Entertainment

Los Angeles Artist Presidentrj Details the Ups and Downs of His Career to This Point

Published

5 years ago

December 24, 2020

“Every day is a hustle to survive,” shares south-central Los Angeles rapper Presidentrj. The recent success of his 2020 project, STREET PRIEST, has opened doors for Presidentrj that he did not even know ere in front of him. Rising to this level of success has not been easy for the young hip-hop artist, though. Still, he is not about to let his past or any future hardships slow him down from achieving his goals. Currently producing the follow-up to his 2020 release, Presidentrj is looking to break out of the LA underground scene and name himself throughout the entire rap industry.

Born and raised in the south-central area of LA, Presidentrj began his pursuit for success in the rap industry back in 2018. Connecting early with his now frequent collaborator, Atlanta producer Kutta Beats, Presidentrj established himself as a force in the city’s underground scene with his natural storytelling ability and melodic style of rapping. However, all of the rapper’s promise was put on hold when he faced eviction from his LA apartment in March of 2019. “A lot of sleepless nights; a lot of wondering if I would make it home,” the young artist shares of his life after eviction. Struggling to make ends meet, Presidentrj focused more on his writing ability, as he could not afford beats and studio time. The work he was able to put on paper during that time, though, would turn into what is now the already released STREET PRIEST and the soon-to-be-released STREET PRIEST II.

Finding himself back on his feet by the start of 2020, the young rapper had a plethora of new life experiences that he could pour into his rapping. “My songs give listeners an idea of what life is like in the streets and what a lot of people have to go through to survive,” shares Presidentrj. With the release of his 2020 project, STREET PRIEST, the young rap hopeful explored the topics of homelessness, struggling with trust, and the ups and downs of relationships. Following up that project with its sequel, STREET PRIEST II, which is set for release in January, Presidentrj is hoping to further expand upon the groundwork he laid with his first project. “I want people to understand the process I took to get where I am at today.”

To hear Presidentrj’s music, check out his Spotify and follow him on Instagram for updates on STREET PRIEST II.

Entertainment

Going Public: The Groundbreaking Series Transforming How Americans Invest

Published

1 month ago

May 16, 2025

Jonathan Grilli

In a media landscape saturated with reality TV and startup showcases, Going Public stands apart, not just as a show but as a movement. Now in its third season, the interactive series invites viewers to do more than just watch entrepreneurs chase success. It gives them the tools and the opportunity to invest in startups in real time, democratizing access to early-stage funding and reshaping how ordinary Americans engage with entrepreneurship and wealth-building.

Launched by Todd M. Goldberg, a former MedTech executive who hit a frustrating wall while preparing his company for a Nasdaq IPO, Going Public was born from a moment of personal disillusionment.

“When I brought a list of interested friends and colleagues to the Chairman of the Board,” Goldberg recalls, “he explained that all the IPO shares were reserved for institutional investors. That was my epiphany. I just knew that was wrong. Regular people should have a chance to invest in IPOs, but it needed to go even further.”

That insight became the foundation for Going Public, a hybrid of entrepreneurial storytelling and financial access that offers retail investors a seat at the table usually reserved for venture capitalists and insiders. The show brings audiences inside the capital-raising journey of startups, often before they go public, and leverages a powerful innovation: its “Click-to-Invest” feature.

“The bottom line with Click-to-Invest is that it’s seamless,” says Goldberg. “Viewers can go from watching the show to literally clicking a button. It feels more like a Shopify or Amazon checkout than a traditional investment process.”

This accessibility is central to the show’s mission: to educate, inspire, and empower everyday people to participate in early-stage investing. Unlike financial news channels that target seasoned traders, Going Public merges entertainment with financial literacy, using real startup stories to highlight the risks, rewards, and realities of entrepreneurship. It’s financial content with emotional stakes, real people, and tangible outcomes.

Season 3 reflects how far the show has come and where it’s going. With more celebrity involvement, including gaming icon Ninja backing the cashew milk startup Nutcase, and a strategic partnership with the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Going Public has widened its reach while deepening its cultural relevance.

“How do you make this mainstream?” Goldberg says. “The concept was The Apprentice meets Shark Tank meets IPO, but with a twist. Viewers aren’t just spectators, they’re stakeholders.”

The show’s selection of featured companies is another defining element. Startups are chosen not just for their growth potential but also for their mission, relatability, and cultural resonance. In Season 3, that includes everything from disruptive wellness brands to tech-enabled platforms, each paired with guidance from top-tier venture capitalists and Silicon Valley mentors.

This season also introduces a livestream finale, a format innovation designed to create a real-time, high-stakes environment where viewers can watch, decide, and invest together. It adds urgency and community to the investing experience, aligning with the show’s values of transparency and participation.

One of the most surprising and meaningful outcomes has been the personal stories from viewers who never imagined themselves as investors. “We’ve heard from teachers, nurses, and even students who said this was their first time investing and they felt confident doing it because the show made it accessible,” Goldberg shares. “It’s not just about money, it’s about empowerment.”

Looking ahead, Goldberg and his team have ambitious plans. They aim to expand the format to new platforms, explore international adaptations, and build out educational tools so viewers not only invest but understand what they’re investing in. The goal isn’t just more participation. It’s smarter participation.

In a world where capital often feels distant, technical, and exclusionary, Going Public brings the financial journey down to earth and into the hands of the people. It’s not just a show. It’s a redefinition of how business stories are told and how wealth can be created and shared.