Yudu Gray

Background

About Yudu Gray

Yudu Gray Jr. is a GRAMMY-winning music industry figure, experienced entrepreneur, and artist advocate focused on empowering creators globally and simplifying the business of music. As Founder & Co-CEO of 24/7 Artists, he is helping to build a global community of creative professionals and enthusiasts that foster innovation, promote personal growth, and give artists in every neighborhood the confidence and tools to pursue their dreams. Joining 24/7 Artists means having access to industry experts via world-class courses, a suite of productivity resources to help manage a career, and a peer-to-peer support network to level up any artists’ journey together. From escaping the Liberian civil war in 1990 to being featured in The Washington Post, Yudu’s journey is a testament to resilience and passion. After settling in the Washington D.C. metro area, he pivoted from a promising track career, cut short by injury, to the dynamic world of music – a life altering move. He began as an audio engineering intern in the quickly mastering the intricacies of music production. This led to the founding of the influential House Studios in 2010 with his wife Davina Thomas. Under their guidance, House Studios emerged as a key player in the DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) music scenes, contributing to the success of artists like Logic, Ari Lennox, Wale, and Mannywellz. Yudu's work on Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 album "To Pimp a Butterfly" is a career highlight, earning him a GRAMMY for Best Hip Hop Album. The studio was known for its unique business model and did not focus on renting recording time, but rather took on tasks of a record label. Here, he scouted for acts and created vision boards with them so both the artist and the team spoke the same creative language inside the studio. Yudu and Davina’s success story with the studio reached its peak with an exit valuation of nearly $20 million, a monumental feat considering their humble start with $800. In 2020, they embarked on the new venture that became 24/7 Artists. With nearly two decades in the industry, Yudu balances his time between making music, running the company, and cherishing moments with his wife and three children. His commitment to nurturing talent extends to his role on the board of The Recording and Film Connection. He is now based in Atlanta and finds joy in sharing his wealth of experience and insights in mentoring the next generation of music industry professionals.