Def Jam president/CEO Jay-Z is not resting on his laurels. The artist tells Billboard he is mulling the creation of the label Def Jam Left, which he describes as "an artist-driven label with very low deals so people are not pressured by first-week SoundScan , so we can build artists." Jay-Z is also hoping to make the Roots the first signee to the imprint.
"I'm talking to the Roots right now," he adds. "I'm confident to put out there that we might make this happen. The label would probably begin at the top of the year, but I hope to have the Roots signed by the time they get off their international tour."
In late April, Roots drummer ?uestlove told Billboard.com the group was about 60% finished with a new album, "Game Theory." The set is tipped to feature a collaboration with Black Star's Mos Def and Talib Kweli called "Where I Come" and another song with just Mos Def, "Workin' on It." The Roots were previously signed to MCA and then Geffen.
Meanwhile, Jay-Z admits he is wrestling with whether to remain retired as an artist. His last studio set was 2003's "The Black Album," but he has since popped up on occasion as a guest on songs by Kanye West and Young Jeezy, among others.
"You all are hearing things from me -- you just haven't heard an album," he says. "Who knows? I'm still going in the studio, getting on remixes and things like that. But it's the people. When people want something bad enough, it happens. And they want it bad (laughs). I'm trying to hold out, but I don't know how long I can."
3. "It means you give the artist less of an advance" In response to Reply # 2
and you have the artist make a cheaper album. Rather than make an album that costs X dollars to make and you need to sell 2 million units to cover the advance, the artist could make a cheaper album and maybe only need to sell 1 million albums to cover his advance.
I remember Jay-Z talking about it in an earlier interview, he was recalling the old days when selling 500,000 albums was good enough for an artist to cover their advance and guarantee a second album.
18. "my idea for left jam" In response to Reply # 2 Sat Sep-10-05 09:48 AM by 15
was to build an "indy" label. but a label that is REALLY about career development. i know for a fact that we are one the LAST---if FEW--hip hop groups that this idea has benefitted throughout the years. and that is only cause of the bidding war that we were involved in gave us the upper hand to demand that we get to make 3 records at a time instead the usual make a single...does it flop? do we keep them? make album...does it flop? do we keep them? make second single..does it flop? should we keep em?....etc etc etc
our shit was built like if we make album number one no mater what---we make album 2 and 3.
then they decide to keep or drop us.
since TFA was album 3---then we were given the license to make album 4 which ushered in 5 and 6.
we were also lucky to only have a 6 record deal (most labels will sign you for 12 albums--think michael jordan....if the bulls only gave him a 6 year contract--he coulda became a free agent in 1990 and went to the "def jam" of his choice and charged a shitload of money cause he was the man in 1990) labels try to keep you for the "peak" of your career with lil incnetives like:
well let's take von pea.
if he signs to virgin and makes it to ---ummmm album 10. the label fearing his 50/jigga status still has a good 7 year run to it might say--"hey von....let's extend this another 5 records for $,$$$,$$$ amount.
now if he is on some LL shit...then cool....take the cheese.
or (what we chose) do some rolling stones/aerosmith shit and free agent the shit outta yourselves (only setback was in the bidding war we were in---i lost the services of jon brion in feb of 2005 (aagggggggh! kanye!)---because this negotiation took about 10 months going from label to label to label and waiting and waiting on some labor pains shit)
so--wow...he beat me to it. all them times i wanted to blurt out "LEFT JAM BITCHES!!!" in my sig. (see shawn! i aint snitch!!)--but yeah. we got a new crib.
so.
its time to make some bangers!
NO! LIST Tom Petty M J Zeppelin Springsteen Neil Young Eagles Ray Charles Madonna Chuck Berry South Park TV Songs Justin Timberlake "Food Glorious Food" "Twilight Zone" theme "A Boy Named Sue" "Night Moves" "The Situation" "Superbowl Shuffle"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I feel safe in white because, deep down inside, I'm an angel." - P. Diddy
22. "Congratulationz On What Might Be & Could Be YouknowhatImsayin!" In response to Reply # 18 Sat Sep-10-05 12:03 PM by Grand_Styles
>my idea for left jam was to build an "indy" label. >but a label that is REALLY about career development. >our shit was built like if we make album number one no mater >what---we make album 2 and 3. > >then they decide to keep or drop us.
>so--wow...he beat me to it. all them times i wanted to blurt >out "LEFT JAM BITCHES!!!" in my sig. (see shawn! i aint >snitch!!)--but yeah. we got a new crib. > >so. >its time to make some bangers!
Now dat'z what I waz expectin' frum you all along I knew you had some secretz in da bag with ideaz to match.....keep it rollin' till it happenz baby!
6. "RE: Jay-Z Pursuing The Roots, Mulling Album (swipe)" In response to Reply # 0
>"I'm talking to the Roots right now," he adds. "I'm confident to put out there that we might make this happen. The label would probably begin at the top of the year, but I hope to have the Roots signed by the time they get off their international tour."
8. "This is gonna be GREAT." In response to Reply # 0
"Is it not one father that all of us have? Is it not one God that has created us? Why is it that we deal treacherously with one another?" --Malachi 2:10
11. "EFF a DEF JAM LEFT!!!" In response to Reply # 0
why the roots gotta sign to some cottage, side deal step child bullshit label?
if jigga really respects them, then they should be right next to LL Cool J, and Kanye and the rest of the roster.
remember when Ninth was on here talking about why they signed to Atlantic? they wanted to prove they could win ballgames in the majors...this to me seems an insipid way of Jay telling them they can't cut it:
Jay: "Ahmir, Riq, guys you will NEVER do first week numbers like Tiarra Marie. So we got you your own label, just catch the short bus downstairs and take it across the street to the offices of DEF JAM LEFT"
sign the roots to DEF JAM. period. then make them niggas adhere to the standards of today's artists. let's see if they can win ballgames in the majors because iono about you but, "The Roots on Def Jam" sounds like the kind of cosign that the average mufuckah needs to finally pick up a roots album.
15. "RE: EFF a DEF JAM LEFT!!!" In response to Reply # 11
I think it would be a good thing to be the first artist on the label. They'd be like the flagship artist of the Def Jam Left.
Look at all the artists that get lost in the shuffle at Def Jam. Meth and Red just to name a couple.
?uest needs to get an imprint or label deal out of it. Or the whole crew in general. This way every artist that comes up out of this website or something affiliated he can make some money off. Instead of Jay taking all the credit.
Now you can get that Jay cameo. That should push some units alone.
40. "hmmm...i feel u..i guess" In response to Reply # 17
im just concerned..and hoping that the Roots won't be shitted on again...they really DESERVE as much appreciation, respect, success, etc as possible...they've put in alot of blood and sweat and derserve to get recognized for their contribution to this love thang called hip hop. ...ok, preaching is over.
If somebody told me I had only one hour to live, I’d spend it choking a white man. I’d do it nice and slow." -Miles Davis
19. "RE: EFF a DEF JAM LEFT!!!" In response to Reply # 11
>why the roots gotta sign to some cottage, side deal step >child bullshit label?
uh...we are running this step child label. believe you me. the real step child was motives and mca marriage. the game need us. and this time we plan to really do career development.
trust me.
we faaaaaar from getting step childed.
this my friends
is the sweetest thing since getting a deal,
and as long as they allow us to be us (see tipping point)
we gonna be alright.
NO! LIST Tom Petty M J Zeppelin Springsteen Neil Young Eagles Ray Charles Madonna Chuck Berry South Park TV Songs Justin Timberlake "Food Glorious Food" "Twilight Zone" theme "A Boy Named Sue" "Night Moves" "The Situation" "Superbowl Shuffle"
How bout calling it something different? wish i had some ideas but it seems like there are lot of def jam, def jux, def poetry jam, def comedy jam... there's probably a cologne or something too.
Def jam left could be a political party or something or left jam, well that's close to toe jam. you know how sometimes you take off your shoes and you got all that left jam? cause that's what's left when you take your socks off? left jam?
...crickets chirping...
left - west coast? cali? what about philly?
Besides all that, congrats. I'm sure big things will come out of this.
26. "he was winging it in the interview" In response to Reply # 24
but my brainchild was calling it
leFTJam
NO! LIST Tom Petty M J Zeppelin Springsteen Neil Young Eagles Ray Charles Madonna Chuck Berry South Park TV Songs Justin Timberlake "Food Glorious Food" "Twilight Zone" theme "A Boy Named Sue" "Night Moves" "The Situation" "Superbowl Shuffle"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "I feel safe in white because, deep down inside, I'm an angel." - P. Diddy
31. "RE: EFF a DEF JAM LEFT!!!" In response to Reply # 19
>>why the roots gotta sign to some cottage, side deal step >>child bullshit label? > > >uh...we are running this step child label. >believe you me. the real step child was >motives and mca marriage. >the game need us. and this time we plan to >really do career development.
So,will you be accepting unsolicited music or solely seeking out artists who have buzzes or previous deals? Where would one look to submit music for consideration?
Tanya Morgan IlWil Von Pea Heir GeorDon A Brother Named George (EMC)
are artists you should consider looking into... I'm just saying.
Shameless plug for me and the homies
-------------------------------------------------------------------- "words engage,lines elope/with or without consent or letters of intent I just broke..." (c)A Brother Named George
..say ahmir..theres this guy..dont know if u heard of him or not..but hes sicker then grandmoms in her late 90's....u should give him a shot...plus he dances better then any rapper i ever seen...no diss to pooh and tay....he's worked the street corner circit...appeared on rap city...mtv...spike tv...and has done mad shows with some band for the last few years....ask reek, skillz, jean, and kweli about him...heres some leads to where u can find him...... in jail... in class.... in the hood..... down the hall.... in somebodies girls bed.... in sombodies girl anywhere.... did i mention he can dance....?.....
<---------------------------------------- "Consider me the entity within the industry without a history of spittin the epitomy of stupidity!" - Talib Kweli http://www.takotron.com/news/2006/mets_cap.jpg
59. "we about to malik you up in a sec on the 5th beatle tip." In response to Reply # 41
now that you know who threw you know what hopes in the trash...
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
60. "lol @ me posting big messages on the board and you" In response to Reply # 59
2 feet sittin next to me.
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
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
62. "lol@ y'all lol'n me lol'n me" In response to Reply # 61
(im burnt yall....i just work on our hardest track since "clones" for 43 hours skraight!)
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
32. "RE: EFF a DEF JAM LEFT!!!" In response to Reply # 19
If that's the truth then I'm excited for you all. It's bout time. I hope this partnership leads to a more diverse hip hop scene. But what happens to all the other artists you've featured through the years (OkayArtists, Featured Artists, etc)? Will this new deal change anything about how you run this site, or will okayplayer.com just be a wholly separate venture you got going on? I dunno what's the state of peoples' record deals, but I'd hate to see y'all cut ties with artists not signed to Left Jam. But whateva - that's so far ahead in the future. Congrats.
27. "i thought primo was on" In response to Reply # 23
terror squad records
NO! LIST Tom Petty M J Zeppelin Springsteen Neil Young Eagles Ray Charles Madonna Chuck Berry South Park TV Songs Justin Timberlake "Food Glorious Food" "Twilight Zone" theme "A Boy Named Sue" "Night Moves" "The Situation" "Superbowl Shuffle"
38. "Fat Joe Said In An Interview Dat Primo'z Album Fell Through" In response to Reply # 27
I think after da numberz dat Terror Squad got on Universal & him not wantin' to put much work into it, I guess he'z even more focused on doin' juz him on Atlantic instead of da group or Premier'z album.
Quills_N_Ink Member since Mar 31st 2005 1345 posts
Sat Sep-10-05 04:21 PM
35. "Congratulations to the Roots!!" In response to Reply # 0
I think this is a great idea. I liked the idea awhile back when Jay mentioned something about an 'indie' type label dedicated to artist growth. I can't recall what interview this was in.
I can't believe that some people look at the Roots going to Def Jam Left (or whatever the working title is right now) as some sort of diss to the Roots. Why would you sign them to a kiddie label to play them out? Why even waste their time? No it sounds like this new label will be structured well around them and they will probably as Quest said have more input regarding their work, how they are marketed, and who they work with etc.
I mean I don't know about Quest and Jay-Z's personal relationship, but hell, there has to be a reason they keep collaborating.
Good luck to both parties.
I can't wait for the Game Theory album. Again I really think this is great and has a lot of potential. Lets see what happens.
And yes, I have a Jay-Z line as my sig, but that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion about this matter...seems everytime I post something positive about Jay heads jump all over my sig.
I wonder who else will sign to the label?
*** 'I don't push a lot of vehicles, but I'll push a used one with a tape deck if it's feasible.' - Reggie Noble
45. "Fuck The Roots possibly signing to Def Jam..........." In response to Reply # 0 Sun Sep-11-05 05:53 PM by Shawn_Gee
The real story is Jay Z leaked it before ?uest.....damn the snitch of the year kept his mouth shut....not even a cryptic ass sig. Believe me folks if you want to make sure your secret gets out.....tell Ahmir, keepin' shit quiet is against his religon..LOL......BUT I must say he's been good with this label situation...(BTW deal not inked yet....if someone wants to ofer us say SonyLEFT or Jive LEFT or Universal LEFT AND 50 Million....better hurry up!!)
....um, can I sweep the offices....i'll make good.. sis needs a job..lol....
hi shawn. !~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~!~! ******UPCOMING SHOWS****** MN8 Presents Sept 13th @ the Black Cat: LadyBug Mecca,Steve Spacek & Mr.French as Steveni
my friends and i were just talking about how all the good artists never seem to have as much financial freedom as all the mediocre artists...i don't care what anyone else says, i hope their pockets get fatter as they keep making good music =0P
MR. "DID OKAYPLAYERS DRIVE ?ST AWAY FROM HIS SITE?!?!"
SU!
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
49. "My Zappa tribute project shall live on" In response to Reply # 0
whoo hoo number 1,283 on the list for Def Jam Left Projects
I have to get Rick Rubin Glasses and practice my candor/demeanor and poise. And I can act smarmy like record labels never gave me anything! I did it all! Mind melding with musicians and vocalists to materialize a masterpiece!
I have to get my stencil for the album lettering and my quotables together for the MEDIA!
Au80: the Gold Standard in Hip Hop and R&B. 10-12 PM CST
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
Okayplayer News Discussion 
