Leaving your group and becoming a solo artist? Please read!!

[ProToolzLE]

Ok, I'm in a group 2G and well if you didn't now you do. LOL!! Ok but as of lately we have been talking with a reputable manager who manages multi-platinum acts and he has taken a interest but las night we sent him some more snippets and now hes saying he thinks I should go solo because I have a unique sound, delivery, and voice. But my loyalty wont let me go out like that but then people telling me like man you got a lil one and shit and what would he do if the shoe was on the other foot? So if you were in my position what would you do? Dont get it twisted though if I make it my dudes are there with me

[zooloo]

If you "make it" it's not really your choice on who is "there" and who isn't.

I'd tell the band what's afoot - they may be willing, even eager, to adapt what they play to focus more on what the manager is suggesting.

If they don't want to that's their choice.

Above all try and stay on good terms.

BTW the poll question is "would you do A or B" the answers are "yes"/"no"... don't make sense guv.

[ProToolzLE]

Sorry for the confusion I'm changing now and thanks for the advice

[chris carter]

Stay in the group AND go solo.

[bgrotto]

If you truly think you got it what it takes to make it, then definitely go for it solo. That's a less-than-once-in-a-lifetime chance. It seems like a no-brainer to me.

[beat you down]

which one is you?

[UnMix Studio]

Dude, you should take the opportunity. It's not guarantee there'll be another interest of such.

As far as your group, who has an interest in you guys as a whole right now? If none, then they should allow you to go solo and think of you the stepping stone to them getting in the game. Look as 50 Cent, Yayo, Loyd Banks had no deals or offer but 50 got in the game and put them on and now the group is on their second album with each member at least on their 2nd album. That could be a pattern for yall.

They might not understand it at first but make them see this could what get everybody in the door. Don't think of it as "if it were them they'll do it to so i'll do". That's the disloyal excuse right there. Do it to help them advance to get on by way of your deal if you get one.
And if that manager doesn't guarantee you a solo deal stay within your group as an artist

[bgrotto]

Hilarious comment from the YouTube page:

"y'all better check yo'selves and step off the block
what y'all bench in pounds i bench in tons
i eat babies, ¿respeck?"

You eat babies?!? WHAT??

Awesome. Actually, all the comments on the YouTube page are fairly priceless.

Anyway, so is this video for real? Those dudes come off as super corny, and there's a strange, sort of twisted bit of homoeroticism too, it would seem (dude's rapping in football pads, working out...hot stuff), but the song's sorta OK - that emcee Lumbajack certainly has a nice flow, and an interesting voice. It seems like those kids in the video are re-enacting someone else's video, possibly as a spoof...

Or am I just not getting it?

Originally Posted by beat you down

which one is you?

[beat you down]

Originally Posted by bgrotto

...It seems like those kids in the video are re-enacting someone else's video, possibly as a spoof...

[bgrotto]

Those are freakin' awesome. Thank you for that.

Originally Posted by beat you down

[ProToolzLE]

I like how you guys just threw vids in my post but I hope you don't think that is us!! LOL!! Our name is 2G and we are from Macon, GA. I don't know them clowns. So none of those vids feature us.

[bgrotto]

Originally Posted by ProToolzLE

I like how you guys just threw vids in my post but I hope you don't think that is us!! LOL!! Our name is 2G and we are from Macon, GA. I don't know them clowns. So none of those vids feature us.

That's good news!

BTW - I'm checking out your Myspace right now and I'm noticing the "Black Hood" label/gear. Just wanna give you a heads-up: I've had two clients up here in Boston that use "Black Hood" as their DIY label imprint. I don't think they own the copyright for the name, but you may wanna pursue registering that name (if you haven't already) if you wanna use it in a more serious way. If two groups up here are using it, I can only imagine how many folks are using it nationwide.

[ProToolzLE]

Yes we know we have heard of them from one of our sources but all of our ducks are about to be in a row, so we don't have to worry about them.

[bgrotto]

Originally Posted by ProToolzLE

Yes we know we have heard of them from one of our sources but all of our ducks are about to be in a row, so we don't have to worry about them.

Cool, good deal.

[Keyflo]

NO, well im in a production group, but i wouldnt leave, i go by this, if we started together we're gonna finish together man especially if you guys been together for a long long time

[Jake Gilla]

Exclusive groups are lame, causes people to put "loyalty" over ambition. True loyalty starts with being loyal to yourself. In my opinion its better to agree from the start that the group is only as solvent as the project its working on, and after each project is a chance to move forward or branch apart. Don't see why you can't handle your solo business and still contribute to your group. Just be real with everybody and they should understand. If they don't there's probably not much hope anyway.

Seems like a great opportunity, I say go for it.

Good Luck.

[Exmun]

Originally Posted by bgrotto

That's good news!

BTW - I'm checking out your Myspace right now and I'm noticing the "Black Hood" label/gear. Just wanna give you a heads-up: I've had two clients up here in Boston that use "Black Hood" as their DIY label imprint. I don't think they own the copyright for the name, but you may wanna pursue registering that name (if you haven't already) if you wanna use it in a more serious way. If two groups up here are using it, I can only imagine how many folks are using it nationwide.

What his group would need to do is "trademark" the black hood label ... not "copyright" it. And even a federal trademark registration would be of limited value if others have used that name prior to the registration of the federal trademark. Within the U.S. "common law" trademark gives the right of use to first users (prior users) of a certain trademark, however common law protection is limited only to the places/areas where the trademark was actually used.

If his group were to later receive a federal trademark application for the black hood label, their rights would be limited only to the areas where the prior users did not already use the trademark. So it depends on who started using the mark first. Sorry to complicate things a bit, but this is a common trademark issue that a lot of folks run into. You may want to check with an intellectual property attorney for advice... and I suspect that there are more than two users of a black hood trademark in the rap world... look for something a bit more original and distinctive.

Oh... I also agree that you can pursue both a solo and a group deal. One can easily lead to the other... so be open to all options and be honest with your bandmates. Also make sure your house is in order on the copyright ownership front... written agreement concerning material that was jointly written by all bandmates, beats created by certain bandmates... use of band gear for individual pursuits... etc. Get the business in order.

[bgrotto]

Originally Posted by Exmun

What his group would need to do is "trademark" the black hood label ... not "copyright" it. And even a federal trademark registration would be of limited value if others have used that name prior to the registration of the federal trademark. Within the U.S. "common law" trademark gives the right of use to first users (prior users) of a certain trademark, however common law protection is limited only to the places/areas where the trademark was actually used.

If his group were to later receive a federal trademark application for the black hood label, their rights would be limited only to the areas where the prior users did not already use the trademark. So it depends on who started using the mark first. Sorry to complicate things a bit, but this is a common trademark issue that a lot of folks run into. You may want to check with an intellectual property attorney for advice... and I suspect that there are more than two users of a black hood trademark in the rap world... look for something a bit more original and distinctive.

Oh... I also agree that you can pursue both a solo and a group deal. One can easily lead to the other... so be open to all options and be honest with your bandmates. Also make sure your house is in order on the copyright ownership front... written agreement concerning material that was jointly written by all bandmates, beats created by certain bandmates... use of band gear for individual pursuits... etc. Get the business in order.

Well, uh...there ya have it. Boo yah.

[filterayok]

I laugh everytime i hear this 'my boys r comin with me' shpeal... Its like, If your boys r gonna get mad that you would chase an opportunity to live your dream, theyre not ur boyz...This is your life, 99% of friends come and go over time. It doesnt seem like that now, but its just reality.

[Guy Gabriel]

Nelly, eminem and 50 are just few examples of guys that went solo when they got the deal and then when became successful they lift the group with them.

I don't think there's a reason to stay in the group and pass on the deal.
I think that shoud be one of the goals of a group, either to make it together or let one of the members to make it and then open doors for the whole group.

[filterayok]

Originally Posted by Guy Gabriel

Nelly, eminem and 50 are just few examples of guys that went solo when they got the deal and then when became successful they lift the group with them.

I don't think there's a reason to stay in the group and pass on the deal.
I think that shoud be one of the goals of a group, either to make it together or let one of the members to make it and then open doors for the whole group.

I think 'opening doors' and 'shoving your friends down everyones throat' is two different things. 50 opened the doors for G-unit and at least they delivered some songs that could stand on their own.
Dont think i could say the same for d-12, and i'm even reminded of that Dane Cook show on HBO where he basically got an entire series to put his friends on TV.. It just wasnt good, and i guess he's a nice guy for trying, but at a certain point its like, 'okay you tried, but your friends are just not superstars, you ARE, so can you get back to entertaining people now? Just an opinion..

Just realized this might turn into a dane cook thread... sorry didnt mean to