Jay sat down with Stop Smiling for their second annual 20 Interviews issue. He speaks on a number of subjects in the Q&A, including racism, violence in music, and selling crack.
Jay-Z Talks Def Jam Contract Negotiations
"So from your perspective, do you think you’ll be at Def Jam next year?
Yeah, I think - I don’t know. Let me not even say that. I don’t know. We’ll see how it goes. But seriously, it’s not about money. That’s really the last thing. Of course, as a person that does these type of things and puts his heart and soul into it - and it’s effective, as the Grammys would indicate - you want to be compensated for what you do. But it’s really not about money. It’s really about the future of the music business, and not wasting anyone’s time."
open mic session with Talib Kweli
(ignore the commercial in the beginning)
2 comments:
Nuthin but the truth. That's why I support Kweli. And he has a point about separating life and music. While some see it as only entertainment, it can be a lifeline for others.
Although Hov has a point in saying its just like acting, it harder for MCs in Hip-Hop to do that than any other genre of music because we don't just present a image, or a product, we present a lifestyle, a way of life. And when you put out that energy that you are this and that and the hardest dude on the block, people are gonna test you. You gotta be careful what kind of energy you put out in the world, because it can come right back at you.
I honestly believe the saying "Keepin it real" is the most understood and overused cliché in Hip-Hop, because many are not. Just be yourself. MCs are scare to be themselves. Funny enough, I remember Jay talking about this in a scene in Fade To Black....
You know what, let me stop rambling on right now because this could go on for a minute, LMAO!!!
tell kweli to stop making watered down mainstream rap. it hurts my eardrums.
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