Mother Knows Best: Meet @Stacia.Mac
Polo G’s mom reflects on her family’s rise, from Chicago’s Cabrini-Green neighborhood, to the top of the Billboard charts.
It’s been a thrilling first week sharing these great stories with you all and receiving your feedback. I can’t think of a better way to keep the momentum going than to introduce you to someone who’s work ethic and dedication to family provides a great deal of inspiration to many, Polo G’s momager @Stacia.Mac. Read on and you will see that there is a lot more going on here than a meme on TikTok or a headline on TMZ.
J.E.: I’m trying to think how to word this question. Everybody thinks their kids are special and every kid is special.. you know what I’m getting at.. do you recall the moment when you knew your son was going to be a star? Are you surprised at all about his trajectory?
S.M.: It had to be when I heard his song, “Finer Things” for the first time. I’m listening to this song and I’m thinking, he’s telling his story - and it’s deep - I can hear the pain coming through. His writing, wordplay and rhymes are brilliant. Finally, his delivery, the way that he puts it all together, is elite. Everything is clicking. I knew my son was a prolific artist the moment I heard that song.
Nothing about his career has surprised me. We surprised a lot of other people though. I remember sharing our plans with people- to reach the top of the Billboard charts, that we would have the number one album, the cover of Rolling Stone. I thought to myself, they don’t understand our movement.. I guess now they understand us!
J.E.: I remember. But I thought you were sharing your hopes and dreams for one day down the line not your immediate plans! Next thing I know it’s Rapstar! You took the game over. If only there was a stock market for people, I could have been early on that. But surely something must have surprised you about being a CEO? What would you say about your professional past that has helped you in this position you are in now?
S.M.: I always hoped that as CEO, I’d earn some more leisure time. I was surprised to learn that’s not the case. I find myself spending more time on work related things as I have more of a vested interest. There are no breaks – from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep. Meetings, calls, endorsements, bookings, team-building, contracts and everything else. It’s busy and it’s grueling. This is the industry.
My past has helped me in my current position; it taught me that organization and a strong foundation are key to building any successful business. I was in property management. I learned how to manage, to be organized, to be goal-oriented. So, I transferred my knowledge of that into managing artists. Since I’m managing my kids, I feel there is zero margin for error. In addition, coming from Chicago gave me the drive to maneuver through this business world. Chicago is just relentless. If you can do it there, you can do it anywhere.
J.E.: When I think about your company, ODA ‘Only Dreamers Achieve’ I know that your company is different because your point of view is proprietary to you and that shines through the company. Beyond that though, how do you hope ODA stands out from all the other companies out there today?
S.M.: ODA stands out from other companies as it is built on integrity. An added component is education. We educate all artists, and those supporting them, on the intricacies of the music business. We are providing a safe place for creatives where they can create and not have to worry about being taken advantage of. Many creatives don’t understand the importance of having someone who will be straight and tell them, ‘this is not a good deal’. So, while it’s a safe place, it’s also an honest place. When you come to ODA, it’s a family situation. You’re here because we see that star power, and we want to build a family and make our movement bigger.
J.E.: I know you are a hard worker who starts her days early. What is the most challenging part about being in the music business? What’s the best part?
S.M.: The most challenging part about being in the music business is building assets, from the ground up. Every day, we’re speaking internally as a family, deciding what the strategy is going to be. Maybe the label doesn’t agree, they want to go in another direction. We balance their input with our instincts. Now we’re going to Youtube, Tiktok and video game placements. Then we’re analyzing the engagement and making the adjustments. We build assets from the ground up just like any other business.
Of course, the best part after all that is watching it flourish. That’s when you say, ‘Hey Siri. What’s the number one song in the world?’ and she responds, ‘The number one song in the world is Rapstar by Polo G’ - That’s quite a feeling.
J.E.: You seem to really love the music business. Where do you think your passion for music and business stems from?
S.M.: Just growing up being surrounded by music. I remember music being there for the most joyous of times and toughest times in my life. It’s the soundtrack to our lives.
My business acumen I get from my mother - she’s one of the smartest and strongest women I know. She says, “I’m going to give it to you, and I’m a leave it there.” That’s how I endeavor to handle my business. I’m going to give you full transparency, full disclosure. That’s the way I approach everything.
J.E.: What has it been like being able to work so closely with your son? Do you find that it has become better or easier as time goes on?
S.M.: My favorite artists are hands down my talented children.. Polo G, Leilani, and Trench Baby. They all have different styles of music that speak to me. Being able to work closely with them is a blessing and dream come true. I’m fortunate to assist them on their journeys and it’s a true labor of love. As time goes on our working relationship becomes better. We are positively aligned with one another and our professional expectations.
I’m blessed that my children value my opinion and run things by me. So, there are various things that come up like appearances and contracts. I’m keeping an eye out for lowball offers and bad deals. I’m not going to let anyone take advantage.
The most trusted person in your family and your circle will be your mother. And if I had anybody advocating for me with that much ferocity, I want to bet on them. So, it’s not something I shy away from. Every one of my creatives, I feel like they are a child of mine, and I will protect them and always treat them as such. I’m going to give you everything uninhibited so you can make an informed decision. And I’m going to make sure no one hinders you professionally in any manner.
J.E.: I see what you mean. I got to spend some time with your boys not that long ago. They definitely seemed very comfortable and down to earth, all things considered. With everything going on, it’s a lot for young people to remain grounded so you can see the impact of your presence and contribution that way. I also wanted to ask you about what’s going on with another one of your projects, ‘I Birth Legends’. Where did the idea for it originally come from? How has it evolved over the years?
S.M.: My ‘I Birth Legends’ brand was an idea before my children became artists. I knew they’d be great. I wanted to celebrate them and the mothers of other amazing creatives. Over the years, my brand and this movement is growing. Great ideas eventually take on a life of their own. I realized it was ripe for turning into a podcast where I speak to moms. You always see phenomenal people—whether they’re athletes, politicians, entrepreneurs, or what have you—and wonder what their backstory is. Most of these stories start with the matriarch, and I was intrigued by that. I wanted to give the moms a platform and get the details of how people are molded into legends from their perspective. The moms are usually that hub that pushes them forward, and as you mentioned, keeps them grounded after the celebrity. So, it’s interesting to see how they grew up. When you see the mom, you’re like, I get it now. You begin to understand why they’re so successful and why they are the way they are. Through ‘I Birth Legends’, I’ve had the privilege of speaking with remarkable individuals such as Tina Knowles about their journey and I’m learning so much, especially about giving back.
J.E.: I noticed that you like to find unique ways to give back and help others. What’s the latest?
S.M.: I do take pleasure in independently engaging in charitable acts. I recently created a bail bond initiative called, ‘Find Her Way Bail Bond Project’ to bond women in Chicago out of prison for low level crimes. It’s very rewarding and satisfying to help others.
We bail women out of Cook County Jail. Once the women walk out of the jail, a car service is waiting to make sure they have a ride home. It’s important for us to see, not repeat offenders — if you will — but women who probably look made a mistake, and just need a second chance.
J.E.: I get it. When it comes to your career, what are you most looking forward to right now?
S.M.: I’m most looking forward to creating one umbrella that houses all facets of the music industry. A one stop management company. Branding, marketing, visuals, radio impacting, play listing…everything!
I also see myself taking on more clients. While Polo is my primary artist, I want to manage other superstars. I see myself continuing to work with him, but I understand that sometimes things change. Through those changes, I’ll still always support and help him any way that I can.