Jay-Z's Def Jam days may be numbered (he wants too much money...)

[Elano]

There may be a leak at Def Jam that has nothing to do with the upcoming schedule of new music. An unnamed source tells George Rush and Joanna Rush Molloy of the New York Daily News that negotiations between Jay-Z and Universal Music Group's Doug Morris have turned sour.
"He wanted big, big money that was way out of sync with the realities of today's music business," the source says. In 2005 Rolling Stone reported that Def Jam pays him between $8 million and $10 million annually to serve as president. Since taking the position in January of 2005 Jay-Z has helped break artists such as Rihanna, Ne-Yo and Young Jeezy while established artists such as Nas, The Roots and Jadakiss have also joined the label. Various rumors ranging from Jay joining Beyonce to form a digital label with the Apple Corporation, to him teaming up with Lyor Cohen at Warner Music Group or Rick Rubin at Columbia have circulated since it was reported that Jay-Z's original contract is up at the end of the year.
"People have lost count of how many times he's come out of retirement," the source continued. "Everybody knows he's not around the office much. Everybody at Universal loves him, but they can't justify paying him the money he wants when so many people have been laid off."
The Daily News and other outlets ran similar stories earlier this year, prior to the commercial success of Kanye West's Graduation and Jay-Z's own American Gangster album. While Jay-Z has yet to address the rumors, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Chairman of Def Jam, shot down such rumors in March.
"He's so important to our company, there's not much we wouldn't do to keep him here, money being the least of them," Reid said. "Everything he does is a complement to our business. I hope to work with him for many, many years. He's magical. I need him." Both sides are expected to resume negotiations when Jay returns from celebrating his 38th birthday in Paris, France.

[GangstaBoogy]

Superman that hoe!

[No Compute]

"He's magical. I need him."

 

[boycriedwolf619]

Good.

[Episcop Cruel Cvrle]

i hope his rappin days are numbered. not only def jam days lol..if he gonna keep makin them american gangster albums fuck that

[Sanford - V. President of the Dangerous Crew Movement]

i hope frank lucas comes out of retirement and ethers this nigga with a machete. 

[pootypooty]

See y'all, Def Jam knew Jay's contract was ending this year.  That's why they snatched up Jermaine Dupri when they did.  So in actuality, if Jay leaves, they'll just replace him with Dupri.  That'd be my guess anyway. 

[The Purple Champ]

i hope frank lucas comes out of retirement and ethers this nigga with a machete. 

lol,

fuck jay-z.

[Elano]

Like Jay-Z rapped once before, "Money Ain't a Thang." The Def Jam prez has denied a report in New York's Daily News indicating that salary was a sticking point in negotiating his return to the hip-hop label. His original contract is up at the end of this month, and so far, his return hasn't been announced. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly shortly after the Grammy nominations were announced, Jay — who nabbed five nods — revealed the two sides were "close." But he wouldn't guarantee anything. He said salary wasn't even near the top of his list of considerations. "I don't know [if I'll be back]," Jay explained in the interview. "We'll see how it goes. But seriously, it's not about money. That's really the last thing. Of course, as a person that does these type of things and puts his heart and soul into it — and it's effective, as the [Grammy nominations] would indicate — you want to be compensated for what you do. But it's really not about money. It's really about the future of the music business, and not wasting anyone's time. I don't ever want to sit in a seat just to sit in a seat. I could be off doing something else that's beneficial to the future of the music business as well as myself. So it's not about money! I mean, you couldn't pay me enough. And I don't mean that in a cocky way." In other Jay news, he'll ring out 2007 with a performance of American Gangster on December 29 in Las Vegas, at the Palms Casino Resort's Pearl. The intimate show in the 2,500-seat venue won't be cheap: Tickets start at $128 and top out at $228. ...

[Sikotic™]

Jay isn't worth more money. In order to get more money outta your label, you gotta make more money for your label. Stupid fuckin camel......and give the Roc back to Dame and stop imitating movie characters. I quit doing that in elementary school.