Elitaste, Inc is a management, marketing, branding and licensing company started by Daniel Weisman in January 2008. The word Elitaste is a combination of elite+taste. It is something that is developed through life experiences, active participation and passionate observation. Elitaste is a sensibility, an aesthetic and for those who truly embrace it, a way of life. Elitaste means you love what you do. Elitaste is about not floating the mainstream but rather thwarting the momentum of the status quo. Elitaste is the status quo…five years from now.
I started this project because I could not find any other outlet that aligned seamlessly with my taste; and so Elitaste was born. We are not elitists. We are better than that.
We are always listening. We are always watching. We are always evolving.
Whether it’s management, marketing or music, we have an unprecedented track record and many industry “firsts” under our belt. And this is only the beginning.
See you at the top.
Dan
January 2008
ARTISTS
Elitaste, Inc is the management representation for:
Allido/Interscope recording artist Wale
J Records/RCA recording artist/songwriter/producer Mike Posner
E-1/Koch Records recording artists Paper Route Gangstaz
Elitaste, Inc recording artist All Out
Elitaste, Inc recording artist Shawn Chrystopher
Elitaste, Inc recording artist Fly Gypsy
Elitaste, Inc provides marketing and consultation services on either a monthly retainer for long term projects or a one time fee for smaller, short term endeavors. Elitaste.com was recently ranked #25 on VIBE’s list of the top 50 rap blogs.
Long term: Asher Roth (SRC/Universal)
Short term: J. Cole (Roc Nation) mixtape release
BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
Since 2007, Elitaste, Inc has spearheaded a number of major brand partnerships between artists and brands. Below are some of our most exciting initiatives:
Nike x Wale (included Nike Boots DC Stand Up event with Wale and Lil Wayne, “Nike Boots” music video directed by Chris Robinson and limited edition Nike Foamdomes)
Limited Edition Foamdome
Nike Sportswear Instore at 21 Mercer
Nike Boots Video
Nike Sportswear Sales Meeting at Nike HQ
Grey Goose x Wale (Wale is part of Grey Goose’s 2009 “Rising Icons” campaign which includes The Dream, Keri Hilson, Ryan Leslie and Kid Cudi)
New Era x Wale (Wale was the first emerging artist to get his own New Era 5950 fitted and Elitaste, Inc oversaw the design and distribution of the limited edition piece)
On Hypebeast
More Pics
LRG x Wale (Wale was featured in the 2008/2009 ad campaigns for LRG which included major media buys)
Vitamin Water x Wale (Wale is featured in Vitamin Water’s 2009 Sync “Emerging Artist” campaign)
Red Bull x Wale (Wale has participated in a number of Red Bull initiatives including their Red Bull Experiment and Red Bull Big Tune)
Red Bull Big Tune
Red Bull Experiment Part 1 Part 2
10Deep x Wale (in 2008, NY-based clothing company 10Deep came on as the exclusive presenter of Wale’s Mixtape About Nothing which included a limited edition shirt which sold out in a day)
Mixtape Release Party
Serenity Now T-Shirt
Cmonwealth Release
Black Swan Wine x Wale (Black Swan Wine sponsored Wale’s 2008 Mixtape About Nothing release party at their pop-up space in NYC)
LRG x Mike Posner (for their spring 2010 campaign, Mike Posner is the only artist to be featured, which will include outdoor and print advertising as well as a college tour)
BCBG MaxRave x Mike Posner (for their summer 2009 campaign, Mike Posner was chosen to be one of 10 featured artists on the playlist of MaxRave, a new brand of BCBG stores)
Puma x Mike Posner (for the 4th quarter of 2009, Puma sponsored Mike Posner’s senior year of college with a bi-weekly video series, a microsite and tastemaker concerts and event)
MUSIC SUPERVISION AND LICENSING
MUSIC SUPERVISION:
Elitaste, Inc works on both sides of the equation when it comes to music licensing, one of the fastest growing revenue generators for artists today. Elitaste, Inc provided music supervision for the Gary Hardwick-directed film REMOTE CONTROL and the critically acclaimed MTV documentary Britney Spears: For The Record.
LICENSING
Elitaste, Inc has licensed songs to NBA 09, Madden 09, Saints Row 2, MTV’s Life of Ryan, Nike.com, FAME, Entourage, NBA Live 2010, Need For Speed, DJ Hero and So You Think You Can Dance
www.zune.net/wale
Episode 2: A sneak peek of the behind-the-scenes action on the set of Wale’s new video Chillin’ featuring Lady Gaga and directed by Chris Robinson.
“On the Road with Wale” is a video podcast series chronicling the life and times of WALE on tour, as he rocks shows across the country to promote his soon to be released debut album, Attention Deficit, while trying not to go insane while cooped up on the bus. From show highlights, to interviews and guest appearances, to an epic X-Box battle with Young Chris, “On The Road with Wale” is a colorful montage of the rising star’s experiences while on his first major headlining tour.
This is a 10 week series with one webisode being released a week, the first of which is posted above.
Episode 1:
An introduction to life on the road with Wale as he rocks shows and promotes his new single “Chillin” featuring Lady Gaga. Wale talks about some memorable shows on the tour, as well as some of the ups and downs experienced while performing.
More on this coming very soon
So on Friday the 15th, Wale called me and was like “let’s go to New Orleans…Kevin Durant is giving us his tickets, Bun B is gonna be there, Jay’s gonna be there…we gotta go.” So we booked our flights the day before and it was surprisingly not that expensive. However, I must warn you, do not fly Continental Airlines under any circumstances. I had a 5:45AM flight out of LAX, I got there at 4AM. Somehow my reservation had disappeared even though I had a confirmation number and money had changed hands. I had to deal with people at the counter and on the phone for an hour. I almost missed my flight and had to rebook my flight at the counter. It was ridiculous. Luckily I was compensated with a sweet Continental Airlines duffle bag on my return flight since I got too much swag in New Orleans and my bag was too heavy. See bag below. And that’s Brady, my dog, he’s a Katrina rescue. Call him Little Duffle Bag Boy.
So we got into New Orleans on Saturday afternoon
Bun B had an extra hotel room for us at the Crowne Plaza where the boss Ricky Ross was staying. He had a wrapped bus and Escalade parked outside. We headed over to the LRG x Casio x EA gifting suite a few blocks away where Kevin from LRG and Melissa from Casio were hanging out. Got some cool watches, LRG gear, video games.
Such an intense game of NBA 08
We then headed to lunch with Bun B at world famous Mother’s. Bourbon Street was popping off before it even got dark.
There was a line at Mother’s which we had no problem waiting in except that everyone recognized Bun B and the employees refused to let him wait in line. Wale had a hard time ordering since everything in New Orleans is made with pork, but he and I ended up with some good fried chicken and french fries and fried Apple Juice (you gotta try fried Apple Juice…wow). Passed this Nike pop up Be True store. Nothing good, just a lot of dunks.
We then headed to the skills challenge, 3-point challenge and dunk contest.
This guy standing outside was pretty amazing. He’s like Small Wonder, except taller and a black dude.
They didn’t show it on TV but Wale won the shooting stars award
And me and Hornet go way back…to like Charlotte…with Larry Johnson and his Converse Reacts
After the dunk contest, we headed to Jay Z and Lebron James’ 2 Kings event
Traffic was ridiculous. Streets were closed. But we were rolling with Bun B whose name carries more weight than the President down in Nawlins. We were just driving up to cops saying “We have Bun B in the car” and they would open streets just for us. It was pretty remarkable.
L’Chaim!!!
DC’s finest were truly in the house house house
Wale and Mick Boogie…he did Kanye’s last mixtape. Might wanna check for him.
I went to All Star Saturday in New Orleans and all I got was this lousy pack of gum…and G-Shock…and gold bottle…and Zune player…and LRG hat…lol
