INTERVIEW
Yo Gotti talked Moneybagg Yo, the music industry and the importance of hustling in Audiomack’s latest episode of Own the Label, released Tuesday (July 6) on YouTube and hosted by Billboard’s own hip-hop editor Carl Lamarre.
The Memphis-based rapper and Collective Music Group founder is fresh off some pretty huge successes, particularly that of CMG artist Moneybagg Yo’s A Gangsta’s Pain. The album is currently at its 10th week on the Billboard 200 and spent two weeks at No. 1. Yo Gotti talked about this and more with Lamarre in the 23-minute episode, and revealed that behind all his achievements is being a team player.
“I’ma play whatever position for the team to win,” he told Lamarre. “When my guy’s dropping, I’m playing all positions -- I’m playing marketing, I’m playing promotion, I’m playing executive, I’m playing street team. I’m flying out, I’m landing with you, we going to the club, I’m playing security.”
CMG, which is home to EST Gee, 42 Dugg, Blac Youngsta and BlocBoy JB in addition to Moneybagg Yo, recently partnered with Interscope Records to further expand their artists’ impact on the contemporary rap landscape. In the episode, the “Rake It Up” rapper talked about the new partnership and also touched on the importance of being a student, balancing managing artists’ careers while being an artist and building an empire as an independent label.
Audiomack’s Own the Label series aims to shine light on the new generation of Black label owners and cultural influencers, with past episodes featuring South Coast Music Group CEO Arnold Taylor, DJ Drama and Don Cannon.
"Yo Gotti has been one of the most consistent artists and prominent music executives to date,” said Jason C.A. Johnson, Audiomack’s vp of marketing and brand strategy. “We wanted to give him his flowers for developing the next generation of music superstars with CMG and provide him a platform to tell his story."
Watch Lamarre interview Yo Gotti above: