
Belly Inspires Students at Berklees 15th Business of Hip-Hop Music Symposium The Roc Nation/XO recording artist and his team discussed his rise to success and shared business advice for working in the music industry.
By
Colette Greenstein
October 13, 2021
Left to right: Tonya Butler, chair of the Music Business/Management Department; artist and producer Belly; songwriter and producer DaHeala; and Lola Plaku, Bellys manager and founder and CEO of Lola Media Group
Image courtesy of the artist
Berklees Music Business/Management Department presented its 15th annual Business of Hip-Hop Music Symposium on Thursday, October 7, with special guest Roc Nation/XO recording artist Belly.
The Palestinian-born and Canadian-raised Belly is an award-winning singer, songwriter, rapper, and producer who has accumulated more than seven billion streams across his catalogue. After writing Love Me Harder for Ariana Grande and the Weeknd in 2014, he cowrote six tracks on the Weeknd's four-times platinum album Beauty Behind the Madness, including Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey), which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Bellys latest album, See You Next Wednesday, was released to critical acclaim, accumulating over 100 million streams and featuring artists such as Nas, the Weeknd, Young Thug, Lil Uzi Vert, Moneybagg Yo, and more.
Hosted by Tonya Butler, chair of the Music Business/Management Department, the symposium provided an opportunity for students to hear firsthand about Belly's music industry experiences, from being an independent artist and landing a deal with a major label to the importance of owning your intellectual property and maintaining your creative freedom.
Belly's journey resonated with all of us on a very personal level, said Butler. When I asked Belly about his brand and how he wanted to be seen, and he replied that he'd rather the world hear him, rather than see him, I almost dropped my mic. I was already impressed by his artistry and business savvy, but I had no idea about the depths of his wisdom and his ability to inspire our students.
Joining Belly on the panel was his longtime marketing and strategy consultant, Lola Plaku, and one of his frequent collaborators, Canadian songwriter and producer DaHeala. During the event, Belly and DaHeala reminisced about how they got their start making and selling mixtapes, and Plaku talked about joining the team nearly 15 years ago when she was a journalist in Canada. She had interviewed Belly and later ended up writing biographies for him and his record label. They liked what she wrote, and the rest is history.
DaHeala rose to prominence after his extensive work alongside the Weeknd and other artists including Halsey, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Gesaffelstein, French Montana, and Nav. He coproduced the majority of the Weeknd's debut album, Kiss Land, and was an executive producer on Beauty Behind the Madness, which debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and earned a Grammy Award for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
Plaku is now the founder and CEO of the Toronto- and New York-based agency Lola Media Group (LMG), which specializes in artist marketing and brand development. Since its launch in 2017, LMG has worked closely with SALXCO and XO Records, consulting on projects including French Montana's Jungle Rules; Nav's Bad Habits and Good Intentions-both of which debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200-and Belly's Mumble Rap, Immigrant, and See You Next Wednesday.
Belly, DaHeala and Lola were three of the most generous and gracious guests we've ever had, said Butler. They are all honorary members of the Berklee family, and I look forward to their continued success.
Related Categories
News
Most Popular
Contemporary Music Is Our History: A Sonic Timeline Listen to 75 songs that made Berklee what it is today.
Latest
Left to right: Berklee Provost Larry Simpson, MOME Commissioner Anne del Castillo, Berklee NYC Executive Director Stephen Webber, Berklee trustee Pete Muller, and Berklee President Erica Muhl
Image by Ryan Nava
Berklee NYC Reopens the Legendary Power Station Recording Studio with Star-Studded Kickoff The event featured remarks from Cyndi Lauper, Nona Hendryx, and Berklee President Erica Muhl, among others.
Duke Ellington, Berklees first honorary doctorate recipient, performs for guests at the colleges 1971 commencement ceremony.
Image courtesy of the Berklee archives
Berklee Legacy Award Concert Honors African American Trailblazers in Music and Dance Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Joseph Douglass, and Carmen de Lavallade will be celebrated for their contributions.
Left to right: Tonya Butler, chair of the Music Business/Management Department; artist and producer Belly; songwriter and producer DaHeala; and Lola Plaku, Bellys manager and founder and CEO of Lola Media Group
Image courtesy of the artist
Belly Inspires Students at Berklees 15th Business of Hip-Hop Music Symposium The Roc Nation/XO recording artist and his team discussed his rise to success and shared business advice for working in the music industry.
Read All
Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
02/05/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
16/03/2026
DAZN will allow fans in select international territories to watch the NCAA men...
16/03/2026
IDM and The Skate Board Association (SBA) have announced a partnership with Coop...
16/03/2026
Solid State Logic (SSL) will debut the Net I/O ST 2110 Bridge at NAB 2026 (booth C6907), a standalone unit that converts between ST 2110 and Dante audio formats...
16/03/2026
Marshall Electronics (Booth C8339) is introducing its first all-IP 4K POV camera, the CV574-WP, at NAB 2026. The camera carries an IP67 weatherproof rating for ...
16/03/2026
Sony Electronics' Camera Verify (beta), a feature of its Camera Authenticity Solution which enables news organizations to share content authenticity informa...
16/03/2026
FloSports has announced a partnership with Storied Sports, a content and IP studio founded by former espnW and The Players' Tribune executives, to develop s...
16/03/2026
Montreux Jazz Festival has announced a multi-year collaboration with Gravity Media, who will become the Festival's Audio Visual Production Provider followin...
16/03/2026
USSI Global, a provider of customized network, broadcast and digital signage systems and services, has announced Ralph Annunziata joined the company on Jan. 5 a...
16/03/2026
Boland Communications (booth C3519) will exhibit at NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas, ...
16/03/2026
Built in partnership with Diversified, the system
As the sports broadcast indus...
16/03/2026
Global FAST (Free Ad-supported Streaming TV) viewership grew 21% year-over-year ...
16/03/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
16/03/2026
A still from Mr. Nobody Against Putin by David Borestein and Pavel Talankin, a...
16/03/2026
Promises studio-grade fidelity for the stage
Cloudvocal have announced the launch of a new instrument mic designed for professional live performers and engi...
16/03/2026
Popular MIDI/CV converter & interface overhauled
Kenton have announced the launch of the USB Solo Mk2, a new and improved version of their compact MIDI to C...
16/03/2026
Running from 16-29 March 2026
Starting from today (16 March) and running until 29 March 2026, Sonarworks are offering discounts of up to 40% across their ra...
16/03/2026
Dr. Robert H. Goddard and a liquid oxygen-gasoline rocket in the frame from which it was fired on March 16, 1926, at Auburn, Massachusetts. Credit: NASA....
16/03/2026
Precision-guided munitions shown in production illustrate one of many operational systems benefiting from modernized M-Code GPS, supporting assured positioning,...
16/03/2026
NEW YORK - March 16, 2026 - A E Global Media and Nielsen today announced a new,...
16/03/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, is delivering the first commercial 100-Gigabit systems following successful validation and certification for customer n...
16/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/03/2026
Shotoku USA, Shotoku Broadcast Systems' North American operation, will unveil significant additions to its platform at NAB 2026. Topping the list is the wor...
16/03/2026
Ikegami USA will demonstrate the latest additions to its wide range of broadcast-quality cameras, controllers and monitors on Central Hall booth C3819 during th...
16/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
16/03/2026
ELEMENTS launches GRID at NAB Show 2026
Brie Clayton March 15, 2026
0 Comments
North Hall, Booth N1717
ELEMENTS returns to NAB Show 2026, with an exp...
16/03/2026
Blackmagic Design Cameras Capture Artist Salavat Fidai's Micro Sculptures
Brie Clayton March 15, 2026
0 Comments
6K sensor and open gate capabilit...
16/03/2026
DHD to Introduce Latest Generation Broadcast Audio Mixers at NAB 2026, Las Vegas
Brie Clayton March 15, 2026
0 Comments
Hero image: Front of DHD RM1 P...
16/03/2026
16 Mar 2026
VEON Files its 2025 Annual Report on Form 20-F Dubai and New York, March 16, 2026 - VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator ( VEON'...
16/03/2026
Six Couples. 100 Days Apart. One Question: Does Absence Make the Heart Grow Fond...
16/03/2026
Monday 16 March 2026
Tina Fey, Jamie Dornan and Riz Ahmed announced as first th...
16/03/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Has Released the Trailer for Love at Last, Starring Ed...
16/03/2026
The reporting option was introduced following extensive consultation with publis...
16/03/2026
After a nail-biting Grand Finale, Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins has been announced as the winner of Dancing with the Stars 2026.
The four finalists each dance...
16/03/2026
Welcome to Moore Street will begin on RT One and RT Player on Thursday 19 Marc...
15/03/2026
Visit ToolsOnAir at NAB Las Vegas 2026
More Details:From April 19-22, join us at NAB Show Las Vegas in the North Hall, Booth N1258, for an exclusive preview of...
15/03/2026
Latest dark drama, thrillers & tension library announced
The Very Loud Indeed Co.'s latest Kontakt library has just arrived, delivering a third instalme...
15/03/2026
Johannesburg, 14 March 2026 - On 13 and 14 March 2026, the 19th Annual South Afr...
15/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/03/2026
Combines mic, USB interface & wireless IEMs
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, HISONG have announced that their innovative AirStudio S1 device is ...
14/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/03/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
14/03/2026
Yospace, the trusted leader in Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI), stitched 5.4 billion one-to-one addressable OTT advertisements across the 17 days of Milano Cortina 2...
14/03/2026
Telestream Advances Production-Ready AI Across Its Product Portfolio
Brie Clayton March 13, 2026
0 Comments
New AI capabilities drive smarter automati...