Black Russian Music Group

The Mentoring of a Rap Star

Brigadier General Remo Butler is a man who looked discrimination, and adversity in the face, gave it a high-five, shook its’ hand, and then smiled at it. He understands the definition of education, determination, hard work, strength and courage. He has seen first hand the importance of teaching a Nation filled with young Black people, the importance of these attributes and help those who are in need of positive mentors and role models. He has made educating young Blacks and being a positive role model his next mission in life. Long before General Butler started working with Black Russian Music group they had signed an up and coming hot new artist, II Face. Unknown to both of them the stage was being set the stage for the start of another record-making legacy.

General Butler spent the first few years of his career learning how to survive in an often hostile environment of the US Army. He persevered and made significant accomplishments and received many accolades. He was commissioned second lieutenant in 1974 with the U.S. Army upon graduation from Austin Peay State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Master of Science degree from Troy State University in Personnel Management. General Butler was the First and still the only Black to attain the rank of General in the US Army Special Forces. His Army career spanned 29 years in which he culminated as a Brigadier General serving as the Director of the Center for Command Support, United States Special Operations Command, Mac Dill Air Force Base: Tampa, Florida. Upon retirement from the military he immediately went to Iraq working for Kellog Brown and Root. He served as the Deputy Program Manager for LOGCAPIII and successfully led over 45,000+ KBR and sub-contract employees performing service and construction missions throughout the mid-east theater.

Brigadier General Butler’s initial tour of duty was with 2/17th Field Artillery, Camp Pelham, South Korea. Returning to the United States he was assigned from 1976 to 1977 as a platoon leader and then as company executive officer with the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1977, he was assigned as a detachment commander in Company C, and later as executive officer of Company A, 3rd Battalion, 7th special forces Group (Airborne), Panama. In 1980, he attended the Infantry Officer Advanced course and later commanded Company C, Infantry Training Group, Fort Benning, Georgia. He returned to Fort Bragg and Special Forces in February 1984, and served as company executive officer and Battalion S-3 respectively, until assuming command of Company C, 2/7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). After completing the Armed Forces Staff College he was assigned in 1988 to Special Operations Command South, Panama, as Director J3 and as a special operations plans officer. He was also a participant in OPERATION JUST CAUSE. He departed Panama, July 1991, to become an instructor at the Armed Forces Staff College until December 1992. He returned to Fort Bragg to command 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) from January 1993-1995. BG Butler was then assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff to United States Army Special Forces Command until his departure to the United States Army War College. After the War College he was assigned as Chief, Special Operations Coordination Element, XVIII Airborne Corps. BG Butler commanded the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), United States Army Special Warfare Center and School, from 1997 through 1999. He was reassigned as the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina from 1999 to 2000. He was as the Commanding General, Special Operations Command South in Puerto Rico from June 2000 to July 2003. His last
Military assignment from July 2003 to July 2004 was as Chief of Staff for the United States Special Operations Command, Mac Dill AFB Tampa Fla.

The success of General Butler did not happen overnight. “It takes many years of sweat, and above all determination not to fail to achieve the goals that you want to do”, says Butler. This is one of the reasons that he started his next venture working with Black Russian Music Group. He transferred his business savvy skills, leadership abilities and his desire to reach and mentor young people, into a record label called Black Russian Music Group. The company’s main objective is to discover and promote talent that doesn’t have big record company backing in United States and abroad. There are a lot of talented young people out there that never have a chance and I want to give them the chance. One of the first artists that they decided to sign was Miguel “II Face” Martinez.

II Face is considered a rising star in the US and throughout the Caribbean. He is quickly making a name for himself through exciting club performances, 4 of July performance at Ft Hood, and the AIDs benefit in Virginia Beach. One of the key factors that have led to his success is his passion for music and the way he attacks his work. Face says “Like any job, the only way that you will perform at your best is to have the passion for what you do. I’m driven by success, not allowing anything to stop me from doing what I love.” We live in a generation with television and radio as prime examples of places for young people to look for role models. Sad to say this is not always the example we want young people to follow. Part of II Face’s journey forward has involved being a role model and mentor to aspiring young artists everywhere. What makes him stand out from other artists, according to II Face, is the fact that he has his own style. “I’m about being myself, I’m not copying other people’s style at all. I don’t believe in trying to be like someone else.”

Initially Black Russian Music Group signed II Face as an artist for his only for his musical talents. Over time, as General Butler began to work with him and mentor him, he developed an added respect for II Face as a man because of their shared passion for family. “Understanding the importance of family first is a great accomplishment, especially in a young man’s life,” Butler says of II Face. Apart from being an entertainer, II Face is also a father of two boys, a role that he treasures more than anything. “My family comes first, then my career. Being a father is what drives me,” Face said.

General Butler knows that music is the universal language frequently utilized to speak to and bring people from all walks of life together. To move the Hip-Hop Nation towards a more positive image and to provide more mentors will be a challenge that Butler will attack head on. II Face is going to be part of this battle because he has a positive image that young people can look at and say I want to be like that. He is clean cut, doesn’t try to portray the Thug image. General Butler says II Face is the son that any man would be proud to say that’s my son. People often comment on how respectable II Face is that’s what we want a Rapper with a positive image. Just like everything else in his life, he will stare it in the face, and make Hip-Hop a respectable art form. Thanks to Black Russian Music Group and artists like II Face, a new image of Hip-Hop is emerging. Which is driven by a new breed of artists who understand the importance of leading by example. Perseverance, hard-work, education, determination and ultimately putting family first, II Face is a breath of fresh air that has been long needed in a music industry that has lacked positive role models for so long.

Mylitta McKnight
Onyx Magazine
http://onyxmag.com

Click here to download in .pdf format.




The Mentoring of a Rap Star Brigadier General Remo Butler is a man who looked discrimination, and adversity in the face, gave it a high-five, shook its’ hand, and then smiled at it. He understands the definition of education, determination, hard work, strength and courage. He has seen first hand the importance of teaching a Nation filled with young Black people, the importance of these attributes and help those who are in need of positive mentors and role models. He has made educating young Blacks and being a positive role model his next mission in life. Long before General Butler started working with Black Russian Music group they had signed an up and coming hot new artist, II Face. Unknown to both of them the stage was being set the stage for the start of another record-making legacy. General Butler spent the first few years of his career learning how to survive in an often hostile environment of the US Army. He persevered and made significant accomplishments and received many accolades. He was commissioned second lieutenant in 1974 with the U.S. Army upon graduation from Austin Peay State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Master of Science degree from Troy State University in Personnel Management. General Butler was the First and still the only Black to attain the rank of General in the US Army Special Forces. His Army career spanned 29 years in which he culminated as a Brigadier General serving as the Director of the Center for Command Support, United States Special Operations Command, Mac Dill Air Force Base: Tampa, Florida. Upon retirement from the military he immediately went to Iraq working for Kellog Brown and Root. He served as the Deputy Program Manager for LOGCAPIII and successfully led over 45,000+ KBR and sub-contract employees performing service and construction missions throughout the mid-east theater. Brigadier General Butler’s initial tour of duty was with 2/17th Field Artillery, Camp Pelham, South Korea. Returning to the United States he was assigned from 1976 to 1977 as a platoon leader and then as company executive officer with the 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in 1977, he was assigned as a detachment commander in Company C, and later as executive officer of Company A, 3rd Battalion, 7th special forces Group (Airborne), Panama. In 1980, he attended the Infantry Officer Advanced course and later commanded Company C, Infantry Training Group, Fort Benning, Georgia. He returned to Fort Bragg and Special Forces in February 1984, and served as company executive officer and Battalion S-3 respectively, until assuming command of Company C, 2/7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). After completing the Armed Forces Staff College he was assigned in 1988 to Special Operations Command South, Panama, as Director J3 and as a special operations plans officer. He was also a participant in OPERATION JUST CAUSE. He departed Panama, July 1991, to become an instructor at the Armed Forces Staff College until December 1992. He returned to Fort Bragg to command 1st Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) from January 1993-1995. BG Butler was then assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff to United States Army Special Forces Command until his departure to the United States Army War College. After the War College he was assigned as Chief, Special Operations Coordination Element, XVIII Airborne Corps. BG Butler commanded the 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne), United States Army Special Warfare Center and School, from 1997 through 1999. He was reassigned as the Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina from 1999 to 2000. He was as the Commanding General, Special Operations Command South in Puerto Rico from June 2000 to July 2003. His last Military assignment from July 2003 to July 2004 was as Chief of Staff for the United States Special Operations Command, Mac Dill AFB Tampa Fla. The success of General Butler did not happen overnight. “It takes many years of sweat, and above all determination not to fail to achieve the goals that you want to do”, says Butler. This is one of the reasons that he started his next venture working with Black Russian Music Group. He transferred his business savvy skills, leadership abilities and his desire to reach and mentor young people, into a record label called Black Russian Music Group. The company’s main objective is to discover and promote talent that doesn’t have big record company backing in United States and abroad. There are a lot of talented young people out there that never have a chance and I want to give them the chance. One of the first artists that they decided to sign was Miguel “II Face” Martinez. II Face is considered a rising star in the US and throughout the Caribbean. He is quickly making a name for himself through exciting club performances, 4 of July performance at Ft Hood, and the AIDs benefit in Virginia Beach. One of the key factors that have led to his success is his passion for music and the way he attacks his work. Face says “Like any job, the only way that you will perform at your best is to have the passion for what you do. I’m driven by success, not allowing anything to stop me from doing what I love.” We live in a generation with television and radio as prime examples of places for young people to look for role models. Sad to say this is not always the example we want young people to follow. Part of II Face’s journey forward has involved being a role model and mentor to aspiring young artists everywhere. What makes him stand out from other artists, according to II Face, is the fact that he has his own style. “I’m about being myself, I’m not copying other people’s style at all. I don’t believe in trying to be like someone else.” Initially Black Russian Music Group signed II Face as an artist for his only for his musical talents. Over time, as General Butler began to work with him and mentor him, he developed an added respect for II Face as a man because of their shared passion for family. “Understanding the importance of family first is a great accomplishment, especially in a young man’s life,” Butler says of II Face. Apart from being an entertainer, II Face is also a father of two boys, a role that he treasures more than anything. “My family comes first, then my career. Being a father is what drives me,” Face said. General Butler knows that music is the universal language frequently utilized to speak to and bring people from all walks of life together. To move the Hip-Hop Nation towards a more positive image and to provide more mentors will be a challenge that Butler will attack head on. II Face is going to be part of this battle because he has a positive image that young people can look at and say I want to be like that. He is clean cut, doesn’t try to portray the Thug image. General Butler says II Face is the son that any man would be proud to say that’s my son. People often comment on how respectable II Face is that’s what we want a Rapper with a positive image. Just like everything else in his life, he will stare it in the face, and make Hip-Hop a respectable art form. Thanks to Black Russian Music Group and artists like II Face, a new image of Hip-Hop is emerging. Which is driven by a new breed of artists who understand the importance of leading by example. Perseverance, hard-work, education, determination and ultimately putting family first, II Face is a breath of fresh air that has been long needed in a music industry that has lacked positive role models for so long. Mylitta McKnight Onyx Magazine http://onyxmag.com Click here to download in .pdf format.

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