Cinematic Music Group’s CEO Jonny Shipes recently chopped it up with Vibe and spoke on a couple things for this really dope written interview. If you don’t already know who Shipes is, he is responsible for finding your favorite underground talent like Smoke DZA, Nipsey Hussle, Big K.R.I.T. and most recently, Joey Bada$$ and the Pro Era crew just to name a few. He is also the founder of the annual Smoker’s Club Tour that brings all potheads together for one of the best concerts of the year. The “Least Talented” Shipes aired out his opinions and his experience when dealing with a major label, what he wants to accomplish with Cinematic Music Group, how he finds new talent and more.
Shipes On Smoker’s Club Tour:
I founded the Smokers Club Tour with my business parter Steve-O. It’s in it’s third year. The first year was Curre$y, Big K.R.I.T. and Smoke DZA, the second year was Curre$y, Method Man, Big K.R.I.T. and Smoke DZA, and this year it’s Juicy J, Smoke DZA, Joey Bada$$ and Fat Trel. I started this big ass tour completely independent & out of pocket. To make a long story short, it’s huge at this point. The advantage to the way I operate as opposed to a major label is they’re stuck in this whole way where you can’t even move around the way you need to as an artist. For example, me and Fat Trel just got into business with each other. Instead of him sitting in a major label and him signing a deal, we went on tour, he was in front of 35 markets, and we just moved differently. We have a true independent spirit where hip-hop started. We’re embracing our fans, having fun, getting fucked up, and making moves at the same time. That’s what it’s about. It not, “Oh, I got the biggest” or “Oh, I got the most money.” People got to remember where hip-hop started. It was fun, and that’s what we’re trying to bring back to the game. It’s not a “cool-or-not-cool” sort of thing. Not to sound like that, but we know we’re cool. We’re gonna continue to. It’s a matter of connecting the dots.
This was a really good read especially since Jonny inspires all smokers with no musical talent and want to get involved in the hip-hop industry. You can read the rest of the interview from the man himself from the link below.
Props to VIBE.
