Boston’s creative culture continues to evolve, and few figures embody its growth as directly as Robert Kelly-Morgan, better known as Rob “Puts in Work.” In the latest episode of The Museum TV’s Impact Players series, hosted by Noble, the CEO of PUTINWORK and co-owner of Dorchester Art Project breaks down his journey, his business ventures, and his long-term vision for the city’s creative community.
Rob has spent more than a decade working full-time in music and creative entrepreneurship. His path began in youth as a Christian rapper under the name “Lil Rob,” where he built momentum through local competitions. Music runs in the family, his mother was a DJ and a member of a girl group connected with the same management as New Edition. That early foundation in music set the stage for Rob’s move into management and business development.
Today, he manages two artists, SeeFour and GIB DJ, with SeeFour recently gaining national television exposure. For Rob, talent management is just one part of a larger mission to expand opportunity for Boston-based artists.
At the center of Rob’s work is PUTINWORK Corporation, a multi-faceted company rooted in talent management, media (PUTINWORKTV), and lifestyle branding. But Rob frames the brand as more than a company, it’s a mindset of intentional daily effort, accountability, and self-improvement.
His impact also extends into arts infrastructure. After serving two years on the steering committee, Rob became co-owner of Dorchester Art Project, which transitioned from nonprofit oversight to a worker-owned, BIPOC-led cooperative for-profit. The move marked a shift toward sustainability and autonomy for one of the city’s key creative spaces.
Rob is also collaborating with J Rose, Dallas Rose, and Jimmy Rose to build a professional recording studio in Greater Boston, designed to provide artists with high-quality resources to elevate their sound.
The conversation highlights Rob’s perspective on the current industry landscape. With more artists entering the scene but fewer financiers backing them, Rob stresses that creators must approach their careers as CEOs, taking responsibility for their vision, strategy, and growth. He predicts that as creatives generate more income, they will increasingly reinvest in each other, fueling a cycle of community-driven development.
Rob’s vision is rooted in both local pride and global ambition. He describes Boston as “pound-for-pound the best city in the world,” emphasizing the need for unity across New England’s creative community. For him, collaboration is essential to overcoming regional divides that slow collective progress.
He’s also actively engaged in larger initiatives, including Jaylen Brown’s BX Exchange accelerator program, which aims to build a “Black Wall Street in Boston.” Through this, Rob has taken classes at MIT and Harvard, further deepening his business expertise to apply back into the city’s creative infrastructure.
One of the defining experiences Rob discussed was the 2024 Future Forwards Festival. Despite months of planning, featuring 37 acts, 20 live painters, eight media companies, two stages, and 25 vendors, the event was ultimately rained out. The setback underscored for him the importance of contingency planning, especially when projects extend beyond personal ambition and impact dozens of collaborators and community members.
Rob also took time to reflect on hip-hop’s business leaders, pointing specifically to Dame Dash’s contributions. He stresses the importance of honoring the legacy of figures who laid the groundwork for today’s generation, emphasizing that cultural progress is built on the work of those who came before.
Now more than ever, Rob says he feels grounded, moving from a mindset of survival to one of flow and clarity. His 2025 goals are centered on collaboration, efficiency, and strengthening the ecosystem of Boston creatives who share his drive. By building sustainable businesses and mentorship pipelines, he aims to not just grow his ventures but to lift the city’s culture onto the national and global stage.
