A passion for music since childhood has led Desean “CEO Dee” Thompson to use his music and business expertise to help others achieve their dreams in the music industry.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Thompson was 6 when he moved to Gainesville, 6 where he later began his music venture.
In 2016, the Buchholz High School graduate started an independent record label, Go Legit Entertainment, with his older brother, Akeem “DJ Terrah” Thompson Sr., who worked at Magic 101.3 FM. Sadly, his brother’s music career was cut short due to his untimely death in 2021 at age 39.
“I wanted to protect him on his journey,” said Desean Thompson, adding that he helped his brother transition from being a DJ to a music producer. “He loved the craft so much that he wasn’t focused on the business. I wanted to help him through that music transition and help him to be the producer I know he could become.”
Founder compares himself to Quincy Jones
Desean Thompson compared his work at Go Legit to that of world renowned record producer Qunicy Jones, who is known for orchestrating collaborations with music artists and helping to produce popular works such as Michael Jackson’s album “Thriller.”
“I put the right people in these spaces and allow them to create from there,” Thompson said.
He hosts studio sessions at Pulp Arts, 1705 NE 16th Ave., for artists who schedule appointments via email at golegitent@gmail.com
Legacy is important
Thompson is married and has two children and a stepchild. He uses the term “Go Legit” as a motivating endearment to inspire artists to leave a legacy behind, he said.
“Our tagline is, ‘Create Your Legacy,’” Thompson said. “I have a good understanding of what we are up against as a people and we have to create a legacy to leave something behind for those we are raising.”
Thompson connects artists, producers and DJs together and network with people in the music industry by knowing and participating in release parties and studio sessions with other artists.
Richard “Buddy Roe” Strange is a lifelong friend of Thompson’s and the director of artists and repertoire at Go Legit Entertainment. Strange’s position consists of negotiating with and signing new artists to the record label.
“Music means everything to me,” Strange said.
Strange said he and Thompson would ride bicycles around their neighborhood as children listening to rappers like hip-hop duo 8Ball & MJG, rapper and record producer Birdman, and artists from his Cash Money record label.
“We would talk about them saying that one day we will be in the music industry,” Strange said. “Seeing it come to life is amazing. We went through so much from the days of starting out and struggling to get it off the ground. I’ve seen the moves he’s (Thompson) is making for artists here and other cities. Our goal is to get ahead and to get it big.”
Supporting Black businesses
Duncan Kabinu, a software engineer, helped create Thompson’s website for the record label.
“I’m supportive of every Black person trying to make it,” Kabinu said. “I always try to be helpful to those on the come up.”
Kabinu said he admires Thompson’s determination to launch Go Legit Entertainment and to help artists in the music industry.
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“He has seen people’s sounds get stolen and not getting royalties from it,” Kabinu said. “He has plenty of ideas to help and he encourages artists trying to make it. He has artists and producers coming down to Gainesville from Atlanta to make music.”
Promoting the label
Thompson launched an introduction video via YouTube on Sept. 21 to promote his record label. He hosted a studio session Aug. 20 at Pulp Arts where he invited producers and artists of his label to record songs and network with one another.
He invites his artists to trips to Atlanta for networking events as well.
“I take them to networking events so they can get in the rooms of their peers,” Thompson said. “When they are around people they see on TV, it shows them that they can do it, too. It shows them that what they’re trying to reach is right there and it’s up to them to go and get it.”
Thompson is currently focused on the hip-hop industry and he said he has helped artists produce R&B and country songs.
“I love the energy it brings and the influence it has,” Thompson said about hip-hop.