individually, millionaires? I KNOW i'm violating by asking, but are they?
I'm sure they aren't like most of us "freelancers", hustling - i mean I beleive they hustle(tours, etc) just like the next bruh, but I'd assume the numbers are on anotha level.
nah or yeh?
..........................................
Just sayin
Mentally universal. Physically eternal. The beautifull part of this? WE are.
riq g's posted on here one time about how all the money they make goes into one big pot for the benefit of the the whole roots crew. or somethin like that. by now im guessing they all are doin ok
(and this is less bragging and more reality check...the reason why i built this place)
so buckle up....
1) goverment gets a cut 2) manager gets a cut (the leader) 3) business manager gets his cut (money man) 4) must pay the staff: i) production manager get his ii) tour manager gets hers iii) sound designer gets hers iv) band members not in the "core circle" v) assistants who schedules our day to day bullshit 5) lawyers 6) publisher takes they cut 7) label takes they cut 8) publicist
then bills
roots related
1) hotels for 12-14 people 2) airfare for 12-14 people 3) renting whatever transportation that will pick us from airport and to hotel and to gig (most college shows provide the school van. but if its a house of blues gig then we spring for it) 4) tour bus rental for 12 people, 2 buses 5) two drivers for said buses 6) the uh...cabrini "green" factor (tales from the ?rypt)--which when last seen could put about 10 of yall through school on some "okayscholarship" fund.
real life shit
1) mortgage 2) cell 3) electric 4) water 5) gas 6) credit card bills
family shit
1) ma dukes (all the real life shit) + allowance 2) pa dukes (all the real life shit) + allowance 3) 3 college tuitions 4) someone always hits me up for some "help" about once a month
personal shit
1) record shopping habit (i been good....i think i own all that i need) 2) my stylist (for a flat rate i get about 10 bapes a month about 6 months for the world gets it)---other than that besides my tshirt collection....shit is free 3) my engineer at my studio 4) my assistant
side gigs i invest money in from roots stuff like:
1) sqaure biz 2) okayplayer.com 3) soulin t's (im my only client) 4) randy watson llc
vices
1) sixers courtside seats 2) concert films from 70s
well...
take all this away and im sure that i could be holding about 7 figs.
but the shit that takes you over the top is charging 80 bucks a concert ticket and us grossing 300,000 a show (low if you ask me....sting gets 900,000 a show)
but to answer....no i do not make 7 figures.
but my pay is great for my lifestyle...
i get on the guest list i get free shit and there is only 24 hours in a day.
sometimes i will kayne some shit and spend more than i make---
but as of late (credit this to gf) i am more future oriented and now i dont need 20 BAPEs by next tuesday.
(well...maybe i do)
check the resume
organix-93 (from the ground up)-94 do you want more?!!???!-95 illadelph halflife-96 things fall apart-99 (the legendary)-99 the roots come alive-99 phrenology-2002 the tipping point-2004 (the roots present...) 2004 homegrown: the beginne
GetSweptAway Member since Jan 25th 2005 1519 posts
Fri Feb-18-05 07:13 PM
6. "RE: well" In response to Reply # 4 Fri Feb-18-05 07:54 PM
damn, yeah that is a lot of expenses people don't really even think of. For some reason the other day i was thinkin about all the things u don't really see that need to be takin care of. Like it's not all straight profit.... "sometimes i will kayne some shit and spend more than i make---" U mean Kanye? I know if he saw it he'd get mad another person spelled or pernounced it wrong.("I'm Kanye not Kayne/ But to you, I'm Rick James - bitch!")lol.just playin...I've done that before, then wondered like, where the hell did all my money go? Did i just not get paid the other day?
----------------------------- Whether its college, religious, or street knowledge/I wanna hear them lyrics make sense, no stink garbage/listen whatever u doin just do it wit skill/and just because it's positive don't mean it's somethin I feel. -OneBeLo
?uesto has spelt Kanye's name wrong before in another post (many months back). I'm sure they cool and all but it's just funny. It's funny that even in Alicia Key's latest album "Diary of Alicia Keys", Kanye's name is STILL spelt wrong in the liner notes! Even after he hits huge with the mainstream, cats is still spelling his name wrong!
I just remember in the song "Neva Gonna Stop Me", at the end he's talking about how "I did about, 'bout four or five beats for Nas, this *igga dunno how to pronounce my name because they always spell it wrong...".
But in this case, I can't blame ?uest, usually he's typing this stuff up on like a Blackberry or somethin, or in a hotel rushing to type shit.
And awesome post ?uest, I concur with all the rest of these OKPs. It's great to hear this kind of thing from a major artist. You don't get to hear about spending habits and hidden costs of a music artist everyday you know?
BTW, is a BAPE the merchandise made by Nigo? If so, what kind of stuff do you buy ?uest?
9. "hell, as long as you get by comfortably" In response to Reply # 4
as a musician... that sounds more than pleasant. that seems to be the real millionare shit right there. the free shit and touring can't hurt either. good shit.
?uestlove, that was a great post. I never thought about all the behind stuff. Thanks, it opened my eyes.
But, you didn't write money spent on food. Do you get free food or do you not eat ???
I know with all them places you travel to, you must be saying to yourself, I can't wait to go the Cali for some In n'Out?
"Don't ask me, honey, i'm not the one for stressing. If you wanna know, then you better ask brother ?uestion. Cause he know know the time like i know the time." -Dice Raw, "The Lesson,Pt. 1"(In case you don't remember)
I'm a pretty open person about stuff but I think if I was in your shoes that would've gotten a big NO COMMENT.
Besides producing and stuff like that I think recording all the performances and selling most of them periodically maybe after the Roots are no longer performing live would be a good retirement plan.
Not like anybody needs my advice.
I know in my business I'm struggling this year so you know just about everything possible is getting written off on taxes.
15. "I Would Take A Year Off Frum My J.O.B. .........." In response to Reply # 4
>(and this is less bragging and more reality check...the >reason why i built this place) >so buckle up....
>personal shit >3) my engineer at my studio >4) my assistant
..........just ta be an assistant engineer understudy, if I had free room & board (hint hint); I can be one of ya pre-production ghost producerz juz for da experience of knownin' my way around a mixing console, compresserz, & mic settingz.
I must be doing a good job...at least you pay attention and know what goes where. (more than I can say for some of my clients)
"Ernest Lee is Shorty. In the Little Leagues, he can front like he’s something important, but any attempt to move into the big time leaves him exposed, shocked, and utterly outclassed". - (taken from the Blowhard league archives)
12. "QoolQ', good look on" In response to Reply # 0 Sat Feb-19-05 10:31 AM
the honesty - what's most impressive bout it is that YOU know where the money's going - don't seem like many artists pay attention like thy should. this way you keep reality in play...
yeh, seems like ya don't HAVE to be 7-fig's to be LIVIN, & hell, this Aquarian over here always saw LIFE to be EXACTLY that - just BE, comfortably - now, if i can only get my loot to catch up to my thought/philosophy...
..........................................
Just sayin
Mentally universal. Physically eternal. The beautifull part of this? WE are.
Good lookin out 3 college tuitions damn like someone else said restock the okp store I want some stuff 4real
------------------------------ I'm not like you and I cannot pretend. Cee Lo
I Will Not Lose! S.Carter
Shit on that Shit! ???
Don't compare me to you nigga you ain't this! Malice
Sit your five dollar ass down before I make change! -Nino Brown
Where you at? If your mind is somewhere else then pick your ass up and take it over there and keep it company. I'm not having my time wasted by some half-ass, fish cake opponent today. Samuel L. Jackson ...........Fresh..............
When you see you're playin' a man who feels naked without his lady, use her. Jump in there and take her, tease her, threaten her and he won't be able to think about his game anymore. That's when you make your real move. .......Same as Above..........
You ready to be the king! .......Same as Above..........
I appreciate everyone that comes out to see me at the club and at shows cuz it goes far beyond them paying for a ticket to come see me, they might have to get their hair done, get a new outfit, they gotta buy drinks when they get into the club, and artist need to know that. We’re not doin them a favor, they’re doin' us a favor by coming to see us. Kid Capri In a recent article from hiphopdx.com
------------------------------ I Will Not Lose! S.Carter
Don't compare me to you nigga you ain't this! Malice
Sit your five dollar ass down before I make change!
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
Okayplayer News Discussion 
