Hopsin has been the most successful. On his "Ill Mind of Hopsin" YouTube series, he's taken shots at famous rappers like Lil Wayne and Odd Future's Tyler, the Creator: "With wack beats and gap teeth like Tyler, the Creator/Motherfucker, you not dope/So you tryna get some attention by cussing and eating a fucking cockroach?" Hopsin insists these attacks aren't personal, and they're not to draw attention; he performs them simply to get feelings off his chest.
Hopsin has found a fan base among the Juggalos, the rabid followers of Insane Clown Posse, and it was because of him that Dizzy Wright was invited to perform at this year's Gathering of the Juggalos. The appeal isn't immediately clear, but clearly the Juggalos find them to be kindred spirits, and their famous loyalty certainly has helped propel the label.
Funk Volume has a slew of albums on the docket: Benton just released an album called My Grandma's Basement, while Hopsin's third album drops later this year, and Wright and SwizZz also have new projects on the way. Dame says tours, videos and merch will accompany each release, and they're also working on a documentary.
PHOTO BY TOMMY GARCIA
Jarren Benton, left, Hopsin, DJ Hoppa, Damien Ritter, SwizZz and Dizzy Wright
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Though Dame says everyone involved is making money, no one wears any chains or drives extravagant cars. "I think they're paying their dues," Dame says of his artists. "And hopefully this road will instill in them a grind that they won't forget."
An obvious comparison would be with South Central–based label Top Dawg Entertainment, also a rap collective whose members are gaining fame as solo artists; though the Funk Volume guys don't quite have the artistic strength of critically acclaimed rappers like Kendrick Lamar, their fan base is similarly accruing at a quick clip.
There's clearly a large upshot for Funk Volume. Who knows? Dame may even end up with better-paid employment than his former colleagues at Goldman Sachs or Deloitte. One thing's for sure: His job now is certainly more fulfilling.
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