HARD KNOCK TV
Launching HARD KNOCK TV in 2005, Nick Huff Barili, a veteran in the entertainment industry, recognized the need for credible in-depth coverage of Hip Hop culture and the emergence of new media. In 2006 Hard Knock TV became the FIRST Hip Hop show to create original content for Youtube. Hard Knock TV’s Youtube channel has over 100 million views and 170 thousand subscribers, featuring the most viewed video interviews for some of today’s fastest rising stars such as J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Jessie Reyez, Childish Gambino, Jhene Aiko, Mac Miller, Logic, Big Sean, Nipsey Hussle and Cordae just to name a few.
Being at the forefront of the video new media wave, Hard Knock TV has developed into a premier multi-platform video production and entertainment company, focusing on music, culture, sports and lifestyle. With thousands of hours of original programming being produced, aggregated, and distributed worldwide, Hard Knock TV has established itself as the go-to destination for original in-depth entertainment content. Delving into both the mainstream and underground world, Hard Knock TV digs beneath the surface for thought provoking content. Hard Knock’s discerning and independent editorial voice, has earned a reputation in the entertainment industry as being the “Curators of Fresh”.
Hard Knock TV lives up to the motto “Curators of Fresh” because of their unparalleled track record for being the first to discover emerging trends and talent on the rise to superstardom. Nick has had the opportunity to interview and expose new artists to a large audience, often before they become household names providing audiences with their first in-depth good look at some of today’s brightest talent.
Don’t just take our word for it. Hard Knock’s content is continuously shared by major music outlets such as MTV, Fuse, BET, Revolt and VH1, along with popular blogs and online magazines like Complex, Billboard, HiphopDX, Hypebeast, Nice Kicks, Allhiphop, The Source, Worldstar, Bossip, Rap Radar, XXL, 2DopeBoyz, and Nahright to name a few.
NICK HUFF BARILI
Nick has accumulated an impressive list of exclusive in-depth one on one interviews with music, entertainment and sports icons such at Pharrell, Chris Martin, Kevin Hart, Kevin Durant, Andre 3000, Eminem, Nas, Common, Eric Koston, Manny Pacquiao, Wu-Tang, 50 Cent, Ice Cube, Chuck D as well emerging talent like Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, Logic and so forth. Nick was brought on by Apple Music’s global radio station Beats 1 to help shape its vision. At Beats 1, Nick Executive Produced Pharrell’s radio show OTHERtone, Drake’s show OVO Sound, and hosted a show called Gratitude. Nick’s experience and in-depth style has led him to conduct interviews for Apple, Beats 1, The GRAMMYs and SXSW, among others. Nick also speaks on and moderates industry panels for Youtube, SXSW, Google, Hispanicize, Full Color Future, Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Soho House and USC, is regularly featured as an industry insider on Revolt LIVE and served on the SXSW Advisory Board as well as the Rap GRAMMY Committee.
The high demand for Nick’s knowledge and relationships, along with his diverse background and bilingual capabilities, has prompted Nick to work closely with the world most influential brands to create organic content strategies, curation, development, and implementation. Nick’s passion and dedication to youth movements and urban culture have allowed Nick to share his expertise with Samsung, Verizon, adidas, Nike, Converse, Canon, Chevy, GoPro, Universal Music and Univision. Canon recruited Nick as one of the influencers spotlighted in their BRINGIT campaign, which included some of Youtube’s brightest talent. In 2019 Nick received the Tecla Award for “Best Entertainment Content Creator”
While starting Hard Knock TV in 2005, Nick also produced and hosted segments for MySpace TV. Nick worked at MySpace during the height of its popularity, directing video segments for such artists as Lady Gaga, Diddy, Pitbull and Lil Wayne, for clients like Honda, Adidas and Coca Cola.
Nick’ career took off in 2001 when he moved to LA and began a 3-year run as the music director at 104.7FM KOXY. He was one of the first to play artists such as Kanye West, M.I.A and the White Stripes. Nick established himself as a critic with an ear for talent, which lead him to Sony Music. In the three years he spent at Sony Music, he was recognized for his achievements in the promotion of numerous acts including Nas, Beyonce and John Legend.
DOCUMENTARIES
Nick graduated from Occidental College with a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies. His passion for film and cultural anthropology have lead him into the documentary world. Nick has directed a documentary for Sony Music based on Nigerian/ German singer Nneka and her journey through making her album Soul Is Heavy, traveling three continents in the process.
Nick is currently writing, directing and producing several documentaries, docu-series and a scripted tv series.
LIMA COALITION
A first generation immigrant and life long advocate for more Latinx representation, Nick co-funded the Latinos In Media & Arts Coalition. L.I.M.A focuses on promoting Latino creatives, increasing access to traditional and new media platforms, providing resources and opportunities to youth, and cultivating the next generation of Latino entertainment and creative professionals though community outreach and partnerships with LALIFF, Youth Cinema Project and Netflix among others.
HARD KNOCK HOOPS
By combining industry influencers that have an appreciation for the sport, Hard Knock Hoops aims to seamlessly merge the commonalities between basketball and entertainment. Hard Knock TV and founder Nick Huff Barili have developed a reputation for producing successful industry basketball events the last five years from the annual basketball tournaments at SXSW to annual tournaments in Los Angeles.
On the heels of another successful Hard Knock Hoops tournament in LA, where Chris Brown, The Game, Taco (Odd Future), Quincy, Steelo Brim, Pac Div, Thurz, DJ Khalil, Ben Lyons and other industry leaders battled it out for bragging rights, Hard Knock TV is back at it! Ready to raise the bar once again, the 2015 SXSW Hard Knock Hoops Tournament will feature a noteworthy list of musicians, industry tastemakers, and media outlets.
Though the tournament creates a strong competitive atmosphere, the ultimate goal of Hard Knock Hoops is to build relationships among peers as well as the community. Participants in Hard Knock Hoops 2014 were able to engage with members of the LA community as tons of kids gathered around to watch the tournament and were able to interact with the players. Alignment with our event enables brands to have increased visibility for their featured products amongst artists, industry insiders, lifestyle influencers and their fan-bases.
BRAND RELATIONSHIPS
Through his work with Hard Knock TV, Hard Knock Hoops and consulting through his personal brand, Nick Huff Barili has worked closely with brands to create organic content strategies, curation, development, and implementation. In a world focused on bite size content Nick has pushed for more substance since day one. Hard Knock and Nick’s passion and dedication to youth movements and urban culture for over a decade has been recognized by some of the world most influencial brands including, Canon, GoPro, Nike, adidas, Brisk, Monster Energy, Hennessey and Zico among others. In 2014 Youtube and Canon recruited Nick as one of the influencers spotlighted in their BRINGIT campaign, which included some of Youtube’s brightest talent.
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