Highlights
Culture Curator Turned Film Producer: Steve Raze Talks Ballin’ and Beyond
Aug 8, 2025
From shaping hip hop culture at AllHipHop.com to producing award-winning television and now stepping into the world of film, Steve Raze has built a career on telling stories that matter. His latest project, Ballin’, brings that same passion to the big screen, blending grit, ambition, and star power with a cast that includes Safaree, Lance Stephenson, and Tray Chaney.
With a résumé that spans breaking artists like Nicki Minaj and Wiz Khalifa, curating a decade of stages at SXSW, producing Love & Hip Hop and Divorce Court, and creating the powerful Revolt TV documentary From Pain to Power, Steve’s creative fingerprint is everywhere. Now, with Ballin’, he’s proving once again that he knows how to capture culture—and keep audiences watching.
Check out the interview with Steve Raze below.
Let’s start with Ballin’. How did this project come together, and what can audiences expect from the film?
Well, thank you very much for the interview, and I would like to say Ballin’ was a project that was a couple of years in the making. I was approached with this project by the executive producer, Rich Black, and he sent me the script. I reviewed it, and I liked the project and was all on board. This was 2022; the project took some time to really get started. Then, Rich Black partnered with Chris Gotti, and they formed ARC Films. From that union, Ballin’ became our first movie project together.
You’ve worn many hats as a producer, editor, casting director, and strategist. How would you describe your evolution in the entertainment industry?
To start with my evolution, you have to go back to the beginning. I entered the entertainment industry as an executive at an award-winning hip-hop website. Allhiphop.com was, in its day, the number one hip-hop website, and I was grateful that I helped position them to the number 1 slot. As the Executive VP at the website. I held many hats and created my breakout web series, The Next 48 Hours. I would follow major recording artist as they released their album in a two-day timeframe. I would document everything and go everywhere with artists like Rick Ross, Nas, Wale, Nelly, Master P, and French Montana. The list goes on and on, and this is where I developed the ability to actually produce a documentary and a docuseries.
The Next 48 Hours series actually got me an offer with the MTV Base in England, which we did turn down, but it was my first introduction into the television world. We did close a deal to have 9 minutes of our footage on MTV's Sucker Free, hosted by DJ Envy.
After my time at the website, I began to seriously move into the television business and started my official career with Love and Hip & Hop on VH1 as a casting producer. Initially, this was great; however, at a certain point, you reach a level where you want to expand past one particular show, and eventually, I became a producer for FOX's Divorce Court. My biggest achievement was when I created, executive-produced, and licensed my own social justice documentary starring T.I. on REVOLT TV called From Pain To Power, which also featured Drummaboy, Ben Crump, Mysonne, and several other musicians and social justice leaders.
However, working for other companies didn’t satisfy the final direction of where I saw myself in the entertainment business. So when Ballin’ was presented to me, I jumped at the opportunity to actually become a producer on a feature film. This is where I saw my future pathway of producing content and having ownership of the content. By producing movies, TV shows, and documentaries, this is ultimately where I see my evolution expanding to, but it’s not gonna stop there.
Ballin’ features a strong cast, including Safaree, Lance Stephenson, and Tray Chaney. What made these actors the right fit for their roles, and what was it like working with them on set?
Well, after Rich and I steadily spoke on the script, which already had Safaree in mind, we already knew he would be perfect for the role, and his personality would exude on the screen. Chris Gotti saw Lance as an ideal talent for the lead since it focused on a star basketball player. Who else would be able to play a star basketball player, then an actual star basketball player!
For Trae Cheney, I’ve known Trae for years and have always been a supporter of his craft since The Wire on HBO. I knew his personality because I always supported him as a rapper, and as I transitioned into the film space, I knew I always wanted to have a solid, reliable actor who could bring a plethora of experience to the set. Tray Chaney perfectly filled the role with decades of experience acting. He helped everyone on set, from the producers to, actors and crew.
We had an amazing crew and team, and all the actors got along extremely well. Lance and Safaree completely hit it off, and Tray is always a class act, bringing smiles to everyone’s face, and he got along with literally everyone. Tray really brought the professionalism, and I even saw crew members ask for his autograph. I mean, the guy is literally amazing. Also, I continue to hold him in my prayers as he and his family, and his son, survived a horrific tornado in Atlanta not too long ago. His son, Malachi, ended up in critical condition, but thank the good Lord, he’s doing great today.
Can you share a favorite behind-the-scenes moment or memory from the Ballin’ shoot?
I mean, I would have to say that having Tray, Lance, and Safaree around was always a fun, light-hearted vibe. We would do push-up competitions on set while doing viral videos with Safaree and the crew, and it was all just great fun!
Filming in the mansion had to be the best time we had; we had some of the best food catering. My birthday was during one of the mansion shoots, so Chris Gotti had a masseuse on set for my birthday. Of course, she massaged anyone who wanted one since we all worked long hours, but for sure, I enjoyed my massage the most. It was not only an amazing time, but getting the Happy Birthday song sung by the entire casting crew on set really had me stunned. Great times!
AGA Music and AGA Agency have had their hands in everything from music marketing to branding. What’s your secret sauce when it comes to creating impact across different industries?
Well, I think the secret sauce for me is networking, connections, and relationships. If you know how to cultivate your own resources properly, you can expand your reach, opportunities, and goals over time. It ’s just a matter of how I can best manage these resources while gaining experience from everyone that I work with, from Master P to the up-and-coming artists that keep up on what’s poppin in the streets or the blogs.
From artist development to movie production—what do you look for in a story, artist, or brand before saying, “I’m all in”?
I’ve had a simple approach about being all in, and it actually comes from my journalism days. If you want to be a part of a project, and your heart may be 100% in, I also have to have the following things answered and that is Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. And if all these answers line up properly, that’s when I’m all in.
With Ballin’ now complete, what’s next? Are there more film projects in the works through AGA Films?
Well, the next movie that I was a producer on is called the Night Shift. That movie is directed by Jillian Boothe, executive produced by Rich Black, and produced by me. Night Shift is an amazing thriller that’s gonna have you on the edge of your seat, and the release date is expected to be around Halloween this year on Tubi.
I did want to mention that I just got back from Jamaica, and I’m doing a comprehensive docuseries that will be a project that will be looked at for years, if not decades to come. What we are accomplishing is an amazing docuseries that is 100% necessary. I don’t want to say too much, because there are some big plans for this project, but we plan to present what we have next year at some of the major film festivals. We know that this project is going to shine at any festival we enter.
What’s next for Steve Raze? Any new projects or passions you’re diving into that we should keep an eye on?
I’m in a mix of reality TV shows, movies, and documentaries. I started my career in the documentary space covering music artists, and I think I’ll be doing that for my entire career. My next project that I’m ironing out is a genre of music that I’ve personally witnessed getting a lot of attention in the southern region of the country, and I think that covering this genre of music is going to be one of my projects I’m developing in the coming months.
On the Spot:
Artist or actor you’ve always wanted to work with?
Actor, I definitely say, Denzel Washington, but I know my days are numbered on getting him, so let’s do Michael B. Jordan. An Artist I love to work with is Wiz Khalifa.
Hip hop moment in history that’s underrated?
A Hip-hop moment that’s most underrated, I would say, would be the fact that in 50 years of hip-hop and beyond, some of these older artists are out-selling these younger up-and-coming artists and touring, and I think that legends haven’t been getting the mainstream attention for the work that they’ve been doing in the genre
The best piece of advice you've ever received?
Master P told me this after a meeting that I witnessed, and it was extremely short. The gentleman had a request and not a full plan, and he was almost begging Master P to be involved in this project. After the short meeting ended, Master P looked at me and gave me this advice: “Never work with somebody that is desperate.“
