“I saw her confidence go through the roof,” says the former MLB star turned music exec, opening up about his unconventional support system at 1501 Certified Entertainment.
In a recent interview with RealLyfe Street Starz, Crawford, 43, opened up about an unconventional practice he’s adopted as CEO of his Houston-based label, 1501 Certified Entertainment: setting aside funds for Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgeries for his female artists.
When Carl Crawford walked away from Major League Baseball in 2016, he left with four All-Star selections, nearly $180 million in career earnings — and a heart set on starting over.
What didn’t he expect? That, less than a decade later, he’d be sitting in a studio in Houston, explaining why he now budgets for Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgeries for the female artists on his label.
“It’s not about changing who they are,”
Crawford, 43, tells in an interview with RealLyfe Street Starz.
Crawford, now CEO of 1501 Certified Entertainment, made headlines when he revealed on the RealLyfe Street Starz podcast that he sets aside $20,000 for cosmetic procedures when signing new women to his label. He says the idea was inspired by witnessing the transformation of Dallas-born rapper Erica Banks after her first surgery.
“She lit up,”
Crawford says.
“Her energy was different, her stage presence was different. Everything about her just felt more powerful — and that confidence translated into the music.”
Crawford’s pivot from professional sports to the music industry was already bold. Raised in Houston’s Southside and mentored by Rap-A-Lot Records founder J. Prince, he launched 1501 with the goal of “uplifting raw talent,” he says — a mission that found early success with the explosive rise of Megan Thee Stallion and later, Erica Banks.
After witnessing the emotional and creative benefits Banks experienced post-surgery, Crawford began rethinking what artist development could mean.
“We train them for performance, help them with branding, visuals, all that,” he says. “So why not help with confidence too, if that’s what they want?”
Banks, who has undergone two BBL procedures since signing with the label, echoes that sentiment — though she admits the journey wasn’t smooth.
“The recovery was brutal,”
She tells.
“But when I looked in the mirror and felt good in my skin, it made everything else click. Carl didn’t force it — he supported me. That meant everything.”
Supporters argue his approach is a forward-thinking extension of artist support in a visually driven industry. Critics question the message it sends, especially to younger artists.
Dr. Tasha Greene, a psychologist specializing in self-image and media, says it’s a nuanced issue.
“Cosmetic surgery can be empowering for some, but dangerous for others. What matters is informed, autonomous choice — and having leaders who foster emotional and physical confidence.”
For Crawford, the conversation is a necessary one.
“I didn’t make this choice lightly,” he says. “But I saw how one decision changed how a young woman carried herself. If that gives her power, then I’m proud to help.”
Despite past controversies — including legal disputes with former artist Megan Thee Stallion — Crawford says he’s grown as a leader.
“I’ve learned to respect boundaries, to communicate better, to really listen to my artists,” he says. “And this is part of that.”
Crawford is focused on finding — and developing — the next breakout star.
“I want them to shine in every way,” he says with a smile. “And sometimes, that means helping them feel like stars before they even touch the mic.”
