Jonny Shipes

Shipes signed Flipp Dinero in 2016, and in 2017 Cinematic released his debut tape The Guala Way. In 2018 Dinero had a multi-platinum single, “Leave Me Alone." Luh Kel, Abby Jasmine, Mick Jenkins, Slayter, Yungeen Ace, and Jaydayoungan also signed with Shipes during the latter part of the 2010s. He co-produced Luh Kel's platinum single "Wrong," as well as his gold single "Pull Up."

Shipes met and signed Big K.R.I.T in 2010, and discovered Joey Bada$$ in 2012. Shipes signed Bada$$ and Pro Era, named for his Brooklyn crew, shortly after they met. Cinematic released his mixtape 1999 in June 2012. Bada$$ released his debut album, B4.Da.$$ in 2015. It entered the Billboard charts at #5.

In 2009 Shipes, Smoke DZA and Shiest Bubz founded the Smokers Club, a cannabis lifestyle company, and Smokers Club Records. Merging their love for music with their love for cannabis, the first Smokers Club show took place in Austin Texas during SXSW at the Fire Engine House. DZA, Devin the Dude, Big K.R.I.T., Wiz Khalifa, Schoolboy Q and Kendrick Lamar performed. In 2010, Shipes, his business partner Steve-O Brown, Smoke DZA and Shiest Bubz subsequently launched the Smokers Club Tour. Shipes personally financed the first Smoker's Club tour.

In 2008, Shipes met Nipsey Hussle, whose music was recommended by Felly Fel, a DJ an Shipes managed at the time. Shipes heard two of Hussle's songs on MySpace, and "instantly fell in love with the rawness, the message and his hard deliveries with sing-song hooks about the life he was living. He was painting pictures with every single word he spoke." A day later, Shipes was en route to L.A to meet Hussle. After several weeks of negotiations, Shipes signed Hustle to Cinematic. Both a management and recording deal. Shipes worked on Bullets Ain’t Got No Name Vol 1, Vol. 2 and Vol 3, producing "Strapped", "I dont give a fucc" & "Hussle in the House". He remained close to Hussle until his death in March 2019.

In 2007, with Smoke DZA, Shipes founded Cinematic Music Group (CMG), named to reflect an artist's ability to convey visuals with music.

Shipes returned to New York City, and in addition to DJing, working his marketing gig at Blue Flame, and interning for Puffy, he produced and engineered recording sessions. He also managed DJs including DJ Felli Fel, DJ Spinbad and DJ Kay Slay, and at 22 became an artist manager, representing Foxy Brown and Nappy Roots, among others. He discovered and signed Smoke DZA in 2002. Over the next several years, Shipes managed artists including T-Pain, Brown, Nappy Roots, Big K.R.I.T., Joey BAdass, Cam’ron, and Sean Kingston.

After he graduated, Shipes—who had DJed in high school—supported himself by DJing and cleaning pools. In 2000 he began to promote parties such as "One Shot," a Thursday night event at a club in Wainscott that drew 1000 people every week. At around the same time, he met Puff Daddy at a pick up basketball game; when the location of a retreat for Combs' Bad Boy Records staff fell through at the last minute, the company's head of marketing, Jameel Spencer, asked Shipes to help find an alternative site. He secured a new location for the retreat, and shortly thereafter Spencer hired Shipes as the first employee of Blue Flame, Combs' marketing company. At the same time, he was an A&R intern for Combs.

Shipes was expelled from the military high school he attended during his sophomore year and moved to East Hampton, where his mother, Linda Shapiro, then lived. A star basketball player, he graduated from East Hampton High in 1998.