Fo Sho Recordz

Fo Sho Recordz LLC was founded in February of 2002 by Barron Rivers. more...

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Fo Sho Recordz LLC was founded in February of 2002 by Barron Rivers. The company was established in Charlotte, North Carolina with the intension of being an outlet for kids that were presently residing in Residential Treatment Facilities (Group Homes). Barron graduated from South Carolina State University in 1995 where he earned a Marketing degree with a minor in Business Administration. He had been involved in several local hip hop groups from 1984 -1995 and had become unimpressed with the lack of attention given to southern artist. His goal was to learn the industry through hands on experience, as well as, obtaining the proper credentials to be respected in the industry. He realized that the key to getting the recognition and exposure that southern artist needed would have to come from those who were familiar with southern heritage and slang. He also knew that without learning the marketing and business aspects of the music industry that he would only be disappointing himself and those that he would eventually lead. After leaving college, he began working at Windwood Farm Home for Children as a Residential Counselor while promoting shows at various venues throughout South Carolina. Barron noticed that most of the kids would find refuge when they listen to music. The kids were less agitated when they were able to listen to music; which lead to lip syncing, dancing, drawing, which decreased optional defiant (ODD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) behaviors.

Barron then began encouraging the kids to write their feeling down. He would show the kids how to use rhymes in songs that could express what they were feeling. He also was surprised that many of the kids where not only able to express themselves, but able to put their thoughts together while maintaining a rhythm. Many of these left behind children revealed gifts that had been suppressed due to their various circumstances prior to coming into a controlled environment. Attention seeking behaviors decreased also because the kids looked forward to expressing what they created.

99% of the children at Windwood farm pulled out of their natural homes and school settings due to emotional and mental challenges. The common factor among these kids was that they were stripped from there environment and sent to a place that would provide behavior management in a structured environment with surrogate parents (Residential Counselors or Behavior Management Technicians) to oversee their daily living.

After a few months working as a Residential Counselor, Barron was promoted to Supervisor. He stayed with Windwood for two years before accepting a position in York, South Carolina as a Program Manager for York Place Episcopal Home for Children. Two years later he accepted a Director of Residential Treatment with Alexander’s Children’s Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. He never gave up his dream of taping into the music industry, but had to break ties with his former group because of personal differences and feeling stagnate. He continued using music to build trust with children wherever he went. In October of 2001, a Behavior Management Technician approached Barron about a young man that he felt was talented in rhyming. Barron met with the young man (age 12) who was frustrated because no one seemed to care about his gift. After hearing the young man rhyme, Barron knew that he certainly was gifted. The catch 22 was, it would be a conflict in interest for Barron to work with the young man outside of the work place. Barron encourage the young man to do all he could to complete the program (The program was 18 months and the young man had 2 months left). Barron promised the youth that if he completed the program that he would take him to a real studio. The young man asked Barron if he was Fo Sho and Barron replied, “I’m Fo Sho”. The young man began referring to Barron as Mr. Fo Sho every time he saw him in his office, the recreation field, etc. Eventually the young man graduated from the program and was given the opportunity to go to the studio. Barron began Fo Sho Recordz LLC. Weeks later and has been using the label to help troubled youth throughout the Carolinas ever since. Fo Sho Recordz motto is “We are more than just a label, we are a Business”. This motto continues to presently remain with the company because Fo Sho Recordz LLC wants to show kids that there is more to the music industry besides artist, producers, and dancers. Fo Sho Recordz LLC has made it there goal to turn situations that most may feel to be hopeless into something that is priceless. Fo Sho Recordz LLC now has offices in Charlotte, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina and has teamed with various nonprofit organizations, community leaders, various schools, churches, radio stations, etc. to assist in rescuing our youths through music.