Having experienced a great deal of success in the past as a member of 112, what mark do you want to make as a solo artist?
Right now I am launching my label, M3 Productions. I have a great partnership with Asylum Records – and that is history in itself, because I'm the first R&B artist they have ever signed. I'm definitely doing business on an independent scale. On the long term, I'm trying to make M3 the next Def Jam.
What is the symbolism behind that the label's name: M3?
Well, I have three sons. Their names all start with the letter M. Basically, I'm all about creating a legacy. I want to give them a better chance toward their future, you know what I mean? I don't care what they want to do in life, but I want my boys to have something they can fall back on. One of my sons is definitely into music. I told him instead of signing into a label, he has the choice of being a CEO and signing people to his own label.
As the CEO of M3 Productions, what artistic freedoms do you have now that you didn't have in the past?
It's a major difference. Financially, most artists get 75, 80 cents to a dollar on every album. I'm making $6 to $7 a record. Basically, I know exactly where every dime is being spent. I'm making the decisions. I own my own master. I'm able to shop for publishing deals and everything. I have no middle man. Now, everything is broken down the way I want it. When 112 was signed with Bad Boy – at that time it was Arista – all of the profits flowed from Arista to Bad Boy, Bad Boy to the production deal that we were assigned to, then from that production deal to 112. There are so many hands in there. In this situation, I put together my own staff and pretty much everything is set. Creatively, my foot is halfway on the street and halfway in the mainstream. It's easy to go out and listen to what the consumer wants to hear. I think that's the way labels should be run – when you understand that the DJ makes the world go round when it comes to music and it's really the people out there that decide what records are hot. When you're hot on the street then you're hot on the radio.
Is there specific advice that someone might have given you that shaped the course of your career that you could pass on to others?
Well, I would tell any artist, any producer, any writer to really perfect your craft. I want to encourage people to invest in themselves, to brand themselves, make a name and a legacy for themselves. Instead of making other people more money, try to figure out how to put money into your own pocket. The work you put in is what you're going to get out of it. When you believe in yourself like that – if you're trying to make your own brand and your own legacy in this industry – I guarantee you in the long run, you'll be much happier and you'll probably reach your goal.
Article comments
1 - MissTheda
Clayton, Thank you so much for your great interview and the support of Slim