8/18/2023 0 Comments Iceberg jeans rapMore than three decades after first discovering the book, when mulling over possible film projects, Ice-T decided with Hinojosa to investigate Iceberg Slim’s complex life in a documentary. Later on in my life, when I got into music, I started to write, but I would write them like books, like stories.” His admiration for Iceberg inspired his rap name, his creative career, and his gift choices-the rapper and Law and Order: Special Victims Unitstar has presented a copy of the book, which has drawn comparisons to the groundbreaking literature of Ralph Ellison, to everyone from his daughter to his longtime manager, Jorge Hinojosa, as a “crash course” on his life. “I started to read it, and I could quote lines out of it,” Ice-T told VF.com during a recent interview. It wasn’t until he got his hands on a paperback copy of Iceberg Slim’s 1969 memoir, Pimp: The Story of My Life-which, he says, cool upperclassmen toted in the back pocket of their Levis each day-that he felt he connected to something. “Think quick, score points and keep moving.”įor more on the business of Jay-Z, check out Zack's Jay-Z book, titled Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner to Corner Office, released March 17th.Before Ice-T, born Tracy Marrow, became a Grammy-winning rap artist, police-procedural detective, and reality-show star, he was a Los Angeles– area high-school student suffering through required readings like Moby Dick and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. “I think that the analogy of a top basketball player fits him best,” says Brathwaite. Few people remember his Armadale vodka that quietly flopped in the mid-2000s or the Las Vegas location of his 40/40 Club that closed a few years later instead, the attention goes to his successes. In part, that’s due to the fact that he’s made a point to never publicize anything less than victory. Though the Rivera altercation received plenty of media attention, Jay-Z has generally been able to closely manage the news leaked about him. He has since gone on record saying that he regretted the incident, and has stayed out of legal trouble ever since. He learned the second part the hard way - in 1999 Jay-z was arrested for allegedly stabbing record producer Lance Rivera for bootlegging his album, but got off with probation. “When you’re in a business meeting with him, his demeanor is of a calm, studious business executive rather than an artist temporarily occupying an office chair.”Īnother Jay-Z rule: Attack any threat to your business, but don’t take it too far. “One of the things that impressed me the most about Shawn in dealing with him was his inquisitive nature,” says Bernie Resnick, a Philadephia-based entertainment lawyer who has crossed paths with Jay-Z a number of times. Talk to just about anybody who’s spent time with him and they’ll rave about his thirst for knowledge-a trait that has helped him gain quite a lot. “Those numbers aren’t going to be flying around anymore.”Īnother one of Jay-Z’s most valuable business commandments is to identify mentors and ask plenty of questions. “The timing of Jay’s deal couldn’t have been more perfect,” singer-songwriter-producer Akon told me in 2009. As the market for concert tickets heated up, he bucked convention and signed a 10-year, $150 million deal with concert promoter Live Nation just before the market tanked. When it became clear that there were more lucrative opportunities outside of music, he moved into clothing (Rocawear) and alcohol (Armadale vodka). This instinct first led him from dealing drugs as an adolescent to selling records as an adult. Jay-Z has repeatedly proven his ability not just to know where the money is, but to anticipate where it will-or won’t-be. Take for example one of his simplest but most definitive rules: Focus on the most realistic chance to make the most money at all times. Although the notion of giving away free advertising isn’t something most people have to worry about, there are plenty of lessons from Jay-Z’s business philosophy that can be applied to just about any career or entrepreneurial situation.
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