Speakers

Brandon “Stix” Salaam-Bailey (born July 13, 1983) is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Salaam-Bailey, was born and raised in Watts, Ca, having started off as a full-time dancer in 2002, creating one of the most popular dance movements in the world called “KRUMP.” The new dance craze eventually went mainstream after it hit the big screens from world renown director David La’Chapelle’s “Rize”.

During mid-2006, Stix and partner, Nicholas Gouche, developed a worldwide rap battle league called “The Pit” where the battle rap careers of Dizaster and Daylyt were born. The Pit in just a short time, immediately became LA’s most popular and top hip-hop event. The PIT amassed support from some of the west coast’s most notable artist like Kendrick Lamar, Problem, YG, Glasses Malone, Roscoe, Mistah Fab, J-Doe, Gizzle (Bad Boy), and BadLucc (Diamond Lane) to name a few. The Pit also received support from artist outside of the western region like Nas, Redman, and Young Jeezy.

In 2012, his determination and will to succeed would later lead him to work with and executive produce pop rapper Iggy Azalea on her first mixtape Ignorant Art. Stix became instrumental in the early stages of the Iggy Azalea brand. Along with hyping up crowds on stage with I-G-G-Y, Stix would go forward and executive produce Iggy’s “Glory” album with rap legend TI, and “Trap Gold” with FKI’s 1st down and edm producer Diplo.

Billboard’s cover story music executive Sarah Stennett, hired Stix to join her Turn First / First Access roster of A&R’s in late 2014. Stix would develop, executive produce, and oversee projects from artist Bishop Nehru, Zernell Fontaine, and Laurel. Stix would also lend his services as a songwriter/record producer to exclusively produce and write for artist like Rita Ora, Zayn Malik, Ellie Goulding and other Turn First / First Access artist. During the end of Summer 2015, pop star Iggy Azalea tweeted that she was back in the studio with her good friends Stix, and the collective D.R.U.G.S to work on her 2017 release “Digital Distortion”. The first leak “Azillion” received over 1 million views on Soundcloud in 2 days and the first official single “Team” debuted #42 on the Billboard Hot 100, IGGY’s highest debut of her career.

In 2016, Stix was Tanqueray Ten and Ciroc’s official music program ambassador for their liquor spirit. Stix’s superior ability to perform secured him a slot as the opening act on the Puff Puff Pass Tour 2 behind Westcoast legend Snoop Dogg. Other acts on the tour included Dogg Pound, Warren G, & Bone Thugs and Harmony. Stix was also selected for Pepsi Co‘s ‘Stubborn Soda’ series campaign. Pepsi highlighted Stix’s story on how he managed to become a successful entertainer. Keep your ears and eyes open for the Watts City native and watch the journey as history is being made.

Today, Stix is the official ambassador for LAFC (Los Angeles Football Club) and the LA Clippers. Stix has created the theme song for both teams and has launched multiple community activations over the last year. Stix has recently created the Thinkwatts Foundation a 501c3 company who’s main objective is to develop resources and create opportunities for low income and underserved communities. To date, the Thinkwatts Foundation has partnered with various companies like Adidas, LA Clippers, WSS, Banc of California, and Planet Fitness to refurbish over 16 outdoor basketball courts, 1 indoor basketball gym, 1 renovated fitness room inside Drew Middle School in Watts , a 5 week financial literacy course covering money management, credit building, and the introduction to investing along with donating over 100+ pairs of shoes, groceries to over 100 families, and more. Recently, Stix and the Thinkwatts Foundation partnered up with Beyond Meat to hand out beyond meat products and boxes of fresh produce to over 4000+ people in the Watts community.