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Wow ....seems like you have a quite a grind on you. 5 years ago did you see yourself where you are now? To tell you the truth no… I have big aspirations for Zingari Management. When I first stepped in the game I wanted Zingari to be one of the strongest management/entertainment companies in the game and we are definitely getting there but it is a constant grind. The music game is so dynamic and currently going through a slump, however we have continued to be successful with aligning our clients with the best record companies, film and television productions, along with innovative deals like BEATDOWN with firms like Flycell.com. So overall I can’t complain and I continue to see a bright future for Zingari for years to come. With clients like Needlz, Hot Rod and Green Lantern things must get crazy times. Is it safe to say you are looking for more artists or are you good now? It is a blessing to be aligned with some of the best artists and producers in the game. Each client provides a different level of growth for the company along with new challenges. My goal is to make each client ultimately successful, while realizing there are different levels of success and challenges that come with guiding each persons career. I will always be open to new talent, essentially that is how I survive as a manager in this game… it just has to be the right person at the right time in their career. I am always looking for new talent ranging from producers, to artist and will always continue to do so… I always say “Shorten Your Journey To Success” so if you are an established artist or that next great talent and need a management team Zingari might be a good move to make… We know you were promoting and pushing Serius Jones to the top. What exactly happened between yall so the people know? We went in different directions. It is more than safe to say that I worked with Serius from the beginning before anyone knew who he was… in less than two years he went from virtually unknown to doing international interviews, being televised on over 25 airings of his Fight Klub battles on MTV and MTV2, multiple Rap City appearances, full page articles in XXL Magazine, national and international ad campaigns, and finally being signed to a lucrative deal with DTP/Def Jam. But there is another side of this music industry that is so important and that is relationships… To say the least Serius has a way of making valuable relationships go away… and ours went away while he has slowly went back to being virtually quite in the music game. The key here is relationship and once you see it’s no longer working with a client then its best to move one and let them take their own path, but be clear together as a team he reached the height of his career and that is what can be done with any artist I work with… it takes time and persistence but we will get there. Its just when we get there can they hold up to the demands of the game, because on the business end we will make sure they are more than good. I am not the type to publicize the negative actions of past or current clients. My job is to make it work, “be a problem solver” but when the problem is the artist you have to move on because their actions then become a detriment to my relationships and reputation. I’m not having that… period What was it like being a writer and music producer for the MTV, hit show, "The Shop" ? On the MTV’s show The Shop I worked as a Music Supervisor with my guy from MTV Kurt Williamson, and as a writer with Rushion McDonald so I had double duties each day on and off set. It was a great experience working with Cory Rooney and Tommy Matola and basically everyone involved. The barbers are hilarious and if you were on set you would have been dying over some of their comments, many of which didn’t make the show for one reason or another. Overall it was challenging but I would do it all over any day. The opportunity opened so many doors for me in television and film, and let’s be clear television money is good money What the hell happened to it? It seemed like it had a big following and then all of a sudden ...gone! Politics… it was the #1 rated show in that time slot including network and cable programming, and based on studies brought the male viewer back to MTV in good numbers. However, everything wasn’t always smooth on set etc. You have to realize we are talking about MTV. They have a lot of room for the Laguna Beach’s/The Hills, and Jackass’ and little room for problems with more urban programming if you get my picture… But the show was definitely a good idea and it could have gone so much further, hopefully at some point they reevaluate the success of the show and bring it back… If given the opportunity I would definitely sign on… Out of all the places you worked in (Detroit, NYC, Florida, ATL) what city would you say houses the most hungry artists? New York… with out a question. I have been approached by so many people whether it be at the door steps of Def Jam to the subway. Its always something going on ranging from parties to seminars so it gives many artist an opportunity to network with business and music professionals like myself. Before pursuing your dream and starting Zingari, LLC , what were you doing? I used to work in Corporate America. Before graduating college with my degree in Business Administration and Marketing I had interned for EDS, American Express, Ford Motor Co., and finally Pfizer full time before jumping into the music game. That is why I am so balanced, I have had the experience of doing real big business where a contract with one supplier is $175 million and it’s my responsibility to negotiate for all of North America with 5 to 15 different firms, or aligning the AMEX financial division with the rest of the company utilizing technology to do so… that is big business where you can’t be late in the office and you have to know ever detail in order to ensure success quarter to quarter… Music is way more of a hustle I see unqualified people in this game all the time and wonder how the hell did your bum ass get here… LOL When did you realize ....it was time to take things in your own hands and do this for real!? When I got tired of making other companies more money then I was bringing home… I mean way more money. Corporate America is cool for some people but I have always been more of an entrepreneur. I had placed music in a ad for Sucker Free Sundays and at the same time was working on Kanye West “Through The Wire” video while still getting up each morning at 8 o’clock to head into a doctors office to convince them to prescribe Viagra… LOL. After a while I was like okay enough is enough I got what I came for in terms of overall business experience and training and now its time for me to utilize my hustle to achieve my own goals and follow my love for music and the entertainment industry. If you were meeting a young person trying to do something similar to what you are , what 5 important things would you tell them?
What can we expect from Hot Rod for the rest of 2008? Right now we are solidifying his new single “I Like 2 Fuck” feat. Tila Tequila, B. Dozier & Boniface, doing shows state side and internationally from Miami to Germany, finishing up the ad campaign for Drjays.com “Summer Sensations,” about to drop two mixtapes one with Tha Advocate and Ballerstatus.com called Digital Dynasty Vol. 1 and The Knight Rider Mixtape with DJ Woogie & DJ Man Dog that features joints with Freeway, Akon, and Lil Wayne. Continuing to record for the debut album The Fastlane, along with structuring a few clothing and possible beverage deals/endorsements. Hot Rod is definitely busy and even hungry for more success so it my job to step up and continue to make positive things happen in his career along with the Family Tree, G Unit and Interscope. Would you work with any up and coming talent ? Yes but they would have to have their business in order, and really be a knock out talent in all areas. I think that is what I do best, discover and nourish talented artist and producers. I have always had an eye for it and have picked a number of winners in so many instances. I have always had the desire to break new artist because each career has a life cycle… with a talented new artist the opportunities for success are limitless but they have to be on their job and realize that this is a lifestyle along with a very risky business. Yeah we have fun but end of the day this is how I pay my bills so I have little time for foolishness… You have a huge resume dealing with tv programs. Everything from The Shop, Direct Effect, Sucker Free Sundays, and Gastineau Girls to name a few. Are you interested in doing more TV or are you content with being hands on with artists? Actually yes and no. I love working with artist but naturally it is about career progression and I don’t plan on being stuck in the same place depending on an artist’s success to validate my success as a manager/entrepreneur. Television is such a better look that if you are able to get that money you should… to hell with making an artist go into the studio and hoping that people like the album. I am more into creating content and letting it speak for it self and that is why I will always be in television… it is far less stressful and requires no baby sitting or as some of my colleagues say less “Supervision” Here at Rapcapital.com we like to ask some questions a bit out of the norm. All so our viewers can get to know you a bit better...so here we go! Is hiphop too corporate now? Not really. It’s how the mainstream labels and artist eat that is the corporate side but please believe that there is a rap cipher going on right now as someone reads this article, and the cats in that circle are doing it for the love. The mainstream is not the only place Hip Hop lives, I still hit up B-Boy battles with my dudes in NY, catch beat battles at Apache in ATL, go to open mics anywhere in the world and still see Hip Hop surviving in its purist form, you just have to look for it… if your not looking for these events and artist to support how can anyone complain If you had to pick would you rather have one of your artists sell 500,000 ringtones or 200 k albums? That’s a hard question but really which ever puts more money in that artist’s pocket… because as we know or some of you may not know that artist get paid a royalty rate which is a system of points that equals to 1% per point. If a ringtone sales for $1.99 and the artist has 15 point royalty rate how does that compare to SLRP of their CD on shelves @ $13.99… there are so many variables to consider that to give you a real answer it would have to come down to the details Is the price of gas gonna down or what? Man this is getting out of hand… I remember with gas was 89 cent. If someone told me in 2000 that gas would be damn near five bucks I would have laughed… It better go down or things are going to get real bad… Out of all the artists you ever met did anyone make you feel just a bit star struck? Nope… the first time I met Jay Z, Rev Run, & DMC was very cool but I keep that type of stuff to myself… I’m not the type of manager or person to be star struck nor the type to have a million pictures on myspace with people I don’t know just to prove in doing it big. I have experienced everything from getting a chance to chill with Quincy Jones in his Bel Air Estate watching Jaiden perform, drinking wine and watching the original screen test to the Color Purple to walking in a session at Baseline and Jay Z is laying down a freestyle to Drop It Like Its Hot with Lupe being the cat bringing me and Needlz in the session after we finished the mix on Tilted for his first album. I usually take it all in like wow I’m living my dream… then I keep it moving Did Bush take down the towers? I wouldn’t put it past him or his advisors at least knowing that it was a strong possibility that something like that could happen. That very day I was running all over the Ford campus trying to get design plans to engineers and looking at the television screen thinking damn this is what the world has come to… The man seems to be able to get away with more bullshit from the beginning of this political career… as Hot Rod would say SHHHHADY… LOL Who is your TOP 5 Emcees dead or alive? In no particular order BIG, Jay Z, Nas, Tupac, Rakim… and please belived there are others that I really like but those are the ones that make music that I can feel… Back to the norm. How did you come up with the name Zingari for your company? Zingari means gypsy is Italian… and relates to a polo team from the late 1900’s that never had a home field so they always had to travel and their colors were orange, blue and gold. I am a big fan history and in our history as man we have done one thing consistently and that is travel and explore so hence the catch phrase “Shorten Your Journey To Success” I am personally a gypsy as you can tell from my travels starting in Detroit as a kid to now Atlanta with stops in NY and Florida… not to mention all the international travel. My mother always said “The Man Who Walks Fast Travels Alone.” That quote has so many meanings… so I keep it moving and refuse to wait on another man to go where I need to take myself in terms of life and career wise… everything has a meaning with me its never just on the surface What else can we expect from you for the rest of the year? Currently I’m pushing a few projects first and foremost is my artist Jaiden “The Cure,” one of the hottest writers and vocalist in the game, getting Hot Rod on the top of his game as an artist and trying to make all his aspirations as a artist/business man come to fruition, solidifying Dry Rain Entertainment with Needlz and breaking our first artist, getting more things popping for Green Lantern who is already a force not to be ignored, bringing on two time Grammy winning production squad the Trak Starz on board with my partner Tiffany J from Family Tree… check out their artist Tydis and his new joint “Breathe.” Finally getting my new partnership with Flycell.com off the ground. It’s called BEATDOWN and is going to allow producers to make their music available for ringtones so imagine having access to new music via ringtone from hit producers at anytime on any phone… And so much more that it would look crazy to plug everything…LOL It was good kicking it with you for On The Grind. IN CLOSING GIVE US SOME SHOUTS, FU'S OR PLUGS! Shout out to everyone that has supported my career in any aspect. George for continuously holding the firm down and making things happen, Tiffany J @ Family Tree for her support and solid work as a partner, Needlz www.myspace.com/needlz and Dry Rain Entertainment in 08, Jaiden “The Cure” is patently waiting on his time to shine check him out www.myspace.com/jaideniii, Hot Rod www.myspace.com/hotrod and the G Unit/Interscope staff, let’s get “I Like 2 Fuck” cracking worldwide, Trak Starz and up and coming singer/songwriter Tydis www.myspace.com/tydis , Green Lantern and Team Invasion www.myspace.com/djgreenlantern, the dopest writing team in the game A Plus www.mysapce.com/apluswriters, producer Neek Rusher for giving me the chance to initially get in the game as a manager… “Without your trust would have never achieved all the success,” Chaka & Jeff Dixon (DTP) for all the career guidance and support, the good people at Flycell.com MAKE SURE U LOOK OUT FOR “BEATDOWN” coming soon, and most importantly my mother for making me believe that I can achieve all things I put my mind to… Oh yeah and the haters and anyone trying to impede the success of my clients and Zingari “Middle Finger You” Rapcapital.com & Tha Advocate I appreciate the support and much success from 2008 to infinity… Remember to check us out at WWW.MYSPACE.COM/ZINGARIMANAGEMENT for updates on the roster, new music, and performance dates all around the globe… GONE! |
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