Hip Hop & Comedy’s Local Rock
Rockland Page, Merrillville-based business owner of RockaBlock, and recent winner of The PNW Big Sell Competition continues his winning efforts in supporting local hip-hop artists and comedians at the approaching Beats, Beds, & Browns Episode 1 launch event.
Purdue University Northwest College of Business and the College of Technology hosted the competition in May where Rockland Page and 11 other finalists delivered a 6-minute pitch to a 3-member panel of judges also made up of local entrepreneurs. Page won first place and $10,000 for his Freedom Fighters t-shirt design which brings together fashion, history, and technology. The well-designed shirt featured Harriet Tubman, Marcus Garvey, Sojourner Truth, W.E.B Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, and Frederick Douglass and the depictions can be scanned by a smartphone which will prompt user to view a 30 second biography on why these figures are so important.
This technology is part of Rockland’s goal to use RockaBlock as a learning tool to educate not only adults but kids as well. The competition is hosted with the hope of supporting local entrepreneurship to “continue to move forward, keep going, and keep pressing on with their innovations.” Said Alexandra Moran, clinical instructor of entrepreneurship at PNW. Moran and Mont Handley, entrepreneur in resident and associate director of the PNW Commercialization and Manufacturing Excellence Center worked together to make the event successful this year. Handley said of this event’s importance, “It provides recognition to those who are gaining traction with their startups, motivation to those who are interested in entrepreneurship and serves to promote an emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northwest Indiana.” Second place winner was Emily Edwards, founder of Emily’s Foods in Schererville, who was awarded $5,000 for her plant-based Paradise snack packs. In third place with an award of $2,500 was Artunity’s founder, Jay Weinberg of Valparaiso, whose business idea offers the public an opportunity to donate to an artist for a chance to win original artwork.
Page was inspired by his great grandfather, an inventor who in 1945 got a patent for a flying car which was unheard of at the time, and grandfather before him, an artist. Using their vision as motivation, Rockland started RockaBlock in his basement, designing T-shirts in his basement after working his 9-5, putting in the necessary efforts to grow the business to where it is now, using his storefront to fulfill orders of shirts and other merchandise to customers across the country. Page uses his skills in graphic design as a creative outlet to design “Inspired shirts for inspired people.” RockaBlock sells signature designed shirts or custom T’s, hoodies, and accessories. He uses his passion to do his best for his family and community.
Rockland Page keeps this momentum alive by passing along his support for local entrepreneurs, comedians, and artists. His support of local Small Business initiatives include hosting the launch event for the YouTube series Beats, Beds, and Browns. The YouTube series will launch the weekend of 08/14 with a kickoff event featuring four of the artists featured in the season. Beats, Beds & Browns consists of interviews with host Joe Skibbie, digging in to the local hip-hop music scene, gardening in all its formats, and the brown spirits industry.
Joe has a few years of raised bed gardening under his belt and aims to share the joys of seed saving, planting, harvesting, canning, composting, and more. Filming these episodes brings attention to local artists, gardeners, and distillers in the Region.
The launch event will be hosted at the RockaBlock Brand store at 81 W 78th Ave, Merrillville, IN 46410 where local comedian Baby Horchata El Comediante and DJnfinite will guide guests through a night of music and comedy. Live performances for this Popup Concert include JLoveRaps, A.M. Early Morning, ConstantLBurts, and Ethan.Draco. Guests can enjoy drinks via On Tha Roxx and pick up one of RockABlock’s inspiring shirts while enjoying this event. Tickets are available HERE.