Exposed Vocals Interviews King Smacka
Royal Money The Empire was founded by four individuals, King Smacka (Mike), King Problem (Jp) Slimjamin Franklin (Justin), & Stan Edwards. How we even came up with the concept was crazy because we were all doing our own thing but decided to join as one after numerous conversations. Trying to create a name without changing any of our indivdual brand names-
( King Smacka – Royal Money )
( King Problem – ForeverBestMoney )
( Slimjamin Franklin – Sound Of Money Records)
Would be tricky but put all of our brands together and gave birth to Royal Money The Empire. Disregarding the fact that we all came from different neighborhoods, different backgrounds, and even had slightly different music, we were able to come together as family and business partners to seek the vision to create the platform and provide to the next generation what wasn’t provided for us. Currently we’re finishing up Royal Money Vol. 1 while King Smacka and Problem both are working on there solo mixtapes. Mean while Slim is already on his 3rd mixtape while only dropping one so far which was his very first one ” Trippy Hippy” currently he, has not released the others.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
King Smacka: I grew up In North Oakland California. A small city where most people don’t and won’t make it out. The reason for rapping is to inspire any and everybody going through the struggle just to let them know we will make it out.
King Problem: I Grew up in West Oakland in a working class family but like most families, it was a lot of up’s and down’s, a lot of secrets and lies. I love being in that spotlight knowing something I might say can change a person’s life.
Slimjamin Franklin: I am from Pittsburg, California, a small town where there isn’t much hope of making it out. I wanted to be able to voice out for the people around me and my self.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
King Smacka: One of my older brothers C.B. came up with that name for me when I was about 15 due to the fact I always had his back in any type of situation. We used to have this old saying, “one swing we all swing” and we still live by that every day in more ways than people think.
King Problem: King means a very important person, someone to look up to and problem came from my personality.
Slimjamin Franklin: Slim was given to me by King Problem and the Slimjamin Franklin created from it once I got older and made my own money moves.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
King Smacka: I feel the online sharing is one of the best options ever due to the fact people can reach places across the world that might not be an option at the moment and yes I give away a lot of music for free because I don’t do it for the money I do it to change and save lives.
King Problem: Yes I do it for the streets; I do it to be heard. It’s a lot of talented people that aren’t being heard.
Slimjamin Franklin: Online sharing is a vital way to reach out to the community that we are building also we give away a lot of music because it meant to touch a person and promote greatness.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
King smacka: Present yourself the way you want to be seen.
King problem: Hustle, grind, go after our dreams, have hope because giving up isn’t an option.
Slimjamin Franklin: My advice is to create as much material for the specific purposes to be used to present yourself.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
King smacka: My inspiration is my family, the blood sweat and tears we have endured so I’m forced to represent for my bloodline and to be real the process always start right in either one of our neighborhoods sitting our car’s reminiscing about our life.
King problem: My inspiration comes from the pain that my family and I have been threw. I find when I’m around my family and I feel the love I just start going in.
Slimjamin Franklin: My inspiration usually comes from the reminiscing on where I’ve come from in my life, so I began by defining what I will speak about or deliver.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
King Smacka:
https://m.Soundcloud.com/kingsmacka
https://m.Youtube.com/channel/ucbb56ser___dxaytks9ep5g
https://www.Reverbnation.com/kingsmacka?profile_view_source=header_icon_nav
https://www.Instagram.com/foreverbestmoney_
Twitter.com/kingsmacka
New Visual Link: https://youtu.be/djr2y0udefw
King problem: Google my name to see what site’s I’m on.
Slimjamin Franklin:
Soundcloud.com/slim925
Hulkshare.com/slimjamin_franklin
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
King Smacka: Give my grandmother some money first and for most, fund our business to hire my type of people to give them the opportunity to make something out of their selves. Last but not least big family vacation.
King Problem: Invest into something that will help me in the long run as far as putting money in my music and business.
Slimjamin Franklin: First I would start by recording mixtapes and singles while focusing on graphics and visuals for marketing purposes ultimately leading to the duplication process of physical editing.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
King Smacka: Any way that’s secure and beneficial to my team and I also anyone starting from nothing are away our main focus due to the fact we can build our empires together while helping each other out but mainly we pay for promotion, have to break bread to make bread.
King Problem: By getting up and personally promoting my music on everything as far as social media as well as talking to different producers to get our music heard.
Slimjamin Franklin: By looking for pages/ platforms who offer a platform for upcoming indie artist by pounding exposure in a variety of locations.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
King Smacka: Royal Money The Mixtape Vol. 1 will be dropping in April also I have solo mixtape coming soon, no date no name just working making product.
King Problem: Getting ready to drop the Royal Money Vol. 1 mixtape. I’m also in the middle process of dropping my own mixtape.
Slimjamin Franklin: Next my label is dropping Royal Money The Mixtape Vol.1 in April while I will be dropping the “Campaign Trail” at a later date this year.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
King Smacka: Music IS NOT what I do; it’s what I HAVE TO DO. This isn’t my career; I really go to work to feed my son and my family. I been in the street’s but somehow I’m still stuck in them as far as location so that forces me to still be a certain way but believe it’s a better way. Everything happens for a reason we just have to figure out what that is, OAKLAND CALIFORNIA is home.
King Problem: Music doesn’t make me meaning I’ll be the same person I am now, a young fly man taking care of his family being an example.
Slimjamin Franklin: I’d probably by impatient and rowdy stumbling into trouble if I never developed my passion.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
King Smacka: Trying to juggle life period is a hassle. It seems like there aren’t enough hour’s in a day. We are forced to slave just to maintain life and at the same time keep up with our peers which is really impossible but once you know the truth about life then things get a lot easier.
King Problem: Going to church when I can and just taking it one day at a time thanking god.
Slimjamin Franklin: I work myself at my own pace pushing myself in different aspects of my life, maintaining a level composure
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
King Smacka: Motivation, inspiration, self-belief, videos. Interviews, features, just being everywhere. They will feel the music, enjoy the music, and most definitly relate to it