Putting the shoe on the other foot is a play on words, but it accurately describes former Russell Simmons Music Group president Tony Austin’s decision to leave the boardroom behind for the studio and stage. As a former music executive who has worked with music artists like Jay-Z and DMX and has done A&R on several projects, the Baltimore native proves that it’s never too late to try something new.
What’s your life like now that you’ve transitioned from being a music executive to being a music artist?
It’s a learning curve in a lot of ways, because some days you get people coming up to you saying ‘I didn’t know you did this and that,’ or asking where can they find my mixtape with DJ Drama — but on a whole, it’s still regular.
Coming from the perspective of a music exec as well as an current artist, what do you think about hip-hop and where it’s going today?
I think it’s all about consistency. Artists like Jay-Z, Young Jeezy and T.I., they’re showing what it takes to make people want to pop in your CD or download your music online these days. Today, you got a lot of different artists coming up and doing different things. They represent just how diverse hip-hop has become, while being true to their culture and where they’re from. Hip-hop is hip-hop no matter where you’re from, just as long as there’s content there people will like you.
Your alias is “Mr. Make It Happen,” and you made a record for it, that can be found on your Gangsta Grillz mixtape The Influence. What was it like to make that record with OJ Da Juiceman.
OJ Da Juiceman is a good dude. I was glad he was able to come out to Baltimore to record the record with me, but it’s just a song. Mr. Make It Happen can be anybody that’s all about making things happen. –seneca doss
