Maf: Maffia Records - 10 Questions
Birmingham based label The Maffia are ready to take Black British music by storm The Maffia is headed up by one of UK music’s most innovative Musical Creative Directors with a successful career spanning over 10 years where he has aided some of the UK’s best artists to shape their brand such as Lotto Boyzz, Mist and Sneakbo.
The Maffa pride themselves on the music being in favour of the artist rather than the standard 80-20 split record deal. Their first release was ‘Brum Town Anthem’ featuring some of the city's biggest artists, it was the first time artists such as Trilla, Og Niki, Sox and C4 had all come together for the first time, representing unity and marking a cultural move for the music scene in Birmingham.
The Maffia also launched The Hard Knock Foundation; a charity that enables students under the age of 21 in Birmingham to access recording studio time and high-quality facilities at a discounted rate, that’s being reinvested into the charity. The Hard Knock Foundation gives over 500 homeless and vulnerable people hot meals every week whilst also helping young and budding musicians further their dreams.
Maf sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
Wordplay Magazine: Can you tell me how it all began? How did Maffia Records come about?
Maf: Maffia Records started through me being at a really low point in my life and needing a new company for me to channel my energy into. In 2018 I went through a period where I needed to reinvent myself, rebrand and recreate what we were doing and look for a way to actually package the music when it’s coming out, and make it more consumable. That was what made me think to myself, “Ok, I’ve managed a few artists and had quite a bit of success, let me go from doing that to actually setting up my own record label, and do it a different way.” We’re not like a standard, traditional record label where you sign an act and put out music for them. We’re more like a mafia, but a musical and positive mafia where we work as a team. At the moment we’ve got [Big Lyco] who’s just signed to the team; I’m always recruiting, but at the moment I want to focus on Lyco, and on the label. That’s what we’re doing right now.
WP: So far you’ve dropped two massive anthems on Maffia Records, the first being Brum Town and the second more recently Badman. Did you think the records were going to become so popular and get as much traction as they have so far?
M: In all honesty; I’ve worked with big records, and I’ve worked with small records, so what I class as a massive record is probably high in expectations. At the same time, I think being able to put out a record and have a million people listen to it; I definitely appreciate it and think well, we must be doing something right. At least it’s decent enough for us to be in a position where we can be on platforms like this and work with people and be taken seriously, so we’re grateful and I never take anything for granted.
WP: What projects have you got coming out; you’ve just signed a new artist, any EPs or albums dropping with him?
M: Right now we’re working on the Sounds From The Slumz Vol. 1 mixtape which includes loads of artists from the UK. We’ve got the likes of Safone and Stardom on there, we’ve got songs from Sneakbo, Ambush; we’ve got so many different people who want to undertake this 16 track EP. It’s a combination of old and newschool; new generation mixing with the old generation. This is going to be something MAFDOTYOU does every 2-3 years where he comes together and does Sounds From The Slumz Vol. 2, Vol. 3 and he brings artists together. On this EP we’ve got Lyco dropping a few record cuts on there, however our focus for him joining the team is to put out a few singles for him and build a buzz, and solidify his name as an artist.
WP: When can we expect Vol. 1 to drop, or is that still under wraps?
M: I’m not going to put a date to it, but what I can say is it’ll definitely be the beginning of next year. We’re 80% done. There are always opportunities to have bigger records; bigger cuts, opportunities to have more people coming in. When we dropped Badman there’s been more people who are down to link up with the team and make records with us. So rather than rushing and putting it out, let’s wait and see what records we can put on this.
WP: You’re known for fusing gospel and rap music together. It’s a very unique sound. How did you come up with the concept and execute it?
M: I started my career as a gospel artist, had a record deal, toured the UK, but it felt like I was chasing vanity and being fake to myself. So back in 2013-2014 I decided to stop what I was doing and change paths. Now the only element that I have from the gospel scene is where I bring in church sounds, or I might have some real heartfelt strings, or keys that are soulful in a record. Even though I’m a Christian and I still go to church, I understand that my job and my religion are two different things and I try my best to see if there are ways I can drop little hints, but I have to be real with myself and try and keep both of them separate.
WP: What would you say is your proudest moment to date as a label boss and as an artist?
M: I’d definitely say being able to create the brand from scratch and turning it into something. It took me less than 8 months to break a UK act, which is not something that’s easy to do. Being able to bring Birmingham together, especially with the amount of egos here. With Brum Town there were a lot of verses from amazing artists that didn’t actually make the cut, but they were still delivered. Just being able to go out and get a verse from 15 other Birmingham artists and bring them together; that’s my proudest achievement as an artist so far.
WP: Have you got any advice for our readers who might be trying to play the mad game of music?
M: What I would say is – be real with yourself. When you make music you have to think to yourself; what I’m making here, is this something that I would want to listen to myself? Be real with yourself. And persistence breaks resistance. Even if the door is as thick as a bank vault door; even if you’re knocking for a thousand years, eventually it’s going to open. That’s just how the law of attraction works. Don’t get involved in music unless you’re down to be out here with nothing, knowing that all you have is the dream of where you’re going, and that’s all you have to hold onto. If the dream hasn’t come yet – you weather the storm. You go through your practice hours, go through your grind, and know that you’re willing to dedicate your life to this. If you don’t have that kind of hunger, don’t do it.
WP: You’re also the founder of the Hard Knock Life foundation. Can you tell me a little about it and the work you do?
M: We’ve been going for a year and a half now and one of our goals is to feed as many homeless people in Birmingham as we can. But our main aim is going into schools and finding the new kids; running workshops, bringing them into our studio in Walsall and giving them the opportunity to use the professional equipment and record; be around artists, and have experience from a young age. Eventually we want to expand on us being able to feed the homeless and help in other countries, but we start from somewhere and at the moment these food banks we run and the workshops for the students; this is a good start for us.
WP: What albums are on your playlist right now?
M: I would definitely say More Love, Less Ego by Whizzkid, and Sorry 4 What by Tory Lanez. Asake’s Mr Money With The Vibe; that’s another album I have on heavy rotation right now.
WP: What do you like to when you’re not working or making music?
Play UFC, smoke weed and play Call of Duty on the PS5.
WP: Name 3 things that you can’t live without in the studio?
M: Honey, munchies and AU Bubblegum vodka mixed with bubblegum pop.