Dreamville and FTS Present: To Be A Dreamer

Student Resources

FTS helps aspiring artists and professionals learn the business side of music. Learn more here.

Ibrahim Hamad | President, Dreamville

From college basketball dreams to music industry powerhouse, Ibrahim "Ib" Hamad's journey embodies authentic relationship-building and unwavering dedication. After meeting J. Cole at St. John's University, Ib transformed from early supporter to trusted manager, helping Cole navigate from mixtapes to mainstream success. Without formal training, Ib mastered every aspect of the business through hands-on experience—sometimes DJing shows, handling security, or helping the crew pack equipment—whatever it took to "get the job done." His leadership philosophy centers on passion over profit: "I don't want to scale up just to scale up. I want to do the best work on things we love."

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MK Kasote | Director of Operations & People, Dreamville

Beginning as an intern juggling positions at Clear Channel, Verity Records, and JIVE, MK Kasote found her breakthrough at ByStorm Entertainment under legendary executive Mark Pitts. There, she built a connection with J. Cole that would accelerate her career trajectory. As Operations Director at Dreamville, MK plays instrumental roles in landmark projects like Dreamville Festival, projects, and the Grammy-nominated Revenge of the Dreamers III.

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Felton Brown | Creative Director, Dreamville

Originally aspiring to be a comic artist, Felton’s path shifted when mentor Cey Adams pointed to album covers and said, "I did these. You need to go to school for that." This moment of recognition changed everything. Without formal industry connections, Felton built his career through genuine curiosity and collaboration—starting with a $70 party flyer that became his first paid gig. Now as VP of Creative Services at Dreamville, he translates artists' visions while fostering team talent rather than micromanaging. "A better creative director allows people to do their job and is really just insightful," he explains. For creatives seeking industry success, Felton believes: "Your dream is your dream—you shouldn't be worried about likes or validation if it's something you truly love."

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