Singer Antonique Smith raises money for debut album via Kickstarter (VIDEO)

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For aspiring musicians, the story of one day being discovered by submitting your demo tape to record labels is an outdated and ineffective business model.

As technology continues to evolve, one must stay ahead of the curve and look for creative methods to stand out in the crowd.

Enter Antonique Smith.

You may recognize her from her role as singer Faith Evans in the 2009 Biggie Smalls biopic Notorious, but acting isn’t her only profession.

The New Jersey native can really sing and through the fundraising site Kickstarter has let her talent speak for itself. In a bold step, the former Broadway actress posted a quick clip of her original song “Speechless” and relied on her loyal fans to pledge money for her debut album of the same name.

Not only was she able to raise $50,000 in her campaign but she also became the first black woman to do so in the realm of music.

Smith stopped by theGrio to discuss her unique rise in the music business, her upcoming album, and what she plans to bring to R&B.

You can check out Kyle’s musical coverage on theGrio music page, and follow Kyle on Twitter at@HarveyWins.