Dr. Dre Associate Explains Rakim's Departure From Aftermath Records

[Chameleon]

Earlier this summer, legendary rapper Rakim abruptly left Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records after three years. At the time Rakim's manager cited creative differences as the cause of the split. Recently Big Chuck, a former vice president at Aftermath Records, shed some light on what transpired.


Big Chuck told the Source magazine, "I think Rakim got tired with that bullsh-t; he left. The God (Rakim) isn't going to sit around and be mistreated. You got to look at Rakim as a guy who changed hip-hop entirely. How do you sign him and then stick him in the studio with a C-list producer? That's disrespectful. Dre would throw him one track and not even sit in with him."


Rakim is presently fielding offers from several labels. The rapper hopes to release his new album, Oh My God, by early next year.


Rakim and his partner Eric B. released the hip-hop classic, Paid In Full, in 1987. The duo parted ways in 1992 and since then Rakim released two solo efforts, 1997's the 18th Letter, and 1999's the Master.

http://launch.yahoo.com/read/news.asp?contentID=214586

 

[CASTLE HILL]

I respect Ra but that marriage was doomed from the start. Rakim needs to sign with a label that's not caught up in strictly record sales. Now he can make a quality hip hop album and sell a few hundred thousand or compromise his style for commercial success in pursuit of that multi platinum plaque. One problem I see with Ra tthese days is he's too monotone. His voice never changes so his tracks tend to sound bland. I'd switch up his voice a little with effects and hook him up with the hot hip hop producers not hit makers.

 

[DOVESKI]

To monotone??? What the fuk, you want him to start rapping like Nelly or something.

Castle, you seem to know whats popping, but im confused by what you want to hear out of hip hop music by looking at your posts. What are you feeling right now, youve dissed on pop rap, backpack rap, have said Primo sounds stale and now Rakim is to monotone, whats the real? Just wanna know, if i thought you were some youngster toy i wouldnt ask, peace.

 

[kaliyl]

If anything, Rakim should be dissin dre. Rakim way to talented to be tryin to lower his standerds to fit what these wack a$$ flip-flop fans wanna hear. He should hook up with primo and pete rock and put down some real sh!t. Not this teenie bopper, made for radio, plastic rap. If you think rakim is monotone, i know you dont like 50 sent,crabulous, lay-z, or fluff daddy, now thats monotone. Rakim made a good move.

 

[jdawg]

I don't believe **** the source says anymore.

they put 50 on the cover, and all they do inside is bash him..

and with benzino signing to murder inc??

and whats with the hot boys latest lp gettin 4 & 1/2 Mics?

of course they gonna blame dre for ra's departure.. i'd like to know the real story tho, as well as why rakims hooks were so week.

 

[CASTLE HILL]

To monotone??? What the fuk, you want him to start rapping like Nelly or something.

Castle, you seem to know whats popping, but im confused by what you want to hear out of hip hop music by looking at your posts. What are you feeling right now, youve dissed on pop rap, backpack rap, have said Primo sounds stale and now Rakim is to monotone, whats the real? Just wanna know, if i thought you were some youngster toy i wouldnt ask, peace.

I grew up in the Bronx with hip hop from its birth as a fan. I've also done freelance A&R work so I approach rap from two persepectives; the fan and the label excecutive. The fan sometimes contradicts with the label exec. The fan in me just appreciates street hip hop, The label exec approaches it from a strictly profit perspective. I listened to the greats like Marley Marl, Scott La Rock, Primo, Pete Rock , Large Professor and my old friend Diamond D. Primo's beats dont sound as hot to me anymore. I was his one of his biggest fans but he needs new sounds. I've heard all of that before. I need to hear new sounds. I have been studying his production for his entire career. It does sound stale to me now. Rakim's a legend but lets be truthful. He doesnt blaze a track like he used to. It could be because times have changed. Some would say its a new era and that his time has come & gone. I just think switching up his voice here and there would make him sound a little more appealing. Show some changes in emotion here and there. You have to change a little over time if you want to have a long career in music.Jay-Z reinvented himself and became the #1 rapper. Nas has switched a few times. Ronald Isley-a rock & R&B legend reinvented himself by hooking up with R. Kelley and creating that Mr. Biggs character. He could have used the same old producers from back in the days but he knew it wouldnt work. 'm 34 dog. I've witnessed rap grow from its early days and I have grown with it. I have also studied the music greats. Personally I dont like backpack rap with the exception of Canibus because I cant relate to them and their subject matter. I wanna hear stuff that's relevant to my life. I dont want to hear bitter rappers complain about how they aint getting the props they deserve. Many of the backpack producers are wack. Just go to ughh.com.
Music is so wack these days from a lyrical standpoint, I am more into the production side. I'll buy a cd just to hear the production. The producers I like are: Bink, EZ Elpee, Havoc, Alchemist, Buckwild, a few Just Blaze joints, Red Spyda, Lazee Laze(MOP's manager and part time producer)The Heatmakerz, etc... Rappers I like are : Ghostface, Rass Kass, Killah Priest, Raekwon, Memphis Bleek, Big Pun, MOP, Sheek from the Lox and the old Fat Joe.

 

[Goodall]

To monotone??? What the fuk, you want him to start rapping like Nelly or something.

Castle, you seem to know whats popping, but im confused by what you want to hear out of hip hop music by looking at your posts. What are you feeling right now, youve dissed on pop rap, backpack rap, have said Primo sounds stale and now Rakim is to monotone, whats the real? Just wanna know, if i thought you were some youngster toy i wouldnt ask, peace.

Many Hip Hop Heads like Doveski (and even myself) don't really know what we want to hear or what we are feeling unless its that exact time when listening. Because I could go on and on about B-S lyrics in popular songs but still like some of Lil Flip's shyt, you see what Im saying? Nas contradicts himself but I still play "I Am" and "It Was Written" all the time. To me, its what Im feeling at THAT exact moment. I cant predict it or rely on it. I guess you could say I like to be surprised by shyt. Basically................

 

[GamezBond]

I never understood what the God was going on Aftermath in the first place...


LOL, that's like when Hammer joined Death Row....


(Ok its not like that, but its still funny)