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Scene in SLC: Ernest Holdman, Jr. (aka, 'Ejai')

Posted 2009-08-24 15:26:32 by Kelly Ashkettle

(Photo by Thomas Nelson | For In Utah This Week).

(Photo by Thomas Nelson | For In Utah This Week)

Ejai is a rap artist who's originally from the San Francisco Bay area and has been promoting Utah hip-hop and R&B artists under the name Blaqk Dymn (pronounced "black diamond") Entertainment since 2000. Upcoming events include an R&B and hip-hop showcase called "Let's Get Stewie" on Sat. Aug. 29 at 9 p.m. at Mo's Neighborhood Grill (358 S. West Temple).

Why did you pick the name Blaqk Dymn? "Blaqk" as in Afro American. The "q" represents queens and the "k" represents kings. So BLAQK queens and kings. The "dymn" is because no matter how much pressure you put us under, we still shine. That's the attitude I give and receive. If I can instill a bit of hope in anyone with my gift, we can all shine!

Who are the artists currently on your record label? Princere has the full package: image, style, swag, and the music is not only good but very marketable as well -- a real force to be reckoned with. Mz.Kina is reppin' for the Polynesian women. She's a very special talent with a voice everyone falls in love with the first time they hear her. And last but not least is the HottHeadz, a group out of Richmond, California that resides here in Utah and are some of the hardest streetlife flow out there right now.

What services do you provide for your artists? I provide them with more than one way to do things and more avenues. We not only do things locally, we do things on a state-to-state level where we are exposed to more than just our local scene but abroad as well! Being in contact with other artists, producers, studios, managers, publicists, promoters, venues and industry people is a great springboard for all artists. I'm happy to be blessed to be able to do that for my artists and close affiliates!

What do you wish more people knew about on how to produce a good song? It's in your soul. You have to really feel and kinda fall into the track, and be honest when you really don't feel it. Honest work and not just "Oh, he or she's my friend so yeah, it's good." No, sometimes it takes brutal honesty to get an artist to understand how much it means to be honest in the studio, and get a track where it needs to be.

Of all the live performances you've given as a musician, which was your favorite, and why? Opening for Slick Rick, by far. The crowd response to the show was euphoria and to top it off I hung out with "The Ruler" for the longest 30 minutes of my life! Very humble and down-to-earth brotha.

What's the biggest event you've organized, and what did you find fulfilling about it? I think the Summer Jam '06 Summer Jam After Party, which I put together with U92's Pat Clark and good friend Ryan Brown. We had all of Bone Thugs, Fat Joe, Oowee, NB Ridaz and more.

What can we expect at "Let's Get Stewie"? It will include some great talent: Princere, Mz.Kina, New Talent Entertainment, Jen, Dymnamo and Ill Flo and much more. We are trying to give everybody something they want. You know, "heat it up, cool it down, heat it up, cool it down." It'll be an awesome show!

More info: myspace.com/blaqkdymnceo

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Comments

Tyler says:

the cinder block makes a repeat appearance!

Support our Veterans says:

Congratulations you are what 30 something and you got a FREE paper to promote you're show at Mo's (the worst venue in town and home to weekly gang violence.) I dont know if your failing hip-hop career is do to lack of talent or management, either way might want to consider a new lifestyle.

I didnt hate, cause I did congratulate.

the streets says:

I'm no hater, so I won't clown this act. But really Kelly, there are SERIOUS local hip hop acts out there, you just have to know where to look.

I stay aware of the legit scene, so here are a couple tips...

2uce Betta, for example, was named #1 unsigned rapper in Utah by VIBE magazine...oh ya and he is only 22 years old.

http://www.myspace.com/2ucebetta
http://www.2ucebetta.com

Beyond that, there is Moise Bently...another 22 year old rapper with a mainstream sound.

http://www.myspace.com/mbently

Beyond that, there are a bunch of acts like this promoting shows at Moe's every weekend, making it hard for serious acts to get the shine they deserve. I commend them for staying with their art form, but they really muck up the scene, making it harder for outsiders like yourself to distinguish the difference.

Plus didn't someone get shot at Moe's last week?

QUEEN says:

YEP HATERS STILL HATIN'! Y'ALL SAYING YOU AIN'T HATIN' BUT IT SURE SOUNDS LIKE IT. UNTIL I SEE Y'ALL SOMEWHERE BIG THEN HOLLA FOR NOW JUST HATE. IT MAKES HIM FAMOUS LOL!

CONGRATS TO MY BOY STILL THE REALEST IN UTAH!!!

laughin at haters says:

CONGRATS TO MY BOY! Y'ALL SAYING YOU AIN'T HATING BUT THAT WHAT IT'S SOUNDING LIKE. ONCE I SEE Y'ALL IN THE BIG TIME THEN Y'ALL CAN HATE BUT WHEN YOU JUST TRYNA MAKE IT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE I'D KEEP YA TRAP SHUT YA DIGG?

LOCAL BOY says:

HEY , WITH ALL THE HATING ALL RAEDY HE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING ! I MEAN HE IS IN THE PUBLICATION.IVE TOOK A TRIP TO THIS GUYS PAGE AND THE GUY HAS SOME DOPE NICELEY PUT TOGETHER STUFF. THE GUY PRINCERE HE MENTIONS SOUNDS A HELL OF ALOT BETTER THEN THIS 2DUCE CHARACTER. I FEEL THAT HE GOT THE CHANCE HE DESERVES AND THE WHOEVER HATING DID YOU KNOW HE WAS THE FIRST TO BRING THE SOURCE MAGAZINE HERE? HE'S NOT ONLY AN ARTIST HE'S A PROMOTER , ENGINEER . SO KEEP HATING IT ONLY ADDS TO HIS CRED!!! LOCAL BOY!

yee! says:

congrats my nig!

yup says:

IT'S FUNNY THAT Y'ALL HATE LIKE THAT. I'VE WORKED WITH THIS CAT FOR ALMOST 5 YEARS AND HE'S PROVEN HIMSELF TO BE THE BEST. IN BUSINESS AND AS A FRIEND. HE GOT MORE TALENT AND KNOWLEDGE THEN MOST OF THESE "SO-CALLED RAPPERS" OUT HERE. HE'D SPIT LYRICS THAT YOU'D WISH YOU COULD. SO ONCE YOUR ON HIS LEVEL THEM COME BACK AND TALK SHIT.

time out! says:

u kno they haters when the first thing they say is they aint hating! good job ejai your stuff is awesome , keep doing what you doing!

slc reppa! says:

sorry dog moise bently sucks! he cant fuck with that dude princere!

big ben!!! says:

congrats ejai!!!
This dude is straight! always helping any artist he can to the fullest. this dude has put me on shows many times!! and its always been a pleasure to perform with one of the realest cats in the local scene as well as one of the dopest!! my advice to you haters is get in where you fit in!! if you aint making it in this game then your the only one to blame!! the only reason why the local scene in utah is shit is ego!! everyone claims to be the best or that this dude aint hiphop as if they define hiphop!! no one wants to callab or work with eachother!! get at this dude if your a real serious artist I garrentee ejai will put you on!! congrats to one of the dopest dudes in the hiphop scene not only is this dudes music hot his productions and promotion skills are just as hott!! congrats ejai keep up the good work!!
to all the haters seriously if your hurtin your doing something wrong get at this dude he may just beable to help you!!!!

big ben says:

Ejai says:

thanx for the add IN ! thats great you picked some great talent to add to the publication! you guys were great !and for those who left the neg comments , read em and then see how stupid u sound! any given day ! track for track we csn make it happen! slc thanx for the support! the aboved mentioned cant match us ! they need to put up or ....shhhhhhhh !lol

NEW TALENT ENT. says:

YALL HATING AND CRYIN ABOUT A SHOOTING AT MOES COME ON BE REAL YALL RAP ABOUT THE STREETS AND PACK HEAT BUT COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING A SHOW AT A PLACE THATS HAD A COUPLE SHOOTINGS AND GANG VIOLENCE DONT RAP ABOUT IT IF YOU AINT ABOUT IT.

SAGII-SAH-JEE! says:

E-JAI DOES IT FOR THE PEOPLE HE ALWAYS PROMOTES OTHER PEOPLE IF HE CAN HELP HE WILL DOWN BROTHER!FOR THE CAUSE! WHENEVER ANYONE GETS THREW!HE WILL BE BIGGER AND BETTER COS OF HIS WORK EFFORT! LIKE ME SAGII WILL BE RECONIZED BY EVERYONE SOON COUTURE www.sagiiinternational.com !RICHIE RICH!WORLD REVOLUTION!MANGEMENT ARTIST FEATURING YOUNG TRUMP! D- MILLER U DO THE MATH NEW ORLEANS P C S! MASTER P C-MURDER AND SILK THE SHOCKER AND LIL ROMEO! YOUNG TRUMP!D-MILLER.CD DROPPING SOON!SAGII-SAH-JEE! FORGET WHAT U WERE EXPECTING!E-JAI REPPIN TO THE FULLEST BLAQ-DYM! REPPIN IT! RR.OUT!

geenahz says:

hey bruh!!
just sliding thro to shoot some love on your page!! CONGRATz on your website link..im loving it and its good that you want to do something youve always wanted to do.!! keep your head up high and dont let others stop you from what you always dreamed on!! well send mah love to the famz and hope things are good with you guys!! aiight talk to you later!!

sis sina

BIG SINJE says:

EJAI BEEN DOIN HIS THANG FOR YEARS OUT HERE. THE DUDE IS BAD HE HELPED ME RECORD AN FEATURED ON MY 1ST TRACK AN ITS STILL MY BEST

\"The Business\" says:

Hilarious!
Looks like some certain people on here just can't seem to take any criticism at all? They are so quick to call it "Hating" c'mon now, if you want to play this game, then be able to handle the business. We all know that 96.7% of the time the REAL haters are the ones always sitting around crying about the haters.
Now with that said, I am going to preach upon this matter right here:
Okay, Out of everybody you could have put in your publication to represent the "Beehive" you pick this clown? Duke is front'n more then bank loan out & around here. All talk & still crawling, for real check the history on his few events the past 5 years. How did the final transactions really turn out? Did he do what he said he would do? Is he really legit as he claims to be? The "cred" is artificial, the music is average, the hustle is obviously there. And you got to respect that! All i am saying is don't be out here acting like you are making big moves when deep down you know that you are constantly getting passed up in the slow lane.
I'll drop bye your show this Saturday & witness first hand what this man is all about.

tired of fakes says:

well then "The Business" make sure to identify yourself then....if u can talk about it then be about it....we'll see.

Histerical says:

Moise Bently sucks????? Haha look like yaw the haters the kid been doing this only 2 years has way more fans then yaw do including me n my girls think he's ten time sexy compared to yaw ugly asses and he is actually out there doing what he raps about I seen him drop like 700 to a g in different clubs every weekend and actually making it rain and he by far the only one that actually can make it far and since he mess with 2uce you mad cause you can't fuck with em plus he real a nice dude that talks to all his fans do shows with the biggest names in hip hop even u92 hating on him cause he too good on top of that say it to his face haha Bently I love you baby u Tha best

V/O says:

{{Oh HELLS yeah}}

Look at the homie Ejai gettin it "IN" real proper!

Much Kudos & Respect!

This scene needs more people like you out here in that GRIND!

Ya know how I due!

I ain't hard to find =)

Get@me sometime to chop game man, I'd hit cha but don't have your number?

As for all the negative nonsense on this thread *dust dem shoulders off* on these fools...

"I'm above the Hate! That's why I Love the Lake"

I'm gone like smoke~~~~~

Wasatch EightyAce
"THIS IS THE PLACE"

CSE
Capital
Syndicate
Entertainment
"WE MAKE IT HAPPEN"

HeavenlySoulja says:

Yo big ups to my man Ejai! We been reppin for a long min man and u finally get some respect. Bout damn Time!! that source show was off the hook mane. Last show before my comeback....Aye u do u homie and i got yo back In the cage and on the street. No Homo! Yo,So many people are making music!!!! Appreciate in dont hate on it! Utah Finally has a scene what we all been working so hard for so get industry cats wondering what the U has got. so let make a movement and not kill it before it starts!! One!!!! Congrats E!

BIG BOI says:

GOOD LOOK TO ALL THE POSSITIVE PEEPS WHO BLESSED THIS PAGE WITH THE GOOD VIBE! HE MOST DEF DESERVES IT ! I SEE A FEW BITTER BITCHES , OTHER THAN THAT WE EXPECT SOME BULLSHIT , IT COMES WITH BEING SOMEONE PEOPLE WISH THEY OR THEY FRIENDS WERE YOU!IF THEY THINK THIS MOISE CHARACTER WAS THAT HOT OR THIS 2DUCE KID TELL EM TO PUT THE MONEY HE TRICKN ON HOES UP AND BE ABOUT IT! I HONESTLY BELIEVE PRINCERE OR EJAI WILL END IT FOR THOSE CLOWNS! ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SAY THE WORD AND I'D PUT MY COINS ON BLAQKDYMN!LET'S MAKE THAT HAPPEN! BIG BOI !

pdensborn says:

Good looks Ejai. Good looks VO. Way to stay positive. I help manage 2uce Betta, and I can tell you we have nothing but love for what you guys are doing. I mean for real 2uce has performed at Moe's a couple times himself, so the haters need to do better research next time. I'm sorry someone chose to hate on our behalf. But I do like how the controversy has rallied your base of support though. It just goes to show you that all publicity is good publicity.

Moise Bently says:

Before Yaw Talk Do Ur Research I aint No Hata Nor do I Care But I Speak With Facts Ya Heard This The Convo Between Me An Ejai Himself So Yaw Dead All That dumb Talk

BLAQKD…

8/26/2009 4:58 PM
To: Moise Bently ( Now availa...

THANX B! THATS ALL I WANT IS MY PROPS NO HATE! GOOD LOOK ! SO KEEP DOIN WHAT U DO FAM AND STAY POSSITIVE AND FOCUSED ! CASE WE ON LIKE SHIT ! PEACE HOMIE!

Moise …

Moise Bently
Online Now!
8/26/2009 5:48 PM
To: BLAQKDYMN (blaqkdymnceo@myspace.com)

i just read it congrats but sorry it was no one in my camp maybe just a fan is all so im leting it be known that it has nothing to do with me but congrats tho

BLAQKD…

8/26/2009 4:37 PM
To: Moise Bently ( Now availa...

YEAH!

http://inthisweek.com/view.php?id=1027193
CHECK IT OUT PIMPN! GET BAK ATME AIGHT!

Moise …

Moise Bently
Online Now!
8/26/2009 5:35 PM
To: BLAQKDYMN (blaqkdymnceo@myspace.com)

whats's good my fault but i ont know what u talking bout and what article u gotta link or something???

BLAQKD…

8/26/2009 3:12 PM
To: Moise Bently ( Now availa...

say man i dont know who it is hatn in your camp or whoever it is but , i met u one time and i didnt have an issue with u ! i actually respected u as an mcee , but as far as those comments go if dudes think we that weak , they should prove that nstead of tryn to discredit our accomplishments!feel me? i give respect where its due and that shit was foul. its good tho ! stay up and keep doin what u doin! we gone do the same! go read the article and u will see what im talkn bout!

V/O says:

That's precious.......lol

Lakeside says:

You both are wack! The Source was out here because he paid them to use the name. Not because they were looking for talent that this man "manages" or "promotes".

Moise been on harry O's dick and look where that has got him. No where! Oh wait where is his old manager? "Nowhere!"

Artists in Salt Lake need a local buzz before the labels come knocking. By buzz I mean pushing mixtapes, selling out your own shows (at venues larger than Moes) and radio play/PR work. Until someone brings that (Chino is obviously the closest) all we are going to have is a bunch of chest beating wack rappers!

POINT IS...... says:

"Lakeside" NO ONE in the lake doing ANYTHING big....till someone gets in the mainstream and makes a name who knows if that will ever happen. Ha ha I don't see it happening anytime soon. All the people that are doing shit out here aren't even from the LAKE. What does that tell ya? That means not even the people that live here can cut it. Outside rappers help make it happen here in the lake. That's not just talk that's a FACT.

kj of new talent says:

funny how the ones hatting never mention there name or show who they is.

Slc says:

Congrats my dude keep doing ur thing and moise u too man I seen u put in ur work you can go far my dude we all know u talented even the haters know cause I see em shaking ur hand and giving u props and mad respect when they see u n they 2 face probably on here saying shit about u both of yaw do ur thing and I been to Harry os I seen how moise got it on lock and when we come thru he show us love he a real dude so I see someone is angry cause they can't get that venue "lakeside" either get better music or better artists! Oh and chino is the one sucking dick that's why he was on radio Kevin cruise fruity and that's dude manager I'm ghost

HeadbNga says:

I know both these cats good look ejai you and your click keep pushing anyone that gets anything good like this article grinding respect that period let the haters hate I fucks with moise too he a cool dude doing his thing I like what he doing see u doing it big can't knock on that chino aight

Real talk says:

Blackdymn I never heard of you till now so you must be doing something right I listened to u n princere princere raw like his style checked out 2uce too his website on point and music is good moise Bently I knew of him seen him at his birthday bash I think dude can spit he more mainstream tho so I like princere better but I can see Bently being a superstar yaw saying he been only doing this for 2 years I ont believe it and if so then damn but aye do more street records tho chasing money go hard