Michael “Michael Stefan” Marshall was born in Suffolk, Virginia in October 1995. He was brought up in a rural setting, where he started questioning life, its meaning, purpose and culture. This is what instigated Michael to make innovative music. Michael says “Music is my therapy. I need it. Anyone who’s seen death close along with drug abuse to those you love without understanding will force you to grow”. Michael takes a different approach to music. He believes that one should always try to be themselves even when approached by obstacles of life. His last song “The Gym” helped him boost his music career; and happened to be the record that put him on CEO Ronnie Wayne radar. Michael Stefan is currently in the studio working with The Chop Gawd preparing for upcoming releases and special projects Black Ink is involved in. As the saying goes, an artist is supposed to reflect the day's and times in which they live (Nina Simone). And Michael Stefan definitely embodies this.
Five Things Michael Stefan wants his fan base, and people to know:
Q: Without music, I would be?
MS: Dope still! GOD has blessed me with several gifts to share with the world, and I'm that vessel in which those gifts are to be shared in its purest form.
Creators Create!
Q: Music is?
MS: Soul Spoken
Q: My music makes me feel?
MS: My Music makes me feel like an expression of my own wholeness,
Q. I write the songs because?
MS: I write and create songs because it's part of my being! it's that simple. It's the part of GOD in me manifested in the body.
Okay, last question.
Q: The Fans Are?
MS: Everything! Period. I share the same, and or very similar life experiences as all my fans and the people on a day to day. Having said that, we share a lot of the same realities and these frustrations, indifferences, and trials in life are thing I frame and bring to life through song which is where
my fans and I, and the people connect together and that's real kinship, shared realities, Yeah the fans, the people are everything!
Black Ink Management & Music Group (BIMMG) had the pleasure of partnering with Lonette McKee in 2013 for the global release of her beautiful album, Superstar. Lonette McKee is a well-known film, television and theater actress, music composer, producer, songwriter, screenwriter and director. Most know her from starring in films such as Jungle Fever, Atl, The Cotton Club, Brewsters Million with Richard Pryor, BET's The Game, and in the original 1976 musical-drama film Sparkle, later remade in 2012 starring Jordan Sparks and the late, great Whitney Houston. It was our pleasure to work with Ms. McKee and we continue to look in awe at the great work she continues to bring forth to the industry and stage.
2009 marked Black Ink's introduction to the world as we planned and rolled out our first release entitled BlackInk MMG Presents featuring brilliant artist, I.E. We partnered with now CEO and founder of Breakpoint Booking, Isaac Gordon, and it was produced by our strategic partner, the one and only Ronnie Gaines (known to many as Champayne Ronnie Gaines). Gaines went on to produce the lions share of BIMMG's November 2010 release of the album entitled The New Old Me. This was a masterpiece from the production to the penmanship of I.E. on the full length album. Gaines also produced the hit single for Snoop Dogg's Bad Girls Of Comedy Comedian, and actress and writer Cookie Hull's Stripper B@@#h in 2017. Then, he surprised everyone, moving from behind the boards to in front of the microphone and produced his very own single "Stuck In The Middle." Ronnie Gaines is currently working on multiple projects that the world will have the opportunity of enjoying soon.
2019 is set to be filled with surprises going into the new year as BIMMG is set to release a new EP featuring none other than Johnny Mulsane, who teased us with the power house single, "Dejavu" in 2017. Coming out of Raleigh, NC, and soon to be a global phenom, is in the studio finishing up touches on the project. What we can expect is something outta the box and we're told there will be something added on this project from our very own CEO Ronnie Wayne. Only time will tell what that something is. The title will be released along with the artwork soon. Be on the the look out for many, many new albums and projects coming from BIMMG and its strategic partners.
Danger--that's what it was in 2011 when we had the opportunity of doing a major label distribution deal with singer and actress Danielle Monique. Danielle had a powered single that switched up the sound and pace of how things were moving sonically in radio. Soon after the 2011 release of "Danger," BIMMG entered into a licensing deal with TouchTunes for the single. TouchTunes is the largest in-venue interactive music and entertainment platform, featured in over 75,000 bars and restaurants across North America and Europe. Having this partnership allowed "Danger" to be added to TouchTunes' music portfolio which allowed her to be featured on their innovative platform. TouchTunes is the first pay-for-play digital jukebox and is being enjoyed by millions today. We continue to support TouchTunes today and look forward to moving more of our major label releases to their platform. TouchTunes: find it today, pay it, and play it.
2011 also brought the release of superstar singer, songwriter and performer Jeai, who brought you the hot single "Callin' Out Your Name" and more. Here, Jennifer Lopez is featured showing love in-store at Best Buy during the release.
2017 had plenty of excitement as we partnered to do something special and out of the box. BIMMG had the opportunity of partnering with comedian, writer, performer and director, Cookie Hull. Known for cracking up fans on Snoop Dogg's Bad Girls of Comedy, and lighting up stages across the country for years. Cookie and BIMMG released With The Price Of Gas and hit single, "Stripper B@@#h" where comedy and reality clashed on record to make history. Cookie was also featured in the 2018 released film, Taco Shop, from the producer of Selena. Cookie continues to be a trailblazer and trendsetter and we look forward to continuing to work with her.
BIMMG partnered with CEO and strategic partner of Tiger Eye Management Group Joshua Pragg (known as JPragg) in 2012 as Tiger Eye released "Ice On Nikes" and "Closer To You" with artist NC ROSE. Nowadays, Tiger Eye and BIMMG are currently in talks to bring forth their next project entitled BLACK-EYE. As we continue to work on the particulars, J-Pragg is staying busy running his multimedia complex in Charlotte, NC, developing artists, creating content and moving his vision forward.