We’re concluding our year-long celebration of our 25th Anniversary, between our three e-zines, T M H Entertainment, T M Hxone and Urban Bridgez
In 1998 Aries launched The Music Hall (T M H), a message-board named after the home-made mixtapes given to family and friends when he was younger.
T M H rapidly grew to a full-fledge entertainment website in 1999 named T M H Entertainment.
T M H expanded in the realms of fan-sites by creating sites especially designed for promoting artists new projects. Aries worked day in and out creating sites online viewers would notice.
T M H Fansites, eventually turned into doing official websites for record labels and artists management. Later venturing out to work for corporations and major brands.
T M H Entertainment went on to develop a plethora of websites for artists such as Kandi, Alicia Keys, LaFace Records, Lil’ Mo, Mint Condition, official fan-sites for recording artist Monica through J Records and R&B group 702 through Universal/Motown.
T M H also launched the Official Website of comedian Katt Williams and the Official Fansite, later named the Official Website for Grammy winning recording artist Faith Evans.
Since then, as Urban Bridgez Group, has continued to help companies, talent and labels shine online.
UBG‘s team of web designers have also created original, creative & professional websites and content for some of the biggest brands in the entertainment business.
Including Brandy, Music World Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, Sony Music and more.
ReVisit The T M H Websites, which some may have never known, was full of drama at various times!
Shanice World Fansite (1999)
Shanice World was the first fan-site Aries made, for his favorite singer at the time. The website launched in time for the release of Shanice’s 1999 self-titled LaFace debut.
“Shanice World,” was visited by Shanice’s family whom Aries became acquainted with via the message board. The success of Shanice’s fan-site led her assistant to invite Aries to meet Shanice while she was on tour with *N’Sync.
His chance came on her final night on the tour in Atlanta. Aries interviewed Shanice for the site and the two became friends.
Pure Faith – Faith Evans Official Fansite (2000)
Aries started a fansite for Faith Evans in 2000, after he noticed she did not have an official website and her label site, was nothing impressive.
After opening the fan-site for Faith Evans, Aries was determined to meet someone from Faith’s camp to let them know of the site. Faith happened to be visiting Aries home in the Twin Cities for a concert. With his driven nature in overdrive, his dream came true when he met Todd Russaw, Faith’s manager and then-husband. He gave him the site information and in return was invited to Faith’s after party.
This chance meeting eventually led to phone calls placed to Aries to create Faith’s official site for her third album, “Faithfully.” In the meantime the fansite, would now be known as the official fan-site. Todd Russaw and his team was now providing the info for the website.
Faith Evans Official Website (2001)
In 2001, Faith Evans first ever official website faithfullyfaith.com debuted in time for the release of the album. The site was designed and maintained by T M H Entertainment. That wasn’t all, T M H also had creative and full control of the site. In English terms, not even Bad Boy Entertainment, could go in and access or modify the site content without T M H Entertainment‘s permission.
Aries selected all of the domains for the website and T M H paid for them. Which included: faithfullyfaith.com, faith-evans.com and the one she still uses faithevansonline.com
Things turned sour on the business front in 2005, when Faith signed to EMI. In that transition her new label wanted full access to her website. While negotiating the terms with T M H, Todd’s then assistant pulled some trickery thievery. Which resulted in our domain being stolen.
You’ll have to stay tuned for the upcoming T M H/UBG documentary next year, in honor of UBG’s 20th Anniversary for the full story with receipts.
Official Brandy Fan Forum (2001)
Official Brandy My Space (2007)
After meeting Sonja B. Norwood, Aries began working with The Norwoods, in 2001. First being an administrator on Brandy‘s official message board, followed by designing and maintaining her official MySpace Page. At the time, the popular social media platform took the place of official sites.
Official Sonja B. Norwood Website (2010)
Official Ray-J Site (2010)
Official Brandy Website (2010)
By the time UBG launched in 2005, Ray J was planning to release his first independent album “Raydiation.” Through his brand Knockout, Ray J signed on for multi-media projects with Urban Bridgez Group.
“UBG! Man I’m speechless. I mean out here I just got moms, me and the Knockout crew, so it’s like nine of us. But with y’all, we’re beating them. It’s more of us together!” – Ray J
Ray J, also thanks Aries and UBG in the liner notes; “Thanks to Aries and UBG, for Online Promotions!”
That included roll-out marketing, biographers, logos, radio campaigns, and standard marketing promo. UBG‘s work relationship continued with the family, when Aries was asked to help design and operate the official websites for Brandy, Ray J and Sonja Norwood. As the family geared up to start filming the VH1 reality series “A Family Business.”
“P!nk’s World” was another fansite, Aries made for the emerging artist at the time. Drawn to female singer/songwriters, P!nk first caught Aries attention, while interning at LaFace when she was apart of a group called Choice. Aries instantly fell in love with her voice from the sampler.
Aries met P!nk at an album singing at Mall of America and after a brief conversation, he was even more of a fan. So T M H had to be on board with the promotion to help push her debut.
Official 702 Fan Site (2002)
Aries worked with Todd Russaw who managed 702 during this project and executive produced the final album. T M H ran their official fansite and played a huge role in marketing and promotion for the album. Aries got the opportunity of a lifetime, when he happend to be in NYC for the VMA’s and visiting 702’s label when their photos came in.
The photo shoots were in support of the new album “Star,” Aries along with the groups product manager selected all of the promotional photos, including the cover-art for the lead single “Star.”
Monica’s World Official Fansite (2002)
During the Monica “All Eyez on Me” pre roll-out, T M H’s (UBG) fansite “Monica’s World,” was named the official fansite by J Records.
In that time, T M H fell into a blame game with Monica’s team and J Records. Till this day we have never publicly spoke in detail on it. We have an upcoming project in development that we finally speak on this situation as well.
For those not familiar, here’s the breakdown; J Records sent us a 6 song advance of songs from “All Eyez on Me.” With that, we were to select three that would be the focus tracks on the website.
A week after those singles were uploaded to the site, the tracklisting of the full album was revealed on retailer websites.
On Monica’s official website, her lead single “All Eyez on Me” was being streamed from J Records server. In the early days of streaming, it was a hyper link you would see in your browser, like the website URLs.
Once the tracklisting was revealed, some fans changed the name of the “All Eyez on Me,” to let’s say “U Deserve” and bam the song would start playing. The entire album was uploaded to the labels media website, which we had access to and could literally see the files.
So that is what caused the album to leak, many say it’s the reason for the reworked “After The Storm,” while others say it was an excuse, because the album already had two failed singles. Regardless, once the album leaked due to one of Monica’s die hard local fans, we were blamed.
How the story goes; Monica’s former manager and aunt Melinda Dancil was approached at church by said fan. Who went on to say, the leak was our fault because we had the advance album and bragged about it online. Take in mind again, we had a 6 track disc.
For whatever reason, Monica’s management then decided to use us as the scapegoat and J Records, allowed them to do so by not admitting fault.
So with that, we decided to quit doing the fansite and notified J Record with a letter (email) stating why we were no longer working with them nor supporting them or their acts. Needless to say we were pissed! However, what made matters worse was Monica herself.
Monica was interviewed by Ron Hall, then admin of the fansites Monica2000 and the Monica Digital Network. A T M H hater (more on that in the upcoming doc), so he got the opportunity to interview Monica while this was going on. The excerpts are below (we also have the audio).
“In a special interview with UrbanFanWorld and the Monica Digital Network, Monica took the time to talk to the sites’ own Ron about her music, the demise of Monicasworld, her visible fans, and Christianity.
The day of the interview, a statement by TMHEntertainment made it clear he was no longer promoting Monica or any J Records artist, “…effective immediately we will not be promoting them or their artists on our site. Yes Monica has been replaced for June AOM with Beyonce.’” – but it had also been stated by fans in contact with Monica’s management AND J Records that both parties had terminated their relationship, meaning TMH would no longer receive any artist updates to even put on his site, raising questions.
Ron asked Monica how she felt about the TMH Episode in reference to Monicasworld.com. “He put out a mixture of good and bad….I felt like if somebody’s gonna work with me or for me, that there definitely has to be positive people that reflect the things I reflect, so, if they don’t, they just have to go.”
That was the problem from T M H’s stand point, Monica speaking on a situation she clearly didn’t have all of the facts about. She gave the interviewer exactly what he wanted and that disappointed us. Not so much, that we felt it was just plain wrong, but also disloyal. T M H only did websites for our favorite artists, the ones we felt deserved all of the shine possible. That started with our founder Aries who was the biggest Monica fan from day one.
So for Monica to speak on it in the way she did was disappointing that she sided with a culture vulture instead of black owned T M H, like current day with websites. Celebs like Monica are still doing the same thing, but on a larger level. But that’s another conversation for another time.
J Records took responsibility some years later and we resumed our relationship with them. They put Aries on Monica’s Top Friends list, on the at the time poppin’ MySpace as a good gesture.
Usher World Fansite (2000)
T M H’s “Usher World” also started out as a promotional tool for the artist and was later tarnished with thievery. As a huge Usher fan, Aries made the site for the superstar at the height of his mainstream success.
Originally set up to promote his album “All About U” album in 2000. After a leak, the album was reworked and later renamed to “8701.”
After the site blew up and became a staple for Usher fans, in a way unlike previous Usher fansites, Usher’s mother reached out to Aries. You’ll have to stay tuned for the upcoming T M H/UBG documentary next year, in honor of UBG’s 20th Anniversary for the full story with receipts.
What can be said now, is after J Pat’s demand, not request wasn’t done. Usher’s management had the website pulled down. Anytime a talent is copyrighted that can easily happen if they put in a request to the hosting company. In return, his management stole our name “Usher World” and added “the one and only official Usher website.”
Till this day, Usher’s official website is usherworld.com
Official Katt Williams Site (2004)
In 2004, Aries interviewed comedian/actor Katt Williams, in support of NBC’s “The Tracy Morgan Show.” During the interview, Katt mentioned needing a new website. After a short conversation, Aries was asked by Katt Williams during the interview to design his official website.
Aries (T M H): Any last words for your fans? Katt Williams: Like what? (laughs) Tell them to be looking out for the Secret Pimps Society clothing line & to check out my website which will be up and running soon by T M H Entertainment, www.kattwilliams.com.
The Website launched in fall of 2004, the website also featured music. As Katt Williams was gearing up to record an album.
10 Million Strong – Mint Condition Fansite (2001)
Aries history with Mint Condition, starts with their Minnesota connection & graduating from St Paul Central.
It officially started with our fansite “10 Million Strong.” We started the fansite in 1999 in support of Mint Condition‘s fourth album release “Life’s Aquarium.” The site featured news, music, contest, exclusive content, polls, a popular MC fan forum and more.
T M H/UB Picture taken at Urban Lights (St Paul, MN), Mint Condition album signing 1999.T M H/UB Mint Condition autographs.
Todd Russaw and his team at Pedigree MGI were planning on more projects outside of Faith Evans. Which included a solo album from 702 member Meelah. T M H prepped their business site.
Other Notable T M H Fansites Included; Kandi’s World, Alicia’s World, Lil Mo’s World and LaFace World.
(Logos and Promo by UBG)
UB has also created Logos, Marketing and Content Development for clients.
Stay Tuned This Week for “The Legendary T M H Forum ReVisit + Reunion!”
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