Glasses Malone – West Coast Legend Speaks Upon Cash Money, Mack 10 & How He Worked His New Album ‘Beach Crusier’

Traditionally associated with The Black Wall Street Records despite the fact that most the artists on the record label were affiliated with the Bloods, Malone signed with the record label, but later signed with Cash Money Records in 2011, turning down offers from many labels like Def Jam Records, Interscope Records, J Records and Atlantic Records. Glasses Malone was found by the same record executive that found The Game. Along with his signing, he was also given his own imprint, Blu Division. G. Malone debuted with mixtapes The Crack Mixtape (2003) and White Lightnin…Sticks (2005).White Lightnin…Sticks sold 50,000 copies and included the popular street single “Two Hunned”.

WWSMAG: You were with cash money for a long time.  What is your current situation with them?
It’s a wonderful situation. I am still signed with them. I have a very unique situation with them. They encourage me to make more street music. They have my back 100%.

GM: Is Mack 10 still involved with you and Cash Money? What are they up to?
Yup, I go to him every day to make better decisions. We are rebuilding to make another strong west coast takeover. We have many new artists so we are doing our thing.

How did you transform yourself into who you are today? How did you get to a bigger level. How did you come about?
I took advantage of all the respect I had on the streets. God blessed me with great projects. I put it out to everyone on the streets. From there the legend just grew and that’s how it got started. I was able to go into everyone’s neighborhoods to promote my music. It was a blessing!

What were you doing before the music?
I sold drugs and cooked for a disabled home. That was my life before. That’s all I did.

What can we expect to see this year or in the beginning of 2012?
It’s all about Beach Cruiser homie. That’s what it’s all about. We have more projects. We have many more albums. We are ready to put out a lot more music this year. But as of now it’s all about the album and where we can take it.

As you were coming up, what were some of the toughest challenges coming up in order to see success?
Really I’m not as successful as I want to be. It’s about beocming more commercially appealing. I just don’t want the past to come to haunt me. I wanted to stay in God’s grace. I wanted to stay out of trouble. I just wanted to stay alive. And ofcourse, making more commercial records. I haven’t made it to where I want to go, so I can’t give a fully honest answer all the way.

What were some of the most memroable times for you?
Dr. Dre telling me telling me I could do this, and he thought I was dope. Jay Z tried to sign me; he told me I was one of the nicest west coast rappers he’s heard. T.I. stopping me at the airport to tell me to keep going no matter how much stuff I’m going through. The people I respected coming to me to show me love.  They appreciate me, that’s a crown achievement. Wayne, Birdman, Mack, these are people I respect, they listen to me and respect me, that’s great to me.

What is your main source of motivation?
I would say doubt. The doubt man. People believe I cannot do it. The fact I want to accomplish something; they don’t like the fact I don’t want to give up. I did give up high school to sell dope. I gave up dope to make music. I could have been still involved. I will not let this rap thing go. I will win!

Being that it’s almost 2012, what are some of the ways to promote music now?
It depends really, you have to have the blogs. The blog are the new distribution sites for the world now. You can get around the world. If you can get into everyone’s cars on the west coast, you’ve got action! Blogs are a way I believe they should go. That’s one advice, but you still need to have the physical presence everywhere.

For the Beach Cruiser album, what makes this unique, who do you have working on this?
Of course I have the Cash Money family, I have Mack 10 which is my boss. I got some really good stuff on this. Production wise, I’m working with a bunch of different new people. What makes this album really unique is that this is a album for the beach cruisers. It’s really made for the California cars! There are many subjects about being on the move. This is how we live in California, we are always on the move.

Are you still working with The Game?
I worked with him two months ago and I’m looking forward to working with him again in the next couple of weeks. They are still doing their thing, it’s all good.

When you were coming up, who were some your inspirations?
Ice Cube, Jay Z, Scarface, all the Cash Money especially Juvenile’s 400 Degrees album. Anything from Death Row and anything from Rap-A-Lot inspired me.

What do big labels looking for as far as artistry now? What do they look for?
Honestly they are looking for a easy ride haha. They are looking for someone who’s already established and something that’s not going to take a lot. Talent wise they don’t care, as long as people are into it, they will put you on. That’s it, then you got the right person! Haha!

It seems like alot artists fall off, why do you think so many comes out and fall off so much in a short period of time?
It’s a conttantly evolving business and you have to evolve with it, straight up and straight down. That is all that it comes down to, evolving with this business.

What do you think makes a successful artist?
Consistency. You got to keep on doing it whether it’s good or bad. As long as you keep on doing it, your in the game. Keep putting out records, stay on these peoples minds like Rick Ross. When people thought he was down, he would always come back and let people know what he’s doing. He never stopped putting out music all the time. You had no choice to not notice. He keeps people updated constantly. He set the standard for new artists man.

Your definition of consistency, what does an artist have to do on a day to day basis. What do you do daily? What does it really take?
I can’t give you the honest truth because I”m not there yet. The only thing I can tell you is about people who I appreciate; their hustle. I can only tell you about people who I feel are winning. Like I said about Rick Ross. There is never in dull moment in Maybach Music. Lil Wayne for example is always keeping you up to date with songs all the time. He doesn’t do too much blogs and all, but he keeps you buzzed with new songs all the time! Consistency!

Tell me about Lil Waynes work ethic.
His worth ethic is the best in the business. No one works as hard as he does. He spends his whole life in the studio. He spends his whole life doing shows. This is what is does period. He doesn’t do anything else. He deserves everything that comes to him. He is the hardest working man in the business hands down. No questions asked.

How important is a correct team and management?
It’s incredible man, it’s totally incredible. I’m on a press run in New York right now. When you have someone lay it out the correct way, there’s nothing you can say. There is nothing else to say. It’s very important to have a good team. Unexplained people will cause you a lot of bad situations. It’s cost me money before. Never work with experienced people when hiring.

Did you do everything on your own when you had no manager?
The music had to do all the music talking to me. Some people don’t have the best music but had proper reps. Back then for me it was just the music. My music was great and people just liked it. Now I have people to do it for me. I have great people who do the talking for me as far as publicity.

Besides music, what else do you do? Any businesses you have or developments?
I’ve always into the film production side of everything. That’s all I do besides the music.

What do you do for fun, do you travel or play ball?
I love to race cars. I love drag racing. I’m getting back into street racing right now. That’s one of the things I’m thinking about making a documentary on right now. A documentary about my journey back into street racing. My guy over in the bay that just got out of jail and wants to race me for ten grand. So I want to make a documentary about my journey up to that race; betting money, everything until it goes to the finale, the big race itself.

What’s in the garage right now?
I got a 2010 Camaro. I have the 2011 Challenger. I got a 68 Camaro, A 88 mustang,  and I’m looking into buying a Denali truck right now.