Showing posts with label No Limit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label No Limit. Show all posts

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Give Master P His Flowers Now

 


BET's recent 5 part docuseries No Limit Chronicles, reminded me of something I think most people have forgotten. Master P was and is Thee motherfuckin' man.


Watching this series made me remember just how much Master P and No Limit was everywhere in the late 90s.  Not a lyrical rapper by far, he found a style that worked for him, and knew how to play the game enough to stay in his lane and get paid. 

The guy is a shrewd O.G. who wanted to become not just rich, but wealthy and make sure he bought his people along with him. Negotiating with priority records to own his masters from the beginning, and keeping 85% of record sales. Buying his artists houses upon them signing with No Limit, paying over 350k to get Snoop Dogg out of his death row deal. Negotiating a $2 million deal with WCW to make two appearances. He knows the art of the hustle in the business world.

He aimed not only to take over music, but clothing, sports agency's, toys, hotlines, film actor, writer, and producer. A comedy tour promoter, real estate investor, and so much more. Since he and Diddy (then Puff Daddy) respective labels were hot at the same time, and they were both branching out at the same time. Diddy gets more kudos for his entrepreneurial hustle.

If I was a betting man and you asked me, Diddy always had the drive but he learned some hustling tips from Master P. Same goes for Jay-Z who followed in P's footsteps with his own shoe line, and later sports agency among other ventures. Same goes for 50 Cent and any other rap musicians who became entrepeneurs they looked at the blueprint Master P set. 


He may have had some missteps with some business ventures, but Master P just wants to sit back and make money. He's helping out the community in anyway he can. He's still making business moves such as investing in potto chip brand Rap Snacks, and ramen noodles brand Rap Icons.  Buying a indy wrestling promotion House of Glory (HOG) in October of 2019. Earlier this summer he announced his own brand of Rice "Uncle P's Louisana Seasoned Rice".  He has created a legacy  for himself and proved he is the last don. Let's give him his flowers while we can. 

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Andre Harrell And Uptowns Legacy




It's often said that we as a society dont give people their flowers while their here. Sadly, that is often true and the recent passing of Andre Harrell proves that. Andre Harrell started in the music industry as 1/2 of the rap duo Dr. Jekyll (Andre) and Mr. Hyde. The duo had moderate success as a group and had a small role in the 1985 hip hop classic "Krush Groove". Being an artist was Andre's introduction into the music business, but it was his role as a mogul that cemented his legacy.

After working with Def Jam Records for a few years, Andre took what he learned from Russell Simmons and started Uptown Records. Uptown Records helped usher the fresh new jack swing sound of the late 80's-early 90's. Right along with other new jack swing pioneers such as Teddy Riley, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and Babyface Uptown Records bought a new groove to airwaves.



Uptown Records introduced so many legends to the masses and produced songs that undeniable classics. The Uptown Records roster included Heavy D, Al B. Sure, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Christopher Williams, Guy, Groove B. Chill, Father MC, The Lost Boyz, Soul for Real, and Biggie Smalls for a brief moment. Behind the scenes among these great artists was a young A&R executive named Sean Combs. Who learned from Andre and went on to start his own record label Bad Boy Records and is now a legendary entertainment mogul.

Besides the music that Uptown graced us with. Andre and company also employed the Motown system of ensuring their artists were styled correctly, had stage presence and poise. Uptown was known for their great music and the fashion forward style of their artists.


Uptown was the label with style and grace. Like Berry Gordy and Motown, Andre and Uptown inspired the next generation of music moguls. Just like with Bad Boy Records, Uptown paved the way No Limit Records, So So Def Records, Cash Money, and several other Black owned music labels.

In late 2019 BET started pre-production on a Uptown Records mini-series, hopefully production will continue and a new generation will get to learn and understand the greatness of Andre Harrell and Uptown. Like MJ, Whitney, and Prince along with other legends, Andre Harrell was an icon in the music game and his loss is a blow for the culture. Out of this loss, his contributions will be revisited, loved all over again, and appreticated more than ever before. The legacy of Andre Harrell will live on forever