What do you do when after being signed to one of the industry’s powerhouse recording labels, you’re dropped with nowhere to go? A lot would fall back without hesitation, and choose another career. But if you’re Los Angeles rapper Conway, that theory is simply unacceptable. Indeed it was, as Conway has now re-emerged to take the west by storm.
His journey would begin just a few years back. Conway was just like many others aspiring to get into the rap game. After living life on the streets for some time, he would stumble upon an opportunity to work with Big Reg, who operated Double O Entertainment. That affiliation would soon lead to him striking a deal with Universal/Motown. He worked hard on his debut album, How The West Was Won, allegedly featuring some work by Dr. Dre, and the world fell in love with two tracks he eventually dropped, “The Nutcracka” and “The Struggle”. Despite the modest level of success he received with those tracks, things didn’t fare quite well with he and Universal. Of course, there’s many rumors as to why he was actually dropped from the label, yet, they aren’t necessarily confirmed.
Conway has sprung back from the wreckage of a deal and a career put on hold. He has a new mixtape, and he’s working extensively with rising West Coast producer, Sean Konnery. If you care to play catch up, now’s the time to revisit Conway.
AllHipHop.com: You have been working hard at re-establishing yourself as an artist for some time now. You had “The Nutcracker”, which was a huge hit for you. What have you been doing for the past few years?
Conway: Well, it’s been a while since y’all have heard me on a national scale. I’ve been doing my mixtapes, definitely continuing to do music, and trying to stay out of trouble. The streets is real when you living life like a regular person.
AllHipHop.com: There so much that went on in the past. You were signed with Universal Records at one point. What happened with your deal, and with you trying to get your album out, How The West Was Won?
Conway: Well like you said, I was on Universal/Motown for a minute. Somewhere in the upper ranks, Kedar [Massenburg] ended up getting fired, and I was consequently dropped from the label. That’s just something that you have to deal with when you’re dealing with the record business. So they dropped me.
AllHipHop.com: You were working with Big Reg for quite a bit at the time, and I know he played a big part in your signing with them. He allegedly has some questionable business ethics…
Conway: He definitely played an instrumental role in my going with Universal/Motown. I was able to fulfill my obligations for him and Universal/Motown at the same time, so right now, I’m a free agent, and trying to move on and do big things.
AllHipHop.com: What happened with your album though? Was all of the music scrapped due to you being dropped?
Conway: We recorded all the material, but it’s still under [the old label] Double-O Entertainment though. I’ve got this new mixtape though, and it’s hot.
AllHipHop.com: So where are the mixtapes available?
Conway: It’ll be out there in the street, and definitely in the mom and pop stores. I have my own street team, and we’re getting it out.
AllHipHop.com: What other material have you been working on, and any revelation to potential deals?
Conway: Right now, I’ve got a few meetings set up. I’ve got about 15 songs complete, so I’m just checking out different labels. I’ll be meeting with Capitol soon, but I’ll work with whoever wants to work with me. I’m not really hung up on the big label deals.
AllHipHop.com: Due to the things in the past, do you find it hard to make others see the vision that you have?
Conway: I do sometimes, but I’m not really worried about that. I really look at it as a plus because people remember “The Nutcracker”. They don’t know me by face, but they know the music. I’ve got my foot in the door.
AllHipHop.com: What direction are you leaning in with your new material?
Conway: I’m trying to recapture the West. I’m looking at how well the other areas work together, like Houston. We can come up, but we have to work together.
AllHipHop.com: Do you really see that happening? Do you feel like you can change that?
Conway: I can. Everybody can make money, but the goal is to make history. These cats can put aside their beefs and make good music, you know, make history. That’s what people see at the end of the day. I’m thinking it can happen with the West as a whole.
AllHipHop.com: It almost sounds hypocritical saying that, being that I heard you don’t like doing collaborations.
Conway: I’m cool with collaborations, but I still feel like a lot of people don’t know Conway for who he is. I don’t have problems with any collaborations. When I do them, it’s with people that I really vibe with. It won’t be what everyone expects.
AllHipHop.com: What else are you doing to spread yourself around besides mixtapes right now?
Conway: That’s really about it. For the most part, I’m just focused on making good music. Just look out for me. I’m working with a few new producers. History In The Making is the name of the new album. I also want to give shout outs to Sean Konnery, The Game, Glasses Malone, everybody that’s trying to make it big for the West. We got cats out here trying to do it, and I’m all for it. I’m reaching out to anybody in the West trying to do something. There’s two colors in the west, which are red and blue, but the only color that matters is green.