This section will be updated weekly.
8/13/2010 Suge B CEO of Moneyholics Ent
SSMB: So how did your company come about?
Suge B aka Blakk Hollyhood: Moneyholics Ent was established Nov. 2009 as an all around entertainment, management, and marketing company, which consist of managers, songwriters, producers, and graphic designers. I've always loved the industry and I had so much raw talent around me with no guidance so I decided to start Moneyholics Entertainment and bring in my family to help me.
SSMB: Tell us a little bit about your background, early on...
BH: In 2001 I went to Hinds Community College, where i took up Accounting and Psychology. During that time I met my first producer and introduced him to a group of young men who have gone on to sell many albums because of that. After that hard times came and I got pregnant, dropped out of college and struggled from job to job. The following year in 2002 we moved to New Orleans, La where I met my a lot of influential people in the music business, including pioneers like T. Tucker and P Town Mo.
SSMB: When you say "hard times", what did you go through?
BH: During those years I was introduced to drugs on a major scale and it changed my life. I got pregnant in 2004 under some bogus circumstances and struggled to balance a the drug world and pregnancy, but I don't regret anything because i got a beautiful daughter out of the deal.
SSMB: You said you lived in New Orleans, where you affected by Hurricane Katrina?
BH: Yes, I moved back to Ms in June 2005 right before Hurricane Katrina, which was devastating. That period was the lowest point in my life. I felt like my world was coming to an end. I lost friends, a home, and lots of long time connections in New Orleans because of Katrina. The N.O. would never be the same. After that I struggled. I met a lot of friends in the drug world and got caught up in the hype.
SSMB: Did the "hype" affect your freedom?
BH: In 2007 we were arrested on aggravated assault charges and put in jail with no bond. All I could do was pray. The Lord saw me through that one, and brought me out of the struggle. After spending 2 months in jail with no bond, the person dropped the charges.
SSMB: What kept you out of jail?
BH: In 2008 I got pregnant with my youngest daughter and it was self reflect time. I stopped selling drugs and started focusing on family, I had a daughter in 2nd grade and one in Headstart and my lifestyle was rubbing off on them. I didn't want my daughter to grow up the way i did, so i decided to move them to Atlanta. A new beginning for me and my family came in Atlanta. I was closer to my dad and I felt like love was all over me. I was engulfed in it. I kicked the drug habit and started focusing on providing a better lifestyle for my 3 girls.
SSMB: How was it when you moved to Atlanta? Any struggles?
BH: We moved to ATL summer of 2009. I will never forget my first apartment there off Cleveland Ave, lol. It was rough but I had my team behind me and that's all that matters. I been through a lot in my life, some things im not proud of but they made me who i am today.At the end of 2009 I came to a standstill. The job I had wasn't reliable and I felt like entrepreneurship would be the best thing for me. Besides my mom owned a company and so did my dad, so it's in my blood to be self employed. I had applied for so many jobs with no response it was time to do something. That's how shopurbanwear.com got established. It's a blog & fashion site for new and upcoming fashion designers making a name for themselves.
SSMB: Your roster includes Hood$star, Pac 4, J- Gunna & Camden, and Pretty Hood. She's the only female on the label, how did you meet her?
BH: In 2006 I started hanging with Pretty Hood, imagine us, the only two girls on the block with like 20 niggas! (yeah we was getting it in)
SSMB: Who else did you meet around that time?
BH: Around that time I met my husband Marco and my life changed. I had a lot of bad ppl in my life that used me for what I had. I made a lot of friends, family and enemies in this game, but I came out strong and fighting.
SSMB: How do you know every one else?
BH: I've been knowing Pac 4 all their life, and my cousin T.P. introduced me to his group Hood$tar and I started managing them. In Jan 2010 Pretty Hood joined our crew, with over 10 yrs in the industry. She was signed to Moneyholics as a songwriter and artist. I met my management team J Gunna and Camden and everything has skyrocketed since then.
SSMB: Well Suge B it's been a pleasure to interview another black success story, we don't have many in our communties. Being an independent woman that has made it through stuggle and adversity is no life to pity. We should all pity the ones that can't break from the struggle, and uplift the ones who do. Do you have anything else to say to the people?
BH: Big things are happening for Moneyholics Ent so sit back and enjoy the ride because we ain't going no where!
For more info on MHE visit www.moneyholicsent.com
4/1/2010 Stunna Mane
Name of Artist/Record Label?
Stunna Mane, So Damn Pretty Entertainment.
Have any of your songs been published?
Yes, Drunk Gorilla feat Project Pat & Benz
What is your music background?
I'm Marcus Buck AKA Stunna Mane. I started out as a manager of a local artist, after the business relationship dissolved I tried rapping myself. Since I knew the business end the rap end came natural because I always had a passion for it .
Why do you want to record and release your own music?
To get out of this financial hole im in. Rap is all i have left im too far in. That's why i got all [of] my chips behind me .
What are your songs about?
I make songs about real life situations: The club, women , life, streets, family, and just having a good time...or my struggle.
Who are your musical influences?
Project Pat. He is real and straight to the point, and versatile. Pimp C. Because he did not care what he said and how u felt when u heard it, lol. Pastor Troy. Because he will make u fight in the club. I like his energy.
What image do you think your music conveys?
A party animal that lives life to the fullest. A man that has real life problems like the average dude.
What are your immediate music career goals?
To get in the game and create my own lane. Put Mississippi on the map. Put some cash in my pockets. Start a clothing line and star in some movies.
What are your long-term career goals?
To be a trendsetter, the new Puffy. I wanna run my own record label and make hits. I wanna be the Mississippi Master P.
How would you define the word “success”?
Grinding and moving around. Beliving in god and beliving in yourself is success enough cause all those ingredients create success.
How is the current state of the music industry in your eyes?
Filled with garbage and corrupt djs and promoters.
Have you worked with any major artists?
Project Pat. And i have alot of collabs with majors in the works stay tuned.
What live performance experience have you had?
In Atlanta the P Brown StreetTalk Showcase. It was an industry showcase.
What advice do you have for artists coming up?
Dont trust people. Believe in your grind and as for the critics they want your position just keep your head help high and keep god first and push for the top and always believe it will happen or it wont. Keep your faith because god don't like a quitter .
Where can people go to experience some of your material?
reverbnation.com/stunnamane, myspace.com/stunnamanesdp, myspace.com/sodamnprettyent, twitter.com/stunna_mane , ourstage.com/stunnamanethegreat , atlhustlers.com/stunnamane,
digibeat.com/stunnamane, google page stunnamane77,
facebook.com/stunnamane
just google me im all over lol or hit me 601-906-9185
Good Luck Stunna Mane! And SuperstarMakers wishes you much success with your career!
04/22/2010 Nation
Name of Artist/Record Label?
Nation, Family Ties Ent.
Have any of your songs been published?
Yeah, they have been accompanied by radio play, itunes and all...
What is your music background?
Well i come from, what we back home in Mississippi call, "The Impossible", an area where nobody gets recognized for their talents or achievements. Rarely ever on a region wide basis, let alone a national level. Its like everybody that i can think of who was an artist before me is fucked up now. Their is one person local rapper that i looked up to i seen about a month ago, who was recognized region wide. Someone i though would blow for sure. I came out the club after a night out and seen him outside the club serving B-B-Que plates and i just stared at him like "damn" is this what the game do to niggas??!! I mean niggas who he was ahead of either in jail or dead. The Dope Boys ain't all flashy like you see in the videos. The music down their has no adversity, fan bases never grow and nobody reaches out to us, I mean nobody. We are a Police harassed, hard working, poor, ignorant group of people. Everything that the world transpires to, we get it last! That's why i can never be like another rapper in the industry, cause they haven't endured the struggle from the perspective i have. We grow up listening to blues, oldies, and outdated music that no other state prolly gives a fuck about anymore. We're always behind the "Time Curve". I started writing about age 9. It was my musical journal. I got singing from my mom. So it the water got cut off I'd sing from sorrow, when the food stamps came I'd rap from joy! I started revealing my talents after my father, who I'd never met pulled a knife on me at age 12. You can say he scared the "bitch" out me "lol". Cause i was never really scared of nothing after that. Over the years a few other events occurred that I'd rather not talk about at this time that made me wanna let out my frustrations to the world. To make a long story short i came up with a name started recording at 17 and over the course of 7 years, and allot of bullshit it got me here..
Why do you want to record and release your own music?
To be honest, I feel that God chose me as a representative for my people. I don't think too many people if not another person after me will get the chance to tell the world some of the things that i will. Unless, hereafter I grant them the opportunity...but i could be wrong. The window of opportunity as far as rap goes is so small. Its like a chance to break free in a maximum secured prison. And i was the lucky inmate to get away and tell about the cruelty on the other side of the wall that people don't know nor hear about and music is the outlet of choice. And I won't let them down. I'll only fail myself..
What are your songs about?
The struggle, brutality, political issues, "The Black Women", my smiles and cries, shit just alot about what we, we being my culture, [have] been accustomed to over the years and have to or still has yet to overcome. Just trying to show that girl that set beside me in a classroom or that nigga i got to fighting wit somewhere in the state that we can be more than what we come from..
Who are your musical influences?
I gotta say only the greats! Pac because he almost did what I'm trying to do but obviously was killed in the process. Allot of people don't know it was deeper than rap but that's not on me to expose that. Biggie, I feel like his being so powerful and sinister but loved so much by his people was beautiful. Incredible lyricist but didn't look like your ideal icon. These people were more than just entertainment to me and i feel that i uphold some of the same values and morals as these 2 great people. Of course Jay-Z and 50 Cent for what They do in business and my new entry Lil Wayne.There is more but i just liked their music no reason to glorify that...i don't think..
What image do you think your music conveys?
A "Versatile Gangsta"! what else? But That's why i never got tattoos because i don't need to be characterized by anyone. I say what i wanna say and do what i want with music. I'm not here to sale a image, I'm here to sale music...regardless of what the consumer or the public may think of Nation..
What are your immediate music career goals?
To create the biggest buzz i can, I wanna try some college or something" cause where I'm from "A dumb nigga, Is a numb nigga",to keep generating enough income to take care of my family, and To signed a major deal worth my John Hancock..
What are your long-term career goals?
To birth my acting career, and to walk a fuckin red carpet somewhere in California to the Grammies lol.
How would you define the word “success”?
Because I'm such a tenacious type of nigga, and i set my goals too high at times. I can describe it in one word....satisfied.
How is the current state of the music industry in your eyes?
Fucked up!...An artist who don't know the business or have other means to take care of self is a fuckin walking bum, Unless they got a number one hit. And you don't see to many of them float'n around. Not from rappers anyway! Do you? Shit is sad..
Have you worked with any major artists?
Yeah, Roscoe Dash and I've worked with Konvict artist. Travis Porter is Indie but has a big enough status to mention..
What live performance experience have you had?
Aw man, Damn near ever club in Atlanta you can name, Denver, Alabama, I do this shit week in, week out..
What advice do you have for artists coming up?
To treat this shit like you want it to take care of you and your family at all times. Your never too small to handle somethin too big, and never think your too big to handle something that seems too small..unless your a Mid-level or Superstar..then your somebody lol
Where can people go to experience some of your material?
Youtube.com/familytiesnetwork,
Myspace.com/nationsaidit,
twitter.com/nationsaidit,
Livemixtapes.com,
datpiff.com, basically any mixtape site that do numbers.
Good Luck Nation! SuperstarMakers wishes you much success with your career!
