West Coast Connection Forum
DUBCC - Tha Connection => West Coast Classics => Topic started by: Lil' Dirty Bastard on January 16, 2003, 03:13:38 PM
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First, let's start by you telling us a little about yourself.
I am an entertainment lawyer in Los Angeles.
What is your relation to the Shakur Estate and Amaru Entertainment?
I represent Amaru (successor-in-interest to the estate of Tupac Shakur) in all entertainment related ventures which include record albums, books, and movies. Additionally, I provide technical entertainment law support to Amaru's other types of attorneys such as Donald David for Litigation, Eric Farber for Internet and bootlegging issues, and Stan Sokoloff for trademark issues.
How did you become affiliated with them?
Through my old law firm.
You have a current publication out about "the 7 year rule, and what does that really mean?" Could you tell us a little more about that?
The CA labor code excludes recording artists from California's prohibition that bind people to personal services agreements for longer than 7 years. In other words, record companies are the only companies that can keep you signed to a recording agreement for many many years, regardless of whether you are being paid or not! This law has been compared to the "indentured servitude" laws from the 1800's. It is very bad for the artist. We (artist lawyers like myself) are fighting in Washington DC for better laws for the artist.
Could you tell us how many unreleased 2Pac songs have been copyrighted? Before Better Dayz was released a list was researched and pieced together by HitEmUp.com of recently copyrighted tracks, some appeared on Better Dayz while others did not (such as "6 or 12", "The man" "Set It Off").
All of them.
Is it hard for 2Pac’s original songs to have samples cleared, or is it decided to start from scratch without the sample?
Samples eat up a lot of the artist's, songwriter's, and producer's money so everyone tries not to do it unless they absolutely have to. Samples require two fees for their usage; a master use fee which is, most often, paid to the record company who owns the master being sampled and a mechanical royalty and advance which is paid to the owners of the song contained on the master (e.g., the producer who creates the music and rappers who create the rap and the hooks). In addition, the owners of a sampled song always demand an ownership percentage of the song. You see, it is very very expensive.
What is the possibility of a box set of originals to ever be released?
Maybe.
Is there any plans for the Death Row material that hasn't been released yet?
All material will eventually be exploited.
The next album, will it be produced or in association with "We Got Kidz Productionz" since it's not a Death Row associated release?
We Got Kidz productions is a production company owned by EDI of the Outlawz and I am sure he will be involved. He always is.
Has there been any names given to you to copyright for the next album?
All songs are copyrighted.
Could you tell us if Resurrection will be released on DVD or in theaters?
It will be released in theaters first then on DVD.
Could you tell us anything about the soundtrack?
It will contain songs from the movie and some new songs.
Was Daz ordered to give more dat's than just what is found on the "Makaveli & Dillinger EP"?
Daz gave us all he had. If not, he will be liable in federal court.
Is it true the Makaveli & Dillinger EP has a sanction against it to stop it from being released anytime sooner than 90 days after Better Dayz release? Could you clarify what happened with this albums status and clearance with Afeni Shakur?
All masters that Daz had are owned by Amaru and the agreement that Daz signed says so.
If someone wants to sample something from 2Pac, how would they go about that? Who is in charge of saying it's ok to use the sample?
A written request has to be faxed into my office then it goes with a copy of the new song containing the sampled Tupac song. I then send it to the appropriate parties, Universal music for a publishing quote and to Afeni for approval.
When it comes to 2Pac's music what is the biggest problems you face?
#1 is bootlegging and piracy. When people email each other Tupac's songs it is stealing and they are stealing from his estate. #2 is battling the record company which always takes up a lot of time and is never productive.
Is the instrumental on "Fame" the original beat or was it completely altered, and why was no producer listed for that song?
Original. It should have said Tyrone Wrice because that is who did it.
Has Afeni cleared Duck Down Records to release the One Nation album? Any release date been discussed?
We are trying to get a hold of those One Nation songs. We don't have them and we have been working with Duck Down to try and find out who has the masters.
Why were words edited from "This Ain't Livin"(if you could tell us what those words were also), and the word "Death Row" was cut from "LastOnesLeft" when Until The End Of Time was a release in part with Death Row?
I don't know
Is there a track named "Homicidal Fantasies"?
I don't know
The group name "Thug Life". Do you know who owns the rights to that name?
A trademark is owned, I believe, by the Thug Life clothing company who are friends of ours. We have no problem with this and they do not interfere with our use of the word as well
Are you familiar with HitEmUp.com ?
Yes
Would you like to tell the fans one thing they don't know about 2Pac's unreleased material or anything in general?
Keep listenin' cause we are going to keep putting it out there!
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Nice read.