Wednesday, January 14, 2009

V.I.P. Suite: NOTIFI RECORDS

Honest, Fantastic, Godsent, Loyal, Sweetheart, Tenacious, and Passionate. All words that friends and used to describe Notifi Records CEO, Ira DeWitt. She is a Doctor, Mother and Wife and the owner of the Record Label that 90’s heartthrob Ginuwine signed with in 2008. I recently sat down with DeWitt to discuss the upcoming project with Ginuwine and Notifi Records and what she has in store for the St. Louis music scene.


pictured left: Ira DeWitt, CEO of Notifi Records

While I went in ready to learn all about what Ginuwine has cooking with his upcoming album I found myself more intrigued with how Ira DeWitt landed herself in this position. When you think record label head a lot of images may come to mind, but Ira is ready to change that. On the East Coast you have Bad Boy, and So So Def is a part of Atlanta history and for years I often thought that Derrty ENT would hold the same kind of weight in St. Louis. After meeting with Ira DeWitt and seeing the fire in her eyes and passion for what she does, I’m going to say with total confidence that she will take Notifi Records into that leadership role. St. Louis natives Oli and Ms. Bee are 2 of Ginuwine’s label mates and DeWitt plans on reaching out to Faith Evans and Jagged Edge to join this group. Although DeWitt says she doesn’t have the thick skin that many others have in this industry, her songs keep her going. Her husband Bill DeWitt, President of the St. Louis Cardinals admits that the long hours his wife works are hard but says, “he couldn’t imagine her doing anything else because she loves what she does.” While R. Kelly, Ginuwine and even some old school Boyz II Men are in constant rotation, Dewitt’s is focused on Ginuwine topping the charts again and bringing some credibility back to the St. Louis Music Scene.

She has hit the St. Louis music scene running by signing Ginuwine who most recently was linked with the group TGT (Tyrese, Ginuwine and Tank) but that didn’t last long after legal issues halted the project. If you are thinking “What has Ginuwine been doing these days” then you will be glad to hear that he has been working hard on an upcoming album and from what I hear, you won’t be disappointed when it it’s stores. Once famous for having a way with the ladies by doing songs like “Pony” that would have ladies going wild, he has matured his sound and style. DeWitt says that Ginuwine has “evolved as an artist”. Oh and ladies if you thinking you are going to catch Ginuwine (who is still looking fine) around town and have your way with the pretty boy, please keep don’t go groupie on the brotha because he is still married to former rapper SolĂ© who is a Midwest native so you know she don’t play. Stay tuned for what’s to come and I’m sure we will have an update on his comeback real soon.