Double dose of Dash's rap
Two artists: 1 dead, 1 jailed
BY PHYLLIS FURMAN
DAILY NEWS BUSINESS WRITER
www.nydailynews.com/busin...6823c.html
The first artists Damon Dash (above) is releasing on his new record label are Ol' Dirty Bastard, who recently died of a drug overdose, and Beanie Sigel, who is serving a one-year sentence on a federal weapons charge.
Rap impresario Damon Dash is about to release the first two artists on his new record label - but don't expect to see either one making the rounds of Hot 97 or BET. One of them, Beanie Sigel, is in prison and the other, Ol' Dirty Bastard, is dead.
Sigel is serving a one-year sentence on a federal weapons charge, while Ol' Dirty Bastard, a former member of the hip hop act Wu Tang Clan, recently died of a drug overdose.
Sigel recorded his new album as well as numerous music videos before he went off to prison. ODB's mother let Dash release her son's latest tracks - and there may be more still to come.
It's a unique situation even for the rap world, where violence and crime are common. And it comes as Dash is out to prove himself once again to be a rap honcho, this time without his longtime partner Jay-Z.
"It's like getting into the ring and fighting with one arm," Dash told the Daily News.
After a falling out, Dash and Jay-Z recently sold their label, Roc-A-Fella Records, to Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam for $10 million.
Rap superstar Jay-Z went on to take a big corporate role as president of Def Jam, while Dash bagged some Roc-A-Fella artists to re-start on his own. His label, Damon Dash Music, is 50% owned by Universal.
Dash is hoping to trade on his own celebrity to get the word out on his absent artists. His primary focus now is rapper Sigel, whose CD, "The B. Coming" is scheduled to debut March 29.
Dash is about to make a blitz of appearances that would normally be the artist's job. Earlier this week he hit New York radio station Hot 97 - site of the recent shoot 'em up between 50 cent and The Game's crews.
Up next are visits to shows like BET's "106 and Park" and MTV's "TRL," as well as a national tour of radio stations. The record could also get a boost from "State Property 2," a gritty feature film starring Sigel, from Dash's film company and Lions Gate set to open April 13.
The rap mogul expects to do a similar publicity run for Ol' Dirty Bastard's CD "A Son Unique," set to hit on April 12.
But the success of either CD is far from a sure thing. Insiders at Universal - which is enjoying a white-hot run thanks to rap superstars 50 Cent, The Game, and Eminem - have limited expectations for the two Dash releases, sources said.
The track record of AWOL rap artists is spotty. Incarcerated rapper Shyne's last album came in way below expectations. But Tupac Shakur has had numerous posthumous records that have gone multiplatinum.
"It depends on the fan base," Dash said.
Dash declined to predict sales of either release, though he said he expects at least a top 10 debut for Sigel. He claims he didn't start his new company with the goal of making money, since he makes far more from his clothing and film ventures.
"I'm in it to make good music," he said. "There's not much money in the music business."
Two artists: 1 dead, 1 jailed
BY PHYLLIS FURMAN
DAILY NEWS BUSINESS WRITER
www.nydailynews.com/busin...6823c.html
The first artists Damon Dash (above) is releasing on his new record label are Ol' Dirty Bastard, who recently died of a drug overdose, and Beanie Sigel, who is serving a one-year sentence on a federal weapons charge.
Rap impresario Damon Dash is about to release the first two artists on his new record label - but don't expect to see either one making the rounds of Hot 97 or BET. One of them, Beanie Sigel, is in prison and the other, Ol' Dirty Bastard, is dead.
Sigel is serving a one-year sentence on a federal weapons charge, while Ol' Dirty Bastard, a former member of the hip hop act Wu Tang Clan, recently died of a drug overdose.
Sigel recorded his new album as well as numerous music videos before he went off to prison. ODB's mother let Dash release her son's latest tracks - and there may be more still to come.
It's a unique situation even for the rap world, where violence and crime are common. And it comes as Dash is out to prove himself once again to be a rap honcho, this time without his longtime partner Jay-Z.
"It's like getting into the ring and fighting with one arm," Dash told the Daily News.
After a falling out, Dash and Jay-Z recently sold their label, Roc-A-Fella Records, to Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam for $10 million.
Rap superstar Jay-Z went on to take a big corporate role as president of Def Jam, while Dash bagged some Roc-A-Fella artists to re-start on his own. His label, Damon Dash Music, is 50% owned by Universal.
Dash is hoping to trade on his own celebrity to get the word out on his absent artists. His primary focus now is rapper Sigel, whose CD, "The B. Coming" is scheduled to debut March 29.
Dash is about to make a blitz of appearances that would normally be the artist's job. Earlier this week he hit New York radio station Hot 97 - site of the recent shoot 'em up between 50 cent and The Game's crews.
Up next are visits to shows like BET's "106 and Park" and MTV's "TRL," as well as a national tour of radio stations. The record could also get a boost from "State Property 2," a gritty feature film starring Sigel, from Dash's film company and Lions Gate set to open April 13.
The rap mogul expects to do a similar publicity run for Ol' Dirty Bastard's CD "A Son Unique," set to hit on April 12.
But the success of either CD is far from a sure thing. Insiders at Universal - which is enjoying a white-hot run thanks to rap superstars 50 Cent, The Game, and Eminem - have limited expectations for the two Dash releases, sources said.
The track record of AWOL rap artists is spotty. Incarcerated rapper Shyne's last album came in way below expectations. But Tupac Shakur has had numerous posthumous records that have gone multiplatinum.
"It depends on the fan base," Dash said.
Dash declined to predict sales of either release, though he said he expects at least a top 10 debut for Sigel. He claims he didn't start his new company with the goal of making money, since he makes far more from his clothing and film ventures.
"I'm in it to make good music," he said. "There's not much money in the music business."
