Co-Produced Chart Topping Song With His Student!!!

Oladele “7G” Kiambu x Kariz Marcel

I met Ola in sixth grade when he joined the MATH+MUSIC=MONEY program at Fallstaff Elementary, a pilot I initiated to address the lack of financial literacy and music education in Baltimore City.

Quiet yet responsive, Ola blossomed into a music enthusiast, inspiring his younger brother along the way. Four years later, at the Artscape Festival, a now 16-year-old Ola approached me, expressing gratitude for igniting his passion for music production. He kept in touch and later excelled in our Beats Not Bullets program for high schoolers, eventually becoming a mentor to others.

Recognized for our work, I secured a grant to offer career opportunities to program alumni, leading Ola to collaborate with me on music projects. In 2017, our collaboration caught the attention of Sony A&R Steve Rhythm, resulting in our first major placement: Jidenna's song "Sou Sou" from his 2019 release. Ola's success mirrors my own, underscoring the impact of investing in youth and sharing blessings to inspire others worldwide.

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Today Ola is working as a head producer at Blakwater Studio's and collaborating with Kariz on a multitude of projects.