Jay-Z Ditches Def Jam: “I’m An Entrepreneur!”
Jay-Z has confirmed the destinations of his Blueprint 3 and Roc Nation label, telling Billboard that his new album will be released on Atlantic Records while the label he formed after signing a 360 deal with Live Nation is bound to Sony Music. Prior to the official announcement, it seemed like there was a bidding war between Warner Music (which houses Atlantic Records) and Sony Music to be Jigga’s distributor, but the ever-entrepreneurial rapper ended up striking deals with both sides.
“Roc Nation — we’re experts in marketing and making records. But we do distribution deals,” Jay-Z told Billboard. “On this one [Blueprint 3], we’re working directly with the Atlantic staff… For the rest of the Roc Nation artists, we did a distribution deal with Sony.” Jay-Z has ties with both labels: Atlantic Records is under the jurisdiction of Warner Music CEO Lyor Cohen, who worked with Jay at Def Jam and also appears in the rapper’s new “D.O.A.” video. Over at Sony Music, subsidiary Epic Records is run by Amanda Ghost, who is also managed by Roc Nation. Plus, Jay’s wife Beyoncé is signed to Sony Music’s Columbia Records.
As Rock Daily previously reported, Jay-Z bought out his Def Jam contract for $5 million, giving him freedom to take Blueprint 3 elsewhere. As Jay-Z tells Billboard, he became increasingly frustrated by Def Jam’s stodgy approach to distribution deals. “You have to figure, this is like four years ago, and to them it was just like, ‘Are you crazy? No! Make a song!’ ” Jay said. “To me it was like, I’ve sold companies for huge amounts of money. I’m an entrepreneur — that’s what I’ve been all my life. I can’t just sit here and make records and not do anything else. Why wouldn’t you want to do this with me? I felt under-utilized.” The Blueprint 3 is out September 11th, exactly eight years to the day the rapper’s original Blueprint was released.
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Comments (11)
Great! Bye…and please don’t come back! ….and no, we do not still need Jay-z to the commentor above!! His music is arrogant, disrespectful and he’s gettin too old for that! Sit down somewhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FABULOSITY,that was THE DUMBEST response to an article I have read today… Ladies, this has NOTHING to do with Beyonce, at all. Jay z does not even really wanna still be doin this, he just has to. He’s still the most relevant rapper cause Wayne didn’t take the spot like he should have, he too bust singin, same with Kanye. Jay z makes money more ways than one… Clothes, cologne, and he OWNS an NBA TEAM… SO FABULOSITY if you gonna make comments on this, PLEASE know what you talkin about, THANKS
i respect the moves jay makes. as long as he can make good music don’t retire. we still need him in the game. rappers still haven’t picked up the flag he dropped so he needs to keep doing it until somebody does.
I heard mad people be on the back burnner at def jam.
I’m tired of famous people retirin and then commin back I feel the only reason y he came back is cuz he married a boss b***h who’s getting that money and he can sit and let her be the only person shinin I hate the new song even though my hubby likes it but a little advice for jay-z u shouldn’t have married a boss b***h if u couldn’t handle taking the back sit made if he wasn’t insecure he would be able to do that boo u got money commin out cha ass just chill and live it up
I’m tired of famous people retiring and then commin back I feel the only reason y he came back is cuz he married a boss b***h who’s getting that money and he can sit and let her be the only person shinin I hate the new even though my hubby likes it but a little advice for jay-z u shouldn’t have married a boss b***h if u couldn’t handle taling the back sit made if he wasn’t insecure he would be able to do that boo u got money commin out cha ass just chill and live it up
Jay get yo money as long as u can. Only person that feeds your family is self.
EXACTLY….LIKE SENORCAFE SAID…HE DON’T HVE TO STOP AS LONG AS PEOPLE RELATE….HE MAKES HOT MUSIC AND ANYONE ELSE CAN EAT TOO…LOOK AT THE BOA SOULJA BOY…HOWEVER YOU SPELL IT…LOL…IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO OR JUST DIG IT…ANYBODY CAN MAKE A RAP RECORD…KEEP MAKING HITS IS THE KEY THOUGH…EAT AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAM AND SQUAD,PLUS DO FOR OTHERS LESS FORTUNATE THAN YOU….THAT HAS TO BE A BEAUTIFUL FEELING….BUT A LOT OF THESE CATS CAN’T GO BACK TO THEIR OLD HOOD THOUGH…THT’S SAD
Good for jigga, if the young boys put out quality music the will eat. Drake aint having a problem eating.
why is he making albums he is retired, let the young boys eat too
OK…JAY-Z..TAKING THINGS TO THE NEXT LEVEL FOR ARTISTS AFTER YOU BIG HOMIE….THEY’VE BEEN RAPING ARTIST FOR SO LONG…GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE MUSIC FOLK TO SEE…1ST PRINCE ..NOW JAY-Z!