Artist to Know: C-Money
Who he’s worked with: ESG, Sacramento Kings’ C-Bo and X-Raided, Bay Area notables Ad Kapone of Totally Insane, Chunk and the late Cougnut of the San Francisco-based group The IMP.
His big break: Former member of San Jose, Calif.- based rap group UTG known for such hits as “The Evil That Men Do”
Tell us about West Coast Dope.
West Coast Dope is the name of my long-awaited and much-anticipated debut solo project. The title comes from my belief that I am one of the West Coast best-kept secrets, also the fact that I consider my music a lyrical narcotic. Just listen to my songs, “Killing the Game” or “When It Comes to Me.” Each song takes you on a melodic high. Bottom line, homey, I’m raw like coke, that’s the reason the album is called West Coast Dope.
What should artists know about the industry?
There is no such thing as the industry; you are the industry. Stop chasing the so-called industry and continue to hone your craft. Build a brand out of yourself and market that brand. At the end of the day, that is what the industry is, a bunch of different brands. Define your brand.
How do you feel about underground artists going mainstream?
Going mainstream can be good or bad, depending [upon] how and why an artist does it. If the artist has a firm hand in formulating that move and controls the terms and conditions, then that is what I would consider a power move. On the other hand, if you are just a record label pawn with no say-so, I feel sorry for you. I feel equally sorry for the ones who will do anything to be mainstream. Do it with class or do not do it at all.
What are some of your upcoming projects?
Well, I continue to work on building this Mac-a-Million Entertainment brand with my partner, Slick James. I just finished shooting a video for “When It Comes to Me,” so I am in the process of broadcasting it to the world via the Internet. I am working on a follow-up album to West Coast Dope.
For more information, please visit: www.twitter.com/globalrapmogul, www.youtube.com/globalrapmogultv, www.cmoneylutherking.blogspot.com.
