MC: What does it take for an artist to impress you enough to sign them to a contract with Taylor Gang?
Khalifa: I don’t just go on the Internet and tell an artist, “Hey, I like your music, sign to Taylor Gang.” I have to really be inspired by shit, I gotta listen to you and be a fan of your music, the artwork, the way you dress, the way you talk, what you do. I gotta wanna walk through your neighborhood with you before we do anything. Those are the kinds of people that inspire me and those are the only type of people that I keep around me; so it’s not just business.
MC: Who were your mentors when you were coming up in the biz?
Khalifa: I really don’t look at anybody in the game as a mentor, because I’m really trying to outdo anybody that I’m seeing right now. I would say that people inspire me when I see their work and I see how good they are at what they do. There’s a lot of people who are really generous with knowledge and other things, people who I respect and who I look up to. E. Dan [producer, Eric Dan]. And my homey Sledgren [also producer] for sure. Will, who’s my best friend and my tour manager––we basically built our business together––and all my artists who I’ve signed inspire me to make me try to be better in some way, shape or fashion.
MC: How do you inspire the artists that you’re helping?
Khalifa: I give the same knowledge and I’m open with people so they don’t have to go through the same things that I’ve gone through. You have to have people that you love there with you because this is a lot of work, you know what I’m saying? It’s once in a lifetime, and some of this stuff we never even dreamed of doing or imagined, so you gotta share that stuff with people who it really matters to. I think it’s a combination of all of that and staying real, and staying influenced and inspired by real things, and not getting caught up in the business or being famous or the next career move, or what the best life moves are and having people around who promote that. E. Dan always showed me the way when it came to that, for sure
MC: You’re talking to us from the studio where you’re working on your new album, Blacc Hollywood; since we haven’t had a chance to hear it yet, can you tell us about it? Do you have a favorite line, or one that sums it up?
Khalifa: I’ve always been the type of artist that you know what’s going on in my life through my music. So I’m going to keep that, and there’s definitely an artistic approach to each project, and that’s the main focus, that’s what’s most important. I want everybody to interpret it their own way. I don’t know if I have a favorite line. Oh! On this song called “Wheezy.” The big thing that has to do with my shit sometimes is the way I say something. I can say some shit, but I’ll say it really crazy and I’ll be wild. In this part of the song I say, [sings and elongates the words] “They say I run the game. Lit-er-ally. I’m about to go insaaaane, mental disease.” That describes the album.
MC: How do you handle obstacles or setbacks in your career?
Khalifa: I just don’t take anything personal. I know that everything is based on relationships, and you can’t ruin a relationship over one or two things. You might really, really need something from them later, so just don’t take anything personal and have confidence in your own business structure. That really helps to push me forward.
MC: Any inspiring words for artists who read Music Connection?
Khalifa: I would say don’t take anything personal; have confidence in your own business structure and just be aware of your surroundings. You learn as you go; everybody’s story is their own so you can’t take one person’s experiences and make guidelines out of that. It’s the energy that you put out, you get back.
MC: On July 24 you’ll embark on the Under the Influence of Music Tour, featuring Young Jeezy, Tyga, Ty Dolla $ign and Rich Homie Quan. It’s like you are Perry Farrell and this is your Lollapolooza. How do you manage the responsibility of curating a line-up?
Khalifa: It’s like I said, you gotta step up, you have to take ownership. I’m one hundred percent involved. We handpick the lineup, just making it the best that it can be, I’m even meeting people who say, “Hey, man, I want to go on tour with you,” and then I’ll get a phone call from them like a week later asking to go on tour. It’s that real. And I’m not just putting you on tour and I’m gonna be on my bus and you’re not going to see me. I’m getting these kids high as hell. I made Rich Homie Quan throw up off a dab yesterday already, so it’s going down. We’re really living this shit and that’s the best part of it. This is real life man and we’re loving this shit. Please look out for the tour––get your tickets!
Contact Greg Cortez, greg.cortez@42West.Net
