Stevie Johnson Wilkins (born January 2, 1980), known by his stage name Big Money Swag, is an American music producer, rapper, investor, and philanthropist.
Biography
Wilkins was born on January 2, 1980 in Brooklyn, New York. His parents abandoned him soon after birth. He was left with close family friend and billionaire investor, Warren Buffett. Buffett influenced Wilkins and showed him the basics of investing in the stock market and the importance of philanthropic causes. Wilkins eventually graduated from Harvard Business School in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in corporate finance.
Although Wilkins was deeply interested in corporate finance and the stock market, he decided to pursue a career as a musician because he wanted "to be more creative." Wilkins learned to rap and produce music in high school and even produced mixtapes under various pseudonyms. He first gained prominence as a musician after independently releasing a mixtape in 2004 titled I'm Way Too Successful (Just Look at This Long Album Name), featuring his own music and vocals.
Shortly after the release of I'm Way Too Successful, he received an offer from Warren Buffett to produce music on Buffett's new rap label called Stock Market Swag Records. After he was signed to Stock Market Swag in 2005, Wilkins released a new album titled Giving My Bank Account to Charity. Giving My Bank Account to Charity featured hardcore gangster rap with influences from the East Brooklyn rappers that Wilkins listened to as a child. The lyrics on the album discussed his desire to help the poor by donating to charity. The album received a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Buffett and Wilkins became co-owners of Stock Market Swag Records, and the label became the most successful rap label in the United States by 2008. Buffett decided that the best way to use the label's success was to hold large concerts that donate all proceeds to charity. Stock Market Swag's worldwide concert tours are used to help promote the Gates Foundation, the American Red Cross, and several other charity organizations.
Joshua Valdez, COMM 100W, Section 10