the Governor is encouraging Californians to continue traveling within the state and has launched a new campaign aimed at Canadian travelers.

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Activism

BOOK REVIEW: The Afterlife of Malcolm X

Betty Shabazz didn’t like to go to her husband’s speeches, but on that February night in 1965, he asked her to come with their daughters to the Audubon Ballroom in New York. Did Malcolm X sense that something bad would happen on that night? Surely. He was fully aware of the possibility, knowing that he’d been “a marked man” for months because of his very public break with the Nation of Islam.

Published

3 days ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Book Cover of the Afterlife of Malcolm X. Courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Author: by Mark Whitaker, c.2025, Simon & Schuster, $30.99, 448 pages

Who will remember you in fifty years’ time?

A handful of friends – at least those who are still around – might recall you. Your offspring, grandkids, and greats, maybe people who stumble upon your tombstone. Think about it: who will remember you in 2075? And then read “The Afterlife of Malcolm X” by Mark Whitaker and learn about a legacy that still resonates a half-century later.

As the news of his murder spread around New York and around the world, his followers and admirers reacted in many ways. His friend, journalist Peter Goldman, was “hardly shocked” because he also knew that Malcolm’s life was in danger, but the arrest of three men accused of the crime didn’t add up. It ultimately became Goldman’s “obsession.”

Malcolm’s co-writer for The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Alex Haley, quietly finished the book he started with Malcolm, and a small upstart publishing house snatched it up. A diverse group of magazines got in line to run articles about Malcolm X’s life, finally sensing that White America “’needed his voice even more than Blacks did.’”

But though Malcolm X was gone, he continued to leave an impact.

He didn’t live long enough to see the official founding of the Black Panther Party, but he was influential on its beginning. He never knew of the first Kwanzaa, or the triumphs of a convert named Muhammad Ali.

Malcolm left his mark on music. He influenced at least three major athletes.

He was a “touchstone” for a president …

While it’s true that “The Afterlife of Malcolm X” is an eye-opening book, one that works as a great companion to the autobiography, it’s also a fact that it’s somewhat scattered. Is it a look at Malcolm’s life, his legacy, or is it a “murder mystery”?

Turns out, it’s all three, but the storylines are not smooth. There are twists and tangents and that may take some getting used-to. Just when you’re immersed, even absorbed in this book, to the point where you forget about your surroundings, author Mark Whitaker abruptly moves to a different part of the story. It may be jarring.

And yet, it’s a big part of this book, and it’s essential for readers to know the investigation’s outcome and what we know today. It doesn’t change Malcolm X’s legacy, but it adds another frame around it.

If you’ve read the autobiography, if you haven’t thought about Malcolm X in a while, or if you think you know all there is to know, then you owe it to yourself to find “The Afterlife of Malcolm X.”

For you, this is a book you won’t easily forget.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

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Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.