is the same, and I think that’s what everybody should focus on, especially when you’re not profiting from it. People wanna go into small details but they’re really runnin’ in circles. I think what’s important is the quality and level of music. If you really wanna know if I’m makin’ more money, of course I am. I tell you that in my music. The music really answers a lot of things for you. I always thought it was great how Miami had a unified front no matter what was going on behind the scenes. It seems like lately there’s been some riffs here and there. Do you think Miami unity is still there? I know it’s still unity there. As long as I say it’s still unity there, it’s unity still there. What about within the Poe Boy camp? Would it be accurate to say you and E-Class are not seeing eye-to-eye right now? When you see young black entrepreneurs both growing, the media never sees that clearly. They would love to pit two young black entrepreneurs against each other. That’s why I love doing interviews. I love to shit on y’all’s whole lil system. But that isn’t something I made up to pit you against each other. It’s a known fact that E-Class isn’t managing you anymore. Since you used to be so close, it’s a valid question to ask if there’s a reason y’all went in different directions. We’re handling business. I got a label and eight artists. What answer would you expect from me? Would you expect me to tell you somethin’ different? Of course not. If I did have a problem with E-Class, I wouldn’t tell it right here. What would I gain [from putting it out to the public]? Nothin’. So I like to keep it 100. It is what it is. So, it’s a lot of niggas you may not see me wit’ next year. To them, I live by the same oath. When people are handlin’ business, anythang can happen tomorrow. If it’s best for your business, my brother, do what’s best for your business. Now, if it’s a personal thang, do what’s best for your personal [life]. That’s how it goes. You move along, you grow. As far as my business moves, I’m building an empire. I have to invest in and nurture my empire to make sure the seeds I plant eventually grow. I look forward to many harvests. Who are your artists? I’ve got the Carol City Cartel. We just made that deal official – Maybach Music/Def Jam. We finna rip the budget open and do it real big. I got Mass Pike Miles straight out of Boston signed to the imprint. He’s the R&B boss. He’s in and out of the country twice a month on his own lil swag. That’s something I commend about him. His presence online is incredible. He’s writing hit records, so look for his project. I signed a reggae artist named Magazine straight out of Kingston, Jamaica. Look for his album Jamaica Gates. That dude write five songs a day. Then I got Young Breed, he’s the newest member of Triple C’s. Deuce Pound and Scotty Boy. We’re doin’ a lot of different thangs. Who are some of your influences, from a businessman’s perspective? For motivation I look at people like Birdman, people like E-Class – who I watched take a situation from the ground up. People like Ted Lucas – that’s what I want people to understand about Rick Ross. From a business aspect, I appreciate what Ted Lucas brought to the table. I learned a lot from Ted Lucas. And on a personal note, he’s a real cool muthafucka. But me being a boss and walking down my path, I have to challenge Ted to be in that next generation of executives. I hope he accepts my challenge. I’m challenging all the executives in the game. I’m staying in the streets, and I’m signing artists. I’ve got some hot producers that I just negotiated a deal with. I just extended it to the Maybach Films. Spiff TV, the director of the “Mafia Music” [video] and all the other things I’m doin’, he’s the president of Maybach Films. Right now I’m challenging myself. I’m challenging all the real niggas in the game. Let’s get some money together. Fuck all that small talk. Fuck all that girl talk. Is anything personal with me? Of course not. We could bust down money bags tomorrow. It don’t get personal to me until a nigga really wants to get on some street shit. I’m with that all day. We ain’t never ran from nothin’. You know that. Is the Deeper than Rap short film included with the album, or how can people check that out? You gotta make sure you pick up the album. It comes with a limited [edition] DVD that’s got so much stuff on it. Shouts out to Rik Cordero, Spiff TV, and Maybach Films. We put together something real special that y’all gotta make sure you check out. What makes me really proud of the album, and makes me feel like the album is a success, is just the excitement around it, and all the different avenues [I used to] promote it. Everything I ever dreamed of doing, I actually did it – from writing the film, and me and Birdman executive producing it, to the label deals. Right now I really can’t ask
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for nothing else other than getting more money. So you’ve fulfilled all your dreams? No, I’m just showing the potential is there. You know, we talk about films and we’re bringin’ it to life. I got a great team. Shout out to Def Jam Records. I’ve paid all my dues and learned from the best. It’s just like the mafia – you gotta flip the mob boss, and that’s what I did. I’ma stay strapped and be ready for a nigga to flip me in the next few years. I’ma hit them first. Flip the mob boss? What do you mean by that? Are you referring to 50 Cent, like you took his place? Of course not, who would want that dude’s place? No one. He can’t even go to his own neighborhood. He’s a monkey. I’m me. I still shoot hood videos with lil niggas in the streets that can’t afford [to pay me to do a verse] on a song. I do it out of the love. I walk through the flea market and damn near cause a riot just to buy three beef patties. I had lunch for less than five bucks. I love the luxury of still being able to do that. I love the luxury of being able to write a freestyle in fifteen minutes, put it online and be [heard] all around the world in the next hour. You’ve been sending out records every day, freestyles, and YouTube videos. Do you feel like putting out that volume of material to the public causes you to sell more or less albums? I don’t know. We finna find out. And when I win, I win and I’ll make sure I email you. Do you have any first week sales predictions? I feel victorious already. I’m still here. I’m making more business moves than ever. I’m on the phone with clothing lines. I just talked with Chris Robinson yesterday and we had a long discussion about a film project. I’m in a good place right now, and that’s what it’s about. I think that’s what all the young dudes in the rap game should focus on. As of recently, a lot of the [first week sales] numbers haven’t exactly been hot. But I don’t think that’s what artists should focus on. I think they should focus on the brand and the realistic potential of the next go around. It ain’t always about the numbers. It’s all about what you accomplished, and I see a lot of things that we did accomplish. “Magnificent” is a top 10 record with a bullet, so we’re makin’ a lot of moves. Do you feel that the whole controversy over your former job as a correctional officer was blown out of proportion? I don’t feel like it was a big deal. I think some people were offended by the fact that you wouldn’t admit to it, like, what’s wrong with having a regular job? Why deny it? Like I said, there’s some things I still won’t discuss about. There’s a lot of things that were going on. Me, I have no concern about having a job or never having a job. If I was fucked up tomorrow and couldn’t get a bird I’d get a job. It’s all about me winning. That’s the thing about being a boss or being independent. You gotta make decisions that feed you. Look through the old OZONE magazines. You took the pictures [of me]. Before I was even in the [music] business or knew what a royalty check was I had on $80,000 watches. How’d I get that? Who put me in a position to get that? I won’t tell you that neither. It is what it is. I’ma still get mo’ money than the average rapper. How? Don’t ask me how. I don’t know neither. Why do I live better than these niggas that just put out two albums? I don’t know why I can do what I do. You saw my [wrapped] tour bus outside, right? Do you feel like somebody intentionally put out that picture of you in a correctional officer’s uniform to discredit you? If they did, they did me the biggest favor. Thank you for the attention. But just remember, Deeper Than Rap is in stores. Stay on your grind, stay on your hustle. Since this is the drug issue, we’re asking artists to reminisce on the first time you experienced your drug of choice. Do you recall the first time you smoked weed? I can’t even remember. I just know it was great. I fell in love and here we are today. Is there anything else you’d like to say? April 21st is the official [release] day. All you suckas and all you fuckin’ lames that don’t understand what a hustle is, all you fuckin’ lames that don’t understand what a boss is, all you fuckin’ lames that don’t understand what a survivor is, I’ma enlighten you. It’s close to the mob. If you play, it’s consequences. You remain loyal, there are rewards. Stay loyal, stay real, keep it 100. //