PM on “Members Only,” Music Advocacy, and the Legacy He Hopes to Leave
- Tangible Tunes
- Jul 27
- 5 min read
You can check out his video interview on our homepage, and find PM.'s music on Spotify here:
“Members Only” started as a song you wrote for someone else. At what point did you realize, “Wait… this might actually be mine”?
Yes !! The Song started off as an collaborative effort, mainly penning an idea for a record. I was working with an Artist on his Project and pitch the idea "Members Only". I went to the Studio, recorded a reference track. I thought the Song overall went over pretty good, and I got some favorable responses.
The "Artist" passed. So the First Verse, was the "reference verse" I recorded, I went home built off the concept of what I penned initially. Came up with 2nd & 3rd verse to complete the Song. I felt it was missing something so I incorporated a Bridge (between the 2nd & 3rd verse). Went back to the Studio, recorded the completed version, of what you hear today.
I think ultimately I wasn't thinking the Song was "mine", just wanted to be a Team Player at that point, you have to consider, I'm at the tail end of my career. I'm not thinking of recording any new music at this time. So it kind of coincided with an offer from my Record Company to deliver a new song, so in short, I had this to use; we went with it.
Portugal really showed up for “Members Only.” Was that something you saw coming at all, or was it a total “wait… Portugal?!” moment?
Sure did !! In a Big Way !! In fact, not only Portugal, the XOFAM in General, this was something new. I hadn't released anything new in a number of years, so it felt like alot of people really wanted to hear what I was rapping present day.
But definitely I wasn't expecting that kind of success, I mean #1 (Hip-Hop), #2 Music (All Genres); not only was this a landmark achievement, but this is my first #1 as a Solo Artist so it definitely was a great feeling.
I kind of had my MJ moment when he shot the last shot as a Chicago Bull, going out in style with a Championship, feel me.
For the fans in Portugal and everyone who helped make this song move, what do you want to say to them directly?
I just want to thank everyone for their continued support !! I appreciate everyone going out and Streaming, Downloading, Purchasing, the Song. Adding it to their personal Playlist(s). Just made my journey that much sweeter.
What a way to end the perfect story !! I'm forever grateful to the Fans !!
You’ve been a Recording Academy member since 2010. What did that milestone mean to you when it first happened?
Just being recognize by the Biggest Artist Organization in the Music Industry just put the icing on the cake. Being a Member solidified my position in the Industry as a Professional Musician. I'm now playing in the League, feel me.
You said your dream was to take your mom to the Grammys. How does her memory still show up in your music journey?
Bitter-Sweet, you know !! RIP Mom-Dukes !! I'm carrying on tradition. Moms was able to see the vision of what became today before she passed, so knowing how far I've traveled since that fateful day, I just feel her presence even-more, everyday.
Every milestone I accomplish since then, I feel her watching over me and smiling because we made it. The year Moms passed away (2016); I received my first pair of tickets to the Grammy Awards, so that was our Championship together bc although I couldn't take her there in the physical, spiritually we went hand in hand like we always planned.
Moms was a Music fan, so she watched the Grammy Awards tv show every year.
When you think about your mom and everything happening now, what do you wish you could tell her?
Nothing bc she already know !! Mom-Dukes is walking with me, so everything I'm doing now, is coming from her watching down on me.
I sometimes wish I could celebrate the milestone(s) bc I started being successful after she passed, but she saw the journey from day one, when she bought me my keyboard for xmas, ever since then, she knew !!
A lot of artists know the creative side of music, but not the business side. What was the biggest eye-opener for you once you started learning the infrastructure?
How Music Royalties are PAID OUT. Streaming definitely watered the pay-rate tremendously. I started during the CD/Tape/Vinyl era. So I know the difference in sales from a physical stand-point.
Definitely want to shout-out Taylor Swift for inspiring me to get more involved with learning the Music Business. I think the biggest thing that made me take interest in it more, was missing out on income after years of my Music being played on the Radio (Terrestrial); not until I started registering with the PROs is when I realized how much of the Business I really didn't know, so I really took an interest in learning more about it, in a sense to be more mindful of protecting my IP (Intellectual Property).
Knowing the value of ownership in regards to Music Catalog, and Publishing. Seeing the value in Sync'n, etc.
Between charting, touring, and advocacy, what feels like the biggest full-circle moment right now?
All 3, tbh !! Advocacy gave me a voice in advocating for Artist(s)/Musicians like myself. To be able to speak with law-makers annually and convince them to pass these law(s) for fair compensation.
Being apart of the Music Modernization Act (MMA) passage thru Congress in 2018 which ultimately created another PRO (MLC - Music Licensing Collective); just another step forward for Organization(s) like the MLC to help us Musicians earn more compensation for our Public Work(s).
Like the The PACE Act (Protecting Artists' Creative Expression) - where we're advising our law-makers to prevent the Courts from using our Artistic expression against us in a court of law.
Stuff like this gives me the burning desire, to do more, to speak louder, and educate our Artist community, that it takes a Village. We're our only hope if we want to be treated fairly in this space.
A few other(s) as well, but we can talk about those in another interview....lol
What kind of legacy are you hoping to build, not just as an artist, but as someone involved in the music community?
I haven't thought about the Legacy portion, bc I feel your work ethic speaks for itself. I think more than anything just want to be remembered for being a pillar in my community. Someone who chose to build and uplift; not tear down and destroy, feel me.
You’ve advocated for music legislation, including the Music Modernization Act (MMA). How did it feel to be part of conversations that impact artists beyond just your own career?
Probably one of my most monumental achievements I can say bc I stood there in 2018 when the Bill finally passed thru Congress and saw how Advocating for the Recording Academy really was one of the best decisions I could have made.
I was a Member of the Recording Academy for (5) Years, paying my annual dues, not really participating in anything. Then one-day, I thought to myself, I want to do something, I want to be more involved. How can I contribute to the Culture ?
I received an email from my Chapter (Washington DC) and they asked for Participant(s) to sit-down with Law-Makers and discuss our view(s) on these Bill(s) we were pushing to get passed. So, I read up on what we were advocating for and got more & more interested in the possibility of the change that can come if these bill(s) were to pass thru Congress.
Lets just say, that was 2015, its now 2026, and not only did my contribution(s) make a difference. It allowed me to be nominated for my first Music Award (2026 Adult Contemporary Hip-Hip) for Members Only. I don't get there, without doing that !!
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