This book written by Stacy Guerseva in 2011 should be revisited especially with now being 30th Anniversary of one of the most iconic labels in all music and not just Hip Hop. Stacy goes in depth about the origins,internal power plays and artists drama that plagued the label. You will hear stories about:
*The meeting in which Rick Rubin believing that his vision for the label was being compromised and assumed that Russell Simmons would be the one that would leave only to find out Russell had NO intention of leaving.
*The fight that almost broke out at airport between Jam Master Jay and Slick Rick for an interview that Rick did with Word Up magazine calling RunDMC "garbage"
*How Proffesor Griff from Public Enemy started a melee at Def Jam offices fighting 3rd Bass over the group making fun of S1Ws in the "Gas Face" video
*Standard practice of Def Jam was taking 50% of the artists publishing and how 3rd Bass refused to follow that practice
*Beastie Boys still angry about the royalties lawsuit against Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons refused to show up for a 20th reunion photo to be taken with all former artists on label
*The rise of Lyor Cohen from being in charge of Rush Management to running the label
* How many artists feel and felt shortchanged by the label.
* The not so fruitful foray into R&B music
*That Russell Simmons passed on Nas because he thought he was a
"Kool G Rap wannabe"
This was a great read check it out
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