Friday, December 28, 2007

Chuck D '08 For Def Jam President


(From Allhiphop.com)
As Jay-Z vacates his post as Def Jam president, another Def Jam legend is vying for the high-level music industry position. Chuck D of iconic group Public Enemy says he is the person for the job. "After 10 years looking on the collapsing of the record industry, and upon hearing the news of Jay-Z stepping down from Def Jam, I would throw my name into the hat of somebody who understands how the hell Universal should establish the name-brands they acquire with stockholders money."

"So instead of me running for politics, this is an easier run into the world of influential culture," he continued. "I'm in Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York on the regular as well as I [thoroughly understand] the international picture," Chuck said. "There would be some seismic changes, and I would be a little Huey Long-ish at it. If folks are clueless about this parallel that's precisely the problem." Jermaine Dupri, Jimmy "Henchmen" Rosemond and Damon Dash have all been mentioned as potential candidates for the position.

Chuck D outlined his plan for Def Jam, as seen below:
1)Being ahead of the technology curve; preparing for a thinned out industry; and managing budget efficient acts is very noteworthy of my resume which is simple. I told these cats the online revolution was coming and they needed big adjustments. They relied on lawyers, courts, and accountants only to now look upward at Apple, etc.

2)Their cost factors didn't fit the times, I come from a world where the $50,000 investments resulted into 6 - 7 figures. Now it's a business where 7 figures are invested to make 6.

3)I would run it like sports. These artists would be busting their tails on tour and on the stage to gain a fan. They would be coached on how to do their thing right. Braintrust will be high, and subcontracting to the right contributors will be comparable of the efficiency of these labels like Jazz and catalog departments. You cannot have people working, that haven't the slightest clue of what they are in the middle of.

4)Any criminal mindedness in artistry, and management would have sit this one out, go their own way. It's like bad apples the long run ain't got nothing to do with entertainment. You can't mix the stage and off stage parodies.

As much as I would LOVE to see this happen, we all know that more than likely, unfortunately, Jermaine Dupri is going to get the job. Def Jam has, for the most part, turned into an R&B label. Although Def Jam, to Hov's credit, has put out some of the best Hip-Hop albums in the past two years. But they want more of a R&B label dude. And a dude who is not going to bump heads with L.A Reid.

Now, if there are going to move all their R&B acts (Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Christete, etc) to Def Soul and let Def Jam become a FULL HIP-HOP label again, then this could work. But overall, Chuck's ideas is what the industry needs, but is scare to apply yet. But we will see what happens. This could get intresting.

Chuck's Campaign song...
object width="300" height="80



And on that note... I'm out.

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

As far as the Chuck D taking over for Def Jam, we have to first see if Jay Z is actually gonna sit down and remain seated! And now adays most rappers are thuggish and lets be honest, whats so hardcore about Bow Wow?

Chuck D's got a good head on his shoulders and hes a born leader as shown in his songs that were the themesongs for the urban revolution (the classic Fight the Power). Seeing that he already has a plan outlined its showing that hes willing to take it seriously. But what will come into consideration between the big men who actually choose who gets to take over? Experience or popularity?