Karlie Hustle sits down with us and drops knowledge on successful branding tips and gives an insight into her new gig over at Jamla Records
In this industry, there folks that wait for opportunity to land in their laps then there folks that go out and make things happen. The people that go out and make things happen understand the dynamics of grinding but more importantly, understand if your going to make an impact in this industry you not only have to outwork your peers but most of all hustle. Staying true to her moniker, Karlie Hustle is the epitome of the work you have to put in this industry to be successful.
From her Hot 97 days to starting her own bow tie collection, hip-hop’s leading feminist understands that there is only one way to be successful and that’s through hard work. The Source caught up with Karlie to talk about everything from post Hot 97 to her new gig with 9th Wonder and Jamla Records. Check it out below
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So fast-forward, you quit your job at Hot 97 then start your successful bow tie collection “Hustle Bow Ties” in addition to your viral successful series “How To Quit Your Job”. What caused you to do all this after your tenure at Hot 97? Did you fall out of love for radio?
Karlie Hustle: Well, I actually started Hustle Bow ties before I left Hot 97. I felt that was the battery in my back that showed me that I can actually do something else. Ultimately, I’ve always had the entrepreneurship bug and interest in running my own business. So when I started Hustle Bow tie, I think I was given the permission through that to realize I can work on my own and start a company that could generate money. So it wasn’t that I fell out of love for radio, it was just I had a feeling of what I could accomplish at Hot 97 at that time and I had a couple choices. It was either I stay at Hot 97 and stay stagnant collecting a couple of checks or I could challenge myself to start something new.
So after your days at Hot 97, what was your biggest learning curve? What was the one thing you really had to get used to doing with your time especially with you not being in the hustle and bustle of radio?
Karlie Hustle: The biggest challenge initially was providing structure for myself. When you work for yourself, you are in charge of your work day. It’s way different than working a corporate gig in which you have to be there from 9 to 5. When you don’t have that structure, you have to create that for yourself. That can be a bit challenging. Like for me, I don’t have to be somewhere, I can work from a co-working space, coffee shop or home. That freedom is great, but it’s also a gift and a curse. For example, I can stay in my house for three days and not have interactions with the world, but for a very social person like myself, it can be very difficult. I can’t really work with team’s everyday and even though I work with a team now, it’s not like I can work alongside them everyday or see them. So that really is the challenging part. Leaving any corporate structure and really carving out that space and time for myself.
So, you would say the hardest part of your transition from Hot 97 was just trying to make use of your time?
Karlie Hustle: Yea, just making good use of your time and not feeling guilty for having time when you have it. Deciding to work on a Saturday as opposed to a Tuesday and just deciding to do it a little more differently than a normal 9-5 is okay. For example, I’ve made this analogy before and I don’t want to compare a 9-5 corporate gig to a prison, but in some ways it’s similar. There is a routine that happens in prison that happens in corporate. You just get used to clocking in and clocking out, going to lunch and all of those things. So when it’s taken from you, it’s hard to create a life outside of that. That said, you have to kind of format your life and people that are doing kind of the same thing and build kinship with these new folks. So, I’ve been somewhat successful, but I will say those New York winters will kick your ass haha..So if you can work from home, you’re going to take that.
So moving forward, you’re out of radio, your bow ties and your web series is gaining traction and now your “Groove Candy” party is the topic of discussion in the city. For the people who are not familiar, how exactly did this party come about and where did you get the unique name?
Karlie Hustle: Groove Candy was a party I started back in 2006, back in Phoenix with my partner M2 who is a DJ out there. We really liked the same type of music like underground and 90’s and wanted to cater to the musical taste we had. So, we started it and it became a long standing party that was successful and I decided to bring it here. So since I was a co-creator, I went to M2 and told him I wanted to start the party here in New York and he was like “cool no problem” and that’s how it started. I really like creating communities and a space for people to come and share their art, time, experiences and network. In Phoenix, Groove Candy would do that. There were relationships, marriages and babies that came out of Groove Candy and it was a magical time that I wanted to duplicate in New York City. Now it’s a lot more competitive obviously, but its building. It’s a monthly after work party that I really wanted to keep early cause I’m not in the clubs as much as I used too. It’s a dance party that you can dress down and wear your chucks, sip punch and listen to 90’s hip hop.
Ok, it sounds like a really organic dope party. So let’s dive into the music. Now, you’re working alongside 9th Wonder over at Jamla Records. Can you tell the readers how the relationship came to fruition and what you exactly do over at Jamla?
Karlie Hustle: Well, i’m the Director of Brand Relations over at Jamla Records. Ultimately, it’s a lot of relationship building, marketing and publicity. I’m the person that is the middle man between artists and the outside world. They’re the creative and that should be what they are left to do. So I as the middle man, can come and do all the marketing and other intricacies that come along with being an artist. As for my relationship with 9th, I met him a few years ago actually when I was with Hot 97 and noticed he was working with Rapsody and wanted to bring her on our platform “Who’s Next”. It was a platform that I was producing at the time and actually the first two I produced, Rapsody was the headline. So we’ve maintained a relationship since then and I’ve always just checked for Rap and was just an early believer. So when I left Hot 97 a couple months later, 9th called me and told me that I had a lot of the skills he needed to add to his team and your local in New York and we really have some big things coming. Funny thing is, this was long before Rap was going to be on Kendrick’s album. So he was already trying to get some momentum and I was like the time is near we really need to make a move and in a matter of time Kendrick sent the track and she got on it. So to be a part of this team during that critical time was great.
