When thinking of major record labels that went from underground to mainstream yet remained independent in the music industry, names like No limit Records and Cash Money Records come to mind. Make room for more because labels like G.E.T.T.Y. Muzic are sure to follow in the footsteps of moguls like Master P. and Baby.
The founding members of the G.E.T.T.Y (Grinding Even Tougher Than You) Muzic po
werhouse Shawk and Fu Fool The Million Dollar MouthPiece have set the bar pretty high for independent labels in the south. The two businessmen established the label officially in
2018. Never looking back, the foundation was formed to create a platform to connect music artists with those who actually know the music business. Oftentimes, conversations about independent artists multitasking their careers from booking managers to social media managers create even more space for G.E.T.T.Y Muzic to take the lead.
Though the label does not set its focus on one particular genre, hip hop and rap music gave them the edge they needed to break out in the neighboring cities of Charleston, South Carolina. ” Hip Hop started as a main genre, but we have ventured into all genres of music. When drums beat, words speak.” Shawk explained. Music is centered around so many aspects of sounds, instruments, and genres. Blues has definitely influenced them all in one way or another. Other members of the label such as Big De’ Omega, Red Dawg Da Official 1, Truff Towers, Pressure and Roper Just Might, all display those examples within the rhythm of their songs and tracks.
With the need to stay in the lane of trending, many indie artists are mimicking major national recording artists like Da Baby, Migos, Drake and Cardi B. When making this huge mistake, copycats stand out much quicker than those who develop their own lyrical flow and tone. Sometimes copycats rise to the top quicker solely based on those similarities that are more popular. G.E.T.T.Y Muzic was birthed on prideful core values that maintain their artists continuous new sounds, and flavor while putting class to music. Come Get This Money With Me, Mingling, G.E.T.T.Y Star and Only Be Fu (Fu Fool) are some examples of the range of talent within this label.
Social media has made a huge impact on indie artists getting discovered. This has been a great tool that has become the most popular and cost effective way to promote and market new sounds and gain a larger fan base. As great as an asset social media can be, it can also hinder the many who seek out their big break as well. Shawk expressed, “Social media has both a negative and positive impact on the industry. Regardless of the impact, just remember there is an audience for everyone. Negative can be positive as well as positive can be negative. It always comes down to the consumer to decide.
Shawk also feels like many independent labels are being established because people are becoming more aware of their own intellectual properties and those opportunities can create their own generational wealth. Nonetheless, “Grinding Even Tougher Than You” is a name that holds its own musical legacy which simply means; A group of individuals that never faltered from their goals. Fans can expect so much more for G.E.T.T.Y in the future like more merchandise, clothing, vlogs, and a web series to name a few. Even with all that this label has on its table, helping others to build a culture of success is their main goal. “If you think we are doing it, we are already doing it.”