Def Jam President....What if you ran def jam?

[tha blk nite]

Hey guys waddup thought this might be an interesting and fun thing to do. My fault if someone already made a post like this.

Okay here it is....your the president of def jam (the hip hop/urban music powerhouse label) and you basically have the power to do anything you want in regardsto the company, the artist, etc....in this scenario you don't report to nobody else.

So my question is, what would you do at island def jam?


Key roster: Redman
USDA
The Roots
Method man
Rick ross
Young jezzy
Nas
Juelz Santana
Memphis bleek
Jay-z
Rihanna
Ne-yo
Jadakiss
Young Gunz
Kanye West
Ll cool j
Ghostface killah
The Dream
Ludacris
Freeway
Janet Jackson
Dem Franchize Boyz
Fall Out Boys
Jermaine Dupri
Jagged Edge
Beanie Sigel
Tru Life
Young Leek



*these are only some of the key players over there. I kno there are many more artist on the roster. Note there are many labels under the def jam umbrella (soso def, roca fella, etc....). So if you come across an artist you want to add then do so by all means. *

 

[slrs]

Fall Out Boy is signed to Island Records.

Anyways, I'd make sure all the "real" emcees like Redman, Method Man, The Roots, Nas, Ghostface, LL, etc. get the exposure they've wanted foryears now including videos for their albums, radio play, etc. and watch them still sell 98k opening week then realize I've lost money for spending all themarketing dollars on artists who's careers are basically a rap cause ain't nobody checking for them anymore.

 

[x Buddha Bless x]

^Type of N_ with a tickle in his *!%* ol Larry David type a N_

 

[blackmagnus514]

^ realistically. a label's bottom line is to make profit.

you dont front a artist some $ w/o them having a great history of hits (X,Ja,Jay,LL) or them being a rising star (ie BIG in 93 or so). as a hip hop fan first isympathize with the artist plight, esp the "nice" cats, but if you wanna run a label, you're gonna put profits first or go belly up. out of thoseartists only the following could do about 300K plus...and remember going gold in hip hop is like going plat

Ross
Jeezy
Janet (major cash earner)
Fall Out boys
Neyo
Rihnanna
Jay-z
Nas (reaching??)
Kanye
Luda
Fab

as for getting out new faces, you dont wanna spend too much $ on a new artist. Neyo, Rihanna and the Dream to a certain extent have been marketed excellently.R&B IMO will always sell more than hip hop and i think HH fans are some of the most disloyal fans out there. a Bruce Springsteen or Celine Dion fan willbuy those records. then again, if a cat is half assing and putting out BS, you cant blame fans for not copping

Also, a lotta cats see their budget and wanna get Timbo, Pharrel and all that....granted his budget must be HUGE but i think 50 does a great job of findingrelativley unknown producers and making hits/decent tracks with them. Cats like Self, Minnesota, Charlemagne, 88 Keys, etc./..these guys make BANGERS on thelow.

 

[jpap348]

I'd put out a Free and Beans album with Just (assuming him and Free can put %@#@ to the side) and Bink splitting the production

 

[mr fizzy womack]

Key roster:
Redman - Dropped
USDA
Method man - Dropped
Rick ross
Young jezzy
Nas
Juelz Santana
Memphis bleek - Dropped
Jay-z
Rihanna
Ne-yo
Jadakiss - Dropped
Young Gunz
Kanye West
Ll cool j
Ghostface killah - Dropped
The Dream
Ludacris
Freeway - Dropped
Janet Jackson
Dem Franchize Boyz
Fall Out Boys
Jermaine Dupri - Dropped (as an artist)
Jagged Edge
Beanie Sigel - Dropped
Tru Life - Dropped
Young Leek - (who?) Dropped

That's my list if I wanted to actually make a profit...

The ones that I dropped probably won't sell north of 400K without an all-out media blitz and at LEAST 2 certified hit singles.

I have ZERO confidence in the "hip-hop buying consumer market these days.

Originally Posted by blackmagnus514

Also, a lotta cats see their budget and wanna get Timbo, Pharrel and all that....granted his budget must be HUGE but i think 50 does a great job of finding relativley unknown producers and making hits/decent tracks with them. Cats like Self, Minnesota, Charlemagne, 88 Keys, etc./..these guys make BANGERS on the low.

I don't know why artist don't take this approach more often.

 

[blackmagnus514]

you'd keep Young Gunz but drop Kiss? wildin.

Neef is lazy and Chris aint gettin his just due. i'd pick Kiss just cuz you know what you're getting. son is a gold artist (not in this climate tho.)

 

[tha blk nite]

i thought fall out boy was on island def jam, but if they arent my mistake.

O young leek is that dude who had that one single last year jiggle it. last time i check he was still on the roster. tnaks for adding the roots forgott boutthem.

lol mr fuzzy dropping ghostface and jadakiss....you dont think you could get another "kiss the game goodbye/kiss of death" out of him?

 

[b smooth 202]

hmm I try and make a branch label where the vets and real hip hop dudes could get more attention...even though I don't think records will sell anyway.

its time for labels to innovate man....its a new era. we'll see who steps up...but what they're doing for hip hop now just doesn't work.

 

[championhood]

Originally Posted by Mr Fizzy Womack

Key roster:
Redman - Dropped
USDA
Method man - Dropped
Rick ross
Young jezzy
Nas
Juelz Santana
Memphis bleek - Dropped
Jay-z
Rihanna
Ne-yo
Jadakiss - Dropped
Young Gunz
Kanye West
Ll cool j
Ghostface killah - Dropped
The Dream
Ludacris
Freeway - Dropped
Janet Jackson
Dem Franchize Boyz
Fall Out Boys
Jermaine Dupri - Dropped (as an artist)
Jagged Edge
Beanie Sigel - Dropped
Tru Life - Dropped
Young Leek - (who?) Dropped

That's my list if I wanted to actually make a profit...

The ones that I dropped probably won't sell north of 400K without an all-out media blitz and at LEAST 2 certified hit singles.

I have ZERO confidence in the "hip-hop buying consumer market these days.

Originally Posted by blackmagnus514

Also, a lotta cats see their budget and wanna get Timbo, Pharrel and all that....granted his budget must be HUGE but i think 50 does a great job of finding relativley unknown producers and making hits/decent tracks with them. Cats like Self, Minnesota, Charlemagne, 88 Keys, etc./..these guys make BANGERS on the low.

I don't know why artist don't take this approach more often.

cuz when they do and ya don't like da beats its da artist fault (nas)

and what da hell wit all dem drops....this isn't DEF SOUL

 

[tha blk nite]

i wood make it more interactive, have def jam in the streets back when russell was running things...and add a blog

a def jam blog wuld be type nice...your artist does a freestyle they post it on the blog and all the other random little information. make like a nahright.combut for the artists and company as a whole.

 

[deepinthajeep]

Key roster:
Redman
USDA
Method man - Dropped
Rick ross - Dropped
Young jezzy
Nas
Juelz Santana
Memphis bleek - Dropped
Jay-z
Rihanna
Ne-yo
Jadakiss
Young Gunz - Dropped
Kanye West
Ll cool j
Ghostface killah
The Dream
Ludacris
Freeway - Dropped
Janet Jackson
Dem Franchize Boyz (Also make Shawty Lo a solo artist)
Fall Out Boys
Jermaine Dupri - Dropped (as an artist)
Jagged Edge
Beanie Sigel - Dropped
Tru Life - Dropped
Young Leek - (who?) Dropped

 

[tha blk nite]

word they left so so def? was that because of the split with virgin or something else?

 

[jomitm]

Ghostface killah - Dropped

dude dropped arguably the best album last year and you wanna drop him?

yeah, he doesn't sell much but he for a guy making good music and getting steady sales the past three albums, you can't really complain with that.

 

[illphillip]

^^^

Word.

Don't get it twisted on Ghost. There is a reason Def Jam is consistently dropping Ghost albums in the 4th quarter.

He requires ZERO radio spend.

Minimal marketing dollars in general.

And can move over 100k for the most part.

Even for a major label, especially when the majors take losses on albums that sell millions, that is a very good look.

 

[putting in work]

Originally Posted by illphillip

^^^

Word.

Don't get it twisted on Ghost. There is a reason Def Jam is consistently dropping Ghost albums in the 4th quarter.

He requires ZERO radio spend.

Minimal marketing dollars in general.

And can move over 100k for the most part.

Even for a major label, especially when the majors take losses on albums that sell millions, that is a very good look.

I was about to disagree with you, but when you broke it down and explained it I have to agree.

 

[mr fizzy womack]

I'm about a dollar. What the #$$! is fifty-cent?

But forreal, yall made some good points.

I would probably reconsider a couple of people on my list, but for the most part it's not gonna change.

 

[tha murdera 2001]

Originally Posted by Mr Fizzy Womack

Key roster:
Redman - Dropped
USDA
Method man - Dropped
Rick ross
Young jezzy
Nas
Juelz Santana
Memphis bleek - Dropped
Jay-z
Rihanna
Ne-yo
Jadakiss - Dropped
Young Gunz
Kanye West
Ll cool j
Ghostface killah - Dropped
The Dream
Ludacris
Freeway - Dropped
Janet Jackson
Dem Franchize Boyz
Fall Out Boys
Jermaine Dupri - Dropped (as an artist)
Jagged Edge
Beanie Sigel - Dropped
Tru Life - Dropped
Young Leek - (who?) Dropped

That's my list if I wanted to actually make a profit...

The ones that I dropped probably won't sell north of 400K without an all-out media blitz and at LEAST 2 certified hit singles.

I have ZERO confidence in the "hip-hop buying consumer market these days.

I agree with all this,but instead of dropping all the "old heads",I'd create an independant sector of Def Jam(like Atlantic has withAsylum and Universal has with Universal Republic) and give them the option of going their,because frankly,they arent promised sales of over 100k anymore,and wedont wanna waste marketing dollars on them..in return,they get the "Koch" treatment of 5$ a disc and they eat..

Also,any new acts I sign will go straight to that label as well,unless they have given star potential(like Young Jeezy)..its too damn hard to break a newartist in todays market...and if they do wind up being a hit,I would upstream them to Def Jam(ala Mike Jones going from Asylum to Atlantic)

They really should take a look at what Atlantic/Asylum is doing and how that is working...

Oh,and Tru Life is DEFINATELY getting dropped..along with Young Leek(who??),and Uncle Murda

 

[blackmagnus514]

cuz when they do and ya don't like da beats its da artist fault (nas)
like Nas isnt REPUTED to have questionable beats?

dude should just stick with Primo and LES.

i cosign making a independent sector. besides, most Artists dont like A&Rs and would like to control their marketing so going indie would let them do that,esp with Blogging, myspace and all that.

 

[saintvitus07]

Key roster:
Redman *DROP * (Unless he agrees to do another album with Meth)
USDA *DROP * (enough of these weak crew joints)
The Roots * DROP * (too intelligent to sell)
Method man *KEEP * (give next album decent push, this dude is energetic and will give it good promo if you give him the opportunity)
Rick ross *KEEP * (hate the dude but he sells)
Young jezzy *KEEP * (same situation as Rick Ross)
Nas *KEEP * (he's a legend and will always sell decent numbers)
Juelz Santana *DROP * (let him do his thing on Koch or something, he's weak and his sales on this next one will be just okay)
Memphis bleek * DROP * (dead weight)
Jay-z *KEEP * (obviously)
Rihanna *KEEP * (and bone)
Ne-yo * KEEP * (talented and sells)
Jadakiss * KEEP * (keep promotion budget to minimum and exercise power of guest appearances, etc. before release)
Young Gunz * DROP * (sloooooow career, dead weight)
Kanye West *KEEP * (obviously)
Ll cool j *DROP * (best years far behind him)
Ghostface killah * KEEP * (most talent on the label, but same promo deal as Jadakiss)
The Dream * KEEP * (potential to grow)
Ludacris * KEEP * (will always sell decent #s, give good promo push too)
Freeway * KEEP * (talent is there, mad potential, give decent push to this next one with hope it will catch fire but make sure there are some big names asguests on it)
Janet Jackson * DROP * (to make room for new artists)
Dem Franchize Boyz * DROP * (best year(s) behind them)
Jagged Edge * DROP * (to make room for new artists)
Beanie Sigel * DROP * (tough choice here but he's dead weight)
Tru Life * DROP * (too much baggage)
Young Leek * DROP * (this dude has already been dropped, I think)



These are artists I'd try to sign:

Killer Mike (decent buzz going now, give one album deal and see where it goes with decent but not huge promotion)
La Coka Nostra (these guys already do a good job of promoting by themselves and you can hype the supergroup stuff...just got to avoid the ******** tag)
GZA (taking a chance here, but doors would open to premiere producers if Def Jam name were behind him. Give him a good push and make sure the album has decentamount of guest appearances from artists that sell (Ludacris, Jay-Z and Nas are great, but also push for younger popular artists with more potential for growthto get young people into this)

 

[tha murdera 2001]

Originally Posted by SaintVitus07

Key roster:
Redman *DROP * (Unless he agrees to do another album with Meth)
USDA *DROP * (enough of these weak crew joints)
The Roots * DROP * (too intelligent to sell)
Method man *KEEP * (give next album decent push, this dude is energetic and will give it good promo if you give him the opportunity)
Rick ross *KEEP * (hate the dude but he sells)
Young jezzy *KEEP * (same situation as Rick Ross)
Nas *KEEP * (he's a legend and will always sell decent numbers)
Juelz Santana *DROP * (let him do his thing on Koch or something, he's weak and his sales on this next one will be just okay)
Memphis bleek * DROP * (dead weight)
Jay-z *KEEP * (obviously)
Rihanna *KEEP * (and bone)
Ne-yo * KEEP * (talented and sells)
Jadakiss * KEEP * (keep promotion budget to minimum and exercise power of guest appearances, etc. before release)
Young Gunz * DROP * (sloooooow career, dead weight)
Kanye West *KEEP * (obviously)
Ll cool j *DROP * (best years far behind him)
Ghostface killah * KEEP * (most talent on the label, but same promo deal as Jadakiss)
The Dream * KEEP * (potential to grow)
Ludacris * KEEP * (will always sell decent #s, give good promo push too)
Freeway * KEEP * (talent is there, mad potential, give decent push to this next one with hope it will catch fire but make sure there are some big names as guests on it)
Janet Jackson * DROP * (to make room for new artists)
Dem Franchize Boyz * DROP * (best year(s) behind them)
Jagged Edge * DROP * (to make room for new artists)
Beanie Sigel * DROP * (tough choice here but he's dead weight)
Tru Life * DROP * (too much baggage)
Young Leek * DROP * (this dude has already been dropped, I think)



These are artists I'd try to sign:

Killer Mike (decent buzz going now, give one album deal and see where it goes with decent but not huge promotion)
La Coka Nostra (these guys already do a good job of promoting by themselves and you can hype the supergroup stuff...just got to avoid the ******** tag)
GZA (taking a chance here, but doors would open to premiere producers if Def Jam name were behind him. Give him a good push and make sure the album has decent amount of guest appearances from artists that sell (Ludacris, Jay-Z and Nas are great, but also push for younger popular artists with more potential for growth to get young people into this)

Wow,its a good thing youre not on the label...you would drop Juelz?dude is like top 10 when it comes to popularity among 13-21 year olds..

and then u would try to SIGN GZA?

 

[blackmagnus514]

 

[illscan]

Def Jam President....What if you ran def jam?
I would be fired in a week for giving priority to artists instead of cashcows. This is a completely ridiculousresponse, but I'm a fan, not an executive. So..............
The game has moved beyond my ideals. So eff it, I might as well go out guns blazing.

 

[ThaxbyChamblis]

Def Jam President....What if you ran def jam?
I would have sex w/ rihanna

 

[saintvitus07]

Originally Posted by Tha Murdera 2001

Originally Posted by SaintVitus07

Key roster:
Redman *DROP * (Unless he agrees to do another album with Meth)
USDA *DROP * (enough of these weak crew joints)
The Roots * DROP * (too intelligent to sell)
Method man *KEEP * (give next album decent push, this dude is energetic and will give it good promo if you give him the opportunity)
Rick ross *KEEP * (hate the dude but he sells)
Young jezzy *KEEP * (same situation as Rick Ross)
Nas *KEEP * (he's a legend and will always sell decent numbers)
Juelz Santana *DROP * (let him do his thing on Koch or something, he's weak and his sales on this next one will be just okay)
Memphis bleek * DROP * (dead weight)
Jay-z *KEEP * (obviously)
Rihanna *KEEP * (and bone)
Ne-yo * KEEP * (talented and sells)
Jadakiss * KEEP * (keep promotion budget to minimum and exercise power of guest appearances, etc. before release)
Young Gunz * DROP * (sloooooow career, dead weight)
Kanye West *KEEP * (obviously)
Ll cool j *DROP * (best years far behind him)
Ghostface killah * KEEP * (most talent on the label, but same promo deal as Jadakiss)
The Dream * KEEP * (potential to grow)
Ludacris * KEEP * (will always sell decent #s, give good promo push too)
Freeway * KEEP * (talent is there, mad potential, give decent push to this next one with hope it will catch fire but make sure there are some big names as guests on it)
Janet Jackson * DROP * (to make room for new artists)
Dem Franchize Boyz * DROP * (best year(s) behind them)
Jagged Edge * DROP * (to make room for new artists)
Beanie Sigel * DROP * (tough choice here but he's dead weight)
Tru Life * DROP * (too much baggage)
Young Leek * DROP * (this dude has already been dropped, I think)



These are artists I'd try to sign:

Killer Mike (decent buzz going now, give one album deal and see where it goes with decent but not huge promotion)
La Coka Nostra (these guys already do a good job of promoting by themselves and you can hype the supergroup stuff...just got to avoid the ******** tag)
GZA (taking a chance here, but doors would open to premiere producers if Def Jam name were behind him. Give him a good push and make sure the album has decent amount of guest appearances from artists that sell (Ludacris, Jay-Z and Nas are great, but also push for younger popular artists with more potential for growth to get young people into this)

Wow,its a good thing youre not on the label...you would drop Juelz?dude is like top 10 when it comes to popularity among 13-21 year olds..

and then u would try to SIGN GZA?

Dudes like top 10 when it comes to the Billboard Top 200, at least in the first week of sales, doesn't mean I have to keep him on the label though.Killer Mike brings heat and he knows how to cater to every audience, unlike Juelz. I am willing to give up sales for one artist in exchange for integrity.Sales are ultimately the bottom line but if you're not representing artists you believe in then you might as well throw in the towel.
And yes, I'd sign GZA. That DJ Muggs/GZA album was amazing and if you give him a decent push with some stellar guest artists and a few that'llbring in the younger crowd I think the dude could sell maybe 200,000 albums when all is said and done. Just make sure to promote on the cheap (i.e. online andmixtape appearances, a few ads in the big mags) and there'll be profit.