Urban Media King: Humble On The Throne interview with BossLady McKay
Intros are cool… When needed!
Biggs is in the damn building! Rep your hood
Chill town Jersey City
I don’t even know where to start with you! You’re like Superman! Let’s just go in fuck it! So you’re the dude that was at all the Murda Mamis party’s taking all those whatspoppin pics with your team huh? How did you guys get started?
Well originally, it was just Fela, he’s the pioneer in NJ. He opened up all the clubs to allow cameras at the parties. NO ONE allowed him to shoot initially. Then Quan joined the team, then me. I was originally promoting parties and taking pics with a little pocket camera. I figured I’ll book Whatspoppin.net for the exposure.
Big shout out to Quan and Fela! So you know I used to think you guys owned whatspoppin right? I’m sure I’m not alone. What’s up with that?
Whatspoppin was primarily based in NYC. The co-founders were Ray and P. They had NY on SMASH!! They brought the flamboyance swag to the photography game. We just followed suit. We had photographers in Miami and Phoenix as well. I think Jersey took off more than they expected.
Let me just say you guys put that website on the map. Yea I said it. The end. Now you branched off and started Urban Media Kings. The name is so damn royal. Tell me about the site and how it differs from “others?”
Thank you! Well other than party pics, we also offer advertising for promoters and small business, graphic design, professional photo shoots, and videos.
Ever since the whatspoppin phenomenon you guys created, I’m seeing a lot of low budget party sites with horrible pics. How if in anyway, does this affect what you do? Photographers charging 25 dollars to do parties and shit.
I’m all in favor of competition as long as it’s fair! When these sites offer to shoot parties for gas money, or for free, it diminishes the quality and integrity of what we do. Clients now expect us to cover an event for $50. We lost a bunch of people because we will not lower out value.
I’m very proud of you. Let’s talk about Biggs for a minute. Can we rap a taste? (Laughs) You were very much into politics correct? What position did you play?
(Laughs) I ran for public office when I was 18 years old. It was a committee person in my ward.
How do you go from politics to photos?
There was so much between the politics and photos. I went thru the DJ phase, music producer phase, the promoter phase, graphic designer, and now finally a photographer.
Alright so now you have Biggs Photography. Amazing fucking work dude. Who’s some of the people you’ve enjoyed working with as far as their interaction with the camera?
I think my favorite gig besides working with Whats Poppin, would have to be DJ Bobby Trends. He put me in places to meet people that I would have never thought would be possible. Another person is Jannine V. She had me travelling across the country with the Funkmaster Flex Celebrity Car Show Tour.
Now I’m always comparing your work to others and I’m always asking you “well if they got the same camera why the pics don’t look like yours? And I always get the same answer “it’s all in the settings Boston.” Are you still in love with your 7d? You know how new shit come out.
I do love my 7D. I think I will be cheating with another model soon enough though.
Your becoming a beast with the editing too! Not just touch up I’m talking photo manipulation. How dope is that? Must take a lot of energy though.
Photo retouching is crazy! It allows you to put all the crazy ideas you have in your head and put it on paper. It’s crazy man, I love it though.
Name five people besides me that you would love to shoot right now.
Beyonce, Barack Obama, Russel Simmons, Janet Jackson, and last but not least, Paula Patton (she bad!)
Who are some of the photographers you respect? See there shit and be like yo!
My mentor Damian Pope, Lloyd Parks, Frank Antonio, Mike Mogul, and Aston. There are so many talented photographers out there that do it RIGHT!
When dealing with a fat ass like say umm Miss Chyna or Ashely Logan how does one keep his cool?
It’s all business. I refuse to try to make it personal with these ladies. I want them to always be comfortable with me and not think that my main agenda is to have sex or see them naked.
So I got this sexy shoot coming up with the approval of my husband in which you found so hilarious. I’m nervous. How do you make your clients comfortable?
It’s important to keep your client laughing and loose. They should enjoy the experience as much as you, if not more! But as far as you, I know how to loosen you up.
You’ve ventured into the film world. Your second film was featured on MTV. Major! How did that grind come about?
Honestly, just like photography, I kind of just slipped into it. Big shout out to 1st Wonder and Candis who allowed me to get my feet wet.
So you recently did your first Miami video. What’s up with that?!
Miami was great! Myself, all out from mmr and the lovely Chyna went out to work on all out’s single from his new mix tape. Hopefully that project will be done after we return from the magic show in Vegas.
What else you got coming up film wise?
I’m currently working on a few video projects, a couple of print opportunities and some negotiations with and internet magazine.
Biggs your fuckin awesome salute to you man! Congrats on the new baby as well. It’s a beautiful thing! Final note?
Thank you! Like I always say, LOVE LIFE! I just wanna shout out my team, Fela, Quan , Damian, Alain, and last but not least Tre. These dudes make the best team in the world. To say they are kings are an understatement!
Salute!
edited by: Yolanda Danae’
