By Haaron Hines
When it comes to rap music, the motive to go from being the best on your block to top five dead or alive can be one of three words; money, power or respect. When it comes to New York street music, we want all of the above and do what needs to be done to get it.
No one personifies the wordplay or bravado that you must possess to get it better than Jadakiss. After coming into the game as one third of the Lox, the Yonkers, NY native became an every hood favorite with the release of his two solo albums, 2001's
Kiss the Game Goodbye and 2004's
Kiss of Death trademark metaphors, punchlines, and ad libs earned him a cult like following.
But as time went on people became less concerned with an MC's rhymes and more impressed with the extravagance of his chain. With the industry turned upside down a vet has to make new alliances and build new bridges to be able to survive. So it shouldn't have surprised you when you heard Jada is now on Roc-a-fella/Def Jam.
New deals mean opportunities for new money and with the release of his third solo album,
Kiss My Ass, You're going to see a new contender for one of greatest of all time.
AllHipHop.com: You're a veteran in the game and a co-owner of your own label. No disrespect to you or Jay-Z, but a lot of people were wondering what made you sign to another artist?
Jadakiss: I mean I’m signed to Def Jam too. If anything ever happens I’ll be right on Def Jam. It’s just that these new kids and the new ages, they just want to see something new. So that’s why I did that with the solo deal. Interscope wasn’t really doing it. I mean, 50 had that whole s**t on smash and I really didn’t feel like they we’re going to help me go to the next level so that left me looking for a new outlet.
It ain’t like I need Hov. Not to say it like that but I need him for what I need him for. I don’t need him there at every session, I don’t need him to pick my beats…none of that. I just need him to make a couple phone calls, pull a couple strings, you know, let me get some of that power and put some sprinkles on me here and there.
With Def Jam noticably focused more on their R&B acts and Roc-A-Fella not being what it used to be....
Jadakiss: The whole game ain’t what it was but Def Jam is doing the best right now outside of the independent s**t. All labels are taking a hit right now. Everybody everywhere is down. It’s up to you to keep yourself afloat as much as you could because the labels don’t do s**t. They get on board when they hear you’re out there heating up. Once they know you’re hot, then they come aboard. They won’t heat you up. If you ain’t got no staff and you ain’t trying to work your own stuff you’re going to be up s**t’s creek.
AllHipHop.com: So you're confident Def Jam will give you the push you need to reach that next level?
Jadakiss: I’ll see. It’s worth it to try than stay somewhere where they ain’t helping me out. Why stay there? F**k it, let’s try the hand elsewhere. Chances make champions.
AllHipHop.com: When people heard about this move a lot of fans began looking forward to a possible collab with Jay-Z and Beanie Sigel. What's your relationship like with Beans and have you worked on anything yet?
Jadakiss: Me and beans is cool. We ain’t get to do no music in a while but we’re cool.
AllHiphop.com: You've gained a faithful following among hardcore Hip-Hop fans but the primary consumers aren't exactly hardcore fans. How do you expect to reach that audience?
Jadakiss: You got to switch it up a little. You got to be able to adjust with the times. Whatever the times is, you got to be able to keep up with the Jones’, as they say, to bring them into your element somehow. The fans have switched. Now the tight pant, skateboarders and this and that, you have to acknowledge them. You have to cater to that group of people too because they’re really like the broad of the audience right now. You got to get your Internet game up. The blogs and your websites got to be popping. It’s a whole new thing out there and if you can’t keep up with the technology and the times, you’re going to get lost in the sauce.