1 00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: Afro Tech, Oakland, California. Angela couldn't want to do of 2 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: the Shade Room is on stage talking with Blavity editorly 3 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: working it about how her company came to be such 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: a pop culture powerhouse, reportedly the third most engaging platform 5 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 1: on the entire Instagram app for the past two years, 6 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: while speaking directly and authentically to a largely black audience. 7 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: What was the idea for the Shade Room At first? 8 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: What was it meant to be in? And then I 9 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: want to talk about how it's evolved over the years. 10 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:35,479 Speaker 1: It was meant to be just a side little business. 11 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: That was the most that I had wanted from it. 12 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 1: I thought I was gonna have like a hundred thousand followers, 13 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,919 Speaker 1: and that was the most. Like, I didn't see much. 14 00:00:43,960 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: It was just a plan B and so I didn't 15 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: know how to make a website. So I was like, well, 16 00:00:50,440 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: I think I was watching some motivation video that was 17 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: saying you should start right now, start right now on 18 00:00:55,120 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 1: your dreams, don't delay, and so I was like, okay, 19 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: So I was like, well, how do I start right now? 20 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: So so the only thing I could do was open 21 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:06,960 Speaker 1: up a Instagram page, because that's all I knew how 22 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: to do. You know, I didn't have any money to 23 00:01:09,800 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 1: pay graphics, you know, a website designer, um, And so 24 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: I opened it. In a week later we had ten 25 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,440 Speaker 1: thousand followers, and I knew from there. I was like, oh, 26 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: it's probably in one week, the week you launched, you 27 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 1: got ten thousand followers. Yeah, wow, thank you deservedly. And 28 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:31,200 Speaker 1: right now, years later she had seventeen million followers. Okay, 29 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 1: because that deserves a rather applause thank you, But that is, 30 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: you know, a significant number of followers to acquire within 31 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: one week of launching a new platform, right, so tell 32 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: us about like what's that beginning was? Like? Was what 33 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,399 Speaker 1: was that first week like? And how did you acquire that? 34 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaker 1: So the first week I opened the page of I 35 00:01:49,200 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 1: made a little logo, you know what I mean, and 36 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: I started doing what I love to do. I just 37 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 1: started telling Instead of telling my friends, I was telling 38 00:01:55,680 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: them like, girl, did you know what Chris Brown? Did 39 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: you know? He did it? You know what I mean? 40 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:01,560 Speaker 1: I was like, oh, guys, you know this is what's 41 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: going on? Like you know everything. And then the first 42 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: day it was three hundred followers and I d M 43 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: all of them and I had conversations with all of 44 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,359 Speaker 1: them even till this day. Like if you d M 45 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:12,239 Speaker 1: in the shade room, you'll get a response like we 46 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:15,320 Speaker 1: we try to respond to every um DM because it's 47 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,080 Speaker 1: so important to building that relationship with your audience. But 48 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 1: I would d M all of them, and so they 49 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:22,399 Speaker 1: got personally invested in me because they were like, we're 50 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 1: doing this together. We're building this together, you know what 51 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: I mean, Like she is talking to me, I'm giving 52 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: her content, she's posting it. I kind of have control 53 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:31,640 Speaker 1: over this platform and that wasn't something that they felt 54 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,639 Speaker 1: like they had before. And so, you know, after that 55 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: talking to them and building this relationship, they took it 56 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: upon themselves to want to promote this. They were like, 57 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 1: y'all better follow this cod like they would do because 58 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: this is what they felt like ownership of this platform. 59 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 1: I'm with Lucas and this is black tech, Green money. 60 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 1: I'm gonna introduce you to some of the biggest things, 61 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: some of the brightest minds and brilliant ideas. If you're 62 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: black in building or simple, we're using tech to secure 63 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:09,000 Speaker 1: your bag. This podcast is for you to Mobiss, director 64 00:03:09,040 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: of Urban Music at YouTube and previously Services Global program 65 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: he had a hip hop at Spotify, responsible for curating 66 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: the widely popular playlists including rap Cavia, one of the 67 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 1: biggest and most popular playlists with over nine million followers. 68 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: I asked too about the opportunity black creatives have to 69 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: capitalize on the global audience of the African diaspora and 70 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: if too many of us are missing now I think 71 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: tech a lot of times. You hear the words scale 72 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: a lot, right, And whenever I hear the word scale, 73 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: it reminds me of when I was in TV and 74 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: you would hear about hits. We need a hit, this show, 75 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:45,880 Speaker 1: is this song a hit? This music feel a hit? 76 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: Just show a hit? So so technically talk about scaling 77 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: and getting as many like like reaching as many people 78 00:03:53,880 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 1: or the ability to uh scale And so I think 79 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: that uh in that kind of um uh not not 80 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: umbrella but a blanket, you know what I mean? Sense 81 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 1: that we we we fall in that. But I don't 82 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: think that. I don't think the words specifically in mind, 83 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: I don't I've never seen that. I've never been like, 84 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: you know, like only when they're talking about things like diversity. 85 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: You know, that's the only time I ever I ever 86 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:26,160 Speaker 1: think we're ever in mind. So I think by default 87 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: because we're part of the global population, you know what 88 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: I mean? And yeah, so that's I think about you know, 89 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: when when I see people who are building applications in 90 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: their building, you know, these technologies, you know, just I 91 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: wonder if we consider that there is an audience beyond 92 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: the States that could be potentially customers or downloaders, users 93 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: of our applications. Yeah, but who I'm I'm being theoretical 94 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,280 Speaker 1: who thinks about us other than us? And then like, 95 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: I don't think I don't think any I don't think 96 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,799 Speaker 1: anyone's thinking about us like the They may be thinking 97 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 1: about us in terms of not offending us or or 98 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: be including us, but I don't think. I think the 99 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 1: only people this is. This isn't some something scientific or 100 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,719 Speaker 1: or research. This is just through observation and is the 101 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: only people who think about black people are global black 102 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,679 Speaker 1: people are black people. So the thing is is, so 103 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: I think that the spirit in which we think about 104 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: us is more important than who's thinking about us. You 105 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying that I don't think we should 106 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: care to be honest with you, I think it's about 107 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: us taking care of each other and performing each other 108 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: building applications for each other. And then the same way, 109 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: somebody builds an application in let's say Korea or in 110 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 1: India or in Switzerland, and then they hope that the 111 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 1: whole world catches on. They hope that America catches on. 112 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,359 Speaker 1: They hope, you know, I mean to China, China. You know, 113 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: we were seeing TikTok is like huge reals in China. 114 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:07,440 Speaker 1: So they hope that the rest of all catches on, etcetera, etcetera. 115 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 1: And I think I think we should have the same approach, 116 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: uh is and in hip hop and music that is 117 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: the approach, by the way in music that is music 118 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 1: like Okay, let's get the streets, let's let's get the 119 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, let's get the South or 120 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: like and and then if it blows up, that's great, 121 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:32,840 Speaker 1: like that's amazing, But if it doesn't, it's still it 122 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: still means something to like the core uh bait, you know, 123 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 1: the black people, or the same thing in Jamaica with 124 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 1: dasshole is like they like a starng whether you like 125 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: it or not, they love it. And and you go 126 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 1: to you go to Jamaica and they're doing all the 127 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: dances and etcetera. Etcetera. And and and you're like, what 128 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: frong is this? And they don't care if it out 129 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 1: on in Brooklyn or in Toronto or in uh London. 130 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: They like the song. So it's the same thing for 131 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: us tech. It's like, hey, we build stuff and then 132 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: we hope that everyone catches on and we hope that 133 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: it goes to global. You know. Yeah, I mean that's 134 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: that's so good because I remember seeing I think it 135 00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: was Tyler Perry on Black af the show on Netflix, 136 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 1: and he was saying like, look, I don't make products 137 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 1: for people who are not in my core demographic. I 138 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 1: make plays and TV shows for Britics, really black women, 139 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: and maybe everybody else catches on, but I don't care 140 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 1: what the critics say. I made it for my audience, 141 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: and and and and I think from a creativity perspective, 142 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 1: that's the best way to do it, because then then 143 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 1: you don't get caught up, and then you don't lose 144 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:51,080 Speaker 1: the original attraction or essence of what you do. That 145 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: you remain consistent because you're not trying to please too 146 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: many people. And so I love that. I love, Yeah, 147 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 1: I love that approach, and I respect prepared for that mindset. 148 00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:07,840 Speaker 1: You know beautiful. So um, there's this conversation um about 149 00:08:07,880 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: getting a labeled deal that helps me potentially go fast. 150 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: It's like kind of like getting VC money. You know, 151 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: if you're building technologies, like getting a deal potentially helps 152 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: you go faster and it gives you the infrastructure. Um, 153 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: but in the meantime, you're likewise sacrificing some ownership of 154 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: that thing. Conversely, me going you know, building something out 155 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: of my pocket, me bootstrapping, or me going direct to 156 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:34,880 Speaker 1: YouTube or tune Core or CD baby and distributing myself, 157 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: I sacrifice a little bit of that built in support, right, 158 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: And so how do you see this evolving for people 159 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:45,319 Speaker 1: who decide to take their product direct to consumer? The 160 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 1: thing is this is when you decided to take uh, 161 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 1: director consumer, you're doing more work. Well, when you make 162 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: these deals with these record companies or distribution companies, it's 163 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: you're basically your team up to become partners and they 164 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 1: do a lot of the heavy lifting, whether it be 165 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:08,559 Speaker 1: marketing or radio promotion or or or delivery to dspstead 166 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: it's a partnership. How much you actually sacrifice depends on 167 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,959 Speaker 1: how much leverage you have, and and and and and 168 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 1: the terms of that partnership, so you don't necessarily always sacrifice. 169 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:23,920 Speaker 1: There's a lot of people who, uh maintain control. I 170 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 1: know Nipsey Hustle had like a joint venture with Atlantic, 171 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: which is a major label, but he maintained a lot 172 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: of all money in beteen, a lot of control in 173 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:35,520 Speaker 1: terms of decision making, in terms of timing, terms of 174 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 1: so much like right, there was a partnership. It was 175 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: a partnership, but because he came in with leverage. Um, 176 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 1: not everyone comes in at the same stage or and 177 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: and this has the ability to negotiate that type of 178 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: autonomy or or or influence on their project. Um. So 179 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:58,320 Speaker 1: there are people who do operate like independence within those 180 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,880 Speaker 1: big label system hims. And then there are people who 181 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:08,520 Speaker 1: who are independent, but they they don't act back an 182 00:10:08,559 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: independent like you know who you know in terms of 183 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:16,480 Speaker 1: the do it yourself, you know, there's something else, there's 184 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: another force behind it. Um. Yeah, that's that's controversial though, 185 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: I don't know. Yeah, but to that point, like you know, 186 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 1: if you think about the days of like master p 187 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: and No Limit and cash money, you know they had 188 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: this directed consumer model, like and they were selling out 189 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: of their trunks. So that how do you how do 190 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:39,680 Speaker 1: you build if you if you can go out on 191 00:10:39,679 --> 00:10:42,319 Speaker 1: this road because I sensitive said you don't want to 192 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 1: no no, no, no no. That this is this is 193 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: very interesting what you're saying, because I I haven't thought 194 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: about I think I know where you're going. So basically, 195 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 1: so when you're talking about master PS had this conversations 196 00:10:53,960 --> 00:10:57,080 Speaker 1: where master P and these guys what they did was 197 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: UM CD ROM right was the big innovation where they 198 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 1: didn't have to depend on the record labels and UM 199 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: in New York or or Los Angeles to print out 200 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: these CDs. Right, so they go make their own CDs, 201 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: They make their own artwork, one of the penn and Pixel, 202 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 1: you know, instead of doing everyone's album art and and 203 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: and and you know, they may not have retail space. 204 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: Or Masterp happened to have retail space at a record 205 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:28,360 Speaker 1: store in Richmond, California in the Bay. A lot of 206 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: people don't know. No Limits started as a No Limit 207 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: Records in the Bay and then he moved back to 208 00:11:33,840 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: New Orleans. So so what happens is so these guys 209 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: sell out the trunk of the because they don't have 210 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: UH warehouse is to inventory retail space. So they became 211 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: mobile retail outlets. Right, they did it themselves, gain enough 212 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:55,640 Speaker 1: leverage where they could strike deals with these uh distribution 213 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: companies and they don't have to do it themselves. And 214 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 1: they can now they can focus on their creativity. They 215 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: can folk a song, there on on on on things 216 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: like imaging and things like getting features. So long story short, 217 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:12,920 Speaker 1: that same exact thing happens now and as young kids, 218 00:12:12,920 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 1: and we kind of look down on those young kids 219 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:18,560 Speaker 1: where they use YouTube, where they use SoundCloud, they use 220 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: TikTok used to create buzz and it's the same as 221 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: the CD ROMs, Like okay, uh, now, all I need 222 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 1: to do is get my music out there to create, 223 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:31,760 Speaker 1: to build an audience. Because what Masterp and them and 224 00:12:31,800 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 1: cash Money had was they have an audience. Whether it 225 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: was Drew VI or U n l V with UM 226 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: No Limit or master P with himself and True and 227 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 1: and Silk and c Murder, you know what I mean, 228 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: they had audiences. And that's what that's what that's why 229 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: these other the priorities of the world and the universals 230 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:55,959 Speaker 1: of the world, UM did these deals with these guys, right, Like, 231 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 1: so the thing is the same exact thing happening on 232 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: the on the web out is and the problems is 233 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:03,720 Speaker 1: a lot of times it's a little young kids, so 234 00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: we look down on them as if they don't know 235 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,440 Speaker 1: what they're doing. They know what they're doing. They're figuring 236 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: it out just like everyone else, you know, and and 237 00:13:10,240 --> 00:13:14,439 Speaker 1: and they're taking advantage of uh these bears to entries, 238 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,680 Speaker 1: you know. Uh yeah, and and you know what the 239 00:13:17,720 --> 00:13:19,079 Speaker 1: next one is what you want to know what the 240 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:22,599 Speaker 1: next one is given a jewel or gym, whatever, the 241 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: next thing is. The kids will figure out monetizing live streaming. 242 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: That's that's. That's that the the that's the kids who 243 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: figure that out right, whether it be through product placement, 244 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: whether through be through paygating, whether it be through um 245 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: things like super chats on YouTube, which is like um 246 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,079 Speaker 1: super chats is big in the gaming world, and it's 247 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: big in Japan and South Korea. So where you paid 248 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:50,800 Speaker 1: your comments to be seen you or you can pay 249 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:53,199 Speaker 1: for stickers. It's it's very much a part of k 250 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: pop fanom and there's very much part of video the 251 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: video game world, but it just hasn't extended it to 252 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: music yet. Tor Lanes is the only one. Well, Tory 253 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 1: Lanes is the only major artist who's used it so 254 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,680 Speaker 1: far and everything, uh in the U S at least 255 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:13,440 Speaker 1: in the US and Canada. Uh Uh, he's the only one, 256 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: h the major artist who's used it. M that I know. Well, 257 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 1: there's there's others, there's others, but but like the major major, Like, 258 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:29,600 Speaker 1: so I think about it. So everybody's gone, everybody's live 259 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: on Instagram every time I pull up my Instagram, everybody's 260 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:35,960 Speaker 1: life right, and everybody has, you know, videos on YouTube, 261 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 1: and everybody's an influencer, wants to be an influencer. And 262 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: but you said before in a different interview, like it's 263 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: it's not enough to work hard anymore, Like you have 264 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: to decommodify, right and in your in your experience, So 265 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,960 Speaker 1: in your experience, like what's been consistent about those people 266 00:14:55,000 --> 00:15:00,560 Speaker 1: who have been able to break through? I think it's. Yeah, 267 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: I'm gonna steal. I'm gonna steal the answer. And this 268 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: is an answer I I got from a Steve Himan 269 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: who manages Beyonce. I saw him speak once and it 270 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: blew me away, and and somebody asked him about Beyonce, 271 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:18,680 Speaker 1: and one of the things he said was her intent. 272 00:15:19,560 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: Her intent was always to deliver to like be high quality. 273 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: Her intent was always too mostly connect her intenders, to 274 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: teach her intenders to just go hard, you know, I 275 00:15:30,120 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: mean every time championship levels, and and and after watching 276 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: the last ten episodes of Last Dance, UM, the documentary series, 277 00:15:40,280 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: so I was like, wait, Michael Jordan is kind of 278 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:45,160 Speaker 1: the same way. And the other people who kind of 279 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:48,680 Speaker 1: gravitated like their intent was to win a championship, like 280 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 1: he was pure, like they knew exactly what they wanted 281 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 1: and went for it, and and and and I think 282 00:15:54,280 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 1: that UM, a lot of people along the way forget 283 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: about the original intention, of the intention that got them 284 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,920 Speaker 1: to where they are right or or that helped them 285 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 1: break through the commodities, through the through the sameness, the 286 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 1: the amogin magin the tea work. Yeah, exactly, you know 287 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: what I mean. Yeah, monotony. Let's let's let's say monotony 288 00:16:22,600 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: with it, right, Let's called fresh Prince. He's a consistent one. 289 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 1: Will Smith is a consistent one, remember in summertimes, like 290 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,680 Speaker 1: to help you break through all this hardcore, this monotony 291 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: that's a little bit out of control. Remember, So what 292 00:16:36,280 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: happens is this is uh so, what happens is people 293 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: forget people literally, uh forget that. They become formulaic, right 294 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: because it work this time. So instead of trying something 295 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: new or something fresh, they just want to maintain. They're 296 00:16:56,160 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: just they're just they're just there there, are playing it. 297 00:17:01,120 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: You know, in sports, when you're you're you're running the 298 00:17:04,080 --> 00:17:06,399 Speaker 1: clock down right, you know, you're not really trying to 299 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:09,440 Speaker 1: just trying to keep the score as is. So they're 300 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: just trying to keep the status quo. We're just trying 301 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: to keep score. So so the people who don't do that, 302 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,639 Speaker 1: who keep playing, and who pays themselves out so that 303 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 1: they don't burn out by the time, you know, those 304 00:17:21,840 --> 00:17:25,960 Speaker 1: are the ones who who consistently break through the clutter consistently, 305 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,200 Speaker 1: you know, and we can name them like this music, 306 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: we can. This is a handful, just a handful, you know. 307 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: Other ones they disappear eventually, you know. Yeah, it's it's 308 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: so it's crazy that you bring up like the Last Dance, 309 00:17:38,040 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 1: Because I was reading an article yesterday about Dennis Robbing 310 00:17:41,760 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: and his impact on the culture of a lot of 311 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 1: artists today, Like he broke the mold for people to 312 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: be little oozy verds and young thugs and to break 313 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: down that gender, do ye Kanye? Also, yes, someone talking 314 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: about Kanye Dennis Robman and the hair colors and the 315 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:04,359 Speaker 1: phase and uh and the people dated, you know what 316 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: I mean, like uh, comparing with then it's Rotherman Kanye 317 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:11,359 Speaker 1: and so and then this Frotherman was Chicago, so that's 318 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: his era, like the direct and and then Kanye influences 319 00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 1: so many people, That's right, so many young people directly 320 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: or indirectly. We can see it well. We often talk 321 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 1: about the lack of equity creators realized from places in 322 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: our work, whether it be our music, our dance, our jokes, 323 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: or hot takes on social media platforms. In the return, 324 00:18:48,640 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: don't get the ear of those companies that capitalize on 325 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: our contributions. I asked to about how black artists and 326 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: techies are like can monetize our creative genius? I think 327 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 1: that's on the burdens on us, you know what I mean, 328 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:04,800 Speaker 1: Like because we build these platforms and we're content with 329 00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 1: social capital, you know what I mean, So that which 330 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 1: is likes and followers and you know I mean etcetera, 331 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:15,960 Speaker 1: and sing this and sat calm that one the influencer, etcetera, etcetera. 332 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 1: I think Portability is a big thing there is are 333 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: you building the messaging and who you are or what 334 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: you stand for just the same as a brand. Is 335 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: that portable to other platforms? Uh? If I go to 336 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:35,840 Speaker 1: another place that also has the same amount of attention 337 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:40,040 Speaker 1: or whatever, am I gonna have an equal? One of 338 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:41,640 Speaker 1: the things I used to do. I used to get 339 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:45,439 Speaker 1: in the heads of artists back in the day they 340 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 1: were big on another platform, like, Okay, are you doing 341 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:49,879 Speaker 1: well on there? Let's see how you do with the 342 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: big boys over here, just the pros and and and 343 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 1: if if you if you have enough influence or connection 344 00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:02,640 Speaker 1: with your quote unquote followers, they migrate to another platform. 345 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: You're at. Your call to action is hey, come support 346 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: me here or come listen. And it's the same thing, 347 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,960 Speaker 1: the same thing with so so. So how you handle 348 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:19,280 Speaker 1: this if you're just showing your ass and and and 349 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:21,600 Speaker 1: you get all these followers or you get all these 350 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 1: I think, is you gonna have to show your ass 351 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:28,439 Speaker 1: the other platforms, etcetera. But if you're there's people are 352 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:31,359 Speaker 1: actually connecting with you and the buying is with you, 353 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:36,359 Speaker 1: right then the like I want I want whatever, whether 354 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:39,159 Speaker 1: it be inspiration, whether it be comedy, whether it be 355 00:20:39,240 --> 00:20:44,880 Speaker 1: great music, whether it be um uh intellect, you know, 356 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: like I'm getting that from this and I want that, 357 00:20:50,160 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 1: so I will go you know what I mean. And 358 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 1: that's how people monetize, to be honest with you, that's 359 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:57,920 Speaker 1: how people monetize. The thing about it is, I'm giving 360 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 1: you these great mixtapes for free, for nothing, right, and 361 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: when it's time to formalize what I'm putting out, the 362 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,560 Speaker 1: actual body of work that's put it in production, etcetera, etcetera, 363 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: or I'm going on tour, I'm testing your willingness to pay, okay, right, 364 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:18,119 Speaker 1: and I'm hoping that I've done a great job and 365 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:21,160 Speaker 1: giving you the love right like with the love meaning 366 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:25,040 Speaker 1: no out of pocket price, you know what I mean? 367 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 1: Out of pocket price, and and and and when we're 368 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 1: put in a situation where you do have to pay, 369 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:35,400 Speaker 1: we're going to find out who the real revolutionaries are, 370 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 1: like you know what I mean, Like to quote Ba Molly, 371 00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:40,960 Speaker 1: you know, to quote Ba Molly, Like, We're gonna find 372 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: out who's really willing to pay, who's really uh. I 373 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:46,880 Speaker 1: always use Little Wing as an example. Who's a real 374 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:51,080 Speaker 1: weezy Little Wing because I thought he mastered that a 375 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: freemium model. The freemium model, you know what I mean. 376 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 1: He mastered that. He mastered that when back in the 377 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:01,600 Speaker 1: day when he did all those cards, droughts and against 378 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: the grills, he mastered it so well. So it's like okay, now, 379 00:22:05,560 --> 00:22:09,520 Speaker 1: So so the equity is not necessarily having equity in 380 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:13,080 Speaker 1: the platform. That having brand equity, That that that that 381 00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 1: that that you are your whether it be your brand 382 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,320 Speaker 1: or your service or your product, that it creates a 383 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:26,160 Speaker 1: connection or relationship that your audience or followers or stakeholders 384 00:22:27,119 --> 00:22:31,320 Speaker 1: are willing to migrate to another platform. That's what I'm saying. 385 00:22:31,320 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: And that's the real test of them. You know, I 386 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:35,959 Speaker 1: was I was talking to a friend that we were 387 00:22:35,960 --> 00:22:38,960 Speaker 1: talking about like George, how George Lucas knew with Star 388 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: Wars that the content was just the gateway to get 389 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 1: you into this whole rabbit hole of products and other experiences. 390 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:49,639 Speaker 1: And so when you I don't know if you've been 391 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:51,480 Speaker 1: to Disney World disney Land, but like you know, it's 392 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 1: like when you go too to have the experience of 393 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,120 Speaker 1: you going, let's say the Frozen Castle. You go into 394 00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:59,600 Speaker 1: the Frozen Castle to meet with one of the princesses. Right, 395 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: And as soon as you walk out, you're they They've 396 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,199 Speaker 1: got the toy there for you to buy. So the 397 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,359 Speaker 1: movie is the gateway to get you to go the experience. 398 00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:13,280 Speaker 1: The experience leads you to buy the product. So the 399 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:16,040 Speaker 1: the content has always been like the gateway since people 400 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:19,119 Speaker 1: like George Lucas has have innovated on that concept. I 401 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: wonder if number one, if you agree with that that philosophy, 402 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: but number two, if you do, how does the work 403 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:34,080 Speaker 1: you do allow creators to monetize their artistry? Well, the 404 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 1: work I currently do, the work I've done, the work 405 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:41,919 Speaker 1: I do. Just talk about your experience overall. Okay, I 406 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:43,679 Speaker 1: can talk more than the past because the work I 407 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:45,919 Speaker 1: do now is a little bit different in terms of 408 00:23:46,040 --> 00:23:51,000 Speaker 1: its more enabling or empowering through information or access uh 409 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:56,600 Speaker 1: and the best practices you know, uh, letting partners know 410 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: or letting people internally. Uh So what I call I 411 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:06,520 Speaker 1: call I called um. One of my UH colleagues was 412 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:11,080 Speaker 1: breaking down like different duties for different people, like lit'sten 413 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:13,159 Speaker 1: let's uh. And I said, and they were like, what 414 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:14,679 Speaker 1: do you want to call yourself? I said, call me 415 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:19,240 Speaker 1: the cultural attache? Right, And this is why this, I said, 416 00:24:20,040 --> 00:24:22,239 Speaker 1: I was like, because I've always kind of looked at 417 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 1: myself as I'm in a company, right, I'm an ambassador 418 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 1: to the culture within a company and representing and making 419 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:33,959 Speaker 1: sure that opportunities are available or that our importance is understood, 420 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:36,399 Speaker 1: right and and and and in a way that's not 421 00:24:36,560 --> 00:24:40,600 Speaker 1: in a protest way, not protest. Nobody owes anyone anything. 422 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:43,120 Speaker 1: It's just like it's like, hey, in a way that's 423 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:46,880 Speaker 1: coming like with as a peers as equals, like look, look, 424 00:24:47,119 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 1: this is what we can add how we can add value. 425 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:52,399 Speaker 1: Do you want this value? No? Okay, you know what 426 00:24:52,400 --> 00:24:55,560 Speaker 1: I mean. It's as simple as that. Yes, okay, then 427 00:24:55,640 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 1: let's do this, Let's do this, Let's compound this value, 428 00:24:58,520 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: Let's continue this these relationships, let's let's let's make this 429 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:07,760 Speaker 1: as a friendly to um um our world is possible. 430 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,679 Speaker 1: Uh And but but what what you're talking about George 431 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:14,120 Speaker 1: Lucas and the way he views it as like as 432 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:18,840 Speaker 1: a gateway. I always looked at things like MTV jams 433 00:25:18,920 --> 00:25:23,120 Speaker 1: or wrap caviare or or or BT back in the day. 434 00:25:23,320 --> 00:25:25,000 Speaker 1: I need see. Of course I was entry level, I 435 00:25:25,040 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 1: was a junior um Uh. But as vessels, right, So 436 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:37,679 Speaker 1: when I say vessels, is that those same songs that 437 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:41,600 Speaker 1: were played on the playlist or on TV station or 438 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: on or even on the radio or wherever. Or let's 439 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,840 Speaker 1: sen to magazine. Right, If you look at it as 440 00:25:46,840 --> 00:25:51,200 Speaker 1: a vessel, you can apply those same the same principles 441 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 1: or spirit or meaning in other ways. You can apply 442 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,760 Speaker 1: that to live events, like you know, this is the 443 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:04,199 Speaker 1: same we just lost Andrea Herral and Andre. Andre. Andrea 444 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:06,960 Speaker 1: was like I mean, he was very dear too many people, 445 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 1: but one of the things that he liked talked about 446 00:26:10,280 --> 00:26:14,440 Speaker 1: a lot was um, get yout fabulous. Like you know, 447 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:17,880 Speaker 1: what's what I'm saying, Like he's like, I created fabulous. Yeah, 448 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,440 Speaker 1: He's like, I created gettle fabulous. So what but what 449 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,879 Speaker 1: the thing that says so so so he like, you 450 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:26,200 Speaker 1: got to know, Andrea, I love talking to Andres and 451 00:26:26,280 --> 00:26:28,240 Speaker 1: one of the best people talk to because you learned 452 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:30,720 Speaker 1: so much and it's like so so fun to talk 453 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: to it. And and and he'll give you examples. He'll 454 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 1: he'll give you examples of people like yeah, so and 455 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:38,359 Speaker 1: so so and so yeah that brand that that that 456 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: has No, that's not getting fabulous, that's this, that's street 457 00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:45,720 Speaker 1: that's uh that's hipster. That's uh, you know what I mean? 458 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 1: This is that he liked that. You know, So what 459 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:53,360 Speaker 1: happens is this? So what what what you're talking about, 460 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:57,280 Speaker 1: George Lucas? And I'm talking about all these other platforms 461 00:26:57,280 --> 00:26:59,199 Speaker 1: because that's what these are. These are platforms. What you 462 00:26:59,280 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 1: do with it is what determines how people connect with 463 00:27:03,080 --> 00:27:05,919 Speaker 1: it or react to it, or reuse it, or or 464 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:08,919 Speaker 1: build on it or because because you're asking people for 465 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: their time and their attention, you know. So what happens 466 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: is so what what Georgio Lucas is talking about is, uh, 467 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:21,879 Speaker 1: is if you have let's say, a playlist when those 468 00:27:21,920 --> 00:27:24,760 Speaker 1: same artists, those same songs, you can also do live shows. 469 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,199 Speaker 1: If you have a visual identity, like a logo, you 470 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:31,679 Speaker 1: can also put it on hats. You can also you 471 00:27:31,680 --> 00:27:33,879 Speaker 1: know what I mean, like things that fit the lifestyle. 472 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:36,359 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you example. Let me give you example 473 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:38,720 Speaker 1: when I was when I was in the TV, when 474 00:27:38,720 --> 00:27:42,320 Speaker 1: I was in MTV. Um so if you remember MTV 475 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 1: jams used to have horrible commercials, these like cash for 476 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 1: gold and pillow pets instead of all right, all right, right, 477 00:27:51,640 --> 00:27:56,160 Speaker 1: probable like cheating the brand and like like like you 478 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: you put it on mute as soon as those commercials 479 00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:01,280 Speaker 1: came on, you know, I mean mean they're called direct response. 480 00:28:02,280 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 1: One of the things that I remember when with Khalifa 481 00:28:04,800 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 1: and currency started coming up in the whole weekend big 482 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:12,919 Speaker 1: thing is I remember, uh thing, and I pitched it 483 00:28:13,200 --> 00:28:16,120 Speaker 1: it got shot down. Shot down is that we make 484 00:28:16,160 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 1: our own kind of products that direct response that you 485 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 1: can call one hundred number to call etcetera, you know, 486 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:25,480 Speaker 1: and and and make money off of that. So I 487 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 1: remember bringing Big Room spread you know big room spreads, No, 488 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 1: don't big big oom. He stole these mixtapes in Atlanta, right, 489 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:39,720 Speaker 1: I met Big Rooms or nineteen in Impact Nashville, um 490 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 1: the music conference right him and DJ Jelly, I met 491 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 1: them both and and and then for a long time 492 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:48,719 Speaker 1: the early days there were my my, my, my, my 493 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 1: cultural touch points in Atlanta like that goes by uh 494 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: the mixtapes so that later on DVDs. But something Big 495 00:28:56,640 --> 00:28:59,760 Speaker 1: used to give it was big room spray. Right. And 496 00:28:59,760 --> 00:29:05,920 Speaker 1: and my grandmother who doesn't speak English, right, she uh 497 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: like the big m spray like she she would ask a, 498 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:12,200 Speaker 1: can you send me some big boom spray? Like she 499 00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:15,640 Speaker 1: wasn't even speaking shug in Alabama. My parents did in 500 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:17,600 Speaker 1: Alabama and my uncle and aunt and stuff, so she 501 00:29:17,640 --> 00:29:21,080 Speaker 1: stayed in mark On, Alabama. Didn't speak English, but she 502 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:24,320 Speaker 1: knew Biglon spray. So I remember going to MTV and 503 00:29:24,440 --> 00:29:29,000 Speaker 1: pitching Big Hoom Spray for because the advertising market was 504 00:29:29,040 --> 00:29:34,920 Speaker 1: going down, so they needed like non advertising dependent ideas 505 00:29:35,080 --> 00:29:39,680 Speaker 1: like each one cruises or you know what I mean, tours, 506 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:42,320 Speaker 1: et cetera. And I picked Big hom Spray. I was like, yo, 507 00:29:42,960 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: like the big hom spray and the reason and the heir, 508 00:29:46,080 --> 00:29:48,280 Speaker 1: it's all coming full circle. The whiskey for the currency 509 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:52,640 Speaker 1: thing is people used to use it to spray if 510 00:29:52,800 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: to kill the odor of weeds. Right, and then this 511 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: is before we was sweet, was still a little bit taboi. 512 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 1: It wasn't as normal as this now was legalized as 513 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 1: it is now this is breeze. Yeah, but I mean 514 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 1: that's what people use it. I don't know if that 515 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 1: was his original intention, but people used to use it 516 00:30:11,600 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 1: like like in the car or you know, the bedroom, 517 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:18,760 Speaker 1: or or if you could use it for the bathroom. 518 00:30:18,800 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: They killed the order, you know. So I was like, yeah, 519 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: I was like, I was like, I told him, I 520 00:30:23,800 --> 00:30:26,560 Speaker 1: was like, look if you can get rid of some 521 00:30:26,600 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 1: of these um uh is direct response horrible infomercial feeling commercials. 522 00:30:33,720 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 1: And we make our own promos and we and we 523 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,440 Speaker 1: sell the products that fit the culture, like big room, 524 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:44,640 Speaker 1: spray right right and and and and use spokesperson's like 525 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:47,240 Speaker 1: a currency or or whiz at the time you know 526 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 1: what I mean, etcetera, etcetera. Uh. Then literally, I kid 527 00:30:51,440 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 1: you not, we're going to sell a boatload of these 528 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 1: things because we have attentive audience, but we're polluting the 529 00:30:57,560 --> 00:31:02,680 Speaker 1: channel with these irrelevant ads just and and and and 530 00:31:02,680 --> 00:31:04,680 Speaker 1: and from them. They don't even care about audience. They're 531 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 1: just bottom feeling because this is the cheapest rades because 532 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 1: we're valuing what what's happened, because because all you're you're 533 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 1: basing your pricing inventories based on your pricing AVCTORI is 534 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:20,000 Speaker 1: based on reach because MTJM is only twenty million homes, 535 00:31:20,000 --> 00:31:23,160 Speaker 1: so they were valuing it based on reach, not based 536 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:27,920 Speaker 1: on influence, not based on how dope it was, etcetera. 537 00:31:28,280 --> 00:31:30,200 Speaker 1: And then they shut down. They left at me extually 538 00:31:30,240 --> 00:31:32,880 Speaker 1: to be honest, and I didn't have enough seniority in 539 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:35,800 Speaker 1: the room, so like to make it happen so I 540 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:38,560 Speaker 1: just let to let it go. But but my whole 541 00:31:38,600 --> 00:31:41,440 Speaker 1: point was George Lucas is approaches the same thing where 542 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:44,520 Speaker 1: he's like, yo, there's so many different vessels. This can 543 00:31:44,560 --> 00:31:47,360 Speaker 1: be a vessel, right, and all that need is the 544 00:31:47,440 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 1: visual identity, you know, exactly, this is a youngest camp. 545 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:53,680 Speaker 1: You know what this means? Yeah, So so it's that's 546 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:55,960 Speaker 1: but that's what I'm talking about. That so what this 547 00:31:56,000 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 1: is what you're talking about? What he's talking about Star Wars, 548 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:03,000 Speaker 1: Harry Potter, he did the same thing where Harry Potter 549 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:06,720 Speaker 1: was a book. Uh, Harry Potter was a book. It 550 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:11,040 Speaker 1: was Halloween costumes, it was an experience, it was a 551 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 1: movie I'm guessing as a cartoon. But guess who the 552 00:32:14,920 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 1: most interesting? Uh? The person who just didn't really and 553 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:22,840 Speaker 1: and she killed it, Michelle Obama. The Coming Becoming was 554 00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: a book. Becoming was a Netflix series, and it was 555 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:30,040 Speaker 1: a tour was becoming with a school. And and she's 556 00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 1: still on her becoming a blitz. She didn't just as 557 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:38,520 Speaker 1: good as George Lucas or the Harry Potter lady. The uh, 558 00:32:38,680 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 1: she's still doing these fundraisers with like g nice so 559 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:45,400 Speaker 1: the graduate with me stuff on YouTube and all that stuff, 560 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:47,320 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, and and and and she's 561 00:32:47,320 --> 00:32:50,160 Speaker 1: still on that becoming blitz That's what I'm saying. So 562 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 1: so so yeah, yeah, so yeah, that's all great as 563 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:58,840 Speaker 1: that's fantastic, that's fantastic. Yeah yeah, No, I respect Obama. 564 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:02,120 Speaker 1: I was like, okay, and paid and she did this right. 565 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:04,480 Speaker 1: She sequenced this right too, you know what I mean. 566 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:06,760 Speaker 1: She and she hit the spot. She was doing like 567 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 1: red as an adminion of Burda, you know what I mean. 568 00:33:09,280 --> 00:33:13,720 Speaker 1: She she went in, she put in her work. Um, 569 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:17,680 Speaker 1: so you are director of Urban Music at YouTube now 570 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 1: and so yeah, but that's just the title again. But so, like, 571 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:25,880 Speaker 1: the reason I bring that up is because how do 572 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 1: we understand the value of our offering recognizing that our perspective, 573 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 1: Like Jay's host said, like nothing moves without us nothing. 574 00:33:35,760 --> 00:33:39,240 Speaker 1: So if that's true, how do you see your role 575 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:42,239 Speaker 1: and people who are building things and people who are 576 00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:46,480 Speaker 1: amplifying our culture? Um, how do you see the impact 577 00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:49,520 Speaker 1: so that we can recognize the power we have? I 578 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:51,959 Speaker 1: think I think I think we know the impact. I 579 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:55,880 Speaker 1: think the recognition of the impact is not the recognition 580 00:33:56,720 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 1: for us. We know the recognition is sometimes with these 581 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 1: big companies or big institutions, etcetera. And the way we 582 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:11,240 Speaker 1: can do that is to populate uh these uh institutions 583 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:15,319 Speaker 1: or or companies or you know, and and and not 584 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 1: um not viltinize them. You know what I'm saying. Look 585 00:34:19,719 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 1: at them as like hey like, look at them as possible, 586 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:28,879 Speaker 1: whether it be partners right with partners or or um 587 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:33,600 Speaker 1: and and and and and they create some accountability where 588 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 1: we're like, oh no, these are like they bring so 589 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:41,040 Speaker 1: much business or etcetera, etcetera. Because that's how these companies 590 00:34:41,040 --> 00:34:45,200 Speaker 1: are institutions think you know, is they measure everything and 591 00:34:45,200 --> 00:34:47,920 Speaker 1: and and like they look at things as market share 592 00:34:47,920 --> 00:34:52,680 Speaker 1: and pies, graphs, high charts and graphs and spreadsheets and 593 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:57,440 Speaker 1: you know, etcetera. And and so what happens is uh 594 00:34:57,719 --> 00:35:02,200 Speaker 1: uh to build leverage. That that's the only way internally 595 00:35:02,239 --> 00:35:04,439 Speaker 1: and externally, that's the only way. It's the only way, 596 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:10,360 Speaker 1: like I understand to understand how they operate. And because 597 00:35:10,400 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 1: because I don't I think we recognize it, we don't 598 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:16,560 Speaker 1: always do we don't. Oh or you want you I 599 00:35:16,600 --> 00:35:21,000 Speaker 1: know you want you want how to work around that's 600 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:24,879 Speaker 1: what you want? Okay, Okay, that's stay in your eyes 601 00:35:25,040 --> 00:35:30,520 Speaker 1: all right, Well then then then then it's the age 602 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:34,280 Speaker 1: old answer of building our own ecosystems and that and 603 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:38,800 Speaker 1: and and again. I'm gonna give music some credit because 604 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:42,240 Speaker 1: when I was coming up, you had the rocket fellas, 605 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:44,960 Speaker 1: and you had the bad boys, you had no limits, 606 00:35:45,040 --> 00:35:48,160 Speaker 1: you had you know what I mean, all these uh 607 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:51,680 Speaker 1: you had those, right, but you also had other ecosystems. 608 00:35:51,680 --> 00:35:56,400 Speaker 1: You had DJ coalitions that will it be UM heavy 609 00:35:56,480 --> 00:36:02,240 Speaker 1: Hitters or or what those other coalitions UH Coalition DJs 610 00:36:02,280 --> 00:36:07,799 Speaker 1: or Core DJs, Tony Core DJs, uh DJ big X 611 00:36:08,200 --> 00:36:11,200 Speaker 1: Coalition DJs. In Atlanta, you have all these different ecosystems. 612 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:14,880 Speaker 1: You have clubs. I love Atlanta. Love Atlanta because Atlanta 613 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: is an ecosystem, right, and the ecosystem it's a withow 614 00:36:20,120 --> 00:36:23,160 Speaker 1: without your ecosystem. Let's call them a widow without your ecosystem, 615 00:36:23,239 --> 00:36:27,160 Speaker 1: because that's what we're talking about from Alapare earlier. So 616 00:36:27,320 --> 00:36:31,160 Speaker 1: Atlanta is a widow without your ecosystem. You can be 617 00:36:31,200 --> 00:36:33,960 Speaker 1: with them. They're gonna work with you or without you. 618 00:36:34,440 --> 00:36:37,239 Speaker 1: It's just so they're not gonna stop. They have enough. 619 00:36:37,360 --> 00:36:40,680 Speaker 1: There's enough support, there's enough different moving parts, whether it 620 00:36:40,760 --> 00:36:44,439 Speaker 1: be studios, nightclubs. You could put strip clubs in there, 621 00:36:44,920 --> 00:36:50,839 Speaker 1: DJs radio stations, urban radio stations, including black owned radio 622 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:55,960 Speaker 1: stations on Steve Hedgewood like Streets one five, uh, and 623 00:36:56,000 --> 00:37:00,080 Speaker 1: then Cathy Hughes I think one of seven point and 624 00:37:00,239 --> 00:37:05,200 Speaker 1: in Atlanta and oh Cleveland, Cleveland, Bill Black, you know 625 00:37:05,200 --> 00:37:07,200 Speaker 1: what I mean, it's digit Buil Black. That's my guy. 626 00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:11,600 Speaker 1: That's my guy. So is is so you have enough? 627 00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:14,680 Speaker 1: So it's with the thoughts. So we have to take Atlanta, 628 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:18,719 Speaker 1: that microcosm and apply it as a whole. And so 629 00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:24,360 Speaker 1: what happens so that these companies uh who outsourced a 630 00:37:24,360 --> 00:37:29,920 Speaker 1: lot of different type of uh functions or kind of 631 00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:31,799 Speaker 1: have to come to you. You know what I'm saying, 632 00:37:31,960 --> 00:37:35,840 Speaker 1: They have to go through you because you're gonna operate 633 00:37:35,880 --> 00:37:39,560 Speaker 1: with the without them and and for too dependents were 634 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:42,360 Speaker 1: too dependent, like oh they please please please? Then working up, 635 00:37:42,360 --> 00:37:44,120 Speaker 1: we're in a position of weakness. We're not a position 636 00:37:44,120 --> 00:37:47,200 Speaker 1: of strength. So so being a position of strength is 637 00:37:47,200 --> 00:37:49,440 Speaker 1: you're gonna do it anyway. One of the things I 638 00:37:49,480 --> 00:37:52,080 Speaker 1: love about artists, the type of artists that you were 639 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:57,640 Speaker 1: asking about earlier, is they're gonna blow up anyway. It's 640 00:37:57,719 --> 00:38:01,560 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, Like a drake, Like you go inside 641 00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:03,640 Speaker 1: the mind of a drake, or go inside the mind 642 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:06,400 Speaker 1: of an inacy hustle, or go inside the mind of 643 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:09,880 Speaker 1: uh the name of jay Z. He was gonna do 644 00:38:09,880 --> 00:38:12,120 Speaker 1: it anyway, That's what I'm saying all the people along 645 00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:16,160 Speaker 1: the way. Yeah, it was in his mind so so 646 00:38:16,160 --> 00:38:21,799 Speaker 1: so so if we have those mindsets of of of 647 00:38:21,360 --> 00:38:26,480 Speaker 1: of successful um people are successful brands or etcetera, etcetera, 648 00:38:26,680 --> 00:38:29,160 Speaker 1: that figured it out and figured out how what what 649 00:38:29,239 --> 00:38:33,960 Speaker 1: their value proposition was and how to uh capitalize on 650 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:38,120 Speaker 1: that value. Uh, they have that mindset, they're gonna all right, 651 00:38:38,360 --> 00:38:42,320 Speaker 1: Like it doesn't work with you, We're not gonna burn bridges. 652 00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:46,719 Speaker 1: Maybe next time. Yeah, And those are the best people 653 00:38:46,719 --> 00:38:49,280 Speaker 1: to deal with. It's like it didn't work out, maybe, 654 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 1: but we're not gonna be mad at each other or etcetera. 655 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:55,240 Speaker 1: Maybe next time we love, We'll keep the doors open. 656 00:39:16,760 --> 00:39:18,920 Speaker 1: Black Tech Green Money is a production of Black of 657 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:21,880 Speaker 1: the Afro Tech and it's produced by Morgan Dubon and 658 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:26,240 Speaker 1: me Will Lucas, with additional production supported by Love Beach, 659 00:39:26,600 --> 00:39:31,200 Speaker 1: stephaniak Bogu and Ravennabor. Special thank you to Michael Davis. 660 00:39:31,320 --> 00:39:33,960 Speaker 1: It's a car Savan yon you know, like the wine. 661 00:39:34,120 --> 00:39:37,879 Speaker 1: And yes, that's his real name. Learn more about Tombassa 662 00:39:38,040 --> 00:39:42,120 Speaker 1: and other tech disruptors and innovators at afro tech dot com. 663 00:39:42,280 --> 00:40:04,600 Speaker 1: Go get your money. He's in love. Um m