Greg "Olskool Ice-Gre" Lewis
Who is Greg "Olskool Ice-Gre" Lewis? That depends on who you ask because he is a man of many concentrations. If you ask him, he'll simply say a creative. A self published Author, Speaker, Music and Entertainment Industry Professional, A&R, Songwriter, Personal Manager, Artist (Chicago Hip Hop Legend) and overall positive spirit, Greg has remained consistent in his endeavors as an entrepreneur, businessman and visionary. One of his proudest accomplishments is the self published motivational memoir titled "I Refuse To Quit! The Autobiography of A Dreamer." The book is available in all formats on Amazon but you can visit www.irefusetoquit.com for a more in-depth view of the author as well as a variety of related offerings such as The Dream Box.
Olskool, as he's professionally known, is the Founder of Honest Management LLC., Head of Artist Relations at Eclipse Distro, on the Advisory Board for the Hollywood Independent Music Awards and a proud graduate of one of the most recognized HBCU's, THEE illustrious Jackson State University. He holds a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from the institution and is an active Alumni who remains connected to the university in various capacities. Higher education is something Olskool actively encourages but doesn't feel is mandatory. Chasing dreams on the other hand is something he does feel is mandatory. Everything he's done, currently doing and plans to do is connected to a dream. An example of this is a creative endeavor he took on as Producer of a one on one, candid conversation, interview show, called IN A SESSION. Acquired by Revolt, the show aired summer 2022. This was one of the television and film initiatives backed by the company. It began with the creation and development of the documentary film We Paid Let Us In! The Legend of Abstract Mindstate, directed by Emmy Award Winning Television Producer Trizonna McClendon. In 2022 the film was an official selection at Dances With Films Los Angeles (DWFLA), San Antonio Black International Film Festival (SABIFF) and nominated Best Documentary Feature Film at Love & Hope International Film Festival (L'HIFF) in Barcelona.
As an artist, Olskool Ice-Gre released an album in late 2021 titled Dreams Still Inspire with his group Abstract Mindstate. The project was produced entirely by Ye (formerly Kanye West) and released via his platform YZY SND. The album was highlighted in various music and culture publications such as; Rolling Stone (2x), Complex, Fader, Highsnobiety, Rolling Out, HYPEBEAST, Chicago Tribune and many more. In March of the following year, Abstract Mindstate co-headlined a domestic tour with the legendary Detroit Hip Hop group Slum Village. In December of 2021 both A.M and SV executed a few spot date performances called The Warm Up to prepare themselves for the tour that later took place. As the male half of the only male/female duo in Hip Hop, Olskool Ice-Gre is living out one of his earliest dreams with the return of Abstract Mindstate. Dreams Still Inspire stands as the only album produced in it's entirety by the artist formerly known as Kanye West since his debut The College Dropout. To date, Abstract Mindstate are the only act to officially release a project on YZY SND (Yeezy Sound), which is a feat within itself.
Notable Highlights | Past & Present
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2023 Created a new category for award shows called Adult Contemporary Hip Hop (ACH). The category was implemented into the Hollywood Independent Music Awards (HIMA)
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2022 Panelist for The Future of Hip Hop in the Metaverse w/ Askia Underwood, Steve Lobel, Vincent Berry, Nathan Chandra | LA Convention Center
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Documentary: We Paid Let Us In! The Legend of Abstract Mindstate | Selected by various Film Festivals
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2022 The NAMM Show | A3E Sessions - The Next Generation of Rap and Hip Hop: Harnessing Music Technology For Empowering Creativity (Panelist)
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2022 Co-Moderator for The Western Province Kappa League Conference: Discussion on lyricism in Hip Hop | Cal State LA
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2022 Performance at Hanjan Oasis/DayClub Powered by Gushcloud International: Coachella 2022 | Abstract Mindstate
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2022 JSUNAA Midwinter Leadership Development Council Panel
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2022 Special guest performance for Thee Blue Tie Gala Luncheon |Abstract Mindstate
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2022 Recording Academy : Grammy Press Play - Fireside Performance | Abstract Mindstate
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2021 Winner | BEST INDEPENDENT VIDEO | A Wise Tale - Abstract Mindstate | Hollywood Music in Media Awards
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Meet & Greet: I Refuse To Quit! The Autobiography of A Dreamer | Soho House Chicago
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Feature in Rolling Stone Magazine | Abstract Mindstate
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Released Dreams Still Inspire on Yeezy Sound: Album produced entirely by Kanye West | Abstract Mindstate
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Creative collaborator to Kanye West for 23 years
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Handpicked the NO.ID produced track "My Last" for multi-platinum artist Big Sean
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Very first A&R of Good Music | A Kanye West associated label
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Assistant to Head of Publicity | Loud Records '95
Related Links
Consequence of Sound | The jeen-yuhs Cast and Crew Take it Back to S.O.B's For Q&A Event
The New Yorker | * Read paragraph 6
Time Magazine: Every Celebrity and Music Industry Cameo in Jeen-Yuhs Documentary Explained
Billboard Mag: Kanye West's "The College Dropout" An Oral History
Hip Hop Business Blog: A&R Radio
Weekend Wrap Up Show (Interview starts @ 21:00 Mark)