Clinton Sparks: From Beats to Business - Music, Success, and Entrepreneurship | S2:E56

0:00Hey, what's up you guys? This is Jay Daredevil aka Jared Dillinger. I am your co-host with my friend Dan Robbins. We are at Creating the Future. We are with a special guest today, no other than Clinton Sparks. What's up, guys? My friend, thank you for joining us today. Thank you for having me. Yes, sir. In the most platonic way. I remember, man, all through the 2000s, I was listening to music and Clinton Sparks, the name kept popping up. So I remember the incredible music that you produced, hundreds of millions of records. How many records do you think you've sold, impacted? Is there a number to that?

0:40Billions? Well, I still run with 75 million, but that also was from years ago. So it could be over 100 million now. I have to do my due diligence, guys. All right? I'm busy tallying up sales. It's insane. Over 75 million records. So talk to us through the transition from music, producing, to now gaming and eSports. Well, you know, I have a theory that everything is the same. Every industry, every business is the same. You just need to understand different jargon, different rules, different players in there. But the concept of understanding how to build businesses, how to market, build audiences, treat people well, connect, it's all the same.

1:19And once you understand that you're not selling a product, you're not selling a service, what are you selling? If it's not a product, then it's not a service. What is it? People. You're selling a feeling. You're selling a feeling. Emotions. Once you understand what people need to feel or what they do feel, you can sell anything to anybody. But there's a danger to that because that means you can also manipulate people. But manipulation is also looked at as a negative word. Because a lot of times you have to manipulate people to make them understand what they don't understand or to get them to do what they don't know they need to do to get to where they want to get to.

1:52So I know that was a lot. That was incredible. But my point is, it's that kind of theory and the concept of moving in business and personal relationships that have allowed me to step into different worlds and be successful and win and repeat, win, repeat, win, repeat. Because it's understanding those values and those principles and concepts of everything being the same. A lot of times people are like, well, man, I'm good at music, but I don't really understand real estate. Or, man, I'm good at esports, but I don't understand music. And it's like, yeah, you do. you're just not understanding it because you think that you only know what you know and it's really all the same if you take the time to understand the common principles that you know are threaded throughout them all did i answer the question i kind of no no no it's great i think i gave better yeah i think you'd rather hear that than how did i who you might not even know i think my mouth was open when i was listening like no no i i think it's amazing because i've i've seen some of the stuff that you do around teaching people how they can be producers and how they can sell albums you know in the past I've seen some of the things that you've done there I'm just amazing if you're a music artist or an independent artist I have free books at ClintonSparks.com I have a whole course with over 65 videos free workshops products all free 20 years of game and hundreds of thousands of dollars investing in me building this for you guys because if I want the world to be a better place it starts to making people better and if I can make people better and help them live out their dreams or get access to information that they don't know so they can better their life that inadvertently in turn helps the world become better and that's my ultimate goal is making the world better so that's why everything is free i'll never charge for anything because it's kind of a dick move to charge for stuff when if i have the blueprint if i if i know you're about to touch that and burn your hand and i'm like yo pay me 10 bucks i'm about to tell you something how whack is that i'm just like yo don't do that because you're going to get hurt yeah so if i can do that to like you know hundreds of thousands millions of people and show them how to be less whack and more dope or how to make better decisions and not make the mistakes that i've seen happen to so many people over and over again why would i not do that and i have the platform the opportunity to do that that's why i do it but back to your question how i went from music to gaming um a friend of mine uh hit me one day and said come to the office um we're going to start this we're going to be part of this new gaming company it's called phase clan and FaZe Clan wasn't a business yet.

4:16They were just popular kids online for trick shooting. So they didn't have a business model or any revenue yet. So we went in there and turned that into a billion dollar IPO company. I brought in all, and here's where everything's the same. What do you need to do to build a brand? Bring excitement, bring different cultures, get people educated on it that don't know about it or don't know that they should know about it. So that right away I'm like, all right, cool. This is exactly what my mind's been built for. It's limitless. Let me connect all these other worlds from fashion, music, sports into the gaming space.

4:46So I knew that I had a bunch of knowledge of connecting. So I just connected things to music, to gaming. That wasn't, I brought an offset, Pitbull, Sway Lee, Tee Grizzly, like Yo Gotti, DJ Paul, Ray J. Like all these people into the gaming space that were never into that space. And now they are. So I've kind of been one of the guys here leading the intersecting of all of these cultures together because of my experience and knowledge of people, psychology, marketing, and that everything's the same. So VCon, Gary V talks a lot about the intersection of pop culture, music, technology, which to me sounds like you're looking at the same thing.

5:29It's not like, it almost seemed like before it used to be, okay, if you're going to target a person demographic, you have to target them with one specific thing. but I think we know people like a lot of different things. Like you're saying, he's a gamer who loves sports, who also like music, right? So it's like you can bring people into this ecosystem now, and they can be happy with multiple different products and services. So is that what you're seeing now with esports, where it's not just about playing a game, it's bigger than that? I mean, I've seen that from the minute I walked in the door the first time at Faith, and I was like, wow, you guys are totally not getting what this could be or where it should go and who should be connected.

6:08For instance, one of the things that I care the most about is the non-endemic audience, right? And like, when you think about, so I'm from the hood. So when you think about getting out of the hood, it's music and sports. It's always been that. You have dreams of being a hooper or being a rapper or a singer, and that's your goal, right? Gaming is a whole nother vertical the hood doesn't know about. The streets aren't talking about how do you make money in gaming. They don't even know that e-sports is a thing. They're like, what, e-gaming? I'm like no dude like they don't know the stadiums full of people that are getting paid They also don't know that you know There's billions of gamers around the world making hundreds of billions of dollars in this opportunities to build careers Even if you look you don't have to rap to be in the rap industry You know to me have to be a rapper to be in the hip-hop or on a label You don't have to be a gamer to be in the gaming industry or build ancillary businesses within gaming or touching the culture So I'm a big advocate for introducing gaming and the opportunities and the possibilities for the streets.

7:10You don't have to dribble a basketball for 16 years. You don't have to be out in the streets doing something that you might get hurt from doing. You might get carpal tunnel one day, but by that time we'll have medicine for that. You know what I mean? But yeah, man, I feel like it's so big. When I go to these conferences, so many conferences I go to, people are in echo chambers. where people are just talking to other people that already feel the same way that you do. And it's like whether it's crypto or finance or whatever conferences I go and speak to, it's always like, yeah, we already know this shit.

7:43How do we tell everybody else what we're doing or get them familiar with it? And you can't stand for culture if you never stood in culture. So when you're trying to connect culture to what you're doing, it's not real. It's not authentic. and people that are real can smell and see that. So they're just like, ah, they're just trying to sell me some shit. When you have it in the DNA with people that really understand it, like when you were just saying, like bringing these worlds together, that's just who I am. Like diversity, inclusion, it's in my DNA from since I was a kid, from the way that I grew up.

8:17So not everybody has that, and that's fine. You don't have to frown on something because they weren't part of culture. But if you're not part of culture, you're trying to build something that's cultural, You need to one, educate yourself on culture. Two, really understand what culture means. It doesn't mean the hottest new sneaker drop or the popping meme. It's way deeper than that. It doesn't just mean different color people. It means it's deeper than that. You really understand culture. So if you don't understand like that, one, educate yourself. Or two, get people a part of your company that do understand it and let them do their job.

8:48Because I see that happen in corporate America. Let's hire some people, one, so we look diverse. or two that seem smart and can help us with culture, but then you don't listen to them because you're the guy that built a$100 million company before. You know what you're talking about with business. Cool. We'll listen to you with that. You listen to us when it comes to cool shit or culture shit or how to connect the dots. And I think a lot of companies fail because the leaders don't listen to the people that know what they're talking about. So I'm curious. These are long-winded answers. No, no, no.

9:19It's good. No, no. Yeah, it's good. So, Jared, you're big, obviously, in the eSports in Southeast Asia. Recently, he had an event. I was at the event, and I was shocked. You mentioned about how many people were there and how many young people, how serious they take it. I mean, it's incredible. I remember gaming. I was just playing a game. I didn't even know it could even be a job or there can be competitive nature. I was just playing a game. If only we could get Rich playing Mario Brothers. That's true. That's true now. That's true. So what are you seeing, Jared? And maybe that'll help. You know, I think Clinton can chime in too.

9:57Around like Southeast Asia, Southeast Asia. Hey, everyone. I'm not sure if you've heard, but our show Founders Story is now available on the iHeartRadio app. So check that out. iHeartRadio online or you grab the app. It's super easy. You can listen to all of our episodes wherever you enjoy your podcast, whether that's iHeartRadio, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and many more but check it out specific to how esports and gaming is out there you want me to tell him we're not live recorded, say that again so that I can make it speak on, we're going to edit because I think it would be good for you guys to share about your insights and then I think maybe you can add in some info on what you're seeing I keep going like this you got it I'm so used to myself.

10:47How do you think? Okay, I got you. I think it'd be good for, you know, because I think obviously our audience is, like, they might already be gamers. Like you said, a lot of them are not gamers, but then they're also, just because he's known, so they might watch it because they're gamers. You know what I mean? Now that I know that, I have a different approach. Okay. You got it? Yeah. Okay. So I'll just start. And we're going to edit all this, so don't worry. Okay. You want to answer the question, or should I just start going? You want to ask it again? Yeah, just for the purposes. Okay, go. When you get that question, though, it's like, now the question's going.

11:20Okay, I got it. You got it? You got it? I got it. Okay, go ahead. Okay. All right, let's diverge here a little bit. Sure. So, like Dan was saying earlier, I am an eSports gamer at a capacity, nothing compared to FaZe Clan at any sort of, like, I am not that guy. But out in the Philippines, eSports, let alone Southeast Asia, it's bananas. whether that be through the crypto gaming part of it, which was Axie Infinity. Fast forward. Now it's about mobile legends. Our country is just infected with playing mobile legends. That's the game I play. Now, there are a lot of gamers there. Everyone is trying to make money out there by being a gamer, whether that's through mobile console, e-sports, whatever it may be.

12:07Seeing that, and I understand that we just talked earlier that you're coming to Southeast Asia. What can you what advice can you give to gamers out there that are trying to make a living for themselves or what what do you see out in Southeast Asia that attracts you that that wants to go there? Well, overall, I think that gamers and e-sports are put into a box, right? Especially from people that don't understand it. So there's two lanes right here that I can go down and I'll go down one and come to the other. OK, so one is the people that don't understand the lifestyle of a game. Right. So they look at them as just like that's all they do they're gamers maybe they don't they don't look at them as cool Or they look at them as like nerds like that game all day, right?

12:49And it's like dude they're human beings that have a lifestyle what they drink what they listen to what they wear What they talk about what the jargon is what they watch like it's a lifestyle just like music Yeah, right so like if you go back to hip-hop if you're a rapper You're not just like all he does is rap all day and does nothing else There's so many other things that go with it And I think a lot of people don't give credit to gamers or recognize a gamer or e-sports player's lifestyle and the things that are associated with it and what they like. So they don't tap into it or look at it bigger than anything than someone that just sits here and games all day.

13:19And so a lot of people that are unfamiliar with like how powerful gaming in the community is, they look at it, especially adults, they look at it like it's a waste of time. They'll say things like, oh, you're playing games all day, why don't you go outside or do something else? And it's like, this is a new way. The same way you send your kids to piano lessons or to dancing or karate or whatever it is. This is the same thing. Setting your kid up with some kind of skill that he can build a long-term career with. And I think adults and people that don't understand the concept or the energy around gaming don't see that at all.

13:54Would you feel that as we're getting older, like for us, we were playing games when we were kids and it was kind of frowned upon. Now it's a little less and you have kids so we're a little bit more like play some games It's all good like it's not that bad like I have idols who are grown men playing video games Like I'm a big dr. Disrespect fan. Yeah, that guy's cool shit like culturally web I mean in the gaming aspect like that's my guy right? Yeah, so I know that Times are changing a little bit. I don't know if that's fast or slow I can't I don't have the data on that but like where do you see this going?

14:29Well, I see, well, thankfully, I play a big role in the gaming space, and I am an advocate for elevation, innovation, communication, great relations. So doing what I do at FaZe Clan and then at Xset, my other gaming organization, you know, it's having the vision to be able to connect these worlds and understand the mind of everybody that should be connected, including the gamers. And educating and being able to, in a simplified way, communicate to people that don't get it, to be able to put it in words that they'll understand. So that's kind of what I've excelled with in my career, is being able to talk to different worlds and be able to translate and make them understand in a language that they're gonna understand.

15:20See, the average, just going back to when we were talking about leaders, they don't understand the culture. Gamers also don't understand certain things about business, right? And business doesn't understand about gamers. So there's nobody in between that can be able to translate or communicate. No, you need to do this because of that. No, trust me guys, if you do this, it's gonna help this which will then help that. So there's nobody that really knows how to put the pieces together like a chessboard. and I've been doing that really well as you can see what I did at phase you see what I did at exit and you know what I'll do next continuing to help push the envelope and introduce and elevate the entire industry I honestly feel I'll be one of the guys that like disrupt the entire culture by introducing because I know one I trust my brain and two I know that I'm going to diligently keep working until it breaks through even if I don't get the credit right which is fine I haven't got credit for a lot of things I've done in my life right but I don't mind because it's for the good of the culture it's for the good of the gaming industry it's for the good of everybody to win and have more opportunities even if i'm not the one that's recognized for doing it clinton i was getting goosebumps when you were saying all that to be honest and i'm just praying and hoping not to put you on the spot please come to southeast asia and just connect all the people and give them the information because it's just out in those types of countries like trying to build generational or wealth like people like we're all trying to make money out there and it's tough I can't say too much else elsewhere outside the world but like just the value that you could bring in that region would be so exponential well I think we're going back to everything's the same all you have to do is look at a regular athlete look at an artist look at anybody else that tries to build a brand and tries to market themselves yeah and build ancillary businesses around what they've become successful at doing that's the model you need to do I think people get stuck in their brain like I'm a gamer, what should I do?

17:06How do I make money being a gamer? Stop thinking like a gamer. You're a gamer, but you need to think like a brand. You need to think like a business. You need to think in different ways and just like, I'm playing games, I'm streaming, how come my numbers don't go up? How do I make more money? Why doesn't someone just discover me and endorse me and give me money? Like, you're just sitting around waiting, right? And if you sit around waiting, you're gonna lose to those that are actively and proactively going out and recognizing that you're a brand. You're a brand, build your own personal brand, whether it's your personality, whether it's your unique way of playing, whether it's the way you dress while you're playing, whether it's how you treat other people.

17:40There's so many ways to build your brand. It's crazy when people say to me, how do I build my personal brand? Well, who are you? First, sit down and do an exercise about who you are, what you like, why should people care about you? What are you doing that relates to people? What's your backstory? Start asking yourself these questions. then you can build a package of, then you can start looking at the science of what has worked and what doesn't work, right? And what's special about you. Most people sit around waiting and hoping. Hope is not part of a business plan, right? And if you're gonna build the business plan of building your brand, then you have to sit down and realize what you're great at and equally what you're not great at.

18:20And that's what a lot of people don't recognize. So they keep doing the wrong thing because they don't realize they're not great at that. And people are like, yeah, but people tell me if I'm consistent, inevitably it'll happen. Well, if you're consistently doing the wrong thing, then that consistency doesn't work for you. So you have to keep score of what's working and what's not working, and then what you should be doing more of. Building brands to me is one of the simplest things I hear companies and people say all the time, how do we build our brand? How do we connect? It starts with authenticity.

18:48It starts with recognizing what you're good at, what you're not good at. then it starts with building the right proper plan and then keeping score and track of the progress of that plan. And knowing when to pivot when things aren't. And by the way, not being afraid to throw away your first plan and scrap it and do a new plan because that wasn't working. Yes. Thank you for tuning in to Founders Story. Keep exploring, keep dreaming, and join us next time for more inspiring entrepreneurial journeys.