Uncle Louie Would possibly Be The Oddest Hip-Hop Story Ever

Louis “Uncle Louie” Gregory is a singular propostion because it pertains to Hip-Hop and he has launched a e-book to chronicle his journey to management. “America’s Entrance Line: From Hip-Hop to Homeland Safety” weaves collectively his life tales and insights on management, from his formal upbringing to his dynamic profession in New York. However, who’s he? Gregory has labored within the nation’s largest authorities company, managed expertise in sports activities and is afflilated to a number of the greatest names in Hip-Hop.

The e-book consists of tales of working with Billy Joel, producing hits with J-Lo, LL Cool J, and Mary J. Blige, and forging bonds with Prince Markie Dee of The Fats Boys and Eric B of Eric B. & Rakim. He navigated the wrestling world with WWE Champion Goldberg, acquired enterprise recommendation from mentor Michael Strahan, and appeared on nationwide TV in “The Goldbergs.” He even suggested Andrew Yang’s presidential campaigns and enhanced U.S. Customs and Border Safety’s communication technique.

A former officer and director on the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety, Gregory served for 20 years, for the reason that 9/11 assaults. Gregory chased drug smugglers by night time and helped produce platinum albums by day. Now, he talks to AllHipHop about his path. Learn on.

AllHipHop: How do you reconcile being affiliated with regulation enforcement and current inside Hip-Hop?

Uncle Louie: Nice query. I don’t assume the 2 are essentially opposing forces. I feel first responders are there to maintain us secure. I grew up with my dad in jail however that didn’t make me hate regulation enforcement. For me, individually, I placed on a badge and uniform to stop terrorism. I might hope all good folks can be in favor of that. I left hip-hop and put my desires and aspirations apart after 9/11 to be able to put that mission first. I felt like that sacrifice wanted to be made for the higher of all, not simply me. Typically I look again and marvel what I missed; what may I’ve achieved if I might have targeted simply on me and my profession and never on being in regulation enforcement. It’s a giant what-if.

AllHipHop: What made you write the e-book within the first place?

Uncle Louie: a lot has occurred in our world and in my life. I actually wished to share my story, encourage others, and likewise to be true about the truth that no one and no group is solely excellent so it’s as much as us to work in direction of fixing issues and bettering conditions whether or not that be culturally, musically and even in regulation enforcement. I used to be just lately inducted into the Suffolk Sports activities Corridor of Fame and as they learn my accomplishments, they talked about my service to nation and within the background, they performed Eric B and Rakim. At that second all the things appeared to come back circle. With out my e-book, how may I share such a fancy physique of labor? I’m hoping any individual will learn this e-book and wish to make a movie about my life!

AllHipHop: Inform folks about your historical past with basic acts like The Fats Boys and Eric B & Rakim. How has Hip-Hop formed who you’re?

Uncle Louie: In my e-book, I share particulars of my story as a rapper who turned a producer who turned a federal agent who turned a professional sports activities agent who turned a TV actor who turned an inventor and entrepreneur. It’s a narrative most individuals wouldn’t and don’t consider at first. I credit score plenty of it with early steerage from Prince Markie Dee and continued steerage from mentors like Eric B and Michael Strahan. It took me over 40 years to study that the important thing to my success was doing much less, no more. By being single scope targeted I used to be capable of create one thing wonderful. A collectibles empire known as America’s Entrance Line. That large success solely got here after gaining the boldness to take action. I credit score Strahan with instilling that confidence in me. Being awarded an inventors patent was an enormous accomplishment for me. It felt like a platinum document!

AllHipHop: What about being in Homeland Safety? What made you delve into that?

Uncle Louie: At first, it was simply one other journey. It was by no means imagined to be a profession, only a enjoyable and thrilling expertise. The lore of that gold badge and gun. It appeared like the final word hustle. Sooner or later I used to be making information with Nas and the following I used to be in Primary Coaching to be a Federal Agent. The tragic occasions of 9/11 made it rather more than merely an journey although and it turned a accountability; one thing I needed to persist with for two a long time. I used to be finally promoted 9 occasions and occasion turned Chief after which lastly, Director. However in my e-book you’ll find out about racism I battled to finish inside my company and also you’ll find out about prejudices I handled. It was by know means an ideal state of affairs.

AllHipHop: Do you assume Rap and Regulation Enforcement are in a greater area now?

Uncle Louie: I feel some elements of rap are damaged and equally, so are some elements of regulation enforcement. To repair each, all of us have to come back collectively and admit that. We’ve got to innovate, talk and develop plans to right the shortcomings. I feel that’s actually attainable however to take action, we now have to take away the politics. We will’t repair these items by going left or by going proper, we should transfer ahead. Civil rights like freedom of speech and proper to expression with out censorship are enormous to me. I’ve needed to struggle for these rights as an artist and because the e-book explains, it wasn’t at all times straightforward. 

AllHipHop: J-Lo, LL Cool J, and Mary J. Blige are in your bio. How was it working with these celebrities as a producer?

Uncle Louie: one in all my fondest reminiscences was really of working within the studio with Slick Rick and Nas. It was a time that I usually replay in my thoughts. It’s once I really realized how music is made. Working with Wyclef was an ideal expertise too, even when it was to assist produce a diss document of LL Cool J who was crucial me and to Markie Dee. We might usually eat dinner on Francis Lewis Boulevard with L. L gave Markie a gig on Rock the Bells earlier than Markie’s passing and that was an amazing gesture. I’m very grateful for that and I want extra folks would look out for individuals who constructed the muse. I’ve humorous reminiscences about working with J-Lo and naturally, Diddy was round throughout that point talking of hip-hop and regulation enforcement. Markie was most pleased with the Mary mission and What’s the 411 was one in all his biggest manufacturing accomplishments.

AllHipHop: Discuss your well-known mentors.

Uncle Louie: All through my profession I’ve had a really various group of mentors. For 30 years Eric B has guided me and been a giant brother and a mentor. I talk about this theme fairly a bit in my e-book. As I discussed earlier, Michael Strahan has given me invaluable steerage as nicely. I additionally realized lots from working with WWE Star Goldberg and once I was President of Legends of Wrestling, I realized when to stroll away from one thing that I felt wasn’t a superb match for me even when it was enjoyable and profitable. 

I’d additionally like to say how a lot I realized working with Daymond John. He isn’t a mentor within the true sense of the phrase however having labored on many initiatives with him and developed merchandise with him and Simone Newbolt for Black Entrepreneur Day occasions and for Shark Group corporations actually taught me a ton about working with a Shark.

AllHipHop: Remaining phrases? What would you like folks to remove from this e-book?

Uncle Louie: I need folks to realize confidence from this e-book. As a child who grew up together with his dad behind bars, I dreamed large. My desires had been unrealistic to most however I proceed chasing them and I proceed doing my finest to depart the world a greater place than how I discovered it. Loving rap music ain’t by no means gonna change for me. I’m additionally going to at all times love America. There is no such thing as a motive these issues have to be mutually unique. I beloved serving on America’s Entrance Line and I can’t watch for what’s subsequent! I’m grateful to Chris R. Vaccaro for penning this e-book with me. This mission took greater than 3 years to complete. I hope hip-hop followers will adore it!

Purchase America’s Entrance Line: From Hip-Hop to Homeland Safety