Edd’s MANtra: Tell ‘Em Why You Mad, Son
Things have been rough around the ol’ Georgia Mae Headquarters lately.
The wifey has been consumed with grading her students’ essays and assignments, which is why she’s been so quiet around these parts lately. I’ve been just as busy – dealing with mountains of work on the job, overwhelmed by projects at my church (anyone who attends a black church knows the stress I’m dealing with) and as I mentioned on Facebook and Twitter yesterday, I even had to deal with a 50-year-old man at my gym who decided to recite Lil Wayne lyrics while working out.
Did I say recite? I meant SCREAM. While gasping for air, no less.
“Gasp…MAN I GOT … gasp…SO MANY STYLES…gasp…I AM A GROUP!…gasp!”
I had to keep my head down just so the old ladies around me wouldn’t think I was the culprit.
Seems like Nas is having a tough week too. About a month ago, Nas announced that he planned to release a sequel to his highly-praised 2002 Lost Tapes album. The album consisted of unreleased, thought-provoking, lyrically complex tracks. And they were all awesome. ALL steak, no sizzle, playa.
Here’s the tweet I wrote when I heard the news:
What’s this I hear about Nas releasing another Lost Tapes album!? I have officially wet my pants.
Clearly I was excited.
Nas’ record label, Def Jam, didn’t share my excitement. The album, scheduled for a December release, was indefinitely put on hold. That shouldn’t surprise you – record labels seem to be allergic to albums with substance these days.
Well, Nas has had enough. A scathing e-mail Nas sent to his bosses was leaked today and Esco pulled no punches. XXLmag.com confirmed that Nas did send the e-mail and even though he didn’t intend for it to become public, he’s glad it did. Here are some excerpts, from xxlmag.com:
From: Nas
To: LA Reid, Steve Bartels, Steve Gawley, Michael Seltzer, Joseph Borrino, Chris Hicks Subject: PUT MY S*** OUT!
To: LA Reid, Steve Bartels, Steve Gawley, Michael Seltzer, Joseph Borrino, Chris Hicks Subject: PUT MY S*** OUT!
Peace to all,
With all do respect to you all, Nas is NOBODY’s slave. This is not the 1800′s, respect me and I will respect you.
With all do respect to you all, Nas is NOBODY’s slave. This is not the 1800′s, respect me and I will respect you.
I won’t even tap dance around in an email, I will get right into it. People connect to the Artist @ the end of the day, they don’t connect with the executives. Honestly, nobody even cares what label puts out a great record, they care about who recorded it. Yet time and time again its the executives who always stand in the way of a creative artist’s dream and aspirations. You don’t help draw the truth from my deepest and most inner soul, you don’t even do a great job @ selling it. The #1 problem with DEF JAM is pretty simple and obvious, the executives think they are the stars. You aren’t…. not even close. As a matter of fact, you wish you were, but it didn’t work out so you took a desk job. To the consumer, I COME FIRST. Stop trying to deprive them! I have a fan base that dies for my music and a RAP label that doesn’t understand RAP. Pretty f***ed up situation
PREACH, MY BROTHER. Nas is the artist, let him release what he wants! But there is more.
…Lost Tapes is a movement and a very important set up piece for my career as it stands. I started this over 5 years ago @ Columbia and nobody knew what it was or what it did but the label put it out as an LP and the fans went crazy for it and I single handlely built a new brand of rap albums. It’s smart and after 5 years it’s still a head of the game. This feels great and you not feeling what I’m feeling is disturbing. Don’t get in the way of my creativity. We are aligned with the stars here, this is a movement. There is a thing called KARMA that comes to haunt you when you tamper with the aligning stars. WE ARE GIVING THE PEOPLE EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT. Stop throwing dog s*** on a MAGICAL moment.
Now, saying the original Lost Tapes “built a new brand of rap albums” is a bit of a stretch. But he’s right about executives originally balking at the album despite it going on to be well-received by fans and critically acclaimed. You think they would have learned a lesson, but I guess not.
You don’t get another Nas recording that doesn’t count against my deal….PERIOD! Keep your bulls*** $200,000.00 fund. Open the REAL budget. This is a New York pioneers ALBUM, there ain’t many of us. I am ready to drop in the 4th quarter. You don’t even have s*** coming out! Stop being your own worst enemy.
Let’s get money!
Let’s get money!
Like Nas said, turning down an album from one of the most talented and consistent names in the genre seems soooo dumb (word to Antoine Dodson). It’s like the label is afraid of making money.
BUT despite the e-mail and all of my comments above, let’s be real. These days labels have that Janet Jackson mentality – “What Have You Done For Me Lately?” Nas is still a decent seller, but no longer a HUGE seller. And despite Nas’ claim that Def Jam “don’t even have s*** coming out” this quarter, I’m sure they’re banking on holiday big sales from Ne-Yo and that Kanye guy.
As much as I love to read about a man cussing out his employer, the pessimist in me says it’s all for naught. Hopefully Def Jam will just say “eh, whatever,” and release the album with little fanfare. At least Nas’ work will be available.
Then I’ll be the guy at the gym screaming lyrics between my sets.
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