RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Pop culture king Damon “Dame” Dash has amassed a treasure-trove of media since his career ignited in Harlem. Now the actor, entrepreneur, CEO and executive producer wants to make all of his own content accessible to fans with the launch of an on-demand streaming website similar to Netflix, accessible through DameDashStudios.com.

Dash’s creative juices started flowing when he co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in the mid-1990’s. “I have devoted my life to providing an authentic experience to pop culture without compromise,” said Dash. “Now my music, movies, documentaries and self-help training videos and books will be aggregated at a single, easy to access distribution point going live on Tuesday, September 1, 2015.”

Dash sold his interest in Roc-A-Fella and moved ahead with his own production company discovering, casting and producing Kevin Hart and Lee Daniels in multiple movie projects. He went on to sign award winning musical acts including The Black Keys. After hearing the Ohio-based rock duo, Dash produced their album “BlakRoc” featuring guest appearances from Mos Def, Pharoahe Monch and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard among others. The album soared to become one of the top Rap Albums of 2009.

Traveling to Europe, South America and Asia, Dash continued to discover talent and launch careers. He quickly moved into the production of Hollywood pop-culture movies and television series as well as documentaries. IMDb (Internet Movie Database) credits Dash as producer on more than 20 movie projects, including the critically acclaimed “Woodsman,” starring Kevin Bacon, “Shadowboxer” with Helen Mirren, Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Lee Daniels, “Streets is Watching,” “State Property” and “State Property 2,” which he wrote, directed and appeared, and the highly praised “Paid in Full.”

Currently shooting in Wilmington, North Carolina, Dash is producing and directing “Mafietta,” a new television series based on novellas by E.W. Brooks starring London “Deelishis” Charles, winner of VH1’s Flavor of Love 2.

Kanye West, protege of Damon Dash since the early 90’s, joined him on production of the motion picture “Loisaidas” staring Murda Mook. Dash and West just released a new action-packed movie, “Too Honorable” featuring cousin, Stacey Dash (“Clueless”), Eishia Brightwell, Julito McCullum, Cam’ron, Nicholas Turturro, and Michael Rispoli. Dash is the director and has a featured role in the project.

He has opened media collective galleries in New York, Hong Kong, Charleston, and the newest one in Albemarle, North Carolina featuring showcase art and music. The new streaming service will be a broader, on-demand version of his galleries.

Dash has also been producing self-help videos based around organizational life skills such as research, planning, and effective decision-making. He has a series of interviews with entertainment notables, spiritual leaders, entrepreneurs and executives, motivational speakers and more. He is currently penning a new book, “Culture Vultures.”

In 1999 Dash co-founded Rocawear, a hugely successful line of clothing, footwear, fragrance and fashion accessories. Dash later sold his stake in Rocawear and focused on the creation of the Rachel Roy clothing collection, now an international brand with the RACHEL by Rachel Roy line available in Macy’s.

Having recently moved to North Carolina, Dash is finding a great deal of talented people in his new home base. “I have identified an amazing array of talent here. We are launching new music, videos and movies every day.”

While deeply involved in the business of entertainment and fashion, Dash is expanding his brand launching a German Riesling wine he calls Dusko Blu and he is introducing new spirit from Spain, Dusko Whiskey. He owns a motor oil company, Dash Motors and is launching an on-line teaching forum: PoppingtonUniversity.com

Damon “Dame” Dash has amassed an amazing portfolio of music, video and pop culture entertainment — all of which will be available on the new subscription website http://DameDashStudios.com/ on September 1, streaming to your home for $49.99 annually or $9.99 a month. Subscribers who preorder before the launch will receive a 50 percent reduction for the first year.

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SOURCE DameDashStudios.com

The heat of August puts a damper on the outdoor music scene, leaving it to mountain venues to present the month’s larger festivals. But two Triangle shows late in the month bring several bands from across the state to the rose garden at Raleigh Little Theatre and to Louisburg for an afternoon of contemporary Christian music and other activities aimed at youths.

Raleigh’s Groove in the Garden on Aug. 22 offers an opportunity to catch an eclectic gathering of eight popular North Carolina bands in a single show. The festival, put on by The Pour House, features The Love Language, Bombadil, 6 String Drag, Laura Reed, Jack the Radio, Nuclear Honey, The Midatlantic and First Person Plural. There will also be food trucks and a couple of dozen vendors. It’s at Raleigh Little Theatre’s Stephenson Amphitheatre, 301 Pogue St., from 1-9 p.m. $10. Info: raleighlittletheatre.org and thepourhousemusichall.com.

The following Saturday, Aug. 29, the youth ministry of Pilot Baptist Church of Zebulon puts on the 13th annual Youth Fest Christian Music Festival at the Norris Creek Outdoor Entertainment Complex near Louisburg. The show is from noon to 6 p.m. and features Mikeschair, Abandon, Surrounding Jericho and another band yet to be named. Also on the schedule: a BMX stunt team, rock climbing wall, obstacle course, gladiator joust, and food and drink concessions. $10; $5 for ages 4-10. Norris Creek is at 751 Old Halifax Road off N.C. 98 between Bunn and Louisburg in Franklin County. Info: youthfest2k.com.

Elsewhere this month

▪ The 41st annual N.C. State Bluegrass Festival in Marion, Aug. 13-15, features Dailey Vincent, the Del McCoury Band, Gene Watson and the Farewell Party Band, Rhonda Vincent The Rage and 14 more acts. Info: adamsbluegrass.com.

▪ The Irie Vibes Music Festival in Forest City, Aug 14-16, is mostly a reggae show with Sun-Dried Vibes, Oogee Wawa, See Water, Floralorix and 20 more bands from up and down the East Coast. Info: irievibesfest.com.

▪ The Clear Mountain View Music Festival, held on an agri-tourism farm in Cleveland County Aug. 27-29, will present the Larry Keel Experience, Big Daddy Love, Dangermuffin and eight more rock, country and Americana bands, most playing multiple shows. Info: clearmountainviewmusicfestival.com.

Get details about these and 11 more August music festivals at Carolina Music Festivals: carolinamusicfests.com.

By Mark Binker

Raleigh, N.C. — Senate leaders’ efforts to rebalance how sales taxes are distributed throughout North Carolina met with a cool reception from members of the House and local leaders Thursday.

Majority Leader Sen. Harry Brown, R-Onslow, pitched the bill as a compromise measure that would help rural counties without taking too much away from larger urban centers such as Raleigh.

“We simply believe that when someone spends their hard-earned tax dollars, those dollars should provide more benefit to their own families and their own communities,” Brown told the Senate Finance Committee. “The current system forces North Carolinians from 83 counties to subsidize a select few. This compromise will help all parts of the state.”

House Bill 117 is largely an economic development measure sought by Gov. Pat McCrory that has been stalled in budget negotiations for most of the year. It includes sales tax breaks for commercial airlines that buy jet fuel in the state and contains funding for the state’s large economic development programs.

But the sales tax provision is an outgrowth of an urban-rural tussle that has overshadowed much of the General Assembly’s work during the past five years.

Under current law, there is a 2 percent local sales tax that is divided among the counties. For every dollar raised from that tax, 75 cents stays in the county where a purchase is made, with the rest distributed to counties across the state based on their population.

Brown argues that distribution is unfair, giving an unfair advantage to fast-growing counties with big shopping areas, such as Wake and Durham counties, at the expense of rural counties with small populations. The current formula also benefits areas like the beach and the mountains where tourists spend heavily.

To address that imbalance, Brown’s bill would change the sales tax distribution to a 50-50 split, with half of the revenue remaining in the county of sale. He said this would return the state to where it was eight years ago before the sales tax distribution formula “for whatever reason” changed.

Although Brown played down the impact to large counties, a summary sheet showed the new formula would curtail the growth of local sales tax collections by millions of dollars in Mecklenburg and Wake counties.

“What do we do with Mecklenburg and my folks that have made commitments on infrastructure and debt predicated on revenue?” asked Sen. Jeff Tarte, R-Mecklenburg.

Large counties, Tarte said, would have little time to adjust to newly created holes in their budgets.

For example, Wake County is projected to collect $156.8 million under current law. Under the 50-50 split proposed by Brown, Wake County would collect $6 million less in 2016-17. Large cities such as Raleigh would also be affected.

“Although the sales tax redistribution plan came about from the heartfelt concern to assist regions in need in North Carolina, the unintended consequences for tourism and job centers could prove harmful and costly,” said Huntersville Mayor Jill Swain, chairwoman of the Coalition of Metro Mayors. “While we are relieved that the Senate has removed the issue from current budget negotiations, the Metro Mayors Coalition remains steadfast in our stance that addressing shortfalls and challenges for small, poorer counties must take place through state revenues and with a vision for the success of our entire state.”

Brown and other backers of the change said the system in place before 2007 was more fair to rural areas who are having problems building schools and paying teachers because their sales taxes don’t raise enough money.

But opponents of Brown’s bill pointed out that the 2007 shift was made as a part of a deal to take over Medicaid costs that had previously been borne by the counties. That shifted the costs for a fast-growing and costly system entirely to the state, saving counties millions of dollars.

“Most of the small counties did extremely well,” House Finance Chairman Rep. Bill Brawley, R-Mecklenburg, said of the Medicaid swap. “They are still benefiting from that.”

Brawley said that he would oppose the change to sales tax distribution and pointed out that McCrory has said that he opposes similar measures. The Governor’s Office did not immediately comment on the economic development bill.

The measure is expected to be heard on the floor of the state Senate Monday night.