Principals

Paris
CEO/Manager/Production/Development

Paris hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and was catapulted onto the national scene in 1990 with his hit single The Devil Made Me Do It and album of the same name. Since then he has gone on to sell over 4 million units independently, cementing his status as one of the original architects of independent hip-hop label ownership.

A veteran of the industry, Paris has negotiated with and done business through a who's who of labels and distributors -- Tommy Boy, Priority, 4th & Broadway, Luke, Def American, Capitol, EMI, Caroline, Groove Attack and Fontana/Universal, among others.

In 2003, Paris founded his label and website, Guerrilla Funk Recordings. Born out of necessity, it's a musical organization that provides balance in the intolerant climate of suppression of free speech that has existed since the terror attacks of 9/11, providing a home for projects featuring such notable acts as George Clinton, dead prez and Public Enemy.

Now in 2010, in addition to the release of his latest album, Acid Reflex, Paris has expanded his Guerrilla Funk brand with the launch of Guerrilla Funk Filmworks a division dedicated to creating positive, life-affirming film and video content.

Paris has done extensive work in the fields of television and movies, including CSI:NY, Everybody Hates Chris, Morgan Freeman's Prom Night in Mississippi, MTV's Making the Band IV, Street Fighter, The Substitute, Forest Whittaker's Strapped, New York Undercover, America's Most Wanted and Dangerous Ground, among others. He currently holds licensing contracts with CBS, MTV and Activision.

Paris was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He holds a B.S. degree in Managerial Economics from the University of California at Davis.

Paris
CEO, Guerrilla Funk Recordings & Filmworks, LLC
Email Paris

Ward White IV, Esq.
VP Business Affairs

Ward White IV has been practicing law for almost 20 years and is currently in private practice specializing in entertainment law. His clients include numerous actors, producers, and artists, including 4-time Grammy Award winner Erykah Badu, Paris, Biz Markie, and former NFL wide receiver Rocket Ismail. Mr. White is currently the Executive Vice President of Business Affairs at Guerrilla Funk Recordings and Filmworks, LLC, and recently co-founded the University of Dallas Music Business Academy. He is also the creator of the Carper Institute, a training and lecture company which produces music business seminars and educational materials.

Ward White IV received his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987 where he was in the Plan II Honors program, majoring in liberal arts with a concentration in African American studies. While at the University of Texas, Mr. White co-founded Hot Wax Promotions, a pioneering record promotion company which promoted and introduced many seminal hip hop and r&b artists, including Public Enemy, Ice T, and Sir Mix-A-Lot to the southwest region.

In 1991, Ward White IV received his J.D. from Howard Law School. While attending Howard, Mr. White founded the Entertainment Law Students Association and was a member of the Howard Law Journal.

After graduation from Howard Law School, Mr. White went to work in the heart of the music business, as National Manager of Rap Promotions for Warner Bros Records in Los Angeles. In 1992, he was promoted to Co-National Director of Rap Promotions. During his time there he had the opportunity to work with many notable artists including Prince.

From 1992-95, Mr. White held the position of Vice President of Business Affairs for Paris' Scarface Records, distributed by Priority/EMI. It was during this period that his law practice brought him face to face at the negotiation table with the one and only Madonna as he negotiated the deal for the first rap group signed to Madonna's Maverick Records.

From 1996-98, Ward White IV served as Assistant City Attorney for the City of Ft. Worth where he had a successful tenure as a prosecutor and gained a reputation for successfully representing the citizens of the city in numerous jury trials. He currently resides in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Ward White IV
Attorney at law
EsqMedia
PH: 817.299.8600 - FAX: 817.548.8428
Email Ward