In your opinion, why is Jay Z so popular and successful?
- Thread starter Shammago
- Start date
He is talented and business savvy... end of story.
Cloud McFly
All Star
I don't know about single handedly, but online, anybody that was successful during his tenure as CEO/President of Def Jam was because of LA Reid, and anyone who was unsuccessful was because of him. He never gets any credit for any of that, even though the artists who were successful say he was instrumental to their career.
LionofJudah
Banned
His business stuff aside, I always thought Jay 'tricked' his fanbase into buying into his hype. After his first album, essentially EVERY album besides Magna Carta dropped in the fall/winter timeframe which we all know is the best time for album sales. He dropped EVERY year up until his 'retirement' and then he continued doing this when he came back except for '08 and '10-'13. And even then, he dropped Watch The Throne inbetween there. Plus, his legacy was cemented by this point. Jay never gave you a chance to take him off your mind, much the same way Wayne did all those years, so it was inevitable he was always going to be on the radio and in your CD player. He also took great advantage of the fact that Biggie and Pac died, so he knew it was really only him and Nas that would be considered rap's top elite. And of course, he beefs with Nas. Looking back, his plan executed perfectly.
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intilectual recipricol
Killin fake hip hop
Why isnt naS as popular and successful? DMX? LOL @ tricking people into buying albums by releasing them in the fall... Sometimes I wonder if people read the BS they type
LionofJudah
Banned
Well, if you look at the reasons I just laid out for Jay-Z, your own dumbass question would be answered.
mortuus est
Veteran
i mean, jay did release an album every year from 96-03
add the features, tours, mag covers, clothing and anything else
add the features, tours, mag covers, clothing and anything else
Sorry, I don't give a damn how much business sense you got, you cant make it as far as he has without a superior level of talent, ESPECIALLY in an artform like hip hop where its artists are so heavily critiqued.
One thing Jay has managed to do so well is continuously make those songs that both the hardcore hip hop heads love, but also see mainstream success. He has also managed to stay fresh on peoples minds. There uses to be a thought in hip hop that you shouldn't come out too often because the audience will get tired of you and it will damage your career. No more than an album every two years or so. He dropped every year from '96 - '03 and I think that was very important to his success.
Make no mistake though, the foundation of his success is his talent as an MC and making hot music that more than just one type of person loves.
porque
Boricua Guerrero
Rogers & Sturken had a lot to do with that
Great rapper better business man.
Blackout
just your usual nerdy brotha
The only talented album he made was reasonable doubt.
After that it was less talent and more music business moves.
So what's trendy about the MC album? I think that one of the biggest myths about Jay Z is that his continued relevance is based on him just hopping trends. I don't think that Jay Z has ever really reinvented himself.Real talk man, you got to love it. Diddy falls into that realm as well. Him and Hov have found a way to reinvent themselves every 3 or 4 years. It's like they study trends better than anyone in hip-hop and no matter what anyone says. HIP HOP IS TRENDY. I was thinking about this as I were driving today and saw a hubcap pop off someone's vehicle. You guys remember when the size of your rims were a status symbol?snap music? Tall t's and white nike airs? Avirex jackets? Now everything is neon colors. Shh is crazy man. And who has been there thru it all? Jigga man. God MC. Dude is incredibly smart and lucky. Beyonce added some years to him as well.
Speaking of Diddy, I always thought he had one of the best "grown man" r&b albums of the 2000's. Press Play is
ZEB WALTON
ayo! - BEZ
jay took every upcoming trend in hip hop and made it his own. from the producers he rocked with, to embracing the south when noone did; dude knew how to stay in the conversation ALL THE TIME
he stayed on the radio which is very important. he had the skill to get props from the heads and the commercial appeal to stay in the mainstream. this is a man who BIGGIE cosigned and when biggie died, definetely filled the void while nas/method man/other top nyc mcs let him have it pretty much.
he always worked with the hottest producers, created names for his label to work with. im sure he paid a lil to get mentioned with the greats because pre hard knock life i was seeing magazines say "whos the best nas biggie or jay z" with me thinking who the fukk is jay z cause dude wasnt even big like that til vol 2.
oh, and the beyonce thing made him a household name outside of hiphop. every woman who reads gossip mags and such now know who he is at that point.
jay is the perfect hip hip business man while being an artist.
he stayed on the radio which is very important. he had the skill to get props from the heads and the commercial appeal to stay in the mainstream. this is a man who BIGGIE cosigned and when biggie died, definetely filled the void while nas/method man/other top nyc mcs let him have it pretty much.
he always worked with the hottest producers, created names for his label to work with. im sure he paid a lil to get mentioned with the greats because pre hard knock life i was seeing magazines say "whos the best nas biggie or jay z" with me thinking who the fukk is jay z cause dude wasnt even big like that til vol 2.
oh, and the beyonce thing made him a household name outside of hiphop. every woman who reads gossip mags and such now know who he is at that point.
jay is the perfect hip hip business man while being an artist.
JuvenileHell
Veteran
Illuminati 
But yeah, for the most part it's his business moves, and everyone buying into the image. Talent is one thing (Which I thinkg he has), but it's the image of being richest niggga in a genre where most brag about being rich nikkas (At least in the mainstream) is what keeps him afloat...
But yeah, for the most part it's his business moves, and everyone buying into the image. Talent is one thing (Which I thinkg he has), but it's the image of being richest niggga in a genre where most brag about being rich nikkas (At least in the mainstream) is what keeps him afloat...