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Mack Maine Interview

AimerAmour: What are the day to day responsibilities as president of a label?  

MackMaine: Making sure that every artists is comfortable when recording, booking studio sessions, approving recording budgets, setting up photo shoots. Sometimes its goes as far as making sure the artists make their flights, and attend events. Setting up media for projects we have; for mixtapes and events. When singles are released, I make sure artists promotes their single and DJs are spinning their records. The lists goes on and on. Basically whatever needs to be done to make sure that we make it successfully to the next day.

AA: Growing up did you always want to be in the entertainment industry?

MM: I started to rap around 17 but I grew up around music and around Cash Money since I was about 9. Baby is like a big brother figure/uncle Slim is like a step dad and Wayne is like a big brother so I’ve always been around music. Actually, I wanted to be the first black president when I was growing up. Obama beat me to it so now I’m the president of Young Money. So everything worked out.

AA: With the music industry evolving, How has the label adjusted to everything being on the internet and the various changes to the music industry?

MM: Besides concerts, we get ring tone money. we still promote our projects-products  as albums bc ppl are still buying albums, wayne sold a millon the first week and young money, we did well the first week, Rebirth (Lil Wayne’s latest album) did good the first week. Drake and Nicki (Minaj) are going to great the first week. So, we’re not affected by the album recession, we’re still doing really well.

AA: How do u stand out as not just the president of the label but as an artist? How do you make sure Wayne, Drake, and Nicki don’t eclipse you’re upcoming talent?

MM: Every artist will be able to hold their own. Tyga’s on the rise, Twist, Chuckee, Gudda-everybody’s stock is rising. As for me, if you pay attention to the “Every Girl” song, my verse was super different. I create characters in my verses and that’s how I try to stand out. I sit back and I listen to the song and see how I can approach it differently. I didn’t get on the “Bedrock” song on purpose because I felt like that song was complete. I actually helped to put it together and said who should be on the song. I let the other artists have their time to shine. But every artists is a star, that’s the only way you can be on Young Money is by being unique, I’m not looking for the next somebody else, I’m looking for the next person that can create their own lane and do things that haven’t already been done musically.

AA:Hobbies?

MM” I drink smoothies (laugh). Its hard being a black man. There are already two strikes against you. You’re a male and you’re black, so you’re trying not to get that third strike so I get my stress relieve through my smoothies. I love bowling. I like playing basketball and watching movies, I used to work out….i like to read books. I didn’t finish college so I like to teach myself things that I’m interested in. I love to learn, I thirst for knowledge. And of course I love music, I love going to the studio and hearing new music for my artists. I have a fetish for being on the water, I like boats. I like going to the aquarium.

AA: What do people need to know about the business aspect of the industry?

MM: You Don’t sleep. Make sure you’re able to handle the responsibility because you don’t just have people’s careers in your hands, you have peoples livelihoods and their lives and their futures in your hands. Make sure you know what you’re signing up for because you have to make yourself available to be the people your doing business for and with. Also, make sure you educate yourself about this business. don’t be oblivious because you’ll miss out on a lot of opportunities and money. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, I’ll call baby and slim in a heartbeat if I have a question. I’ll even call Diddy if I need to. Don’t be afraid to assist for assistance if you need.

AA: What was the idea behind Young Money? What does being under the umbrella do for an artist that they can’t do for themselves?

MM: As far as helping the artists, the label is a machine and I think more artists need that type of machine. You can try to go independent but its harder to get your music out there. We’re Young Money/Cash Money/Universal so that’s three machines. An independent grind is cool but if you’re really trying to be the biggest possible artist you can be, you’re going to need a machine. Also the Young Money brand right now is so strong. As soon as you see or hear Young Money, it brings so much attention to itself worldwide. Many independent artists just get state notoriety after they put out a mixtape, because they don’t have the right promotion behind them. So that’s what we do. We give our artists a wider audience for them to be heard.

 AA:What is waynes position as founder of the label? is he solely just an artist and you are over everything or do you all make joint decisions?

MM: Me and “taz” make the decisions. Especially because of wayne’s current situation but I already make sure that he’s up to date on everything that we have going on. aware of whats going on. I talk to him like ten times a day. Wayne calls me as his friend most of the time and I throw the business in there at the last second and say we’re about to do this and that and then he says “ok” and we keep pushing from there.

AA: Advice for aspiring artist

MM: 1^st of all never give up 2^nd, work hard because there’s someone working harder than you when you’re sleeping ready to take your spot. Keep your image up, image is important. There’s no such thing as having enough songs or “your best song” always try to make your next song greater than the ones before it. Hard work, detirmentation, stay focused, never give up and eventually, when you least expect it, you’ll get you’re shot. So make sure you’re prepared to make the shot when you’re able to take the shot. don’t just sit at home and let your friends tell you that you’re good, don’t just go to your local showcases and think you’re going to get discovered. If you look up my story, I did a lot on my own. Even though I grew up in the cash money family, I wasn’t just relying on that. I’ve always gone out and worked on my own things and they saw that I was grinding. So do as much as you can on your own and that will make your stock rise. For instance, Drake, when he was finally signed…do as much as you can by yourself so when you go to a table with a label, they have to break bread with you because you’re in high demand, they need you and you don’t need them

AA: What’s next for you and what’s next for Young Money?

MM: As far as me, I want to make sure every artist on the label goes platinum or better. Some may think it’s an unrealistic goal but until it doesn’t happen, I’m going to say it will. I need to be in the Forbes list within the next five to ten years. I’m definitely striving towards that goal and hoping for other business ventures to open up. I have a few things in works. As far as Young Money, we have clothing lines and a few under things in the works that I’m going to keep under wraps because I don’t want anyone else to beat us to the punch. But know that the sky’s the limit.