West Coast Connection Forum
DUBCC - Tha Connection => West Coast Classics => Topic started by: dubsmith_nz on January 23, 2010, 06:34:01 PM
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jan/23/dr-dre-hattie-collins-guardian
With a reputation that precedes him, it's a daunting experience awaiting Dr Dre. Over six feet tall, with shoulders wider than Joan's during Dynasty's heyday, it's not only his physical presence that's commanding. Boasting a back catalogue of some of the best rap records ever created, the man's a hero, a myth, and a legend.
Today, Dre is found in a carpeted and cavernous Best Buy in New York's Union Square, where he's holding a press conference not to promote his long-awaited album, Detox, but for his electronic consumer brand, Beats By Dre. It's an incongruous location to find a multi-millionaire genius; a bit like going to see Robert De Niro promote Freeview in Argos. Yet, judging by the queues and the trilling sound of the tills, it's been an effective event for a brand which includes headphones, laptops, speakers and DJ software. Surrounded by fans, label reps and assorted Beats staff, it's a relief when he muscles through the melee with a warm grin and a firm shake of the hand.
"Aftanoooon," he smiles, attempting an affable British accent of the Dick Van Dyke variety. "'Ow are ya?"
Andre "Dr Dre" Romelle Young is perhaps the only producer to have changed the course of music over three decades (maybe four, if he ever releases Detox). In the 80s he bought us unbridled rage and provocative refrains via LA rappers NWA. Next, he ushered in the marijuana-marinated "G-Funk Era", both on his own album, The Chronic, and Snoop Dogg's seminal debut Doggystyle. In 1999, he proved worthwhile white rap wasn't just limited to the Beastie Boys and 3rd Bass with his protege, Eminem, before unleashing 50 Cent on to the world in 2003. In the pop sphere, he's worked with everyone from Gwen Stefani to Tupac, Nine Inch Nails to Jay-Z, plus Mary J Blige and Burt Bacharach. His eye for a star and ear for sound is arguably second to none; stabbing, sample-free synths, heart-stopping drums and tense, taut percussion being among the Doc's trademarks.
'My mom has pictures of me at four years old at the turntable, reaching up to play the records. I feel like I was bred to do what I do'
"Engineering and mixing are absolutely key," he says of the post-production process that helps ensure such perfection. "Once a song is done, for me personally, it's usually two or three days to get the mixdown." Indeed, Dre has produced scores of sonically indelible records. He raps, too; Eminem, Snoop and Jay-Z are all rumoured to have ghostwritten tracks for Dre.
"You know, it's real weird. I've looked at pictures that my mom has of me, from when I was four years old at the turntable," says the former DJ of his transformation. "I'm there, reaching up to play the records. I feel like I was bred to do what I do. I've been into music, and listening to music and critiquing it, my whole life." Of his fastidious approach to production – Detox has been some eight years in the making (so far) – he's at a loss to describe how he does what he does. "Once that sound is right, once that mix is right, it's a feeling that you get, here," he says tapping in the general direction of his heart. "It's unexplainable."
This painstaking process isn't the only reason Dre has kept his fans waiting. For the last three years, he's been waylaid wading through designs and technology for the range of headphones he's been producing alongside Interscope Records chairman Jimmy Iovine, who's with him at Best Buy today.
"If you know about Dr Dre, these headphones weren't coming out until they were perfect, or else we would have had Detox five years ago," cracks Iovine. The Pacino to Dre's De Niro, at first glance they're an unlikely duo; the wiry, wise-cracking, fast-talking New Yorker, and the self-contained, quiet Californian, straight outta Compton. Yet though Iovine may talk a mile a minute while Dre is somewhat more muted in his musings, this polar-opposite pairing are a powerful partnership. Iovine signed Lady Gaga, Pussycat Dolls, Gwen Stefani, and Timbaland, while Dre owns Aftermath, distributed by Iovine's industry goliath; Eminem and 50 are among his signings. Not only partners in money-making, the two have been friends for over 19 years.
"Our kids play together and everything," says Dre (who also points out that Iovine's tea-making abilities are "the shit"). "We're pretty close."
"I didn't know a lot about hip-hop in 1990, I was from the rock world," shouts Iovine, a former producer for Simple Minds and U2. "I'd listen to hip-hop and sonically it sounded terrible. A guy brought in a tape and the first thing that hit me was the sound. I said, 'Whoever's combining these worlds like this, is doing something no one's done before. I gotta meet this guy.' And that's what got me interested in Dr Dre."
'I'm just trying to be a creator in among all this shit that's going on. I just want to get my music out and make sure that it's heard in the right way'
Best Buy, Monster, and Beats by Dr. Dre present Club Beats Launch Party Nice cans, Dre, but when are we gonna hear Detox? Photo: Joe Kohen/Getty for Best Buy
Distilling Dre's innate sense of sonic precision led the pair to devise a different way of reversing the record industry's loss-making mishaps. "I'm just trying to be a creator in among all this shit that's going on," Dre says about hawking high-end headphones. "I just want to get my music out and make sure that it's heard in the right way. That's all I give a fuck about."
Rather than the tried and tested trainers and tracksuits that most artists flog when they begin to merchandise themselves, they brought Beats By Dre back to the essence of the Good Doctor's brilliance.
"Three years ago we were talking about the deals that acts do," Iovine remembers. "We said, 'We gotta do something about sound.' We went from analogue to digital and the digital revolution all went terribly wrong. So we said, 'Screw the sneakers, lets get into headphones and speakers.'"
Jimmy and Dre's main reason for wanting to diversify is because the way in which we listen to music has deteriorated so dramatically.
"[I did this] because it's sound. And I know a little bit about that," Dre chuckles, before explaining that an MP3 downloaded from the internet, particularly illegally, can be as much as 10 times lower in quality than vinyl or even a CD. Coupled with the fact that many are listening to music on mobile phones or through tinny speakers, it all makes Dre disgruntled. "Once it gets to your computer, everything's compressed. It's like smashing sound," he explains. "So we're trying to fix that."
Beats phones are proving quite a celebrity draw, with Lady Gaga and P Diddy designing their own lines. Iovine and Dre have also pulled in some famous pals today to spin for the crowd after they've finished their press conference; twice during our interview Iovine, mid-sentence shouts "WILL.I.AM" as Will.I.Am walks by the green room we're sequestered in. "DAVID GUETTA!" he yells again a few minutes later, telling the assembled throng of staff that "Elvis just walked in the room!" And to me, "You don't know what you've hit on here. No one will ever have these two guys together again." Indeed. However, putting the dance DJ and Dre together does elicit more insight from Dre. He apparently "had a ball" at Guetta's Fuck Me, I'm Famous night that he runs with his wife in Ibiza.
"I have to go out to clubs now," he says, referring to preparations for Detox's release. "You need to understand what people are listening to."
Which brings us, neatly, back to the album; headphones are all well and good but what everyone wants, including the kids who queued for hours to see Dre in Best Buy, is Detox. When is it dropping? There's a shy grin and a little nod: "I'm working hard on it. I'm stopping to work on other artists in-between, but the minute it's done and I feel it right here," he says patting his heart again, "that's when it will come out. Hopefully the beginning of 2010." (Needless to say, a few weeks after our chat he releases a statement to say it probably won't be before 2011 now. Sigh).
Still, however and whenever it arrives, Dre feels he might have created the perfect song on this album. Almost.
"I don't think I've done that record yet. I'll know what it is when it comes; I know exactly what it is in my head, but I haven't done it yet. It's close."
We will, he assures me once again, hear it soon, though: "I got some shit coming, believe me."
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He raps, too; Eminem, Snoop and Jay-Z are all rumoured to have ghostwritten tracks for Dre.
(http://www.feebleminds-gifs.com/exploding-head.gif)
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the she thang's gimmick is getting old
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if detox comes out in 2012 people will buy it then or whenever it drops....dependin on whos on it
its not a matter of when it drops, its a matter of whos on it and how it sounds
take ya time dre
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"I'm working hard on it. I'm stopping to work on other artists in-between,
::)
However, putting the dance DJ and Dre together does elicit more insight from Dre. He apparently "had a ball" at Guetta's Fuck Me, I'm Famous night that he runs with his wife in Ibiza.
"I have to go out to clubs now," he says, referring to preparations for Detox's release. "You need to understand what people are listening to."
Lady Gaga? :-\
"that's when it will come out. Hopefully the beginning of 2010." (Needless to say, a few weeks after our chat he releases a statement to say it probably won't be before 2011 now. Sigh).
>:(
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"I got some shit coming, believe me."
yawn
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Dre should take his time with the album and not rush it. I can understand that he been givin' away beats from "Detox", so he has to start it all over again. I hope this year faggots like Lil Wayne won't be hot anymore so Dre doesn't need to get them on the album just to sell some records.
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Dre doesn't need any hot features to sell records. He'll get any promotional budget, videos or air time he wants for the album
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while Dre owns Aftermath, distributed by Iovine's industry goliath
this is not true.
"that's when it will come out. Hopefully the beginning of 2010." (Needless to say, a few weeks after our chat he releases a statement to say it probably won't be before 2011 now. Sigh).
>:(
lol, you're acting like this new.
come on now, this is well known.
Dre should take his time with the album and not rush it. I can understand that he been givin' away beats from "Detox", so he has to start it all over again. I hope this year faggots like Lil Wayne won't be hot anymore so Dre doesn't need to get them on the album just to sell some records.
but this is not a case of rushing anymore, but paranoia.
Dre has spent at least twice the amount of time he spent on making The Chronic, on Detox.
and he's made over 1000 instrumentals and then there's the countless submissions from others.
by the way, Detox is still the most anticipated rap album, so i don't think Dre needs big names for singles.
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"I got some shit coming, believe me."
LOL, yeah right :D
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"I got some shit coming, believe me."
LOL, yeah right :D
with The Game maybe ;)
Red
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Dre should take his time with the album and not rush it. I can understand that he been givin' away beats from "Detox", so he has to start it all over again. I hope this year faggots like Lil Wayne won't be hot anymore so Dre doesn't need to get them on the album just to sell some records.
;D
c'mon now, okka - isn't 8-9 years of waitin enuff..?
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nah and longer will be worth it if it sounds like some next generation type of muzik
Dre should take his time with the album and not rush it. I can understand that he been givin' away beats from "Detox", so he has to start it all over again. I hope this year faggots like Lil Wayne won't be hot anymore so Dre doesn't need to get them on the album just to sell some records.
;D
c'mon now, okka - isn't 8-9 years of waitin enuff..?
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Dre should take his time with the album and not rush it. I can understand that he been givin' away beats from "Detox", so he has to start it all over again. I hope this year faggots like Lil Wayne won't be hot anymore so Dre doesn't need to get them on the album just to sell some records.
;D
c'mon now, okka - isn't 8-9 years of waitin enuff..?
Yeah but it took that long for him to make "2001" and i still consider "The Chronic" and "2001" along with "Doggystyle" the best 3 West Coast albums ever, so let him take his time if he can create another masterpiece like them. I can wait, like everybody said he's a perfectionist and that's why it will take time. I'm glad that some of the bullshit that leaked ain't gonna be on the album anymore, cause most of that shit was garbage except for "Topless", now that was some tight shit.
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yeah, i feel you.
but alotta dat leaked shit was just "skeletons", unfinished shit - it wouldn't be justified to speak on somethin dat isn't properly finished..
let's just hope, dat nothin more leaks from the Dre lab - cause the leaking obviouly fucks up the productive-process (and might even re-set the making of the album itself), and pushes the release-date further
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"I got some shit coming, believe me."
LOL, yeah right :D
with The Game maybe ;)
Red
Thats what i was thinking... pretty sure he will have a few hot tracks as well as a verse or two on R.E.D to get the buzz going.
let's see..
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Thats what i was thinking... pretty sure he will have a few hot tracks as well as a verse or two on R.E.D to get the buzz going.
Yeah maybe a beat or two but a verse? Nah, i don't think so.
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u neva know wit andré - he tends to surprise every now n then. he showed up on the mic outta nowhere, on Obie first record - and then on dat Kardinal Offisal remix.
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Thats what i was thinking... pretty sure he will have a few hot tracks as well as a verse or two on R.E.D to get the buzz going.
Yeah maybe a beat or two but a verse? Nah, i don't think so.
he didn't rap on the documentary. Can't see him on red
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he actually did rap on The Doc - "Where Im From".
but for some reason, they took the nigga verse off for the retail-release.. industry-politics i guess :-\
here's the o.g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfwmLC5ySnM
they should've kept it imo
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Eight years in the making and fans are still awaiting the release of possibly the most anticipated album of his career. Holdups as continuous as each calendar day, The Doc does not expect to drop Detox before 2011.
"I got some shit coming, believe me," he tells The Guardian this weekend at Best Buy while promoting his Beats By Dre high end headphones. "I'm just trying to be a creator in among all this shit that's going on," he added.
Chairman of Interscope Records, Jimmy Iovine, who also happens to be Dr. Dre's retail partner, explained their thinking behind Beats. "Three years ago we were talking about the deals that acts do," Iovine recalls. "We said, 'We gotta do something about sound.' We went from analogue to digital and the digital revolution all went terribly wrong. So we said, 'Screw the sneakers, let’s get into headphones and speakers'", he continued.
So when is Detox dropping? "I just want to get my music out and make sure that it's heard in the right way. That's all I give a fuck about," Dre commented, beating around the bush. "I have to go out to clubs now [to prepare for Detox's release]. You need to understand what people are listening to."
When asked if Dre had yet created the perfect record for Detox, he replied, "I don't think I've done that record yet. I'll know what it is when it comes; I know exactly what it is in my head, but I haven't done it yet. It's close."
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fuck off this record never comes out, it´s like tupac is alive but unforatnally we all knows the real deal.
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fuck those headphones
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first time i ever say this but fuck detox!!!2011?? what da fuck?
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"I have to go out to clubs now [to prepare for Detox's release]. You need to understand what people are listening to."
It's going to suck
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"I have to go out to clubs now [to prepare for Detox's release]. You need to understand what people are listening to."
It's going to suck
It's gonna be David Guetta vs Black Eyed Peas type of shit with a little 4-bar piano loop and Dre saying "Hell yeah" over the top.
...and I'm only half-joking.
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tupac is alive
http://www.youtube.com/v/6KvLZ3gdBhw&hl=en_US&fs=1
Lol at that
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"I have to go out to clubs now [to prepare for Detox's release]. You need to understand what people are listening to."
It's going to suck
It's gonna be David Guetta vs Black Eyed Peas type of shit with a little 4-bar piano loop and Dre saying "Hell yeah" over the top.
...and I'm only half-joking.
If he did hed find some way to make that shit gangster as fuck
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he actually did rap on The Doc - "Where Im From".
but for some reason, they took the nigga verse off for the retail-release.. industry-politics i guess :-\
here's the o.g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfwmLC5ySnM
they should've kept it imo
for real
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industry politics for why he was taken off makes no sense..Game was signed to Aftermath/Interscope..Dre is there lol..no problems getting his verse "cleared" by the label, there the same damn label. Guaranteed Dre didn't LOVE his verse and requested it be taken off.
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industry politics for why he was taken off makes no sense..Game was signed to Aftermath/Interscope..Dre is there lol..no problems getting his verse "cleared" by the label, there the same damn label. Guaranteed Dre didn't LOVE his verse and requested it be taken off.
He pulled the same stunt on 50's "Come & Go".
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industry politics for why he was taken off makes no sense..Game was signed to Aftermath/Interscope..Dre is there lol..no problems getting his verse "cleared" by the label, there the same damn label. Guaranteed Dre didn't LOVE his verse and requested it be taken off.
Never understood why Dre´s verse got removed on "Where I´m From", think that version is awesome. Always annoys me a bit while listening to The Documentary,
when the "wrong" verse kicks in...
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this wasn't even an interview just a couple of quotes from previous sources. looks like they want to push the detox 2011 line so people stop asking dre about it.
lol @ working on other artists projects again. projects that will likely never come out. hasn't that supposedly been the main reason for the delays all along?
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Future Projects (that he said delayed the album).
Relapse - Done, Released, crappy reception, rehash, and going plat.
Relapse Repacked - Fail rerelease, pissing off fans, and showing how much a circle jerk em is now.
Both releases, were said to now be done while Em was doing drugs (Guess that's his excuse for falling off)
Relapse 2 (Completed, they said they finished up while recording the original and wanted to release it as a 2parter if I remember correctly)
The Reformation (Failed, Bishop Lamont spills the dirt on the failings of the math acting on a buzz). 700 masters are gone, Bishop Lamont currently a free agent and currently no signs of him being on Detox now, nor even doing anything with Dre.
50 Cent - Before I self Destruct. Released, failed, no word on his next project. Status. Done.
R.E.D. Album - Status, Unknown involvement, Production has confirmed its not totally dre produced. Dr. Dre is however involved with the project at least in a small part.
So lets get this straight on why he can't release the album.
Relapse done,
Relapse 2 waiting a release (everything done)
Reformation - Canceled, no longer in the rotation of him working on.
B4ISD - Done.
RED - Only being brought on as a guest rapper/Producer for a small part. (Recording sessions probably little longer).
In Essence his bitch ass aint got jack shit 2 do. He's currently whoring himself with headphones and a Computer deal.
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damn he shouldnt even have his name anywhere near bisd.....lol
dre's worst song>>>>bisd
and damn he wasted his beats on em
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nah dre is working with that hayes dude and slim da mobster. spending loads of time making music that will never see the light of day with those dudes can be used as the reason for detox being delayed further. jimmy must be getting frustrated though, you know the only reason relapse saw the light of day was because they needed something to come out of that camp to please the money men.
and has anyone realised how if dre is spends a long time with new artists, chances are they will not come out. if shit is hot it will be worked on and come out immediately like with 50 cent. the best albums are usually made in a relatively short space of time, the process is more organic. game was a bit different, cause he was going to be dropped before 50 got involved in his project.
so using that logic, slim da mobster has already been hanging around a while, can't see him dropping an album. this hayes dude might actually get put on if he can get together a hot lp this year. based on what we heard he's better too.
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so using that logic, slim da mobster has already been hanging around a while, can't see him dropping an album. this hayes dude might actually get put on if he can get together a hot lp this year. based on what we heard he's better too.
What has Hayes released? Any Timbaland beats on them releases? Ain't he signed both to Dre and Timbo, right?
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I got hope for Hayes because he's fucking with Timbaland. He also got his track on More Than A Game soundtrack.
Basically, Aftermath looks done as a label. Bishop and the label fucked up his career.
Eminem's second come back might revive the label or at the very least Shady Recordas. If Eminem does sign Slaughterhouse (which depends on Joe Budden's amalgam digital settling) they could help support the group. I've only heard rumours of Eminem fucking with Jay Electronica so you never know... Cashis ain't going no where fast - his situation got fucked up due to Eminem personal issues.
It's a shame so many decent artists that should've got shine and pushed by the label didn't because they were hesitant and afraid to invest in new cats.
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so using that logic, slim da mobster has already been hanging around a while, can't see him dropping an album. this hayes dude might actually get put on if he can get together a hot lp this year. based on what we heard he's better too.
What has Hayes released? Any Timbaland beats on them releases? Ain't he signed both to Dre and Timbo, right?
the fact hayes is signed with timbo too makes it much more likely he'll see the light of day as a mainstream artist. i believe there could be some timbaland stuff on that 48 mixtape, like 'Bottles Up'. no credits though...
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Y'all got a link to that Hayes mixtape? I wanna check it out.
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d.o.e been signed to him for years and he aint done nuthin really
like many have said bein signed dont do nuthin
timb's roster or aftermath
now tims roster is prolly more dependable but it is what it is
so using that logic, slim da mobster has already been hanging around a while, can't see him dropping an album. this hayes dude might actually get put on if he can get together a hot lp this year. based on what we heard he's better too.
What has Hayes released? Any Timbaland beats on them releases? Ain't he signed both to Dre and Timbo, right?
the fact hayes is signed with timbo too makes it much more likely he'll see the light of day as a mainstream artist. i believe there could be some timbaland stuff on that 48 mixtape, like 'Bottles Up'. no credits though...
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D.O.E. has got some shine though...Tim put him on The Way I Am single that was a massive international hit. no LP but he gotta be pleased for that one.
i'm feeling D.O.E. he's had some great material on the mixtapes too.
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What new artist has Timbo actually Pushed though, Six Two was fucking with both Timb and Dre and he never got released even with his 2001 buzz
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so using that logic, slim da mobster has already been hanging around a while, can't see him dropping an album. this hayes dude might actually get put on if he can get together a hot lp this year. based on what we heard he's better too.
What has Hayes released? Any Timbaland beats on them releases? Ain't he signed both to Dre and Timbo, right?
the fact hayes is signed with timbo too makes it much more likely he'll see the light of day as a mainstream artist. i believe there could be some timbaland stuff on that 48 mixtape, like 'Bottles Up'. no credits though...
that doesn't mean shit, ask Six 2
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What new artist has Timbo actually Pushed though, Six Two was fucking with both Timb and Dre and he never got released even with his 2001 buzz
Yeah but he wasn't signed to them or was he?
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so using that logic, slim da mobster has already been hanging around a while, can't see him dropping an album. this hayes dude might actually get put on if he can get together a hot lp this year. based on what we heard he's better too.
What has Hayes released? Any Timbaland beats on them releases? Ain't he signed both to Dre and Timbo, right?
the fact hayes is signed with timbo too makes it much more likely he'll see the light of day as a mainstream artist. i believe there could be some timbaland stuff on that 48 mixtape, like 'Bottles Up'. no credits though...
i dont kno about dat one - as ceo's, there's big similarites wit Dre and Tim
Timbo always had a big smorgas-bord wit artists under his umbrella - Twista, Sebastian, Magoo, Petey Pablo etc etc- none of 'em got their shit released
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What new artist has Timbo actually Pushed though, Six Two was fucking with both Timb and Dre and he never got released even with his 2001 buzz
Yeah but he wasn't signed to them or was he?
he was signed to Timbaland's label if i'm not mistaken.
i don't think Six 2 was officially signed to Aftermath, but his album was supposed to come out through Aftermath: The D.O.C. had his own label & had a deal with Aftermath.
Six 2 was signed to that
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there you fo perfect example and thats his own blood brother but he still dont have a album out years later
how you gon put out someone else and not your own brother?
thats a low hit
so using that logic, slim da mobster has already been hanging around a while, can't see him dropping an album. this hayes dude might actually get put on if he can get together a hot lp this year. based on what we heard he's better too.
What has Hayes released? Any Timbaland beats on them releases? Ain't he signed both to Dre and Timbo, right?
the fact hayes is signed with timbo too makes it much more likely he'll see the light of day as a mainstream artist. i believe there could be some timbaland stuff on that 48 mixtape, like 'Bottles Up'. no credits though...
i dont kno about dat one - as ceo's, there's big similarites wit Dre and Tim
Timbo always had a big smorgas-bord wit artists under his umbrella - Twista, Sebastian, Magoo, Petey Pablo etc etc- none of 'em got their shit released
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LMAO @ people expecting Slim da mobster to ever drop an album on aftermath
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your constant bitching is also getting old...do you never get tired of wasting your time writing bad comments about "She Thang"?
the she thang's gimmick is getting old
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to die with the she thang....lol
your constant bitching is also getting old...do you never get tired of wasting your time writing bad comments about "She Thang"?
the she thang's gimmick is getting old