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Viewers of Missy Elliott's new UPN reality series The Road to Stardom, premiering Wednesday (Jan. 5), will catch a strong dose of real tour life as music hopefuls compete for money and recognition on the quest for the next big sensation, said the show's road manager Steve Lobel.
"Everybody just watches TV and sees these artists in videos and they think it's just about that," Lobel told AllHipHop.com. "They forget about the people behind the scenes, all the managers, the road managers and the tour managers who keep everything going day to day."
The Road to Stardom spotlights the gritty realities of touring as thirteen aspiring rappers and singers travel on a dingy tour bus and contend for $100,000 and a recording contract.
The group is introduced to music industry executives and insiders as the cameras roll, and presented with various challenges under Missy's supervision.
Lobel, the manager of all members of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony excluding Bizzy Bone, can be seen in promos for the reality show badgering the promising hip-hop prospects.
"In the beginning, the first couple of episodes and the first couple of days I met these kids, I needed to get these kid's respect," Lobel said of his tutelage. "Otherwise they would think I'm just some joke or some actor."
Lobel added that severe training is a necessary step for these new performers hoping to hit it big.
"They haven't sold a record yet. You gotta let them know it's not just about their talent. They gotta be in shape," Lobel said. "They have to know how to wake up on time. They have to be healthy, eat right. The road is not easy."
The battle-tested Lobel has been in the music industry for 20 years and said he has no gripes about his portrayal on the show.
"God has given me the opportunity now to show the world on primetime TV, what a road manager does on the road with an artist," said Lobel, who's worked with Run-DMC, Fat Joe, Eazy E, Big Pun, and The Outlawz among others. "I'm not acting. I'm not changing it up. As you see in the commercial, people who know me [know] that's how I am on the road."
Missy serves as co-executive producer of the series and judges the budding talent along with R&B singer Teena Marie, producer Dallas Austin and Violator Management President Mona Scott.
The panel eliminates one contestant each episode until one remains. Missy will sign the winner to her record label and release his/her first single.
Source: allhiphop.com
"Everybody just watches TV and sees these artists in videos and they think it's just about that," Lobel told AllHipHop.com. "They forget about the people behind the scenes, all the managers, the road managers and the tour managers who keep everything going day to day."
The Road to Stardom spotlights the gritty realities of touring as thirteen aspiring rappers and singers travel on a dingy tour bus and contend for $100,000 and a recording contract.
The group is introduced to music industry executives and insiders as the cameras roll, and presented with various challenges under Missy's supervision.
Lobel, the manager of all members of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony excluding Bizzy Bone, can be seen in promos for the reality show badgering the promising hip-hop prospects.
"In the beginning, the first couple of episodes and the first couple of days I met these kids, I needed to get these kid's respect," Lobel said of his tutelage. "Otherwise they would think I'm just some joke or some actor."
Lobel added that severe training is a necessary step for these new performers hoping to hit it big.
"They haven't sold a record yet. You gotta let them know it's not just about their talent. They gotta be in shape," Lobel said. "They have to know how to wake up on time. They have to be healthy, eat right. The road is not easy."
The battle-tested Lobel has been in the music industry for 20 years and said he has no gripes about his portrayal on the show.
"God has given me the opportunity now to show the world on primetime TV, what a road manager does on the road with an artist," said Lobel, who's worked with Run-DMC, Fat Joe, Eazy E, Big Pun, and The Outlawz among others. "I'm not acting. I'm not changing it up. As you see in the commercial, people who know me [know] that's how I am on the road."
Missy serves as co-executive producer of the series and judges the budding talent along with R&B singer Teena Marie, producer Dallas Austin and Violator Management President Mona Scott.
The panel eliminates one contestant each episode until one remains. Missy will sign the winner to her record label and release his/her first single.
Source: allhiphop.com