PRESIDENT - N.Esquire Management & Consulting, LLC - [email protected]
HEAD of BUSINESS/LEGAL AFFAIRS - Option to Buy Ent. - [email protected]
SCOUT MANAGER - TooSpoiled.com Modeling site - [email protected]
There is intangibility in music. It is dangerously easy to submerge in it and get lost helplessly in its beauty. The memories Chris recollects as he reveals his childhood embodies this submersion. His first encounter with musics entrancing power was with his father, whose never ending record playing suspends in his thoughts. Sonic winds of The Whispers and Anita baker sailed into his room. However, he had other plans. He confesses, "I remember sneaking off with my older cousin who had the first Scarface CD, the raw version!" Hip-Hop was his secret love.
Quite a few years prior, Christopher Ford was born in Houston, Texas. The southwestern town of Missouri City was a rough neighborhood, and he imagined escaping through sports. His skill in baseball manifested itself. Aspirations to become the next Ken Griffey Junior fueled his hunger. Both parents and his younger brother were his support system. They boasted proudly when he was accepted into Southwest University in 1997. Chris was awarded an academic scholarship, and took out student loans to cover the expense. At this point, he was the only child in his neighborhood to go to college. There he worked zealously at baseball until a torn ACL ripped at the wallpaper of his dreams. Whilst in school in 1998, he borrowed from his parents and put extra hours in at Wal-Mart to buy his first keyboard. He was officially a producer.
He continued with school until 1999 when a friend told him about an internship program in New York where hed worked at Rawkus Records. Eager for a reunion with his first love, he applied and was accepted to attend in Spring 2000. He made a conscience decision that his future lied in music. Through research, numerous phone calls and emails, I discovered an Indie hip-hop label in New York, Jambetta Music... It was there that he learned the ropes, and worked directly with their premier act Tha Supa Group US. Members included Rhyme Animal Steele, (A&R accreditations for The Last Poets, Sky Balla and Freck Billionaire), Bruce Thief In Da Nite Waynne, (production accreditations for Lil Flip and G-Unit went on to sell over 10,000,000 records), and Chris Styles, (production accreditations currently include 50-Cent, Christina Aguilera, Avant and Missy Elliot). Chris recalls, hanging out in the studio w/ (Bruce) Waynne and Slinkco trying to make a beat and hearing a beat Waynne threw together in 3 minutes which was better than anything I had done. I kinda knew the production thing might not be for me and I even told Waynne he needed to start selling his beats and not just hording them for Us. Besides the thousands of agonizing packages, press kits, vinyls and mailers he put together, Chris had the opportunity to work hands-on and observe the inner workings of a well-oiled train. He was right smack in the middle of the music industry capital of the world and was privy to the creative and business aspects, not to mention a few parties now and again. Ford received straight As in the program.
Chris finished up school in 2001, graduated, and came to the realization that he wanted to take on music industry law. Several months and a few student loans later, he found himself at the University of Miami School of Law in 2002. During this time he took a year off and was selected for a position at one of the largest law firms in Houston. In only a few short months he fought his way out of the mailroom and worked directly with the legal experts. After completing school he spent time in Los Angeles. I didn't know anyone when I first got there, just like NY. Chris testifies, I just buried myself in school... Cali gave me time to put my business game together which was very important for me.
In 2005 Chris started his own entertainment management and consulting firm, N.Esquire LLC. He started with 1 music producer and quickly grew to over 30 clients ranging from Artists to stylists and models.
In summer of 2006 whilst perusing through mySpace he ran across a familiar face. Animal Steele, whod began as a clever rapper and marketing mastermind for Tha Supagroup US had gone on to start a middle-management firm for the music and fashion industry. Chris enthusiastically reconnected with Animal and a partnership was born. Animal asserts, I always recognized his talent when he interned at Jambetta. Animal Steele immediately brought Chris on as head of Business and Legal Affairs for his thriving company. Together their collected efforts focus on new clients, fresh talent and promising business endeavors.
