West Coast Connection Forum

DUBCC - Tha Connection => Outbound Connection => Topic started by: Jome on June 14, 2004, 02:33:41 PM

Title: Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Jome on June 14, 2004, 02:33:41 PM
Think about it..

Look at the buzz Banks, The Game & 50 was generating before their albums..
They pump out dozens of freestyles, remakes and remixes, they're on every hot beat imaginable, they're all over Kay Slay, Big Mike, Whoo Kid, Green Lantern, Cutmaster C, Envy, DJ L, Capone, even on the Westcoast mixtapes like DJ Warrior, Wreck, Vlad, Muggs..
They're everywhere, they're featured on practically every mixtape out there, the G-Unit radio series is the most popular mixtape series ever..
Didn't Banks say that 50 Cent had the number to over 50 mixtape DJ's, and that he would send tracks to all of them..
The Game even flew to New York for his own money to make tracks with a dozen Eastcoast artist, and hosted 2 Kay Slay mixtapes..

All Rakim did, was feature on "Addictive".. and have a track on the 8 mile soundtrack..
Maybe that's what Dre meant when he said that their work ethics was kinda different..
Rakim didn't do much to put himself out there.. imagine how easy he could have made 10-15 freestyles, sent them to Kay Slay, Whoo Kid, Big Mike, etc. and get the buzz buzzing again after all these years..
I BET there's no mixtape DJ who would say "no thank you" to some exclusive Rakim freestyles or tracks, and he's already in New York, where all the biggest mixtape DJ's & radio stations are..
2 years on Aftermath and all we hear is 1 track and 1 cameo verse, I'd say he's lazy..

Maybe that's the reason why Hittman had to go as well..

Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: ··: O.G Kody™ :·· on June 14, 2004, 02:39:00 PM
IMO a LOT more went on behind the scenes than people know about. I honestly don't think Dre's production was up to scratch.

My thoughts.

KoDy.
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: PLANT on June 14, 2004, 03:19:43 PM
Well I never really thought if it that way, but what you're saying does make some sense Jome, and seems quite possible too.  
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: SGV on June 14, 2004, 04:57:42 PM
Think about it..

Look at the buzz Banks, The Game & 50 was generating before their albums..
They pump out dozens of freestyles, remakes and remixes, they're on every hot beat imaginable, they're all over Kay Slay, Big Mike, Whoo Kid, Green Lantern, Cutmaster C, Envy, DJ L, Capone, even on the Westcoast mixtapes like DJ Warrior, Wreck, Vlad, Muggs..
They're everywhere, they're featured on practically every mixtape out there, the G-Unit radio series is the most popular mixtape series ever..
Didn't Banks say that 50 Cent had the number to over 50 mixtape DJ's, and that he would send tracks to all of them..
The Game even flew to New York for his own money to make tracks with a dozen Eastcoast artist, and hosted 2 Kay Slay mixtapes..

All Rakim did, was feature on "Addictive".. and have a track on the 8 mile soundtrack..
Maybe that's what Dre meant when he said that their work ethics was kinda different..
Rakim didn't do much to put himself out there.. imagine how easy he could have made 10-15 freestyles, sent them to Kay Slay, Whoo Kid, Big Mike, etc. and get the buzz buzzing again after all these years..
I BET there's no mixtape DJ who would say "no thank you" to some exclusive Rakim freestyles or tracks, and he's already in New York, where all the biggest mixtape DJ's & radio stations are..
2 years on Aftermath and all we hear is 1 track and 1 cameo verse, I'd say he's lazy..

Maybe that's the reason why Hittman had to go as well..


The Mixtapes, now, are for Up and comers and to generate buzz or to gain street cred. Ra is a Vet, his name along is a buzz and he has a GANG of street cred. He doesn't need the Mixtapes. I highly doubt that's the reason. I highly doubt Game funded his trip to NY. LMAO @ The thought of that. 1 call to the label and they'd fly him out. Rakim is a legend, what does he look like putting out tons of free material? People like 50, Banks, Game, Fab, Budden, etc. they're NOT legends. They still need that exposure. Ra has had his exposure. I just think him and Dre had different ideas. Dre probably wanted Ra on more commercialized tracks, while Ra more than likely wanted to keep it gutta.
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: pappy on June 14, 2004, 04:57:46 PM
jimmy ivonie
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Rudeboy69 on June 14, 2004, 05:30:32 PM
i completely agree with SGV Is Hip Hop. this guy is well known. Yea theres buzz with 50 and the G-Unit... but Rakim has been buzzin' more than anyone in the game right now... read more about the history man...
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: PLANT on June 14, 2004, 05:47:49 PM
I feel what you're saying SGV, but Dre's prolly looking at is like this:

Hes got artists like 50, Lloyd Banks, Game ect that are working there asses off, making tracks every day, showing up on radio, magazines, tv ect...Creating a buzz for themselves.

And then hes got Rakim, who is a legend in his own right, but Rakim is just sitting around back in New York prolly expecting Dre to just toss him an album full of beats and then hes out.

Now Dre is thinking why am I gonna give dude a) an album full of beats for nothing when dudes b) c) and d) are putting in mad work for my label and not only creating there own buzz, they are creating a buzz for myself aswell.

People (for the most part) who post on this board are knowledged hiphop heads who know about Rakim.  But the majority of people buying albums today (ages say 12-20) dont know shit about Rakim, arent feeling him anymore, or think "wasnt he that guy way back then"...

Now this is no disrespect to Rakim in anyway, but I can understand why his album on Aftermath didnt drop.
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Dip Set Movementarian 4 Life on June 14, 2004, 06:28:39 PM
I think both Jome and SGV's points are both legit reasons...but i guess we wont know until Dre and Rakim both say the same thing...
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Jome on June 14, 2004, 08:35:05 PM
The Mixtapes, now, are for Up and comers and to generate buzz or to gain street cred. Ra is a Vet, his name along is a buzz and he has a GANG of street cred. He doesn't need the Mixtapes. I highly doubt that's the reason. I highly doubt Game funded his trip to NY. LMAO @ The thought of that. 1 call to the label and they'd fly him out. Rakim is a legend, what does he look like putting out tons of free material? People like 50, Banks, Game, Fab, Budden, etc. they're NOT legends. They still need that exposure. Ra has had his exposure. I just think him and Dre had different ideas. Dre probably wanted Ra on more commercialized tracks, while Ra more than likely wanted to keep it gutta.


In many respects, Rakim is a newcomer again..
He has to start from scratch.
It's been 5 years since had a record out, and rap/hipop became 10 times bigger since then.
In those 5 years, he's been almost invisible.


i completely agree with SGV Is Hip Hop. this guy is well known. Yea theres buzz with 50 and the G-Unit... but Rakim has been buzzin' more than anyone in the game right now... read more about the history man...

WTF you talking about, the last buzz Rakim had was 5 years ago..

There's millions of millions of hiphop fans who don't even know who Rakim is.
The few thousand hardcore hiphop heads at forums know about him, but for Rakim to come out on Aftermath/Interscope, I doubt Dre/Iovine is happy about living off the name, and hoping that new hiphop fans will check up on his past.


I feel what you're saying SGV, but Dre's prolly looking at is like this:

Hes got artists like 50, Lloyd Banks, Game ect that are working there asses off, making tracks every day, showing up on radio, magazines, tv ect...Creating a buzz for themselves.

And then hes got Rakim, who is a legend in his own right, but Rakim is just sitting around back in New York prolly expecting Dre to just toss him an album full of beats and then hes out.

Now Dre is thinking why am I gonna give dude a) an album full of beats for nothing when dudes b) c) and d) are putting in mad work for my label and not only creating there own buzz, they are creating a buzz for myself aswell.

People (for the most part) who post on this board are knowledged hiphop heads who know about Rakim.  But the majority of people buying albums today (ages say 12-20) dont know shit about Rakim, arent feeling him anymore, or think "wasnt he that guy way back then"...

Now this is no disrespect to Rakim in anyway, but I can understand why his album on Aftermath didnt drop.

On point.
Aftermath/Interscope isn't interested in only selling to the old Rakim-fans, they want the MTV/TRL fans as well..

Back in the days, you could put out a album, go on tour and promote it, and make good money off it.
It's different today.
Money talks, and Interscope wants the biggest part of the cake.

Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Dedicato on June 14, 2004, 10:43:47 PM
ABSOLUTELY AGREED! CHECK THIS!  ;)

Stat Quo:
That has to do a lot with, when you talk about music, music is about supply and demand. That’s any product you put out here. If you put Ketchup on the shelves, and you donmt market the Ketchup, it’s not gonna sell. If you don’t create an awareness for aproduct, people are not gonna buy it. So what happends is, when people sign record contracts, they say okay, now the label has to put my record out. No. What you have to do is create your own buzz. You have to get out here and do shows, you gotta get out here and do interviews, you gotta get out here and promote your own songs. You gotta get out here and talk to these people and try to get on other records. You gotta get out here and promote yourself to where you create your own fan base to where people will put your record out. If you don’t do that, then you don’t deserve to be put out. You don’t deserve to be in this business . You’re supposed to be doing something else, this is not what your supposed to be doing. This is a job.


Focus…:
To be as honest as possible, Brooklyn is my peoples and we are still cool as shit. Rak, Hit and Emperor I never knew but I knew of. Things are unfortunate. I love working and I know that Dre loves making hot music. If it doesn't feel right, then he looks and works until it does. 50 was going to release an LP regardless, he's hungry like that. Eminem is a beast and Dre saw the eye of the tiger with Em. That's really all I can say, you know.

Focus…:
Brooklyn has the 50Cent by any means neccesary attitude. She's gone drop regardless!!! Rakim is a seasoned vet. He has his way of working his craft. Sometimes artists and producers work ethics dont coincide you know.. i can't really speak on Rak. I got mad respect for him. He is one of the greatest..


So tell me ... WHAT DID RAKIM??? I GOT MAD LOVE FOR HIM, BUT THERE'S A NEW GENERATION OF HIPHOP FANS ... ASK A 14-16 yrs old FAN ... "WHO'S RAKIM?" ... WHAT DO U THINK IS THE ANSWER ...  ;)
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Storm on June 14, 2004, 11:06:24 PM
They pound out new material every day, but most of it is shit. Rakim is a vet who has proven to be one of the greats.  If Dre can't see how much more talent Rakim has then those dudes then Dre is crazy.  Rakim cares about perfecting his songs and probably doesnt want to rush making them all the time like 50 or Banks.

Peace.
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: teecee on June 14, 2004, 11:12:10 PM
Storm, you've got it EXACGTLY right man, props.  Who wants to hear all those garbage mixtapes anyway, or freestyles over the "hottest beats"......that shit does nothing for me, i'd rather them really take some time making some quality music, but i guess thats too much to ask nowadays
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: mauzip on June 14, 2004, 11:17:42 PM
Storm, you've got it EXACGTLY right man, props.  Who wants to hear all those garbage mixtapes anyway, or freestyles over the "hottest beats"......that shit does nothing for me, i'd rather them really take some time making some quality music, but i guess thats too much to ask nowadays
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Darksider on June 14, 2004, 11:35:06 PM
Storm, you've got it EXACGTLY right man, props.  Who wants to hear all those garbage mixtapes anyway, or freestyles over the "hottest beats"......that shit does nothing for me, i'd rather them really take some time making some quality music, but i guess thats too much to ask nowadays
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Young Griff on June 15, 2004, 02:32:42 AM
You got to keep your name out there or people will forget about you.  People talk about respect and that artists who have earned success and legendary status shouldn't have to prove themselves.  Any artist of any stature should have to prove themselves time after time, constantly.  When Michael Jordan came back this last time (even though he was past his prime) he had to put in his work to get back into the game.  He hustled to get back into playing shape, He couldn't leave the game for a few years, not stay on his toes and expect to comeback and rule the game.  Rakim is a legend and like Chris, Jome and others said, Rakim has respect from old school heads but all these new listeners don't know what he is about.  He has to be reintroduced to the game, get his name out again, put in his work, get his hustle on again.  Even some of the wackest artists out put in hard work.  

We don't know what really went down between the Dre and Ra so it's hard to put all the pieces together but if two people don't mesh they aren't going to get much done.  
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: T-Dogg on June 15, 2004, 04:48:28 AM
Young Griff got some points there - the mixtape songs people do aren't about showing off their skills or making good music - it's all about exposure. You gotta keep yourself in the public's eye or they'll forget about you. I dunno what the reason for dropping Ra was (or him leaving by himself), but the fact that he didn't do much to create a buzz for himself is a perfectly logical reason, though I'm sure it's not the only one.
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Leggy Hendrix on June 15, 2004, 04:50:25 AM
They pound out new material every day, but most of it is shit. Rakim is a vet who has proven to be one of the greats.  If Dre can't see how much more talent Rakim has then those dudes then Dre is crazy.  Rakim cares about perfecting his songs and probably doesnt want to rush making them all the time like 50 or Banks.

Peace.

Fair point, but he was signed for over 2 years...how long does it take him to write a song?!?! To be honest, i think Rakim maybe has an overinflated ego, and felt like he didnt have to put in work like 50/G-Unit/Em have been due to his legendary status...obviously i dont know the man but thats something that Dre aint gonna put up with
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: SGV on June 15, 2004, 06:13:04 AM
Rakim's album was and still is one of the most anticipated albums by Hip Hop heads, and that's without Mixtapes. I thought ya'll knew. Ask Aftermaths favorite Mag....
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Storm on June 15, 2004, 07:47:26 AM
You got to keep your name out there or people will forget about you.  People talk about respect and that artists who have earned success and legendary status shouldn't have to prove themselves.  Any artist of any stature should have to prove themselves time after time, constantly.  When Michael Jordan came back this last time (even though he was past his prime) he had to put in his work to get back into the game.  He hustled to get back into playing shape, He couldn't leave the game for a few years, not stay on his toes and expect to comeback and rule the game.  Rakim is a legend and like Chris, Jome and others said, Rakim has respect from old school heads but all these new listeners don't know what he is about.  He has to be reintroduced to the game, get his name out again, put in his work, get his hustle on again.  Even some of the wackest artists out put in hard work.  

We don't know what really went down between the Dre and Ra so it's hard to put all the pieces together but if two people don't mesh they aren't going to get much done.  

I see what you're saying but if this album actually came out I ensure you Rakim's name would be praised again as a great MC.  But I agree with your second part, Dre and Rakim just probably didnt mesh and that was how it went down.
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: ··: O.G Kody™ :·· on June 15, 2004, 10:05:22 AM

Could you really imagine Rakim sharing a mixtape with tracks from people like Joe Budden? Don't be silly.

IMO Rakim did not want that kind of exposure. To call Rakim lazy is a joke. Just because a couple of tracks didn't make it into MP3 so you could hear them doesn't mean they didn't hammer out loads of tracks in the studio.

Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: LyRiCaL_G on June 15, 2004, 03:13:33 PM
i think the simple reason why the album didnt come together was they didnt make something dre and jimmy was looking for.........c'mon man, everyone knows that work ethicc stuff dre talkin about is bullshit when it comes to rakim.......

i guarentee if ra's album was nearly ready or comin out real sick, you would see some short parts of certain tracks or left over tracks being sent to mixtapes....

but mixtapes is fo new artists, not legends like rakim........for me, the album wasnt comin out like they wanted it to, so they decided to split..........

i could go on about this subject forever......but to compare, game, banks n co to ra is unfair........to both sets.

i think they jus fucked up on ra's album, with what they wanted it to be.......his a legend for what he does...dres a legend for what he does..........fuck it.......i'll check ra's album wherever it drops

peace
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Now_Im_Not_Banned on June 15, 2004, 05:01:05 PM
Rakim's album was and still is one of the most anticipated albums by Hip Hop heads, and that's without Mixtapes. I thought ya'll knew. Ask Aftermaths favorite Mag....



Key word, Hip-Hop Heads...Jome obviously doesn't fit in that category...He was anticipating the new Lloyd Banks album.
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Jome on June 15, 2004, 06:44:39 PM
Rakim's album was and still is one of the most anticipated albums by Hip Hop heads, and that's without Mixtapes. I thought ya'll knew. Ask Aftermaths favorite Mag....



Key word, Hip-Hop Heads...Jome obviously doesn't fit in that category...He was anticipating the new Lloyd Banks album.

Keyword is "Hiphop heads".

TRL-teenagers like yourself probably know by now, Interscope isn't happy with selling records exclusively to hiphop-fans, they want MTV-heads like yourself to buy the album as well.

Take a google-search for Interscope or Aftermath, and you'll find out all about it..  ;)

Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: hector on June 15, 2004, 10:16:07 PM
LMAO @ people thinking that hella people know who rakim is.  Reality check:  He hasn't dropped an album in years, ain't hardly anyone who buys rap music these days knows who he is.  Just cuz he dropped dope albums in the past doesn't mean shit.  Look at DJ Quik, and just about every other veteran on the westcoast.  we got a bunch of lil groupie bitchez buyin rap these days.  they want that gay shit that snoop and 50 cent doez.
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Now_Im_Not_Banned on June 16, 2004, 01:23:54 AM
Rakim's album was and still is one of the most anticipated albums by Hip Hop heads, and that's without Mixtapes. I thought ya'll knew. Ask Aftermaths favorite Mag....



Key word, Hip-Hop Heads...Jome obviously doesn't fit in that category...He was anticipating the new Lloyd Banks album.

Keyword is "Hiphop heads".

TRL-teenagers like yourself probably know by now, Interscope isn't happy with selling records exclusively to hiphop-fans, they want MTV-heads like yourself to buy the album as well.

Take a google-search for Interscope or Aftermath, and you'll find out all about it..  ;)




LMFAO@you tryna flip it on me, saying I'm a TRL-teenager...Didn't you say you started listening to rap in '99?...LOLLL, 'nuff said.
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Jome on June 16, 2004, 04:09:41 AM
LMFAO@you tryna flip it on me, saying I'm a TRL-teenager...Didn't you say you started listening to rap in '99?...LOLLL, 'nuff said.


No, you're dreaming again, I said 99 was the year when hiphop made a slight comeback, try paying attention instead of getting EVERYTHING twisted!
Early 90's I started, when you was 5-7 years old, nuff said.

And you was the guy boasting about seeing Scott Storch on MTV "all the time".


Quote
LMAO @ people thinking that hella people know who rakim is.  Reality check:  He hasn't dropped an album in years, ain't hardly anyone who buys rap music these days knows who he is.

Yup, that's how it is, and that's how it just gon be.


Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: i love men who take pictures with their booty's out on June 16, 2004, 11:23:17 AM
jimmy ivonie





scream it like u mean it pimp skillet 8)



rakim leavin is .. dre not havin control of his aftermath label..he has been punked on everything he has had his hands in..

ruthless he was punked
deathrow he was punked
aftermath he's gettin punked

he's the best producer yea.. but he's the only producer alive today to be able to fill up 3full seasons of punk'd..by himself..it would be waaaaaaaay more entertainin than the  shit ashton shows believe dat...season 1 will be the funniest shit u'd ever see...eazy e had that shit on lock lollll

dre would have did a whollllllllllllle lot of shit with aftermath if he woulda  told jimmy to shut the fuck up and enjoy whats finna come ...thats real there..

and far as mixtapes.. i never enjoyed em...they are the quikest way a artist can become washed up..look at jada.. some of his best shit was said on mixtapes.. album comes.. smh

lil flip- go find every mixtape he ever did...and u will hear all 3 of his albums...be4 they were even made

its others as well..why waste a verse on a bullshit mixtape ..when u can end up puttin ya best shit on ya album..reason why pac is the way he is he never wasted time on a mixtape....same 4 scarface,andre3000,e40,8ball,bun-b be4 pimp c got locked up,kurupt
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: dpgkingpin on June 16, 2004, 11:57:12 AM
dammit just read the interview with him on www.theformula.com, yall will learn the real reasons from rakims own mouth:

part 1:
http://www.thaformula.com/rakim_-_guess_who's_back_-_day_1.htm

part 2:
http://www.thaformula.com/rakim_-_guess_who's_back_-_day_2.htm

Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: soopadoopaflykid on June 16, 2004, 04:18:06 PM
I feel what you're saying SGV, but Dre's prolly looking at is like this:

Hes got artists like 50, Lloyd Banks, Game ect that are working there asses off, making tracks every day, showing up on radio, magazines, tv ect...Creating a buzz for themselves.

And then hes got Rakim, who is a legend in his own right, but Rakim is just sitting around back in New York prolly expecting Dre to just toss him an album full of beats and then hes out.

Now Dre is thinking why am I gonna give dude a) an album full of beats for nothing when dudes b) c) and d) are putting in mad work for my label and not only creating there own buzz, they are creating a buzz for myself aswell.

People (for the most part) who post on this board are knowledged hiphop heads who know about Rakim.  But the majority of people buying albums today (ages say 12-20) dont know shit about Rakim, arent feeling him anymore, or think "wasnt he that guy way back then"...

Now this is no disrespect to Rakim in anyway, but I can understand why his album on Aftermath didnt drop.

I agree completely with what u had to say
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: Now_Im_Not_Banned on June 16, 2004, 10:49:56 PM
LMFAO@you tryna flip it on me, saying I'm a TRL-teenager...Didn't you say you started listening to rap in '99?...LOLLL, 'nuff said.


No, you're dreaming again, I said 99 was the year when hiphop made a slight comeback, try paying attention instead of getting EVERYTHING twisted!
Early 90's I started, when you was 5-7 years old, nuff said.

And you was the guy boasting about seeing Scott Storch on MTV "all the time".



Early 90's my fucking dick...Don't make me bring up threads now, because I don't feel like searching...And I never said I see Scott Storch on MTV all the time, I just simply said that he's on MTV all the time...PeACe
Title: Re:Dre's motivation for firing Rakim.... ?
Post by: DJ_Jay_Deee on June 16, 2004, 10:54:26 PM
I was a bad idea in the first place and I'm glad it never happend.