Make Yourself

Rap artist and record producer Tommy Miller shares his story

By Ericka Thornton

The music industry's transformation over the years has been drastic. There was a time when the dream of becoming a star was in the hands of agents or someone who worked for a record label. An artist would cling to the hope that these guys had his or her best interest in mind. Whether or not an artist made money was decided by other people.

Now an artist can take control of his or her own career. Self-made millionaires in the rap industry such as Master P have set the foundation for music careers without the middleman, exemplifying what can be accomplished with hard work and dedication. Among the list of these artists is the Bay Area’s own Tommy Miller. This is his story.

Miller grew up in San Francisco’s Lakeview district but eventually moved to South San Francisco. In the sixth grade, Miller’s sister introduced him to music and performance and since then, Miller has been involved in numerous outfits.

His first musical ensemble included seven of his friends, four dancers and three rappers, who called themselves “Mac Clan,” and would perform weekend shows in Mosswood Park in Oakland. Their musical style was what Miller describes as part of the “MC Hammer movement.” When the group moved their performances to San Francisco they began to gain a little recognition. But the group eventually broke up.

After leaving “Mac Clan” Miller was signed to Jump Start Records, the only artist signed to them at the time. With Jump Start Records he released “Mac Clan Living the Life,” and changed his name to T Bone.

After recording one album, Miller decided he could start his own label and in 1995, so he started Stack A Million Records. Four years later, Miller took a hiatus from the music industry because he lacked the financial resources to keep the company afloat. Miller began “earning a living” outside of the music industry which eventually landed him in the Federal Penitentiary where he served three years from 2001 to 2004. But Miller returned home on a positive note and decided to go back to what he knew best: the music industry. He reignited Stack A Million records which has remained his primary focus.

Owning your own label has a lot of advantages said Miller. By selling 100,000 copies at $10 per album, an artist can make a million dollars. Artists who are signed to record labels may only receive $1 per album, so they must sell millions of copies to make any money. However, owning your own record label has many disadvantages also. You are responsible for promoting your own product and any problems that may occur financially. And then there’s dealing with other record companies.

“The record labels try to block you by preventing radio play,” said Miller. Instead, Miller says the Internet is a better place to try to get exposure, because artists can put themselves out for little or no money. “Being independent does not allow you the resources to promote. The Internet has changed the music industry a lot.”

Once an artist drops an album and it is accessible on the Internet he or she has potentially reached the entire world. Before the Internet, promotions were entirely up to the record label.

Stack A Million Records is all about family. So far, Miller has signed his best friend, TPO (Desperado Dre), who was recently slain in September 2008. Together they recorded an EP called “Golden State.” In 2005 he also signed the Miller Boys that included his brothers and other family members such as Mar Mill his sister, and Tamara his niece. Miller is also tutoring his children in the music industry. He allowed his ten-year-old son (Lil Tommy) to have a cameo on a song and featured his three-year-old son’s photo is on his latest album cover.

Miller BOYS Volume I, with 17 songs, guest appearances by artists such as Mac Shan from Vallejo, Robbie Lee from So Gutter Records, and other family-related artists will be released January 2009. Miller hopes to release Volume II in May 2009, but recordings are behind schedule. He plans to collaborate with many local artists on his second album.

Miller, who is a humble family man, hopes that his record becomes the strongest independently-owned record label in the Bay Area that showcases local talent. Currently, he is looking for artists who what to prove their talent to be signed with Stack A Million Records.

Look out for the release of the Miller BOYS Volume I in stores January 2009. To find out more information about about Tommy Miller, visit his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/millerboys1.