Hip-hoppreneurs - hip hop artists are parlaying success in the music world into other venues - The Business of Entertainment

Black Enterprise, Dec, 1997 by Eric L. Smith

So what does Russell Simmons think of the movement he's helped to create? Ironically, he's skeptical of artists attempting to move too far away from their core music business to focus heavily on business enterprises. "It's hard for any artist to be more than an artist and be very successful," says Simmons. "If you want to put your artistry on the back seat, that's one thing, but you can find someone better than you to run your clothing company. You can't find someone to do your music."

Says Vernon Slaughter, an entertainment attorney with Atlanta-based Katz, Smith & Cohen: "The number one task for these artists is having a basic understanding of business principles. Although a lot of these kids are often very smart, they are still inexperienced in basic business principles."

Slaughter, whose firm represents a host of hip-hop artists including Bobby Brown and Michael Bivins, TLC's Lisa Lopez and Tionne Watkins, and rappers Too Short and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, says artists venturing into entrepreneurship should reach out to experienced business figures. "You really have to learn how to build a team around you of qualified individuals. And the qualifications have to be more than they share the same last name as you or because that's your boy," he says. "That's not a dilemma that's specific to hip-hop or even race specific. It's a dilemma all small businesses have to deal with."

Adds Slaughter: "The most successful of these ventures will be the ones that marry the enthusiasm and creativity of hip-hop with the wisdom and experience of those that understand the business sector."