| Editorials |
| 4/17/04: Well, it's about that time for another edition of editorials where I bitch and complain about random things in hip hop. Like I stated on the front page of the website, Dr. Dre has scrapped plans to do the "Detox" album. He says that he will focus more on producing his new acts (Eve, Busta Rhymes, Game, etc). This is what pisses me off about Dre. He has all these projects that he never finishes. I think that he is better off just having a production company and sure enough that is essentially what he is doing by not doing the album. Now that I think about it, lets just make this editorial about West Coast artists and CEO's that are fucking up hip hop for not only their artists but us the fans as well... Dr. Dre- Rakim, King Tee, Ice T, NWA, Snoop & Dre, Timbaland & Dre, Hittman, Nate Dogg. The list is endless as to the artists that Dre WAS supposed to either produce or executive produce for. The sad thing is some of these projects are completed (King Tee album is banging!!!). Dre is really not as focused on working with West Coast artists other than the Game so don't look for him to make as much an impression on it. (Although he has still the tightest label in hip hop) Snoop- Both him and Dre have taken cues from Suge as far as screwing artists is concerned. But Snoop I feel has done more to divide his crew than help it. 1999-2001 looked like Snoop was ready to take over the West with his Dogghouse imprint. With back to back stellar albums from Tha Eastsidaz, it seemed like Snoop would succeed Dre as having the elite label that is more about the artist than the CEO. But for whatever reason, Snoop's artists have taken a back seat to Snoop himself. He seems to drift farther and farther away from his original style and more into a pop/mainstream style. I really do not complain so much about that, but when you are keeping your DPGC brethen down and not breaking bread with them that is sad. DPG collabos are almost non-exist on Snoop albums, (remember on his 1st 2 albums some of his tightest cuts were posse cuts with DPGC or ones he just let the crew spit on?) Eastsidaz talking about they were not paid properly and Tray Dee supposedly chasing Snoop all over Cali because of it. He also has Suge Knight syndrome of not dropping other artists albums like E-White, Soopafly, Kokane, Latoiya Williams and others. Snoop's career is dwindling fast and his disloyalty for the DPG's is one of the main reasons. Suge Knight- My last CEO is of Tha Row Records. I do not think that I need to discuss the well publicized dealing of him in the past, but lets talk about his business dealings right now. You sign one of the West brightest stars in Crooked I, and sit on his talent for 5 YEARS! Kurupt comes back after leaving the label and he gets a VP job, but his album is also being pushed back. Like Snoop, other artists on the label are being pushed behind due to Knight's legal problems and lack of promotion. Now that Crooked I is gone, it will be interesting to see if Knight can even salvage any kind of respectable label and if anyone cares at this point. The West Coast hip hop scene is not all about gangsta rap, but these 3 men were at the forefront when it was on top and so with it being a bit down at the moment I think that we can blame them for it as well. Just my opinion, take it or leave it. |