Entertainment

ML Underwood, an Emerging Hip Hop Artist, Rises from the Ashes, Becoming a Hope for Millions

Published

4 years ago

November 20, 2020

Unpredictable and full of surprises, life is more of a journey than a quest. One experiences a roller coaster of emotions during this journey full of obstacles, challenges, moments of happiness, and times when one feels lonely and wishes to give up. One moment, there is joy and happiness all around, and right in the next moment, there is grief, sadness, and hopelessness. This element of surprise and unpredictability in life demotivates many people, deviating them from their life goals and bringing many to the point of giving up.

No one knows what they are going to come across in the next moment. It is the ‘not knowing’ that makes life beautiful. The adversities, a part of life no one can escape, serve as a motivation for one to make it big life. The way one handles these obstacles and challenges determines their successes and failures.

There is one secret to success in life; facing adversities with head held high and coming out stronger than ever. Serving as an example is the founder and CEO of MyLife Entertainment, who is currently working on his music career. ML Underwood, a name not unknown to the music artists and listeners.

Spending time in federal prison can strip away a person’s confidence and self-esteem, pushing them into a world of intense emotions such as grief, depression, and hopelessness. Underwood is one of those who do not give in to their adversities, stay consistent, and give their all to fulfill their dreams. He not came out of prison as a stronger version of himself but also to help all other inmates who had huge expectations from life.

A Story Worth Narrating…

Born in the hometown of Michael Jackson, a legend, on October 13, 1973, ML Underwood’s story is an example of how adversities help a person grow into a better version of themselves. Failures come in different forms; regardless, they must not be looked upon as a hurdle but as a stepping stone. Underwood was meant to make a name for himself in the music industry.

The fact that ML Underwood was afraid of failures as a child makes his story relatable to millions of struggles out there. When asked about his take on failures, he stated, “As a child, I was afraid to fail because my dad always pushed greatness upon me.” As a child, he was an athletic individual who loved playing basketball. Wrestling was where his heart was, and he even earned the title of a state champion in high school. He wrestled for two years. His priorities were different as a child, and as an athletic kid, he did not see music as a career choice.

Even though he grew up listening to Jackson 5 and he was even named after Marlon Jackson from this pop band by his sister, Melody. It was after he met his music teacher, Mrs. Hatcher that made him feel his soul connect with music. When he began admiring the purity of this artistic form of expression, he could not pursue it as his father always wanted him to go to college. He entered Purdue College to study Electrical Engineering.

Underwood used to hang out with gangsters a lot, which led him into the Federal Penitentiary. During these years, he thought about all the things that he could have done outside. He used his prison time to sort things out in life and decided it was music he wanted to pursue. Life in prison is tough and can crush the dreams of many people. Realizing this, Underwood also took up a responsibility to change things for all those inmates who were dreaming of acquiring stability in life after the release from the prison.

Turning His Dreams into Reality

After spending five years in prison, ML Underwood stepped out with an aim to turn his life around and establish standing in the world of music. The world around him tried to bring him down and hurt his confidence. He states, “It is funny how people kept on telling me that I can’t do something or that something is hard and impossible.” His determination and high self-esteem helped him lay the foundations of his consulting agency, “MyLife Entertainment”. He attempted to acquire a prominent standing in the world of entertainment. Through his company, he offered artist management, marketing strategy advising, and business performance consulting.

The company will also host the hip-hop Awards 2020. ML Underwood worked with some notable clients in the entertainment world, including Bun B, Juvenile, Sandy Redd from NBC’s the Voice, Willie Taylor, Shawnna from DTP, and Boosie Badazz. With time, the company has acquired an esteemed standing in the world of entertainment, and it turned Underwood into a renowned talent manager in the music industry. Through this platform, Underwood hopes to ‘reform hip hop to the next highest level.’ Another reason why he founded the company was to finance his own dreams. On one occasion, Underwood talked about how ‘before distributing music, an aspiring artist should have a budget for Marketing their Music.’

After the company established a firm foundation, he decided it was time to step into the music world as a musician, something he aspired to be, ever since he stepped out of prison. Finally, Underwood released his first song with the support of Willie Taylor (Day 26) and Shawanna. The remix of ‘Crazy Love’ was his ticket into the music world as a musician. While discussing his debut, he stated, “Crazy Love came from my heart because it really describes my relationship with my wife. The struggles of Marriage and understanding the love language of your partner can be just CRAZY.”

His debut was followed by a plethora of other releases such as ‘Coalition,’ ‘My Life,’ ‘King God Legend,’ ‘That’s on My Life,’ ‘Show Me,’ and ‘I’m the Light.’ After investing millions of dollars in helping other artists build their careers, Underwood found it fitting to invest in himself. He stated, “You never go wrong investing in yourself.” In just seven months, his track acquired one million streams, a dream of many aspiring artists, and he aims to reach 100 million streams.

A Man Helping the Strugglers Turn their Lives Around

Not only his dreams, but he also stepped up to improve the lives of his fellow inmates who were struggling to achieve stability in life. It led to the establishment of a beneficial service for inmates known as, The United Prisoner Association. Serving as the voice of the young African-American generation, he is helping inmates turn their lives around by providing them a platform through which they can fulfill their long-lost dreams.

Born in Gary, a small town in Indiana, ML Underwood not just an entrepreneur and a musician, but also a philanthropist life coach, and motivational speaker. All his tracks have a message that listeners, who dive deep into the lyrics, will be able to find. The Hip Hop music artist creates tracks that are a perfect amalgamation of knowledge, emotions, and melody. He uses his music to empower the African-American community to follow the light and find success in their lives. His music is a force that is acquiring worldwide recognition in African-American music. Underwood’s life is serving as a source of inspiration who are failing to turn their dreams into reality, and his music is encouraging people to take a stand and fight to live lives exactly the way they want to!

Entertainment

Getting to Know Adeia’s Fingerprints on Entertainment Evolution

Published

1 week ago

December 18, 2024

Jonathan Grilli

Photo courtesy of Adeia

By Joy Reyes

Behind every streaming recommendation, smart TV search, and seamless device switch lies hidden technology powering your modern entertainment experience. Although people might not know Adeia, they have likely used its technology many times. The company’s inventions are embedded in the modern entertainment experience, from sophisticated content recommendation systems to seamless multi-device streaming capabilities.

“Our basic inventions shape the way millions of people explore and experience entertainment and improve billions of devices in an increasingly connected world,” says Serhad Doken, chief technology officer (CTO) at Adeia.

Building upon this foundation, “we create tools that make watching shows easier and more fun. These tools work on televisions (TVs), phones, and other devices, no matter where or how you watch. They help organize your entertainment in a way that feels just right for you,” Serhad Doken adds.

Connecting Traditional and Modern Media

At the heart of today’s entertainment landscape lies a crucial challenge: bridging the gap between traditional television and modern streaming platforms. One of Adeia’s key strengths is its ability to connect traditional linear television with the new age of streaming services. The company licenses its patented media inventions for traditional linear television in North America and internationally through its extensive portfolio of patents.

This comprehensive approach ensures seamless integration with over-the-top media service (OTT), direct-to-consumer, and social media services that provide access to entertainment inside and outside the home on a broad array of devices. The result is a unified entertainment experience catering to traditional viewers and digital-first consumers.

“We believe the continued growth of video consumption, the changes in how consumers explore and experience video, and the need for content storage and high-performance computing present new opportunities for us to continue to develop patentable inventions,” Serhad Doken explains.

Improving Content Discovery

In an age where the average viewer can access thousands of shows and movies across multiple platforms, finding what to watch can be as challenging as creating the content itself. To address this content overload, Adeia has been solving this problem by developing new solutions for content discovery that make the viewing experience more intuitive and personalized.

At the forefront of these innovations is Adeia’s universal search capability, which allows for unified discovery across live, recorded, on-demand, and streaming content sources. This groundbreaking solution means viewers no longer need to jump between different apps or platforms to find what they want to watch — Adeia’s universal search brings it all together in one place.

Moreover, the company improves content discovery further with its personalized discovery experiences. Using sophisticated algorithms and machine learning, this includes personalized recommendations, predictive results, and popular and trending content suggestions. By analyzing viewing patterns and preferences, Adeia presents viewers with content that matches their interests and viewing habits.

Recognizing the growing prominence of voice-controlled smart home devices, Adeia has also developed a conversational interface to interpret voice commands and requests. This technology supports natural, conversational dialogue and interaction with smart responses, making it easier for viewers to find and control their entertainment.

Improving the Viewing Experience

Modern viewers expect a seamless entertainment experience across all their devices, and Adeia’s technologies make this possible. Their multi-device experience technology allows viewers to start watching a show on one device and smoothly transition to another without missing a beat.

To enhance the binge-watching experience that has become synonymous with modern streaming, Adeia has developed technologies that connect viewers with entertainment on their terms. These include features that automatically play the next episode or remember where viewers left off across different devices.

Perhaps most exciting is Adeia’s work in immersive content. “We are creating unrestricted entertainment experiences that are more engaging and gratifying than ever before,” Serhad Doken says. “This includes dynamic advertising, gaming, wagering, and even shoppable video integrated into content.”

Impact on Semiconductors

While Adeia’s influence on the entertainment industry is substantial, its inventions are not limited to this sector. According to Serhad Doken, the company also leads in semiconductor technology, developing solutions that expand the possibilities in electronic devices.

“With the rising cost of advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes, the sector is looking beyond Moore’s Law toward advanced packaging and three-dimensional (3D) integration technologies,” Serhad Doken explains, adding that its skilled team and labs in California and North Carolina create advanced 3D integration methods. These methods, like hybrid bonding, help make future electronics work better, faster, and smaller.

The Future of Entertainment Technology

As the entertainment landscape continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, Adeia will continue to play an important role in shaping it. With its extensive research and development capabilities and broad portfolio of patented technologies, the company is well-positioned to address the needs of both content providers and consumers.

This positioning has recently been reinforced by a significant development in Adeia’s business. The company has entered into a multi-year agreement with Amazon, covering Adeia’s media intellectual property portfolio. This partnership with one of the world’s largest and most innovative companies underscores the value and relevance of Adeia’s technologies in the digital entertainment space.

Paul E. Davis, Adeia’s chief executive officer, emphasized the importance of this agreement, stating, “Amazon plays a massive role in today’s innovation society. This collaboration validates Adeia’s technological prowess and promises to expand our developments’ reach and impact.”

“We are excited about the future of entertainment technology,” Serhad Doken concludes. “As video consumption continues to grow and change, and as new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) become more common, we will be there, developing new inventions that improve the way people explore, experience, and enjoy entertainment.”

In addition to the significant agreement with Amazon, Adeia has also recently renewed its long-standing partnership with Sharp Corporation. This renewal extends a relationship that has lasted for over 25 years.

Mark Kokes, Adeia’s chief licensing officer and general manager of media, commented on the renewal, highlighting Sharp’s reputation as a global leader in entertainment technology and its expertise in display technologies.

The renewed agreement covers Sharp’s smart TVs and consumer electronics, further solidifying Adeia’s position in the media technology sector.

These recent developments underscore the momentum in Adeia’s business, showcasing its ability to retain long-term partners like Sharp and attract new, influential clients like Amazon.

With its growing list of high-profile partnerships and ongoing innovations, Adeia is well-positioned to continue shaping the future of digital entertainment. The company’s advanced R&D efforts consistently result in fundamental innovations that power next-generation products, delivering breakthroughs in digital experiences for both consumer and enterprise applications.

Through its innovative solutions and forward-thinking approach, Adeia’s influence can be felt throughout the development of the entertainment industry, from the fundamental technologies that power our devices to the intuitive interfaces that help us discover and enjoy content. As we move into an increasingly connected future, Adeia’s technologies continue to shape how we interact with and experience digital entertainment.