AJ Calloway, always knew he was destined to be in the entertainment business. While still in high school, he started producing and promoting parties, fashions shows, and fundraisers. Upon entering Howard University, he parlayed his experience into a business, launching a promotion company responsible for some of Howard University’s most memorable homecoming events. Calloway continued his marketing and promotions career, after college, and moved on to New York City to master his skills. This allowed him to create some of the city’s hottest and most widely acclaimed special events.

It was in New York City that the BET network found Calloway thanks to a social introduction by the infamous independent record retailer George Daniels. It seemed like destiny when BET asked him to audition for the role of co-host on their new video countdown show. In 2000, he landed his dream job -- hosting 106 & Park BET’s Top Ten Live, the show that tapped into the teenage hip-hop and R&B audience with a mixed format with celebrity guests, live performances, and the viewer’s selection of the hottest videos. It was BET’s most popular show and earned the network outstanding ratings and became the #1 rated video-countdown show in America, knocking TRL out of that position. This show’s success was due in part to Calloway’s interviewing technique, charisma, style, and down-to-earth personality. After working at BET for five years, Calloway knew it was time for a change, so in 2005 he said his heartfelt goodbye to the 106 & Park audience.

The executives at Telepictures recognized Calloway’s talent and proven success on television and offered him the position of correspondent on the popular entertainment news show, Extra. Calloway is now once again interviewing some of the most popular performers in the entertainment industry.

On the big screen, Calloway had a cameo appearance in the film Drumline. He also created, produced, and starred in his own sitcom pilot for UPN, The Show with AJ Calloway. The pilot gave him the chance to act alongside TV veterans Justine Bateman, Kim Coles and Kel Mitchell.

Calloway believes in giving back to the community and accepts speaking engagements to talk to young adults about the importance of striving for academic excellence, pursuing entrepreneurship, and responsibly avoiding the negative effects of drugs, alcohol, and un-protected sex. He is also currently serving as a guest professor at Howard University, in Washington, DC, where he majored in International Business. He is co-instructor of a graduate course Hip-Hop Culture and Its Relation to Public History, the university’s first course of this kind.

Calloway also owns and operates Calloway Entertainment Group, a management, promotion and event-planning company, based in New York.

Topics

Hip-Hop Cultural Expression: We Must Evolve

Hands-on: Leadership, Politics & Economics

Diversity & Inclusion, Hip Hop, Black Heritage, Television Personalities, Entertainers, high profile, For Diversity Events, Diversity Topics, Celebrity, Culture