POPULARITY
7 episodes with roc a fella records
8 episodes with roc a fella records
3 episodes with roc a fella records
5 episodes with roc a fella records
3 episodes with roc a fella records
2 episodes with roc a fella records
2 episodes with roc a fella records
2 episodes with roc a fella records
2 episodes with roc a fella records
“Most rappers don't make a lot of money… Being a rapper/ artist is like anybody else with a 9-5, you gon get what you put into that sh*t” ~ Wayno Music executive and content creator Wayno joins Lalaa Shepard, Boss Britt, and DJ eXeL for a new edition of Lunch Table Talk Presented by The Progress Report Podcast to speak about his Harlem and Bronx, NYC roots, recalls working in the mailroom of Roc-A-Fella Records starting his journey in the music business, formerly being a host on “Everyday Struggle” Podcast on Complex alongside Akademiks and Nadeska, learning directly from Coach K and P at QC, reflects on the importance of being a useful person and knowing how to pivot, and blames social media for making people throw artists away easily. https://www.instagram.com/wayno119/ https://www.instagram.com/lalaashep/ https://www.instagram.com/djexel/ https://www.instagram.com/bossbritt__/ https://www.instagram.com/theprogressreport101/ https://www.instagram.com/tprmediagroup1/ Website: https://tprmediagroup.com https://linktr.ee/TheProgressReportMediaGroup Listen to us on the Revolt Podcast Network: https://tr.ee/GxMmkTcj7o Listen to us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-progress-report-podcast/id1494070183 Listen to us on Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/5sBgF6wWa7NmHraP2QuBEv?si=a0f5f19b8a494fb5 The Progress Report theme song created by Jaylii (produced by Sparkz): https://www.instagram.com/jayliiradio/ https://www.instagram.com/trakmanmuzikllc/ 0:00 Wayno TPR drop 0:09 TPR theme song 0:34 introduction 1:18 TPR pop quiz 3:29 coming up in the mail room at Roc-A-Fella Records 5:00 coming up in Harlem, NYC 5:53 first time seeing Murda Inc 8:08 Kanye West cap 10:42 Kanye West now 12:43 excuses for Kanye West being weird 13:47 drill music culture “Drill music as a culture has ruined black and brown youth all over America” ~ Wayno 15:16 DJ Akademiks handling Kanye during interview 18:18 addresses that blank ended because they weren't making money 22:47 media mindset 27:04 recording contracts playing on people's needs 30:20 “Most rappers don't make a lot of money… Being a rapper/ artist is like anybody else with a 9-5, you gon get what you put into that sh*t” ~ Wayno 31:35 being an A&R at QC and learning from Coach K and P/ RIP Takeoff 32:08 Gloss Up 39:09 Lil Baby doing it his way 44:27 social media making people throw artists away 45:35 recalls working at Asylum 47:03 why didn't 600Breezy's music work 48:23 not being artist dependent for his podcast 48:55 tips for content creators 49:31 landing podcast deal with Amazon Music 52:05 getting into content creation with JayHill 53:49 Speedy Norman 55:26 take suggestions 58:40 invest 59:45 best food and fashion in Bronx and Harlem, NYC 1:03:45 Dave East Jordan collab 1:05:17 what does our keyword “progress” mean to Wayno? #Wayno #KanyeWest #Akademiks #JoeBudden #lalaashepard #BossBritt #DJeXel #LunchTableTalk #TheProgressReportPodcast
Send us a textMr. Bell is joined by Reddy, Will and Joe to talk about the greatest albums, songs, and artists from Roc A Fella Records in this spirited conversation about one of rap's most influential labels. The panel dives deep into personal favorites while reflecting on the cultural impact these artists had beyond just their musical contributions.• Diplomatic Immunity by Dipset emerges as a surprise favorite album for some panelists• The Black Album and College Dropout are widely acknowledged as "no-skip" classics• Kanye West's controversial recent behavior has caused many longtime fans to stop following his newer music• Cam'ron's influence extended beyond music into fashion, with the panel noting how he made it acceptable for men to wear pink• "Never Let Me Down" receives special praise as a spiritually uplifting track that "will make you drop to your knees"• The panel debates whether Kanye West's musical talent puts him "up there with Michael Jackson"• Regional pride surfaces during discussions of Texas artists' collaborations with Rockefeller artists• Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, and the Young Gunz receive recognition as underappreciated contributors to the label's legacyCheck out our other podcasts: From My Perspective, Hold Please, I Said What I Said, Distant Convos with K and S, and The Mixed Vibez Podcast.Youtube to https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPIs6Ko7BCc9l5jlE5AbAUqZ0gAOhmuq- https://mixed-vibez-drip.printify.me/
This week we are joined by Mic King and Antwan Staley who is the NY Jets beat reporter for the Daily News for our Rocafella Recods Fantasy Draft.Each member of our panel will draft one Rocafella Records song for the following categories:Solo songs (1 from each artist)JayBeansFreewayCam'RonKanyeMemphis BleekBest Just Blaze beat (from a roc album)Rocafella Posse cut song (min of 3 members of roc) Roc artist guest feature in a non Roc albumScarface feature on a roc song Let us know who you think picked the best roster!Rocafella Fantasy Draft Playlist:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7zZVLcqREzf8VL75OACYLH?si=b469062d9204450dYou can find all things Mic King here:https://bestrapperever.bandcamp.com/album/iconic-epAnd you can follow Antwan Staley at all social media sites at@antwanstaley and find his work here:https://www.nydailynews.com/author/antwan-staley/For exclusive content and all sort of perks support our patreon:https://www.patreon.com/calloutculturepodcastYou can find our music here:Zilla Rocca:https://5oclockshadowboxers.bandcamp.com/musicCurly Castro:https://curlycastro.bandcamp.com/album/little-robert-huttonhttps://shrapknel.bandcamp.com/Alaska:https://thatrapperalaska.bandcamp.com/
Juelz Santana On Jay-Z & Roc-A-Fella Artists Being Mad Cam'ron Was Named Vice President.Juelz Santana talks about alleged tension at Roc-A-Fella Records when Cam'ron was announced vice president.
Send us a textIn this episode of Veto's Corner, we dive into the hottest topics shaking up sports, music, and pop culture. We start with the controversy surrounding college football star Travis Hunter and his girlfriend, whose relationship has sparked heated debates across social media. Then, we explore Muni Long's bold reaction to being asked by an industry executive to write soulful songs for non-melanated artists, raising important questions about authenticity and cultural appropriation in the music business. Pleasure P stirs the pot by claiming he wrote Lil Wayne's iconic hit "Lollipop," a revelation that has the industry and fans buzzing. Dame Dash adds fuel to the fire as he explains why he benched Memphis Bleek and reveals that Jay-Z wrote many of Bleek's rhymes, giving us a glimpse into the inner workings of Roc-A-Fella Records. We also touch on the ongoing drama between Big Pun's widow, Liza Rios, and Fat Joe, as Liza claims Joe's career would've faded if Pun had signed to another label. Finally, we wrap up with the incredible performance by Beyoncé at the Nel halftime show, featuring surprise appearances by Blue Ivy, Shaboozey, and Post Malone, leaving the audience in awe. Tune in for a jam-packed episode filled with drama, revelations, and unforgettable moments!Support the showFor all advertising opportunities email contact@vetoscorner.comFollohttps://on.soundcloud.com/hgBygU7aEBexoABm7w Veto's Corner: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetoscornerpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VetosCornerPodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@VetoscornerpodcastYoutube Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@vetoscornerpodcast Follow Veto Vangundy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetovangundy Twitter: https://twitter.com/vetovangundy Follow Kyng Musix: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Ky.n.gmusix Disclaimer "Welcome to “Veto's Corner”. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views of “Veto's Corner”or its affiliates. Some of the content shared on this podcast may be intended for comedic or entertainment purposes only, and should not be taken as factual information. We encourage our listeners to conduct their own research and form their own opinions on any topics discussed. Thank you for listening!"
"Hi, it's us. You won't believe what we're doing." Pop fans, for our final episode of 2024 we absolutely couldn't miss celebrating 21 years of Victoria Beckham's final solo single (to date). Join Joel and David as they revisit one of their favourite solo Spice Girls eras: Victoria Beckham's double A-side single 'This Groove' / 'Let Your Head Go'. Two different vibes, two stunning music videos and live performance meauxments that dominated telly throughout December 2003 and January 2004. Posh went all out with the electro-pop dance banger 'Let Your Head Go' and the silky, R&B siren's bop 'This Groove', giving fans a taste of two potential bodies of work from her new record deal with Telstar Records. We revisit the lore of this era all the way through to the R&B-flavoured tracks exec produced by hip-hop mogul Damon Dash of Roc-A-Fella Records that were included on "The Réal Beckhams" DVD. Most infamously, 'Resentment', which was later covered by Beyoncé. What solo Spice Girls project should we revisit next? Let us know in the comments! Follow Right Back At Ya! https://www.instagram.com/rightbackpod/ https://twitter.com/rightbackpod https://www.facebook.com/rightbackpod Follow Joel https://www.instagram.com/dr_joelb/ https://twitter.com/DR_JoelB Follow David https://www.instagram.com/lovelimmy/ https://twitter.com/lovelimmy Email us rightbackpod@gmail.com
A dope mix from Sydney's Jazz Funk Bootleg Don, DJ CMAN, one of the original selectors from our musical family since 2009. CMAN takes us on a journey through funk, soul, jazz, hip-hop party recorded live at the Soul of Sydney 13th Birthday Party, this set is a celebration of everything that has made these iconic parties legendary. From dance-floor jazz grooves to modern edits and bootlegs. DJ CMAN take you on a journey through the sounds that define Soul of Sydney. This is more than music—it's a movement. SOUL OF SYDNEY's resident vibe creator DJ CMAN laying down a dope 1-hour selection of heavy FUNK, SOUL & JAZZY HIP HOP REMIXEs, EDITS & BOOTLEGS to close out the 13th Birthday celebration last month for podcast episode #418. Be sure to check out DJ CMAN's for dope mixes, remixes and edits which he has become so well known for around the world. Check out more of his stuff here. https://soundcloud.com/djcmanmusic Track List / 1. War - Galaxy 2000** (1977, MCA Records) 2. Arrested Development - Mama's Always On Stage** (1992, Chrysalis Records) 3. Junior Wells X CMAN - Mama's Finally Off Stage ... Junior's Bluebreak (CMAN Edit)** (Edit, Release Details Unknown) 4. p-rallel, Jords - One Time** (2023, PLATOON) 5. dialE - AOT** (Details Unknown) 6. Common X George Benson - Go** (Mashup, Common's "Go" (2005, Geffen Records), George Benson Track Uncredited) 7. George Benson - On Broadway (Mikeandtess Edit 4 Mix)** (Original: 1978, Warner Bros.; Edit, Unofficial Release) 8. Jodie Abacus - Good Feeling (CMAN Edit)** (Edit, Original: 2017, Label Unknown) 9. Hidden Jazz Quartett Feat. Omar - High Heels (Lack Of Afro Remix)** (2014, Agogo Records) 10. Nina Simone - See Line Woman** (1964, Philips Records) 11. Theophilus London - Calypso Blues (Nat King Cole Cover)** (2011, Reprise Records) 12. The Bamboos - Ride On Time** (2006, Tru Thoughts) 13. DJ Nu-Mark, The Traffic - Hot In Herre** (2019, Hot Plate Records) 14. Nat King Cole - Day In - Day Out (Cut Chemist Mix)** (2005, Capitol Records – Verve Remixed 3) 15. Big Daddy Kane X Chic - Good Times** (Mashup, Details Unknown) 16. Michael Jackson x James Brown - Wanna Get Up And Start Being A Sex Machine** (Mashup, Details Unknown) 17. Legacy - I'm So Glad (CMAN Edit)** (Edit, Release Details Unknown) 18. Stevie Wonder - Happy Birthday** (1980, Motown) 19. Harry Belafonte - Jump In The Line** (1961, RCA Victor) 20.James Brown - Feel Good (Pays Bass Disco Mix)** (Edit, Original: 1972, Polydor) 21. Janet - All For You (Remix)** (2001, Virgin Records; Remix, Unofficial Release) 22. Blackstreet X Cameo - No Diggity (Word!)** (Mashup, Original Tracks: 1996 Interscope & 1986 Atlanta Artists/PolyGram) 23. Cameo - Candy** (1986, Atlanta Artists/PolyGram) 24. Monie Love - Don't Funk Wid The Mo** (1990, Warner Bros. Records) 25. Robson Jorge & Lincoln Olivetti - Aleluia** (1982, Som Livre) 26. Sharon Redd - Can You Handle It** (1980, Prelude Records) 27. Salif Keita - Madan (Petko Afrobeat Edit)** (Edit, Original: 2002, Universal Music) 28. Kanye West - Gold Digger** (2005, Roc-A-Fella Records) 29. Tems + Foxy Brown ft. Blackstreet - Free Mind** (Mashup, Original Tems: 2020, Leading Vibes LLC) 30. Black Thought, Juls, Worlasi, Kofi Mole - Focus** (2023, Details Unknown) 31. Big Pun - Still Not A Player** (1998, Loud Records) 32. Gospel Gods Got A Blend (Big Pun "Playa" Sample)** (Blend/Mashup, Details Unknown) 33. Black Men United - U Will Know** (1994, MCA Records) 34. Billy Stewart - Summertime** (1966, Chess Records) 35. Louis Prima - Buono Sera** (1956, Capitol Records)
Today marks the 55th birthday of Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter on Dec. 4, 1969, in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Rising from hustling in the streets to building an empire, Jay-Z began his career as a rapper in 1989 with his first verse appearing on Jaz-O's “The Originators.” In 1996, he founded Roc-A-Fella Records and released Reasonable Doubt, a groundbreaking debut that cemented his status in hip-hop. Although he announced retirement after The Black Album in 2003, his return with The Blueprint 3 in 2009 secured his record for the most No. 1 solo albums. With over 50 million records sold and 17 Grammys, his influence transcends music. Jay-Z launched Roc-A-Wear, served as Def Jam president, and co-founded Roc Nation Sports. Happy birthday to the legendary Jay-Z! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AnalyticIn this segment of "Notorious Mass Effect," Analytic Dreamz delves into the intricate and unfolding saga involving hip-hop moguls Jay-Z, Dame Dash, and the vocal critic Jaguar Wright. We're breaking down the legal skirmishes over "Reasonable Doubt," diving into the murky waters of music rights, and exploring the allegations that have rocked the industry.Legal Battles: Analytic Dreamz unpacks the contentious fight over the rights to Jay-Z's debut album, "Reasonable Doubt," amidst an auction of Dame Dash's shares in Roc-A-Fella Records. Understand the implications of this legal tussle, the potential influence on the album's future, and how it reflects broader issues of ownership in the music world.Jaguar Wright's Allegations: Hear about Jaguar Wright's bombshell claims that stir the pot in hip-hop's inner circles. While her allegations add layers to the narrative, we analyze their impact on the public perception of industry giants like Jay-Z and how they contribute to the ongoing discourse on misconduct within the entertainment sector.Public Sentiment and Industry Impact: From the chatter on platforms like X to the courtroom, Analytic Dreamz examines how these disputes shape the legacy of hip-hop figures, affect their business dealings, and resonate with fans and observers alike.The Bigger Picture: Beyond individual conflicts, this segment explores themes of control, legacy, and the personal toll of fame. What does this mean for the future of music collaborations, artist rights, and the ever-evolving narrative of hip-hop culture?.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
In Episode 74 of the Dirty 30 Podcast, Beatdown Brown and Eddie P explore two major moves in the entertainment and hip-hop business world. First, we discuss 50 Cent's latest venture: the launch of his own TV channel in collaboration with Lionsgate. We delve into what this means for his brand and the broader landscape of entertainment. Then, we turn our attention to the ongoing saga of Dame Dash, as his shares of Roc-A-Fella Records are auctioned off by the feds. Get the inside scoop on these pivotal developments in hip-hop and beyond. #50Cent #Lionsgate #NewTVChannel #DameDash #RocAFella #HipHopBusiness #EntertainmentNews #Dirty30Podcast #BeatdownBrown #EddieP #HipHopCulture #RapIndustry #PodcastEpisode #TrendingInMusic #MusicBusiness #RapNews #HipHopUpdates #TVIndustry #AuctionNews #50CentVentures #DameDashSaga Shirts NFTs & Downloads
In today's podcast, Allen & Justin chop it up about Elon Musk's plans for his Tesla Robot, Google's Core Update and its relation to its monopoly verdict, the largest data breach in years that basically obtained every social security number ever, and Dame Dash being forced to sell his share of Roc-A-Fella Records which still owns Jay-Z's highly acclaimed first studio album Reasonable Doubt. Thanks for watching! Go ahead, like, comment, subscribe, and turn on post notifications! Follow Us On These Social Media Platforms
In today's podcast, Allen & Justin chop it up about Elon Musk's plans for his Tesla Robot, Google's Core Update and its relation to its monopoly verdict, the largest data breach in years that basically obtained every social security number ever, and Dame Dash being forced to sell his share of Roc-A-Fella Records which still owns Jay-Z's highly acclaimed first studio album Reasonable Doubt. Thanks for watching! Go ahead, like, comment, subscribe, and turn on post notifications! Follow Us On These Social Media Platforms
Welcome to THE (C.A.R), CLASSIC ALBUM REVIEW, where we break down the albums that shaped rock and roll. In this episode, we're diving into a monumental work: **THE BLACK ALBUM** by Jay-Z. Released on November 14, 2003, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings, this album was advertised as Jay-Z's final farewell before his temporary retirement. Jay-Z brought in a different producer for each track, resulting in a dynamic and eclectic sound. The lineup includes Just Blaze, Kanye West, the Neptunes, Eminem, DJ Quik, Timbaland, 9th Wonder, Rick Rubin, and a guest appearance by Pharrell Williams. This album is more than just music; it's a statement, a bold move that left an indelible mark on the rap landscape. We break down each track, each collaboration, and how this album solidified Jay-Z's legacy. Don't miss this deep dive into a true classic. #JayZ #TheBlackAlbum #HipHopHistory #RocAFellaRecords #RapLegends #KanyeWest #Timbaland #MusicReview #ClassicAlbums #RickRubin #PharrellWilliams #MusicPodcast NOTE: Everything said here, and on every episode of all of our shows are 100% the opinions of the hosts. Nothing is stated as fact. Do your own research to see if their opinions are true or not. Please SUBSCRIBE, click the notification bell, leave a comment or a like, and share this episode!
This week Shawn & Kenny discuss the huge stake in Rocafella Records set to go to auction later this month, New York City's Kips Bay future development woes, Donald Trump joining forces with Adin Ross on stream, the consequences of bringing someone home that the family does not like, retiring all types of sixty-nines across the board, new facial recognition technology within the NFL this season to be used, USA Track & Field standing above the crowd at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a unfortunate House of Dragons season finale review and a ton of other news that caught their radar this week! As always don't forget to subscribe to the YouTube channel for all updates and visit The FCP Shop with new merchandise dropping every week. www.Freedomcagepodcast.com https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8vICXH0TXIvWXjHF8GRfjg FCP Shop - https://the-fcp-shop.myshopify.com/ YT - bit.ly/3njvShH Follow the handles below and give us your thoughts, feedback & any questions you may have; Freedom Cage Podcast @FreedomCagePod on Twitter & @FreedomCagePodcast on IG Kenny @KenKapnik on Twitter and IG Shawn @SenorLee_FCP on Twitter & @SenorLee on IG
On this week's episode of the Need to Know Podcast, SaVon, Alex, and Regi begin by promoting the third annual Need to Know Mixer on Saturday, August 17th (7:01) before SaVon calls out Alex for his slang (13:08). In music, Vybz Kartel was released from prison and put out an album ‘First Week Out' (22:17), Drake dropped 100GB of content (35:31) and announced a collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR (59:17), and Lil Yachty sent a record with Drake using a Mr. Hotspot sample to Kai Cenat to leak (1:06:26). The gang also discusses DJ Mustard's ‘Faith Of A Mustard Seed' first week sales (1:24:12), Complex's blunders in reporting on AMP's ChrisV texting underage girls (1:38:11), Dame Dash's stake in Roc-A-Fella Records being auctioned off (1:54:56), and much more! Purchase your tickets to the third annual Need to Know Mixer on Saturday, August 17 TODAY before prices increase - https://posh.vip/e/the-need-to-know-mixer-2 If you're new here and enjoy this episode, join us over on Patreon where we release episodes EVERY MONDAY don't hold ANYTHING back - www.patreon.com/NeedToKnowPodcast Join our Twitter/X Community to chop it up with us about all things Need to Know - https://twitter.com/i/communities/1777442897001910433 Leave us a voicemail for a chance to be featured on next week's episode - https://www.speakpipe.com/NTK_Voicemail_Line The Need To Know Podcast https://www.instagram.com/needtoknowpod/ https://twitter.com/NeedToKnowPod https://www.tiktok.com/needtoknowpod SaVon https://www.instagram.com/savonslvter/ https://twitter.com/SavonSlvter Alex https://www.instagram.com/balltillwefall/ https://twitter.com/balltillwefall Regi https://www.instagram.com/regi_nacho/ https://twitter.com/regi_nacho
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Analytic Notorious Mass Effect - Biggie's Reported Move from Bad Boy RecordsThis segment dives deep into the rumors surrounding Notorious B.I.G.'s (Biggie) potential departure from Bad Boy Records before his passing in 1997.Unpacking the Rumors:Legal Battles: We explore the reported disputes between Biggie and Diddy regarding music publishing rights.Tensions and Aftermath: The segment examines Diddy's actions following Biggie's death, including the alleged focus on promoting the posthumous album "Life After Death" and the controversial Rolling Stone cover featuring Diddy.Beyond the Rumors:Roc-A-Fella Records: We investigate the possibility of Biggie joining Roc-A-Fella Records and the potential impact on the hip-hop landscape.Lucrative Offer: The segment discusses a reported $60 million offer Biggie received and how it might have affected Junior M.A.F.I.A.Broader Impact:Industry Tensions: The exposé sheds light on the larger conflicts within the hip-hop industry that Biggie reportedly faced.Diddy's Legal Issues: The segment explores Diddy's legal troubles, including lawsuits and investigations.A Deeper Look at Biggie's Legacy:Enduring Influence: We delve into how these revelations add to Biggie's enduring impact on hip-hop.Family's Perspective: The segment explores Biggie's mother's reaction to the reports.Tune in for a fresh perspective on Notorious B.I.G.'s career struggles, the music industry's complexities, and the ongoing influence of this hip-hop legend.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/analytic-dreamz-notorious-mass-effect/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Patrick Bet-David and Roc-A-Fella Records founder Dame Dash have a heated discussion about Diddy's sex trafficking allegations, Biggie and Tupac's murders, Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign & much more! DAMON DASH Connect with Damon Dash on Minnect: https://bit.ly/3VVVbLV MERCH: Buy two PBD Podcast or Valuetainment mugs, get a third FREE! Use promo code "pbdmugs" at checkout: https://bit.ly/3TBAMsq PBD LIVE W/ TULSI GABBARD ON APRIL 25TH: Purchase tickets to PBD Podcast LIVE! w/ Tulsi Gabbard on April 25th: https://bit.ly/3VmuaRm MINNECT: Connect one-on-one with the right expert for you on Minnect: https://bit.ly/3MC9IXE Connect with Patrick Bet-David on Minnect: https://bit.ly/3OoiGIC Connect with Adam Sosnick on Minnect: https://bit.ly/42mnnc4 Connect with Tom Ellsworth on Minnect: https://bit.ly/3UgJjmR Connect with Vincent Oshana on Minnect: https://bit.ly/47TFCXq CHOOSE YOUR ENEMIES WISELY: Purchase PBD's Book "Choose Your Enemies Wisely": https://bit.ly/41bTtGD BET-DAVID CONSULTING: Get best-in-class business advice with Bet-David Consulting: https://bit.ly/40oUafz VT.COM: Visit VT.com for the latest news and insights from the world of politics, business and entertainment: https://bit.ly/472R3Mz VALUETAINMENT UNIVERSITY: Visit Valuetainment University for the best courses online for entrepreneurs: https://bit.ly/47gKVA0 TEXT US: Text “PODCAST” to 310-340-1132 to get the latest updates in real-time! YOUR NEXT 5 MOVES: Want to be clear on your next 5 business moves? https://bit.ly/3Qzrj3m ABOUT US: Patrick Bet-David is the founder and CEO of Valuetainment Media. He is the author of the #1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller “Your Next Five Moves” (Simon & Schuster) and a father of 2 boys and 2 girls. He currently resides in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pbdpodcast/support
In this episode I got the chance to sit down with the legend himself Dame Dash, a trailblazer in the hip-hop industry, to share insights from his remarkable journey as an entrepreneur. Dame reflects on his transition from a teenage drug dealer to a music manager, highlighting the pivotal moments that led him to co-found Rockefeller Records and nurture talents like Jay Z and Kanye West. He emphasizes the importance of independence and integrity in business, recounting his experiences of breaking away from traditional models to forge his own path, which ultimately led to diverse ventures in fashion, television, and music.Dame delves into his current endeavors, including initiatives in education and politics, demonstrating his ongoing commitment to making a positive impact. He shares valuable entrepreneurial advice, emphasizing the necessity of resilience, confidence, and the willingness to pivot in the face of challenges. Through candid reflections on his successes and struggles, Dame Dash offers invaluable insights into the mindset and strategies that have propelled him forward on his entrepreneurial journey, inspiring aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams with determination and authenticity.CHAPTERS1:04 - From Hustler to Entrepreneur: Dame Dash's Journey2:19 - Breaking into Music: Jay Z and Rockefeller3:30 - The Middleman's Dilemma: Independence and Integrity5:38 - Collaborations and Discoveries: Kanye, Jay Z, and Kevin Hart6:39 - Diverse Ventures: Fashion, Television, and Music8:39 - Lessons Learned: Reflections from a Young Entrepreneur9:31 - Impacting Education and Politics: A New Frontier11:41 - The Future of Business: Vision and Innovation14:00 - Entrepreneurial Advice: Navigating Challenges and Pivots14:41 - Embracing Rejection: Fuel for Greatness15:57 - Confidence and Belief: Keys to Entrepreneurial Success17:26 - Working with Powerful Figures: Integrity and Consistency20:41 - Building from the Ground Up: Challenges and Wins22:17 - Managing Finances: Making and Keeping MoneyConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter Connect with Dame Dash:IG - duskopoppingtonTIKTOK - Duskopoppingtonhttps://www.americanunetwork.com/
Amin, Tray, Big Jerv, Jason and Juju are back and discussing Dame Dash selling his shares of Roc-A-Fella Records and if Allen Iverson could get buckets in this era. WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: Youtube.com/countthedings1 Produced by John Jervay - https://twitter.com/johnjervay Sign up for The Athletic: TheAthletic.com/dings Support us on www.patreon.com/countthedings Find us: www.countthedings.com Social: @countthedings @bommpodcastq Facebook: www.facebook.com/countthedings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode of Veto's Corner, we delve into Kyng's daily struggles with making deliveries to customers' homes, highlighting his frustration with people's laziness and reluctance to meet at the door for their orders. We then pivot to Dame Dash's decision to sell his shares of Rocafella Records, exploring the implications of this move. Next, we critique Young Jeezy's Tiny Desk performance, debating its quality and impact. Shifting gears, we celebrate Chicago native Bump J's milestone of receiving his first Billboard entry with Kanye's Vultures project. Finally, we dive into the beef between Corey Holcomb and Donnell Rawlings, dissecting the nuances of their conflict.Follow Veto's Corner: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetoscornerpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VetosCornerPodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@VetoscornerpodcastYoutube Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@vetoscornerpodcast Follow Veto Vangundy: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vetovangundy Twitter: https://twitter.com/vetovangundy Follow Kyng Musix: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Ky.n.gmusix Disclaimer "Welcome to “Veto's Corner”. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views of “Veto's Corner”or its affiliates. Some of the content shared on this podcast may be intended for comedic or entertainment purposes only, and should not be taken as factual information. We encourage our listeners to conduct their own research and form their own opinions on any topics discussed. Thank you for listening!"
A Tribe Called Quest Acclaimed History. 6 Albums in. ATCQ is one of the greatest groups of all time. We celebrate Midnight Marauders 30th anniversary. Religious Views. Are most religion tied in? Diddys Rape Allegations Unfold. P.Diddy has always been a monster. Why are there various different religions? Hip-hop Grammy Nominations. Are the categories best hip-hop album accurate? Jay-Z A Bad Business Partner? Did Jay-Z backstab Rocafella Records? Facebook: Phillip RobertsInstagram: @philroberts12, @thefillwithphil, @corporatelike Twitter: @Corporate_Like, @FillWithPhilPodSnapChat: corporatelikeTikTok: @thefillwithphilTumblr: corporatelikeWebsite: Corporatelike.comReddit: CorporateLikeDiscord: CorporateLike
In our premiere of Season 6, we welcome Van Everette from The Scenario Radio Show review Kanye West's debut classic album The College Dropout as it turns 20. After serving in the background as a producer for many of Roc-A-Fella Records best albums through the early 2000s, the Chicago-based producer took his turn as a feature act. The album was recorded over a four year period from 1999 to 2003 and is constructed during the period of many memorable moments of his life, including his near-catastrophe car accident.For his debut effort, West produced the entire album himself and also enlisted the likes of many talented artists and musicians: Jay-Z, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Common, Luda, Freeway, Consequence, GLC, Syleena Johnson, John Legend, Miri Ben-Ari, J. Ivy and the Boys Choir of Harlem. Mixing his unique production style that was dubbed "chipmunk soul", he impressed with his depth, wittiness and more than capable rhymes and flow as he talked the rap game, life, expectations, insecurities, injustices and more.The album was backed by many notable singles including the debut "Through The Wire", the R&B collabo "All Falls Down" featuring Syleena Johnson, the moving "Jesus Walks" and his first #1 Billboard single "Slow Jamz" featuring Jamie Foxx and Twista. The album was certified 4x platinum and is noted as both the launching West's legendary recording career and also a iconic album of a new movement in the new millenium.Check out Van Everette and The Scenario Radio Showhttps://www.thescenarioradioshow.com/Visit The Vault Classic Music Reviews Onlinewww.vaultclassicpod.comBuy Exclusive The Vault Podcast Merchandise!www.vaultclassicpod.com/storeSupport The Vault Classic Music Reviews on Buy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/vaultclassicpodBuild Your Own Amazing Podcast Website In Less Than 5 Minutes!https://www.podpage.com/?via=ivecre8Show NotesStereogum: The College Dropout Turns 20 https://www.stereogum.com/1661202/the-college-dropout-turns-10/reviews/the-anniversary/Vibe: Kanye West's Engineer Breaks Down Kanye West's Classic -- From An Engineer's Perspectivehttps://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/kanye-west-the-college-dropout-oral-history-486239/Medium: A Love Letter to The College Dropouthttps://medium.com/@derekxu/album-review-the-college-dropout-b17714567f1eAlbumism: Kanye West's 'The College Dropout' Turns 15 | Anniversary Retrospectivehttps://albumism.com/features/kanye-west-debut-album-the-college-dropout-turns-15-anniversary-retrospectiveSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vault-classic-music-reviews-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Episode 5 is a brief history and scoring of Roc-A-Fella Records, Sauce Money (2000) and one of the best selling American hip hop artists of all time in Nelly (2000) as we not only feature a special guest on todays episode but also read off our lists for the first time in Season 3 as well as implementing a new list this season! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taleofthetapes/support
Episode 3 is a brief history and scoring of Roc-A-Fella Records, South Philly native, Beanie Sigel (2000) and Bad Boy's Black Rob (2000) as we continue on with our next two artists in Season 3: The New Millennium! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taleofthetapes/support
Episode 2 is a brief history and scoring of Roc-A-Fella Records, South Philly native, Beanie Sigel (2000) and Bad Boy's Black Rob (2000) as we continue on with our next two artists in Season 3: The New Millennium! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taleofthetapes/support
In this episode, The Empire State of Mind of Jay Z - Recited Over NYC you will hear some of the best quotes from Jay Z, who is a legendary rapper, entrepreneur and mogul, Shawn Carter aka Jay Z's wisdom and insights will help you understand what it takes to be successful. Jay Z's success mindset will inspire you to build your own empire and become a genius-level talent in whatever you are inspired to do. Who is Jay Z? JAY-Z (born December 4, 1969, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.) American rapper and entrepreneur, one of the most influential figures in hip-hop in the 1990s and early 21st century. Shawn Carter grew up in Brooklyn's often dangerous Marcy Projects, where he was raised mainly by his mother. His firsthand experience with illicit drug dealing would inform his lyrics when he began rapping under the stage name Jazzy, soon shortened to Jay-Z (a name that may also have been derived from the proximity of the J and Z subway lines to the Marcy Projects). Jay-Z and two friends founded their own company, Roc-A-Fella Records, to release his debut album, Reasonable Doubt (1996), which eventually sold more than a million copies in the United States. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karatjuicepod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karatjuicepod/support
Interview by Manny Akiio / mannyakiio We recently sat down with Wayno for an exclusive “Off The Porch” interview! During our conversation he discussed moving around a lot while growing up, dropping out of the 9th grade, hanging around the wrong crowd, surviving his tough environment, his interest in shoes & gaming, getting into the music business at the age of 17, getting fired from Def Jam, working temporarily at a sneaker store, landing an internship with Roc-A-Fella Records after leaving his sneaker job, the current state of internships right now, getting appointed A&R at Roc-A-Fella, going right back to square one after Roc-A-Fella broke up, his friend John encouraging him to step back into music and the creative after taking a step back, transitioning into hosting shows at SOBs, managing Dave East, balancing his career while still living in the projects, Nas giving him and Dave East their flowers, his journey on the show Everyday Struggle, his current role at Quality Control and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Absorb the powerful quotes and life lessons from mogul Jay Z. Jay Z's inspiring quotes will help you understand his empire state of mind which has propelled him to extreme levels of success. Any person who wants to accomplish big things can learn from Shawn 'Jay Z' Carter's knowledge, on life, business and success. Who is Jay Z? He was born on December 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., American rapper and entrepreneur, one of the most influential figures in hip-hop in the 1990s and early 21st century. Shawn Carter grew up in Brooklyn's often dangerous Marcy Projects, where he was raised mainly by his mother. His firsthand experience with illicit drug dealing would inform his lyrics when he began rapping under the stage name Jazzy, soon shortened to Jay-Z (a name that may also have been derived from the proximity of the J and Z subway lines to the Marcy Projects). Jay-Z and two friends founded their own company, Roc-A-Fella Records, to release his debut album, Reasonable Doubt (1996), which eventually sold more than a million copies in the United States. A string of successful albums followed at a rate of at least one per year through 2003. Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life (1998) not only was the first of Jay-Z's releases to top the Billboard 200 album chart but also won him his first Grammy Award, for best rap album. The critically acclaimed The Blueprint (2001), featuring the triumphant hit “Izzo (H.O.V.A.),” solidified his status as one of the preeminent voices in hip-hop at the dawn of the 21st century. Shortly after its release, Jay-Z pleaded guilty to assault relating to a 1999 nightclub stabbing and received three years' probation, but the incident did little to derail his career. Ahead of the release of The Black Album (2003), however, Jay-Z announced his retirement as a performer. The ostensible farewell recording proved to be one of his most popular, with the brash single “99 Problems,” produced by Rick Rubin, attracting considerable attention. In 2004 he assumed the presidency of Def Jam Recordings, making him one of the most highly placed African American executives in the recording industry at the time. (Britannica, 2023) Take Care, KJP --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karatjuicepod/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/karatjuicepod/support
For ODB, what began as a stint in rehab becomes a three and a half year ordeal stuck in the criminal justice system. A lifetime of unchecked mental health issues, police harassment, media exploitation and substance abuse compounds into a full-blown crisis. So when he is finally released from prison, and an exciting record deal with Rocafella Records awaits, can Dirty move past the deep scars incarceration has left and return to form as the inimitable rapper he once was? ODB: A Son Unique is produced by Novel and Talkhouse for USG Audio For more from Novel visit novel.audioSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Order THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.comLearn more about Shari Bryant and Omar Grant: https://www.rocnation.com/about/Shari Bryant is Co-President of Roc Nation Label at Roc Nation. A fearless music industry veteran, Shari began her career as an intern at Roc-A-Fella Records at 16 years old. She would go to work with Def Jam, Atlantic Records, Warner Bros, Alamo Records, until she was appointed by Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter to become Co-President of the Roc Nation Label. In her long and tenured career, she has worked with artists such as Jay-Z, Meek Mill, Nas, Rick Ross, Cam'ron, Dipset, and more.Omar Grant is currently the Co-President of Roc Nation Records. After graduating from Adelphi University, he took his first job as assistant tour manager working for Destiny's Child, and then as tour manager for each of the three members individually including Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, and Beyonce. He would go on to with as an A&R for EMI Group Limited and Epic Records, before joining Roc Nation in 2011. Grant served as A&R on Rihanna's first #1 debut album, Unapologetic, and would work with Rihanna on future releases. Grant has also worked with and/or introduced many other notable artists like Jay-Z, Big Sean, Shakira, David Guetta, Snoh Aalegra, Willow, Jaden Smith, Jay Electronica, Vic Mensa, and Buju Banton.04:38 - Welcome06:21 - Roc Nation - Shari and Omar's roles at Roc Nation Label15:12 - Strategies for developing artists in a crowded space22:01 - Roc Nation's legacy and long term vision for artists28:00 - What does Roc Nation look for when they sign a new artist?37:18 - Marketing strategies rollout for artists like Maeta45:58 - Roc Nation's track record with signing artists and philosophy58:23 - What does it mean to you to make it in the new music business?Subscribe to The New Music Business: https://aristake.com/new-music-business-podcast/Ari's Take Academy: https://aristakeacademy.comWatch more discussions like this: https://bit.ly/3LavMpaConnect with Ari's Take:Website: https://aristake.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/aristake_TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aris.takeX: https://twitter.com/ArisTakeThreads: https://www.threads.net/@aristake_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/aristake1Connect with Ari Herstand:Website: https://ariherstand.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/ariherstandX: https://twitter.com/ariherstandYouTube: https://youtube.com/ariherstandConnect with Roc Nation:Website: https://rocnation.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocnation/X: https://twitter.com/RocNationTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rocnation Edited and mixed by Mikey EvansMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari's Take Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Did you miss us? J5 and Josh Peas return refreshed on Amp this week, sharing the first takeaways from J5's trip to Japan and Josh's trip to New Orleans. Enjoy the earliest stories before Tuesday's new episode of The BlkPrint, along with MC's plans for Miami Carnival Weekend, breaking news on the Damian Lillard saga, the mystery behind Josh's missing Tesla mirror, the latest Rocafella Records discourse and our well wishes to Krayzie Bone.To hear the entire episode, tap in with us on Patreon! Become a patron at http://patreon.com/blkprint for our entire Amp library as a Printer Tier patron. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
Greetings to the world. How are you all? I hope fine. This week, we discuss the fall of Rocafella Records, and why Dame Dash keeps talking about Jay-Z? Diddy Gives all of the artist back their publishing.. Stipulation? Woman asks man to marry him on video. Fellas, would you let this happen? LOL Desmond bring up seeing black women/men divide being plastered on the internet. Kelvin and Jordan jumps in with their takes on his opinion. And much more! Please, rate (5) on all platforms you stream your pods, respectfully. IG:@thenourishmentpodcast Email: thenourishmentpodcast@gmail.com Patreon.com/thenourishmentpodcast Peace & Blessings!
In this latest episode of the Ern and Iso podcast, your hosts delve even deeper into their music-filled memories. Following a tantalizing preview from Tuesday's episode, Ern and Iso pick up the thread of their conversation as they traverse the landscape of their musical journey. From the explosive rise of G-Unit to the emergence of underground rappers from the heart of Philadelphia, the duo takes you on a captivating ride through the evolution of hip-hop. But the musical exploration doesn't stop there. Ern and Iso shift their focus to iconic moments in hip-hop history, drawing you into the world of backstage movie scenes featuring legends like Jay-Z and the monumental entry of Roc-A-Fella Records into the streets of Philly. Their journey through time continues as they recount the untold stories of Murda Inc members who never saw their music hit the airwaves, unraveling a tapestry of unheard creativity and behind-the-scenes dynamics. However, the podcast episode doesn't limit itself to music alone. Ern and Iso's reminiscences take an unexpected turn as they step into the realm of fashion. They retrace their youthful fashion choices, from the era of baggy clothes and oversized shirts to the iconic Dickies sets and the timeless trend of wearing Timberland boots all year round. The hosts' personal anecdotes and vivid descriptions transport you back to those unforgettable style moments. Finally, after an epic two-hour journey, Ern and Iso cap off the episode with a discussion that's sure to evoke nostalgia in gamers and tech enthusiasts alike. They take a detour into the world of gaming and pop culture, reminiscing about FUNCo Land—an establishment that holds a special place in the hearts of anyone who remembers the golden age of video games. As Ern and Iso unravel the significance of this pioneering store, you'll find yourself taken back to a time when video games were more than just entertainment; they were a part of our collective identity. Tune in to this extended and captivating episode of the Ern and Iso podcast, where music, fashion, and gaming collide in a whirlwind of memories, anecdotes, and insights that only these two dynamic hosts can deliver.
In this episode Vine's Cee Allah Rule talks ROC-A-FELLA. “Streets Is Watching"is a groundbreaking film starring JAY-Z, released in 1998. Directed by Abdul Malik Abbott, the movie provided an intimate and authentic portrayal of the street culture and rap industry at the time. With its raw storytelling and captivating visuals, "Streets Is Watching" had a significant impact on the hip hop community, catapulting JAY-Z's career and cementing his role as a cultural icon. This review will explore the film's artistic merits, its influence on the genre, and the lasting legacy it has left behind. Before becoming Hall of Fame Hov, JAY-Z in 1997 was still striving to make a name for himself in an extremely crowded New York City rap scene. Part of him getting shine at the time was the skills that he put on full display for his 1996 debut, Reasonable Doubt. The album, filled with jewels like “Dead Presidents II” and “D'Evils,” gave listeners a full-colored introduction to the man behind the flashy and conscious poetics. But while it was easily regarded a classic, Reasonable Doubt was a slow seller. In an effort to build the exposure behind his coveted rap skills, Jay and his Roc-A-Fella Records co-founders Kareem “Biggs” Burke and Damon Dash inked a distribution deal with Def Jam, selling the initial half-stake of the label for a reported $1.5 million. Not long after, 1997's In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 arrived. But where Reasonable Doubt offered prophecy, the follow-up didn't quite back up the promise of its predecessor. -Revolt --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hotseat-haas/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hotseat-haas/support
Reasonable Doubt is the debut album of legendary rap/hip-hop artist Jay-Z. This RIAA certified Platinum album contains 14 tracks driven by groovy bass lines, rhythmic vocals, and engaging lyrical subject matter. This album would be the first of forty studio albums released by Jay-Z's record label, Roc-A-Fella Records.
Welcome to Hidden Hands, a TmrO Network Production all about uncovering music's backstage heroes. Travis (Rod Wave's engineer) & Cruz (Meek Mill's engineer) will shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked individuals who play a crucial role in crafting the songs we love. As a young man, Wayno's commitment to excellence plucked him from the mail room at Pitney Bowes to the offices of the legendary Roc-A-Fella Records. Wayno developed and garnered his A&R skills under the leadership of greats such as Kyambo "Hip-Hop" Joshua ,Gee Roberson , and Lenny S. Wayno gathered major credits as an A&R with acts such as the Young Gunz whom he led to a Grammy nomination in 2003. In 2012, he founded Triangle Offense to continue to practice the coveted teachings he learned at Roc. Through his leadership, Triangle Offense has become a management, A&R and marketing group that strives for excellence for young talent in the digital age. In this episode they go into everything from what it's like to being a successful A&R, how manage and develop artists, maximizing opportunity the industry, and much more! Tap in with Travis @trvoski https://www.instagram.com/trvoski Tap in with Cruz @breakitdown https://www.instagram.com/breakitdwn/
19 Keys presents High Level Conversations to bring you into the high frequency of speech and communication to elevate your mindset and value.Ft. Dame DashFeatured Guest Bio:Damon Dash born on May 3, 1971, in Harlem, New York, is an African American record label executive, entrepreneur, film producer, director, actor, and fashion designer. As a youth, Dame Dash sent himself to boarding school because he wanted a better education than what he was receiving at the time. Dame Dash first got into the music business at the age of 19, when he and his cousin Darian Dash started Dash Entertainment, an artist management company. In 1995, Dame Dash launched Roc-A-Fella Records, alongside then business partners Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke but later sold his stake in the company in 2004. During his time with Roc-A-Fella Records, he created the fashion line Roc-A-Wear and was also responsible for the purchases of Armadale Vodka and Pro-Keds. He leveraged his musicians and labels to promote his other companies. His business skills, fuelled by a desire to succeed, enabled him to break into a range of ventures. He owned a hip-hop fashion label, a music label, a movie production firm, a footwear brand, a Swiss watch company, a boxing promotion partnership, and an art gallery at one point and is still currently invested in many of those business endeavors as well as NFT's, comic books, and more. Dame Dash has 5 children: two daughters Ava and Tallulah; and three sons Boogie, Lucky, and Dusko and aims to be the architect of building a life for them based in love.This Episode:This episode goes high level into the conversation of our understanding of affirmations vs. programming, the fight for social change, the attributes of being a man, ascending above the matrix, and how to play chess in the middle of checkers.Featured Guest Contact:Website: Dame Dash StudiosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duskopoppington/19 KEYS:He is a believer in the unlimited human potential, and he aims to help more and more people realize their full potential. His mantra is “slaveship to ownership.” Growing up in Oakland, California as a Muslim of African-American origins, he had to face a lot of difficulties. Many people around him lost their lives due to poverty which motivated him to work harder and secure a better future.19 Keys is a global thought leader and one of the pioneers in the space of Web 3, business, mindset, holistic wealth, tech , metaphysics and financial literacy; having millions of followers across the globe. 19 Keys is known for his relentless efforts in matters of wealth creation, especially for the youth. One of his initiatives has funded over 5 million student investment accounts.19 Keys is also the co-founder of initiatives such as The Block World Order (BWO), Goldewater, and Crownz Society. When people think of 19 Keys, they think of a self-taught 21st-century polymath who believes work is the cure to all of our problems.Follow his links below to learn more:BWO (THE BLOCK WORLD ORDER)https://bwo.cheatcode.com/ LinkTreehttps://linktr.ee/19_keys Crownz 19 Linkhttps://crownz19.com/ GoldeWater Linkhttps://goldewater.com/ Book linkhttps://crownz19.com/products/paradigm-keys-solution-based-mind-reprogramming-e-book?variant=17962889904179 **************Special EYL Viewer Promotion**********Text “HLC“ to 3235776692Tap in on all platforms:Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/c/19keysTwitter:https://twitter.com/Instagram:www.instagram.com/19_keys/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@19keys?Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/19keys/messageSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/19keys/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
19 Keys presents High Level Conversations to bring you into the high frequency of speech and communication to elevate your mindset and value.Ft. Dame DashFeatured Guest Bio:Damon Dash born on May 3, 1971, in Harlem, New York, is an African American record label executive, entrepreneur, film producer, director, actor, and fashion designer. As a youth, Dame Dash sent himself to boarding school because he wanted a better education than what he was receiving at the time. Dame Dash first got into the music business at the age of 19, when he and his cousin Darian Dash started Dash Entertainment, an artist management company. In 1995, Dame Dash launched Roc-A-Fella Records, alongside then business partners Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke but later sold his stake in the company in 2004. During his time with Roc-A-Fella Records, he created the fashion line Roc-A-Wear and was also responsible for the purchases of Armadale Vodka and Pro-Keds. He leveraged his musicians and labels to promote his other companies. His business skills, fuelled by a desire to succeed, enabled him to break into a range of ventures. He owned a hip-hop fashion label, a music label, a movie production firm, a footwear brand, a Swiss watch company, a boxing promotion partnership, and an art gallery at one point and is still currently invested in many of those business endeavors as well as NFT's, comic books, and more. Dame Dash has 5 children: two daughters Ava and Tallulah; and three sons Boogie, Lucky, and Dusko and aims to be the architect of building a life for them based in love.This Episode:This episode goes high level into the conversation of our understanding of affirmations vs. programming, the fight for social change, the attributes of being a man, ascending above the matrix, and how to play chess in the middle of checkers.Featured Guest Contact:Website: Dame Dash StudiosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duskopoppington/19 KEYS:He is a believer in the unlimited human potential, and he aims to help more and more people realize their full potential. His mantra is “slaveship to ownership.” Growing up in Oakland, California as a Muslim of African-American origins, he had to face a lot of difficulties. Many people around him lost their lives due to poverty which motivated him to work harder and secure a better future.19 Keys is a global thought leader and one of the pioneers in the space of Web 3, business, mindset, holistic wealth, tech , metaphysics and financial literacy; having millions of followers across the globe. 19 Keys is known for his relentless efforts in matters of wealth creation, especially for the youth. One of his initiatives has funded over 5 million student investment accounts.19 Keys is also the co-founder of initiatives such as The Block World Order (BWO), Goldewater, and Crownz Society. When people think of 19 Keys, they think of a self-taught 21st-century polymath who believes work is the cure to all of our problems.Follow his links below to learn more:BWO (THE BLOCK WORLD ORDER)https://bwo.cheatcode.com/ LinkTreehttps://linktr.ee/19_keys Crownz 19 Linkhttps://crownz19.com/ GoldeWater Linkhttps://goldewater.com/ Book linkhttps://crownz19.com/products/paradigm-keys-solution-based-mind-reprogramming-e-book?variant=17962889904179 **************Special EYL Viewer Promotion**********Text “HLC“ to 3235776692Tap in on all platforms:Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/c/19keysTwitter:https://twitter.com/Instagram:www.instagram.com/19_keys/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@19keys?Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/19keys/messageSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/19keys/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
19 Keys presents High Level Conversations to bring you into the high frequency of speech and communication to elevate your mindset and value.Ft. Dame DashFeatured Guest Bio:Damon Dash born on May 3, 1971, in Harlem, New York, is an African American record label executive, entrepreneur, film producer, director, actor, and fashion designer. As a youth, Dame Dash sent himself to boarding school because he wanted a better education than what he was receiving at the time. Dame Dash first got into the music business at the age of 19, when he and his cousin Darian Dash started Dash Entertainment, an artist management company. In 1995, Dame Dash launched Roc-A-Fella Records, alongside then business partners Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke but later sold his stake in the company in 2004. During his time with Roc-A-Fella Records, he created the fashion line Roc-A-Wear and was also responsible for the purchases of Armadale Vodka and Pro-Keds. He leveraged his musicians and labels to promote his other companies. His business skills, fuelled by a desire to succeed, enabled him to break into a range of ventures. He owned a hip-hop fashion label, a music label, a movie production firm, a footwear brand, a Swiss watch company, a boxing promotion partnership, and an art gallery at one point and is still currently invested in many of those business endeavors as well as NFT's, comic books, and more. Dame Dash has 5 children: two daughters Ava and Tallulah; and three sons Boogie, Lucky, and Dusko and aims to be the architect of building a life for them based in love.This Episode:This episode goes high level into the conversation of our understanding of affirmations vs. programming, the fight for social change, the attributes of being a man, ascending above the matrix, and how to play chess in the middle of checkers.Featured Guest Contact:Website: Dame Dash StudiosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duskopoppington/19 KEYS:He is a believer in the unlimited human potential, and he aims to help more and more people realize their full potential. His mantra is “slaveship to ownership.” Growing up in Oakland, California as a Muslim of African-American origins, he had to face a lot of difficulties. Many people around him lost their lives due to poverty which motivated him to work harder and secure a better future.19 Keys is a global thought leader and one of the pioneers in the space of Web 3, business, mindset, holistic wealth, tech , metaphysics and financial literacy; having millions of followers across the globe. 19 Keys is known for his relentless efforts in matters of wealth creation, especially for the youth. One of his initiatives has funded over 5 million student investment accounts.19 Keys is also the co-founder of initiatives such as The Block World Order (BWO), Goldewater, and Crownz Society. When people think of 19 Keys, they think of a self-taught 21st-century polymath who believes work is the cure to all of our problems.Follow his links below to learn more:BWO (THE BLOCK WORLD ORDER)https://bwo.cheatcode.com/ LinkTreehttps://linktr.ee/19_keys Crownz 19 Linkhttps://crownz19.com/ GoldeWater Linkhttps://goldewater.com/ Book linkhttps://crownz19.com/products/paradigm-keys-solution-based-mind-reprogramming-e-book?variant=17962889904179 **************Special EYL Viewer Promotion**********Text “HLC“ to 3235776692Tap in on all platforms:Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/c/19keysTwitter:https://twitter.com/Instagram:www.instagram.com/19_keys/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@19keys?Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/19keys/messageSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/19keys/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Description:19 Keys presents High Level Conversations to bring you into the high frequency of speech and communication to elevate your mindset and value.Ft. Dame DashFeatured Guest Bio:Damon Dash born on May 3, 1971, in Harlem, New York, is an African American record label executive, entrepreneur, film producer, director, actor, and fashion designer. As a youth, Dame Dash sent himself to boarding school because he wanted a better education than what he was receiving at the time. Dame Dash first got into the music business at the age of 19, when he and his cousin Darian Dash started Dash Entertainment, an artist management company. In 1995, Dame Dash launched Roc-A-Fella Records, alongside then business partners Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke but later sold his stake in the company in 2004. During his time with Roc-A-Fella Records, he created the fashion line Roc-A-Wear and was also responsible for the purchases of Armadale Vodka and Pro-Keds. He leveraged his musicians and labels to promote his other companies. His business skills, fuelled by a desire to succeed, enabled him to break into a range of ventures. He owned a hip-hop fashion label, a music label, a movie production firm, a footwear brand, a Swiss watch company, a boxing promotion partnership, and an art gallery at one point and is still currently invested in many of those business endeavors as well as NFT's, comic books, and more. Dame Dash has 5 children: two daughters Ava and Tallulah; and three sons Boogie, Lucky, and Dusko and aims to be the architect of building a life for them based in love.This Episode:This episode goes high level into the conversation of our understanding of affirmations vs. programming, the fight for social change, the attributes of being a man, ascending above the matrix, and how to play chess in the middle of checkers.Featured Guest Contact:Website: Dame Dash StudiosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duskopoppington/19 KEYS:He is a believer in the unlimited human potential, and he aims to help more and more people realize their full potential. His mantra is “slaveship to ownership.” Growing up in Oakland, California as a Muslim of African-American origins, he had to face a lot of difficulties. Many people around him lost their lives due to poverty which motivated him to work harder and secure a better future.19 Keys is a global thought leader and one of the pioneers in the space of Web 3, business, mindset, holistic wealth, tech , metaphysics and financial literacy; having millions of followers across the globe. 19 Keys is known for his relentless efforts in matters of wealth creation, especially for the youth. One of his initiatives has funded over 5 million student investment accounts.19 Keys is also the co-founder of initiatives such as The Block World Order (BWO), Goldewater, and Crownz Society. When people think of 19 Keys, they think of a self-taught 21st-century polymath who believes work is the cure to all of our problems.Follow his links below to learn more:BWO (THE BLOCK WORLD ORDER)https://bwo.cheatcode.com/ LinkTreehttps://linktr.ee/19_keys Crownz 19 Linkhttps://crownz19.com/ GoldeWater Linkhttps://goldewater.com/ Book linkhttps://crownz19.com/products/paradigm-keys-solution-based-mind-reprogramming-e-book?variant=17962889904179 **************Special EYL Viewer Promotion**********Text “HLC“ to 3235776692Tap in on all platforms:Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/c/19keysTwitter:https://twitter.com/Instagram:www.instagram.com/19_keys/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@19keys?Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/19keys/messageSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/19keys/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Description:19 Keys presents High Level Conversations to bring you into the high frequency of speech and communication to elevate your mindset and value.Ft. Dame DashFeatured Guest Bio:Damon Dash born on May 3, 1971, in Harlem, New York, is an African American record label executive, entrepreneur, film producer, director, actor, and fashion designer. As a youth, Dame Dash sent himself to boarding school because he wanted a better education than what he was receiving at the time. Dame Dash first got into the music business at the age of 19, when he and his cousin Darian Dash started Dash Entertainment, an artist management company. In 1995, Dame Dash launched Roc-A-Fella Records, alongside then business partners Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke but later sold his stake in the company in 2004. During his time with Roc-A-Fella Records, he created the fashion line Roc-A-Wear and was also responsible for the purchases of Armadale Vodka and Pro-Keds. He leveraged his musicians and labels to promote his other companies. His business skills, fuelled by a desire to succeed, enabled him to break into a range of ventures. He owned a hip-hop fashion label, a music label, a movie production firm, a footwear brand, a Swiss watch company, a boxing promotion partnership, and an art gallery at one point and is still currently invested in many of those business endeavors as well as NFT's, comic books, and more. Dame Dash has 5 children: two daughters Ava and Tallulah; and three sons Boogie, Lucky, and Dusko and aims to be the architect of building a life for them based in love.This Episode:This episode goes high level into the conversation of our understanding of affirmations vs. programming, the fight for social change, the attributes of being a man, ascending above the matrix, and how to play chess in the middle of checkers.Featured Guest Contact:Website: Dame Dash StudiosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duskopoppington/19 KEYS:He is a believer in the unlimited human potential, and he aims to help more and more people realize their full potential. His mantra is “slaveship to ownership.” Growing up in Oakland, California as a Muslim of African-American origins, he had to face a lot of difficulties. Many people around him lost their lives due to poverty which motivated him to work harder and secure a better future.19 Keys is a global thought leader and one of the pioneers in the space of Web 3, business, mindset, holistic wealth, tech , metaphysics and financial literacy; having millions of followers across the globe. 19 Keys is known for his relentless efforts in matters of wealth creation, especially for the youth. One of his initiatives has funded over 5 million student investment accounts.19 Keys is also the co-founder of initiatives such as The Block World Order (BWO), Goldewater, and Crownz Society. When people think of 19 Keys, they think of a self-taught 21st-century polymath who believes work is the cure to all of our problems.Follow his links below to learn more:BWO (THE BLOCK WORLD ORDER)https://bwo.cheatcode.com/ LinkTreehttps://linktr.ee/19_keys Crownz 19 Linkhttps://crownz19.com/ GoldeWater Linkhttps://goldewater.com/ Book linkhttps://crownz19.com/products/paradigm-keys-solution-based-mind-reprogramming-e-book?variant=17962889904179 **************Special EYL Viewer Promotion**********Text “HLC“ to 3235776692Tap in on all platforms:Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/c/19keysTwitter:https://twitter.com/Instagram:www.instagram.com/19_keys/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@19keys?Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/19keys/messageSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/19keys/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Master how to control the future by rebuilding your mind, elevating your environment, creating new algorithms, and realizing the power of collaboration. 19 Keys ft Dame DashDescription:19 Keys presents High Level Conversations to bring you into the high frequency of speech and communication to elevate your mindset and value.S3E5 Ft. Dame DashFeatured Guest Bio:Damon Dash born on May 3, 1971, in Harlem, New York, is an African American record label executive, entrepreneur, film producer, director, actor, and fashion designer. As a youth, Dame Dash sent himself to boarding school because he wanted a better education. Dame Dash first got into the music business at age 19, when he and his cousin Darian Dash started Dash Entertainmen. In 1995, Dame Dash launched Roc-A-Fella Records, alongside then business partners Jay-Z and Kareem Burke. He later sold his stake in the company in 2004. While at Roc-A-Fella Records, he created the fashion line Roc-A-Wear and was responsible for the purchases of Armadale Vodka and Pro-Keds. His business skills, fuelled by a desire to succeed, enabled him to break into a range of ventures. He owned a hip-hop fashion label, a music label, a movie production firm, a footwear brand, a Swiss watch company, a boxing promotion partnership, and an art gallery at one point and is still currently invested in many of those business endeavors as well as NFT's and comic books. Dame Dash has 5 children: two daughters Ava and Tallulah; and three sons Boogie, Lucky, and Dusko and aims to be the architect of building a life for them based in love.This Episode:This episode goes high level into the conversation of venturing into the unknown while maintaining the soul, being rich and righteous, and identifying your core values.Featured Guest Contact:Website: Dame Dash StudiosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duskopoppington/19 KEYS:He is a believer in the unlimited human potential, and he aims to help more and more people realize their full potential. His mantra is “slaveship to ownership.” Growing up in Oakland, California as a Muslim of African-American origins, he had to face a lot of difficulties. Many people around him lost their lives due to poverty which motivated him to work harder and secure a better future. 19 Keys is a global thought leader and one of the pioneers in the space of Web 3, business, mindset, holistic wealth, tech, metaphysics and financial literacy; having millions of followers across the globe. 19 Keys is known for his relentless efforts in matters of wealth creation, especially for the youth. One of his initiatives has funded over 5 million student investment accounts. 19 Keys is also the co-founder of initiatives such as The Block World Order (BWO), Goldewater, and Crownz Society. When people think of 19 Keys, they think of a self-taught 21st-century polymath who believes work is the cure to all of our problems.Follow his links below to learn more:BWO (THE BLOCK WORLD ORDER)https://bwo.cheatcode.com/ LinkTreehttps://linktr.ee/19_keys Crownz 19 Linkhttps://crownz19.com/ GoldeWater Linkhttps://goldewater.com/ Book linkhttps://crownz19.com/products/paradigm-keys-solution-based-mind-reprogramming-e-book?variant=17962889904179 **************Special EYL Viewer Promotion**********Text “HLC“ to 201-228-3670Tap in on all platforms:Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/c/19keysTwitter:19keys.eth (@19keys_) / TwitterInstagram:www.instagram.com/19_keys/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@19keys?Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/19keys/messageSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/19keys/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
This is the breakdown on Roc-A-Fella Records. Founded in 1995 by the trio of Shawn “Jay Z” Carter (the talent), Damon “Dame” Dash (the promoter), and Kareem “Biggs” Burke (the silent partner), it became one of hip-hop's most iconic labels.The label took time to develop. Jay's debut album, Reasonable Doubt, is now seen as a certified classic, but took time to get that recognition. It wasn't until 1997 when Def Jam acquired a 50 percent stake in the label and The Roc went to that next level.Roc-A-Fella then created Rocawear, Roc Films, and went on an unprecedented arena tour across the country — rare for rappers at the time. Other artists like Cam'Ron, Kanye West, Beanie Sigel, and Freeway joined the squad.. Despite the success, the founders grew apart, which led to its infamous split. To break it all down, I was joined by my friend and Jay Z biographer, Zack O'Malley Greenburg. Here's what we covered:1:20 Roc-A-Fella origin story7:21 Reasonable Doubt09:43 Friendly rivalry with Bad Boy Records12:43 50-50 deal with Def Jam15:59 How Roc-A-Fella's deal compared to others18:59 The Hard Knock Life Tour's impact 28:32 Expanding the brand beyond Jay Z 30:32 Why Dame and Jay's split was inevitable38:59 Artists taking sides44:21 Best Roc-a-Fella signing?45:22 Best business move?48:27 Dark Horse move?53:02 Missed opportunity? 59:07 Will Dame and Jay ever make up?1:00:45 Who won the most from Roc-a-Fella? Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Overcast | Amazon | Google Podcasts | Pocket Casts | RSSHost: Dan Runcie, @RuncieDan, trapital.coGuests: Zack O'Malley Greenburg, @zogblogThis episode is brought to you by Norby, your digital marketing Swiss army knife. Get started for free with a free 2-week trial (no credit card needed) AND get 50% off for 3 months after that. Start your free trial todayThis episode is sponsored by DICE. Learn more about why artists, venues, and promoters love to partner with DICE for their ticketing needs. Visit dice.fmEnjoy this podcast? Rate and review the podcast here! ratethispodcast.com/trapitalTrapital is home for the business of music, media and culture. Learn more by reading Trapital's free memo.TRANSCRIPT[00:00:00] Zack Greenburg: I think it was really good for hip hop, and I don't think it was ever going to turn violent, but I think again, there was just this kind of like national paranoia around hip hop and, there is, you know, in waves.I think it was just a, good reminder that you can have like a spirited dispute and, it's okay and it's entertainment, you know? and it's, nothing that anybody needs to be afraid of. So, you know, of course like credit to Jay and Nas for resolving it amicably, yeah, I mean just, to have that end, you know, like very amicably I think was just so good for everybody involved. And then, you know, I think it's really fun to watch, Jay and Nas as their relationship has evolved And, you know, Nas was sort of always like the one who was sort of behind, when it came to the business of things.[00:00:46] Dan Runcie Intro: Hey, welcome to the Trapital Podcast. I'm your host and the founder of Trapital, Dan Runcie. This podcast is your place to gain insights from executives in music, media, entertainment, and more who are taking hip hop culture to the next level.[00:01:13] Dan Runcie Guest Intro: This episode is a rewind. We're going back in the clock to the late nineties, early two thousands, and we are revisiting one of. The most iconic record labels at the time, the one and only Roc-A-Fella Records. Roc-A-Fella Records, is the record label started by Jay-Z Dame Dash, Big Burke, and went on to be one of the most iconic hip hop record labels and hip hop brands, and that's a key thing from this conversation.I was joined by my friend Zach O'Malley Greenberg. He wrote Empire State of Mind, a biography on Jay-Z, and he also wrote Three Kings that broke down Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, and Diddy's Business Moves. So he was a perfect person to have this conversation with. We talked about the highs of this record label, the lows, some of the best business moves where Jay-Z and Dame didn't see eye to eye, some of the dark horse business moves that they made.What was the best signing from Roc-A-Fella Records? Missed opportunities and more. If you enjoy the episodes we did on Cash Money and Interscope, this one will be right up your alley and we already know what it is when we're talking about Jay, Dave, and Big. So let's dive into it. Hope you enjoy it.[00:02:17] Dan Runcie: All right. We are back to do another breakdown on one of the most iconic record labels, the one and only Roc-A-Fella records, and I'm joined by someone who wrote the book on one of the most influential people behind this record label. Zack O'Malley Greenberg, welcome back, man.[00:02:33] Zack Greenburg: Thanks for having me on, Dan, as always.[00:02:36] Dan Runcie: Yeah, and with this one, I think it's good to start even before Roc-A-Fella records because this label was a long time coming and there were a number of things that Jay Dame and Biggs, the founders of this record label were involved before this. So set the stage. Where were we pre Roc-A-Fella launch.[00:02:55] Zack Greenburg: Yeah, so, you know, I think a lot of people forget, although Jay-Z is a billionaire now, a couple times over, back in the early nineties, he wasn't even sure that he could make it as a rapper full-time. So, you know, he'd appeared on a couple tracks with his mentor jazz. Oh, this great Golden Age rapper. He had popped up kind of here and there, but, you know, really he was finding that it was much more lucrative to be a hustler.And so he was increasingly making more and more trips outta town to New Jersey and Maryland and so forth doing his thing. And, you know, I think he really kind of saw music as a hobby at that point. so he, he did have, you know, a couple supporters, namely DJ Clark Kent, you know, one of these influential producers, at the time.And, you know, Clark Kent really believed in Jay when a lot of people did it. And so he kind of kept trying to convince him to give another shot, like he could do this as an actual profession, and finally convince him to sort of take this meeting with Damon Dash. So he thought that Jay-Z was this just like once in a generation talent, from the musical side, and that Dame was sort of this promotional mastermind.And then if the two forces kind of united, they could create something really special. So in my book, empire State of Mind, Clark Kent tells the story of how he convinced Jay and Dame to sort of meet up. And so Dame, of course is from Harlem, Jay's from Brooklyn. There's sort of like this New York City snobbery thing going on, you know, Manhattan folks kind of maybe look down sometimes on people from Brooklyn and so they get together and, Dame rolls in.He sees Jay's wearing a pair of Air Force 1s and he is like, okay, this guy's cool, you know, he has good taste in sneakers, so I, can do business with him. and that was kind of like, you know, the initial hurdle was, you know, overcome and off it went. And so they struck up this really productive partnership together where, you know, Dame would kind of, help Jay Z sell, you know, they would go around selling CDs outta the trunks of cars and stuff like that.they were trying to get a proper record deal. and they just didn't have, like, nobody was kinda like really into the whole jay thing at the time. And you know, if you think about the music that he was making, unreasonable Doubt, it's like very nuanced. you know, like a lot of words packed into not very many bars, you know, like the space and the rapidity of the, the flow was like kind of not what was happening at the time in the, you know, by this time like, getting toward the mid nineties.So, basically they decided to go and start their own, and they brought in green Bigs Burke, who was kind of a silent partner, you know, another formidable hustler in his own right. And, you know, so there was the, talent, the silent partner and, you know, the promotion guy.And you know, when their powers combined, they were Captain Planet or whatever they were Roc-A-Fella records.[00:05:42] Dan Runcie: And I think part of the thing with Jay-Z that made this unique was his age at this point as well, because by the time they start Roc-A-Fella, he's already in his mid twenties, which doesn't sound anything unusual now, but back then, the rappers that were blowing up were always teenagers.There were always early twenties. You think about Dr. Dre, everyone from NWA, you think about Nas when he dropped I Maddock or you look at LL Cool J. Everyone is a young cat. So for Jay to then drop his debut album when he is 26, Is an ancient man, a grandfather trying to get into this game?[00:06:19] Zack Greenburg: Yeah, I mean, it's like a 26 year old rookie in, you know, the NBA or in baseball or something.It's just like, you don't see it. I mean, al almost ever. And when it does happen, it's sort of like a journeyman, you know, like role player type but jay, you know, had just packed a lifetime worth of lyrics into this one album cuz he kind of viewed it as, you know, this was like a one and done, like a novelty thing.And, you know, he really fully anticipated, you know, kind of coming up from the underworld, dropping this gem of an album and then kind of like disappearing off into the ether, like Kaiser Souzai at the individual suspects. And that, I mean, that was actually his plan. you know, according to a lot of people who I talked to around the time.So, yeah, it was definitely not sort of the normal path, for creating an album. I mean, I think they thought that. You know, they could put out this album, it would do well and then, you know, maybe they would bring along other artists and he wouldn't have to be sort of at the forefront.Like he might just keep doing his thing on the hustling side or whatever. but obviously things turned out a little bit differently.[00:07:22] Dan Runcie: This album was also a bit of a slow burn from a success perspective. I know that many people now when they're debating the best Jay-Z albums, the best Roc-A-Fella albums.This one's always mentioned as well as a few others that we'll get into. But if you look at the commercial performance for this album, in the beginning, it was not that high. The same week that it came out, the Nutty Professor soundtrack sold more records than Reasonable Doubt. And around the same time, that summer, I'm pretty sure that Shaquille O'Neill's album, cuz he was putting out albums at the time, also sold more than Reasonable Doubt did.So extremely slow burn. And you mentioned something earlier about the hustle that I wanna tap into because this is one of the big value ads that Dame Dash had with this. He was relentless and we've all heard the stories. Many people that have met him have also seen what it's like upfront. A lot of it speaks to his success.But he was someone who was in many ways, notorious for going to the New York radio stations and giving them gifts, understanding, yes, this essentially is payola, but this is what everyone else is doing. This is what the people with the real money in the industry are doing. So he's leading into that as well.And you mentioned Kaiser Associates also makes me think about, there's one of the music videos that Jay had from in my Lifetime, volume one where, I forget which song it was, but the song essentially, you know, the music video essentially was a spoof, odd usual Suspects where he's impersonating the the Kevin Spacey, Kaiser Souzai character on it.Sorry for anyone that hasn't seen Usual Suspects for the spoilers I just dropped there. But there's so many things that I think tie in with that and just stay consistent with who he is at the time.[00:09:08] Zack Greenburg: Yeah, absolutely. And I mean, I think that whole album, you know, the aesthetic was very like, maybe not Kaiser Soze, but, you know, sort of like gangster movie sort of thing and, you know, all the album artwork, you know, it's him and like a fedora and black and white and all that kind of thing.and so, you know, I think that, he's been obsessed with mafia movies for like, his entire life and you don't hear it quite as much, you know, as more recent albums. But he was kind of like living this underworld life at the time. And so I think it really resonated with him and maybe in a way that, that it, it doesn't quite resonate now.[00:09:44] Dan Runcie: And I think too that was in a lot of ways the theme that we saw he did in the nineties. You definitely saw Big Do It, especially in the whole life after death era, right before he passed. And I think there were a few moments that gave him the initial bump. Even after having Reasonable Doubt drop.Jay himself was featured on the Nutty Professor soundtrack because he had the song with, Foxy Brown that was also on his album. And then he's on Fox's album, album a little bit later. Her debut, he's also on, what's the song that Jay oh, David Brooklyn's finest, on Jay's album.[00:10:18] Zack Greenburg: Going back to Callie was on there. Oh my God, what an album. Yeah. But yeah, that was not, I would say Jay-Z got the better end of the collabs. with, the Brooklyn's Finest. I mean, that is a classic. Clark Kent produce that one also. And, you know, that was kind of like, that was another funny story from the book, like, you know, that there was also a bit of a friendly rival, mean, like they were, there were buds and all like, Jay and, and Big, but there was like a little bit of a friendly rivalry between, Jay and Dame and Puff and Big, because I think, you know, like, so the Whole Bad Boy thing was more established, by the time that Roc-A-Fella Records came about, and so I think Puff was kind of like Dame Dash, like another dude from Harlem, are you trying to be me? Kind of thing, you know, and so in order to make that song happen, I think before Jay and Big were friends, Clark kept kind of tricked them into recording the song together. So he was in the session with Big, and then he accidentally played a tape of a track that he had that was just an amazing track and Big was like, that's great.I wanna get on that. and he was like, no, I'm saving it for somebody else. And things like, well, who the hell else are you saving it for? And he is like, my man, Jay, you know, he's amazing. He's a beast. and big's like, I don't who, what Jay who. and so finally like Clark Kent sort of like goded him into, unbeknownst to big, Clark Kent had arranged for like Jay and Dame to be in a car downstairs.And he was like, oh, I think he's actually just coming in. And so he went down and he brought him up and so like Jay went in and recorded his verses, I think right then and there. And he left spaces for Big to put his verses in. and when Big went in and he listened to it, he was like, oh my God, this guy's so good.I have to like, go home and really think about this, about what I'm gonna put in there in the spaces that he left for me. and I think after that they were really good friends. but you know, it's, that kind of like, good nature trickery, shall we say. that, you know, I think some of these circumstances happen when you got some egos in the building and, you wanna make some magic.And, you know, as I recall, you know, for the chorus, Jay and Big had like become fast friends and, so like, they're leaving the studio and Clark's like, you know, on the final day that Biggie came and recorded or whatever, and Clark's like, what should I do for the chorus? And they're like, just scratch something.And that, that was how it happened.[00:12:44] Dan Runcie: Classic. And that's such a New York story, and it's also such a 90s hip hop story in terms of how the industry worked. Having someone like, oh, so-and-so's just downstairs, they're gonna come up right now because you have 'em, man, how people worked. Things classic. And it speaks to where Jay was at the time too, because as we mentioned, reasonable doubt, slow bird took a while for it to get.The respect that it deserves. But then you go to 1997, he has, in my lifetime, and that album also Slow Burn and wasn't necessarily as highly regarded as Reasonable Doubt, but still had some songs. And you could tell that Jay was trying to navigate a few things, whether it was he had the flashy suit ever himself when he had the song Always Be My Sunshine.He's feeling that out. I mentioned he had the Kaiser Souzai spoof music video, but it really isn't until 1998 where things start to change. So a few things happen here. The album Volume Two, Hard Knock Life comes out. That song, Hard Knock Life changes everything for the trajectory of that label, and that's when they start the partnership with Def Jam.So let's talk about the Def Jam piece first. Can you talk a little bit about that one and break it down?[00:13:57] Zack Greenburg: Yeah. So. As I recall, you know, in early Roc-A-Fella they had struck this, distribution deal. I think it was with priority. and you know, reasonable doubt was they had already been selling it on their own, sort of informally out of the trunks of cars.And then priority, you know, was distributing it. But it was kind of a disaster. They weren't paying Jay on time and, or maybe at all, at some point. And so he just kind of went back to 'em and was like, you know, if you're not gonna be paying me, or paying me everything, you're not paying me on time or whatever.Just like give my master's back and get me out of it. and somehow that's what happened. So that freed him up to be able to take this deal with Def Jam, where Def Jam bought a piece of Roc-A-Fella records. but again, you know, because they were buying a piece of it and not signing him to a deal. you know, he continued to own, you know, considerably higher portion of his own copyrights and, you know, possess more of the cash that came in than he would've otherwise. but you know, he already had the success. They already had this apparatus set up, so he had like, you know, he had leverage in a negotiation and I think, you know, even though his second album I think was kind of a dud and he would always, like, he has said in interviews that that's his worst album and the one that he'd like to have back.you know, he had some, heat, you know, with reasonable doubt. And then kind of like coming off the heels of Biggie's death and, being sort of like the heir parent. it was tight with Puffy who produced the second album, you know, for better or worse. But, you know, I think that really gave them sort of the ability to get what they wanted at a Def Jam, which was like, I think part of the reason that first album didn't do so well, and I think it was until fairly recently, his worst selling album, until sort of the back catalog began to catch up. But, what they needed was distribution those days was really important. Like you, you needed, you know, you could have Damon Dash, like Haranging, people at rec, you know, at radio stations all you want.But in order to really have the kind of, you know, national scale, that you need to be a superstar, at least in those days, really wanted to do with the label. So that's what they did,[00:15:59] Dan Runcie: Right, you needed someone that could get 500,000 units to 7,000 distribution points, and there were barriers to entry in order to do that.And yeah, to your point, I don't care how many bottles of champagne you try to give to Hot 97, that's not gonna make that happen without it, right? The thing that I always think about with this ever though, is the terms of this deal, because at least what we've seen publicly was that Def Jam had taken a 50% stake.In Roc-A-Fella records, and it was for one and a half million dollars. And that number always stuck out to me a bit because if you look at some of the other deals that had happened in that era, you had masterpieces distribution deal that he had done with the same priority records that Roc-A-Fella had their deal with.But Master P obviously had a much more favorable distribution deal with splits in his favor. And then similarly, that same year, 1998 Cash money, does their distribution deal with Republic Records? Of course, Def Jam is a different unit and Roc-A-Fella was in a very different place. And we know that Jay-Z had always talked about ownership and it was important to him.But it's a interesting reflection of just where things looked at in the landscape because it's easy to look back in Jay's career in hindsight and think that, oh yeah, his first album was a classic and then Hard Knock Life comes and everything is just up and up. But there was still. hierarchy and there were other artists that were getting more favorable deals, more ownership for their music, for their record labels.And Roc-A-Fella still got something that was somewhat favorable, but still not at the same level of some of those other people in the mid to late 90s.[00:17:40] Zack Greenburg: Yeah, I mean, that's a really interesting point, right? I mean, Jay obviously is this brilliant businessman and, you know, Damon and bigs aren't too shabby either.And yet it was a good deal, but it wasn't, anything like, a cash money or no limit in terms of the splits, and what they were doing. So, yeah, I mean, I think to your point, you know, those other acts, had kind of like a more established operation, you know, Jay was one guy with one album that didn't sell very well, that was kind of critically acclaimed, you know, so it was like A bit more of a risk perhaps, on Def Jams parts, they weren't really risking that much capital on them. So, you know, I mean, and I guess I wonder if that initial deal had been more favorable for Roc-A-Fella, if they had managed, to have, you know, the kind of splits that Cash Money and No Limit had might they have stayed in business together longer? You know, in a way it's like if the pie that you have or like if the one big pie, and, you know, if you're a slice of the pie that you're sharing with your two business partners is that much smaller than it is, than, you know, let's say the Williams brothers were sharing a cash money, you know, maybe you feel, a lot more restless and, inclined to go elsewhere, but we can get to that later.[00:18:59] Dan Runcie: that's a good point too, because if Cash Money is still in business. And we know cuz we recorded that episode not too long ago, but Birdman and Slim are still getting tens of millions of dollars per year. It's essentially a cash cow asset that they have. Def Jam is still collecting for Roc-A-Fella, as is universal. And I know that Jay and Damon Bigs do have their splits, but it's not the same because they eventually did sell the other half of the record label to the parent company Def Jam. I think it was Island Def Jam at the time that that deal happened. But it changes the dynamics a lot. But with the story though, we are getting to the point where Roc-A-Fella is clearly on the way up.And I think there were a few things coming that did set things up for them. But one thing that I think was a big difference maker for them around 1999 was them wanting to go on tour and. Have their name out there. So 1999 they have the Hard Knock Life tour and at this time it was pretty rare for, all Hip Hop Act to have a nationwide arena tour that happened because at the time they had past shows or whether it was at Run DMC shows or other things in the late 80s, early 90s, and cause of violence and because of things like that, all these promoters and all these venue operators were so scared of hip hop.So you had Smoking Grooves and other festivals like that in the mid nineties where they always had to pair you with the R&B actor. They had to have two folks together. I know that Bad Boy had its, arena tours as well, but they always had the R&B acts that were there, so they needed to, they were really trying to do something different.But I think this is where Dame's Magic came to life because he was able to really control the narrative and be out in front with how they were making sure that violence wouldn't happen, whether they had their own security on top of whoever was there. They had the fruit of Islam that was at each of these shows standing there to have the, bodyguards there as present.When the reporters came into the trailers to see what they were doing on tour, there's this iconic video of Tie Tie and he has videos up and this VHS tapes up of, oh, you think we're just watching gangster flicks? No, here we got Goodwill Hunting right here. We got Brave Part, we got as good as it gets.Like we're here watching videos like anyone else. And with that and even, I think they did something that was either, either donating money or something as well cause in Colorado, because they had a show right around the same time that the Columbine shooting had happened there. So there were a few things they'd done there.And I think that tour in a lot of ways helped. Not just the Roc-A-Fella crew, but all the other folks that were associated with them that came along like Red and meth and Ja Rule and others. But then after that, we then saw the Up and Smoke tour. We saw Rough Riders and Cash Money go on tour. And I think that tour in a lot of ways helped propel them into that next level to continue to have a lot of that success.[00:22:06] Zack Greenburg: Totally. And you know, and I think it wasn't necessarily reflected in the bottom line. I mean, I don't remember what the gross was, but, you know, 18 million I think. Yeah. Like Taylor Swift probably grossed that in one show at,[00:22:20] Dan Runcie: I think he made that in two of the three nights at,[00:22:23] Zack Greenburg: Yeah, definitely, definitely over a weekend in the Meadowlands, but yeah, she probably had definitely, let's say, definitely crushed it in her like little weekend did in the Meadowlands. But you know, and so obviously if you're grossing $18 million. You're probably only taking home, you know, 10 of that after cost, maybe like, probably more like, you know, I don't know, seven or eight. and then you're dividing that up amongst however many people. There were a lot of people on that tour for like a fair amount of tour days, so it did not work out to a lot of sort of take home pay per show, but it really kind of opened the door. I think in the aftermath of the death of Tupac, Biggie and like all of this, you know, sort of, like moral panic around hip hop and violence and all of the, you know, whatever Tipper Gore stuff, you know, that this was sort of like a reminder that like, yes, hip hop Acts can go on tour and it's gonna be fine.And like that, you know, that had been done in the past and, run DMC and what have you. But, you know, NWA had gone on tour and, you know, had a big national tour. So there were other examples before, but I think people were like, kind of freaked out about hip hop in the national zeitgeist at the time, and this kind of really helped to kind of reset things. And, you know, opened the door for other rappers, but, you know, for Jay-Z himself down the line, you know, I mean, he's been a really prolific touring act and I think he's always been really clever, about it because, he's like, even now, like he can sell out arenas, but, you know, he's not like, I don't know, he sort of can't necessarily do, he can't sell out stadiums by himself, that's for sure. And there was a time when he couldn't sell out arenas by himself. and there's probably a time when he couldn't sell Amphitheaters by himself, but he always goes around, he brings somebody with him and he's got a really good kind of, level of self-evaluation and he's like, you know, he doesn't let his hubris get in the way of like, I can sell out whatever, whatever.unless he knows he can, you know, he, he's very accurate in that assessment. And if he can't make it, then he just brings somebody with him. He brings Eminem with them. you know, he goes out with Beyonce for the stadium tour. So, you know, Justin Timberlake with him. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Exactly. So in a way, I think that tour was kind of the beginning of that.And, you know, how he could, see some synergies by mixing and matching with other artists[00:24:35] Dan Runcie: And that tour too Hard Knock Life tour. He showed signs of that awareness there. There's this iconic clip when Jay-Z was on the shop a couple years ago and he's talking about the show. This was shortly after DMX had passed away and Jay-Z was going on tour in each of these nights after X and X's shows, you know, he's taken off his shirt, he's doing prayers at the end.So you have people that are laughing, you have people that are crying, then people that are screaming and then they come out and they're like, oh, now you go like pointed to Jay-Z. And I mean, one Jay's storytelling of that is good. When we post this episode, we'll definitely share this clip in there, but two, it showed this awareness that people have spoke about of, and it's also what you're saying, even if he may not have always been the central act and another running thing that people have said over the years, what year was Jay-Z, the top guy in hip hop?And I think that is a very debatable thing, but it's the longevity and that's the thing that speaks to it. And how he's been able to stay through that over the years. And because he was always that core piece, like we said, price is probably one of the reasons that they didn't get a no limit or a cash money type deal.It really was just him. I think there was that one R&B album that Rocefella hadn't released in 1997, but didn't really go anywhere with that artist. So things didn't really pick up until late nineties, early two thousands. And you start to see more of the artists on Roc La Familia, and they're really able to spread their wings in that way.[00:26:10] Zack Greenburg: Yeah, I mean, another thing to remember, at the time, you know, especially, I think it was 98, 99, that was when, you know, Def Jam. So I think Def Jam had already taken a pretty significant, institutional investor, but, they were selling the company or like maybe the remainder of the company or most of the remainder of the company.There's this really, really big deal happening. and I forget which sort of, European entertainment conglomerate was it Bertlesman or It was like, was, something that's since been reconstituted or, or whatever. But the, the deal was gonna happen and you know, the deal was gonna be for whatever multiple of revenue, that Roc-A-Fella had or not Roc-A-Fella, that Def Jam had produced in the prior year.And so for the, I think it was the calendar year of 1999. And so, Lyor and Russell just like leaned really hard on Jay and DMX and they were like, we need you to put out like two albums in 12 months because we're just gonna get a multiple of that. And I don't remember the exact advances that, that were given, but you know, I'm sure it was considerable.And so, you know, they were able to put out like each of them two really killer albums in the span of like about 12 months each. which is like kind of unheard of these days, right? I mean, Jay-Z goes, is like five years between albums now and, I think that was, volume two and volume three for Jay-Z.And I think for DMX, it's dark and.[00:27:38] Dan Runcie: Dark as hell and hot and then flesh and my flesh blood. And then, and those were like, like, and then there was X was the third. Oh, then there was X.[00:27:45] Zack Greenburg: That's right, that's right. So those were like, like two, like for each of them to[00:27:49] Dan Runcie: a year and a half spare albums.[00:27:51] Zack Greenburg: I mean, yeah, back to back, you know, man, like to have that much, sort of creative energy to do it so quickly, and to have it sell so well, I mean, it is quite a feat and you know, and they, personally enriched Russell and Lyor and Rick Rubin, like, I would say quite substantially cuz it just drove up that multiple.And, yeah, I think a lot of people kind of forget, how critical they were, you know, to that process. But it probably also caught thinking like, Why am I working so hard to make somebody else, you know, I'm getting rich, but they're getting wealthy and, I think the gears are continuing to turn for him at that point and he's like, Hmm, how do I kind of get to be more in their position, right?[00:28:32] Dan Runcie: Cuz I think at this time, this is when you start seeing more of the Roc-A-Fella expansions in a few ways. First Dame is already thinking about ways to extend this brand. You see Roc films, Streets is watching comes out in the late nineties and then they put out a whole documentary about the Hard Knock life tour as well.And they start selling that as the DVD Rocawear comes out. And we're gonna do a whole episode about Rocawear eventually, but, you know, Rocawear itself. And then you also just start to see more and more product coming from Roc-A-Fella that isn't necessarily from Jay himself. And I was looking back from a timeline.And this is one of the unfortunate things about Roc-A-Fella, we're gonna get to this, but right around the time they split, you could argue that they were just continuing to go up and up and up with the releases every year. Like this is the 12 month stretch that they had where I think they had the highest products.Starting in February 20th, 2003, you had freeway drops, Philadelphia Freeway, Dipset Drops, diplomatic immunity. Joels has his debut album. Jay-Z drops the Black album, Memphis Bleak drops his, and then top of 2004 Ye drops College Dropout, Young Guns drops their debut. And that's all in a 12 month span.That's some no limit cash, money level of dropping albums. And so there's so many hits and so many memorable songs that they had during that stretch.[00:29:59] Zack Greenburg: Yeah, absolutely. And you know, I think that if, you know, we were talking earlier about the splits and so forth, but it's like, can you imagine. If they had the kind of splits to catch money it had, when you have all those albums coming out and, you know, yeah, I think it really would've changed things.Not only that, but you know, to own the masters of all those artists, which you probably would've in those days. you know, to have like a hundred percent or something close to it on all those artists with all those classics. you know, it would've been very hard to walk away from, you know, as they eventually ended up doing.[00:30:33] Dan Runcie: And I think what you mentioned earlier, probably alludes to this, right? Because if there's enough of the pie to these split between the three founders and everyone else, and they're the one accruing the assets from what they have, then maybe Jay and Dame are more likely to figure out their differences in a way to make things cook because it's working for everyone.But when you're still paying Def Jam in on top of that, or you're still paying island def jam in on top of that universal even more money, it's tough to justify that. And I think this is a good time to talk about the split. The infamous split between Jay-Z and Damon Dash. You could start to see that the two of them were going in different areas where Jay-Z was wanting to be really focused in on what he was doing from a music perspective, wanting to expand there and wanting to just do different creative things.But Dame had his own approach, and we talked a little bit about that with, the films and the sports and other things too. But he also wanted to do things his way. He was starting to get a little bit more spotlight. And then there's that infamous clip of them at Summer Jam 2001, where Dame Dash is in his full element.And Jay-Z's just like expressionless. And that clip is often looked at as like you knew from this moment. That these two just were necessarily gonna be at the same page because this is 2001, Jay-Z's are drop about to drop the blueprint, his masterpiece. And granted, you know, he could have just been in the zone or whatever, but it's definitely an unfortunate thing because granted, Jay-Z was able to reach further heights, but you never know what could have happened.You just look at how much Rocawear ended up selling for you. Look at the continued success, the momentum, and I think what it boils down to is to. People that had different philosophies where it makes it tough. Jay-Z was a bit more focused on wanting to be rich. He was willing to do partnerships with others if everyone could eat and have a piece of the pie. Granted, he still wanted ownership, but as you've written about before, he has his perceptions on underdog brands and how he could move like a private equity executive and make the right investments. And even the m and a deals he's continued to do today, his live nation deal is the element of this.But Dame was a bit more wanting to be king. He wanted to have his stamp on things. And I think you see that even now today with Dame Dash Studios, Dame Dash, this, like, it's very important for him to be able to have his kids and his other folks around him be able to work with him and be the boss, not necessarily wanting anyone to tell you what you can and can't do.And that infamous Breakfast Club interview that they had, I think it was 2015 when he's yelling at DJ Envy and Charlemagne about, well, they gotta report to whoever at Power 105 and that's their manager, that they're not a real boss, is an element of that whole dynamic. So it's frustrating that it happened, but it's also not surprising.[00:33:26] Zack Greenburg: Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, Jay has kind of adjusted his views on ownership and he said recently, I mean, he's sold some of his big brands, or sold half of it into, a JV with like LVMH or you know, or whatever. And he's very much of the mind of like, well, I, you know, 50% of like a billion is a lot more than a hundred percent of, you know, a couple hundred million, and I think Dave, that's[00:33:51] Dan Runcie: that you did with Kevin Hart, right?[00:33:53] Zack Greenburg: Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly right. So, and I don't remember the exact quote, but maybe you could, maybe you guys can pull it up, but I don't think Dame really ever got that. He was always like, well, I want a hundred percent, you know, and so, you know, he ended up with a hundred percent of like, whatever, you know, seven or eight figure amount that he ended up with.But he could have had, you know, 50% or 30% or something of like billions of many billions probably. But you know, just to kind of like, I think there was a precipitating moment that sort of like was the end of, Roc-A-Fella a s it was, a partnership between the three of them.But it really could have been anything. it was headed that way for a couple of years. And, you know, I think what it comes down to, is that, I don't know. I mean, I think that Jay also recognized that Dame was very, very valuable. The skillset was especially valuable in the come up.And, you know, like when you are not well known, you need somebody to go in and yell at somebody at the radio station. you know, but then when you get there, you need somebody to like not yell at certain people, you know? And, when you get to that next level, and sort of Dame, you know, didn't adjust, To that.And, Damon was sort of Damon or wherever he was. And it was great in one situation, not great in another situation. So I think the precipitating incident was basically when, you know, after this sale, which ironically Roc-A-Fella helped, boost, you know, the Def Jam sale. There was a reshuffling of executives, which is like so complicated.I'd have to go back to that chapter of my book to, to look at it. But the gist of it was the role of president at Def Jam, opened up and, it was offered to Jay-Z. And so, you know, Jay-Z, this is something that he had sort of, it's this like great prestige job. something that he'd always been wanting.And I don't think he wanted it, like, this is my dream job that I've always wanted. As much as it was like, if I can do this, be a CEO, this opens the door to so many other things. And it will really sort of entrench me as not being pigeonholed as an artist. And, it was a no-brainer and of course there was no way to do this without, stepping on Dame's toes.So, you know, there's this whole great drama, and I think, you know, the wheels started turning when Jay-Z was, you know, on, on a yacht in the south of France with like Beyonce and Jimmy Iovine and Bono or something and, kicking it. And, you know, there's some executives there. Some conversations were had, I think at the same time back home, Dame, like elevated camera on to VP level at Roc-A-Fella without consulting Jay.And it was this kind of like big scandal and when Jay-Z came home, he was like, no. And he kind of demoted him. So there was some awkwardness there. but you know, I think then that Jay kinda like accelerated his, push toward this CEO role, and when he got it, it's like, all right, you know, sorry Dave, I'm your boss now.I mean, because of course Def Jam was, but Roc-A-Fella, there was really. There was no way for it not to be structured like that. so, you know, when that went down, of course, like Dame immediately, you know, quit or left or whatever, and, there was a hot minute where he started the Damon Dash Music group within Universal, but, you know, then he kind of like kept doing the same thing and kind of yelling at the wrong people.And, and so that didn't really go anywhere. And, you know, the thing kind of fizzled out and Jay offered to, I think he wanted to give, at the time, he wanted to give, Biggs and Dame, like all of his preexisting masters in exchange for exclusive ownership of Reasonable Doubt. they said no. but of course, you know, I don't know that the Black album had gotten as big, is it?You know, I hadn't like really fully blossomed into what it, what it ultimately was at that time. And there's like all this other, so anyway, I mean, there's a lot of like trades being offered and you know, people sort of like, you know, it's like the guy in your family in football league, your fantasy baseball league.You kinda like overvalue his own players. Think I've made this analogy before, but, dude, come on. Like, you know, you're running back, just got injured and offering you my extra running back for this wide receiver who you're not even music anyway. it didn't really work out.Everybody got all pissed on each other, you know, at the end there's bad blood. so th there's this great moment that Dame talks about how, shortly after all this went down and they're like in the elevator at, I guess the Universal Museum, that Def Jam was housed in. and Roc-A-Fella had been housed in or something.And they're like bumping each other in the elevator and Dame is wearing a state property shirt and Jay C's like in the suit. And Dame's like, man, you know, things are really different now. Like, dude, you changed, you know? so, you know, I don't know if Jay changed so much as like Dame didn't change, you know?you could argue the problem was that Jay changed, but you could also argue that problem is that, that Dame didn't. And, you know, I mean, to some extent like power to him, you know, be you. but Jay, you know, in the way that I think you know, he's constantly changing. He's restless, he's always, everything is a chessboard.He's always evolving, you know, I think ultimately there was no way to stay locked into a partnership with someone who wasn't kind of willing to change with them.[00:38:59] Dan Runcie: One thing you mentioned there made me think about how they think about things and where they are from a strategic perspective, Dame is very much your early stage startup guy.He's great for the pre-seed era. He's great for when you're even in the seed stage, maybe even series A, but once you get to that series B, C, you're starting to get some higher level executives. You're getting more talent, you're gone to bigger things. You can't operate the same way and no different. How those organizations often need to rotate and think about leadership.That's essentially what in many ways was the opportunity there at Roc-A-Fella. And there's nothing wrong with being very successful at that pre precede seed stage. I don't think Roc-A-Fella would've got to that point if it weren't for Dame hustling in many absolutely ways, whether it was on tour radio, and I think a lot of his success traits have been carried through and things we've seen celebrated and leaders in tech and people that do things that don't scale that very much is Dame Dash. That next level, though, is where things did get a little bit tough because the label's clearly getting ready to go to that next level, and they just had their tensions there.The thing that was unique though, about their tensions is that the artists themselves that were on Roc-A-Fellas started picking sides in terms of who they wanted to be with, who they were gonna side with, Jay versus Dame, and as you mentioned, Dame was the one that had elevated Cameron, who was the leader of Dipset at the time, to that VP level.That then brings everyone from dipset under his umbrella, but Ye, who had just dropped the college dropout and he was the one that was always trying to make it. He then signs with Jay, he also has a very memorable interview on the Breakfast Club where they asked him about this, and Ye was the one that was like, me and Dame we're the same. We think the same. This is how we act and go about things but I could learn more from Jay. He knows how to talk to people and he uses Jay's iconic lines. He's like, Jay knows how to move in a room full of vultures. That's just how he is and sometimes I be talking and saying the wrong things, which is a very ironic thing.I don't know if Kanye himself would admit that now, cuz that very much is a self-serving prophecy. I do think that there's a lot of truth in that, and just how things ended up shaking out for both of them. You saw the moves that everyone continued to make, and even though ye has definitely been quite polarizing in the public spotlight, a lot of the moves that he continued to make, whether it was with Yeezy or with the partnerships he's had, I do think stemmed from how he looked up to his own big brother in Jay.[00:41:42] Zack Greenburg: Yeah. And he could have easily gone with Dame, right? I mean, you know, Jay wasn't so great to him early. Jay didn't believe in him as a rapper, he kind of wanted to keep him as a producer and Dame was, I think, the one who really advocated for Kanye as a rapper. but you know, I think Kanye, in his, you know, like more self-aware moments can say things like, oh, I think I could learn more from Jay.He brings something to table that I don't have, for Dame, I think the difference between Dame and Kanye is that they're very similar, in a lot of ways. But Dame isn't an artist. like, let's say a generationally talented artist. And so people will not put up with you if you're an executive. And you bring along those headaches in the way that they would put along, put up with you if you're a generational artist and you bring those headaches. And I think that was sort of like also, something that did Damon. And you know, in a way I think Damon Puff had a lot in common like they can just go in and kind of bulldoze their way into something.but Puff has that, that like other level where he can sort of like turn it up and down and, you know, to fit the situation. and is like more of a chameleon than Dame is. And Dame's just kind of dame all the time. so, you know, those are sort of the, personalized to play. But you know, like one person who gets lost in the shuffle here is Cameron.And because that was sort of the prime of his career that got like, entangled in this sort of higher level beef. but you know, you think about that album, come home with me and Hey man, like, I mean, Cam was really on fire, going into this whole situation. And then he got kind of like, I don't say like exactly lost in the shuffle, but almost lost in the shuffle.You know? and you just kind of wonder how his career would've gone, you know, let's say if, sort of he hadn't been like Dame's guy, you know, if what if he had gone to Def Jam? You know, what would that have looked like? could he have been on the level of somebody who signed? You know, like, I don't know.I mean, around that time, I think, Rick Ross signed a Def Jam, was it?[00:43:41] Dan Runcie: Ross, Jeezy, yeah.[00:43:43] Zack Greenburg: Yeah, like, you know, I think certainly has, you know, comparable ability, Tyler and those guys and, you know, I think both of them went on to have, You know, sort of like more longevity. but like, you know, I think, some of the Dipset classics and some of the solo stuff too, I mean, it's pretty unbeatable.So, you know, I just wonder, he's had a really good career, either way. But like, you know, I don't know that he ever like, broke through that next level, consistently, you know, to the point where he could just kind of stay there indefinitely. And, I wonder if he might have, if things had kind of gone differently in the Jay-Dame scenario,[00:44:21] Dan Runcie: The man had men wearing pink. He started his own fashion. Yeah. Unbelievable. Yeah, that's true. Unbelievable. With that, I think it's a good chance to hit through some of these categories, cuz I think you're jogging my memory the few things here. what do you think is the best signing that happened under Roc-A-Fella?[00:44:39] Zack Greenburg: Well, I guess you can't count Jay if he, you know, co-founded Right Label.But, you know, I'd say probably Kanye. it's hard to top that. And when, you know, when you think about those first few albums, you know, I mean, he brought an element into hip hop, into the mainstream that just wasn't there. and, you know, I don't think, you know, if you hadn't had Kanye, in the pink polo, and you know, talking about his feelings, like, I don't know if you get Drake right.I think that he kind of changed the discourse. he brought hiphop to the mainstream and then he also like brought a different sort of voice to hiphop, And it was fantastically lucrative, obviously, for everybody involved. So, yeah, I agree with Kanye, for sure.[00:45:22] Dan Runcie: Yeah, agreed. And then just given the longevity there, even into the early 2010s, still putting out records under the Roc-A-Fella Records umbrella that still went back to them.And longevity that lasted longer than most of the people that were assigned to that label. So I think it has to be him. Best Business Move made, I know we talked about a few of them, but what do you think is the best business move that to come from the Roc-A-Fella era?[00:45:47] Zack Greenburg: Hmm. I mean, it's funny now that we look at it, I mean, in a way, know, the deal itself that set up Roc-A-Fella was not, you know, it wasn't a bad deal, but it was not the best, move.It wasn't the best kind of financial arrangement. you know, I mean, Rocawear is kind of an offshoot. Maybe that's cheating, but I'm gonna go with Rocawear because I think in some ways they're like, well, we can't get a hundred percent of the money on this thing, so we're gonna create an adjacent brand that's like very clearly associated with it that we can really monetize fully.And you know, I mean they got paid, I mean that, that company was doing hundreds of millions in revenue and they sold it for hundreds of millions. So, you know, I think they made more off of Roca wear, than they ever made off of Roc-A-Fella. So I'll go with Rocawear, we can talk more about it when we do the full Roca too.[00:46:36] Dan Runcie: I know. Yeah. I'd Rocawear as well. I won't go into the company itself cuz Yeah. We'll get into that in the next one. But I do think the good thing about that was it was a precursor to how artists now are thinking about their own revenue, their own business models, right? How they're using streaming, how they're using anything else that gives them a platform.Use that to grow your audience, use that to grow the awareness while generating money for that, establish the base. So some of those other business units were likely more influential, thinking about them doing the deals with Def Jam and then them having the hard knock life tour. But I do think Rocawear was the best business thing to come through there for sure.[00:47:18] Zack Greenburg: And just a s like a subset of that. I think the philosophy that was embodied by Roca wear, you know, the idea of like, they wanted to go Roca wear started because they wanted to go. there, there was this Italian, knitwear brand. iceberg. And they like went to the iceberg offices and said, Hey, can you give us some free t-shirts or something for wrapping about your thing?And they're like, or no, I think they wanted an endorsement deal. They wanted some cash for an endorsement. and then the executives were like, we'll give you some free t-shirts. And, Dave was like, this is stupid. Let's go start our own thing. So, but I think that was really the beginning of, you know, like, I'm not gonna give, free publicity to other brands.I'm just gonna go start my own thing and rap about it. Like other rappers have done it. But, it became so pervasive for Jay-Z's mindset. It wasn't just like, I'm gonna do my own clothing line and I'm sorry, I'm gonna do my own champagne. I'm gonna do my own cognac. I'm gonna try to do my own car.I'm gonna try to do like a freaking video game, you know, he was involved in so many things that kind of sprung from that. so I think the implications were much broader than just, the clothing aspect.[00:48:28] Dan Runcie: Agreed. Next one here is the dark horse business move. So one that we actually haven't talked about, but I do think is one that Roc-A-Fella definitely lead into was the Jay-Z and Nas beef.The controversy that this was able to stem and start, I briefly mentioned Summer Jam 2001, but everything from then and just the drama from there, the two of them back and forth, Jay drop in takeover that, NAS drop in Ether, that whole back and forth was able to then create so much interest. They had all those beef DVDs that were g blowing up in the two thousands, I think largely came up cause of how they were able to reignite beef from essentially the biggest beef that hip hop had seen since Biggie and Tupac several years earlier.Yeah, it was huge and the level of. Bars that I think we're able to get the songs they're able to get back and forth. Just the impressiveness of Nas essentially taking on this whole entire unit by himself. People can debate whether or not who won and lost, whether you're looking specifically from a battle perspective versus who won in the long term.But we eventually see them come together on American gangster and they continue this f familiar relationship ever since. But I do think that this was the height of the time to really sell controversy. Obviously we saw 50 cent and others continue to do that too, you know, their own, putting their own flavor on as well.But I do think that Jay-Z and Nas Beef still was one of the little crown jewels that they had with this.[00:50:05] Zack Greenburg: Absolutely. And, you could tell that it was like there was real enmity there. but also, you know, the fact that it, it never turned violent, I think was just. I think it was really good for hip hop, and I don't think it was ever going to turn violent, but I think again, there was just this kind of like national paranoia around hip hop and, there is, you know, in waves.I think it was just a, good reminder that you can have like a spirited dispute and, it's okay and it's entertainment, you know? and it's, nothing that anybody needs to be afraid of. So, you know, of course like credit to Jay and Nas for resolving it amicably, but man, you know, like just being in New York and that time and like the Barbs going back and forth and man, I think that's the only time that, like a beef has gotten so nasty that, a rapper's mother has like, made him basically apologized for saying something mean, which, I think that was Jay-Z's response to Ether. I think Ether was sort of like the pinnacle of it and Jay-Z's response to it was like, not quite as good, like, how do you top ether? but I think Jay-Z's was just like, viscerally, like, you know, won't get too deep into it because if, Jay-Z had to like, call in to apologize for it, you know, I dunno if we can even talk about it on a podcast.But yeah, I mean just, to have that end, you know, like very amicably I think was just so good for everybody involved. And then, you know, I think it's really fun to watch, Jay and Nas as their relationship has evolved. And, you know, Nas was sort of always like the one who was sort of behind, when it came to the business of things.and then, you know, like he really was music first all the time. And, you know, I think some people thought that he would never really kind of blossom as a businessman, but then, you know, he became sort of the leader, within hip hop entering the venture capital world and, you know, created this great, Queensbridge Venture partners and, you know, invested early and just about every startup you can name and has had all kinds of fantastic exits.And, you know, I think it's so funny that Jay-Z then started MVP, you know, Marcy. So it, it's like definitely like a nod to Nas, you know, each of them naming their venture fund after the project where they grew up. So, I think that's super cool. And, you know, they still like drop these little subliminal, I don't know, like references, where you could tell they're kind of like tweaking each other, just like.You know, like sibling rivalry kind of thing. which is I think, really fun to watch. And, you know, I think that there's some friendly competition around deals and so forth these days. But it's just, it's so fascinating to like, watch the evolution from this real knockdown, drag out, very personal beef, that occurred, you know, to now like, sort of like comparing deal flow.And I think it speaks very positively toward like, the evolution of the business of hip hop.[00:53:03] Dan Runcie: Definitely. You think about things that they wrapped about in their most recent, songs that have been popular, right? Like Nas's song where he calls himself Cryptocurrency Scarface, or Yeah, yeah.Jay-Z. what was that line in God did with Khali where he is like, oh, we had cap tables, not that cap table, or something like that. I mean, he's clearly leading into that stuff. What do you think is the missed opportunity if of any, from Roc-A-Fella besides the split, cause I know we've talked about that, but there any other missed opportunities, especially from that 96 to 03, 04 range?[00:53:37] Zack Greenburg: I think it's Armadale Armadale, like, and you know, that kind of came to be, I think of anybody that was more Biggs's pet project, than Jay or Dame. Although, you know, Jay was kind of trying to make it happen. He would, he had it. If you recalled the MTV Unplugged album, which as actually might be my favorite Jay-Z album of all time. It's kind of cheating cause it's not a studio album, but, it's so good. He's backed up by the race anyway. He's like, some point he's like, I need to stop for some Armadale. I need an army break, you know, he was really trying to shout it out everywhere he could. But already when they started doing that, you know, they were on the outs I think.And, I think Jay-Z wasn't fully invested in it because why would he get fully invested in it? And then another thing that he was partners with Bigs and Damon, I don't think anything against Bigs, obviously. And I think they're totally cool now. And they've, been doing some stuff together more recently.but like, why would he go do that when he could just wait and then do something on his own? But, you know, I mean, Armadale could have been cRoc, right? if they'd done it right, there's no reason that it couldn't have been. I mean, it's the same formula. It's like European unknown, whatever.And then, you know, put it in videos, put it in songs, and, you make it, you know, whatever it's gonna be. And you know, we've seen what Jay has done with Deuce and Armando Biac, so we know he can do it. It's not only Puff who can do it, only a few people who can do it. Levelly can do it, but like Jay and Puff can do it and done it. And Jay could have done it with Armadale, just, you know, At the timing just didn't quite work out.[00:55:03] Dan Runcie: I think Armadale had one memorable shout out from the Jay-Z song. It was, excuse me, miss, right where he is talking about Armadale popping off. but that's also the same song. I think he gave Cristal a pretty big shout out there where he is like, it's not Cristal, it's Cristal, right? But then a couple years later, he is like, no like obviously we're done with Cristal because of, you know, comments, racist comments that the founder or the CEO had said at the time, my missed opportunity is one that highlights something that I think Jay-Z did well, but it probably could have done more of.And that's movie soundtracks. If you ask certain Jay-Z fans, I do think that they have American gangster as one of their top Jay-Z albums, as they should. It's a great album. I honestly think the album's probably even better than that movie is in particular points. But Jay-Z, so that movie, that soundtrack comes out 2007.He missed, I think an entire wave of times when movie soundtracks, in my opinion, were even, were just bigger deals than they are by even 2007 and even later on. And now I think it's very hit or miss that you could even get a soundtrack to that level. But especially during the Roc era. And I know that he had songs that were popular on the, but really being the mc behind an entire soundtrack in that type of way, I think could have been there probably could have been more opportunities to do something like that earlier on.[00:56:26] Zack Greenburg: Oh, I like that's a really deep cut.[00:56:28] Dan Runcie: So a few more things here on Roc-A-Fella, Well, we've seen just continued spats back and forth. Not necessarily jabs, but just comments back and forth between Jay and Dame. It's been nearly 20 years since this split. We've definitely seen more from Dame than Jay, and it's one of those things where it does become a bit sad to see and frustrating to see at times and not be expecting to be best of friends.We have seen Jay-Z say things that are quite complimentary. When he got inducted into the Roc and Roll Hall of Fame, he did shout out both him and Biggs and say, Hey, this wouldn't have happened without either of you, regardless of what had happened, you know, in our past. Gotta give you guys both shouts for that.But then we've also seen Dame say things during the years, and I think he's. Alternated on whether or not he's wanted to speak on them and stuff. But it's one of these things that is a bit frustrating to see because I think about it when I think about NBA players and how they've had issues over the years.Kobe and Shaq, of course, infamously, they continue to talk about each other for years and then eventually they came and they had that sit down chat on TBS, right? Where they're talking back and forth. If they and Dame ever did something like that, they don't even have to go do it on some platform. They could do it on their own thing.It would be box office. It would be great to be able to see that and just see how, then hear them talk things out. Because even another NBA thing, Kevin Garnet and Ray Allen of course said, had their infamous dispute because Ray Allen went to go join the Miami Heat. Kevin Garnet, very intense, hated that that was their rival.But then after Ray Allen had walked past him at the 75th anniversary thing last year, that's when KG was like, okay, what if Ray Allen passes the same way, passes away the same way that Kobe Bryant did? I would, yeah, be very upset with my
Big L is one of the most lauded and celebrated emcees of all time. Big L was a wordsmith, a mic destroyer, an emcees, emcee. Big L would be taken from his family and the world way too early. After releasing only one album in his career, while he was working on his second album, Big L was murdered in the neighborhood he grew up in, Harlem, New York City. Big L was also on the verge of signing with Roc A Fella Records, the label owned by Dame Dash, Jay Z and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Big L was also in a group, he started, called Children of the Corn that included Cam'Ron and Mase amongst others. He was also about to start another group with himself and Jay Z amongst others called Wolf Pack. Big L was an elite lyricist who had the potential to be one of the greatest emcees of all time. He is already and rightfully so, considered one of the greats by many, but with only one album he comes up short because of his untimely demise. Check out this episode and find out a little bit more about this one of a kind emcee. Thank you Lamont Big L Coleman for everything you did for hip hop and the world. Thank you. And thank you for listening to this episode of hip hop history, please like, subscribe and leave a review where possible. Thank you and have a great day.
Description:19 Keys presents High Level Conversations to bring you into the high frequency of speech and communication to elevate your mindset and value.S2E7 Ft. Dame DashFeatured Guest Bio:Damon Dash born on May 3, 1971, in Harlem, New York, is an African American record label executive, entrepreneur, film producer, director, actor, and fashion designer. As a youth, Dame Dash sent himself to boarding school because he wanted a better education than what he was receiving at the time. Dame Dash first got into the music business at the age of 19, when he and his cousin Darian Dash started Dash Entertainment, an artist management company. In 1995, Dame Dash launched Roc-A-Fella Records, alongside then business partners Jay-Z and Kareem “Biggs” Burke but later sold his stake in the company in 2004. During his time with Roc-A-Fella Records, he created the fashion line Roc-A-Wear and was also responsible for the purchases of Armadale Vodka and Pro-Keds. He leveraged his musicians and labels to promote his other companies. His business skills, fuelled by a desire to succeed, enabled him to break into a range of ventures. He owned a hip-hop fashion label, a music label, a movie production firm, a footwear brand, a Swiss watch company, a boxing promotion partnership, and an art gallery at one point and is still currently invested in many of those business endeavors as well as NFT's, comic books, and more. Dame Dash has 5 children: two daughters Ava and Tallulah; and three sons Boogie, Lucky, and Dusko and aims to be the architect of building a life for them based in love.This Episode:This episode goes high level into the conversation of our understanding of affirmations vs. programming, the fight for social change, the attributes of being a man, ascending above the matrix, and how to play chess in the middle of checkers.Featured Guest Contact:Website: Dame Dash StudiosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duskopoppington/19 KEYS:He is a believer in the unlimited human potential, and he aims to help more and more people realize their full potential. His mantra is “slaveship to ownership.” Growing up in Oakland, California as a Muslim of African-American origins, he had to face a lot of difficulties. Many people around him lost their lives due to poverty which motivated him to work harder and secure a better future.19 Keys is a global thought leader and one of the pioneers in the space of Web 3, business, mindset, holistic wealth, tech , metaphysics and financial literacy; having millions of followers across the globe. 19 Keys is known for his relentless efforts in matters of wealth creation, especially for the youth. One of his initiatives has funded over 5 million student investment accounts.19 Keys is also the co-founder of initiatives such as The Block World Order (BWO), Goldewater, and Crownz Society. When people think of 19 Keys, they think of a self-taught 21st-century polymath who believes work is the cure to all of our problems.Follow his links below to learn more:BWO (THE BLOCK WORLD ORDER)https://bwo.cheatcode.com/ LinkTreehttps://linktr.ee/19_keys Crownz 19 Linkhttps://crownz19.com/ GoldeWater Linkhttps://goldewater.com/ Book linkhttps://crownz19.com/products/paradigm-keys-solution-based-mind-reprogramming-e-book?variant=17962889904179 **************Special EYL Viewer Promotion**********Text “HLC“ to 3235776692Tap in on all platforms:Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/c/19keysTwitter:https://twitter.com/Instagram:www.instagram.com/19_keys/TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@19keys?Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/19keys/messageSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/19keys/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Episode 265: KYAMBO “HIP HOP” JOSHUA On this week's episode of the @RoadPodcast, the fellas welcome legendary A&R for #Rocafella Records, Kyambo “Hip-Hop” Joshua (@1978HipHop). Hip Hop speaks on building his early relationship with #JayZ (4:15) and recording #Dipset, #StateProperty, and @MemphisBleek with his production/management company "Hip Hop Since 1978" (7:01). He explains how New York's famous Tunnel Nightclub determined if a song was a hit (19:22). Hip Hop reflects on helping Jay-Z's “Dead Presidents/Ain't No” get to number one (26:01), breaks down the role of an A&R (32:40) and recalls Jigga passing on beats like “Whoa”, “Still Not A Player” and “Lights Camera Action” (39:05). Hip Hop speaks on his relationship with @Aaliyah (51:01), working in the studio with @MichaelJackson (1:18:53) and his top 5 Jay-Z records of all time (1:39:40). Finally Hip Hop talks about signing #KanyeWest as a producer/artist (1:56:02) and his role in curating the sound of Roc-A-Fella Records (2:25:02).
Become an elite Poopinati! www.themidnighttrainpodcast.com The Illuminati So, you're standing amongst the council, being tried by a jury of a higher order. Your crime; Being the most dangerous person across the multiverse. You look shockingly at Mordo, Richards, and the other members of this definitive group of beings as you defend your alleged crimes, for you are facing the… Illuminati! Or some shit like that. We are exploring the super, double extra wannabe cult or the underground rulers of everything evil, depending on your take after today, the "Real Illuminati." At first, we'll dive into what they SAY IS THE REAL STORY OF THE ILLUMINATI Wink Wink! (Be we all know the truth) and then we're going to jump right in to what mainstream media (which is controlled by the illuminati) says are “conspiracies”. Strap on your tinfoil hats, Passengers! We're going for a ride!! The term "Illuminati" refers to several genuine and imagined organizations. However, the term historically refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, a secret society from the Age of Enlightenment that was established on May 1, 1776, in Bavaria, which is now a part of Germany and that has the most delicious cream donuts. The association aimed to combat abuses of governmental authority, superstition, obscurantism (intentionally providing information in a vague or complex way to prevent further investigation and understanding or, simply, spewing a bunch of word vomit to confuse people), and religious influence in public life. In its general laws, they stated that controlling the perpetrators without conquering them was the "rule of the day." Later, the term "Illuminati" was used to describe many groups that are said to represent a continuation of the original Bavarian Illuminati (even though these links have not been proven). To obtain political power and influence and create a "New World Order," these organizations have frequently been charged with plotting to manipulate events and install operatives inside of governments and companies. The Illuminati are portrayed as lurking in the shadows and manipulating the strings and levers of power. They play a crucial role in some of the most well-known and intricate conspiracy theories. This interpretation of the Illuminati has found its way into popular culture, appearing in various books, movies, T.V. episodes, comic books, video games, and music videos. At the University of Ingolstadt, Adam Weishaupt (1748–1830) started teaching canon law and practical philosophy in 1773. (Canon Law, according to Wikipedia, is "how the Church organizes and governs herself." It is the system of laws and religious legal principles made and enforced by the hierarchical authorities of the Catholic Church to regulate its external organization and government and to order and direct the activities of Catholics toward the mission of the Church.) He taught in a school-sponsored by Jesuits, whose order Pope Clement XIV (14th) had suppressed in 1773, and was the only non-clerical professor there. The university's finances and some authority, which they continued to see as belonging to them, were still in the hands of the Ingolstadt Jesuits. When course content featured anything they deemed liberal or Protestant, they made constant attempts to frustrate and discredit non-clerical employees, especially in those instances. Weishaupt had a strong anti-clerical stance and decided to use a covert organization of like-minded people to propagate the Aufklärung (Enlightenment) beliefs. The word clerical in this sense means "referring to anything to do with the clergy — those ordained for religious work, usually in the Christian faith." He said "screw it" and established his own society, which was to have a ranking or grading system modeled after Freemasonry, but with his own goals because he felt Freemasonry was too costly and not open to his ideas. Bund der Perfektibilisten, or Covenant of Perfectibility (Perfectibilists), was the new order's initial name and a horrible one, to boot. Still, it was later modified since it sounded like some pretentious bullshit. Weishaupt established the Perfectibilists on May 1, 1776, choosing the Owl of Minerva as their emblem. The Owl of Minerva is often called the "owl of Athena." It has been a symbol of knowledge and wisdom throughout the Western world. The members were to use aliases within the society. Weishaupt became Spartacus. Law students Massenhausen, Bauhof, Merz, and Sutor, became Ajax, Agathon, Tiberius, and Erasmus Roterodamus. Logan would have been dubbed Hasentus Everseenamovieus, whereas I would have been known as Dopus Asfuckasus. Weishaupt later booted Sutor for being a lazy turd. In April 1778, the order became the Illuminatenorden, or Order of Illuminati, after Weishaupt seriously considered calling it the "Bee order." Massenhausen was the first to step up and be most engaged in advancing society. Significantly, he hired Xavier von Zwack, a former pupil of Weishaupt who was just beginning his distinguished administrative career while studying at Munich not long after the order started. He was the head of the Bavarian National Lottery at the time, where if you won, you got all the donuts. And, of course, that's not true, but it should be. Weishaupt quickly viewed Massenhausen's "go get em attitude" as a liability because it frequently led to attempts to hire the wrong people. Later, his unpredictable love life caused him to become careless. As Weishaupt turned over the leadership of the Munich group to Zwack, it was discovered that Massenhausen had stolen subscription money and read Weishaupt and Zwack's communications. After earning his degree in 1778, Massenhausen accepted a position outside Bavaria and lost interest in the order. The order had nominally twelve members at this point. After Massenhausen left, Zwack put all his effort into finding more responsible and significant recruits. This included Hertel, a canon of the Munich Frauenkirche and a childhood friend of Weishaupt, who was considered a hell of a guy. By the end of the summer of 1778, the order had five territories: Munich (Athens), Ingolstadt (Eleusis), Ravensberg (Sparta), Freysingen (Thebes), and Eichstaedt, with a total of 27 members (including Massenhausen). The order had three membership levels at the time—novice, minerval, and illuminated minerval—but only the minerval level required a problematic ceremony. In this, a password and code were supplied to the candidate. Weishaupt was kept informed on the actions and personalities of his members through a system of mutual espionage, with his favorites joining the Areopagus, the ruling council. Some newbies were allowed to join the army and become insinuates. Jews, pagans, women, monks, and members of other secret societies were told to fuck off, but upright Christians were what they wanted. Favored candidates were wealthy, submissive, eager to learn, and between 18 and 30. After unsuccessfully trying to stop some of his followers from becoming Freemasons, Weishaupt decided to join them to gather resources for developing his own ritual. Early in February 1777, he was accepted into lodge "Prudence" of the Rite of Strict Observance. He learned nothing about the more advanced degrees of "blue lodge" masonry as he excelled through its three degrees. Still, the following year, a priest by the name of Abbé Marotti told Zwack that these deeper secrets depended on an understanding of the earlier religion and the primitive Church. Weishaupt was persuaded by Zwack that their own order should establish cordial ties with Freemasonry and acquire permission to develop their own lodge. At this stage (December 1778), adding the first three degrees of Freemasonry was considered a secondary project. Quickly, a warrant was obtained from the Grand Lodge of Prussia called the Royal York for Friendship. The new lodge was named Theodore of the Good Council to flatter Charles Theodore, Elector of Bavaria. It was founded in Munich on March 21, 1779, and quickly packed with Illuminati. However, the first master, Radl, was persuaded to return home to Baden and ran the lodge by July, per Weishaupt's order. The next step involved independence from their Grand Lodge. By establishing masonic relations with the Union lodge in Frankfurt, affiliated to the Premier Grand Lodge of England, lodge Theodore became independently recognized and able to declare its independence. As a new mother lodge, it could now spawn its own lodges. The recruiting drive amongst the Frankfurt masons also obtained the allegiance of Adolph Freiherr Knigge. Knigge was recruited late in 1780 at a convention of the Rite of Strict Observance by Costanzo Marchese di Costanzo, an infantry captain in the Bavarian army and a fellow Freemason. As he was still in his twenties, Knigge had already reached the highest initiatory grades of his order and had arrived with his own grand plans for reform. Disappointed that his plan found no support, Knigge was immediately intrigued when Costanzo informed him that the order he sought to create already existed. Knigge and three of his friends expressed a strong interest in learning more of this order, and Costanzo showed them material relating to the Minerval grade. The teaching material for the stage was "liberal" literature which was banned in Bavaria but common knowledge in the Protestant German states. Knigge's three colleagues lost interest in Costanzo after becoming disillusioned and extremely confused, like the rest of us. Still, he persisted and was rewarded in November 1780 with a letter from Weishaupt. Knigge was a perfect candidate because of his ties inside and outside Freemasonry. For his part, Knigge was charmed by the attention and drawn to the order's proclaimed goals of educating people and shielding them against oppression. Moreover, Weishaupt recognized Knigge's interest in alchemy and the "higher sciences" and promised to promote them. In response to Weishaupt, Knigge laid out his ideas for reforming Freemasonry when the Strict Observance was beginning to doubt its history. Before he could be admitted to the higher ranks of the order, Weishaupt put Knigge in charge of recruitment. Knigge agreed, but with the stipulation that he be given the freedom to select the recruitment locations. Many additional masons joined the Illuminati's Minerval grade after finding Knigge's depiction of the new masonic order appealing. At this point, Knigge seemed to respect the "Most Serene Superiors" Weishaupt said he served. To delay providing any assistance, Weishaupt assigned him an additional duty despite his embarrassing failure to explain anything about the upper degrees of the order. Because he was full of shit. Knigge then created pamphlets documenting the actions of the illegal Jesuits, claiming to show how they continued to thrive and recruit, particularly in Bavaria, using material provided by Weishaupt. Finally, Knigge wrote to Weishaupt that his position was becoming damn near impossible because he couldn't offer his recruits any real answers to their question about the higher grades. Weishaupt finally broke down and admitted in January 1781 that his superiors and the purported antiquity of the order were bullshit and that the higher degrees had not yet been created as he faced the possibility of losing Knigge and his masonic recruits. Knigge was unusually composed in response to Weishaupt's admittance, even though he was looking forward to learning the promised intricate Freemasonry secrets found in the upper degrees of the Illuminati. Weishaupt pledged to give Knigge complete creative control over the development of the higher degrees and to send him his own notes. Knigge, for his part, enjoyed the chance to express himself through the order. He asserted that his new strategy would increase the appeal of the Illuminati to potential members in Germany's Protestant counties. Knigge received a 50 florins advance from the Areopagus in November 1781 to travel to Bavaria, where he met and partied with fellow Illuminati members. The order had now developed extensive internal divisions. In July 1780, the Eichstaedt command had formed an autonomous province, and a rift was growing between Weishaupt and the Areopagus. They found him stubborn, dictatorial, inconsistent, and obviously full of shit. As a result, Knigge was constantly thrown into the role of peacemaker. In discussions with the Areopagus and Weishaupt, Knigge identified two problematic areas. First, Weishaupt's emphasis on recruiting university students meant that young men with little practical experience often had to fill senior positions in the order. Secondly, the anti-Jesuit ethos of the order at its inception had generally become anti-religious. Knigge knew it would be a problem recruiting the senior Freemasons that the order was looking to bring in. Knigge felt the stifling grip of conservative Catholicism in Bavaria and understood the anti-religious feelings that this produced in the liberal Illuminati. Still, he also saw the negative impression these feelings would provide in Protestant states, making the spread of the order in greater Germany much more difficult. The Areopagus and Weishaupt felt powerless to do anything less than give Knigge a free hand. He had the contacts within and outside of Freemasonry that they needed, and he had the skill as a ritualist to build their projected grade structure, where they had ground to a halt at Illuminatus Minor, with only the Minerval grade below and the merest sketches of higher grades. The only restrictions imposed were the need to discuss the inner secrets of the highest degrees and the necessity of submitting his new grades for approval. Meanwhile, the scheme to propagate Illuminatism as a legitimate branch of Freemasonry had farted out. While Lodge Theodore was now in their control, a chapter of "Elect Masters" attached to it only had one member from the order and still had a constitutional superiority to the craft lodge controlled by the Illuminati. The chapter would be difficult to persuade to submit to the Areopagus and formed a real barrier to Lodge Theodore becoming the first mother-lodge of a new Illuminated Freemasonry. A treaty of alliance was signed between the order and the chapter, and by the end of January 1781, four daughter lodges had been created, but independence was not on the chapter's agenda. Costanza wrote to the Royal York, pointing out the discrepancy between the fees dispatched to their new Grand Lodge and the returned service they had received. The Royal York, unwilling to lose the money they were bringing in, offered to confer Freemasonry's "higher" secrets on a representative that their Munich brethren would dispatch to Berlin. Accordingly, Costanza set off for Prussia on April 4, 1780, with instructions to negotiate a reduction in Theodore's fees while he was there. On the way, he argued with a Frenchman about a lady with whom they shared a carriage. The Frenchman sent a message ahead to the king sometime before they reached Berlin, calling Costanza a spy and having him arrested. He was only freed from prison with the help of the Grand Master of Royal York and was kicked out of Prussia, having accomplished fuck all. Knigge's recruitment from German Freemasonry was far from random. He targeted the masters and wardens, the men who ran the lodges and were often able to place the entire club at the disposal of the Illuminati. For example, Baron de Witte, master of Constancy lodge in Aachen, caused every member to join the order. This way, the order expanded rapidly in central and southern Germany and obtained a foothold in Austria. Moving into the Spring of 1782, the handful of students who had started the order had swelled to about 300 members, with only 20 new recruits being students. In Munich, the first half of 1782 saw considerable changes in the government of Lodge Theodore. In February, Weishaupt had offered to split the lodge, with the Illuminati going their own way and the chapter taking any remaining traditionalists into their continuation of Theodore. At this point, the chapter unexpectedly surrendered, and the Illuminati had complete control of the lodge and chapter. In June, both club and chapter sent letters severing relations with Royal York, citing their faithfulness in paying for their recognition and Royal York's failure to provide any instruction in the higher grades. Their neglect of Costanza, and inability to defend him from negative charges or prevent his expulsion from Prussia, were also brought up. They had made no effort to provide Costanza with the promised secrets, and the Munich masons now suspected that their brethren in Berlin relied on the mystical French higher grades which they sought to avoid. Lodge Theodore was now independent. The Rite of Strict Observance was now in a critical state. Its leader was Prince Carl of Södermanland (later Charles XIII (13th) of Sweden), openly suspected of trying to absorb the rite into the Swedish Rite, which he already controlled. The German lodges looked to Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel for leadership. However, suspicion turned to open contempt when Carl regarded the Stuart heir to the British throne as the true GrandMaster, and the lodges of the Strict Observance all but ignored their Grand Master. This bullshit led to the Convent of Wilhelmsbad. The last Strict Observance convention, postponed since October 15, 1781, eventually began on July 16, 1782, at the spa town of Wilhelmsbad, which is located outside of (and now a part of) Hanau. The 35 participants in a discussion about the future of the order knew that the Strict Observance in its current form was doomed. Also, the Convent of Wilhelmsbad would be a battle over the pieces between the Martinists, led by Jean-Baptiste Willermoz, and the German mystics, led by Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and their host Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel. Only Franz Dietrich von Ditfurth, and Johann Joachim Christoph Bode, objected to mystical higher grades. Ditfurth actively advocated for a return to the fundamental three degrees of Freemasonry, which was the convention's least likely choice. The mystics had previously developed logical replacement plans for the higher degrees. (Martinism is a type of arcane Christianity and Christian mysticism that is focused on the fall of the first man, his material seclusion from his spiritual source, and the process of his return, known as "Reintegration.") The Illuminati were able to promote themselves as a viable option since there wasn't an effective alternative to the two schools of mysticism. Knigge, who now had complete authority to speak for the order, encouraged and helped Ditfurth, who took on the role of their spokesperson. Weishaupt rejected Knigge's initial proposal to form an alliance between the two orders because he didn't see the benefit of working with a dying order. His new strategy was to enlist the masons opposed to the higher degree of "Templar" Strict Observance. At the convent, Ditfurth prevented Willermoz and Hesse from introducing their own higher grades by demanding that the delegates be informed in full of such degrees. Due to their frustration, the German mystics enrolled Count Kollowrat in the Illuminati as a later affiliate. With no claims to additional masonic revelations, Ditfurth's goal was to replace all higher degrees with a single fourth degree. He left the convent early after finding no support for his proposal and reported to the Areopagus that he had no hopes for the gathering. In an attempt to satisfy everybody, the Convent of Wilhelmsbad didn't achieve shit. They renounced the Templar origins of their ritual while retaining the Templar titles, trappings, and administrative structure. Charles of Hesse and Ferdinand of Brunswick remained at the head of the order, but the lodges were almost independent in practice. The Germans adopted the name of the French order of Willermoz, Les Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Cité Sainte (Good Knights of the Holy City). Some Martinist mysticism was imported into the first three degrees, now the only essential degrees of Freemasonry. Crucially, individual lodges of the order were now allowed to mingle with clubs of other systems. The new "Scottish Grade" introduced with the Lyon ritual of Willermoz was not mandatory. Each province and prefecture was free to decide what, if anything, happened after the three craft degrees. Finally, the convent regulated etiquette, titles, and a new numbering for the provinces to show that something had been achieved. The Strict Observance was ended by the Convent of Wilhelmsbad. Along with the higher degrees that bound its most significant and influential members, it rejected its founding tale. It eliminated the rigorous regulations that had maintained the order's cohesion and alienated many Germans who did not trust Martinism. Martinism repulsed Bode, who immediately began negotiating with Knigge before joining the Illuminati in January 1783. The following month, Charles of Hesse joined. Knigge's first efforts at an alliance with the intact German Grand Lodges failed, but Weishaupt persisted. He proposed a new federation where all German lodges would practice an agreed, unified system in the essential three degrees of Freemasonry and be left to their own devices as to which, if any, system of higher degrees they wished to pursue. This would be a federation of Grand Lodges, and members would be free to visit any of the "blue" lodges in any jurisdiction. All lodge masters would be elected, and no fees would be paid to any central authority. Groups of lodges would be subject to a "Scottish Directorate" composed of members delegated by lodges to audit finances, settle disputes and authorize new lodges. These, in turn, would elect Provincial Directorates, who would elect inspectors, who would elect the national director. This system would correct the current imbalance in German Freemasonry, where masonic ideals of equality were preserved only in the lower three "symbolic" degrees. The various methods of higher degrees were dominated by the elite who could afford research in alchemy and mysticism. To Weishaupt and Knigge, the proposed federation was also a vehicle to propagate Illuminism throughout German Freemasonry. Their intention was to use their new union, with its emphasis on the fundamental degrees, to remove all allegiance to Strict Observance, allowing the "eclectic" system of the Illuminati to take its place. The newsletter announcing the new federation outlined the faults of German Freemasonry; unsuitable men with money were often admitted based on their wealth, and the corruption of civil society had infected the lodges. Having advocated the deregulation of the higher grades of the German lodges, the Illuminati now announced their own from their "unknown Superiors." Lodge Theodore, newly independent from Royal York, set itself up as a provincial Grand Lodge. In a letter to all the Royal York lodges, Knigge now accused the Grand Lodge of corruption. Their Freemasonry had allegedly been corrupted by the Jesuits. Strict Observance was now attacked as a creation of the Stuarts, devoid of all moral virtue. The Zinnendorf rite of the Grand Landlodge of the Freemasons of Germany was suspect because its author was in league with the Swedes. This direct attack had the opposite effect to that intended by Weishaupt. It offended many of its readers. The Grand Lodge of the Grand Orient of Warsaw, which controlled Freemasonry in Poland and Lithuania, was happy to participate in the federation only as far as the first three degrees. Their insistence on independence had kept them from the Strict Observance and would now keep them from the Illuminati, whose plan to annex Freemasonry rested on their own higher degrees. By the end of January 1783, the Illuminati's masonic party had seven lodges. It wasn't just the clumsy appeal of the Illuminati that left the federation short of members. Lodge Theodore was recently formed and did not command respect like the older lodges. Most of all, the Freemasons most likely to be attracted to the federation, saw the Illuminati as an ally against the mystics and Martinists. Moreover, they valued their freedom too highly to be caught in another restrictive organization. Even Ditfurth, the supposed representative of the Illuminati at Wilhelmsbad, had pursued his own agenda at the convent. The non-mystical Frankfurt lodges created an "Eclectic Alliance," was almost indistinguishable in structure from the Illuminati's federation. Far from seeing this as a threat, the Illuminati lodges joined the new alliance after some discussion. Three Illuminati now sat on the committee that wrote the new masonic statutes. Aside from strengthening relations between their three lodges, the Illuminati seem to have gained no advantage from this maneuver. Ditfurth, having founded a masonic organization that worked towards his ambitions for Freemasonry, took little interest in the Illuminati after he adhered to the Eclectic Alliance. In reality, the Eclectic Alliance's creation undermined the Illuminati's plans to spread their own ideologies through Freemasonry. The final decline of the Illuminati was brought about by the indiscretions of their own Minervals in Bavaria, and especially in Munich. Despite efforts by their superiors to curb loose talk, politically dangerous boasts of power and criticism of monarchy caused the "secret" order's existence to become common knowledge, along with the names of many important members. The presence of the Illuminati in positions of power now led to some public unease. There were Illuminati in many civic and state governing bodies. Despite their small number, there were claims that success in a legal dispute depended on the person's standing with the order. In addition, the Illuminati were blamed for several anti-religious publications appearing in Bavaria. Much of this criticism sprang from vindictiveness and jealousy, but it is clear that many Illuminati court officials gave preferential treatment to their brethren. In Bavaria, the energy of their two members of the Ecclesiastical Council had one of them elected treasurer. Their opposition to Jesuits resulted in the banned order losing key academic and Church positions. In Ingolstadt, the Jesuit heads of departments were replaced by Illuminati. Alarmed, Charles Theodore and his government banned all secret societies, including the Illuminati. A government mandate dated March 2, 1785, "seems to have been a deathblow to the Illuminati in Bavaria." Weishaupt had fled. Documents and internal correspondence, seized in 1786 and 1787, were then published by the government in 1787. In addition, von Zwack's home was searched, and much of the group's literature was disclosed. So, that was exhausting and supposedly all about the "real Illuminati," right? But, according to the www.illuminatiofficial.org website, this may not be the case. "Since the formation of the Illuminati, many citizens have inaccurately portrayed our organization in a negative manner. These misconceptions have been perpetuated for centuries through videos, photos, articles, books, and unofficial online resources claiming to understand our mission and members. In creating this online destination, we strive to alleviate the concerns voiced by the people of this planet and provide insight into our goals and operations." "Their Purpose" "Ensuring the survival of over 7 billion humans is a daunting task. Our duty to this planet has spanned across centuries and survived even the most established government entities. To continue functioning throughout societal and generational changes, The Illuminati's operations often require anonymity for both our members and our work. In 2013, the Illuminati authorized the formation of the Department Of Citizen Outreach. Through various initiatives and campaigns, including this website, the modern Illuminati has committed itself to furthering our relationship with our citizens.You may not find us praised in any history book or document. However, the Illuminati has helped with every major movement on this planet since the first human government was established. Our work is often marked by distinct symbols as a means of tracing our influence through history for those wishing to investigate. With gentle guidance from our organization, the human species is allowed to function in their natural order while playing the part of gears in a machine for the betterment of the world." Also, according to their website, they discuss the symbols of their cult… I mean organization. "THE PYRAMID In popular culture, a great amount of focus is placed on the Illuminati's belief that money is not evil. Some view our encouragement of work and wealth as a promotion of selfishness – overlooking the true meaning of the Pyramid and its underlying messages that motivate our diligence. In the tenets of the Illuminati, wealth is not simply a means of personal enrichment. Instead, money is a tool that can be used to fulfill each person's duty to the advancement of the human species. The selfish pursuit of money is a hollow goal, but the pursuit of the goodness that money can create is one of humanity's greatest responsibilities. The more money a person owns, the more ability they have to positively change the lives of those who are in need. If you are poor and of good heart, and your friend's house is burned in a fire, you will remain a good person but have no ability to help them with what they need the most. If the same house burns but you are rich, you can give your friend a place to stay and a new home because you have more than enough for yourself and anyone around you who needs it. Money has no feeling, no voice, and no soul – its choice between good or evil is decided by those who use it. Though it is not wrong to be poor, the celebration of poverty is rooted in selfishness. A person who is poor can save a life, but a person who is rich can build a hospital and save ten thousand. The poor can do little to help the poor, but the rich can help as many as they are able. If a person is rich, they have the opportunity to do good, but if they are poor they are unable to help anyone but themselves. Those with little can still do much. Money is merely paper and numbers that are traded for a person's time and effort. Therefore if a person does not have money, they can instead use their time and efforts to further the advancement of humanity – positive actions that are of equal value to any charitable donations. The greater a person's fortune, the greater their responsibility to their fellow humans. Like the Pyramid, those with the greatest power can do the greatest good for the largest number of those below them." "THE EYE We Are Always Watching Out For You The human species is guarded and preserved by a coalition of its most elite members called the Illuminati. Since our origination, Illuminati members have guided Earth's most dominant creature through periods of interpersonal chaos, environmental outbreaks, and other mass attacks that threaten humanity with extinction. The human has made itself this planet's most dominant and advanced species. Even the weakest human is born master of the strongest of all other species on Earth. Through natural selection, every human generation is made of a genetic structure that is stronger and more advanced than the previous. Living humans evolve at a rapid pace, and can continue to advance in ability through study, practice, and a commitment to self-improvement. As a human absorbs knowledge and wisdom, some will experience their Awakening: a pivotal moment when their minds evolve to a level of understanding that is higher than the majority. They begin to see themselves as strings in a universal tapestry with a duty to uplift their fellow humans, and quickly understand the inner workings of wealth, power, and authority. Those who have experienced their Awakening often describe it as the moment their Eye was opened. The Illuminati is made of individuals who have reached this Awakening. Leaders, innovators, and other influential members of this planet have joined together to shape the face of human society and guide its masses into finding their own individual place in the Universal Design. To create a better world, unique beings with unique objectives and beliefs must forgo their differences and work together for the good of all. Progress requires cooperation. Humans must suppress their natural defensive selfishness and aid others who appear, believe, or act in ways that are different from themselves. Unfortunately, many humans are only concerned with their own wellbeing and thus cannot understand the positive intentions of a higher authority. Many would rather this planet remain in turmoil instead of following the directions that will lead them to happiness. Historically, the greatest enemies of human progression have been humans themselves. For this reason, those who have experienced their Awakening understand the need for it to remain secret – for their own safety and the ultimate good of a humanity that often does not know what is best for it. It is the Illuminati's responsibility to ensure the ongoing survival and advancement of the human species, so that all people, in all places, can live in Abundance." "THE LIGHT Follow The Light Every human is guided by an inner compass that points toward the Light, revealing truth and direction when facing decisions. Given many names by spiritual leaders and unexplainable by science, the Light is an invisible guide that many believe has led them to joy, success, and lives of Abundance. It communicates directly to every human, urging them to strive for goodness and forgo their natural selfishness. All human religions and spiritual beliefs ultimately seek the Light in ways differing only in form and function. Some religions refer to the Light with a name, such as God or Elohim. The core of every religion is founded on the human species' innate desire to understand this invisible force. Even without a formal religious affiliation, every human is naturally drawn to the Light. Individual members of the Illuminati adhere to every variety of personal spiritual beliefs –– but by recognizing that all of our paths lead to the same destination, we find that the Light brings all people into an ultimate unity. There is no proof that a God exists but there is also no proof that a God does not. The Illuminati's spiritual foundation is based upon this universal conundrum of faith and doubt. Our organization does not question whether a god does or does not exist but instead focuses on the betterment of the humans living on this planet. Though the human mind in its physical form is not capable of fully understanding the Light, conscious thought and intention reveal many of its inner workings and effects. By studying the wisdom of this planet's greatest minds, humans can discover ways to increase the Light's powerful influence in their lives. The Light, under many names, has been attributed to supernatural changes in the physical realm, including increases in wealth, power, prestige, health, and happiness. Miracles, attraction, and the belief in unseen powers that can alter the physical world have some basis in truth. Though scientific advancements have explored both this planet's environment and the inner workings of the human mind, there are still countless mysteries that remain unsolved. Thus many occurrences that are attributed to the supernatural are merely the result of the human mind processing a concept it cannot explain naturally. Some humans attempt to form a deeper connection with the Light through rituals that have been passed down for centuries. Though these ceremonies often involve complicated steps and requirements, their true effect is not found in their directions or decorations but rather in the state of mind that results within its participants. Many of the Illuminati's traditions include rituals and oaths designed to explain higher concepts, and use the power of focused repetition to strengthen the ability of the human consciousness. The Illuminati prohibits rituals that include human or animal sacrifice. Learn More. A desire to understand the Light is an integral part of the path to illumination. By rising through the levels of illumination, Illuminati members discover more about their world and the true power that hides within their minds. Whatever you seek, whatever you dream, whatever you hope: all is possible if you follow the Light." "THE ETERNAL CIRCLE Every human is one part of a larger, eternal design – individual gears in a clock that has no end. Your actions have the power to alter the future of the entire world. Though you may not fully understand your purpose, your part is just as important as the greatest kings and queens of this planet. Some feel as though their temporary lack of wealth or influence makes them powerless to create change. But does a clockmaker favor the larger gears over the smaller? Does the hour hand become jealous of the minutes because it turns slower? Every part has a role in the functioning of a timepiece. Every part supports those around it in ways it may never see. Your absence would undo the order of our universe, even if you do not realize your importance. The world began before you and will continue after you, but it will be different because of the decisions you made. Every generation inherits the world left by the one before it, just as a king inherits the crown of his father. Your pursuit of wisdom and goodness could lay the foundation for your great-great-grandchild's rise into power – the same descendant who might steer a country from war and save lives by the millions. Did the ancestors of Aristotle or Alexander The Great know who their actions would create? Though you will never understand the full influence of your actions, the results of your dedication to humanity are still yours to claim. As you climb the great Pyramid seeking the Light at its top, you will look down and see that you are an integral part of our universe's most intricate mechanism. Though our human members may perish and fade into the annals of time, the Illuminati will continue to stand into eternity." Why a secret society? "Freedom is an idol of the human species. The Illuminati operates in defense of you and all humans, in all places, and of all generations. Our duty to this planet has spanned across centuries and survived even the most established government entities. But the cultivation of trillions of human lives is a daunting responsibility, and while the human would not exist today without our protection, many uninformed masses mistake our guidance for a restriction of liberty. Every human desires to be free of oppression, free of hardship, free of poverty, free of hunger, free of rules and laws — but as you understand, the nature of your species leaves true freedom impossible. Are you free to murder? Are you free to steal? Are others free to murder and steal from you? Or are there certain freedoms that must be given up for the benefit of all? For happiness, the human desires freedom; for prosperity, the human requires leadership. This is the reason behind our anonymity. To continue functioning throughout societal changes and generational differences, the Illuminati must remain behind the curtain — an outsider, belonging to none and loyal to all. You may never understand how your life can be free while guided by our organization. You may never fully comprehend our purpose and why you are safest and happiest with us. Simply open your mind and release your apprehensions, and you will find the relief of truth. We will never take your hand and pull you down the path like a slave to our whims. You must find and travel the road on your own. But your quality of life is our greatest concern, and the reason our symbols are placed in your society as a map for you to follow if you desire." What about the modern-day "Illuminati" or "New World Order?" According to an article from theweek.co.uk, In a 2017 interview with the BBC, David Bramwell, "a man who has dedicated himself to documenting the origins of the myth," said the modern-day Illuminati legend was influenced not by Weishaupt but rather by LSD, the 1960s counter-culture, and specifically a text called Principia Discordia. The book praised an alternative belief system – Discordianism – which preached a form of anarchism and gave birth to the Discordian movement, which ultimately wished to cause civil disobedience through practical jokes and hoaxes. One of the leading proponents of this new ideology was a writer called Robert Anton Wilson, who wanted to bring chaos back into society by "disseminating misinformation through all portals – through counter-culture, through the mainstream media," claims Bramwell. He did this by sending fake letters to the men's magazine Playboy, where he worked, attributing cover-ups and conspiracy theories, such as the JFK assassination, to a secret elite organization called the Illuminati. Wilson turned these theories into a book, The Illuminatus Trilogy, which became a surprise cult success and was even made into a stage play in Liverpool, launching the careers of British actors Bill Nighy and Jim Broadbent. What is the New World Order? The idea of a powerful modern Illuminati conspiring to rule the world remained a niche belief a handful of enthusiasts upheld until the 1990s. The internet changed all that, giving conspiracy theorists a global platform to perpetuate their beliefs and present their evidence to a massive audience. Theories about how the New World Order operates run from relatively straightforward ideas to the outright bizarre. Conspiracy theorists obsessively analyze public events for "evidence" of Illuminati influence. The symbols most associated with the Illuminati include triangles, pentagrams, goats, the all-seeing eye – such as the one that appears on U.S. banknotes - and the number 666. This has led to claims some of the American Founding Fathers were members, with Thomas Jefferson accused in the aftermath of the War of Independence. Another commonly cited Illuminati symbol, which appears on U.S. currency, is the so-called Eye of Providence, which is said to represent the omniscience of God watching over humanity. According to a 2013 survey by Public Policy Polling, 28% of U.S. voters believe that a secretive power elite with a globalist agenda is conspiring to eventually rule the world through an authoritarian global government. In addition, it found that 34% of Republicans and 35% of independents believe in the New World Order threat compared to just 15% of Democrats. Who is supposedly a member? As well as being king and queen of the charts, Beyonce and Jay-Z are frequently depicted as lords of the New World Order. Beyonce's immense fame and popularity have long made her a favorite target for conspiracy theorists. Illuminati "experts" seized upon her half-time performance at the 2013 Super Bowl as an example of her "devil-worshipping" choreography, even accusing her on-stage alter ego Sasha Fierce of being a "demonic entity." However, some musicians enjoy deliberately playing with symbols connected to secret societies. For instance, Rihanna frequently incorporates Illuminati images into her music videos and even joked about the theories in the video for S&M, which featured a fake newspaper with a headline declaring her "Princess of the Illuminati." Jay Z has also been accused of hiding secret symbols such as goat imagery and devil horns in his music videos. But, most damningly, the logo for his music label, Roc-A-Fella Records, is a pyramid – one of the most well-known Illuminati logos. Rob Brotherton, a professor at Barnard College and author of Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe in Conspiracy Theories, explains that real-life government conspiracies targeting black people in America, such as FBI infiltration of the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 60s, planted the seeds for Illuminati theory's popularity among hip-hop artists and fans. Speaking to Complex, he said: "Hip-hop served as this [soapbox] for people to talk about issues that were relevant to them, things like discrimination, poverty, the criminal justice system, which are often seemingly slanted against African-Americans". "It's a short leap to go from noticing some kind of injustice to thinking about whether there's something behind it. Hip-hop was just a good candidate to revive this myth," he says. What do celebrities have to say about the theories? Katy Perry told Rolling Stone in 2014 that the theory was the preserve of "weird people on the internet" but admitted she was flattered to be named among the supposed members: "I guess you've kind of made it when they think you're in the Illuminati!" However, she added she was tolerant of people who wanted to believe in the theory because: "I believe in aliens." On the other hand, Madonna might just be a believer – all the more interesting given that she has frequently been accused of being a member herself. Speaking to Rolling Stone, she hinted that she had secret knowledge of the group. The claim is not so shocking given that she released a single titled 'Illuminati.' She said: "People often accuse me of being a member of the Illuminati, but the thing is, I know who the real Illuminati are." In 2016, Beyonce thrilled her fans by unexpectedly releasing a new single, Formation, in February – but conspiracy theorists were excited for another reason. The very first line of the track acknowledged the rumors: "Y'all haters corny with that Illuminati mess." When Prince died suddenly of an accidental overdose in April of the same year, a small but vocal corner of the internet accused the Illuminati of killing the singer-songwriter, who was famous for fiercely protecting his copyrights and artistic freedom from industry interference. "The Illuminati talk won't stop coming and what doesn't help is that Prince himself seems to have been genuinely convinced that the organisation existed," reports one gossip website. In 2009, the singer appeared on T.V. to warn of influential mystery figures controlling the world through "chemtrails" – chemicals pumped into the air via jet planes to manipulate human behavior. Some other conspiracies are . The Illuminati killed Paul Walker. After starring in 7 films in the Fast and Furious franchise, Paul Walker fans were shocked by his ironic death in 2013. He was the passenger in a Porsche that careened out of control and crashed into a pole — or so the media said. But if you ask conspiracy theorists, the Illuminati is actually to blame. According to the YouTuber known as Shane, the Illuminati murdered Walker after he threatened to expose the group. The story goes that Walker was involved in charity work when he came across a bunch of wrongdoings like embezzlement behind the scenes that he wanted to go public with. But, of course, the Illuminati couldn't let that happen and took him out via drone strike. The Illuminati killed JFK. History buffs know JFK died after being shot twice by Lee Harvey Oswald, but many people aren't convinced. According to TIME, 70% of Americans believe the assassination is part of something way bigger… So did the Illuminati have something to do with it? According to The Conspiracy Zone, the answer is ABSO FUCKIN LUTELY. Their evidence is fascinating: JFK was shot in a triangle. ‘John Kennedy' has 11 letters in it. The assassination date (11/22/63) includes multiples of 11. His limo was traveling 11 miles an hour… the list goes on. Why would the Illuminati want JFK dead? Apparently, JFK planned on bringing U.S. troops home from Vietnam and wanted to end the Federal Reserve to end the national debt, which would take away the Illuminati's control over the country. He was killed just days after replacing Federal Reserve Notes. Conspiracy theorists have pointed to audio from the day of his assassination that proves there was more than one shooter, as well as a bullet trajectory that doesn't match that of Oswald's position. Kesha's song ‘Die Young' is an Illuminati anthem. Theorists say Kesha's music also addresses the secret society, whose symbols abound in her early music videos. Take, for example, the video for ‘Die Young: The Illuminati symbolism is so blatant that even Billboard called it out, referencing the numerous triangles, an upside-down cross, and all-seeing one eye. The video even begins with a flashing skull and crossbones. According to conspiracy theorist The Vigilant Citizen, “Illuminati symbols are becoming more prevalent because that was the plan all along: To gradually make them part of popular culture.” Oh boy. Lady Gaga is an “Illuminati puppet.” Lady Gaga is another pop star rumored to be part of the Illuminati. Again, theorists call out the overt symbolism in her videos and persona, calling it a “tribute to mind control.” They say her stage name ‘Gaga' refers to being totally absent-minded, which can be achieved through mind control. Furthermore, in her early days, many of her videos were rife with triangles and all-seeing eye symbolism. However, some say her newest project proves that she's broken free from the Illuminati. After a little hiatus, she boasts a more subdued, realistic image and more meaningful, artistic music. So, then, why didn't they just kill her? In an appearance at Harvard, Gaga talked about how unhappy she was in the entertainment industry. She calls herself a ‘Stefanie/Gaga hybrid,' which Illuminati theorists saw as proof that she became an alternate, demonic personality under Illuminati control. She also says she disliked “being used to make people money,” another potential dig as being an “Illuminati puppet.” Donald Trump is an Illuminati mind controller. If all of these stars are under Illuminati mind control, who's doing the controlling? Aside from alleged Illuminati king Jay-Z, Donald Trump's hand signals reveal his status as a top Illuminati member. While using your hands when you talk is normal, conspiracy theorists say Trump's rather odd gestures are secret messages. The classic “a-ok” symbol apparently means the devil's number ‘666.' However, he also frequently makes the triangle symbol with his hands when he's at ease — which could be the same Illuminati gesture Jay-Z always makes or a reference to the vagina. The Kanye West/Kim Kardashian/Taylor Swift feud was fabricated by the Illuminati. Apparently, when West humiliated Swift on stage at the 2009 VMAs, he welcomed her to the Illuminati. As we know, they've managed to keep the feud in the media for years. While most people have begun to agree that anything these people do is just for publicity, according to The Vigilant Citizen, it's actually an Illuminati “psychological operation” aimed at kids “to precondition them to start believing in fabricated events.” OK, lastly, let's talk about the lizard Illuminati. David Icke, the nut job conspiracy theorist, is the leading proponent of this theory. This should explain it from an article on Time.com, They are among us. Blood-drinking, flesh-eating, shape-shifting extraterrestrial reptilian humanoids with only one objective in their cold-blooded little heads: to enslave the human race. They are our leaders, corporate executives, beloved Oscar-winning actors, and Grammy-winning singers. They're responsible for the Holocaust, the Oklahoma City bombings, and the 9/11 attacks ... at least according to former BBC sports reporter David Icke, who became the poster human for the theory in 1998 after publishing his first book, The Biggest Secret, which contained interviews with two Brits who claimed members of the royal family are nothing more than reptiles with crowns. (Picture Dracula meets Swamp Thing). The conspiracy theorist and New Age philosopher, who wore only turquoise for a time and insisted on being called Son of God-Head, says these "Annunaki" (the reptiles) have controlled humankind since ancient times; they count among their number Queen Elizabeth, George W. Bush, Henry Kissinger, Bill and Hillary Clinton and Bob Hope. Encroaching other conspiracy theorists' territory, Icke even claims that the lizards are behind secret societies like the Freemasons and the Illuminati. Since earning the dubious title of "paranoid of the decade" in the late 1990s, Icke has written several books on the topic, including his latest work, The David Icke Guide to the Global Conspiracy, while operating his own website — complete with merchandise and advertisements. The Top Ten Illuminati Movies https://www.imdb.com/search/keyword/?keywords=illuminati&sort=moviemeter,asc&mode=detail&page=1
Shannon Sharpe sits down with the head of Roc-A-Fella Records and one of the biggest entrepreneurs in the game, Dame Dash.Listen & subscribe to more FOX Sports podcasts: http://sprtspod.fox/applepodcasts#DoSomethinB4TwoSomethin & Follow Club Shay Shay: https://www.instagram.com/clubshayshayhttps://twitter.com/clubshayshayhttps://www.facebook.com/clubshayshayhttps://www.youtube.com/c/clubshayshay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
