Baby E Reveals What Happened After “Finessin” Blew Up
YouTube · Woc8IFFtMkw
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Baby E signed a 10-album 360 deal with Akon's Convict Music for a mere $10,000 advance, which he refused to sign blindly.
- ❖His Island Def Jam deal, despite a six-figure advance, was structured to charge back all expenses, leaving him indebted.
- ❖The song 'Finessin'' went viral organically after he independently released it, despite initial plans for Kevin Gates to feature on it.
- ❖Baby E developed a robust drug dealing operation using Reddit subreddits and coded Craigslist ads, prioritizing customer service and vetting clients.
- ❖He was arrested by a gang unit SWAT team after a friend, who received free drugs, snitched to avoid probation violation.
- ❖Law enforcement offered Baby E a unique deal: become a paid state employee to deal drugs and inform on his suppliers, with full benefits and no charges.
- ❖After multiple rehab attempts, Baby E achieved lasting sobriety through a program that emphasized spirituality and self-reflection.
Insights
1Exploitative Record Deals and the 360 Contract
Baby E was offered a 10-album, 360-deal by Akon's Convict Music with only a $10,000 advance, which he refused to sign. His subsequent deal with Island Def Jam, while providing a six-figure advance, was structured such that all label expenses (studio time, videos, marketing) were charged back to the artist, making it nearly impossible to profit. This 'Lou Pearlman' model ensures labels recoup investments before artists see significant earnings, often leaving them in debt.
Akon's Convict Music offered a 10-album, 360-deal for a $10,000 advance (). Island Def Jam deal involved a six-figure advance but an 80/20 split where artists owe 8 million for every 1 million spent by the label ().
2Organic Virality vs. Label Marketing
Baby E's song 'Finessin'' gained over a million plays on SoundCloud within a day of its independent release, without any marketing or label push. This organic virality occurred after Kevin Gates previewed Baby E's version of the song on social media, creating massive demand. This demonstrated that genuine audience connection can sometimes be more powerful than traditional, expensive label promotion.
After independently dropping 'Finessin'' on SoundCloud, it received 1.2-1.5 million plays on the first day (). Kevin Gates had been uploading videos using Baby E's version of the song, creating buzz ().
3Sophisticated Drug Dealing Operations
Baby E established a highly organized drug dealing business, moving from Reddit subreddits ('opiate roll call' with state/area code sections and review systems) to coded Craigslist ads ('roofing tar for sale'). He implemented strict security protocols, including vetting customers via ghost Facebook accounts and ID photos, and using an app to detect law enforcement numbers. His operation prioritized customer service, aiming for quick, reliable deliveries, mirroring efficient legitimate businesses.
Used 'opiate roll call' subreddit with review system (). Craigslist ads used coded lingo like 'roofing tar for sale' (). Vetted customers with ghost Facebook accounts and ID photos ().
4Law Enforcement's Informant Offer
Following his arrest by a gang unit SWAT team, Baby E was offered an extraordinary plea deal: become a paid employee of the state of California, receive health and dental benefits, and a monthly salary to continue selling drugs. His role would be to feed information about his suppliers to law enforcement, allowing him to keep all his drug dealing profits.
Cops offered to make him an 'employee of the state of California' with benefits and a monthly salary to 'continue selling drugs and moving up,' provided he fed them information about his plugs ().
5The 'Fixer' in the Justice System
After accepting a plea deal for drug dealing and interstate arms trafficking charges, Baby E was unexpectedly released from jail within 48 hours. His girlfriend had contacted a 'fixer' (introduced by his lawyer) who allegedly had the power to 'punch out' individuals from jail, eliminate house arrest, and pay off years of probation for a fee, provided there was a release date.
His girlfriend contacted a 'contact that had the power to punch you out of jail as long as you had a release date, take care of your house arrest and you could pay off like years of probation' ().
Bottom Line
The music industry's A&R (Artists and Repertoire) representatives often prioritize an artist's image or current trends over their authentic sound, leading to creative clashes and stalled careers.
Artists should maintain creative control and trust their unique artistic vision, as genuine connection with an audience can lead to organic success that traditional industry gatekeepers might overlook.
Develop platforms or services that empower artists to independently test and release music, leveraging data on organic audience engagement to prove market viability without relying on traditional label approval.
The 'gig economy' model, when applied to illicit drug dealing, can create highly efficient and customer-centric operations that outcompete traditional, less reliable dealers.
This highlights how basic business principles like reliability and customer service are universally effective, even in illegal markets, and can lead to rapid scaling and significant profits.
Law enforcement strategies need to adapt to the decentralized and customer-focused nature of modern drug distribution, moving beyond targeting large, static stash houses to understanding agile, network-based operations.
Opportunities
Artist Contract Review & Advocacy Service
A specialized legal and financial advisory service for emerging artists, focusing on dissecting complex 360 deals and publishing contracts to ensure fair terms, prevent exploitation, and educate artists on long-term financial implications. This service would act as a counter-balance to predatory label practices.
Underground Legal 'Fixer' Network (Ethical Adaptation)
An ethical, discreet legal and administrative service that navigates complex bureaucratic systems (e.g., parole, probation, bail, record expungement) for individuals, particularly those with addiction or minor criminal records, to expedite processes and reduce long-term penalties. This leverages the concept of a 'fixer' but within legal and ethical boundaries.
Key Concepts
Beads for the Natives
A metaphor for exploitative contracts where flashy upfront perks (like Rolexes, chains, cars) are offered to entice individuals into long-term, unfavorable agreements, masking the true lack of financial benefit.
The Chick-fil-A/In-N-Out Model (for illicit business)
Applying principles of excellent customer service, reliability, and efficiency (quick responses, accurate orders, consistent quality) to an illegal drug dealing operation to build a loyal customer base and scale rapidly.
Lessons
- Always have legal counsel review contracts, especially in industries notorious for complex and potentially exploitative agreements like music. Never sign anything under pressure or without full understanding.
- Cultivate genuine relationships and trust your instincts (or the instincts of close, trusted friends) regarding your creative work, as organic audience reception can be a powerful indicator of success, sometimes more so than industry 'experts'.
- Prioritize sobriety and mental health, especially when experiencing financial success or high-pressure environments, as unchecked addiction can quickly derail careers and lead to severe legal consequences.
Running a 'Customer-Centric' Illicit Drug Operation
**Establish Secure Online Presence:** Utilize niche online forums (e.g., Reddit subreddits like 'opiate roll call') to connect with potential customers, leveraging community-driven review systems to build reputation.
**Implement Covert Advertising:** Employ coded language on mainstream platforms (e.g., Craigslist ads using terms like 'roofing tar for sale' for heroin, 'fine china' for cocaine) to attract clients while evading immediate law enforcement detection.
**Strict Client Vetting:** Demand personal identification (e.g., driver's license photos) and social media profiles (e.g., Facebook) from new clients to verify identity and mitigate risks, cross-referencing with law enforcement detection apps.
**Prioritize Customer Service:** Offer quick response times, reliable delivery, and accurate product quantities. Treat customers with respect, understanding their urgent needs, to build loyalty and positive word-of-mouth.
**Maintain Operational Security (OpSec):** Use burner phones, avoid discussing illicit activities on personal devices, and utilize ride-sharing services (e.g., Uber/Lyft) for deliveries to create plausible deniability regarding ownership of contraband during potential stops.
Notable Moments
Refusing Akon's 360 Deal
Baby E demonstrated early business acumen by refusing a highly exploitative 10-album, $10,000 advance deal, despite immense pressure and lavish presentations, highlighting the importance of contract scrutiny.
The Organic Viral Success of 'Finessin''
His independent release of 'Finessin'' after Kevin Gates inadvertently promoted Baby E's version, resulted in millions of plays without traditional marketing, proving the power of organic virality and trusting one's own creative output.
Law Enforcement's Informant Recruitment Offer
The LAPD Gang Unit SWAT team offered Baby E a state job as a paid drug dealer informant with full benefits, revealing a shocking and ethically ambiguous tactic used by law enforcement to infiltrate drug networks.
Grandma Gets a Face Tattoo
A lighthearted but memorable moment where Baby E's grandmother, Mimi, gets a small face tattoo, showcasing their unique bond and her supportive, unconventional personality.
Quotes
"You give them something flashy up front to get them like, 'Oh, a car and this and that.' And so you're all excited and then you sign and it's not till a year later when you start to realize like I've made no money."
"I'm not trying to be like Chief Keef, man. I'm just making what like what I like."
"I don't know. It was just like a crazy time. And eventually I just tell the Young Money crew like, 'Hey, like I want to go back home and record and stuff. Like I appreciate you guys bringing me on the road, but like you know like it's only going to take me so far.'"
"You'll get you'll be an employee of the state of California. You'll get um like state of California employee benefits like health insurance and dental. And we will pay you a monthly salary to continue selling drugs and moving up and all you got to do is like feed us information about your plugs."
Q&A
Recent Questions
Related Episodes
2 Chainz on Marriage, Reinvention & Staying Relevant in Hip-Hop | Funky Friday
"2 Chainz discusses his evolution from a street hustler to a Grammy-winning artist, entrepreneur, and author, emphasizing the importance of intuition, family, and strategic business diversification."
Suspected Serial Killer Hunted Women in the Northwest: DA
"Families of vulnerable women found murdered in the Portland area launched their own investigation, uncovering connections that aided law enforcement in identifying suspected serial killer Jesse Lee Calhoun."
The Clavicular Over Dose Is Serious, Sneako Attacked on The Street - H3 After Dark #43
"This episode dives deep into internet drama, covering Alex Earl and Alex Cooper's ongoing feud, Clavicular's severe drug overdose and immediate return to streaming, and Sneako's public attack, all framed through the hosts' sharp commentary."
‘Killer’ Dad Busted for Burying Baby Boy Alive: Police
"Police arrested John Hannon after he allegedly buried his 11-month-old son, JJ, alive, leading to a bizarre interrogation where Hannon denied having a son and feigned confusion."