The first time STANLEY made a CD, he was five. Not "I made a song and sang it for my parents" five — we're talking "burned CDs and sold it to family and friends" five. "It was called A Swim in the Ocean," he laughed. "Five songs, me on keys, playing and singing." With help from a piano teacher at his church and his mom running point on the packaging, STANLEY wasn't just dreaming of being an artist; he was already one. "A little entrepreneur," he grinned.

That early spirit hasn't gone anywhere. These days, STANLEY is a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and self-sustaining creative force who just dropped his most personal project to date. His new EP, Chapter II, is a reflection of that evolution. It is the first project he has entirely produced, mixed, and recorded himself. No studios. No outside producers. Just him and the tools he taught himself to use. "I always had the capability," he said, "but I was working with other people, co-producing, paying production fees. And then, one day, I left a session and thought, I can do this at home. I'm too talented not to."

That decision unlocked something deeper. Chapter II feels like STANLEY at his most grounded, creatively and personally. It blends the smoothness of classic R&B with funk, pop, and whatever else feels true in the moment. "Sonically, it touches a lot of spaces," he said. "It's my favorite body of work so far. I hope every project I make is my favorite at the time."

Before picking up a camera, Keye B. was already an artist in every sense of the word. With crayons in hand and a vivid mind. From doodles in the margins of school assignments to working with acrylic paint, her earliest instincts were visual and tactile, grounded in curiosity and joy.

When you talk to Mikeisha Kelly-Reilly, it's clear she has a gift for seeing beyond the surface. As a photographer, company owner, and former Division 1 track and field athlete, she understands the beauty of both movement and stillness. But what stands out most is her passion for storytelling and her ability to capture moments that say more than words ever could.

"I was a D1 track and field athlete, so I was ready to get rid of sports in general," she laughed. "Loved my athletic experience, I did my 10 years, I said, 'Wrap it up.'" Yet, as fate would have it, the world of sports wasn't quite done with her. While working for the Armory Foundation, a track and field facility in New York, Mikeisha found herself drawn back into that familiar space, but this time, from behind the lens.

"I really had light interests in some photography," she admitted. "I knew I wanted to be in the digital media marketing space. I really liked community." Her time at the Armory Foundation opened her eyes to the stories waiting to be told. "That's what kickstarted it," she said. "The more I did it, the more I fell in love with the stories of the kids we were serving and the communities we were building."

That spark led her to create Mikei Media, a company dedicated to branding, photography, and creative storytelling. But starting a business wasn't without its challenges.

From family parties to gatherings, Jojo VYBZ’s journey as a DJ started with the support of her family. Growing up immersed in the rhythms of Caribbean music, R&B, hip-hop, and more, Jojo saw the power of music. With her first turntable, she was shy and grieving the passing of her grandmother. Self-taught, Jojo found her momentum and her confidence in DJing.

Ariana Stewart didn’t always see herself behind the lens. She started her college career as a criminal justice major, but a photography class changed her course. Guided by her professor who noticed something special: an eye for detail and a natural creative instinct. That encouragement planted a seed, and Ariana made the leap from law to lens.

From a young age, Keanu Dos Santos, a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was drawn to the world of pop culture. In 2018, he picked up his first camera and was immediately captivated by photography and the world of creativity.