The Mayor: Icon Music Group (February 2009) | Interview By: Jonathan Hay

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Interview was done in February 2009

Questions Asked By: Jonathan Hay

 

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Dubcnn Exclusive – The Mayor
A New Icon Is Beginning Out West
By Jonathan Hay
 www.myspace.com/jonathanhay
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Dubcnn: So what's happening right now in the world of Icon Music Group, and how long have you been in existence?

It’s an exciting time right now for us. We have a marquee artist with RaSun. Also, one of the most talented producers in the game in, Don Juan C. With RaSun’s album, Alone Again, being our first release through Icon Music Group, we’re extremely confident that we have everything necessary to take our organization to the highest level of business. Icon Music Group is based out of Southern California, it was formed in 2008, and our model for success is simple: we have incredible talent and the highest level of quality and production, and we allow the music to speak for itself. You combine that with our hardworking team, and right now, we feel like we’re already a step ahead of the game.


Dubcnn: How did you find RaSun?

I met RaSun years ago when I was growing up in the Bay Area. He was still playing with his group, Strictly Roots. We hooked back up years later through a mutual friend and it’s been on and poppin ever since. We have the album Alone Again dropping and we plan to be touring; we’re going to be in Hawaii, Jamaica, Australia, just to name a few places. And of course, we will be out here on the West Coast.


Dubcnn: Who are some of the people that Don Juan C has worked with?

First off, Don Juan C and RaSun are a production team as well as brothers. So they work on every project together. They’ve worked on the Platinum album, Stories of a Stanger by O.A.R and they worked with Beenie Man, Digital Underground, Keak da Sneak, Juvenile, San Quinn, C-Bo, The Jacka, Fed Ex, Mac Mall, Ray Luv, Ant D.O.G, B-Legit, Fiji, Patti, Amy Hanaialii and many more.


Dubcnn: Is Icon Music Group looking for new artists right now?

Not right now. We are focusing all our time and resources on the Rasun and Don Jaun C projects. Later on, when the label grows, we will explore the possibilities of adding new artists.


Dubcnn: I can tell from the high-quality of music, that Icon Music Group invested a lot of money into the recording of RaSun – what are some of the studio’s that you all worked out of?

We worked at Quad Studios in Manhattan, The Hit Factory/Criteria in Miami, 357 Studio in Kingston Jamaica, The Outfit in Atlanta and The Plant in Sausalito, California just to name a few.


Dubcnn: With you being in the industry, are you concerned about the current state of the music business? In your opinion, what can be done to help solve the substantial problems of the music industry -- are Live Nation and 360 deals the solution?

I’m not too concerned with it. There will always be a place for good music; you just have to find a way to be creative. Live Nation is a very smart company and, in my opinion, a 360 deal is only a good idea for well established artists. So no, I don’t really think they will be the new industry standard.


Dubcnn: Another one of your companies, The Mayor Productions is a well-known movement throughout the West Coast. What’s been the secret behind your success?

Plain and simple, I do good business. I always put together first class events and top notch projects.


Dubcnn: You had your own show “The Mayor Presents" on 97.7 KRCK, Southern California’s premier radio station. What happened with that?

That was something I enjoyed doing. I picked all the music that we played, with some input from the show’s producer, B.long. Our show was hot! It was my personal creative outlet but, with Alone Again about to come out, I had to focus my full attention on the international business dealings with Icon Music Group.


Dubcnn: What do you think about the landscape of West-Coast hip-hop right now? What do you think needs to change?

I love West Coast hip hop, it’s in my blood, but people wanna know what’s next and I feel it’s time for a changing of the guard.


Dubcnn: What is the significance behind C.O.B?

I ride for C.O.B, Crooked I is my dude. We got our C.O.B tattoos together, it’s a movement -- a network of Bosses, I guess you could say. I am also a promoter and I did a concert and some radio with [Crooked I], and we just clicked, Boss to Boss. We’ve been working together ever since.


Dubcnn: Is the term - C.O.B an acronym that you and Crooked I came up with?

I can’t take any credit for that. You can thank Crooked Intriago for that idea.


Dubcnn: So who inked those fly C.O.B tattoos for you and Crooked I - - and where did you all get them done?

We got them from a dude named Shade, he’s the real deal. Shout out to Shade Ink Studios. We got them done at a secret location at a C.O.B. hideout (laughing).


Dubcnn: What’s new and in the works right now with Crooked I?

He has Slaughterhouse going right now and that’s creating a major buzz. And Crooked is a beast in the studio, so I’m sure he has many things brewing. He’s the hottest rapper on the West Coast.


Dubcnn: Why is Mac Dre still one of the most slept-on rap artists today? Moreover, what do think is the best way our community can best help preserve his undying legacy?

He just died too young, before people outside California really had a chance to hear him. The best way to keep his memory alive is by keeping his music alive.


Dubcnn: Last Words?

Don’t forget to check out America’s #1 reggae artist, RaSun, at: myspace.com/rasunmusicpage