Amir Legacy PressOctober 24, 2026Saturday
The Obsidian Ball
A night dressed in black, gold and mystery
- Javier’s Downtown · 1452 Brush St., Detroit
- Black tie · Formal attire · Venetian masks required
- My concept, start to finish
My roleCreator, producer
Metropolis 1701, Inc. · Detroit, Michigan · Since 2000
Ramōn Amir known in Detroit as “Mello”
Event producer · Founder, Metropolis 1701
Twenty-six years putting A-list talent, major labels, pro athletes and thousands of fans in the same room.
26Years producing
4Major labels
2003VIBE Party of the Month
Detroit made. Industry proven. I've spent more than two decades building rooms people still talk about.
I founded Metropolis 1701 as the company behind the work, but the relationships, the calls and the execution were mine. Universal Music Group contracted and paid me directly. I produced the only official 50 Cent after party in Detroit, and VIBE named it Party of the Month. I put together celebrity birthday events where NFL and NBA players with more than half a billion dollars in contracts were in the building.
The work runs from hip-hop concerts and album release shows to celebrity bashes, charity games and monthly club series. I know how to book the right talent, keep the moving parts moving, and hand people a night they remember.
- Company
- Metropolis 1701, Inc.Detroit · Est. 2000
- Tenure
- 26 years2000 to present
- Label contract
- Universal Music Group$7,500 paid · 2000
- Press
- VIBE MagazineParty of the Month · October 2003 issue
- Labels
- UMG · Shady · Aftermath · Def JamDirect working relationships
Payment record2000
$7,500
- From
- UMG Recordings, Inc.
- Paid to
- Metropolis 1701, Inc.
- For
- Production and digital media services
- Method
- Invoiced, paid by check. On file.
The receipts
Paid by a major.
In 2000 I signed a direct contract with Universal Music Group and was paid $7,500 for production and digital media services. It was a formal, invoiced business relationship, paid by check.
That was the start. What followed: the only official 50 Cent after party in Detroit, VIP credentials inside the Shady Records circle, and celebrity events that put Shaquille O’Neal and Shaun Rogers in the same room, under my direction.
Events and productions
The catalog.
Featured here are many of the larger events I’ve worked, newest first, with the role I played in each one. It’s not the full list.
March 15, 2026Sunday · doors 6pm
Motor City Sneaker Ball
My 50th birthday, presented by Will Phelps Global
- Department at Hudson’s · 1208 Woodward Ave., Detroit
- Fashion · Sneakers · Culture
- Complimentary buffet
My roleHost, co-producer
March 7, 2026Saturday
Saturday Love
Part one of my 50th birthday celebrations
- DUO Restaurant and Spirits · 29555 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield
- No cover 5 to 7pm · Happy hour 5 to 8pm
My roleCo-producer, guest of honor
November 14, 2024Thursday · 2 to 11pm
Javier’s Downtown Grand Opening
Ribbon cutting for a new Brush Street restaurant
- Javier’s Downtown · 1452 Brush St., Detroit
- Complimentary food and drinks 2 to 4pm
- Ribbon cutting at 4pm, then a private party in the Agave Lounge
My roleProducer
March 6 to April 7, 202422 dates
D12 and Obie Trice: 20 Year Anniversary Canadian Tour
Coast to coast, Barrie to Winnipeg
- Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba
- Stops included The Rec Room Toronto, Hollywood Theatre Vancouver and Union Hall Edmonton
Twenty-three years after the D12 release show at Andrew’s Hall
My roleTour manager
March 21, 2006Tuesday · 9pm to 2am
The Best of Both Worlds
Shaun Rogers 2nd Annual, featuring Shaquille O’Neal
- Hoop City Grille · Star Theatre, Southfield
- The flyer: “Shaun Rogers & Mello bring in Big Shaq Dizel”
- Guests: Jerome Bettis, Larry Foote, Detroit Shock, Tashaun Prince
More than $500M in athlete contracts in attendance
My roleLead producer
August 26, 2005Friday · 9pm to 2am
Foxy Brown Live
Def Jam Recordings
- Zoo Bar · 415 E. Congress, Downtown Detroit
- Partners: Def Jam, Metropolis 1701, Hot Newz
My roleCo-producer
March 25, 2005Friday · 9pm to 2am
Shaun Rogers 1st Annual Celebrity Birthday Bash
Super Celebrity Birthday Bash
- Zoo Bar · 415 E. Congress, Downtown Detroit
- Host Lt. Dre · Sound by World Famous V-Man
- Presented by Metropolis 1701 and 105.9
My roleProducer, presenter
2003 to 2005Monthly · $5 cover · 21+
Detroit Hip-Hop Monthly Series
DJ Tony-Tone at Lush, Hamtramck
- Lush · 10241 Jos. Campau, Hamtramck
- Acts: CAN, Mountain Climbaz, Quit Playin’, IRS
My roleBooking, promotion
July 13, 2003Sunday · 9pm to 2am
50 Cent: 4X Platinum Party
The only official 50 Cent after party in Detroit
- Roostertail · 100 Marquette, Detroit
- Hosted by 50 Cent and 8 Mile co-star Strike
- Special guests: Eminem, Obie Trice, Busta, Missy, G-Unit
- Tickets $20 GA, $50 VIP through Ticketmaster
VIBE Magazine Party of the Month, October issue
My roleProducer, co-presenter
June 9, 2001Saturday
D12 Album Release Show
Shady Records, presented by Eminem
- Andrew’s Hall · Detroit
- All Access credential produced
- Partners: Shady Limited, The Tribe, Real Detroit
My roleVIP production
April 6, 2001Friday
Detroit Music Awards
VIP guest of D12
- State Theatre · Detroit
- Front Stage Pass, official limited edition
My roleVIP credential, production
October 7, 2000Saturday · 9pm to 2am · 18+
Ann Arbor Hip-Hop Concert #4
Crucial Promotions presents
- Club Heidelberg · 215 N. Main St., Ann Arbor
- Acts: SUN, Athletic Mic League, Binary Star, Artful Dodgers, Scoot G
My roleCo-promoter
September 21, 2000Thursday · doors 8pm
Killah Priest at The Shelter
Wu-Tang Clan · Crucial Promotions and Real Detroit
- The Shelter · 431 E. Congress, Detroit
- Supporting: SUN, J.U.S., North Park Drive, Dogmatic
My roleCo-promoter
August 10, 2000Thursday
Rah Digga: Da Hot 2 Def Tour
With Royce da 5’9”, Diabolique, Boom, Seven Daze
- St. Andrews Hall · Detroit
- Partners: MTV, 105.9, LaranimalZ Entertainment
My roleProduction, floor management
July 22, 2000Saturday
Rap Blast 2000
Hip-Hop Appreciation Day
- Club Ultimate · 40 W. Pike St., Pontiac
- Billed as “First Hip-Hop Holiday for the Hip-Hop Nation”
My roleVIP production
June 3, 2000Saturday · 1pm
Gilbert Brown Graveyard Celebrity Basketball
The Foundation presents
- Mackenzie High School · Detroit
- Celebrity all-star game · $10 donation
My roleProduction coordinator
Industry relationships
Who I’ve worked with.
Universal Music Group
Direct contract · $7,500 paid · 2000
Shady Records
D12 release show · 50 Cent after party · 2001 to 2006
Aftermath
50 Cent official after party co-production · 2003
Def Jam
Foxy Brown live in Detroit · 2005
Career timeline
Twenty-six years of execution.
2000
Founded Metropolis 1701 and landed the first major label contract
Secured a $7,500 contract from Universal Music Group. Produced Rah Digga’s Da Hot 2 Def Tour stop at St. Andrews Hall with MTV, plus Rap Blast 2000 and Gilbert Brown’s celebrity basketball game. Co-promoted Killah Priest at The Shelter and the Ann Arbor hip-hop concert series with Crucial Promotions.
2001
D12 release show and Detroit Music Awards VIP
Produced the D12 album release show at Andrew’s Hall for Shady Records with All Access credentials, then attended the Detroit Music Awards at the State Theatre as a VIP guest of D12.
2003
The only official 50 Cent after party in Detroit
Co-presented with Aftermath, Violator, G Unit and Shady Records, hosted by 50 Cent at the Roostertail. VIBE picked it as Party of the Month for its October issue. Same year, launched the Detroit Hip-Hop Monthly Series at Lush in Hamtramck, which ran through 2005.
2005
Foxy Brown live and the first Shaun Rogers Birthday Bash
Co-produced Foxy Brown at the Zoo Bar for Def Jam. Produced and presented Shaun Rogers’ first Super Celebrity Birthday Bash in Downtown Detroit under the Metropolis 1701 banner.
2006
Shaquille O’Neal and Shaun Rogers in one room
Produced The Best of Both Worlds at Hoop City Grille in the Star Theatre. In the flyer’s words: “Shaun Rogers & Mello bring in Big Shaq Dizel.” More than $500 million in athlete contracts in the building.
2024
Back on the road with D12
Tour manager for the D12 and Obie Trice 20 Year Anniversary Canadian Tour, 22 dates from Barrie to Winnipeg, twenty-three years after the D12 release show at Andrew’s Hall. In November, produced the grand opening of Javier’s Downtown on Brush Street.
2026
Fifty, and still building rooms
Co-produced my own 50th birthday run: Saturday Love at DUO Southfield, then the Motor City Sneaker Ball at the Department at Hudson’s with Will Phelps Global. In October, created and produced The Obsidian Ball, a black tie masquerade at Javier’s Downtown.
What I bring
The skillset.
Logistics and production
- Venue sourcing, negotiation and contracts
- Day-of coordination and full production management
- Talent logistics and rider fulfillment
- Security and crowd capacity planning
- VIP credentials and guest lists
Talent and label relations
- Working relationships with UMG, Shady, Aftermath, Def Jam
- Artist booking and negotiation
- Official after party co-production
- NFL and NBA athlete event partnerships
- Celebrity appearance coordination
Marketing and promotion
- Flyer design, print production, street distribution
- Radio partnerships: 105.9 JAMZ, Hot Newz
- Media placement: VIBE, Rolling Out
- Ticketmaster setup and ticket sales
- Sponsor coordination and co-presentation
Budgets and contracts
- Event P&L management
- Vendor invoicing and payments
- Major label contract execution
- Multi-partner financial coordination
- Tiered ticket pricing
Range
- Hip-hop concerts and album release shows
- Multi-city tour management
- Celebrity and athlete birthday bashes
- Black tie galas and grand openings
- Charity sports events and club residencies
The Detroit market
- 26 years inside Detroit entertainment
- Ties across the Lions, Pistons and local media
- Then: Roostertail, St. Andrews, Zoo Bar, The Shelter, State Theatre
- Now: Javier’s Downtown, DUO Southfield, the Department at Hudson’s
- Reach: Detroit, Pontiac, Southfield, Ann Arbor, Hamtramck
Original event flyers
The archive.
The original promotional flyers, in date order. Tap any flyer to see it full size.