Master P explains how early on he mistrusted a man who kept coming into his neighborhood looking for him, thinking he might be the police. He later learned the man was from Project Records. Instead of rushing into a deal, Master P decided to invest in himself and understand the business side of music.
He paid $25,000 just to sit down with Michael Jackson’s attorney, who told him the only way to get a deal bigger than most artists was through a distribution deal—specifically an 85/15 split—but that it required $200,000–$300,000 in marketing money. Although expensive, Master P says it was the best money he ever spent.
Using that knowledge, he turned down traditional record deals and insisted on a distribution deal. When Project Recordsagreed—on the condition that he pay for marketing—he took it and ultimately made more money than the record company itself.
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