by Sheryl Nance-Nash
Shondrae “Bangladesh” Crawford says he isn’t the kind of person to just let things be. He wasn’t content to stay in his native Des Moines, Iowa and left more than a decade ago to capitalize on the Atlanta music scene.
The former barber saved up money to buy his own beat machine in 1998. Two years later, the producer, now a nominee for VIBE’s Best Producer of All-Time award, had his first big hit with Ludacris’ “What’s Your Fantasy.” He has since worked with the likes of Beyonce, Missy Elliott, Usher, Busta Rhymes, Sean Garrett and Ciara, but the name that’s on his mind right now is Lil’ Wayne.
Earlier this year he filed suit against Cash Money Records over an estimated $500,000 in royalty checks he says he’s owed for producing Lil’ Wayne’s mega-hit “A Milli”, that earned him the Best Rap Solo Performance at the 2009 Grammy’s and helped push Tha Carter III to platinum status in one week.
The situation highlights the complications of the music business and the bad business practices which hinder the work of many behind-the-scenes music makers.
What did you have in place to protect yourself?
I had a standard contract. There was nothing in it that gave them the right not to pay. They just aren’t paying.
Is this situation unusual?
Yes. I get paid royalties from other people without problems. I get royalties from Beyonce and she’s bigger than Lil’ Wayne. Everybody is supposed to get paid. I am not the only one who is owed money by Cash Money. I’m the one speaking up though. Nobody has received money. Others are scared to say something because they don’t want to burn bridges. But I say, what bridge are you burning?
They are not going to use you again if they owe you money. I don’t care how another man feels about his credibility if he isn’t doing the right thing. I’m not worried about stepping on Lil’ Wayne’s toes. I’m not worried about what people think – that’s why I made it where I am. I’m my own person. Cash Money has a history of not paying. Manny Fresh wasn’t getting paid, which is why he is no longer with the company. If they will do their own people like that, they will do worse with outsiders.
Whose responsibility is it to pay you: the artist or the record company?
They are an independent company.. They get all their money up front and control the distribution of the money. It’s up to them to pay me. I’m not just asking for money like I’m broke. I’m owed this money. Tha Carter III sold something like 4 million albums and went platinum in a week. I should have gotten paid in the first royalty period, which is usually 6-9 months. This isn’t really Lil’ Wayne’s fault. He’s caught in the situation. At one time he was trying to leave Cash Money. I think deep down inside he understands what I’m going through.
Why are you taking a stand on this?
When people break contracts you have to make the next step. Everybody is trying to save money. It’s all about politics. If the label gives a $1 million budget, the company is going to try and keep as much as they can at the expense of quality. They try to compensate and spend money on what’s not so great. They depend on the big name to carry the song, and think the beat is less important.
Has this experience changed you, or how you do business?
I’m built for this. It hasn’t changed me. I want to bring attention to this, so that other people will know who they’re dealing with if they want to do business with Cash Money.
What advice do you have for those getting started in the business?
Don’t be gullible. Don’t be so happy to get that first contract. Know what you’re getting into. You don’t want to realize later, I signed a bad contract. Once you sign it, you can’t get mad at nobody.
For more articles on the music industry, check out our original stories on the business of producing and the business of songwriting.
