I'm sure this man needs no introduction. But I was privileged to get an interview with the radio giant. He talked to SheBloggin.com about what he's been doing since leaving Philly, his future plans, how artists should effectively pursue their careers, and his thoughts on the South Carolina music scene.
So what have you been up to since you left Philly?
Working. I'm sure you see how we attack the internet with The Hood State Of The Union and various comedy sketches. I've shot a couple of pilots for a couple of different TV ventures (The Hood State Of The Union being one of them) I love to write so I write for XXL, Vibe, Ozone my articles are always published on their websites and in their magazines respectively. Stupid Dope Moves Inc. with my brother Dj Frosty we are continuing to grow that brand doing mixtapes with various artist and i'm one of the stars of the MTV show Hatin. First episode aired back in January next episode airs in June so like I said i'm just working.
Are you looking to stay in radio, or do you have plans to branch out and explore another venture?
I'm definetely staying in radio. That's my passion, that's something I love doing. I've took a couple of radio meetings since I was fired from Philly I could of already jumped back in the radio game, but I don't like doing things just to do them. It's not about having a job or collecting a check for me. It's about being in positions to move the culture forward. When I left Hot 103.9 in Columbia to be Wendy Williams co host that was and oppurtunity to make the brand of Charlamagne Tha God bigger when I got laid off from that situation and 5 months later the chance to do mornings in Philly came along it was a great challenge because I never had did mornings, and I never had commanded my own show in a major market and I was getting the chance to make my brand even bigger and move the culture forward. So I basically was just sitting back waiting for that right oppurtunity to present itself and i'm pretty sure it has. I'm a do a Saturday Afternoon specialty show in Charleston SC on 92.5 The Box as well as do a show on Sundays were we play nothing but South Carolina music. I'll be starting that in early May......
You are a well-respected member of the South Carolina music community. What are your thoughts on the SC music as a whole?
I think SC music is the best it's ever been. Period. I think we can compete with anything that's out there right now, not just on a rap level but R&B, rock, gospel, SC music is exactly were it needs to be @ this moment and it's only going to get better.....
What areas do you feel need the most improvement?
Work Ethic, branding, and promotions and marketing. A lot of these people have talent, but no work ethic. Going to the studio and recording isn't even half of what it takes to win. You have to be out ALL the time not just in your one town either all over SC. If your in Charleston you should be in Charleston, Columbia, Orangeburg, Florence, every little small town it's no reason for people not to know your name everywhere. A lot of these guys don't invest in themselves were is your promotional material? You can't do a mixtape and just post it online you need those hard copies for the streets.Were the flyers promoting your twitter page or website? Were the flyers promoting your mixtape? I think a lot of these guys just don't understand the science of builidng a brand once that improves which it is, you will see a HUGE difference in the South Carolina music scene....
How about the talent? Who do you think will take off from South Carolina?
Right now I see Boss G, I think Lil Brod is super talented as well, but the reason I say Boss G right now because he has all the attributes it takes to win and he's building a brand and fan base from the grown up. The mixtape Stupid Dope Moves did for him "The World Is Mine Now I Want Mars" is everywhere but what people don't realize is this is his third mixtape. So he's been working he's out in the streets everynight, he hits that road he's in Atlanta, he's in North Carolina and his buzz has grown very organically. More importantly he got a record that everybodies gravitating to right now and that's "Hobby." So I see Boss G really about to make and impact. It's a lot of other cats poised to make moves Trapstar, Freddie G'z, Marly Mar, Mista Taylor, Kenny Kane just to name a few...
Being one of the leaders of the SC music movement, do you feel you have a responsibility to lead everyone in the right direction? Why or why not?
Most certainly you have a responsibility to lead period not just in SC music but in life. I'm not gonna give direction to someone who doesn't want it and i'm not gonna give direction to someone who doesn't deserve it. I've gotten to were i've gotten to because of people giving me direction. They always say God helps those who helps themselves and since he made us in his image according to his likeness human beings are the same way. So when I see somebody really helping theyself i'm gonna provide assistance. It's my duty not just as a leader but as a man made in the image of god......
You having REAL experience in the music industry, what is your opinion on the state of the industry?
Is it failing? For rap? Yes it's most certainly failing that whole get a deal idealogy? Dead. These companies don't want to give you a deal they want to get in business with and already established brand. It's no more you got talent let's develop this they want toys that require no assembly. So I believe that if you have lost your independent hustle your fucked. If your a rap artist still thinking about getting a deal you don't stand a chance. Independent is the way to go. The digital era has taken over so you have to find a way to use that to your advantage. Learn how to make money off what your doing now because if you don't know how to make money off you what makes you think a label will?
Recently, Lil Ru has re-appeared and has been making wild accusations about you. Have you responded or spoke with him?
Not at all nor do I plan to.
I think its safe to say that this industry is full of snakes. How do you distinguish the difference between the real and fake?
You can't because everybody is using everybody. Long as you know that then you will be alright. Don't think because you and a person work together or do business together that you are friends cause that's not the case. You both are using each other to get to where you need to be. If you do happen to become friends with somebody great more power to you but more often than not that won't be the case.
So for that artist that’s desperately trying to get the attention of people like you, the DJs, and labels, what do you say to him/her?
Keep working. If you are doing something worthy of that attention trust me you will get it....
Name your top 5 most underrated artists. (Anywhere)
Killa Mike, T.I. because even though he's a superstar people still don't put him in that class of greatest MC's ever, Ghostface Killah whose my personal favorite but he don't get those greatest MC of all time mentions, Redman and Scarface. When you ask me about underrated I have to name them because you don't hear these guys mentioned in Greatest of All Time debates but they will destroy your G.O.A.T
What plans do you have for the summer?
Working!!! Nothing more nothing less....
Any events or projects you want to plug?
www.stupiddopemoves.com
www.thehoodstateoftheunion.com
Any last shout outs?
Yes I want to say one thing to artist who say you have to go to Atlanta or New York or somewhere else to get a deal. Whenever someone says you have to go to Atlanta, New York, Or Los Angeles to get the business done. That's absolutely true. That's a fact. Atlanta is the music capital of the world @ the moment, but what these artist don't understand is. You have to lock down your own backyard first before you go do the business elsewhere. Let me speak on me I've been raising hell on the radio in South Carolina since 99 when I started on Z 93 in Charleston then when I went to Hot 98.9 in Charleston then when I went to the Big DM in Columbia then Hot 103.9 in Columbia thru all these many transitions I was branding myself I was getting artist to host mixtapes and passing those out, we had the websites, I would blast my shows on the internet, send different interviews to various websites so people other places started checking for me right here in South Carolina. That's why certain things I did here were heard nationally wheter it was me doing a dumb ass record like "Pink Tee" or getting into it with T Pain, Memphis Bleek, Buffy The Body people checked for me on a national level because of the way I branded myself. I was the man on the radio here before I was the man anywhere else. So when Wendy scooped me up in 06 it wasn't a surprise because people knew Charlamagne been grinding and I already had and established brand so for me to go to New York to expand my brand made perfect since. It was a point in 2001 after I got fired from Hot 98 9 in Charleston were I had the same mentality as some of these artist I said to myself i'm a move to Atlanta, or New York because those the people that's really doing it in radio. If I would of did that I would of got lost in the sauce. You know how many people in New York or Atlanta that's trying to get on just like you? If South Carolina is a small pond and you not even a big fish here, when you move you just gonna be a small fish in a big pond. So I just suggest to all these artist lock down your backyard, this is yours if you really doing what you supposed to be doing, and making noise, the industry will start checking for you. Build your brand here if what your doing here is not enough for you to even have a buzz in your backyard then what makes you think it's gonna be enough in Atlanta or New York? All Praise Due To Allah thank you for the interview my love....
