How does Rick Ross afford all those music videos?

KingGivBiz

This guy must have a video for every song he made by now.. even if it was a thousand cheap videos, how does he afford all that?

infamous114

Well it's easy when he has his own film team within his label...Dre Films and Spiff TV Films

grumpy_new_yorker

he must have boatloads of cash from all that cocaine he talks about flippin' in his rhymes...

he can afford it.

Monizzle14

Ross is like tyler perry he puts out allot of content but doesn't spend as much as the rest of the industry. How many videos you seen of ross and or a mmg nigga just rapping in front of a nice car and or just riding around and getting in type shit? Then you shit like hold me back where hes just in a hood all day with the locals which is cheap as fuck too. Dre films just follows him around and tapes everything he does and turns them into music videos/vlogs and other content.

But everything is consistently done cinematically without a hollywood price. It's a smart cookie cutter model that is a good marketing tool. And being the fact he is a former C.O. who really doesn't live what he talks it clouds you from knowing the real william roberts. I respect officer rozays hustle. He works smart not hard.

Amotekun

Fed money runs deep.

H-Rap 180

You take control of your culture.

Maybach Films (Spiff, Jon J, Dre & Shutah) do all the Vlogs and Visuals in-house so everything is self-contained,
minority owned and cost efficient. (Taj, Boomtown, F Gary Grey etc have done some of the major videos)


The Vlogs, Videos, & Visuals are more than just vehicles for the music they also serve as promotional tools for the other artists on the label in addition to promoting the products and endorsements that MMG have invested in which is why Meek, Stalley & Ross all have separate endorsements from Puma, Nike & Reebok....Ciroc Boys too.


Of course some corny white-washed square will allude to the fact that he spent a year in Intake as a C.O. but you dont see these rappers from the streets having an issue with it just the anonymous blog-nerds who ain't comfortable enough with their own identity to be questioning someone elses.


Every label is going to be structured like this in the future with an A&R team, visual team, in-house production, promo teams & artists with movements under one movement.

El Payaso

Noreaga probably pays for them on account of all the favors he owes the bowse.

GeE-757

H-Rap 180 wrote: »

You take control of your culture.

Maybach Films (Spiff, Jon J, Dre & Shutah) do all the Vlogs and Visuals in-house so everything is self-contained,
minority owned and cost efficient. (Taj, Boomtown, F Gary Grey etc have done some of the major videos)


The Vlogs, Videos, & Visuals are more than just vehicles for the music they also serve as promotional tools for the other artists on the label in addition to promoting the products and endorsements that MMG have invested in which is why Meek, Stalley & Ross all have separate endorsements from Puma, Nike & Reebok....Ciroc Boys too.


Of course some corny white-washed square will allude to the fact that he spent a year in Intake as a C.O. but you dont see these rappers from the streets having an issue with it just the anonymous blog-nerds who ain't comfortable enough with their own identity to be questioning someone elses.


Every label is going to be structured like this in the future with an A&R team, visual team, in-house production, promo teams & artists with movements under one movement.

XACTLY....& y is ice niggerz who play HOCKEY even speakin on ross?? smh

CC_Poncho

It's called renting...

Monizzle14

GeE-757 wrote: »

H-Rap 180 wrote: »

You take control of your culture.

Maybach Films (Spiff, Jon J, Dre & Shutah) do all the Vlogs and Visuals in-house so everything is self-contained,
minority owned and cost efficient. (Taj, Boomtown, F Gary Grey etc have done some of the major videos)


The Vlogs, Videos, & Visuals are more than just vehicles for the music they also serve as promotional tools for the other artists on the label in addition to promoting the products and endorsements that MMG have invested in which is why Meek, Stalley & Ross all have separate endorsements from Puma, Nike & Reebok....Ciroc Boys too.


Of course some corny white-washed square will allude to the fact that he spent a year in Intake as a C.O. but you dont see these rappers from the streets having an issue with it just the anonymous blog-nerds who ain't comfortable enough with their own identity to be questioning someone elses.


Every label is going to be structured like this in the future with an A&R team, visual team, in-house production, promo teams & artists with movements under one movement.

XACTLY....& y is ice niggerz who play HOCKEY even speakin on ross?? smh

@mrcee757 the fact you think asher roth is "kool" makes you less credible to speak on hip hop than an african american that plays hockey and actually knows how to type in english and make valid points. but please tell us how kool it is to support viacom's music tv conglomerate and call black people who play sports "niggers" lmao.

KingGivBiz

Ross should just sell DVD's of his music, his shit would surely reach platinum... I'd buy two for each head rest...

b@squ1@t redux

fuck the faggot typin paragraphs bringing up blog-nerds when hes a gotdamn "blogger" himself

jesus christ @ the self ether

theres a simple answer to the t/s' question:


anybody can do it

MR.CJ

KingGivBiz wrote: »

Ross should just sell DVD's of his music, his shit would surely reach platinum... I'd buy two for each head rest...

like studio sessions?

b@squ1@t redux

"hey (former runway model) check out this picture of a guy who talks shit to me from this Internet message board where I've gotten men's numbers off of who I text regularly. Doesn't he look like a fag? LOL"--aged rap

ROZAYTABERNACLE

Leave it to the MMGroupies to come in and defend their leader, C.O. of the year, rap's hottest impersonator of the year as voted by MTV!

H-Rap 180

@KingGivBiv

The street DVD era kinda peaked and fizzled out but that was the formula French Montana used to get his feet in the game. Peeps be sleepin.

I think WSHH & YouTube is the main outlet now for visuals and it's faster and easier than the DVD format but I think I heard one of them say they might do a tour documentary.

loch121

yeah it's not hard these days.

he doesn't make Hype Williams special effects vids so it's easy to crank them out.

Shit I got like 100 freestyles on youtube,regular music vids, and random shit and I'm indie

Theodis

looks real expensive...

b@squ1@t redux

lmao @ young retard william in that gif

T. Sanford

Ross & 50 other shirtless niggas in a video with no women around

"time to lay down thes niggas who still be masquerading/we know you pu**ies, so you got my niggas masturbating"

"niggas get abused like boys from Penn State"

Ross is a faggot

Monizzle14

b@squ1@t redux wrote: »

fuck the faggot typin paragraphs bringing up blog-nerds when hes a gotdamn "blogger" himself

jesus christ @ the self ether

theres a simple answer to the t/s' question:


anybody can do it

Granted after every album he buys mr cee 757 posts his picture to the ic with a recipt and a hand from his tolken black friend to make it appear like hes not a crakka. But somehow everyone else whos not obsessed with posting picutres on the IC are somehow more nerdy lmao.

Wild Self

HD cameras make shit easy these days

DNB1

y is ice niggerz who play HOCKEY even speakin on ross?? smh

LMAO....Ice niggerz...hilarious

GeE-757

loch121 wrote: »

yeah it's not hard these days.

he doesn't make Hype Williams special effects vids so it's easy to crank them out.

Shit I got like 100 freestyles on youtube,regular music vids, and random shit and I'm indie

Thulsa Doom wrote: »

looks real expensive...

lol

H-Rap 180

How does DRE Films find time to do an interview? It’s a random question that the man in charge of heading Maybach Music Group’s film and marketing division is struggling to answer. After all, when you are the visual brains behind arguably the most omnipresent rapper on the scene today, Rick Ross, you more than have your hands full. From directing videos (among the many clips Ross’ “Rich Forever” and “Yella Diamonds,” Meek Mill’s “Amen” and Wale’s “Ambition”) to overseeing MMG’s viral and blogging campaigns, DRE has built a praise-worthy reputation within the music business.

Now with the news that Rozay’s fifth album God Forgives, I Don’t is set to debut no. 1 with first week SoundScan sales of 220,000, DRE won’t be getting any sleep anytime soon. VIBE caught up with the visual talent to discuss his love for video direction, Rick Ross’ evolution as MMG’s boss, Gunplay’s swastika tattoo, why Meek Mill’s stardom was a surprise, and much more.—Keith Murphy

On other videos I did a lot of videos for Ross’ Rich Forever. ‘So Sophisticated’ ‘High Definition,’ ‘Yella Diamonds’, ‘Swear To God,’ Wale’s ‘Ambition’…Meek’s ‘House Party’ and ‘Amen’
Can you talk about the first time you met Rick Ross? What is your earliest memory of him?
The first time I met Ross was at a music video shoot that I was doing for Masspike Miles called “Street Judge.” This was in 2010 and I was surprised because Ross showed up out of nowhere. I didn’t know he was going to make a cameo. I’m just out in the middle of Carol City [in Miami] shooting and I see the Phantom pull up and I’m like, ‘What the hell is going on?’ [laughs]

That had to be nuts, right?
It was shocking. Just for me to know that from where I started in the game one of the biggest artists in the rap industry is coming to my set. And when Ross got there he was very cool and did what I asked him to do. And then he started shooting pointers at me like, “You have to put out a behind-the-scenes first, you have to push it like this…” Once he saw the video when it came out Ross approached me and told me he really loved it. He loved the concept and a lot of shots and told me he was going to make me rich [laughs]. That’s where it all started.

When did you know that your life would never be the same after you joined MMG and Maybach Films?
When I got a phone call from Ross and his manager Gucci Pucci asking me if I had a passport and if I was ready to go to Canada and start shooting for them. My first gig with Ross was the “BMF” video. We started shooting blogs and other music videos. That’s when it really started for me.

When did you know that Rick Ross had become a superstar?
When “BMF” came out. Everybody kinda knew he was the next star. And me being from Miami there are not a lot of acts from Miami on his level. So obviously, my goal as a director was to want to work with him. I started working with artists on his label and eventually I got his attention.

What kind of label boss is Ross? How has he evolved as a label head?
When I started with him, Meek [Mill] and Wale were not even on the label. There was some talk about it. But once everybody started coming on board I just saw Ross put on his boss hat and make sure all the necessary moves got executed. He was the one making sure all MMG artists had the right beats and the right features; that everybody was working is working and promoting their project. It’s incredible how Ross manages to come out with such a classic piece of work like God Forgives, I Don’t and at the same time he’s helping everyone else put out their projects like Wale’s Ambition and Meek Mill’s Dreams & Nightmares. It’s been great to watch.

Tell the truth…Ross has a clone, right?
[Laughs] It’s just crazy. Everything Ross touches turns to gold.

Does Ross have a secret hobby that we don’t know about? Is he a sick gardener; is he a monster at Monopoly?
Ross is unbeatable at Call of Duty! He is serious about that game. He whips everybody…I can’t even play against him anymore [laughs]. He is so disrespectful when he plays. He doesn’t care.

What was it about the art of video direction that inspired you to make it a career?
I was doing graphic design before this and my cousin Jon J, who is actually doing videos with me now and does a lot of stuff for Wale and Meek, he was an aspiring rapper. I had a camera one day and I think I had just started working with an iMac in 2009. It had iMovie and I told Jon, ‘Hey, I can shoot something. I can put something together if I can get through the tutorial.’ And we went out to the streets and we started shooting some scenes, and I spent two days editing this video. And it was the worst video I had ever did [laughs].

But I bet you thought it was the greatest thing ever put to film at that point, right?
Right! We thought it was the sh-t! I really enjoyed the time I spent outside driving around looking for shooting locations. I enjoyed the editing process. I got hooked after that. I started investing in myself and into cameras and its been on ever since.

Have you sat down recently to watch that video?
Yeah, I have. But it’s hard to find. Whenever I do see it I’m like, ‘Man…’

Some of your recent videos like Meek Mill’s ‘Amen’ and Ross’ ‘Yella Diamonds’ have been very controversial. Did you realize you were going to get push back from those clips?
Around that time we knew “Amen” was controversial. But I don’t think the video was controversial. I felt like the video was fun. There was no religious imagery in that video. We were just thanking God for the good times. And Meek was just thanking God for his success. He’s on tour with Drake and he’s flying in private jets. It’s a dream come true and a blessing. That’s really Meek’s lifestyle and there’s nothing fake about it. I think all the controversy came from that pastor trying to make a name for himself.

Before we get into ‘Yella Diamonds,’ are you shocked at how big Meek Mill has become within the hip-hop landscape?
When I first met Meek, I didn’t know he would become what he is today. I didn’t know of him when I first met him. That’s when he was just signing with Ross. And Ross told me during a video for DJ Khaled’s “In My Hood” to shoot “Ima Boss.” So I ended up shooting the viral version for it, but I didn’t know it was going to become that big. For me to be attached to that was crazy.



DRE Films Talks Rick Ross’ MMG Takeover, Love For Visuals, And Gunplay | Vibe[/QUOTE]

H-Rap 180

What was your reaction when the video for “Yella Diamonds” was banned from television?
I come from a background where I’m just hungry and willing to experiment. I just felt like for that record I had to bring Ross’ lyrics to life. And those lyrics are pretty raw. I wanted to get in there and make some people act. That’s the lane I’m going for. I’m preparing myself to direct a feature film.

What are some of your upcoming videos fans should be looking out for?
We have “911” off of Ross’ new album. We are writing a treatment right now for “Ice Cold” featuring Omarion. And I have a big surprise dropping this week.

Is it a clip for “3 Kings”?
[Laughs]…I’m not saying.

Hip-Hop has always been about characters. And one character that everyone seems to be talking about is Gunplay, who recently talked about his inspiration behind his swastika tattoo. Did you do a spit-take when dude was interviewed about his controversial ink?
All I can say is Gunplay is a unique individual. He’s very talented. The thing about Gunplay is people don’t see that kind of wild character in hip-hop today. People are attracted to that. He has that crazy, I-don’t-give-a-fu-k energy.

So no comments on the swastika? You are good.
[Laughs] I’m not going to touch that one. I just feel like Gunplay is an underdog story. People saw him come from the bottom. All of a sudden people see him getting all this attention.

What’s the best part about being a part of the MMG team?
I’m just blessed to be in this game. I feel like I’ve helped to create a powerful movement. I’ve helped with the visuals and made sure we are consistent with the blogs and virals because it’s all about the fans. I’m proud of that. For me, it’s not just about being a director. You have to make sure the visuals are promoted in the correct way. I go extra hard on the promotions and marketing. I’m tweeting all day. I don’t want to put that in somebody else’s hands because it’s my project. I’m just doing what I love.