Line Out - Comments on Get Your Mogul On

Comment by kerri harrop

kerri harrop — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:21:30 -0800

god damn, denzel looks good.

Comment by Levislade

Levislade — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:48:14 -0800

Which reminds me, have you heard about this one?: http://uk.news.launch.yahoo.com/dyna/article.html?a=/30102007/140/plans-u2-tower-cause-rattle-hum.html&e=l_news_dm

Comment by TJ

TJ — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:12:53 -0800

I did think it was weird that they casted so many hip-hop artists and not full-time actors. Regardless, I thought the movie as a whole was fairly good.

Comment by Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:15:10 -0800

Chris Rock, as usual, hits the nail squarely on the head.

Comment by Chris Estey

Chris Estey — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:28:36 -0800

This is great, JZ.

This Chris Rock interview should make it into the 2008 Best Music Writing -- along with Sasha Frere-Jones' recent article.

Comment by David Schmader

David Schmader — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:51:53 -0800

Re: the recent musical output of Common: For what it's worth, Finding Forever kicks Be's butt, in all ways except cover art...

Comment by Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:15:51 -0800

We wouldn't have had labels like Def Jam if it wasn't for people "getting their mogul on".

Comment by bailee.

bailee. — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:40:31 -0800

RZA in Derailed (yes, I saw it) was horrible. I was appalled at the role he chose to play.

I will give Mos Def a high-five as far as the rapper-turned-actor gig goes, though. Black Star was a definitive 90's hip hop record, Black on Both Sides was a decent solo follow up, and "Universal Magnetic" has to be one of the more recognizable hip-hop jams. Flip side- Hitchiker's Guide and, although I haven't seen it yet, the upcoming Gondry project Be Kind Rewind (with Jack Black). Well done, Uncle Mos.

Comment by trent moorman

trent moorman — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 11:46:36 -0800

I just really hate P. Diddy. Duddy.

Comment by jz

jz — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:50:31 -0800

@6--really? thats the first time ive heard that. "be" was pretty damn good. i caught the video for the first single off "finding forever" and was put off by the whole "8 mile" conceptual ripoff. plus that album title is in contention for megans most-offensive-of-all-time list. but ill give it another shot.

@7--russell simmons and rick rubin never aspired to be rappers. maybe youre thinking of jay-z's roc-a-fella?

Comment by Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:28:07 -0800

jz - that's taking it a bit literally in the case of Def Jam.

I don't think anyone can argue that the word "hustle" hasn't been a part of hip-hop since day one. And yeah, Jay-Z may have made it more visible/acceptable/whatever, but it certainly didn't start with him.

for further proof, look at Eric B!

Comment by cosby

cosby — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:46:41 -0800

@11: just to pour more gasoline on this fire burning out of control(now barely having to do anything with the original post); it's a not-so-secret secret that eric b never really did anything for eric b and rakim. rakim produced all of the eric b and rakim albums himself; eric b was more of a money man that also held down the decks during live shows (which, if you re-watch the video for 'microphone fiend', he doesn't do very well - he looks like a deer caught in the headlights behind the turntables).

Comment by jz

jz — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:00:32 -0800

the mogul-ization of hiphop is taking hustle to the xxxtreme. and i think youre wrong about hustle being inherent to hiphop. the best of the best avoid the hustle altogether: public enemy, de la, run dmc, etc.

Comment by David Schmader

David Schmader — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:43:44 -0800

Re: Common: A Finding Forever song just came up via shuffle on my iPod, with lyrics featuring Common countering a lady's claim that she "doesn't date rappers" by producing his SAG card to prove he's an actor. Make of that what you will.

Re: Eric B: Is this true?!? Never scared, indeed.

Comment by Brandon

Brandon — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:07:12 -0800

jz - none of the artists you listed avoid hustle altogether. I think you're pinning the definition of the word down on dudes installing gold toilet bowls in their restaurants when it should also include shit like getting Aerosmith to play on a track.

furthermore, rappers don't exist in a vacuum. HUSTLE is a part of hiphop; there would be no De La Soul without Eric B or Bambaataa.

Comment by lar

lar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:44:24 -0800

rappers putting business before music is indeed resulting in a lot of garbage ass music.
most of it has to do with rappers emulating jay-z, which has been all the rage since the late 90's.

getting your business right is a totally necessary drive to have in a world dominated by cracka-ass crackas out to rip off and subjugate the righteous original black man, but somewhere along the way, overcharging them for what they did to the Cold Crush gets in the way of making soulful timeless music...for yet more cracka-ass crackas to rip off down the line. let's keep our eyes on the prize my people.

Comment by jz

jz — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:05:03 -0800

that pretty much wraps that up.

Comment by trent moorman

trent moorman — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:21:32 -0800

Indeed.

Comment by ndrwmtsn

ndrwmtsn — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 17:23:10 -0800

i'm seeing this movie tonight

and finding forever is a good album. not even a not-bad album. it is good. beat-wise, better than graduation.

Comment by lar

lar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:45:40 -0800

real quick:
Chris Rock would totally love Jay-Z's American Gangster.

Comment by dc

dc — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 16:32:07 -0800

hustlin is a part of being a professional musician. Talent is talent and will shine through (or not). There's also good hustlin & bad hustlin.