Newcomer Abir Mixes North African Music with Pop

Jelani Wray, also known as Lani, is the entrepreneur behind Wray’s Caribbean and Seafood Cuisine in Brooklyn. For the last five years, he has been in charge of the overall smooth functioning of the restaurant, from coordinating staff to ensuring customer satisfaction. Jelani Wray is also the music production manager at Brooklyn’s Humble King Records, where he handles all talent sourcing and is on the lookout for new talent.

One new and upcoming artist on the music scene is Morocco-born Abir. Raised in Arlington, Virginia, she mixes the influence of her North African heritage into her unique style. Abir made some of her earliest music appearances in 2015, when she teamed up with rapper Fabolous and producer Illmind. After those successes, she collaborated with Masego to create her solo debut, Wave.

Abir released her second EP, Heat, in August 2020, which included the track Inferno. The EP showcases her impressive vocal talent as well as her stark deviation from what the Muslim-Arab culture she is from expects a woman to be.

Ackee and Saltfish – National Dish of Jamaica

A graduate of Lincoln University, Jelani (Lani) Wray holds a bachelor of arts in music, business, and marketing. Jelani Wray serves as a music production manager at Humble King Records and the owner of Wray’s Caribbean and Seafood Cuisine in Brooklyn, New York.

Caribbean cuisine takes inspiration from global flavors, mixing elements of African, Indian, Creole, Cajun, and European food to create its own signature dishes. A popular menu item at Wray’s is the ackee ‘n saltfish, which is the national dish of Jamaica. Traditionally served as a breakfast or brunch on the weekend or special occasions, ackee and saltfish involves sauteeing saltfish (codfish) with ackee, a Jamaican fruit that grows in clusters on an evergreen tree. The dish also includes combination of onions, thyme, red bell peppers, black pepper, and pimiento, and is traditionally served with a side of collard greens and fried plantains.

To view the full menu at Wray’s Caribbean Seafood Cuisines, visit www.wraysrestaurant.com/menu.

How to Get the Attention of a Music A&R

Since January 2020, Jelani Wray has worked as a music production manager at Humble King Records. Previously Jelani Wray worked as head and director of A&R at FreeForm Productions.

A&R stands for artists and repertoire. A music A&R is responsible for several things. First, talent discovery and signing the talent to the label. A music A&R also nurtures the talent, oversees the recording, and handles marketing and promotion activities.

For a musical talent, getting the attention of an A&R could lead to building a career in music. For a musician or a band to get the attention of an A&R, they must be aware of their brand. Beyond the ability to perform and make music, a musical talent must have a distinct image or project a unique message.

Musical talents should also build a strong fanbase. One of the best ways to do this is creating music videos on YouTube and then using social media to spread the word. This is in addition to the more traditional approach of increasing visibility by simply playing lots of shows.

The last piece of advice for music talent is to get connected. Interact with other artists and people in the industry, such as producers, DJs, and agents. One of these connections could lead to an A&R taking notice.

What Does an A and R Person Do?

Jelani “Lani” Wray is the music production manager of Humble King Records in Brooklyn, New York. In that role, Jelani Wray interacts with the label’s A & R (artists and repertoire) staff. The responsibilities of an A & R person involve many aspects of a solo performer or band’s career.

Considered the gatekeepers of the recording industry, A & R representatives serve three main functions: finding undiscovered or established talent, taking charge in the studio, and promoting artists. They help hone an artist’s sound and image and act as a go-between for the label and the performer. For those who do not write their own material, an A & R rep will find suitable songs for them or match them with a songwriter.

A particular A & R person’s job description depends on their experience and their employers’ practices. At a major label, entry-level duties include going to shows, listening to song demos, and reading reviews. At a higher level, they make final selections and craft contracts. A top-ranking A & R person sees to the label’s overall reputation.

Although in recent years some artists have started their own labels and bypassed the A & R system, A & R representatives still play a crucial role in bringing new performers to the public attention.

Overview of the Role of an Artist and Repertoire Professional

A resident of Brooklyn, NY, Jelani “Lani” Wray studies music, business, and marketing at Lincoln University. Jelani Wray serves as a music production manager with Humble King Records and is an experienced artist & repertoire (A&R) professional with a history of successfully developing and signing artists to iconic record labels.

Historically, the role of an A&R professional was focused on selecting and nurturing artists and was as a position held within a record company. However, modern-day A&R professionals do not always work for record companies. Instead, they can work independently in managing and promotional positions within the music industry.

Most A&R’s are musicians themselves or have sufficient musical background to understand how artists are developed. They also typically have advanced knowledge of the creative processes involved with producing and marketing music. A&R’s are involved in several different aspects of the music industry and responsible for scouting for talent, making recommendations to record companies, and signing artists to labels. Some A&R professionals also work on smaller record labels and directly with musicians and bands to assist them with developing and marketing their music to their fans.

The Full-Bodied Quality of Traditional Jamaican Rum

Based in Brooklyn, Jelani “Lani” Wray is a music production manager who also owns and operates Wray’s Caribbean and Seafood Cuisine. Among the unique breakfast menu items Jelani Wray offers are catfish or chicken waffles, with the waffles infused with Jamaican rum.

A tradition in Jamaica dating back to the mid-18th century, there were approximately 100 distilleries across the island nation in the heyday of the late 1800s. Although there are relatively few distilleries remaining, they are still known for the superior quality of their product.

Traditional Jamaican rum is made from molasses, a thick liquid that remains after boiling sugar-cane juice and removing the commercially sold sugar crystals. Distillation is through pot-stills rather than column stills, which creates a more robust flavor compared with rums from neighboring Spanish-speaking islands.

Another distinct aspect of Jamaican rum is that evaporation of spirits kept in barrels occurs much faster than in Northern European countries. What this means in practice is that a Caribbean rum barrel-aged for two decades has the same maturity level as a 60-year old single-malt Scotch.

Leading makers such as Appleton Estate combine several varieties of sugar cane to create a full-bodied flavor that can have notes ranging from buttery to toasted. When aged in oak, the mature rum has a complex, smooth quality with distinctive vanilla notes.

Wray’s Caribbean and Seafood Cuisine features a number of signature drinks that incorporate Jamaican rum.