To The Nines: Multi-hyphenate and an ATL Legend Ne-Yo; ASCAP's Jennifer Drake, Director, Rhythm & Soul; ASCAP's VP, Rhythm & Soul Nicole George, Devyne Stephens, CEO of Upfront Megatainment. (Photo: The Picture Group)
It was a jubilation of all things Atlanta's music scene on Wednesday night at the W Hotel in the city's Midtown neighborhood at ASCAP's Rhythm &
Soul ATL Legends Dinner. The event honored artists and/or producers Ne-Yo, Ludacris, Johnt Austin, Kandi Burruss and Jermaine Dupri as good as music industry executives Shanti Das, CEO of Press Reset Entertainment, Jason Geter, CEO of Grand Hustle, Don Perry of Greenberg Traurig LLP (accepted on behalf of Joel Katz), Kawan Prather, Senior Vice President of A&R, Island Def Jam; and Devyne Stephens, CEO of UpFront Megatainment
The eve was a fortune to toast Atlanta's music icons who have given support to the local community and helped transform the local music scene into an internationally renowned music center. Others in attendance included rapper Wale, who wish the others, was in town for the pre-BET Hip Hop Awards celebrations. (The evidence is being tapped in Atlanta this weekend and airs October 11th.)
While Atlanta's Mayor Kasim Reed co-hosted the result the music industry was out in full-force. Those in attendance included, Def Jam's Tango Hay, Raj Jadeja of Universal Lava A&R, Kenion Johnson. National Director of Urban Promotions at Interscope, Atlantic Records Promotions Director Cannon Kent, Atlantic Records Executive VP of Promotions Morris Landy, Lindsey Lanier and Jill Tschogl of Universal Music Publishing, Warner Bros Records Director ofA&R Dallas Martin, Universal Lava Director A&R Harinder Rana and Phillana Williams, Motown's SVP of Marketing & Artist Development
"I look like we're trendsetters in Atlanta; it's just different here," said Ludracris. "You gotta change with the multiplication and only be subject to all the new sounds. It's all about supporting one another. That's what we do." 
Ludaversal Truth: Rapper-actor Ludacris (left) says Atlanta is different than other places. With Chaka Zulu, co-founderof Disturbing the Peace. (Photo: The Picture Group)
The rapper-turned-actor is hoping to keep getting back from his local fanabse. He says he's working on his future album, called "Ludaversal" that he's getting set to resign in 2012.
"Shoot, life is inspiration . just experience of life," he said. "The call is 'Ludaversal,' so it's a turn off universal. I've been doing shows all round the world recently. We just left China and Singapore and Korea. That's where I draw inspiration from, traveling."
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Grammy award winning songwriter Johnta Austin - he won for his influence on "We Go Together" by Mariah Carey and "Be Without You" by Mary J. Blige - said that the music setting the city produced in the late 90s was hot, but the picture now is international. And there's more soon coming, he teases. 
Tuxedo Junction: ASCAP ATL Legend honorees Producer Jermaine Dupri (left) and Grammy-winning songwriter Johnta Austinwho's working with Ciara in the studio on new songs. (Photo: The Picture Group)
Austin chalks up the ATL's success to the country-fried southern hospitality. "There's only an air of camaraderie here," he says. "People can do hither from all over the country, all over the earth and feel welcome in Atlanta. And not saying that you can't do that in other places, but Atlanta has definitely always been open to outside people coming."
Right now, he says he's mostly focused on revamping Ciara's musical career. The two first worked together on her debut album, 2004's "Goodies," and proper now they're in the studio working on new tunes. With her, we're only gonna make it second to basics, back to what we did in the origin and see how that comes out," he says, noting that the debut album was chock-filled with traditional deep, bass Atlanta sounds of the moment. "The party scene is even going. I'm just try to drag it from the heart; whatever comes out, comes out, you know?"
Record exec Devyne Stephens says that he's getting set to put out another Akon album and he recently singed a boy band named Audio to Motown/Universal. He too will begin managing Ray J's career and running to get a new album released for him. 
ASCAP ATL Legends Devyne Stephens (left), CEO of UpFront Megatainment and Shanti Das, founder and CEO of Press Reset Entertainment. (Photo: The Picture Group)
"Akon's album will definitely show you the maturity, where he's grown as an artist, a writer and a producer. I wish to visit the album Akonic. I guess it's one of his better works that he's done thus far, because he had to challenge himself," he says. "It's hard making a book when you're that successful because you make so many distractions. He's successful as a businessman, now he has to challenge himself to advertise to higher heights as an artist."
Ne-Yo isn't a stranger to wear different hats. Years earlier he had his own record deal, he was writing radio-friendly hits for other R&B and pop singers. Now, he's pushing the envelope and adding record executive to his title. He recently signed his first artist, Los Angeles-based singer Rayvonne, to his mark and is running to put out her album by the top of 2012. He's also tinkering on his fifth album, which he's tentatively titled "The Cracks In Mr. Perfect." His new character is an extention of what he loves doing best, he says.
"I only look alike the man deserves to recognize good talent," Ne-Yo said. "The man deserves to know quality talent, especially nowadays, they're so few and far between. So when I see somebody that has it, I'm-a do everything in my ability to make certain that they get it out there to the world, because we take it right now," he says.
Of his new purpose as record executive, he says "I'm trying. It's not an easy part to play, I'll say that much. It's more a subject of good learning together. You know? Learning that you gotta weigh it out. You gotta be 50 percent for you, because you've gotta be lawful to yourself, but then 50 percent for what your fans want. You recognize? And what your fans want might not ever be what you want, but it's about weighing it out, understanding that this is a job first." 
Political-Artist-Label Nexis (from left): Atalnta Councilman Kwanza Hall; Singer, Real Housewife former X-Scape member Kandi Burruss; Kawan Prather, Senior Vice President of A&R, Island Def Jam. (Photo: The Picture Group)
Hizzoner and a Grand Hustler: Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed (left) Jason Geter, CEO of Grand Hustle. (Photo: The Picture Group)
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