Hip-Hop Culture is from the heart and always will be. But it took people with a business mind to make this Culture the thriving juggernaut that it has become over the past three decades. Hip-Hop on the heels of the music industry not only has provided unlimited means of expression and understanding of the day to day struggle that goes on in underprivileged communities. The craft also has made many individuals from those communities very success businessmen.
Inglewood emcee B. Savvy (short for Business Savvy) has a love and passion for music but he also has a passion for business. It only makes sense that the born and raised Inglewood, California emcee turn his music into a business.
We got the chance to sit down with B. Savvy and talk about music as well as the business of music. B. Savvy hit us with his latest music video “ING BALLIN” as well as the part one of his three album series “The Internship”.
We spoke on everything from e-commerce to merch to 360 record deals. Checkout the interview below.
A2HH: Where are you from?
B Savvy: Inglewood, California. Born and raised out here. Grew up in and around the city.
A2HH: What’s the rap scene like in Inglewood right now?
Savvy: West coast, still real West coast. A lot of independent artist comin up in the city, making names for themselves. It’s keeping true to what the West Coast is about.
A2HH: I can hear that in your music. Your new single “ING BALLIN” is SO West Coast. How did that song come together?
Savvy: That song came together when I first had the idea that I would pursue music seriously. I had always been singing that hook. I’d be in my homie’s car humming it and I always knew that I was gonna turn that melody into a song, I’m gonna spin that melody. When I started making the album “The Internship” I was like, I need to put this together. I already knew I was gonna have my boy EASE sing the hook. When it came down to writing the song the energy was there. My producer Skinnyman made the beat from scratch and he made exactly what I heard in my head and that’s what we came out with.
A2HH: Did Skinnyman handle most of your production on “The Internship”?
Savvy: Yeah, Skinnyman did a bulk of the project. He works with a lot of recognized artist out here but he’s still in the streets tho workin with Inglewood artist. I work with him tough.
A2HH: Where did your name come from?
Savvy: I used to go by Kid, that’s the name that people gave me. B Savvy came from me taking my music seriously. I’m always into business and looking at other ventures outside of music. B. Savvy means Business Savvy, and that came because I know that I wanted to make sure whatever business I’m doing I love what I’m doing. Music is something that’s in me and I love doing it. So when I finally said that I’m gonna make it a business that’s when Business Savvy came.
A2HH: What made you start to take music seriously?
Savvy: I started early on. I started when I was like 16, I started writing. I always would hear, even when I did my first mixtape when I was younger that people in my city was like “It’s hot, what you can do is something special”. What makes me take is serious now is just living life and understanding that what I want to do is what I have a passion for versus working 40 hours a week somewhere for somebody that don’t care about you. Somebody that don’t wanna see your best or see you be as successful as they are. I didn’t wanna be out here slaving for somebody else. I wanted to choose my path. If I had to choose my path I’d rather I fail on my path. That’s when I came back to the music.
A2HH: Where did the name of the project “The Internship” come from?
Savvy: The Internship came from the name B Savvy. I figured that if I was gonna make an introduction with my first solo project, I felt like the internship is something I’m giving you for free. I’m giving you all this with my internship but I understand I’m working right now. You’re seeing the work. I wanted to show you that passion that I’m willing to work for free. This was my internship into the game. I plan on making it a 3 part series to let you know as I move forward in this game you’re gonna see my growth. With the internship I’m showing you that I’m working regardless if you’ve heard of me and regardless if you pass me up you’re gonna see that I’m working and you’re gonna see my work ethic.
A2HH: Is the next project you’re working on going to be the second part of “The Internship” series?
Savvy: Nah, the next project droppin in March is going to be a mixtape. The titled hasn’t been chosen yet but what I’m doing is I’m about to drop a single. I’m going through some singles right now. Really focus on the visual thing right now. I see that’s the nature of the business at this current moment. So before I even put out the project it’s gonna be a lot of singles coming up this year with a lot of visuals for the people to take in. I’m gonna feed you and then I’m gonna give you game.
A2HH: Who are some of your influences in the game?
Savvy: Past is Jay Z. That’s one of my biggest influences. Writing creatively Biggie and Pac are some people that showed you how to do it with that smooth talk. I also like Wayne and Rick Ross, I kinda like a lot of the guys at the top of the game. In that sense I have somewhat of a mainstream mindset. People at the top get a lot of hate and that comes with the top. The more love you get the more hate you’re gonna get. All the hate some of these guys at the top get that’s the intensity of the love they putting out. They gonna hate on you but that’s because they can’t do what you do.
A2HH: What would B Savvy think is a savvy business move in 2019?
Savvy: I think e-commerce, what we’ve seen over the past few years with what Jeff Bezos has been able to do with Amazon. He touched a billion in one Christmas off of e-commerce. What Bezos’ business has done for FedEx and UPS business is on another level. He gave them so many boxes they couldn’t deliver. Know how much money was lost in the middle of that? So, I think e-commerce in the way for the future. Low cost to startup and build up on your own. You learn how to market on your own and it’s a game changer for you. You see how Kylie got her money, that’s all on her. That’s all online. We’re in an online world, we’re moving fast and making money faster.
A2HH: A lot of different revenue streams have been made available to artist in this current climate. Do you sell merch?
Savvy: Yeah, I definitely sell merch. Even with Popup stores it’s an online game too. Even with merchandising it’s all about building a brand for yourself. Even past the clothes, but really building brands. Learning how to make money off of yourself. It’s a business and you’ve gotta run it like one.
A2HH: What’s your recording process like?
Savvy: Skinnyman produced the whole album with the exception of one song. So it’s a cohesive project. But our recording process is us going to the studio and whenever I’m feelin something just go in. Our engineer Mark Solomon is the wizard, he puts the sound together and gives it that good sound. Skinnyman gives me the ball and I just go in there and cook. You’re building a team when you do this music thing. That’s what I’ve come to realize. One can’t do it by himself, you need the right pieces with you and the right energy around you.
A2HH: In terms of record deals what do you think about 360 Deals?
Saavy: I think it brings you more attention than money.
A2HH: Does attention bring money tho?
Savvy: Not all the time, I wouldn’t make that gamble. I’m looking for leverage, risk is deadly. When you’re putting everything on the line attention isn’t always the best thing for you. If you’re a smart artist that’s a different story, go do your commercials and get everything that the music industry will allow yo to get.
A2HH: What’s the date for the new mixtape?
Savvy: The date is around March, March 15th or so. I’m more focused on getting the singles out right now and flooding the web with those visuals. I’m gonna get my team together and have them go through some records I’ve been creating on my own. They’re gonna go through some songs and I’m gonna have them pick some singles.
A2HH: Anymore 2019 releases we need to know about?
Savvy: I plan on droppin an album for the summer. That’s gonna be the second part to The Internship. Just know that I’m about to drop a lot of visuals. You about to get ING BALLIN time 100!!!
