In an interview on The Arsenio Hall Show in February, Suge Knight explained why he thought The Game and Kendrick Lamar have two of the worst deals in the music industry. The former Death Row Records CEO broke down the various agencies and imprints that get a cut in the artists’ check, leaving only little for the artist.
Suge was asked to clarify his comments by BET yesterday where he further explained Kendrick’s situation as he sees it (video posted below).
“Even when I said with Kendrick Lamar.. well if it’s Universal there’s the guy who really bring the deal over to Jimmy Iovine which is Mike. Then there’s Interscope, then there is Aftermath, then there’s Top Dawg Entertainment or whatever, then there’s Kendrick.”
He also even it to Prince’s longtime war with Warner Bros. in the 90s over royalties and freedom of creative expression.
“If you can’t live off your tour money how can you survive by being a slave? Prince was able to survive by being a slave because he was able to tour. If Prince had a deal like these new guys deals, in that the record company get half of your tour money, Prince would have been f**ked.”
TDE’s boss Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith has now openly addressed Suge’s comments. He challenges him by announcing that if he can prove the fact that Interscope is getting a cut out of TDE artists’ tours, he will sell his label to him for $1.
TELL SUGE I SAID IF HE KAN SHOW ME 1 CHECK WE PAID 2 INTERSCOPE OFF OF R TOUING..ILL SELL HIM TDE 4 $1, NOBODY GETS SHIT OFF OUR TOURS. #TOP
— dangeroo kipawaa TDE (@dangerookipawaa) April 16, 2014
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