Daily News Alerts
Get our daily news stories right in your email inbox. Subscribe below.

 
Urban Biz: Sha Money XL
By Ronnie Gamble & Jay Casteel ♦ Published 03/06/2008

Sha Money XL, some of you may know him, some of you may not. For those who don't and those only familiar with his name, he's a producer and rising business man, who initially helped 50 Cent and his G-Unit movement peak in hip-hop. He also served as the president of G-Unit, until he ventured off on his own to fulfill his ambition to become of the industry top businessmen.

Well on his way, Sha now runs his own Money Management Group, which helps guide the careers of a healthy roster of producers and artists -- which included Young Buck, Lloyd Banks, Hi-Tek, Chris Styles and several others.

Right now, he's getting ready to head to Arizona for his Second Annual One Stop Producer's Conference, which gives aspiring artists and beatmakers a chance to learn and meet some of the industry's most important execs, A&Rs, managers, artists and producers.

In this edition of BallerStatus.com's The Bizness, we caught up with the Bluetooth headset wearing, Blackberry rocking, on the go producer/entrepreneur to speak in-depth about his upcoming conference, business with G-Unit, managing producer, and what's in the future.

BallerStatus.com: Let's start by you giving us a rundown about your One Stop Producer's Conference and why you decided to put this together.

Sha Money XL: It's the second year. The reason why I decided to start this... you know, we were working on the 50 [Cent] movie and a bunch of other things, and a whole bunch of people was hitting me up, looking for me to manage them when I went public about being a manager to the producers and stuff. It was overwhelming and I was pleased that people wanted me to manage them, but I realized that I couldn't manage everybody. You can't that much of a full plate. I said "You know what? Since I can't do that, I can do something else. Let me put together something else where everybody I do business with -- real tastemakers, real managers, real producers, real execs, real A&Rs -- and put them all together." Off of the real strength of people, all the followers of producers -- which is up to 1,000+ -- can all get together and just network, and really teach and pass the word about how these guys can move farther in their careers.

BallerStatus.com: What kind of feedback did you get from the first conference last year?

Sha Money XL: [The success of the first one], that's what made me realize I had to do it annually. Some people, after leaving, was like "You have to do another one." They wanted me to do it semi-annual, but I couldn't do that. I didn't wanna do it in New York or in L.A. I wanted to do it somewhere where everyone would have to leave to get there, where it'd be like a real escape from everything, so people can really get together and really be focused.

The success of last year was really great. I thought I was gonna do about 200 people, and by the time the doors was closed, there was 600 people in the building. It was just incredible. It just made me realize I gotta keep doing this because it's a part of me giving back. This is a way for me to give back and be like "What am I contributing to hip-hop." This is it.

BallerStatus.com: What is the main attraction that people look forward to when they attend?

Sha Money XL: The panels. You got all your legends on the panel on the stage, and you ask them questions, and you're getting first hand experiences from people who are proven veterans in the music business. You get to ask questions you really wanna hear the answer to. After that, you get to vibe with them. They don't leave after that, everybody is just kicking it. I cater the whole thing, so it's a real retreat. Everybody enjoyed it, I think, because they learned knowledge and they got to collect cards and find out who is really who in the industry.

BallerStatus.com: You mentioned how you manage producers. You have your Money Management Group, so give us a rundown of who you got on the roster.

Sha Money XL: The Money Management roster consists of producer-wise Hi-Tek, Jake One, Ill Mind, The Bizness, Vitamin D... I'm not even lying when I tell you I really went for the best of the best. We got Black Jeruz, this kid from Germany named PhreQuincy. It's incredible man. Every one of my producers have their own sound and I'm a fan of their sound.

BallerStatus.com: A lot of the guys you mentioned are highly regarded as dope producers, but I don't really think they are given enough credit. Why did you really go after those names?

Sha Money XL: I got a crop for everything. I got people who can produce "Sexual Seduction" (Snoop Dogg), but when Snoop wants to get down with the vatos, he goes to the other guys. You know what I mean? You got your guy for each taste. Like when 50 wanted to do the track with Robin Thicke, which is an R&B record. It's a different vibe from when Jake One does the 50 and Mary J. Blige -- "All Of Me." Each one can fit a different feeling. My thing about it is when the labels and the artists come to me, they know I can cover any vibe that you really want. If I'm not doing the beat myself, then Jake One is gonna do it. If he don't do it, Tha Bizness is gonna do it. Anybody in my squad can do whatever you want and that's what I wanted when I got all these producers on board.

BallerStatus.com: Like you said, you're a producer yourself, so what's it like being on both sides? Is it hard to juggle both or separate between the two?

Sha Money XL: Not at all because I make my music in seasons. Like when it's the coldest of the cold and everybody is slowing down, I'm making my music. I don't make beats everyday. It comes in different spurts, so I handle my business first, and I put the best of the best first. If I didn't make a hot beat, it's not being heard. If Jake One's is sicker than mine, it's gonna be in front of that, you know? I don't conflict nothing. That's what helped me with my ear -- to know what's hot. That's what 50 originally liked about me, when I was giving him beats like "What Up Gangsta" and "21 Questions." It was beats that I produced, but it was guys that I knew that make beats that I went and collected before it was even my job.

BallerStatus.com: So, would it be safe to say that you are focused more on the business side, than the creative side, making beats and such?

Sha Money XL: Yea, about 75% business. Creatively, I love being in the studio with [Young] Buck. I love being in the studio just during the mix process and the whole creation process. I'm there no matter what.

BallerStatus.com: You used to be President at G-Unit, but that's not true any longer right?

Sha Money XL: Yep, no longer president. I still consult and supply music, and things like that with 50. I also still have relation due to the management of the clients. It was nothing crazy. Everyone thinks something happened. Me and 50 speak still, I just spoke to him actually. Everything is gravy.

50 hit that high level peak and everybody did their goals. Myself, I didn't peak yet. People know who I am and see what I'm doing, but everything is through the skills of what I'm doing for other brothers. I wanna peak in my executive form where you gonna see me at the top of one of these corporations, really taking sh** to a whole another level. That kind of stuff Steve Stoute and Jay-Z is doing, that's the kind of stuff I like, but I like keeping it hip-hop.

BallerStatus.com: What else is in the mix?

Sha Money XL: Really, Cashville Records and getting out this first release, which is Product Of The South, a joint effort with Young Buck and all his talent under his roster. I'm working knee deep with Buck, C-Bo, The Outlawz, and his new artist from Nashville Sosa Da Plug that is a real problem.

Categories: Music        Tags: , ,
Win The Treasury Watch From Ecko Watches' Timepieces Collectionr
Ecko Watches hooked is up with a few watches, so we're hooking you up...
Home | About Us | Advertise With Us | Contact Us | Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy

© BallerStatus.com 2010 ‘Til Infinitiy. Hated On Since 2002. All Rights Reserved.