Def Jam did some good work with West Coast in mid-90's

[TraceOneInfinite]

Russel Simmons (who I have mad respect for) and Def Jam Records deserve props for their work with West Coast artists in the mid-90's.  They had a lot of good projects going on in the mid-90's. 

After Snoop blew up they tried to cash in on the West Coast gangsta rap movement by signing his affiliates.  Russel speaks with regret in his autobiography that the projects weren't promoted as well as they should of been. 

Here's a list of some of their projects and anyone from my generation (25 yrs old) might how dope it was back then...

Def Jam Records West Coast Projects Mid-90's

-Warren G's quadruple platinum classic "G Funk Era" album with "This DJ" (the ultimate summer track and album) and also his second album Take a Look Over Your Shoulder

-The Twinz first album, featured the same G Funk sound that Warren was producin back then.  This album "Conversation" is a classic for GFunk fans.

-The Show Movie...  featured exclusive concert, home, bus, studio and everyday raw footage of Death Row artists and their most intimate thoughts on hiphop and their lifestyle music they promote, The Dogg Pound tore the roof off at that concert, the crowd went nutz and it was on the East Coast!  ...the crowd barely responded to Warren G but he still rocked it

-The Show Soundtrack-  featured one of Pac's most heartfelt tracks "My Block", clasic west coast summer song "Summertime In the LBC" by the Dove Shack, maybe the best summer song ever... had Jayo Felony's best song, "zoom zoom wam wam" and Warren G productions, Tray Dee, etc. Etc... all dope west coast joints, and one of the all time hardest gangsta tracks ever by South Central Cartel feat. Jayo Felony produced by Ant Banks... Domino was also on the album

-Jayo Felony solo album- had a hit song with Method Man and DMX "I can give it to ya, but what ya gonna do with it" that song was hott summer 98

-Tray Dee solo project that was unreleased, had a soundtrack joint with Daz that was hott "Way 2 Crazy"

-Dove Shack first solo- another G Funk Classic


List goes on and on.

[Elano]

we are in 2008. what's the point of this thread ?

[dameons]

Richie Rich - Seasoned Vet

[Eddie G.]

Richie Rich - Seasoned Vet

yeah, i was just about to say, don't forget that classic!

[TraceOneInfinite]

we are in 2008. what's the point of this thread ?

Hiphop is dead now.  What do you expect me to do.... crank dat soulja boy? 

[GangstaBoogy]

Nah it was awful, promotion wise thanks to Polygram who at the time was distributing Def Jam. You forgot even Mel-Low, Bo$$, South Central Cartel & Compton's Most Wanted. In Russell Simmons autobiography he was explaining some of the issues going on in the early 90s with Def Jam and some of it's west coast acts. Thats why Warren G's G-Funk Music label didn't sell that well concerning it's artists at the time even when they had a decent popularity for their singles. Russell Simmons was really pissed about that whole situation they did to Warren G's label.

I still remember seeing a clip of Russell Simmons saying "here is a West Coast artist...he belongs on Death Row". I don't remember where I heard it and I never knew who it was about. Could the issues be pure biasedness against the West Coast?

[Dre-Day]

They had a lot of good projects going on in the mid-90's. 

After Snoop blew up they tried to cash in on the West Coast gangsta rap movement by signing his affiliates.  Russel speaks with regret in his autobiography that the projects weren't promoted as well as they should of been. 

List goes on and on.

the lack of proper promotion comes to mind indeed.

def jam did work with a lot of westcoast artists; you can add BG & Dresta, Montell Jordan and WC to the list.

[HEC]

That Jayo album was not promoted right at all, it had platinum written all over it

[kolaboy]

S-S-C & LV

[Blood$]

That Jayo album was not promoted right at all, it had platinum written all over it

co-fucking-sign

how does a single with DMX and Method Man, 2 of the hottest dudes in the game at the time, and another catchy single produced by EA Ski not sell an album? Shit, even though I was little I can remember "Whatcha Gonna Do" on the radio back then, but I never really knew who it was by or of a CD in stores that had it

Def Jam shoulda promoted Jayo alot more, cuz then he might have stayed around a bit longer

[Dodgers#1]

Def Jam doesnt know how to promote westcoast artist

[TraceOneInfinite]

You all are missing the point of my thread.  You can't hate on Def Jam just because of lack of promotion. 

Who knows... had it not been for Def Jam, Warren G could of been stranded on Death Row without a proper deal and never had an album till 98 like what happened to Nate Dogg.  So we could say had it not been for Def Jam all the Warren G, Twinz, and Dove Shack tracks may have never came out.

Sure, promotion was weak, but they deserve props for being behind a lot of great West Coast projects.

And it was because of Def Jam that Jayo Felony had money for a hott video and for Meth and DMX to be on his track, otherwise he may still be an unknown.

Richie Richs biggest video also came with Def Jam, that Pac tribute.

Feel me?

[Blood$]

Def Jam had a good eye for talent, but they couldn't follow up with the right promotion... simple as that

[D~Nice]

You all are missing the point of my thread.  You can't hate on Def Jam just because of lack of promotion. 

Who knows... had it not been for Def Jam, Warren G could of been stranded on Death Row without a proper deal and never had an album till 98 like what happened to Nate Dogg.  So we could say had it not been for Def Jam all the Warren G, Twinz, and Dove Shack tracks may have never came out.

Sure, promotion was weak, but they deserve props for being behind a lot of great West Coast projects.

And it was because of Def Jam that Jayo Felony had money for a hott video and for Meth and DMX to be on his track, otherwise he may still be an unknown.

Richie Richs biggest video also came with Def Jam, that Pac tribute.

Feel me?

Giving a artist a deal and promoting them are 2 completely different things. If you believe in the product, promote it. And all those albums minus Warren G did not have good promo. Warren G also got alot of momentum from the Above The Rim soundtrack with Regulators. If they would have been actually promoted they STILL would be household names.

[Allpaul]

we are in 2008. what's the point of this thread ?

Hiphop is dead now.  What do you expect me to do.... crank dat soulja boy? 

Props.... You shut that dude up.....