Company Bio
The name Oya was given to Queen Sheba from a Griot after a story telling session in a small bookstore in Norfolk early 2001. The brother was selling his business and moving back to Africa. Before he left he told the Queen Oya emanates Queen Sheba's ability to embrace change and keep going.
Oya, Yoruba Goddess of change, is now the name of an Xclusive Spoken Word recording label ran by her poetical highness, Queen Sheba. The Queen has started the first Spoken Word recording label in Virginia and has already belted five successful Spoken Word albums for her self, label-mates, and lending counsel and advise to other poets around the country in addition to selling in the 50,000 range in the underground alone. Her albums reflect the production genius of Patchwork Studios star engineer, Rock Icon Nick Chahwala lead singer of To Whom, Grammy Nominated producer Brian Sullivan, Jeffery Wheeler, International Slam Champion and poet/lecturer/producer/Spoken Word artist, Taalam Acey and new producer 13 of Nazareth in addition to DJ Rob well known producer in the Hip – Hop mainstream for his break beat club mixes and underground mix – tape success; and many others
With Sheba's strong community influence, awesome reputation for spearheading events, successfully booking Spoken Word artists and promoting the Spoken Word circuit around the world, her new business venture made a smooth transition into her own company. "It was an accident really," said the Queen when asked how she got started. "I was already doing it for about a year, then when I was lucky enough for someone to take me on an East Coast tour, I thought :there are hundreds of poets that don't know how or where to get the exposure, so now, I can assist them," she said.
Innovators are known for making it up as they go along. There was no sinking here, the Queen mastered the backstroke and has landed on the shore next to many successful record label owners. Earning her ranks and respect by attending music conferences such as Medim in Canne France, the Richmond, VA music festival, and several other arts and music conference to improve her marketing plan and music industry leadership.
Sheba's savvy business sense of the poetry circuit and trademark assertiveness, won her first business venture as a venue holder and business partner of one of the nationally recognized and highly visited poetry spots on the East Coast: Urban S.A.F.A.R.I, August 2000 turned The Underground. Queen Sheba took the once 30-40 person night and transformed it into a 200 person, standing room only event of the month. Poets from around the globe that once featured at The Underground have followed her move, in August 2005 to Atlanta, GA and now frequent whichever venue is luckier enough to have her host and promote their night.
Oya Xclusive took on the responsibility of starting Norforlk, VA's slam venue, Breath Control and a weekly Twisted Tongue Tuesday night in the heart of down town Norfolk at an upscale soul food restaurant. Then running, three venues, sponsoring a slam team, and three National Spoken word concerts a year, a publishing branch and booking agency, Oya Xclusive definitely etched it's name in thousands of households and hundreds of thousands of ears.
Since the birth of the label July 2001 and the highly demanded recording company has people from around the country bidding to be apart of the powerhouse staff. After careful planning and deliberate trial times, Oya Xclusive has formed the executive team of A&R representatives and distribution and promotions reps, grant writers, youth organizers and word-shop facilitators, and business managers, a thriving internship and volunteer department, Tour Manager, two web designers, and a graphic design team, photography division, fashion architects, a videographer team and audio and Queen Sheba of VA, now ATL as CEO.
With the growing talent in Atlanta, Oya Xclusive believes in supporting the growth of all artists and subcontracts artists for performances around the country within the booking agency to include hosts, singers and emcees. Most recently Oya Xclusive has joined forces with poets in Europe to invest in exposure for both UK and American poets. With Oya Xclusive officially going international in January 2005, there are plans for a London poetry venue and signing European poets to the label.
Artists now commission Oya Xclusive and its staff to facilitate and organize for not only upscale and alternative (to the mundane of the club crowds) entertainment, also political events, book signings and album release parties in addition to contracts for youth develop within the school system.
You do not want to pass up any opportunity to see what is coming from Oya Xclusive.
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