T.Slack: The Big Picture

Corporate Takeover recently interviewed Terral “Hollaback” T.Slack, the 27-year-old CEO of the artist management firm, Bigger Picture Entertainment (BPE.) BPE boasts a talented and diverse roster of artists, producers, and models, which makes the company poised to emerge as one of the power players in the world of entertainment booking and artist management. T.Slack founded BPE in 2003, while attending Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. Since then, his company has been highly successful in negotiating deals for his clients, with some of the most prominent corporate entities (Nike, Live Mechanics, 10 Deep, Greedy Genius, and Orisue just to name a few), and musicians in the entertainment industry. Trey Songz, Little Brother, DJ Toomp, 9th Wonder, and Cherish are some of the artists BPE has negotiated with on the behalf of their clients.

BPE’s most high profile client is Canadian actor and musician Aubrey Graham, also known by the stage name “Drake.” Drake hails from Toronto and plays “Jimmy Brooks” on the tremendously popular CTV series, “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” In 2006, he released his first official mixtape, entitled “Room For Improvement,” in collaboration with DJ Smallz, architect of the “Southern Smoke” mixtape series. “Room For Improvement” went on to sell more than 10,000 units in digital downloads and physical CD sales combined. Drake’s success created a buzz that naturally caught the attention of a number of major American record companies (Rocafella (2x), Def Jam, Koch, Interscope, Universal.) Pending current negotiations, he will soon make his official major label debut in the United States. Drake recently released the follow up to “Room For Improvement” entitled, “Comeback Season.” This mixtape features appearances from Trey Songz, Rich Boy, Little Brother, Kardinal Offishall, and Lil Wayne.

Two other prominent artists under BPE’s management include Texas resident “Dow Jonez” and Canadian hit maker, “Boi-1da.” Jonez distinguishes himself from the typical southern MC with detailed lyricism and superb wordplay. Both of these qualities would make one second guess Jonez’ southern roots. but in actuality, he has spent the majority of his life in Irvine, Texas. Boi-1da, a Toronto native, has produced hits for the likes of The Clipse, Jim Jones, Stack Bundles, Drake, and Trey Songz. His unique production style garners praise from hip-hop, R&B, reggae, and pop artists alike.

Drake, Dow Jonez, and Boi-1da represent only a glimpse of the talent currently under BPE management. Other artists managed by BPE who show promise include New Orleans MC E.E., Dallas MC Knesecary, Producers Blade (produced for Chamillionaire and R&B group Cherish), and Don Papa (produced for Currency and Lil’ Wayne), whom both reside in Texas. Not only does T.Slack represent the new breed of hip-hop entrepreneur, but he is also a hardworking businessman. His ability to gather an array of talent under one umbrella, makes T.Slack a natural candidate for Corporate Takeover’s first interview.

Interview

CORPORATE TAKEOVER: How did the company get started? Did you start from scratch, or did you already have some connections in the entertainment industry?

TERRAL “HOLLABACK” T.SLACK: I started from scratch. I kind of came in the game back when the bubblegum shit was real, real heavy, and I couldn’t cut the radio on. So I wanted to change that shit. I knew there were good MCs out there, good music out there, and I was trying to find it. While attending Grambling State University, I was a mass communications major. I always wanted to get into the industry, but I just never knew how. So I analyzed the game, and I decided to get into it as a manager.

CT: Who was the first artist you started managing?

T.SLACK: It was a cat named Ronald Vonds out of Houston. He went to a nearby University. I heard he was bubbling and doing his thing around my neck of the woods. He was the first cat I really came up to like, “I really think you can do your thing.” At the time, Texas was poppin’ and I felt like I could do something with him. But he kind of needed some development. I wasn’t in the position to do that [at the time]. He needed too much work, so I started looking for more established artists who already had their shit together and what not. Him and me are still cool.

I don’t ever burn bridges. That’s one thing in the game. Try not to burn bridges. Keep everything 100. I try to be real with cats, so they keep it real with me. I’m probably one of the realist niggas in the industry because the industry is so fake. It’s rare to find a cat like me who just keeps it 100. I really listen to the peoples’ music. The ones that send me shit. I’m not the Hollywood type nigga on some, “this, that, and the third”. If it is whack, I’m going to let you know that shit is whack. If it needs development, I’m going to let you know it needs development.

CT: You have some talented acts on your roster. What do you look for when you manage a new act? What is your criteria?

T.SLACK: I look for drive. I look for already established artists. I’m not a babysitter. I want somebody who already has [his or her] thing poppin’ off. [Someone] who already has their area sewed up, already working on the radio, and expanding on the Myspace. People must [already] know you. I’ve been through the BS, and I’m in a position where I don’t really have to develop an artist. I don’t look to develop artists. I look for artists who are already developed. If I see some potential, then I can put my stamp on them and try to take them to the next level. But I don’t put out bullshit. If I wouldn’t buy your CD in the store, I wouldn’t manage you. That’s point blank. If I wouldn’t listen to your shit in the truck, I wouldn’t manage you. You wouldn’t be on the roster.

CT: How did you come about managing Drake? You are from Louisiana, and he lives all the way in Toronto, Canada. How did you guys hookup?

T.SLACK: He did a mixtape with DJ Smallz about 2 years ago, and I use to rock with one of DJ Smallz’ people real heavy. We are still cool, actually. She was telling me about this cat, “Drake” or whatever. She use to send me free shit whenever they dropped. She was telling me about this cat named Drake on “Degrassi”, you know. I was like, “What the hell is Degrassi?” because I never heard of it. She was like, “He is on this teen TV show.” So I was like, “Cool, whatever.” I kind of brushed it off. Then she sent me the music and I said, “This kid is dope! What’s the situation? What’s going on?” So she put us on 3-way, and the rest is history. When I first got him he wanted me to do some show and prove type shit. Like, “what can I do for him?” So I hooked up a couple features for him: Little Brother, Dwele, Trey Songz, and a lot of that stuff you’ve heard from earlier. I hooked up all that, and that is pretty much how I built my relationship with him.

He said, “This nigga is really official” and started rocking with me real heavy. Drake has been bubbling for a minute. We actually have a couple situations poppin’ off. The reason he has not signed anything officially is because niggas don’t have their numbers up, just to throw that out there.

CT: The tequila company Patron sponsored Drake a few months back. Were you behind that? And can you tell us about some of the endorsements you’ve hooked up?

T.SLACK: Nah. That came about through some arrangement in Canada. A couple things I’ve hooked up for him are clothing endorsements. Live Mechanics, Orsue, Bamboo*, a couple jewelry endorsements, Nike endorsements, and I’m working on some more major stuff. Look out for him in a couple of commercials in 08’. He is still getting TV money. He is still on the show. People don’t realize it because [the show] is not in the States heavy, but it got syndicated on the CW network. It’s a real, real big show, and he’s been on there for like 5 years. He is one of the main Characters. For people who don’t know, he is actually in a wheelchair on the show. I think for the season finale, I might be telling too much, but he’s supposed to be walking. This guy is getting TV money. He’s been in movies with Omarr Epps, and a couple different actors so he’s been bubbling. It’s just a matter of getting him over here to the states.

CT: When Do you think Drake’s Album is going to be released?

T.SLACK: In the summer probably. We have a lot of people co-signing him right now, man. So he is starting from scratch. At jump he was just running with underground people, but we have [DJ] Toomp onboard, Don Cannon. I mean, there are just a lot of people co-signing him. He is really doing his thing right now, so they really want to fuck with him. Expect to see a whole lot of Toomp records on the album. He and Toomp have a real, real good vibe. Toomp makes his stuff from scratch. He is a real musical dude. I expect Toomp and Drake to really hit it off heavy.

CT: What’s next for Bigger Picture Entertainment?

T.SLACK: I’m not one to be brag or put my business all out there, but I’m working on a lot of shit. I own a booking company. I established that real heavy a few months back. BPEBooking.com. I book major artists, comedians, and DJs. Pretty much whoever you want, I can get them. I can get you country acts. I’m trying to book Hannah Montana for somebody right now. If they are not listed on the website, email me and I can make it happen.

As for my producers, I am working to get them a couple publishing deals right now. My producer out of Dallas, Blade, did Cherish’s new single with Young Joc. The “Killa” record. We had Curren$y’s single featuring Lil’ Wayne. The “My House” record, but Curren$y left Cash Money recently. So that really didn’t pop off heavy. We are really working on getting my producers out there heavy. I am trying to get them bubbling.

As for Drake, not to put his business out there, but he has 4 labels really trying to bring it to the table. Drake has certain needs, as an artist, which must be satisfied by a label. He wants to make sure the album comes out, and when it drops that it has the right push. We’re just really working on the numbers for him, so hopefully a situation will pop off first quarter for Drake. Just to give you a hint, he might have [Jimmy] Iovine as a boss. I’ll just throw that out there.

As for Dow Jonez, the kid is phenomenal! Check him out at Myspace.com/thetruedowjonez. He’s down in Dallas, Texas with an east coast flow. He is SICK! He kind of puts you in the mind of a Beanie [Sigel] type cat. I am working on a situation with him, possibly at Capitol. He’s got a lot of cats fucking with him like [producer] Jake One, so he is bubbling and doing his thing.

My other artist, “Knesecary”, please check him out at www.myspace.com/knes. He is going to be up next after Dow. He is sick. He puts you in the mind of a Nas mixed with Jay a little bit. Those are the three rappers I am going to be pushing in 08’ real, real heavy. I’m also going to be pushing my producers Boi-1da, of course, Blade, and Knesecary also makes beats. Dark Room is doing real, real big shit. They are actually on The Wire soundtrack. They just got a nice little publishing situation I hooked up at the Royalty Network. Big shout out to them for being down with my camp. It’s a movement, and I can’t forget my cats Don Papa and Double E. We have a lot of things we are working on. We’re just trying to get it poppin’. The game is fucked up, but there are still ways around it. You just have to know what to do and how to do it.

End.

———

When Corporate Takeover first launched, we promised exclusive interviews with successful hustlers in the game in order to help our readers take their hustle to the next level. Well, as promised, CT is proud to present our first exclusive interview! Shout out to Tiffany, Courtney, BPE, and everyone who made this possible. Also, big shout outs to the big homie T.Slack. When we approached him, he was really cool about the whole process. This interview will be the first of MANY exclusives to help our readers take their hustle to the next level, so get ready to network and get inspired. As The Mouthpiece For Hustlers, we encourage entrepreneurship with a hip-hop swagger.

If you are an MC or Producer seeking professional management, you can go HERE to sumbit your material to BPE.

If you have any questions for T.Slack, leave them in the comments below. T.Slack has graciously agreed to answer any questions.