Dame Fame
Manager, media personality and Keak Da Sneak's right hand — the Dame Fame interview.
Original Magazine Pages
Whats Your Name?
Dame Fame.
Howd you get your stage name?
I made it up in San Quentin state Prison, layin down in the bunk, doing a 3 year stint, I did 18 months tho.
What made you pursue a career in music?
I always had a knack for music, growing up listening to New Edition, all the Michael Jackson, alot of R&B. I wanted to be a singer, I thought I was Ralph Tresvant or something, little squeaky voice and shit.
What gave you you're break in the music industry?
The Streets gave me my break in the music industry. Just being out, being around, me and Keak Da Sneak. Me doing what I do on the block, on Seminary. My street reputation. People know me from being from the streets, not really the music industry. That trickled down to industry respect.
What are some of the accomplishments you can share with us?
My biggest accomplishment is being apart of the hit single "tell me when to go" ft. Keak Da Sneak.
What happened with that, that was a huge hit that helped spark the Hyphy movement nationwide...?
At that time Keak had a hit single "super hyphy", and "coke white tshirts blue jeans and nikes", which was also on fire, so we did a few city tours, we ended up in Vegas on some vacation stuff during his birthday week. I got a call from Maebach the Boss Lady, she was excited about getting us out there in Atlanta, so we said fuck it, were gonna go. So we ended up out in Atlanta, and we was just chilling, we met a lot of artists that were popping at that time at Shonuff Records, Lloyd, Young Jeezy, Willie Joe, Bun B. We were just studio hopping really, just vacationing around. So long story short, we was about to leave to the bay, literally heading to the airport, and E40 called me and said he wanted keak to get on a song. Which was muscle cars at that time. So I said zip it to me and Ill have him get it done when we get back from Atlanta. E40 said "you lying you aint in Atlanta"...I said I was serious we really in Atlanta. E40 said hella serious, "Get yo ass over to Stankonia Studios, and were gonna be waiting on you". So we get to the studio, and Lil Jon, Big Boi from Outkast, Bone Crusher, Young Bloodz, Too Short, it was big. E40 put on muscle cars track, and they started writing. They knocked it out. So by 3AM, Keak asleep, I drank all the liquor, only thing left is the Rossi. I start drinking that all fucked up. Lil Jon in the background making a track, and I hear the track. Im loving the track, then I start chanting tell me when to go... hella drunk over and over. E40 tells me "Fame, get in the booth, and repeat that hook", then I replied "I can get Keak and wake him up, and we can do a hook and a verse for that song". E40 replied, "You can get him up". I said "I'm gonna get him up, he gonna come in here, hella sleepy, talkin about he dont wanna do it, he gonna hear this beat, and he gonna make a hit". E40 said, "if you can get him up and do that, then we gonna have a hit", and the rest is history.
During the Hyphy movement you're name was shout out on many big name radio songs. What was you're role during the hyphy movement?
Well I been managing Keak Da Sneak since he started his solo career, just on some big brother stuff, nothing written in stone. But I have given him a lot of guidance and advice. So during the hyphy movment he was the #1 radio artist for like 2 years. So many acts like "hyphy wifey", BabyFace Assasins "everybody know my name", Kafani "fast like a nascar", Gorilla Pits "scrapin'", Turf Talk "3 freaks", J Stalin "banga dance", The Federation "hyphy remix", Nump "Got Grapes Remix", "The Jump Off" San Quinn & Juvenile, all got breaks from being on the radio with Keak, all of which are artists and labels I help put on. I showed love to the hyphy movement. Keak was with me everyday, so whenever someone wanted to do something he'd always ask me, so I was a middle man to a lot of big shit happening, I was and still am Keak's other half, so people naturally loved me for making things happen. I'm the only person who can get in contact with Keak.
What you been working on lately?
The Dame Fame show or nothing right now. Im gonna do a DVD featuring footage from some of my episodes. A lot of hot uncensored material will be in my DVD's as well. Me and Keak Da Sneak working on ironing out some wrinkles, getting all the business straight for his new album. I'm still working my management game under Fame Management Group.
What artists are under Fame Management Group?
Keak Da Sneak, Stevie Joe, Philthy Rich, and Im also gonna have a sit down with Lil Ru from Livewire Records. He's a hot new artist from North Oakland, shout out to the Bear Face Gang. I'm also looking for new artists to manage. I dont give a fuck where you from, there aint any geographic boundaries with money man.
Tell us more about the Dame Fame Show, who are some of the people who have been on the Dame Fame Show?
Keak Da Sneak, E40, Killer Mike, DJ Drama, TJ DJ's, Tony Neal, DJ Khaled, 211 of USDA/CTE, Pimpin Ken, Playa Circle, Glasses Malone, Daz Dillinger, Dru Down, Mistah Fab, DLo, The Jacka, Lee Majors, Black Azz, Hood Starz, J Valentine, Big Rich, San Quinn, Mitchy Slick, Sleepy D, Bigga Rankin, Dr Teeth, Dourogh, Maino, Zoe The Roasta, Too Short, Beeda Weeda, we have done polital figures/events, and much more, check out www.thedamefameshow.com.
Where can people find you?
Everywhere concrete at. I'm out here, and I'm approachable, just don't approach me with the b.s. cause I got the b.s. stopper with me.
Last words?
God is good all the time. Don't stress off nothing you cant change. Don't change anything that don't need changing.
All Bay Music Magazine, Issue One (Volume One, Collectors Edition). Web edition transcribed from the print issue for allbaymusic.com. Text appears as printed, including original spelling and punctuation.