Jordan Kensington
Encyclopedia
Jordan Kensington is an entrepreneur, artist, songwriter, Television and radio presenter best known for the brand Invincible and as the founder of the Urban Music Awards
an awards show celebrating the achievement of hip hop
, R&B, soul
and jazz
music artists in six countries annually.
His business interests under the umbrella of Invincible Media Group include Urban Music Awards
, a magazine, radio station, a Television production company, record label, celebrity management agency and a primary school and College. He has taken the roles of recording executive, rapper, Executive producer of Sky TV
's Britain's Next Urban Superstar, writer, radio presenter and presented one report for the BBC 1 local news strand Inside Out
. In 2007 Jordan was worth an estimated US $18 million
.
, London
, the son of Emmanuel and Agnes Kensington. He grew up in St. Lucia, and moved back to London
when his father died of kidney failure in 1995.
He attended South Thames College
and later studied law at London South Bank University
.
went on to set Invincible Magazine in 1999,. The magazine reportedly saw a circulation of 65,000 copies distributed monthly in the UK giving exposure to several first time artist such as Dizzee Rascal
, M.I.A
, Joss Stone
, Twista
, Eminem
and many more. In 2002 the company launched a radio station, production company and a celebrity management arm to further maximise the brand Invincible and 2003 saw the launch of the Urban Music Awards
. The awards show spun off an events production arm to the company that led to the launch of British Music Week in 2005 and most recently International Football Awards which was held in 2009. The Urban Music Awards 2009 returned bigger and better in 2009 by celebrating the 7th anniversary with US version of the awards show on the 17th of July 2009 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York city and returning to London on the 1st of November for the UK Version of show. The 2009 return was covered by major international press including; OK Magazine, Daily Express, and the Insider, ,. 2009 also saw the launch of the Best Asian Act category to celebrate artists and musicians of Asian origin which was widely covered within the Asian media worldwide.
,
and St. Lucia. The College is called Mother Teresa's College, named after the legendary philanthropist Mother Teresa
of Calcutta. The current College is in Cameroon
; whilst the school is in St. Lucia . His interest in education has meant that he is constantly being booked to speak and offer motivational seminars in Universities, Colleges, and businesses.
On April 22, 2007, Jordan inked a six figure deal with leading shoe brand Kickers
. The agreement saw a special Invincible shoe created, sold and endorsed by several celebrities. As well as working on sponsorship and marketing for brands such as Timberland
, Samsung Mobile, SonyBMG and Warner Music Jordan signed off a 2 year deal with the world's biggest sports retailer Foot Locker in 2007.
In 2006, Jordan was named Ambassador for the Government based campaign Make your Mark, and was announced as an honorary VIP member of the BlackBerry
VIP Entrepreneurs network. He came into controversy in 2005 when he criticised the Brit Awards
for failing to recognise artists in the UK from different nationalities and his comments were featured on major networks including BBC 24 News.
In 2007, Jordan gave a 30 minute interview with Jim Boulden
of CNN
to celebrate the launch of his brand new USA based newspaper in New York
and in 2008 he gave UK HipHop magazine a no holds barred interview about his life, dreams and his beliefs.
He is reported to be behind the new, error-strewn free newspaper London Weekly. In 2011, Jordan announced the launch of brand new energy drink, Power which is set to be distributed and marketed exclusively to the African continent.
Urban Music Awards
The Urban Music Awards is a HipHop, R&B, Dance and soul music awards ceremony launched in 2003 and now held in six countries annually.The awards ceremony is held annually by Invincible Media Group. The UMA's is now held in 6 countries annually...
an awards show celebrating the achievement of hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
, R&B, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
music artists in six countries annually.
His business interests under the umbrella of Invincible Media Group include Urban Music Awards
Urban Music Awards
The Urban Music Awards is a HipHop, R&B, Dance and soul music awards ceremony launched in 2003 and now held in six countries annually.The awards ceremony is held annually by Invincible Media Group. The UMA's is now held in 6 countries annually...
, a magazine, radio station, a Television production company, record label, celebrity management agency and a primary school and College. He has taken the roles of recording executive, rapper, Executive producer of Sky TV
British Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
's Britain's Next Urban Superstar, writer, radio presenter and presented one report for the BBC 1 local news strand Inside Out
Inside Out
Inside Out was a hardcore punk band from Orange County, California. It was fronted by Zack de la Rocha, later of Rage Against the Machine.-Biography:...
. In 2007 Jordan was worth an estimated US $18 million
.
Early years
Jordan was born in WandsworthWandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the son of Emmanuel and Agnes Kensington. He grew up in St. Lucia, and moved back to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
when his father died of kidney failure in 1995.
He attended South Thames College
South Thames College
South Thames College incorporating Merton College is a further education college situated in the south west of London. The college recently merged with Merton College.- History :...
and later studied law at London South Bank University
London South Bank University
London South Bank University is a university in south London. With over 25,000 students and 1,700 staff, it is based in the London Borough of Southwark, near the South Bank of the River Thames, from which it takes its name...
.
Establishing Invincible Media Group
After finishing University, Jordan sold his house and with support from The Prince's TrustThe Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
went on to set Invincible Magazine in 1999,. The magazine reportedly saw a circulation of 65,000 copies distributed monthly in the UK giving exposure to several first time artist such as Dizzee Rascal
Dizzee Rascal
Dylan Kwabena Mills , better known by his stage name Dizzee Rascal, is a Ghanaian British rapper, songwriter and record producer. His music is a blend of garage, hip hop, grime, ragga, pop and electronic music, with eclectic samples and more exotic styles...
, M.I.A
M.I.A. (artist)
Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam , better known by her stage name M.I.A. , is an English singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, painter and director of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Her compositions combine elements of hip hop, electronica, dance, alternative and world music. M.I.A...
, Joss Stone
Joss Stone
Jocelyn Eve Stoker , better known by her stage name Joss Stone, is an English soul singer-songwriter and actress. Stone rose to fame in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist...
, Twista
Twista
Carl Terrell Mitchell , better known by his stage name Twista, is an American rapper. He is known for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds...
, Eminem
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
and many more. In 2002 the company launched a radio station, production company and a celebrity management arm to further maximise the brand Invincible and 2003 saw the launch of the Urban Music Awards
Urban Music Awards
The Urban Music Awards is a HipHop, R&B, Dance and soul music awards ceremony launched in 2003 and now held in six countries annually.The awards ceremony is held annually by Invincible Media Group. The UMA's is now held in 6 countries annually...
. The awards show spun off an events production arm to the company that led to the launch of British Music Week in 2005 and most recently International Football Awards which was held in 2009. The Urban Music Awards 2009 returned bigger and better in 2009 by celebrating the 7th anniversary with US version of the awards show on the 17th of July 2009 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York city and returning to London on the 1st of November for the UK Version of show. The 2009 return was covered by major international press including; OK Magazine, Daily Express, and the Insider, ,. 2009 also saw the launch of the Best Asian Act category to celebrate artists and musicians of Asian origin which was widely covered within the Asian media worldwide.
,
Other ventures
In addition to his media business, Jordan owns a Primary school and a College located in CameroonCameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
and St. Lucia. The College is called Mother Teresa's College, named after the legendary philanthropist Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa , born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu , was a Roman Catholic nun of Albanian ethnicity and Indian citizenship, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1950...
of Calcutta. The current College is in Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
; whilst the school is in St. Lucia . His interest in education has meant that he is constantly being booked to speak and offer motivational seminars in Universities, Colleges, and businesses.
On April 22, 2007, Jordan inked a six figure deal with leading shoe brand Kickers
Kickers
Kickers is a youth brand created in 1970 in France that produces a wide range of footwear and clothing. Kickers was bought in 2007 by the Royer group.-History:On the French scene in 1970, Daniel Raufast came across a poster advertising the musical Hair...
. The agreement saw a special Invincible shoe created, sold and endorsed by several celebrities. As well as working on sponsorship and marketing for brands such as Timberland
Timberland
Timberland or variants thereof may refer to:*Timberland, Lincolnshire, a village in Lincolnshire, England*The Timberland Company, manufacturer of outdoor wear*Timberland , a German board game*Timberland Regional Library, a public library system...
, Samsung Mobile, SonyBMG and Warner Music Jordan signed off a 2 year deal with the world's biggest sports retailer Foot Locker in 2007.
In 2006, Jordan was named Ambassador for the Government based campaign Make your Mark, and was announced as an honorary VIP member of the BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
VIP Entrepreneurs network. He came into controversy in 2005 when he criticised the Brit Awards
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
for failing to recognise artists in the UK from different nationalities and his comments were featured on major networks including BBC 24 News.
In 2007, Jordan gave a 30 minute interview with Jim Boulden
Jim Boulden
Jim Boulden was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1964 and grew up in Lutherville-Timonium, Maryland. He is currently a producer and correspondent for CNN International based in London. He currently covers business news....
of CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
to celebrate the launch of his brand new USA based newspaper in New York
and in 2008 he gave UK HipHop magazine a no holds barred interview about his life, dreams and his beliefs.
He is reported to be behind the new, error-strewn free newspaper London Weekly. In 2011, Jordan announced the launch of brand new energy drink, Power which is set to be distributed and marketed exclusively to the African continent.
Awards and nominations
- International Dance Awards 2001 (Best Artist, 2001)
- Carlton TV's Multicultultural Award (Best Publisher 2003)
External links
- Invincible Group Website
- Jordan Kensington on Twitter
- (Invincible Magazine)
- (Invincible Radio)
- (Invincible TV)
- (The official home of the Urban Music Awards)
- (British Music Week website)
- (Invincible Mobile)
- (International Football Awards site)
External links
- Make your Mark interview
- The Independent dated 13 October 2005
- Interview BBC World Service 5 November 2005
- 18 April 2008
- on Toronto Lime speaking about launching the Caribbean Urban Music Awards, 21 Jan 2008
- 12 March 2009 South Thames College
- 22 August 2007 New York
- 3 April 2009 Chelsea Football Club
- 21 April 2009 Asian News
- 26 April 2008, Atlanta Reggae News
- 1 Nov 2007, Musicweek
- Britain's Next Urban Superstar
- Leona Lewis interview, 7 Sept 2007
- 8 Sept 2006 The Independent
- 12 March 2008 Jamaica Gleaner
- 18 March 2005 Barbados Fashion Week
- 2 May 2008 The Independent
- Announcement of FootLocker deal
- TriniJuice
- History of Invincible Group
- Jamaica Observer
- http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/features/interviews/jordan_kensington.html