@e-moe--Well said. There's plenty of musical talent on the West Coast, but a lot of folks, while dope rappers, don't have a lot of business savvy, not just in terms of financial factors, I'm talking about attitude. Being gangsta ON RECORDS is cool, IMHO, but that doesn't mean that it's okay as far as doing business and conducting yourself as a person.
To me, part of why Death Row fell apart was because Suge thought beatdowns and intimidation was the way to run a business. What worked on the street will NOT work in the corporate world. There, you can get sued and (perhaps) thrown in jail for bullying tactics. If a company's solution to everything is a beatdown, shit-talking, or someone getting hurt, word gets around fast, and eventually NO ONE will want to work with you (I wouldn't be surprised if other CEOs were also wise to Suge's habit of publicly talking shit about his rappers once they left Death Row, i.e., calling Dre a "fag", etc). The corporate world DOESN'T GIVE A SHIT if you grew up in a neighborhood where beatdowns, killing someone, or name-calling was the way to solve problems. The corporate world has rules that you're expected to live by in terms of decorum. You don't adapt, you don't succeed. I'm talking about things like being ON TIME for meetings, being articulate in interviews, not making promises that you can't keep (i.e., saying you'll do an interview for some magazine and then canceling twelve times), and CEOS PAYING THE FUCKING RAPPERS--no more of this bullshit of just buying them houses, cars and toys instead of giving them paychecks (which Suge did w/ most of his Death Row rappers, and which Master P did with anyone on No Limit not named Percy, Vyshonne, Corey or Romeo, from what I've read. Is it a coincidence that both companies soon fell apart and everyone left? I think not). Rappers (and rapper/CEOs and regular CEOS, too) need to understand that adapting to these rules is not "nerdy" or "square," it's just a part of doing business and being on your hustle.
As far as doing radio-friendly songs, I personally don't mind two or three radio cuts on a CD--as long as the radio cuts are SOLID, and don't sacrifice dope lyrics just to make more room for the hook. Never's new LIFE OF CRIME is a good example to follow, IMHO: the two or three radio cuts are catchy, but the verses are still dope as well, and then the rest of the CD has Never's usual dope street shit that those who grew up with Lowdown can dig as well. In other words, the WHOLE CD shouldn't have to be ALL club or radio shit--just a few cuts to kind of "reel in" those into club/radio-type things, and then the rest of the CD can still have street songs that those who knew the artist when he was struggling can still dig.
This is a dope thread, though. People have some pretty interesting ideas and insights.
PEACE!
To me, part of why Death Row fell apart was because Suge thought beatdowns and intimidation was the way to run a business. What worked on the street will NOT work in the corporate world. There, you can get sued and (perhaps) thrown in jail for bullying tactics. If a company's solution to everything is a beatdown, shit-talking, or someone getting hurt, word gets around fast, and eventually NO ONE will want to work with you (I wouldn't be surprised if other CEOs were also wise to Suge's habit of publicly talking shit about his rappers once they left Death Row, i.e., calling Dre a "fag", etc). The corporate world DOESN'T GIVE A SHIT if you grew up in a neighborhood where beatdowns, killing someone, or name-calling was the way to solve problems. The corporate world has rules that you're expected to live by in terms of decorum. You don't adapt, you don't succeed. I'm talking about things like being ON TIME for meetings, being articulate in interviews, not making promises that you can't keep (i.e., saying you'll do an interview for some magazine and then canceling twelve times), and CEOS PAYING THE FUCKING RAPPERS--no more of this bullshit of just buying them houses, cars and toys instead of giving them paychecks (which Suge did w/ most of his Death Row rappers, and which Master P did with anyone on No Limit not named Percy, Vyshonne, Corey or Romeo, from what I've read. Is it a coincidence that both companies soon fell apart and everyone left? I think not). Rappers (and rapper/CEOs and regular CEOS, too) need to understand that adapting to these rules is not "nerdy" or "square," it's just a part of doing business and being on your hustle.
As far as doing radio-friendly songs, I personally don't mind two or three radio cuts on a CD--as long as the radio cuts are SOLID, and don't sacrifice dope lyrics just to make more room for the hook. Never's new LIFE OF CRIME is a good example to follow, IMHO: the two or three radio cuts are catchy, but the verses are still dope as well, and then the rest of the CD has Never's usual dope street shit that those who grew up with Lowdown can dig as well. In other words, the WHOLE CD shouldn't have to be ALL club or radio shit--just a few cuts to kind of "reel in" those into club/radio-type things, and then the rest of the CD can still have street songs that those who knew the artist when he was struggling can still dig.
This is a dope thread, though. People have some pretty interesting ideas and insights.
PEACE!
