philanthropy

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Artist Spotlight: Anthony Tilghman

Posted by tagdmv on November 7, 2014
Posted in: Photography, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

He is one of the most accomplished photographers in the DMV area. Garnering publishing credits with the Associated Press, The Washington Post & Huffington Post, and requested photography gigs, from the Grammy’s & Oscars, to both Inaugural Ceremonies of President Barack Obama; and he JUST started his photography journey in 2008!!! Meet Anthony Tilghman!

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Anthony was born and raised in the Prince George’s County, MD area, and was a graduate of Crossland High School. This renaissance entrepreneur was accepted into Howard University in 1999. However, he could not afford to attend this institution, due to being homeless. Anthony lived from shelter to shelter, and received assistance from programs, such as Covenant House & Thrive DC; but the one thing that he did have was a grinding, go-getter personality! No matter what situation he found himself in, he was always determined to do anything to help change the circumstances.

With Anthony not being able to afford attending HU, he still stuck by the area and started working at the Up Against the Wall, just off of the campus. Working for clothes may not seem appealing, but it was a terrific start to a life-long mantra that stays true to his nature: grind, gain, give! Sooner than later, Anthony would put his hustle mentality into an unexpected gift and skill…photography.

IMG_5263.JPGRev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial

Anthony’s photography became the definition of “you can do anything that you set your mind to”! Although just picking up the camera in 2008, he became a student of photography; studying, researching, and experimenting with all aspects of this artistic talent. With a focus on both landscape/street and people-oriented photography, soon, some of his independent photographs turned into published works and requests from organizations, companies and publications to photograph for them, also. With photography being his main source, yet still embodying his grind, Anthony Tilghman Photography quickly became Anthony Tilghman Enterprises.

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Halle Berry at the Academy Awards

Anthony Tilghman Enterprises also includes his locally top selling energy drink, Rebirth, his internet radio network, DC Now Radio, a new gossip blogging site, All Gossip Everything, and even a television show in New York, Picture Perfect on Suite 929 (which is in its third season – http://www.suite929.tv/shows/pictureperfect/). Now that he’s gained from his empire, Anthony also continues give, by working closely with those that helped him in Thrive DC & Covenant House. His donations help to pay his blessings forward. If that’s not enough, every year, Anthony donates $1,000 to an arts based student for college scholarship!

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Now, let’s hear what else Anthony has to say about his gifts & blessings:

Q: What part of the DMV are you reppin’?
A: I grew up in Capitol Heights, MD, but I’ve lived all over the PG County area.

Q: What influenced you to engage in your talents/gifts?
A: It was kind of weird. I started doing PR/marketing events for Glenn Jackson, TV One, etc. Then one day, I hired a photographer for an event, and he never showed up. So, I had to go out, buy a camera, and do it myself. After that, I started to do the research of it & never hired another photographer! My favorite camera is Nikon; I learned all the ins and outs of their cameras (so I only use Nikon to shoot), and am now I’m an authorized user of it.

Q: How has your community influenced you, and vice versa?
A: DC is different, but I love the city & giving back to the community. If you surround yourself with inspirational people, inspirational things happen. One thing about me is that I like for everyone that I hang around to make money. I give 50% of my income to charities, and Thrive DC is one of my favorites. My goal is to end homelessness in DC, and for everyone. You are blessed for what you have. Every day, I look at my success, and I’m like “wow, I did this”! The community has changed me, from DC Now Radio, to Anthony Tilghman Photography, and Rebirth. DC Now Radio is my platform to help promote business owners, and Rebirth I made specifically for the city. Everything I do is for the city! I consider myself the “Shark Tank of DC”, where I like to invest in many businesses…lol.

Q: What has been your favorite gig thus far?
A: The Washington Monument. I love the monument at sunset; it’s my favorite picture to capture. I’d been covering the monument for 10 yrs, and [that specific shot] took me 4 tries to get it. Now, I work for the National Parks & Planning Commission shooting this monument.

Q: President Obama’s Inauguration or Red Carpet at the Grammys/Oscars?
A: Obama’s Inauguration. He’s the first black president, and it was an honor to be asked to cover both inaugurations. For my shot that was published [from the 2013 inauguration], it was freezing cold outside and extra crowded, where you could barely move. They had the media team sitting on a platform, so I hopped up, took the shot, and that’s how I got it.

Q: If there’s anything that you would want your peers & supporters to know about you (assuming that they don’t already), what would it be?
A: Support the brands! AnthonyTilghman.com is my portal for everything, so your support is important, because the movement is real!

Q: What’s next?!
A: To do whatever I can to provide and help people grow. So when I get bored, I’ll start something else J!

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The Washington Monument

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The 2013 Presidential Inauguration

Aside from the numerous businesses previously mentioned, Anthony is engaged in multiple other business endeavors and investments, also. To keep up with what all is happening (and what is going to happen) in Anthony’s world, follow his advice and head to www.AnthonyTilghman.com. Also, you can follow him, and his brands, on social media via Facebook (Anthony Tilghman, All Gossip Everything, Rebirth Energy Drink, & DC Now Radio), Instagram (@AnthonyTilghman), Twitter (@AnthonyTilghman) & YouTube (Anthony Tilghman). With everything that this guy has going, we haven’t even seen the half of the grind, gain, give power that he will possess in the future!

– EMW

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ORGANIZATION SPOTLIGHT – Will Rap 4 Food, Inc. (WR4F)

Posted by tagdmv on July 17, 2014
Posted in: Music, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

What do you get when you combine the love and artistry of Hip-Hop culture with the passion and drive to create change in your community? Here’s a good hint…it’s an awesome organization called, Will Rap 4 Food, Inc. (WR4F)!

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On the surface, this “family” of Hip-Hop cultured artists and lovers are a group of talented individuals that come together for a common purpose…to spread their love and artistry of Rap! Usually, when you see their team out and about at events, some of them are sporting their “Will Rap 4 Food” logo t-shirts & hoodies. So once you find out how dope they are as artists, one begs the question…”What exactly is ‘Will Rap 4 Food‘?!”

Once you dig a little deeper, you see way more than just Hip-Hop & artistry…you see purpose through philanthropy! According to the organization’s website, WR4F‘s mission is that one that “educates, empowers, and mobilizes the hip hop community to be agents of change in the global eradication of hunger through awareness, unity, and the powerful influence of art” (The Mission, www.willrap4food.org). That’s right…every time that they share their gift of artistry, they also raise money to donate towards ending world hunger 1, 2 or 1,000 bags at a time!!!

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We caught up with the man who started it all, WR4F‘s CEO, Pro’verb! Here’s what he had to say about the organization and journey:

Q: What part of the DMV are you reppin’?
A: PG County, Maryland…Landover to be specific. 301 or none.

Q: Who’s in your crew?
A: Well first off Will Rap 4 Food is my family…Lol! I have a pretty big family as you can see and we are pretty much everywhere. In terms of my music there’s Zzz Gang (We do this in our sleep) which is comprised of Tese Fever, RAtheMC, AP the Prince, Lyriciss, G*two and myself…that’s my inner circle within this industry. I don’t really do the “friends” thing…either we are family or associates, ya know?

Q: What influenced you to create this organization?
A: I’ve been apart of community outreach missions and programs since I was a kid. I’m a preachers kid, so I’ve always been around these types of organizations. I just felt like we were the new leaders of this generation so we should start acting like it. Let’s take charge and make changing our neighborhoods personal using music as the catalyst. Why wait until we’re rich and famous to try and “give back” to the community…let’s do it now! So guess what we did…we brainstormed and executed an amazing idea called Will Rap 4 Food, Inc.

Q: How has your community influenced you, and vice versa?
A: PG county pretty much made me a man. I was heavily influenced by the evils and greatness that exist in this area. That duality created a balance and perspective that is unlike any other, in my opinion. I’ve had money and lost money but my mission never changed. I always strived to be a positive impact but when you are in the jungle sometimes you have to adapt to the mentality of the jungle. My work is far from over and Will Rap 4 Food is just one of the ways I plan to affect my community. This is a lifetime commitment.

Q: Do you guys embrace other artistic genres outside of Rap/Hip Hop?
A: Will “Rap” 4 Food is a concept…not a rule. We know Hip-Hop is a culture and an energy; it’s more than music…it’s a large part of this generations identity. We are simply saying that Hip-Hop can do positive things and be a sincere catalyst for change in our communities. We encourage all forms of art within our organization. We have poets, instrumentalists, vocalists, producers…just about anything you could think of. If you have any talent at all you can do “it” for food!

Q: What’s next?!
A: Elevation and evolution. I’m working on my third mixtape called, Over thinkers EP, which will be dropping later this year while still handling duties as CEO of Will Rap 4 Food, Inc. I’m also ghostwriting for a few artists and bands working on placements as we speak. I’m staying as busy as I can until I’m literally too old to handle it anymore…lol. Just make sure you follow the organization @WillRap4FoodInc because greatness is on the horizon! You can also find me personally @allproallday on both IG and twitter.

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Community Outreach Coordinator Adding Influence, DMV Legendary Painter Demont “Peekaso” Pinder, and CEO Pro’verb.

If you would like to volunteer and help them to share the love, you can email them at volunteer@willrap4food.org. For the fellow Hip-Hop artists and lovers, you can catch them EVERY Monday at their event, M Street Mondays, at the Sports Zone Elite in Georgetown & during their Cool World Order tour through July & the beginning of August. You can keep up with their other artistic ventures through their social media pages, and continue to help change the world 1 or 1,000 meals at a time!

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– EMW