LEADERSHIP
Founder & CEO Global
Influencer Strategy & Development
Chief Digital Strategy/Tech
Chief Live Events Curator & Coordinator
Chief Client Officer
​Music Production Supervisor
Chief Operations Officer
General Counsel
Duwayne "DaDa" Mills
Duwayne “DaDa” Mills is a global entertainment executive & marketeer with over 25 years of experience under his belt.
He has earned hit records as a major record company A&R, artist manager, music publisher, music production company, and as an independent record label company owner.
Born in the Bronx, New York. Mills became an entrepreneur at the young age of 12 years old and hasn’t stopped since. He’s partnered with every major record company in the business and has vast experience in just about every aspect of the recording music industry.
In 1997 Mills began independently curating and producing live events in New York City. He also began independently managing music producers, producing hit artists and songs such as Fat Joe “Don Cartegena”, Big Pun “You Ain’t A Killer” & “It’s So Hard Feat. Donnell Jones”, Cameron “What Means The World To You”, Busta Rhymes “Dangerous”, The Lox “Living The Life”, Case “Happily Ever After”, and Jamie Foxx “Blame It On The Alcohol.”
In 2011 Mills became the Vice President of A&R for Epic Records and Sony Music Entertainment where LA Ried was CEO. Mills had the first number one record Epic released “Cashin Out” since LA Ried had taken control of the company a year prior to Mills' arrival. Mills also worked with Sean Kingston, Future,and Ciara on the Think Like A Man Soundtrack and spent time as a casting judge for the TV show “X Factor” with Simon Fuller. In 2013 he became the Senior Executive Vice-President of Artist Management company Das Communication where he provided management services for Fergie, Prince Royce, and Sean Paul. He also partnered with David Sonenberg & William Derella to create a producer/songwriter division of the company and put forth hits such as John Legend “All Of Me” Justin Bieber “Heart Breaker” and Macklemore “Can’t Hold Us”. In 2015 Mills became the CCO of music/tech company EscapeX. Under Mills' leadership the start up company acquired influencers with over 500 million social fans, ,signing Akon, Prince Royce, Neyo, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, Farruko, Yandel and other prominent influencers to the platform.
In 2016 Mills stepped down as CCO to be some CEO of marketing and consulting agency, The Gluemen Agency or Gluemen, LLC. Mills became an equity partner in the music/tech company and stayed on the advisory board and The Gluemen became a consultant to the music/tech company. Mills and The Gluemen brokered a deal between the music/tech company and The Bob Marley estate to launch a mobile app for the great Bob Marley. Mills and The Gluemen architected the first ever collaboration between the music and oil industries with Royal Dutch Shell and Akon Lighting Africa with the #MakeTheFuture initiative. Mills along with fellow Gluemen Darrale Jones began consulting live event powerhouse Cirque Du Soliel on Cirque projects up until the global pandemic.
Duwayne “DaDa” Mills is a true Glueman fusing all aspects of the entertainment business and welds a pool of influencers that can be utilized by just about any industry. His vast knowledge of the music business, brand partnerships, live events, marketing, and overall solutions in all industries is why he leads our team of Gluemen.
Darrale Jones
Jones began his career as an intern at Motown Records where he rose to Associate Director of A&R under Clarence Avant and Gerald Busby. He then took a position at Dreamworks where his projects included the Prince of Egypt soundtrack, which included hit singles from Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston and Boyz II Men. This was followed by a stint at Columbia Records where Jones was responsible for the hit soundtrack, The Best Man (the NAACP Image Award winner for Album of the Year). Jones also was A&R for the Wyclef Jean “Carnival” album which featured the hit single “911" Featuring Mary J Blige. Jones became Vice President of A&R at Arista Records where he played an instrumental role in Usher’s landmark No. 1 album, "Confessions"which was certified Diamond by the RIAA, and has sold over 20 million copies worldwide and won three Grammy Awards.
In 2005 Jones became Vice President of A&R for Atlantic Records signing Gucci Mane, Sevyn Streeter, and Lupe Fiasco, for whom he co-executive produced his triple Grammy-nominated debut album. In 2014 Jones took a position as President of Urban A&R at Def Jam Records and worked closely with the entire artist roster.
In 2016 Jones began working with The Gluemen. His first project was consulting Cirque Du Soliel which lasted until the global pandemic. While acting as a consultant to Atlantic Records Jones discovered Cardi B and under his guidance they signed her. Jones is also co-executive producer for Cardi B’s albums. (Cardi currently has 3 Diamond singles, selling over 30 million RIAA certified singles worldwide. Her album “Invasion Of Privacy” won the Grammy for Best Hip-Hop album in 2020.)
Jones not only knows music, but he understands how to identify, procure and develop superstars. He has achieved it with artists, he has achieved it with executives, and he has achieved it with companies. Now he’s achieving it with The Gluemen.
Cody Patrick began in this business as an independent digital marketeer for musicians and social influencers. His many successful marketing campaigns got him noticed by several record companies. Patrick took a position at Asylum records as research analyst. Patrick worked closely with the entire roster on all things in the digital space.
Patrick launched Organic Music Marketing, an agency that rapidly became known for consistency and client devotion. Since then, Patrick has planned and executed countless digital marketing campaigns of all kinds and sizes. He has done digital research and marketing for Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Gunna, French Montana, Lil Uzi and most of the other tier one musicians in the industry today. He provides services that are reliable and produce a return on investment.
Now with the Gluemen, Patrick heads all digital research and assessments, digital marketing campaigns, and strategic digital marketing.
Cody Patrick
Clifford Peart
Clifford Peart is most well-known for his work with the Marley Family and Estate. He’s worked as COO of the Marley Brothers Record Label “Ghetto Youths Crew”. Peart coordinated two studio albums for Stephen Marley and one for Julian Marley (sons of the legend Bob Marley). In addition to coordinating recorded music, Peart also has been hands on with countless live events and functions involving The Marley Family and Estate.
In 2017 Peart joined The Gluemen. Peart produces, coordinates and oversees all live events and functions.
Kari Drue Lai
Lai's story is a little different than most in this line of work. Lai came up as a schooled and performance dancer. Lai developed the Canadian branch of the American non-for-profit group, Dancing Classrooms, where Lai taught children. Lai met with Darrale Jones and Duwayne “DaDa” Mills and both execs asked her if she ever tried working in the entertainment business. She replied, "No, but I’m interested". They immediately brought her on as a Client Officer onboarding and managing communication with new clients. She was instrumental in bringing The Gluemen and Cirque Du Soliel together. She has worked her way up within the company and is now Chief Client Officer.
Philip Constable
Constable has a background in music production, music supervision for recorded music and live events.
New York City born and raised, Constable grew up in a classical household that exposed him to an array of musical instruments at an early age. Hardwerk started playing the violin and cello while in the 3rd grade and grew up to also play bass guitar, piano, and the drums. He attributes Reggae, Dancehall, and Jamaican music as heavy influences in his life. Hardwerk has ushered in a new global pop sound with an urban knock that has heightened his career and made him a highly sought after hitmaker for Chart Topping and Grammy Award Winning Artists artist like Demi Lavato, Rihanna. Camila Cabello, Cardi B, Damian Marley, Fergie, Akon, Quavo, Jim Jones, Rick Ross, and brands like Tide, Shell, and Gerber. Constable handled all of the music for the Shell Initiative with Akon Lighting Africa #MakeTheFuture, which he was also featured on as a performing DJ. Constable created one of the most successful T.V. commercials in Gerber history for Gerber Graduates.
Constable is the music genius behind all initiatives involving music supervision, both recorded and live.
LaShanda Cosby
LaShanda Cosby was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a major ion Science (Rehab Studies) and a minor in Vocal Performance.
She became COO of Morgan Support Services in Greensboro, North Carolina where she oversaw operational policies and procedures, oversaw day-to-day operations, including finance, human resources and intakes, oversaw planning, maintenance and efficiency, prepared operational reports and management reports, ensured compliance on a company, state and federal level​ and reviewed budgets and staffing.
After 5 years with the company and being in NC her whole life she wanted to be closer to the action and on the east coast. The city of Atlanta, Georgia was the place to be if you were into music, film and T.V, so in 2014 she relocated to Atlanta to take a position with 360 Production Music Group and The Writer's Room Studio where she was head of administration while helping oversee performance tours with Toni Braxton and Frankie Beverly. After spending 2 years there, LaShanda began working with DJ Drama’s company Generation Now (Jack Harlow & Lil Uzi) curating music events throughout different cities and states. She launched her own independent company curating private music industry events, seminars and networking functions like Good Game Net 10 and RocNation's Dussé Music Listening Event.
Through her networking events she met DuWayne “DaDa” Mills and seeing how she had experience curating events, operations, finance and admin, he hired her to work with The Crown Music Productions as COO and Head of Administration for the company who was working with Rihanna, Cardi B, Camila Cabello, Monica, Major Lazer and a slew of other top level artist in the music business.
After working with The Crown for 2 years, DaDa Mills then asked Lashanda to be the COO at The Gluemen.
As the COO at The Gluemen, LaShanda provides leadership and strategic vision to the organization. She brings operational, managerial and administrative procedures, reporting structures and operation controls to the company.
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Eric Croone
Eric Croone is an experienced and accomplished entertainment attorney and former entertainment industry executive. Mr. Croone started his entertainment law career as in-house counsel at the powerhouse record label LaFace Records, working alongside music luminaries Antonio “LA” Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmunds. As Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs, Mr. Croone was responsible for helping the label secure the talents of music superstars Usher, Outkast, Pink and T.I., to name just a few. He also provided the legal work on the motion picture soundtrack album for the Paramount Pictures release, Shaft 2000, starring Samuel L. Jackson.
After leaving LaFace, Mr. Croone expanded his role to include executive duties, as General Manager of Outkast’s Aquemini Records and Usher’s Ush Records, respectively.
Always one to share his knowledge and experience with others, Mr. Croone has also served as an adjunct professor at both the University of Georgia School of Law and Morehouse College.
In addition to his work in the music industry, Mr. Croone served as legal counsel and co-Executive Producer of the award-winning independent motion picture, Big Ain’t Bad. He has also consulted with Turner Entertainment, advising their television and online groups on music-related issues.
Mr. Croone now heads up Counsel for The Gluemen Agency or Gluemen, LLC.
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