“My big brother was BIG’s brother/Used to be Dame & Bigg’s brother.”
When you we look back 20 years, it’s amazing to reflect on all the life changing music we’ve experienced. Some artists were one hit wonders and others have stood the test of time. But how many can say they were the rock behind the artist? How many can say they stood the test of time behind the scenes? And built a strong empire that can’t be broken down? Not many. Not even few. But out of that small bunch, Kareem “Biggs” Burke is the only one you should be paying attention to.
Biggs is a mastermind. No, seriously. The man built Roc-A-Fella records, alongside Dame Dash, and helped Jay Z, one of the greatest artists of all time, get to where he is now. And if you need to know how, just listen to Reasonable Doubt. But one of the most amazing aspects to Biggs is that he is humble. Really humble. Though he is well aware of his importance to hip-hop, he remains happy to be a part of it all. And it’s clear that he wants nothing but to see those around him be as happy and successful as he is.
RESPECT.: How does it feel that it’s been 20 years since the album came out?
Biggs: I’m really happy. And, you know, to see the success of this pop-up event and to see these young kids. They don’t know if they were in this error or not and kind of really just gravitate towards it. I was just telling them, we just got the numbers back earlier and it was 150,000, you know, in less than a day. The numbers that we’re doing is phenomenal and to know that the Fourth of November my new gunner brand is pushing that because of the price point, that’s what’s really shocking. So, more or less though I’m really happy that people are coming through, enjoying the exhibit because when people do pop up shops it’s not really an experience. It’s like, go in, we got some stuff, and then leave.
RESPECT.: Right, like we just want your money basically.
We had some Jay Z lyrics that no one has heard. We played that a cappella. So we got all the original equipment, the original stuff that we recorded the album on and the board that DJ Premier used.
RESPECT.: That’s crazy!
We contacted D&D Studios– my chief strategist, she had this idea to put this together– and she contacted Doug. And he said, “I got one thing left.” And the one thing he had left was the most important piece of our history. And then we found the original reels that we recorded on, the skits, just all these things that he kept digging and finding.
RESPECT.: How long did it take you guys to find all that?
Well, she probably worked it one in about two or three days and it took another two days to build it out. And we got the original graffiti artist that did all the graffiti in D&D to do the mural over.
RESPECT.: That’s just amazing to see everything 20 years later.
Yeah, even the vending machine. The vending machine they had back then, had Philly papers, blunts and all that. So we restocked it with the same stuff.
RESPECT.: It must be taking you back.
Definitely.
RESPECT.: Do you miss all the things you were doing back then? Making music and being in this business?
It’s fun. Just being in the studio at that time, that was really the first time I was in any type of studio. It just so happened that I was there for something historic, which was lucky for me but the biggest thing I think about is the luck that we had. Now I tribute that to God but to be friends and get into business with somebody that’s going to be the greatest, probably, artist of all time with the most number one albums in music history–surpassing Sir Elvis Presley–only behind The Beatles and that’s as a group. I mean, we couldn’t have–I couldn’t have planned that.
RESPECT.: I heard a recent interview you did and you mentioned that you didn’t know what the album was going to do.
I mean obviously we were hoping that it would go platinum right away and it went gold but it was still a home run for us. The disappointing part was that we didn’t make any money because of the deal that we signed. So I learned a curve and, if you don’t make those mistakes sometimes it’s hard to move forward. So we’re happy what ended up from that. We did a co-venture with Universal and it opened up a world of opportunities for us. Right? Then Kanye and Cam’ron and Dipset and Beans and all those things came under that umbrella.
RESPECT.: How do you feel to see how successful they all are now?
The reason why I talk about that is because somebody asked me what my legacy was and what I wanted to leave behind. And I thought about it and, I really love to see that, not only the artists but the people that worked for me to see how I carried my business and how I made relationships and made that more important than business. And if they can emulate that and be successful, then that’s the legacy that I want to leave. So to see that these artists are sort of emulating the Blueprint of which we started and using music as a platform to do things outside of that. Music, films, fashion, tech, sports, you know, to do all these different things, jewelry companies. I mean, it’s endless right now. That’s a really important part of building something that you want to leave behind and a legacy you want people to remember you by.
RESPECT.: Would you want to music and do the same thing over again with a new artist ?
No *laughs*
RESPECT.: Just Jay Z that’s it ! *laughs*
No, well, I’m saying obviously it wasn’t Jay Z it was more than that. But I’m passed that. I didn’t get into the music business because I love music. I did it because it was a good opportunity for me. My passion is actually business and my strongest part of that is probably marketing and learning every single faucet of what happens in the business. And whether it’s law-for example- if its a power business there’s retail, there’s production, there’s merchandise, there design. So, that’s fun to me. Learning every nook and cranny of a business and then trying to build our way and building a great team around it.
RESPECT.: And now you’re doing that with your clothing line.
Yeah. That’s what I’m saying. We’re doing it the Fourth of November and we did five million in five months. And we are in our 7th month now so I’m just waiting for those numbers to come in and I’m looking forward to hearing that they’re good. And we surpassed the trajectory of two million so right now, it’s looking like we might hit 10 or 12 million in our first year. I mean, everyone is buying the denim; I can’t wait for it to come in the store and look at the tops and fleece and the hoodies that we have. It’s an exciting time for me.
RESPECT.: And are you working on the next season’s pieces?
Yeah, actually in a power business you design a year ahead.
RESPECT.: Wow, that’s amazing. How do you even do that? To wait and see what trends are coming out?
You got to be a vision. You got to be a person that sparks attraction. It’s a difference between, you know, style and fashion.
RESPECT.: What advice would you give to a young entrepreneur that wants to do something similar, like you?
Be careful on those relationships that you build. For me, put God first and try to learn everything about the business and, have a good partner. Not a lot of people are going to be on the same page as you.
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