Purple Block Celebration is that this weekend on the West Facet. It’s the work of Briahna Gatlin, who has been serving to with the Chicago hip-hop scene for years.

“Genuine, spunky, well-connected, clear, and exhausting working.”

These are the phrases Ayesha Jaco, govt director of West Facet United, used to explain Briahna Gatlin, CEO and senior publicist at Swank PR/Publishing.

Because the artistic vitality behind the native public relations company, Gatlin has been serving to nationwide names attain native eyes and ears and vice versa for the final 20 years. Names like Raekwon, Lupe Fiasco (who’s Jaco’s brother), Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Vic Mensa, King Louie and the Gorillaz have crossed her path since Swank opened in 2006. Her firm has additionally aided manufacturers like Def Jam, Roc Nation, Gray Goose, Zenni and the Chicago Bulls.

This Sunday, Gatlin will probably be bringing a brand new competition of her personal creation to Garfield Park’s Music Circle Heart — the Purple Block Celebration. Gatlin needs her block occasion to be one thing for everybody, the place group and music come collectively.

“Musicians, some cool activations and group organizations will probably be there,” she mentioned. “I need all the weather of a block occasion with some bells and whistles.”

Headliners for the Purple Block Celebration embrace Jim Jones and Chicago’s Pivot Gang, Baha Banks and DJ Vic Lloyd.

“I wished to do that block for a very long time,” Gatlin mentioned. “I pitched this concept to so many individuals after which ultimately I used to be like, ‘I simply must do it.’ For me, it’s uncharted territory. The purpose is to carry group, tradition and Chicago collectively. The West Facet doesn’t have something like this.”

Jaco mentioned the occasion is an efficient factor for the West Facet, one thing accessible for the individuals who determine with hip hop music probably the most.

“I believe it’s essential for us to see a Lollapalooza of kinds in Garfield Park, as a result of usually stuff like that occurs downtown or in Union Park … and it’s blocked off and it’s not accessible,” she mentioned. “I do know the Riot Fest can also be in Douglass Park, however that is one which type of brings again the vibe there was once on Madison and California, of us posted up from the South doing blues music festivals impromptu. To see this, it captures the spirit of what of us have at all times completed in these communities. Popping out of a pandemic, it’s one thing good to see for the West Facet.”

Gatlin has at all times had music as her basis and since she’s a fan, she is aware of the native scene like few others. Spending her childhood being reared between Garfield Park and Austin, and visiting household in New York and New Jersey since her teen years, Gatlin has been of the hip hop world, the drill period since she might keep in mind.

She discovered journalism whereas attending Windfall St. Mel and pursued it by her days at Columbia Faculty. An internship at Vibe Journal would quickly lead her to develop into a Chicago-based author for The Supply Journal. Stints as a grant author; weblog author (her moniker was Chitown’s Hip-Hop Journalist); and founder/editorial director of True Star, a company that gives on-the-job coaching packages enabling college students to work in media, are all a part of her again story.

These experiences would lead Gatlin to segue into public relations. Having cast relationships with different publicists, and dwelling within the hip hop world as a fan, Gatlin ultimately based Swank with a pal. However what was purported to be a custom-made publishing firm developed to incorporate public relations after individuals would name her for assist. Gatlin mentioned Swank’s first shopper was musician GLC.

“From there it simply went,” Gatlin mentioned of the enterprise. “I didn’t come into PR like common publicists; I got here in on the hip hop aspect. I knew the artists. I used to be a hip hop journalist. It changed into one thing that I didn’t know I used to be creating on the time. I used to be simply keen about music and I nonetheless might get the satisfaction of serving to create a story for and with the artist, simply on the opposite aspect.”

Gatlin’s work ethic and hip hop connections helped Swank develop from a one-person present to a household enterprise along with her mother and different workers. Wanting again, Gatlin mentioned doing PR for hip hop artists in a time when many others in Chicago weren’t meant she needed to have a sure sort of mettle others didn’t. Greater names had illustration, however Gatlin mentioned nobody was working with the up-and-comers. She took satisfaction in serving to these in hip hop attempting to interrupt onto the scene at a time when Chicago had no actual music presence.

“My purpose was at all times to make it possible for I gave them the chance as a result of I didn’t need them to not have it,” Gatlin mentioned. “I used to be very integral with ensuring loads of these up-and-coming journalists was matching with all these up-and-coming artists. Now all people has entry and all people’s rising collectively. And so what occurs when all people’s rising collectively? Now you’re creating alternatives for much more up-and-comers who wish to write or cowl these items.”

Gatlin by no means deliberate to be an entrepreneur on this house, however she’s been one for the previous 20 years. Her connection to the tradition, to the Chicago music scene and her need to offer one thing for her group has come full circle for her on this Purple Block Celebration.

“I’m used to taking nothing and making it into one thing,” Gatlin mentioned. “My connections actually did assist me develop my model. The lane that I used to be in, nobody was doing it … New York, L.A., Atlanta, their music scenes had been thriving within the ‘90s. Completely completely different from ours. Each different metropolis that had music was extra revered. Again then you definitely needed to go to these locations in these places of work to demand respect.”

She is hoping tons of, if not 1000’s present up. Rising up and never having festivals of their neighborhoods, Gatlin says the realm wants one thing just like the Purple Block Celebration.

“It’s about going into these communities and having the ability to additionally carry a reimbursement into it. However, additionally giving them that have,” she mentioned. “I’m a product of the West Facet. I’m doing it throughout from the place I went to highschool and I’m an entrepreneur that’s investing again into this space. So, I’m enthusiastic about not simply that half, however excited as a result of, once more, it’s a brand new journey for me.”

Gatlin could also be a publicist for musicians, however that’s not all she is. She is a traveler, an inside designer, and somebody who has educating, dwelling in London, writing a e book and studying to DJ on her bucket listing.

“That is going to be certainly one of my largest and main contributions to music,” she mentioned of the Purple Block Celebration. “I don’t have the music enterprise business in me like everybody else, however I simply wish to continue to grow.”

“She’s the Chicago lady and all people’s favourite publicist,” mentioned Dana Anderson, actress, playwright, visible artist and PR skilled. “This can be a fruits of all of the issues that matter to her — group, music, leisure, younger individuals, Black individuals, the West Facet — anyone must see that that is potential. Our legacy as Black ladies in media and leisure is letting different Black ladies, younger Black individuals normally, know that it’s potential and that there’s at all times one other stage. She does the work. I like that about her.”

Purple Block Celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Aug. 28 at Garfield Park, 100 N. Central Park Ave.; tickets begin at $25 for kids and $55 for adults. For extra data go to thepbparty.com

drockett@chicagotribune.com