BE’N ORIGINAL is not your average entrepreneur. Having always been considered by many, a gifted writer and businessman, in the late 1990s, he began publishing an online newsletter entitled New York Underground while interning at Stress Magazine. Six months later, the opportunity of a lifetime would fall into his lap.
One phone call led to a successful career in journalism that spanned over two decades. An editor for The Source Magazine needed someone who could get on the phone with Ludacris and complete the assignment. However, even with all the clout and privileges writing offered, he was not satisfied. Having studied the music industry since his teenage years, he was far from content.
As The Source Magazine started its downward spiral, he became a contributor to rival hip-hop magazine XXL, the newly launched King Magazine, Vibe, and several online portals, including Allhiphop.com and Yahoo Music! In 2001, BE’N ORIGINAL launched his online media outlet, Urban Magazine.
Though originally launched as an additional revenue source and promotion tool for the magazine, through UMA Marketing and Advertising, he landed lucrative licensing and developmental deals with various major brands, including American Greeting Interactive, and Def Jam.
He also has led and/or contributed to several freelance projects for a wide variety of brands, including The Lyricist Lounge, Rawkus Records, Warner Home Video, EA Sports, Talib Kweli, Necole Bitche, The Jamaican Consulate, DJ Vlad, DJ Sickamore, and Tonya Lewis Lee, while successfully launching the careers of critically acclaimed clients in music, art, and publishing.
After successfully launching his book publishing company, BE’N ORIGINAL has now extended Urban Magazine in the digital format, which has featured a broad range of celebrities, artists, producers, and athletes, including Dame Dash, Mona Scott-Young, Kiyomi McMiller, Alicia Keys, Larenz Tate, Amadeus, Genia, Funky Dineva, Tank, Dondria, Jastin Martin, Reyna Love, Kenny Burns, Kranium, Raiche, Savannah Cristina, and Nick Cannon, as well as cast members from Snowfall, P-Valley, The Chi, Seal Team, NCIS, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Arrow, Starz’s Power Universe, American Soul, Empire, Ballers, and Black-ish.