Today we’d like to introduce you to Tahj “Almighty” Wilson.
Hi Tahj, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, My name is Tahj Wilson, professionally known as Almighty. And I am the President and CEO of Grade A+ Ent. My love for music started back when I was two years old in Jesus Deliverance Ministries in Ft. Lauderdale Fl. The pastor of our church would sit me behind the church’s drummer while he would play during praise and worship. The entire time I would simply watch what he would do, taking notes of every hand placement, fill, etc. One Sunday morning he didn’t show up for service, and I adjusted the seat so that I could reach the pedals, and I played with the band the entire service. From there my love for music just happened. It was a love-at-first-sight love story.
When I was in the second grade, My teacher submitted my name to participate in the Clayton County Performing Arts Center’s Black history month tribute. I was selected to sing “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke. When I finished singing the song, the entire crowd was on their feet. The standing ovation spoke volumes to me as a 7-year-old, the fact that music and my voice could bring so much emotion to people spoke volumes, I never wanted to leave the stage after that. I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. That performance led to me participating in school musicals as well as major plays within the state.
In January 2011, I attended a convention in Orlando, Fl that would change my life forever. At this convention, I met a young woman by the name of Fatmata Kamara-Saad (Formerly Fatmata Kamara), who at the time was a talent scout for Buchwald Talent Agency. She convinced my mother and me to take a trip to Los Angeles, California to meet her bosses and to interview with other agencies. We decided to take make a full relocation from Atlanta to Los Angeles, after receiving callbacks from 7 agencies at the convention, five of which were in Los Angeles. Upon moving to Los Angeles, I signed with Buchwald under Pamela Fisher and Chrissy Metz who was at the time a commercial talent agent before she became a TV star. after being at Buchwald for about 2 years, My agent Pamela notified me that she and Fatmata were moving to a different agency, Abrams Artist Agency, now A3. She then told my mother and me that she wanted to take me with her. and we made the switch.
Now my big break didn’t happen overnight, I went on hundreds of auditions before striking gold. I remember receiving call back after call back, getting to the final stage with director meetings, and just not closing out until one day it finally happened. In 2015, I booked my first major role. It was a guest star appearance on Shameless. That episode ended up being the most-watched episode that season as well as in the history of the show. We all felt that it would blossom into a recurring role. Unfortunately, nothing in this industry is ever guaranteed, and it didn’t pan out that way. None the less we were back pounding the pavement auditioning. Eventually, the following pilot season was scarce, as studios weren’t really grabbing new shows as they usually did. I began to suffer burn out and I needed a break. This was when my mother and I decided to take a step back and relocated back to South Florida.
Upon relocating, I graduated high school and attended college at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. When I started college I didn’t want to study anything related to film or music. I told my Mom, I wanted to study something normal. (laughs). My focus in the beginning years of college was getting my political science degree and football. Unfortunately leading into my sophomore year I got hurt. I worked hard in Physical therapy over the summer and fall, to prepare to get back that spring. Everything was looking positive and optimistic. Then the world changed completely, while on spring break we entered into a global pandemic that shut the world down.
The Pandemic was a blessing that looked like a curse. During the pandemic, I was able to regain my love and passion for creativity and the arts. I started writing music again and fell back in love with my first love. The pandemic redirected me from football, back into my true purpose.
The following fall I decided to look into getting a minor in music. I was able to get pick up a minor in Commercial Music Business. This minor encapsulated my goal since I was a little boy, which was to own a record label. Along with completing my degree, I was able to revive our school’s campus radio station, by creating a show that was designed to highlight the culture and to bring attention to underground local artists. The show proved to be a major success and has continued to be even more successful since my departure post-graduation in 2022.
While on the show I felt a calling to do something that would provide artists the opportunity to be showcased to the world and to record labels, giving them the opportunity to get signed. I prayed about this several times, and I initially did not want to do this because I knew all the work that it would take, I was starting law school in the fall of 2022, and I did not need that extra pressure in my life. but the choice was not mine.
While in law school in December of 2022, I founded my company Grade A+ Ent. as a root that can grow and blossom into every possible branch of entertainment and Sports. After two years of planning and prepping we are having our First Artist showcase, “The Next Gen Artist Showcase” on April 1st, 2023. The showcase will show a diverse mix of unsigned rappers, singers, and reggaeton artists.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. When I started this company and decided to do the showcase I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I work from sun up till sundown, researching, finding, and getting in contact with different executives and industry personnel.
The most difficult part however has been getting the artist to not trust in the company and what we are doing, but to truly trust in themselves, as artists, and to bet on themselves.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Grade A+ Ent. is an Entertainment company that provides quality entertainment a cut above the rest. We specialize in providing opportunities for unsigned artists to be discovered by major record labels, and key industry personnel by performing for them live at our artist showcases. The showcase is geared towards putting the artist at the forefront and providing executives the ability to see how well-rounded an artist is. This helps the labels to make a decision on whether the artist would be a great fit in their system and how much they would have to invest for the artists to be successful. What sets us apart from others is that we eliminate the pressure and the idea that Artists are competing against each other for a grand prize.
We have structured the showcase to allow for the artist to present themselves and their art in the best way possible. And puts pressure on the labels to beat each other to the punch of signing an artist they love. We are most proud of our authenticity, and providing new, daring, and quality entertainment. We pride ourselves in the quality of the artists we present and work with. When providing services to an artist or label, we tailor our lineup or project to those individuals, as an atelier does with a suit.
Nothing we provide service-wise is off the rack, because quality will always outlast quantity. Aside from our showcases, we offer production services, songwriting services, and business and creative project management for artists and labels alike. This summer we will be launching merchandise as well so be on the lookout for that.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Yes, I have. What I learned over the pandemic is that life is like water, at any given moment it can shift or change, the tide can get heavy, and the restrictions may get tight, but you as a person living life, have to be able to shapeshifter just like water.
You have to be able to bend, expand and be unsettled, cause as long as you maintain fluidity, you maintain who you are despite changing circumstances.
Pricing:
- Services are all personally tailored.
- Event tickets are $25.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/grdaent?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Other: https://instagram.com/iiix.almighty?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Image Credits
Moni Rè
