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It seems that Shyne, Nas, and KRS-One aren’t the only ones who have a problem with the way Def Jam is being ran, as Redman joins the crew to give his insight on why Def Jam is falling apart.

In a recent interview with XXL, Redman explained why Def Jam are not the leaders they use to be:

“Well [now], Def Jam are not leaders. They’re not leaders plain and simple, because it’s changed. They’re not leaders like they used to be. In the ’90’s they were leaders. They were the label that you considered the mechanics of hip-hop; they’re under the car. They were the ones under the car getting greasy, getting dirty, fixing that muffler that drags when everybody loved that Shyte and was following it.

 

Now they’re playing the follower. They’re followers, they’re not building artists no more like they should. And that’s just the game. It’s not they fault. We got into the Internet world and Shyte is moving fast and came so fast and came so quick that labels couldn’t exist, but still they got the money and they’re a company. They’re supposed to adjust. I think they need to get that going. Being a label, being on top.”

The rapper also said artists’ self-promotion has hurt record labels like Def Jam.

“Yeah they have to play catch up,” Red added. “They have to catch up now. The way the labels were ran back then in the ’90’s. We had tapes and even from studio equipment a lot of people weren’t prepared for that, like getting rid of their 24 track reel tapes. So yes, it came up quick on a lot of labels with this viral [thing] and [now] you’re able to do songs in the comforts of your own home.

 

They shutting studios down, you can get known through Facebook or whatever. You don’t have to wait for a label to put you out now, so yes I think the labels are shut down a little bit and sizing down a lot.”

Do you agree with Redman?

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