SelectCon 2024: UnitedMasters Brings Artists and Entrepreneurs Together for a Night of Insight and Inspiration

UnitedMasters took over Brooklyn’s ZeroSpace on October 24 for SelectCon 2024, uniting creatives for an evening of music, culture, and career-defining conversations. For its third consecutive year as an in-person event, SelectCon offered networking, insights, and activations that helped attendees elevate their industry knowledge.

By evening, a line of eager attendees wrapped around ZeroSpace, each hoping to secure a spot at the exclusive event. Founded by Steve Stoute in 2020, SelectCon initially launched as a virtual conference, drawing over a million online attendees. Last year, the conference moved to an in-person format at New York’s Terminal 5, with influential speakers like Issa Rae gracing the stage.

Hosted by Speedy Morman and Ivy Rivera, SelectCon 2024 featured photo opportunities and memorable food options, including New York-inspired stops like Mizanne’s Kitchen and a UnitedMasters-themed bodega. The standout attraction was the “From the Block” activation, spotlighting urban artists in their hometowns through freestyle performances. UnitedMasters artists Billy B, Cleotrapa, Bay Swag, and Dono—the 2024 “Make Your Debut Challenge” winner—performed live.

This year’s theme, “Entrepreneurship Beyond Music,” highlighted UnitedMasters’ partnership with Ally Bank, underscoring financial literacy and business acumen for long-term success. In a panel on mentorship and coaching, industry leaders like Lenny Santiago and Tremaine Emory discussed the importance of budgeting and breaking trends. Tremaine reminded attendees,

“Find out what works for you and keep moving,”

while Ally’s Natalie Brown emphasized the importance of good credit.

The “Mogul Talk” panel, led by Steve Stoute, showcased the career pivots of Joe Budden, Cam’ron, and 50 Cent from music to business. Budden, who moved from rapper to successful podcast host, stressed the importance of building an independent platform, saying,

“It’s all about digital footprint now.”

Cam’ron encouraged creators to balance dreams with practical financial choices, while 50 Cent recounted his $150,000 deal to feature the iPod in his “P.I.M.P” video, revealing how limited business knowledge impacted his earnings.

SelectCon 2024 delivered unforgettable insights, offering attendees a roadmap to avoid common missteps and embrace negotiation and self-trust on the path to success.