an INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING & FILM PRODUCTION Company

Welcome to Ten19 Media Group LLC, an award-winning independent publishing and film production company based in sunny Tampa, Florida. Founded and led by the visionary Aaron “Jerrell Grimes” Hampton, Ten19 Media Group embodies a rich legacy of creativity and transformation in the literary and film industries.

Our journey began in 2010 with the establishment of LYFE Publishing Company in Rhode Island, following Grimes’ release of his first self-published book of poetry, True Emotions of a Man: The Boy, The Man & His God (2009). This initial foray into publishing heralded a series of successful transformations. In 2010, we released Grimes’ second collection, Confessions of a Nice Guy, solidifying our presence in the poetry community.

As Grimes relocated to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he rebranded the company as Kre8tive Entertainment in 2013. Under this new identity, we published True Emotions of a Man: Rewind & Fast Forward, showcasing Grimes’ evolving artistry through poetry and short stories. The move to Tampa in 2013 marked a pivotal moment for the company as we expanded our horizons, embracing the world of music and collaborating with talented artists.

In 2015, we were proud to publish the debut work of poet and author Christina Berard with Internal Bleeding (2016), followed by Matthew J. Keefe’s poignant collection Awake In Dreams. The journey continued as Kre8tive Entertainment transformed into 54 Entertainment in 2016 and soon after released the acclaimed children's book My Big Natural Hair by C.J. Baker.

Inspired by the numbers "10" and "19," which hold personal significance as Grimes’ birthdate, Ten19 Media Group was officially born in August 2017. Our mission revolves around freedom through expression, focusing on entertainment, enlightenment, and education.

Since our inception, Ten19 Media Group has proudly published a diverse array of titles, including Kendra Robertson's Dear God, It’s Me, Liz Moore’s Silence, No More, and Grimes’ own memoir, Black Boys Don’t Speak, released in 2019. Our commitment to excellence earned us a Bronze Medal from the Florida Authors and Publishers Association in 2020, even amidst the challenges posed by COVID-19.

Expanding our creative portfolio, Grimes made his entrance to the film industry in 2023 with his contribution to the independent film Sammy Slick: Vampire Slayer, crafting and performing the hip-hop track “Shut It Down (Set It Off).” This film was nominated at the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival (TBUFF), further establishing our reputation in the realm of cinema.