He’s been in the music and entertainment industry for over three decades. From sending tapes to record labels and signing a deal with No Limit Records, to working in front of and behind the camera in the media and film industry. Courtney “Big Court” Richardson II is a go-getter. That mentality has evolved into him creating a global empire and developing groundbreaking opportunities to help others succeed.
The Fleet Mag’s Celebrity DJ Cat-X had the opportunity to sit down with Big Count for an in-depth interview. They talked about his career achievements, partnerships with icons Master P and Ice-T, and how his new entertainment platform, the “OG Network,” is opening doors for independent creatives and filmmakers to break into the industry.
Big Court was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. As a young man, he developed a love for music and set his sights on a successful career as a hip-hop artist. He sent dozens of tapes to major record labels, only to have them returned with a note stating, ‘we do not accept unsolicited material.’ That didn’t stop him and his lucky break came when his music landed in the hands of Mr. Ice Cream Man himself, Master P. Big Court was signed to No Limit Records as a member of the group CCG. It was then he packed his bags and moved to L.A. which is where his career began to take off. While signed to No Limit Records, Big Court developed a great friendship with Master P. who eventually became more of a mentor. Master P already had a booming music career and multiple businesses, so he began to share his knowledge with Big Court, teaching him about building generational wealth.
Big Court began to expand his horizons beyond music and pursued his interest in the film industry. He spent countless hours on movie sets asking questions and learning how things worked behind the scenes. He discovered that actors were not the highest-paid on the set; it was actually the people behind the cameras who were making the big bucks. Big Court then put what he learned to the test and funded, executive-produced, and starred in his own independent movie, Young American Ganstas, which also featured Katt Williams. This success opened doors for Big Court to create other films and media platforms that led to financial stability.
Big Court has an extensive resume that includes being a successful recording artist, a graduate of No Limit University, creator of Holdin’ Court Podcast with Revolt TV, and Founder of the OG Network with co-founder Ice-T.
Big Court believes in identifying problems and finding a solution. With his experience in media and film, he knew about the difficulties independent creators and entertainers face when trying to get their work before a large audience. He also wanted to create a streaming service where people can go to watch culture-related classics, as well as new and exclusive films that you can’t find on most platforms today. Henceforth, the OG Network was born.
The OG Network is home to a variety of independent and box office movies, documentaries, short films, and more. A few titles you can find on the platform are, The Boy Who Built An Army (a documentary about Raymond Washington founder of the West Coast Crips), My Cherie Amour starring Omar Gooding, Superfly, The Black Godfather, Black Caesar, The Mack, Willie Dynamite, Leprechaun in the Hood, I’m Bout It, Hot Boyz, and Ice-T Put the Guns Down A World Epidemic. For those who prefer a particular genre of entertainment, it is only one click away. You can enjoy action, Kung Fu, drama, comedy, crime, western, thriller, sci-fi, African movies, sports, classic cartoons, and more.
Most importantly, the OG Network is accepting submissions from independent filmmakers and creators to have their work placed on the platform.
“It’s about legacy. What did you contribute to the human experience and I think I can do that through the OG Network.” Big Court said, “We’re doing a couple of things. Not only are we preserving classic movies and shining the light on classic culture. We’re also extending opportunities to people. That’s the most gratifying thing.”
Big Court also has a popular podcast, Holdin’ Court, that led him to connect with hip-hop legend, actor, and producer Ice-T. The podcast has accumulated nearly 200K followers, where he interviews some of the industry’s hottest acts as well as newcomers. Ice-T was booked as a guest on Holdin’ Court multiple times. Their conversations turned into a close friendship and eventually a partnership. This laid the foundation for the OG Network. Big Court spoke about how Ice-T joined forces with him to create the platform.
“We already knew a lot of mutual people and knew of each other loosely. Probably six or seven years ago he came and did my podcast. Then he came a second time when he got his star on the Hollywood Wall of Fame and won a Grammy that year. We were just kindred spirits, we just clicked. I had the idea, and it only makes sense OG Network. He coined the term OG. He went on to say, “I applaud Ice for believing in my vision, and supporting me and standing with me. I think we make a great team because we know where we are strong. Even though I am the founder of this and I spearhead most things, I still run a lot of stuff by him because he has wisdom.”
Big Court values his relationships with Master P and Ice-T. He feels that the knowledge they have passed on to him played a role in his success.
“I’m really blessed, I am a product of some good OG’s and the right people. I never thought about it but I’m tied to two of the biggest moguls, icons in our culture, Master P and Ice-T.”
The OG Network is FREE and it can be downloaded on Roku, Google Play, Fire TV, Apple Mobil, and Apple TV. New shows are constantly being added including exclusive content.
Creators who would like to submit there short film, documentary, or movie for placement on the OG Network can send finished products only, no scripts or synopsis to content@theognetwork.net.
Check out Big Court’s entire interview below, and be sure to visit the OG Network online.
Interview by Celebrity DJ Cat-X / Article written by JP