Operating out of Atlanta’s thriving hip-hop music scene, Full Sail grads Chris Barron, Terrence Culbreath, and Chris Franklin have been making strides towards breaking into the music industry with their Respectable Society Entertainment Group.

The production company specializes in hip-hop, contemporary R&B, and pop music, and has gotten involved with some major projects, including a licensing deal with the BET-J network and the forthcoming single “Tangerine” off the upcoming solo album from Big Boi of Outkast.

Respectable Society’s genesis began while all three students were enrolled in the Recording Arts degree program at Full Sail. “We definitely didn’t have a concrete plan at that point,” recalls Chris Franklin. “We had the idea to collaborate in the future, but we thought it would be between separate companies. But when we realized that we were three people going in the same direction with a common goal, it only made sense to try the team thing out – and it’s been working.”

While all three of Respectable Society’s co-owners are producers in their own right, each member uses their individual strengths to play a different role in the company’s direction. “I’m definitely the guy who everyone sees first,” Terrence admits from outside Outkast’s Stankonia studios, where he also works as an in-house engineer. “I’m the face of the group, and that’s how Chris and Chris both wanted it to be. But they’re great and talented individuals, too. On our own, we could all be great producers, but it’s together that we’re really able to make moves.”

One of the first big moves for the trio came during a studio session at Stankonia when Terrence was able to slide a CD of his beats to Big Boi. “I knew what he liked, and I already had developed a relationship with him from working there,” the gregarious musician describes. Now his track is slated to sit beside contributions from more established producers like Scott Storch and Organized Noize. “I made it onto the album based purely off [the merit of my] music, but I was able to observe that it’s bigger than just one person. Scott Storch has a publicist, a manager, and a team of people behind him. So I knew that if I had a team behind me, the potential could be even greater.”

“Terrence’s internship at Stankonia really laid the groundwork for the connections that we’ve made and where we’re at now,” adds Chris Barron, who stayed at Full Sail after getting his Recording Arts degree to continue in the Entertainment Business Bachelor’s Degree Program. “I really enjoyed my business and entertainment law classes, so I’ve taken on something of an administrative angle at Respectable Society – registering the businesses, making calls, going over contracts. That’s really one of my strengths.”

While the goal is for all three co-owners to eventually be able to dedicate their time strictly to music, the overall experience they’ve gained working in multiple facets of the business has proved to be a rewarding endeavor. With plans to expand with film, digital media, and even a clothing line, it’s evident that the Respectable Society machine isn’t showing signs of slowing down anytime soon.

“Every day is really different, and that’s what I love about doing this work,” Barron says. “There are always different ways to add avenues of revenue for the company. Placing music with major artists is the idea, but there are plenty of other ways to make money in the meantime.”