Game Recognize Game: Payroll Giovanni on Million Dollaz Worth of Game

Payroll Giovanni opened up about his grind, his loyalty to independence, and Detroit's cultural evolution during a recent appearance on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast with Gillie Da Kid and Wallo267. The interview, recorded in Detroit on 313 Day, captured a candid and often comedic conversation that also doubled as a celebration of Payroll's legacy and the city that raised him.

From Teen Crews to Doughboyz Cashout

Payroll traced the roots of his music career back to his teenage years in high school. What started as two separate crews, Doughboys and Cashout, eventually merged to form Doughboyz Cashout, one of the most influential rap groups to come out of Detroit.

"We was just two crews in high school, just having fun... being fly, messing with the ladies, throwing parties, everybody had Cartiers on," he said. "We already was a poppin' crew, so when we started rapping, we already had fans before we said one bar."

The group's local fame helped them cut through quickly once they began releasing music. Payroll estimated they dropped five to six group projects early on, building a strong street buzz before he launched into his own solo catalog, which he says now includes more than 11 albums.

Finding Power in Independence

For Payroll, staying independent wasn’t a fallback plan—it was a decision rooted in experience. He recalled how he and his team initially self-funded their releases, printing up CDs, stocking local stores, and seeing firsthand how the money circulated.

"We was putting our own money up, getting CDs printed, putting them in stores, selling out. Then came iTunes—we was seeing our money monthly. That made me start doing the numbers."

His first breakthrough was modest but significant: "It took me seeing $2,000 to be like, yeah, I see where the money live at now," he said.

But it was earning $1,000 for a feature that truly made him commit to rap full time. "That thousand for that verse? I couldn't believe it. I said, I'm taking this serious. Everything else going to the side."

While he briefly explored a major label situation with Def Jam alongside producer Cardo, Payroll ultimately passed, citing a lack of financial clarity.

"By then, I'm so used to being independent, I know where the money live. With a major, it just seemed like I was going to be famous and not really making no money. That ain't make sense for me."

Embracing Detroit’s Moment

In reflecting on how Detroit rap evolved from a regional sound to a national movement, Payroll pointed to the street rap scene’s slow journey to mainstream acceptance. He credited earlier acts like Street Lord'z and Trick Trick for laying the groundwork, and acknowledged a shift when artists like Dej Loaf and Tee Grizzley started getting national spins.

"When Tee Grizzley came out, that's when I started hearing Detroit everywhere. I'm in clubs in Houston, hearing Detroit. That never used to happen."

The shift didn’t just come from music quality but from a new sense of collective ambition among Detroit artists. Payroll noted that while artists from previous generations were focused on street money, newer acts took the music game more seriously.

"Rappers before us was getting money for real. Labels would offer a couple dollars and they’d say, 'I got that in my mattress.' They didn’t care about the rap game like that."

A Million Dollars Worth of Game in Every Verse

Gillie and Wallo repeatedly praised Payroll for the wisdom laced through his lyrics, calling his music a street code manual. Payroll acknowledged that his songwriting is intentional—he only hits the booth when he has something real to say.

"I only like making music when I got something to say. Some real game to give that could change somebody's way of thinking. But I ain't trying to preach to 'em. I'm just saying, 'Hey, this is what I done peeped over the years.'" This mindset reflects not just in his music but also in how he navigates life. He spoke on staying grounded, even as success builds.

"I tried to stop rapping. Felt like it wasn't doing what I wanted. But every time, fans would come up to me like, 'Don't stop what you're doing.' Felt like they was reading my mind. I can't stop, even if I wanted to."

Financial Discipline and Relationship Wisdom

Payroll also discussed the importance of sacrifice in both money and relationships. Referencing his track "Came to Understanding," he explained how being financially disciplined requires alignment with your partner.

"It's easy for me to lock in. But my girl got to be locked in too. She got to understand we building. Ain't no roof chris dates right now. But we gon' be good in a minute."

Gillie added, "If she felt your game, then she gonna feel your pain."

Detroit Unity and Legacy

The episode was recorded on 313 Day, a celebration of Detroit culture. That energy was present throughout the show, from neighborhood cameos to stories about how the East and West sides of Detroit have united in recent years.

Payroll pointed to the deaths of prominent figures like Rock from the West and Soda from the East as a turning point.

"After that, we was like, 'Life serious. Let’s get some money together.' The city been wanting that. It just took time. But now, ain’t no East-West thing. We set a different trend."

What Keeps Payroll Going

With over two dozen projects under his belt, Payroll says there’s still more to say.

"I can make an album about this block alone. About Six Mile and St. Mary’s. About my granddaddy. I got a lot left in me, long as I got something to say."

He also shared his bucket-list collaborations, name-dropping producers like Pharrell, Alchemist, Timbaland, and Mannie Fresh.

"I need a Fresh beat, for real. That’s the DNA of my sound. Jeezy came out, and it was like Jesus Christ around here. That’s how heavy it hit."

A Neighborhood Legacy

Toward the end of the interview, Payroll walked the crew through his old neighborhood, reflecting on its influence.

"It wasn’t a bad block, but everything was here. Killers, robbers, pimps, hustlers. But it was chill. They was just outside chopping it up, talking. That was our motivation."

That neighborhood spirit still fuels him today—not just to rap, but to be a symbol of consistency, game, and growth in a city that’s finally getting its due. "I always feel like I ain't done. I can't get comfortable. Every level, there's another level."