Beads: Dough, such a pleasure to finally get to interview you.. we've been following your career for a while now. How have things transpired in the past few years for you with not just the entertainment game changing, but business overall?
DoughFromDaGo: What's good fam, basically just stepping up the all around hustle by getting into more hands on activities and always thinking outside the box. Im moving in all directions with fashion, film, books, liquor brands and of course the music still.
The entertainment business is always changing with technology and the internet, you just have to be steps ahead and always stay up to date on business moves.
B: You’re a well-traveled mover and shaker, what do you take away from the experience of networking with different cultures and crowds?
D: I give thanks for all the love that I receive and try to give it back in whatever way I can. I feel that it is a privilege to go to other markets and have relationships as well as take things to a higher magnitude.
I have learned about how important it is to communicate with key relationships at all times and to be assertive while doing so. I understand my role is to uplift artists’ spirits through business, assist brands and bring the best out of them in the process.
B: You have quite a few things on your plate including the anticipated release for your album "Mineral Water". Whats the status and update on this project? What can we expect? What was the process like making the album? From the looks of the trailers, its going to be a very fine release.
D: The album is 80% close to being done, this album is a hands down classic! Hip Hop at its purest form…I put my soul into this, everything from the budgeting, marketing, concepts, direction and overall roll out will make it that much special. Im excited to give it to not just the city and the world, but the hip hop culture.
Its definitely going to be a talked about project, and the producers and artists involved are going to finally get that look they deserve. Behind the scenes, there are a lot of things business wise that are being handled from sample clearances to high quality mixing and such forth, but i guarantee it will be worth the wait! So expect a dope release, head nodding records, dope concepts and a lot of real topics as well as street music. Looking to drop it some time in the 1st quarter, Mineral Water #MH20 on the way! Stay updated on : www.MineralWaterH20.com
B: I’ve read that you got into music production & engineering at an early age, what originally drove you to making beats?
D: I got into making beats at an early age, my oldest sister had a boyfriend who would come by and take me to the studio and he just was grooming me, and showing me the process on recording and how to arrange a song etc. I got into both beats and the engineering at the same time and was always hyped about digging for samples, records and what not.
Then i started going over my big bro Deka Derse crib with my cousin Redd and Deka was introducing me to the drum machines, the SP12, MPC 2000, DR-5, ASR X and keyboards. From there it was on, and i started getting heavy in production. This was way before i got into the business side of the game…definitely still making beats i do it passionately.
D: I have a handful of businessmen that I'm truly inspired by on the day to day, but i would have to ultimately say Jay-Z. He’s successfully gone from era to era and I feel he hasn’t compromised who he is to stay ontop.
B: Chicago is obviously a very diverse place, what are the vibes like amongst the different areas?
D: The vibes are dope, i love my city to the fullest. We have a great network of individuals from music, fashion, film, nightlife and sports. The only thing missing is a bit more unity and creations of our own infrastructures. We have to dictate our own system, break our own artists and create our own industry to facilitate every thing we are set out to do as a city and as a market.
B: Which ingredient do you think is most essential in marketing and branding and why?
D: Social media hands down, followed by a good team that knows how to follow and execute. Getting your brand and message in front of people who don’t know who you are, or don’t remember you, is difficult. That’s why getting visibility away from your own channels is so important. All in all, its just a method thing…once you have your method down, the world is yours.
B: What do you have coming up for 2017?
D: The Mineral Water Album is top priority, we are going to have an amazing rollout for it. Visuals for every song on the album, a dope live band listening party. I want to put together a small tour for this as well as some exciting follow ups for the whole "Mineral Water" brand.
Of course my clothing and apparel brand "Bag Language" which you can cop some gear on: www.ShopBagLanguage.com (New pieces on the way). Im working on a book titled "The Color Green" which i want to put out in fall of 2017. And we got a lot of dope artists we are developing as well as some quality project releases. Just working man. Leveling Up
Photos Courtesy of @MudWingMedia