Princeton High senior’s goal is creation of art, music center in Trenton
By: Jake Uitti
Princeton High School senior Oren Rosenbaum is in the process of creating an after-school hip-hop arts and music center in Trenton, titled Ptones Records, which potentially could involve a platinum-selling hip-hop artist as its spokesman.
"We are in the process of signing a high-profile spokesperson," said Oren, who held an internship last summer at Def Jam Records.
The center will be a forum to teach students the ways of the music world, from recording, producing, choreography, publicity and marketing, to research and development and public relations, he said.
To begin the process, Oren approached Trenton’s Recreation Department, maintaining that most of the opportunities young people have today to better themselves after school come from athletics.
Music, as opposed to sports, he said, is something students can pursue for their entire lives.
"Those interested will have the opportunity to gain career exposures into the music industry in various aspects," he explained.
Oren originally pitched his idea for the organization to executives and music professionals. As a result, they invited him to join Def Jam for the summer to gain experience in the music industry. While there, he talked to people to test the waters, to see how interested those who have been in the music profession for years would be in promoting such an organization.
"When I hit Def Jam up, I got a call back and they said, ‘Why don’t you come do an internship?’ I was like, ‘That’s awesome,’" he said.
While at Def Jam, Oren got a chance to meet some of his heroes, including hip-hop superstars Jay-Z and Ludacris.
"It was amazing," he said, an inspired look in his eyes.
To get his idea off the ground, Oren said he spent weeks during the summer sending thousands of faxes and e-mails to different companies to see if anyone would be willing to help him in his endeavor.
Since then, Oren has hired several of his peers to work alongside him to get his idea off the ground.
Andrew Silberstein to name one has worked with hip-hop performers and their promotion. He is the chief operating officer of Ptones. In addition, there are 11 more people on staff at Ptones, from art directors to artists-and-repertory directors.
"Next year, I will be giving this project to a rising senior," Oren said. "I will be leaving this legacy for my school, though I will continue to monitor it from college."
He said he is working with several new hip-hop artists, including Shotgun, Hess, Genesis, Dubbz, El Monsta and Young T. They come from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and as far away as New Orleans.
Young T, a former resident of New Orleans, Oren said, has particularly benefited from Ptones Records.
"This program helped him overcome many of the problems from his experience in New Orleans," Oren said. "He did some songs about what he saw down there. We’re proud to have him."
The artists have put on performances in Princeton, though nothing has occurred in Trenton yet, something that Oren is hopeful will change soon.
The next steps for Ptones Records, Oren said, is to acquire a building in the location that has already been picked out, sign the hip-hop artist as the spokesman and collect funding for the organization.
"Hopefully, the spokesperson will put on a concert to help raise the money needed," he explained, adding, "We have been filling out grant proposals, we are looking for donations. We also sell mix tapes to help buy equipment."
Oren said he has been receiving many positive responses from music professionals to business and law professionals. All of this hard work has even surprised some of the organizations he has contacted.
"One grant organization said I was the youngest person ever to apply for a grant," he said, "and a law firm has volunteered their time with legal advice. I was overwhelmed with the positive responses about the program."
Oren said a benefit concert will be put on at the end of the year, which will include performances by all the artists and the spokesman.
For more information, visit www.ptonesrecords.com.

