Trapital

Dave Mays is the founder and former CEO of The Source Magazine. In today’s episode, he weighs in on the magazine’s legacy, the evolution of media, and what hip-hop is all about. He then talks about Breakbeat, a new podcast network that he co-founded and heads. He also discusses the success of the podcast “Don’t Call Me White Girl”, the boom of podcasts, and the projects he is working on now.If you want to get into podcasts that are all about hip-hop, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights:[03:10] About The Source Magazine and The Source Awards[11:15] Some lessons that can be learned from The Source[14:15] What led Dave to start Breakbeat[20:55] His future plans for the podcast network and a hip-hop-based app[25:22] His transition from behind the scenes to being a voice on the network[27:08] How he met his business partner and how he measures success[34:00] Dave’s observations about the podcast landscape[39:32] What Breakbeat is currently working on[45:05] The process of creating a docu-series on Larry HooverListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Dave Mays, @therealdavemays, Breakbeat Links: Mighty Networks' study on the creator economy Breakbeat Media on Instagram Breakbeat Media on Twitter Breakbeat Media on Youtube Dave Mays on Instagram Trapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Sacha Jenkins is a documentarian, a film producer, and a creative director at Mass Appeal. He joins me on today's show to talk about his most recent documentary titled “Bitchin': The Sound and Fury of Rick James” and the steps that he took to get that project off the ground. He also weighs in on the boom of documentaries, giving us previews of the projects he is working on now. If you want to know more about music documentaries, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights:[02:42] What inspired Sacha to do a project about Rick James and what messages he wanted to convey to viewers[06:32] Why do some artists act the way they do[08:48] The process of making a documentary[11:55] What people don’t know about Rick James[18:35] How viewers have responded to the documentary[20:08] Sacha’s thoughts on music by POCs[24:18] On the rise of music documentaries thanks to streaming[27:52] Sacha’s dream project[31:35] About “Hip Hop 50”Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Sacha Jenkins, Mass Appeal Links: Mighty Networks SHOWTIME Trapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Former Forbes senior entertainment editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg returns to the podcast to talk about his achievements when he worked for the media company. He shares his thoughts on Jay-Z, the challenges of publishing, and why he decided to go with Substack. He also discusses his books, “We Are All Musicians Now” and “A-List Angels”, diving deep into some of the different themes and artists that he wrote about. If you’re interested in seeing things from a music and entertainment writer’s perspective, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights[03:05] On pioneering Forbes’ hip-hop coverage [08:22] How Zack valuates the net worth of hip-hop artists[11:25] Jay-Z’s billionaire status and his future plans[17:32] About Zack’s transition to Substack[23:38] Forbes’ journalism style versus Zack’s writing style[25:25] A preview of “We Are All Musicians Now”[34:35] What “A-List Angels” is about[39:12] Zack’s prediction on who is going to be the next billionaireListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Zack O'Malley Greenburg, @zogblog, Zack O'Malley GreenburgLinks: Mighty Networks We Are All Musicians Now by Zack O'Malley Greenburg Substack A-List Angels by Zack O’Malley Greenburg Trapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Mary Rahmani is the founder and CEO of Moon Projects, an innovative agency that is focused on short-form video content and helping artists, brands, and companies take that to the next level. In this episode, she talks about her three-pronged company and what she has learned from her time as a TikTok executive. She then discusses Moon Projects’ partnership with Republic Records and some of the trends she is seeing within the entertainment industry.If you’re looking to be a part of the TikTok community and to learn more about leveraging short-form videos, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights[02:10] An overview of Mary’s career and how she established Moon Projects[06:05] Strategy is key to gaining virality and staying relevant on TikTok[09:48] What emerging artists can learn from famous musicians who use TikTok like 24kGoldn, Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, and Lizzo[13:57] How Mary chooses artists to work with and how A&R representatives should be dealing with artists[21:22] About Republic Records and Mary’s perspective on work-life balance[29:08] Music as a love language and TikTok as a platform[33:32] On music-gaming collabs, the divergence of fame and talent, and video streamingListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Mary Rahmani, @mrahmama, Moon ProjectsLinks: How More TikTok Stars Can Succeed in the Music Industry Republic Records Trapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Mike Weissman is the CEO of SoundCloud. He returns to the podcast to talk about the independent artist community, user-centric monetization, and the potential in NFTs and the like in a Web 3.0 era. He then weighs in on the revenue model in relation to the rise of streaming services and on SoundCloud’s progress to becoming a modern music entertainment business.If you are interested in the future of the music industry, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights:[02:38] The 3 pieces to SoundCloud’s growth and success[07:55] How fan-powered royalties work and benefit artists[13:20] What Mike is seeing from major labels[16:00] The opportunities in Web 3.0 [19:30] On the $10 all-you-can-consume subscription model[23:35] SoundCloud’s partnerships and future plans[26:28] Podcasting versus music streaming versus video[31:50] On SoundCloud’s international growthListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Mike Weissman, @mweissman2, SoundCloud Trapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Steve Stoute is the founder and CEO of the music distributor UnitedMasters and the creative agency Translation. He returns to the podcast to talk about what his companies have been building towards in the past few years. He also weighs in on the trends he is seeing with independent artists and record labels—including legacy infrastructures, cryptocurrencies, and direct fan communication.Tune in and get up-to-date on what’s happening in the music scene!Episode Highlights[03:32] The biggest shift in the creator economy[10:10] On artists owning IPs and what production companies should be doing[14:15] Technology advances benefit the rights holder[18:15] About UnitedMasters’ world-class technical team and its partnerships[25:42] How UnitedMasters and Translation push the cultural edge while giving artists the opportunity to become small businesses[31:30] The opportunities in text marketing platforms and CRM tools[46:30] Why gamers and adult performers have found success through platforms like Twitch and OnlyFansListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Steve Stoute, @SteveStouteLinks: MEP Capital UnitedMasters Translation Substack Trapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Karl Fowlkes is an entertainment attorney, the founder of Fowlkes Firm, and a certified NBPA player agent under Firm Sports. In this episode, he walks us through his journey to where he is today. We talk about some of the artists he has worked with, the challenges of properly communicating information, and how athletes are missing out on revenue streams. Karl also weighs in on NFTs and cryptocurrency.Tune in for insight from a lawyer/agent who has established a name for himself both in music and in sports.Episode Highlights:[02:52] Karl’s transition from law school to building a network and starting a law firm[08:08] His process for raising funds[10:02] About Section 8 and his partnership with Lil Baby[13:40] Creators need to focus on the following when it comes to their contracts: length, obligation, money, and ownership[17:00] On content creation[24:45] Why Karl decided to become an NBA agent[28:45] On NIL (names, images or likeness), brand building, and maximizing one’s community or alumni base[37:00] Karl’s hate-love relationship with NFTsListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Karl Fowlkes, @esqfowlkes, Fowlkes FirmLinks: Chosen (feat. Ty Dolla $ign and Tyga) by Blxst No Love Lost by Blxst Moneybagg Yo Dro Kenji Trapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

DJ Semtex is an author, a podcaster, a radio host, and a DJ. In part 2 of our conversation, he shares his thoughts on Donda and Certified Lover Boy, diving into how these albums reflect on Kanye West’s and Drake’s artistry. He then weighs in on music journalism, fan feedback, and the gradual comeback of live performances. He also talks about podcasting and compares it to doing radio shows, going into some of his interviews. If you’re a fan of DJ Semtex or you’re just looking to start your own music podcast, this is the episode for you!Episode Highlights:[02:35] DJ Semtex’s thoughts on Donda and Certified Lover Boy[09:15] Why Donda is a masterpiece[16:25] Music criticism in the era of social media[22:32] What music events are like now compared to pre-pandemic[28:45] Whether or not hip hop will reach a saturation point[34:05] Podcast interviews versus radio interviews[42:50] How hip hop has changed the podcasting scene and online consumption[52:55] Some UK artists to watch out forListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: DJ Semtex, @DJSemtex, DJ SemtexLinks: Hip Hop Raised Me podcast Hip Hop Raised Me by DJ Semtex Clubhouse Trapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

Joining me on the show is Rick Ross—rapper, entrepreneur, mogul, and record executive. He has over 20 partnerships, and he just recently published “The Perfect Day to Boss Up” which he wrote during the pandemic. In this episode, Rick discusses his passion for music and business, highlighting the importance of finding joy in the things you do. He then talks about his home which has been featured in the movies “SuperFly” and “Coming 2 America”. He also weighs in on the feature market and ways to go viral.Strap in for some gold nuggets from a man who has found success in both music and business, and get into the mindset that you need to be in to level up!Episode Highlights[02:41] How Rick has changed since the pandemic[05:08] How he evaluates which brands or businesses to partner with[07:51] On doing live performances[11:07] About Rick’s Wingstop franchises and his thoughts on artists getting involved with the fast food industry[14:21] How Maybach Music Group fits into Rick’s vision[16:55] About his 280-acre estate, The Promised Land[24:44] On investing in physical and intangible assets[27:23] What to expect when doing features and from Rick’s upcoming album [30:00] On going viral, networking, and building an empire Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Rick Ross, @RickRossLink: The Perfect Day to Boss Up by Rick RossTrapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo. 

For the first part of this episode, I do a live reading of an essay that I wrote about the rap duo OutKast and a theory that I’ve named after their journey. I explain how different phases of technology and platforms have played a role in OutKast, Tyler Perry, Issa Rae, and Tyler, the Creator’s trajectories to success. After that, I weigh in on some of my readers’ suggestions for people—in hip-hop and in other industries—who they think have the OutKast Edge. And to wrap it all up, I talk about a few names from my own personal list.Tune in to this episode to learn how slept-on trends can become popular and how artists can sustain their unique edge to succeed!Episode Highlights[01:32] About OutKast[03:43] The OutKast Edge theory[04:40] Create content for like-minded outsiders[05:07] Build an audience on independent platforms [05:45] Play the long game: persevere and push through[06:17] Who else has the OutKast Edge[11:11] The OutKast Edge evolves with phases of technology[14:00] You can lose your OutKast Edge[16:48] My thoughts on Doja Cat, Anderson .Paak, and The Weeknd[21:54] On Elon Musk’s Tesla and David Portnoy’s Barstool Sports[24:27] Why Frank Ocean is popular but does not have the OutKast Edge[25:48] My personal picks: Ziwe Fumudoh, Griselda, Lil Dicky, and NadeshotListen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coLinks:  The OutKast Edge Public.com (code: trapital) Trapital is home for the business of hip-hop. Gain the latest insights from hip-hop’s biggest players by reading Trapital’s free weekly memo.