Meet Sergio Mendes | Brand Logistics Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sergio Mendes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sergio, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea that surrounds the business that I helped start has grown over time. The collective of American Grime began with the record label, which was founded by my partner, Calvin Cyrus aka MC Jumanji, and I back in 2016. Before that, we both worked in the music industry in our own lanes but crossed paths time and again. I was managing local Hip Hop artists in Miami and Calvin was pursuing his MC career with a collective under the name Basshead Music, which gave him the opportunity to perform over Dubstep sets around the USA and also England, where the genre was founded.

As time passed, we were unhappy about the lack of direction our progress was taking us. After many discussions, we put our heads together and decided that we would create our own path and start a Record Label under the name American Grime Records, which would be an avenue to push out the style of music that we became such a fan of. Grime, created in the street of London, England was very similar to Dubstep and Hip Hop and has several of the same fan yet had no one solely pushing it stateside. This gave us an advantage and we were able to really separate us from other brands that were pushing the sound similarly.

After much success with the first few releases, we decided we need to provide a new avenue to ensure that our fans were receiving the music properly by throwing events in which we showcased our sound. Our first event was called Oh My Grime! This in turn helped bring along artists that wanted to be apart of the movement of pushing this culture that was so well known across the pond, over here stateside. With these events, we started to reach the ears of people across the US and places like Europe.

With the amount of positive feedback we were getting, we decided we would take on members to create a performance group as we were developing our own sound while also homage to the original artists that created the culture of Grime with collaborative projects. We were labeled as the “American’s that do Grime” so the name somewhat stuck. It helped link everything that we do from music releases, event production and at the time, artist tours. We now have a multitude of avenues to push this culture and feel that we have the headway to take the brand to new heights.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My current career is a Billing Manager at a law firm in Downtown, Miami and i have been with this firm for over 15 years. I started when i was only 17 and have grown so much from it. The firm helped my develop as an administrative professional and get my degree in Business. With the skills i developed, I have been able to use in pushing my passion in the Music industry. Given how well i have developed at my career, i have been given the freedom to push my passion in music without it interfering with my current job. It was not always easy but always being honest and showing immense loyalty and integrity has allowed me to move freely between career and passion. There have been times i wanted to quit my job to solely push music but have always felt the fear of what if. Time has shown that with the development of society over the years, and the economy in the USA, you need multiple avenues of income to be successful. So i have been blessed to be able to do both my Law Firm position and also the management of my music brand.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had a guest visiting my city, which happens quite often with the artists i occasionally book for events, i would most likely always start at the beach. We have beautiful views and scenery in Miami that can’t be compared to anywhere in the world. Driving over the Key Biscayne bridge to see the city’s skyline or down Collins avenue to see the beautiful weather and people walking around. La Sandwhicherie is a staple when it comes to a snack at any time of day or night (as its open until 5am). Wynwood is another place i would take them, as it is our Art district and there are several places to visit with great food, tasty drinks and an array of music to listen and dance to. Late night vibes can lead to traveling downtown lounges and Speakeasy’s like The Corner bar or Dante’s Hifi. or even Lost Boy Dry Goods

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have a few people to shout out with the first being my Grandfather, who coins the same name, Sergio Mendes. He is a 3x Grammy award winning musician from Brasil and has been my inspiration before I ever considered working in music. He has worked very hard, all of his life to get to where he is at and I admire that drive. I was not the family member to inherit the talent and skill to be a musician. However, I have always been a numbers guy and feel that the music industry undervalues that job title, given how important it is. I value myself in ensuring that all artists under my umbrella are taking care of, to the point that their main focus is to hone in on their creativity while I take care of logistics. I like to believe that I do a good job in that field.

My second shout out, without a doubt, goes to my business partner and best friend Calvin Cyrus, aka MC Jumanji. He and I have struggled in this industry and have learned so much along the way since we started the brand back in 2016 and I say that the success we have received and continue to receive stems from him and I being able to discus and decide on ideas to further the brand. We understand our place and our values and we have overcome so much together to get to where we are. In this industry, people will come and go and it will test your will and drive. I can say that we have come across these struggles and continue to overcome any adversity that has tried to get in the way of the movement. We Keep It Moving no matter what. #KIM

Also, I want to give a major shout out to my beautiful and loving wife, Gabriela. She has been by my side since I helped start the American Grime brand and has motivated me to live a better life. I could not have done it with out her continued love and support.

Last but not least, I want to shout the rest of the AG team, new and old, who help keep the dream alive: Man like Krizm, that boy Brightwing, the lyrical sniper 3ijoe, the mad scientist 3rdi, the unstoppable MC Twisty and most of all the friends and fans that we have met and crossed paths with along the way.

Website: https://www.americangrime.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americangrimerecs/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergio-mendes-mendonca-2585802a8/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanGrime_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanGrime

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9pmPnWp-Z0NqUjD0nZeXJQ

Image Credits
Swervio Fillups

Pedro “Skyp3r Photography”