So I had a meeting with an Entertainment Lawyer...

[PaperEnterprise]

Now some of you may know that I work to help release music on my indie label. I've worked with 9th Prince, RZA, Sun God (ghostface son), AKIR, and most recently Trife Diesel. these were the artist I networked with and released a few projects with. Some gave me credit, some didn't. shyt happens in the game when you are a newbie. I've been working a full time job, building a team during my time away from work and I help my brother with his business...

I sacrifice a lot to further the hip hop I grew up listening to. Now with that said, yes I am currently working with artist who make music that resonates with the youth of today. I'm not stuck in the 90's, hey everyone has to start small...and then branch out to work with bigger artist.

after many years of making my own agreements, yes researching contracts and agreements between labels and artist...i have never stolen a penny from any artist...i've made a few bucks and decided that it was time to have an entertainment lawyer come on board to help with contracts, publishing, tours and negotiating with distribution companies or lawyers that future artist may have on their side.

i'm 32, so the music from the late 80's and 90's is what stands out for me. either way, i'm up on all the new shyt that's out...now here is when things get interesting.

I'm telling the lawyer about my company and where i can utilize his services and this guy starts telling me about him and the labels he has worked for. lol. he was 28, now i knew more than this fool so I couldn't take him serious. next, this dude starts telling me that if i want to be serious with making money...I need to sign an artist like the guys coming out of chicago and force my artist to make trap music. LOL

i couldn't take him serious because he doesn't know how much i have made. second he doesn't understand that i'm trying to build an indie label and offering 360 deals and enslaving younger artist is wack. I believe in making money and growing with artist by giving them fair contracts.

this is why hip hop is dying, it's become a billion dollar business in which artist aren't assets but cash cows. i will find a better attorney but this molly popping EDM head didn't know shyt about rap and doesn't give a shyt if the black youth of today destroy many generations to come...

Save your kids, make sure they go to school and don't wanna be rappers. not all business people are like me.

sorry for the long read lol.

 

[Vado]

nikkas is in this to make money

you could do ya whole humanitarian shyt if you want

ya pockets not gonna tap that full potential

its a reason nikkas like Diddy is still Relevant decade after decade

fukk that good Samaritan shyt slime

 

[Scotch Hall]

Maybe u should be doing something else with your life. All your gonna get is headaches from this business, don't put yourself through that. You seem like a great person, don't get involved in this industry because it will ruin you and whatever beliefs you may have. Your 32, your still young find another way of living or just make music for fun.

Alot of these lawyers don't know jack shyt, had a dude tell me what is publishing. Alot of these lawyers want to work for the big deals and will take money under the table from the label and get you a bad deal just to be on good terms with the big guys, remember that.

 

[Durrbrowski]

nikkas is in this to make money

you could do ya whole humanitarian shyt if you want

ya pockets not gonna tap that full potential

its a reason nikkas like Diddy is still Relevant decade after decade

fukk that good Samaritan shyt slime

Cac alert

Keep doin ya thing my brotha. Never sell out for the quick buck

Pray for these young nikkas...for they know not what they do.

 

[ORDER_66]

You focus on building your shyt. We need more Clive Davis's more than we need puffy's ask the fukking LOX....

 

[up in here]

I completely respect your stance, and that dude was way out of line. You are absolutely right, an Entertainment lawyer's role is to help you facilitate contracts, publishing, ownership, royalties and shyt like that. They aren't there to give advice about the type of music you should sign. That's not their role. That's not what you pay them for.

Unfortunately, if you are trying to start a label, even an indie, in this day and age you might have to sign kids to some 360 deals in order for your label to make money. I know it's shytty but you need your label to be able to make money if you plan on it lasting. Now if you wanna do right by your artists you can be clear about what they are signing and ensure they have an exit clause in the contract that works for you and them. But business and culture don't always work well together. You gotta find a middle ground that you can be satisfied with

 

[Art Barr]

mad props to the thread starter.

wish, it was more principled guys like you around.


art barr

 

[NotaPAWG]

Your lawyer sounds like a baffoon.

Aside from my ethical stance on that.. chicago trap/drill rappers are unreliable and liable and not a good "investment" or choice to sign from a business perspective, in my opinion.You sign some kid from the chicago streets, dump money into him only for his album to flop, him not being able to tour outside the U.S because he has charges, blowing off shows and video shoots (we saw this happen with chief keef) cant get endorsement deals, etc etc and a lot of these kids are still involved in the streets..

Plus Its just not a good look to sign someone, thats known to be actively involved with gang activity (which let's be honest, most the chicago drill rappets are) and may end up in some street beef and make the news and are all over messageboards and blogs "chicago rapper lil ___ signed to ____ Records arrested after shoot out in the north side of Chicago with ____ and found with an illegal firearm" or even dead.

Plus, those rappers have NO chance of longevity.. someone else just comes along and makes a song that bangs harder and and onto the next one.

 

[observe]

What the fukk was the point of this thread?

 

[MrFettuccinnePockets]

Entertainment lawyer playing A&R.




Stay Indie bruh.

 

[PaperEnterprise]

What the fukk was the point of this thread?

The point was lame ass people who don't respect the art of hip hop won't hesitate to enslave an artist. Majority of the people who want to invest into my label/vision only do it to tell me how to rape the artist. I do want to make money and I tell the losers that I have made money without marketing and crooked contracts. I ask for investment and they provide advice, which I never ask for. Lol

Second point was if you want to rap, learn the business. Know your value. An advance doesn't mean that's money to blow. In conclusion, I made 27,000 off a project without any help at all. Now imagine if I had 20,000 to market and promote a release.

 

[LordTaskForce]

The point was lame ass people who don't respect the art of hip hop won't hesitate to enslave an artist. Majority of the people who want to invest into my label/vision only do it to tell me how to rape the artist. I do want to make money and I tell the losers that I have made money without marketing and crooked contracts. I ask for investment and they provide advice, which I never ask for. Lol

Second point was if you want to rap, learn the business. Know your value. An advance doesn't mean that's money to blow. In conclusion, I made 27,000 off a project without any help at all. Now imagine if I had 20,000 to market and promote a release.

Honestly, that lawyer just sounds like an idiot. The purpose of seeing a lawyer is to inform people on the law. Draft contracts, negotiate, make spit some knowledge about copyright law and samples, potentially things you should watch out for. Him giving you advice on how to run your enterprise is foolish.

 

[MoneyTron]

Honestly, that lawyer just sounds like an idiot. The purpose of seeing a lawyer is to inform people on the law. Draft contracts, negotiate, make spit some knowledge about copyright law and samples, potentially things you should watch out for. Him giving you advice on how to run your enterprise is foolish.

You'd be surprised at how many lawyers want to be businessmen.

 

[TEKBEATZ]

Your lawyer sounds like a baffoon.

Aside from my ethical stance on that.. chicago trap/drill rappers are unreliable and liable from a business perspective, in my opinion.You sign some kid from the chicago streets, dump money into him only for his album to flop, him not being able to tour outside the U.S because he has charges, blowing off shows and video shoots (we saw this happen this chief keef) cant get endorsement deals, etc etc and a lot of these kids are still involved in the streets..

Its just not a good look to sign someone, thats known to be actively involved with gang activity (which let's be honest, most the chicago drill rappets are) and may end up in some street beef and make the news and are all over messageboards and blogs "chicago rapper lil ___ signed to ____ Records arrested after shoot out in the north side of Chicago with ____ and found with an illegal firearm" or even dead.

Plus, those rappers have NO chance of longevity.. someone else just comes along and makes a song that bangs harder and and onto the next one.

 

[Cabbage Patch]

What the fukk was the point of this thread?

Don't take someone's word as Gospel if they are commenting outside their stated expertise.