One-on-One With Music Insider Jeffre' Phillips

From Rick James to the Jackson family, Jeffre' Phillips is man who's seen a lot in the world of music.

In fact, it's hard to tell where to start with his many stories. Phillips came to L.A. from Buffalo, New York in the 1980's. Rick James was like a cousin back home and when he came to L.A. he found himself entrenched in that entourage. He lived with and worked for singer Tina Marie. He says he did whatever was needed from security to even singing background on her albums.

Now he's a producer and entrepreneur and business partners with La Toya Jackson. Photos of their extravagant office show them with the biggest of big names, like Elizabeth Taylor, Donald Trump, Kobe Bryant.

Seventeen years into their relationship they agreed to a reality show on the OWN Channel last season. Phillips says he wanted the world to see the La Toya that he knew and loved.

Their office building stands across the street from the old Death Row Records building. He says artists today need to have a power-house voice like a Christina Aguilera or Whitney Houston. If not that, they need to build a brand. He's a big fan of reality TV for helping create a platform for an aspiring artist.