A LEGEND IN THE MAKING. WATCH ME MAKE IT!!!!
M.E. My experience. It’s more than a name. It’s a title. Fortino Solomon Gonzalez was born June, 12 1980 in Chicago, IL. A Gemini, like a lot of creative celebrity figures, Tino discovered and developed his writing talents early in middle school. His English teacher encouraged him to continue writing after reading his poems and short stories, that usually reflected his interpersonal thoughts on life and tragedies over come outside of school. Also at an early age, Fortino was lured into the streets and was known as C-Rider affiliated with “The Crips” street gang. His mother tried desperately to keep him away but she worked long hours to provide for her three children. A lot of his friends and family were being incarcerated or murdered at an alarming rate. When Tino turned 14, his older brother Simon was murdered inspiring what was his first rap. Shortly after, his mother moved him and his brother to Phoenix, Arizona in 1995. Fortino’s troubles were not behind him as he fought a lot in school trying to find his place and was eventually expelled. Fortino was always proud of his background being Black and Mexican, but there was so much racism it was hard to find acceptance on each side. It didn’t really matter because Fortino was always confident and believed in himself. He got in every talent show he could to perform his raps that he wrote to national artist’s beats. He started throwing house parties and renting dance halls and club houses to display his musical talents, free styling and performing. In this exclusive interview with himself Fortino Gonzalez will discuss the past present and future of Paid Made Music with rap legend M.E.
F.G.: So when did you know you were going to get serious with this music?
M.E.: On March 31, 2010 when I officially started my company Paid Made Music. That’s when I knew I had to go hard, create a blueprint/plan and strategically execute it. Anything before that was just experience and development. I founded a few different rap groups I ran with and I did music with more developed M.C’s than myself to get better. To build myself as a performer and recording artist because I already knew I could write. I was raised in the Dope Game since young. Everything the streets had to offer is gone as far as I’m concerned. That shit is temporary. After a couple serious losses I decided to stop music as a hobby and look at it as a business. I got partners doing life in the pen who don’t want to see me end up in that situation.
F.G.: How did you come up with the name M.E.?
M.E.: When I first started rapping I didn’t have a name to rap by. I didn’t want to use any of my street names so I would use my real name in my music. It was always kind of frustrating but one night in 1998, I had a very vivid dream. In my dream I was famous and everyone referred to me as ME, and while on stage performing there was a big sign in lights that said M.E. I really didn’t know what to make of it but I came up wit M.E. My Experience, when I woke up and ran with it. I think it’s universal.
F.G.: So tell me about some of the material you have released.
M. E.: Every c.d. I have released to this day was strictly out the trunk. You see, I’m a hustler and I like to see my money hand over fist so I never even thought of any kind of distribution early in the game. It was, press up some c.d.’s and sell em out of the trunk because I was already everywhere in the streets anyway. My first was Realizm, Live By The Gun’. I went through about 5000 copies of those before I quit pushin it. In the past I never catalogued my music either. When it was gone it was gone. I started rapping in a group called “The League” with Pokaface Flossi, Life, Hannibal and Mega, and we released a few mix tapes. One was hosted by Proof of D12. I don’t know the numbers as far as mix tapes. I wasn’t on the business side; I was just rapping and doing shows having fun. Then I started Realizm Ent. with partner Flossi, we released the Heat City Mix tape series pushing about 10,000 c.d.’s locally and doing a bunch of shows, but that’s about as far a business went. As a solo artist, I signed to an independent with regional distribution. I was a featured artist with 2 songs on a compilation; we did a bunch of in-stores performances and signings at Sam Goodys, Virgin Mega stores and Warehouses in the South West but that’s about as far as business went. I was putting together a dope album for that label too that featured Proof of D12 and Royce the ‘5”9. I decided if I was going to fall or succeed it would be up to me. I released “Have You Seen M.E.” in the winter of ’09 and its close to 5,000 copies to this date.
F.G.: Tell me about some of the shows you have done. I always see your name on ads for events and hear about you tearing up shows all the time.
M.E.: Well I started in the local AZ circuit The Big Fish, Mason Jar, anywhere on Mill Ave. At some point I started promotin my own shows and events namely “The Greatest Show On Earth” concert series where I’ve promoted on B.E.T., MTV, MTV2, branding my name and face on television. I’ve collaberated with other promoters such as URBANAZ, Lucky Man Productions, V.I.P. Enterprises, Big World, 100 Hustles and have opened for national artist such as Snoop Dogg, Bone Thugs, Cash Money Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Chamillionare Lil Flip, Paul Wall, Wu Tang, Young Jeezy, Andre Nickatina, Puff Daddy, D12, Twista, Dj Quik, Lincoln Park, The Shop Boys and Spice 1. I went on tour with Ludacris, state to state with G-Unit, sharing a tour bus with Royce the ‘5”9 and R&B group NEXT, 5 Star hotels, private jets and all that player shit. I’m still gettin’ it in. Look out for M.E. on any upcoming event. Stop by the booth and chop it up.
F.G.: Hell yeah, I see you out there getting it in all the time! So what’s next for M. E. and Paid Made Music? We been waitin on the album, there were rumors in the past that you were signing with Shady Records or G-Unit or something….
M.E.: Like I said everything I’ve done in the past was just development for me as an artist and a C.E.O. I’m currently working on my first album “Reputation”. It will be my first independent release and I plan to build my presence online. I have a novel completed titled “I Survived To See 25”. I plan to release very soon, along with a soundtrack. I’m working with and developing my group The Shoe Box Money Gang. I have a promotional company that includes events, graphic design, video production, and photography. So if you need any of those services at an affordable rate holler at me at paidmademusic@gmail.com, or call me at 480-298-7933, I’m 24/7. As far as the rumors about Shady that was because I was runnin around Arizona with Proof dippin out to Detroit for the Super Bowl in ’06, just doin music, hittin strip clubs and havin fun! That was a real cool nigga. He’s the one that told me and my partner Flossi “Ya’ll don’t need a deal ya’ll just need direction”. He had seen our movement with Realizm out here. That was an unfortunate event as far as his death because we did have some things in the works.
F.G.: Yeah, I remember seeing him on stage with ya’ll opening for Lil Flip and Chamillionare at the Marquee Theater. Rest In Peace to Proof.
M.E. That’s right but we got to keep it movin. I’m just learnin this business as I go into it. I’m lookin to network with other promoters and independent artist and labels. I’m seeking investors and sponsors to help me build my brand and increase my value in the industry before I step up and negotiate with the majors. Right now I’m just studying the business, creating my product and formulating a good plan to distribute and release it. I’m now developing myself into being a smart businessman.
F.G.: How does one contact you?
M.E.: You can see my videos at you tube search “paidmadevideos”, myspace.com/merealizm. Twitter at paidmade, text 480-298-7933 and I’ll add you to the news letter list just text name and email. Im in the middle of constructing it all but stay tuned. It’s going down! Shouts out to my team behind the machine at Master Status Studio, Get Filthy Ent., and Black Knight Photography.
