1. How did you get involved with Rick Ross and the entire Maybach Music Group movement?
I met Rick Ross through Torch, who I knew from high school. I met him while I was in Miami and we’ve been close ever since. I started out managing Triple C’s and eventually went on the road with Ross in 2006, when he made his big break. Since 2008, we’ve been working together to grow Maybach Music Group.
2. What was the connection like between you, Ross and the rest of Triple C’s?
With us, it’s definitely family before business; Ross is like my big brother and me and Triple C’s are brothers for life. We’ve all been through a lot together so we’re grateful now for the opportunity to work together and support each other in efforts to grow and expand the brand.
3. Looking at the roster of talent from Ross reppin MIA, to Wale from DC and Meek Millz from Philly it appears the brand has a good lock on several cities. How important to MMG was it to sign artists like Wale and Meek for the growth of the label?
It was extremely important to show that Maybach Music Group is about good music, no matter where it comes from. The standard of quality at Maybach is set very high so our unofficial motto is ‘if you’re going to be a powerhouse, you have to look in everyone’s backyard, not just your own’.
4. What’s the excitement like at MMG for the current success of Wale, Meek and the other artists?
Everyone is ecstatic. We see their successes not only as personal achievements but achievements for all the Maybach artists. Their success symbolizes a gateway, opening doors for the whole MMG family and it makes us all very happy and proud.
5. What’s your daily routine like?
I’m back in New York now so my primary project is working with Torch on UFO (Underestimated, Forgotten, Overlooked) Volume 2. My daily routine consists of setting up interviews, staying in touch with Ross and keeping him updated on how things are going, and meeting with Torch and his manager Lou. Later in the day we’re either at the studio, making music or the clubs promoting it and then it starts over again. Every day is work but every day is something different and we are making progress all the time.
6. You hear talk of the industry shrinking. Do you agree or do you feel it’s opened up for established and new artists on the come up?
I disagree; I think the internet has opened the industry in a whole new way. It’s given new artists a voice of their own that allows them, to some extent, to manage and control their own image in the way only big labels were once able to do. With the rise of social media and viral trends, the public is exposed to a wider variety of talent and people are able to make up their own minds about what should and shouldn’t be popular. It is now the jobs of the labels to harness the new technologies and think of creative ways to implement them in order to change the old business model.
7. How hands on is Rick Ross with the artists projects?
Ross is very hands-on. At his core he’s a music head – he has a great ear for music and for great beats. He truly wants the best for his artists so he won’t let anyone release anything less than the best. The bar is set very high at MMG.
8. What can we expect from the MMG camp next?
Coming up from Ross is God Forgives, I Don’t; on February 24 Torch drops U.F.O Volume 2; Gunplay is working on Bogota; Meek Millz has Dreamchasers 2 in the works; and eventually Wale will have his new project out. Everyone is celebrating the MMG success but keeping busy and staying focused on the music.
9. What does the Source magazine mean to you as a legacy and brand in the hip-hop community?
The Source has been around for so long, bringing industry information to the public. Without The Source, people wouldn’t know about up and coming bands and artists and rising labels like MMG would suffer. At MMG, we really appreciate the service The Source has done for the industry and the communities that embrace it. I hope it can continue to grow and provide the same level of great reporting it’s done in the past. I follow @TheSource on Twitter and people can find me at @MuscleMgmnt.
Derryck “Nes” Johnson
