In a two part interview, we sat down with rapper and entrepreneur Blue Flame Mega about his career in the music business, his various projects, and his views on society.
Along with his music and business, Blue Flame has also worked for many different companies including Priority Records and has worked as a runnner/engineer in Dr. Dre’s studio. He currently runs C.O.KE. Magazine (Creating Official Kings Entertainment), has a public access TV show, and his label GuerillaMoneyGangRecords.
Here’s his story:
JD: What is your background and how did you get into rapping?
BFM: Okay. My name is Blue Flame Mega. That’s what they call me in the rap world. Initially, I started doing music because I worked for a company called Priority Records. They put out rappers like Ice-Cube, Heltah Skeltah, Mack10, and Master P, etc. Basically, a range of different artists that made their brand prominent through the hip-hop industry. Through people like Dave Weiner who runs Strange Music West and Brian Shafton who runs RBC records. These people were whom I looked up to at the time. I was working there delivering mail to everyone’s office and it grew from that to seeing that they had a marketing position open. I was about 17 at the time and Marvin Watkins (former A&R VP for Priority Records) asked me if I was interested in the job. I said, “Nahh, I don’t have any type of background in marketing.” He said I wouldn’t have to do much and showed me what the job was. I said, “That’s easy. I can do that.” Being seventeen, I had a lot of energy.
Just by seeing the artists and their street team selling records, back then they were actually selling records, it sparked something in me where I felt I could do this. Part of it may have been the alpha male syndrome where I felt that I could be the big dog too. I was promoting artists like the Westside Connection and a variety of others. Listening to their records, I realized it’s not that hard to do. Basically, you’re just telling a story. Then when I would see them in the office, they were different then the record made them sound. The record made them sound like these super hard dudes fighting against the police and all that shit. In the office, they were humble, nice, and the total opposite of what I heard on the record.
JD: They are playing a character
BFM: Exactly. That’s when I learned, there’s a business to this. It’s not really rap per se. Yes there are rappers and they are rapping about a story. But the story is not necessarily theirs. It’s probably the story of someone who is locked up right now and they’re using his story to proclaim themselves to a title. That’s why at the time I said I could do that. It’s like acting. I can act. (Laughs) So that’s how it all started and from there, I did all kinds of things. Worked for a number of different record labels. Seeing how the inner workings went because I was noticing that the rappers were broke. Their label heads and all the marketing people had money. The rap made the company money but the rappers themselves were broke. Then I started seeing the fakeness of it. Rappers were going to people to have their raps written, buy fake chains, and having wardrobe people tell them what to wear. I said, “This is too easy!” That was around 1996 and I said to myself, “I’m going to make a business out of this.”
JD: I was recently watching an interview with Warren G about the music business and he talked about the same type of thing with rappers being broke. Not getting royalties on some of his biggest hits. It’s amazing seeing how many ways you can get taken advantage of.
BFM: For sure! For a while, that was the business of music to get ripped off. But today, it’s changed a little bit. That’s why I like the Internet. I notice the old rappers; they hate the Internet because they don’t understand it. But you have to understand getting 100% of your royalties (laughs). There is no way you can’t understand that. For example, recently I was with the Dove Shack and they had a major hit in the late 90’s called “Summertime in the LBC” and they had me doing websites, EPK (electronic press kit), and things of that nature for them. They were asking me how much I was expecting to get paid. I hold a high value on my time and I guess it didn’t meet up with their budget. I said to them, “You guys had a hit record. You should be able to afford my services. Even with me lowering my services to accompany your budget. What’s the hold up?” It came down to the fact that they told me they’re not millionaires. They didn’t have anyone getting royalties for them and didn’t understand publishing. So I told them to call their lawyer. They didn’t have one. Then I asked who was doing their publishing through the company that put your record out. They didn’t have that anymore. I said, “Wait, I’m confused. To me, this doesn’t make sense.” That could be because I wasn’t out in the era of when it was okay to be taken advantage. In today’s times, we don’t need record labels. If we do the hard work and…I wouldn’t say make good records because a lot of the music that’s being played aren’t the best but they’re the most popular per se. So as long as you are independent, have a good popular record, and semi-business minded, your going to walk away with 100% of everything. Versus someone who signs with a major and leaves with a fraction of a dollar.
BFM: They both have their advantages and disadvantages. A major label can establish you as a major artist. Even if you get dropped, you still have a major name. Unless they purchased your name (laughs). As long as you’re about your business then I don’t see why you wouldn’t make even if you were dropped from a major label today. Post 90’s, I can’t see being broke today. Even 360 deals, I still can’t see it. Yeah the record label made 360 degrees of your money. But, they put you on a platform to make more money then you did as an independent.
JD: Yeah that’s interesting thinking about being independent and trying to stick out or possibly making a fraction of a dollar per record but trading that for exposure.
BFM: That’s the business we’re in. We’re playing the game so play to win. That’s what I tell artists today. Just play the game to win. For whichever side of the coin you’re on.
Stay tuned for PT 2. of our interview tomorrow
If you’d like to check out Blue Flame Mega and his endeavors, check out the links below
C.O.K.E Magazine (Creating Official Kings Entertainment)