Hip Hop fans were stunned when they learned that Mase was one of the first rappers to sign to Fivio Foreign. The revelation caused a bit of controversy after it was suggested that Fivio received a $5,000 advance from Mase but Mase later explained that when he helped the rapper get his record deal, he received a hefty check. Later came international stardom as a leading rapper in the New York Drill scene.
Fivio Foreign and Ma$e are clashing over contractual disputes, but Akademiks says that if he had stretched his bank account and struck a huge deal, these disputes wouldn't be happening.
According to VladTV on Youtube, Akademiks said he has a deal with a label to sign artists, and he once had his sights set on Fivio.
DJ Akademiks added that he had "an experience with that situation." He said, "So, I had a joint venture label where I sign artists, I still sign artists but new artists are too much and make too much money not dealing with it so why even do a deal with a bunch of demons, right? But anyway, I was trying to look into signing a couple of artists and I remember at the time, Fivio was poppin'."
In summer 2019, the breakout single "Big Drip" by Fivio made him a hot commodity on the New York drill rap scene. Ak says he talked with his lawyer about potentially reeling in Fivio.
DJ Akademiks eventually got word that Ma$e and his RichFish label wanted no less than $1 million to join forces to sign the rapper -- and while he backed off, Columbia Records jumped in with $1.5 mil to sweeten the deal.
Akademiks claim that Ma$e signed with Fivio over his fears of losing the rapper to Suge Knight, but he now believes it was really Ma$e's celebrity that prompted him to sign.
According to the terms of their contract, Ma$e gets 50% of Fivio's earnings. This is a standard in a 50/50 deal that leads to bigger payouts for Ma$e as Fivio's status grows.
Fivio and Ma$e have publicly dissed one another with their various sides of the story, and Ak says Fivio's just about due for a new deal where he could get upward of $5 million.
When Fivio signs on a new dotted line, he finds that money can indeed buy happiness.
Akademiks claimed that he did not see much movement around Fivio other than a buzz, so he stepped in.
"I hit my lawyer and I said, 'Yo, I wanna sign this guy.' Now, I said, 'Yo, we gotta probably reach out and get some meetings and I guess my lawyer knew someone who was a direct contact to his lawyer and they got in touch. Now, granted, I had no idea Mase was in this situation 'til he came back and said, 'Well, he does have a situation with Mase,' and I'm like, 'Is he still looking for a deal?' He said, 'Yes, he still is looking for a deal.'"
Akademiks told Fivio that his lawyer had warned him against accepting a $1.5 million deal with Columbia Records, and he bowed out of negotiations. Akademiks thought he was going to be able to squeeze by with half a million dollars, but he applauded Mase's value because Fivio ended up with a reported $1.5 million dollar deal with Columbia Records.
"I don't think [Fivio] gets that deal without Mase," Akademiks added. "Do I think he gets a deal? Absolutely, but is it that value? No."