the year was 2008. the individuals you see pictured here birthed an era of digital content that would blueprint the essence of building an independent platform. additionally, each of these trailblazers developed successful online media that created a path for the many others who have come over the past 10 years.
during this period of time, we were a youthful, bright eyed, intelligent group of creatives who were more concerned with sharing personal narratives, talent & social commentary than we were focused on “numbers” or gimmicks to draw public attention.
these are the faces of a movement – one that would execute just HOW to create videos & blog posts that were entertaining but still informative. this group of LEGENDARY & PIONEERING individuals exhibited levels of social consciousness & real life storytelling that would inspire an entire generation of then teens & other twenty somethings who were otherwise feeling lost, alone & desperately searching for someone who shared their personal struggles.
WE paved the way for every single blogger, podcast host, web series writer, director + actor, “out rapper”, website owner, youtube creator/personality & other self identified public figure you see or watch online to this day.
when we came along, there were no other already established VISUAL “personalities” whose coat tails we could ride or COPY in order to secure ourselves an audience. every viewer, reader or “fan” who supported our platforms, did so based on the authenticity of our individual merits. no one was pretending to be the friend of well known online figures in order to secure themselves an opportunity.
make no mistake about it ladies & gentlemen… these faces framed the golden era of online content.
honor each one of them by combing the internet to see the videos, skits, clips, interviews and blog posts that planted the seed for what social media in our community has become today.
1. B SCOTT of lovebscott.com
2. DERRICK L. BRIGGS of the trailblazing ADTV
3. XEM VANADAMS of xemvanadams.com
4. KEVIN & MAKAEL of “the skorpion show”
8. BRIAN PATRICK DAVIS of concreteloop.com
11. TRON of whatsthet.com
12. LONNELL WILLIAMS of 3lwTV
14. ANDRE ALLEN of andresflava
15. DJ DOO DIRTY of “the doo dirty show” (radio) – first of its kind.
NOT PICTURED: Brandon aka “Miss. Prada” – now known as JOANNE THE SCAMMER, Darryl Stephens, Jensen Atwood & the cast of “Noah’s Arc”, Quincy Lenear, Deondray Gossett & the cast of “DL Chronicles”, Adam Irby of “AdamsWEBlog”, Dwight Allen O'Neal of “Christopher Street: the series”, Nathan7Scott & Joseph Flownery (JoWork).
*if I have missed anyone who was relevant to that pioneering 2007-2008 era, it is by genuine mishap. feel free to call their names!
gracieabrams
ellievsbear
tankhall
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