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Most would consider touring with R. Kelly, working on a solo album and making numerous television appearances enough to keep anyone busy. But when Dyshon Warren aka Shon Penn, 24, isn’t doing all of this plus collaborating with producers in Philly, NYC or Atlanta, he spends his downtime acting as guru to the latest crop of young artists trying to break into the entertainment industry.

“I always think of where my mom (also a singer) would be if she’d had someone to show her the ropes,” says Penn.

Since leaving home at age 17, Penn studied his craft by interning at Bad Boy and Jive Records, working with various musicians and producers at Daddy’ House and Battery Studios in NYC as well as Studio 609 and Homecookin’ in Philadelphia among others. Groomed by such managers & execs as Chaz Williams of Black Hand Entertainment, Ed Matthews, Chris Lyons, & Jumaane Ford, he is now working closely with Jeff Bradshaw and Walt Reeder Jr.

“During this time is when I learned ‘how’ to get insiders to teach me what they know,” says Penn. “Producers respect that you want to be well-rounded and over time will critique your work and expose you to other writers and artists.”

Penn’s consistent efforts paid off as he began to write and record with well known Philadelphia songwriter, producer, and vocalist, Robert (aka. Don) Barham Jr. and Scott and Dame of Matrax Productions.

“Many artists want the fame but don’t want to put in the hard work,” says Barham. “Dyshon slept on floors and was willing to starve for the opportunity to study his craft.”

Penn credits these experiences with giving him a passion for the business of music which he now passes on to new artists.

“Most of the new artists I come across have ‘talent’ and some performance experience but haven’t put any effort into developing other areas,” says Penn. “I tell them don’t just show up at the studio to record. Study the technical aspects of recording. Learn to use Logic and Pro-tools! Show producers that you have value beyond your voice.”

Film, television and theater actress as well as recording artist, Lee Mekhai, learned first-hand how tough it is for new artists to get the respect of their counterparts and industry higher-ups when she left her comfortable securities broker job and salary to pursue her entertainment interests full time in 2008.

“In this business predominately ran by people who have the ‘survival of the fittest’- ‘get or get gotten’ mentality, it’s extremely hard to find a mentor. For women it is doubly hard to surround yourself with the ‘right’ team,” says Mekhai. “Dyshon has proven to be an exception. His advice has opened my eyes and doors to opportunities that I might have not otherwise been prepared to handle.”

Since she began her journey into this dynamic world, Mekhai has expanded her background, with future plans to direct and produce in film and television.

“He’s shown me how to build a productive blueprint and more importantly, helped to sharpen me so that I execute wisely,” says Mekhai.

No one can deny the success of Penn’s current ‘blueprint.” Between frequent solo performances at The Village Underground in NY, Apache in ATL and Fusion’s LivePod in Philly, Penn was recently a finalist of Making the Band 4 where Diddy himself praised him as a future “Big Star.” Penn is currently working with today’s hottest producers on his solo album due to be released in 2010 and opening for R. Kelly during his Ladies Make Some Noise tour.

“No matter how far I go in this game, I’ll always reach back and encourage those I touch to do the same,” says Penn. “With this ever-growing, multi-talented team on my side (he says laughing), I might just take over, world!”