Trapital

Cinematic Music Group founder and CEO Jonnyshipes came on the pod to talk about how he’s built Cinematic into an influential entertainment company that other labels are trying to follow. Shipes worked with Smoke DZA, Nipsey Hussle, Joey Badass, and more. In this episode, Shipes breaks down how he partners with major labels, helps artists build their careers, and more. Shipes also loves comedy. He recently signed comedian Druski, who blew up after Drake’s “Laugh Now, Cry Later” video. Druski and Shipes have a few things in the works which he goes more in depth with. If you want to hear about how an indie hip-hop company is run, this is the episode for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Jonnyshipes, @jonnyshipes, cinematicworldwide.com 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. trapital.co/newsletter

Combs Enterprises President, Tarik Brooks, came on the Trapital Podcast to talk his role managing the Combs Enterprises portfolio of brands, which includes Ciroc, Bad Boy Entertainment, Revolt, Sean John, AquaHydrate, and more. We talked about how to measure Diddy’s value-add as an investor, Tarik’s experience working for both Diddy and Robert L. Johnson, and why Diddy sought mentorship from Ray Dalio, and more. This episode originally ran on February 4, 2020. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Tarik Brooks, @tarikamin, combsenterprises.com 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. trapital.co/newsletter

Twitch’s VP Head of Music, Tracy Chan, came on the podcast to talk about how artists on Twitch are making money. The number of artists making $25,000 on Twitch has grown 16x since the pandemic started. For those making $50,000 or more, the median viewership is 183 fans. That’s wild! We talk about how artists use the platform, gaming culture’s influence, and where the creator economy is heading. Tracy joined Twitch in 2020. He left Spotify where he launched Spotify for Artists, and worked at YouTube before that to help launch its creator platform. Tracy has seen the creator economy at every stage. If you’re interested in this topic, this is the podcast for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Tracy Chan, @tracypchan, twitch.tv/music Link: Twitch’s Rockonomics - a case study on how musicians make money on the platform 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. trapital.co/newsletter

Rap Snacks founder and CEO James Lindsay came on the podcast to talk about his rise in the consumer packaged goods industry. Rap Snacks launched in 1994 and has partnered with artists like Migos, Cardi B, Trina, and Fabolous to sell snack chips. We talk about how Rap Snacks landed distribution space in Walmart, and how to navigate the snack food industry. We also talked about BossUp Bank, the new bank he launched with Master P to reach underserved communities. Lindsay also co-managed Meek Mill, so we talked about his experience there, and some recent advice he gave Meek about Dogecoin! Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: James Lindsay, @askfly1, rapsnacks.net 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. trapital.co/newsletter

I answered a bunch of questions from Trapital readers and listeners! Monetization in hip-hop vs other genres, rap battle leagues, Square’s Tidal acquisition, women in the music industry, cancel culture, record labels, and tech funding announcements that look like music festival lineups! Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co 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. trapital.co/newsletter

Live Nation Urban’s VP of Business Development & Operations, Brandon Pankey, joined to talk about the post-pandemic return of concerts and music festivals. He recently launched APEX, an advertising video on demand streaming service that will be music-centric. We talk about why he launched it and how he plans to give artists an opportunity to tell their stories. We finished our conversation by talking about the community and education-related work that Brandon has done, and why we have to let the next generation know about the opportunities that are out there! Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Brandon Pankey, @brandon_pankey, watchapex.com 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. trapital.co/newsletter

Music executive Shawn Prez came on the pod to talk about his days as Bad Boy’s VP of Marketing, what set Bad Boy’s Street Team apart, breaking hit records, starting the Ciroc Boyz, his work at Power Moves Inc., and why he decided to launch an award shows to recognize DJs. This episode was originally published on April 7, 2020. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Shawn Prez, @powermovesprez, powermovesprez.com Link: Ciroc Boyz – Power Moves Inc. Black Rob – “Whoa” Global Spin Awards Power Moves with Shawn Prez – YouTube

Music marketer BrandMan Sean (Sean Taylor) joined to talk about how he built the BrandMan Network, which recently crossed 100,000 YouTube subscribers! He’s been a go-to source of insights for rising hip-hop artists on how to build their brands, use social media, and focus on what matters most. In this episode, Sean breaks down how he keeps up with the changes in the landscape, how artists beat those with 2-3x their budget, and his Contrabrand Agency. If you’re interested in the latest best practices on music marketing, this episode is for you! Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: BrandMan Sean, @brandmansean, BrandMan Network YouTube Channel 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. trapital.co/newsletter

An audio version of the Trapital essay “How Will and Jada Pinkett Smith Built a Content and Commerce Powerhouse” The star couple regained Hollywood success by letting fans into their once-private lives and building a media-driven commerce flywheel with Westbrook Inc. Host: Dan Runcie, trapital.co 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: trapital.co/newsletter

DJBooth’s Editor-In-Chief and VP of Content Operations and Artist Services at Audiomack, Brian “Z” Zisook, came on the pod to talk about DJBooth’s 18th anniversary (!) and how it stayed strong over time. We also talked about the role that major record labels serve, the potential for indie artists, TikTok’s influence, the streaming era, classic rap albums, short releases, and more. At the end, we talked about Audiomack World and the company’s new partnerships with DistroKid. If you want an honest take on where the music industry is heading, this is the episode for you! Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Brian “Z” Zisook, @djboothEIC, audiomack.com/world

Music Entrepreneur Club founder Dame Ritter came back on the pod to help me break down four music industry myths: artists need to own everything. Ownership! I can’t make money on streaming NFTs will save me I’ll make all my money on tour All of these takes need nuance, and there’s no better person to talk to than Dame. He ran Funk Volume, a former independent record label that hit $4M in sales in its first four years. On the episode we also talked about the comedians he manages, Bigg Jah and Minks, and the difference between artists and comics. If you’ve been hearing a lot about ownership, music business models, and want more context, this is the episode for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Dame Ritter, @Dame_MEC Links: Music Entrepreneur Club Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Dreamville co-founder and President, and J. Cole’s manager Ibrahim Hamad came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about how him and J. Cole started Dreamville and how it became what it is today. Ib also broke down what changed for Dreamville in 2014, the impact that the Dollar & a Dream tour had on J. Cole’s career, establishing the Dreamville brand beyond J. Cole, and why the Dreamville Fest has nine lives. This episode was originally published in April 14, 2020 Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Ibrahim Hamad, @KingOfQueenz, dreamville.com Link: J. Cole is Still Making Millions From a $1 Million Concert - Trapital Dreamville Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co/newsletter

The artist Micah Johnson came on the pod to talk about his rise in the art world. On February 21, he introduced the world to Aku: The Moon God, his fictional character that was born from a question, “Can astronauts be Black?” Aku was released as an NFT that resulted in $1 million worth of sales in 1 minute and $2 million total in 28 hours! On the podcast, we talk about how Micah got support for Aku’s launch, why NFTs are powerful for his work, his future plans for Aku, and more. Micah was also a former Major League Baseball player, so we talked about his transition from MLB to fine art. If you’ve been hearing a lot about NFTs and want to hear how it works from an artist themself, this is the podcast for you! Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Micah Johnson, @Micah_Johnson3, linktr.ee/Micahart Links: Aku | Micah Johnson’s character to inspire kids to dream without limits Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

The multi-hyphenate entrepreneur Mick Batyske (aka DJ MICK) came on the pod to share how he started his career as a DJ (Mick Boogie) for the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting parties for LeBron James and Jay Z. He rebranded as “Mick” to expand his reach in multiple areas, build for the long-term, and leverage his best skillsets. His most important skill is building relationships and gathering audience insights. That mindset equates to how founders think, how marketers sell products, and invests in startups. If you’re interested in how a modern creator operates in today’s landscape, this is the pod for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Mick, @mick, mick.co Links: The Mick Show podcast - on The MICK Show, he offers a behind-the-scenes look at the lives + businesses of today’s most prominent creatives. With interviews from a variety of musicians, actors, athletes, and CEOs, Mick brings listeners behind the curtain to learn from some of the world’s top culture creators, movers + shakers, and risk-takers. Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Dan shares thoughts on Jay Z selling 50% of Armand de Brignac to LVMH, Cristal, and how it all ties together. After that, Dan gives an audio version of the Trapital essay, How More TikTok Stars Can Succeed in the Music Industry. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Links: Jay Z Puts a Cap on Cristal (2006) New York Times Jay Z and LVMH Pop the Cork in Champagne Tie-Up Wall Street Journal How More TikTok Stars Can Succeed in the Music Industry Trapital Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co/newsletter

Slip-N-Slide Records founder and CEO Ted Lucas came on the podcast to talk about his influential record label. Slip-N-Slide was home to Trick Daddy, Trina, Rick Ross, Plies, and many more. We talk about the early days when Ted had to pay major record labels for distribution! We also talk about why his label stayed independent, why his artists had major deals with other labels, and R&B’s role in modern music. We also talk about SuperFest, the music festival he runs in Miami, and his rising artists Sebastian Mikael and Teenear. Lastly, we talk about Miami--it’s role in hip-hop and its role in tech, and all the VCs and tech folks moving to his city. If you’re interested in how an indie record label can make moves in the music industry, this is the podcast for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Ted Lucas, @slipnsliderec, slipnsliderecords.com Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Human Re-Sources founder J. Erving came on the podcast to talk about why he recently sold the rising indie distributor to Sony Music, where he’s now EVP of Creative Development and an EVP at The Orchard, where Human Re-Sources now sits. We also talked about his experience managing artists like Jeremih, why record labels and indie distributors partner with each other, how to evaluate and develop talent in today’s era, and more. If you’re interested in the “role of a record label” in today’s landscape, this is the podcast for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: J. Erving, @human.re.sources, human-re-sources.com Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

A webinar recording of "The Best Hip-Hop Album Rollouts of All-Time," a conversation on the best album rollouts in hip-hop since the year 2000. I’m joined by Ernest Wilkins of Office Hours. We break down the marketing tactics that make a good album release and each shared our top five list of albums rollouts. Our lists include some big releases by Kanye West, Dreamville, Beyonce, and many more! Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Ernest Wilkins, @ernestwilkins, officehoursnewsletter.com Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

A webinar recording of "Def Jam's Past, Present, and Future," a conversation on the past decade of business decisions made by one of hip-hop's most storied record labels. Gary and I discuss the highlights, the lowlights, and who should lead the label next. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Gary Suarez ( @noyokono ) runs a hip-hop newsletter called Cabbages. He's a music journalist with bylines in Vulture, Entertainment Weekly, NPR and VICE. To learn more about his work, sign up for his newsletter at https://cabbages.substack.com/ Dan Runcie is the founder of Trapital, a media company that covers the business of hip-hop. Learn more at: https://trapital.co

Music executive Binta Brown talked about why she left a successful career as an attorney to enter the music industry. We talk about the opportunities she saw and how the industry differs from other forms of media. We also talked about her work leading the Black Music Action Coalition, an advocacy organization formed to address systemic racism in the music industry. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Binta Brown, @batnib Link: Black Music Action Coalition Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

The mogul and hip-hop legend Percy Miller (!!) came on to talk about why he and ex-NBA star Baron Davis want to acquire Reebok. We also talked about his new Master P Reviews channel on YouTube, supporting Black businesses, how his strategy differs from Jay Z and Kanye West, and lessons learned from studying the late Reginald Lewis, the Wall Street banker who started the first Black-owned billion dollar company. If you want to learn it straight from the No Limit Records legend himself, this is the episode for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Master P, @masterp Link: “Why Do White Guys Have All The Fun” - Reginald Lewis “What Hip-Hop Gets Wrong About Master P and No Limit” - Trapital Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

A recording of the Why Artists Are Selling Their Music Catalogs webinar from December 19. We broke down the reasons why so many artists sold their catalogs in 2020, the companies that want them, and where this trend is heading. Karl Fowlkes is an entertainment attorney whose clients include artists, musicians, athletes, producers and creative companies that have amassed millions of streams, RIAA certifications. He's also a music industry professor at Rowan University and Drexel University. To learn more about his work, visit: https://www.fowlkesfirm.com/ Dan Runcie is the founder of Trapital, a media company that covers the business of hip-hop. Learn more at: https://trapital.co

Columbia Records’ Head of Urban Music Phylicia Fant came on to talk about her career in the music industry. Before Columbia, she had executive roles at both Warner and Motown, and launched The Purple Agency. We talked about the superstar artists she’s worked with, the challenges the industry has faced in 2020, the use of the word “urban” in the music industry, and more. We also talked about the documentary she worked on--Eggs Over Easy: Black Women & Fertility. If you’re interested in how major record labels have navigated all the changes in 2020, then this is the episode for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Phylicia Fant Links: Eggs Over Easy: Black Women & Fertility Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Rapper, producer, and entrepreneur Flawless Real Talk joined to talk about how he manages his rap career. He was the runner up on Netflix’s hip-hop competition show Rhythm & Flow, which boosted his career trajectory. But despite all the industry attention, Flawless is still an independent artist. He talks about that decision, the tradeoffs he’s had to make, and what his goals are as an artist. He recently hosted a livestream concert on LIVIT, where he had over 1 million fans join in. If you’re interested in how artists manage tradeoffs between being signed and indie, building a fanbase, and resiliency, then this is the episode for you. Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Flawless Real Talk, @flawlessri, flawlessri.com Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

CreateSafe co-founder and CEO Daouda Leonard came through to break down his company’s goals in the music industry. In 2020, CreateSafe launched the record deal simulator to empower artists to better manage their careers. Daouda has used these tools to manage Grimes and other artists. It’s planning to launch a publishing simulator and a suite of other products. The goal is to make the music industry’s operating system--an open source tool that offers the transparency the industry needs. If you’re interested in artist management tools and freemium business models, this is the episode for you. Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Daouda Leonard, @daoudaleonard, createsafe.io Links: Record Deal Simulator - CreateSafe Bringing Transparency to the Music Industry - The Hustle Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Cameo CEO and co-founder Steven Galanis came on the pod to talk about his company’s marketplace for personalized celebrity video shoutouts. We broke down Cameo’s growth in the pandemic, finding product-market fit with people who are more famous than they are rich, and tapping into the long tail. We also break down Cameo’s success with hip-hop artists and Black culture, and the future products that may come from the company. If you’re interested in how marketplaces are built, creating flywheels, and finding product-market fit, this is the episode for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Steven Galanis, cameo.com, @bookcameo Links: How Cameo Blew Up During Quarantine - New Yorker Why The Music Industry Should Be Tuning Into Cameo - Forbes Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Dave Macli is the co-founder and CEO of Audiomack, a music streaming provider built for artists. We discuss how Audiomack got started, its business model, and why it’s artist-first approach is so important. It landed early projects by J. Cole, Chance The Rapper, and Jennifer Lopez. Dave is also co-founder of DJBooth, which has had an ongoing partnership with Audiomack. In 2020, Audiomack has strengthened its global footprint in Africa and other continents. If you’re interested in how music streaming execs navigate a rapidly growing landscape, this is the podcast for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Dave Macli, @audiomacli, audiomack.com Links: Audiomack Announces Partnership with DJBooth Warner Music Inks Licensing Deal with Audiomack for Key African Markets Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

This is a recording of our webinar discussion on the latest music strategies from big tech companies! We broke down the latest and greatest from Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google, Tencent, and more. Cherie Hu is an award-winning music journalist and founder of Water & Music where she unpacks the fine print of innovation in the music business. Her work has been featured in Billboard, Forbes, NPR Music, Columbia Journalism Review, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Music Business Worldwide, Variety, CNBC, and more. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | RSS Hosts: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Cherie Hu, @cheriehu42, cheriehu.com Links: Slides shared during webinar Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Al D is founder of Move Forward Music, a New York-based live events production company. His company built a reputation for putting on the first NY shows for big name artists like Kendrick Lamar, DaBaby, Noname, and others. But like many companies, Move Forward was forced to pivot in 2020. Al partnered with Twitch for a new live streaming channel. Oct 17-18 is the Move Forward Fest with Just Blaze, The Alchemist, Sonny Digital, and more. Al D broke down tough decisions made, his business model, and the future of his company after the pandemic. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Alex Damashek, @mfmusic, moveforwardmusic.com, Links: Move Forward Twitch Channel: https://www.twitch.tv/moveforwardmusic Move Forward Partners with Twitch: https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/9460342/move-forward-music-partners-twitch-live-streamed-programming-festival/ Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

An audio version of the Trapital essay: Netflix's Black Content Strategy, Explained. The global entertainment company has grown stronger since it leveled up and focused on its influential customers. Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the people taking hip-hop to the level at trapital.co. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co

This is the audio from the webinar with Marcus Collins, a marketing professor at the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business. We broke down the top five hip-hop marketing campaigns of all time (and a few honorable mentions). We also talked about Marcus’ favorite ad campaigns from his days as an advertising exec at Translation, Doner, and other agencies. At the end, we broke down Travis Scott’s McDonald’s campaign and took questions from attendees. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Marcus Collins, @marctothec, marctothec.com Links to discussed campaigns: Hamburger Helper “Watch the Stove” Nipsey Hussle $100 mixtape The Reebok S. Carter Reebok Allen Iverson A5 and A6 Budweiser Made in America case study Beats by Dre ambush marketing at London 2012 Olympics How “Straight Outta Compton” became a viral sensation Sprite “Obey Your Thirst” Beyonce surprise album drop Hello Brooklyn campaign Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Heavy Sound Labs founder and CEO Jason Geter came on the Trapital Podcast to break down his rise in the music industry. He started as an intern when he was in high school! He eventually started Grand Hustle with T.I. and helped build his career. Jason adapted the playbook to help build Travis Scott’s career. Jason recently launched Heavy Sound Labs, a music incubator that redefines what it means to be a record label. He’s also an investor in All Def Digital, the largest Black-owned digital media property. If you are interested in how the music industry has evolved and where it’s heading, this is the podcast for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Jason Geter, @jasongeter, heavysound.com Related essay: How Travis Scott Growth Hacked Hip-Hop Trapital Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Tenderfoot TV cofounder and President Donald Albright came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about how his company has amassed 500 million podcast downloads. Tenderfoot is behind this hit shows Up and Vanished, Atlanta Monster, To Live and Die in LA, and more. The company has partnered with HBO, iHeartMedia, HBO, and others. Before Tenderfoot, Donald was a music exec in Atlanta where he managed LaFace Records’ street team, managed August Alsina, and worked closely with OutKast, Goodie Mob, and others. If you are interested in podcast strategy, partnerships, and ownership, this is def the podcast for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Donald Albright, @dabright03, tenderfoot.tv Link: How Donald Albright Became Atlanta’s Podcast Kingmaker - Atlanta Magazine Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

An audio version of the Trapital essay: Why Hip-Hop’s Indie Economy Has Taken Off. An ecosystem of rappers and businesses have shaped the path and future for independent artists. Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the people taking hip-hop to the level at trapital.co. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co

An audio version of the Trapital essay: How Tyler, The Creator Built a Cult-Like Following. Tyler's greatest creation is the loyal fanbase that's been riding with him for over a decade. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Links: How Tyler The Creator Built A Cult-Like Following - Trapital Tyler, The Creator's Fashion Show is Unlike Anything You've Ever Seen (Vogue - YouTube) Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Mass Appeal CEO Peter Bittenbender came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about the company’s content strategy, the 2020 climate, holding partners accountable, international expansion, and Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Peter Bittenbender, @bittenbender, massappeal.com Link: Wu Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men: Mass Appeal Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Office Hours’ Ernest Wilkins came through to talk about challenger brands in hip-hop, why they exist, our respective articles on No Limit and Quality Control Music, and what we expect for the future. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Ernest Wilkins, @ernestwilkins, officehours.substack.com Link: How No Limit Became Hip-Hop’s Challenger Brand - Ernest Wilkins (in Trapital) How Quality Control Music Took Over Atlanta - Dan Runcie (in Office Hours) Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Comedian, actor, writer, and producer Roy Wood Jr. came through to talk about how the pandemic and uprisings, all the “lost tapes” from 2020, how comics have shifted, why he partnered with Comedy Central, and why his home state of Alabama means so much to him. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Roy Wood, Jr @roywoodjr, roywoodjr.com Link: It’s Time for Stand-ups to Prepare for the Worst - Roy Wood Jr, Vulture Black Patriotism Sketch - Father Figure special, Roy Wood Jr. Roy Wood Jr’s Rap Song “Smoothie Song” Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

An audio version of the Trapital essay: Why Kanye West’s Gap Deal is a Risk to Yeezy. Yeezy’s new partnership with the struggling apparel company is a threat to the brand that Kanye West built. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Link: Why Kanye West’s Gap Deal is a Risk to Yeezy - Trapital Kanye describes his issues with Nike and confirms Adidas deal - Hot 97 Why Rihanna Broke Barriers That Others Couldn’t - Trapital Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Cinematic Music Group’s President, Hovain Hylton and Head of Creative, Busy Rivera came through the Trapital Podcast to talk about leading the independent record label and management company, doing more with less than the major record labels, and managing the Cinematic brand like it’s one of their artists. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Hovain, @hovain Busy Rivera, @busyrivera Link: Cinematic website Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Another solo episode in light of recent events, and an audio version of this week’s Trapital article, “Why Ownership Matters More in Hip-Hop.” The system hasn’t always had hip-hop’s best interest at heart, so its artists are more likely to take control. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Link: Why Ownership Matters More in Hip Hop Beyonce Commencement Speech | Dear Class of 2020 Cash Money Records Has a Bleak Future Without Drake and Lil’ Wayne Why Death Row Was Bound to Self-Destruct Spreadsheet: Hip Hop Statements - BLM 2020 Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

This Trapital Podcast is a solo episode in light of this week’s events, the music industry’s actions in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, and this week’s Trapital article, “How Hip-Hop Pushed Companies to Fight for Racial Justice.” Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Link: Spreadsheet: Hip Hop Statements - BLM 2020 How Hip-Hop Pushed Companies to Fight for Racial Injustice Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Round 3! Here are the most pressing questions from Trapitalists: Do smaller indie acts fare better during the pandemic? Is Tekashi 6ix9ine worthy of a marketing case study? What’s next for Travis Scott + Fortnite? And a whole lot more. Tune in! Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Link: How Hip-Hop Producers Lost Their Power How Travis Scott Growth Hacked Hip-Hop Why Hip-Hop and Gaming are Still Scratching the Surface Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Entertainment lawyer Tiffany Ballard came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about how she rose in the music industry. She spoke about using Myspace to find career opportunities and discover artists like Nicki Minaj. We also spoke about bad record deals and why they still happen. Tiffany also revisited her brief time on the reality TV show Money Power, & Respect! Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Tiffany Ballard, @BlackElleWoods Link: Money, Power, & Respect - Meet Tiffany - WE tv Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co

Since Kanye West is now a billionaire, let's revisit the podcast I recorded in September with Zack O’Malley Greenburg, Senior Editor of Media & Entertainment at Forbes. We talked about Forbes’ annual Hip-Hop Cash List, why artists like Cardi B and Meek Mill who question the results, the integrity challenges with self-reported data, and the amount of work that goes into reporting a single number. Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.co Guest: Zack O’Malley Greenburg, @zogblog, forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg Links referenced: Article: Kanye West is Now Officially a Billionaire (and He Really Wants the World to Know) - Forbes Article: Highest Paid Hip-Hop Acts 2019: Kanye Tops Jay Z to Claim Crown - Forbes Article: Kanye’s Second Coming: Inside the Billion-Dollar Yeezy Empire - Forbes Article: Artist, Icon, Billionaire: How Jay-Z Created His $1 Billion Fortune - Forbes Twitter: Cardi B, Meek Mill, “Pee” from Quality Control Music Article: Why Cardi B Doesn’t Need to Go on Tour - Trapital Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Take your insights to the next level. Become a Trapitalist.

Dreamville co-founder and President, and J. Cole’s manager Ibrahim "Ib" Hamad came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about how him and J. Cole started Dreamville and how it became what it is today. Ib also broke down what changed for Dreamville in 2014, the impact that the Dollar & a Dream tour had on J. Cole’s career, establishing the Dreamville brand beyond J. Cole, and why the Dreamville Fest has nine lives! If you wanna know what it takes to get to that next level, this is the episode for you. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Ibrahim "Ib" Hamad, @KingOfQueenz, dreamville.com Link: J. Cole is Still Making Millions From a $1 Million Concert - Trapital Dreamville Fest - August 29, 2019 - Dreamville Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co/welcome

Music and marketing executive Shawn Prez came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about his days as Bad Boy’s VP of Marketing, what set Bad Boy’s Street Team apart, breaking hit records, the Ciroc Boyz, his work at Power Moves Inc., and why he decided to launch an award shows to recognize DJs. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Shawn Prez, @powermovesprez, powermovesprez.com Link: Ciroc Boyz - Power Moves Inc. Black Rob - “Whoa” Global Spin Awards Power Moves with Shawn Prez - YouTube Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co/welcome

The hilarious comedian Hannibal Buress came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about how he’s adjusted to quarantine life, how he prioritizes his multiple business interests (touring, comedy specials, acting, investing), Netflix’s impact on comedy specials, planning a music festival on three weeks notice (!!!), why he wishes he got into the toilet paper business, and what’s in store for 2020. Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Hannibal Buress, @hannibalburess, hannibalburess.com Link: Isola Fest - Hannibal Buress Handsome Rambler Podcast - Hannibal Buress Hannibal’s thoughts on the toilet paper business - Comedy Camisado, Hannibal Buress I.B.S. - Cam’Ron (2006, Killa Season) Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Learn how it impacts your business. Join the execs, CEOs, and moguls who read Trapital: trapital.co/welcome

Mike Weissman, President of SoundCloud, came on the Trapital Podcast to talk about the streaming company’s business model, how it compares to a tech accelerator, SoundCloud’s growth in the Middle East, SoundCloud rap, and what sets the company apart from its competitors. (Originally published November 11, 2019) Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Mike Weissman, @soundcloud, soundcloud.com Links referenced: WIRED: As Streaming Services Boom, SoundCloud Strives for Relevancy (2017) Trapital: Why Hip-Hop Can Help Venture Capital Navigate Changes in the Industry (2019) Trapital: Why Streaming Services are Here to Stay (2019) SoundCloud: On Tuesday We Presented Lil’ Tecca with our First-Ever Chart-Topper Award (2019) – The sneakers are on this link! Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Take your insights to the next level. Become a Trapitalist.

CAA music touring agent Akin Aliu came on the pod to talk about the BET Awards, representing Ciara, Freddie Gibbs, and Becky G, the NCAA’s “Rich Paul Rule,” and why agents break out on their own. (Originally published October 21, 2019) Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | YouTube | Overcast | RSS Host: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuest: Akin Aliu, @caamusic Links referenced: Article: Why Choosing the Right Concert Venue Matters – Trapital Article: Why Cardi B Doesn’t Need to Go On Tour – Trapital ESPN: NCAA amend “Rich Paul Rule” amid blowback Hip-hop’s influence continues to grow. Take your insights to the next level. Become a Trapitalist.