Anyone know anything about these?
http://www.discogs.com/2pac-Easy-To-Clear-Songs-Vol-1/release/3924150
http://www.discogs.com/2pac-Easy-To-Clear-Songs-Vol-1/release/3924150
Very good. I might get myself a set.
Also.... I'm very surprised at the 50/50 split between 2pac and the producer on the tracks.
Why?
That's typical. If you write the music, you get 50%, if you write all of the lyrics and vocal melodies you get 50%.
That's why on "Closest Roaddogz" for example, Johnny has 50%, Pac has 25%, Syke has 25%.
It's the same in my band. As a songwriter I also have full access to the PRS database, so I can type in the name of any songwriter and find their entire catalog, including unreleased material. It's pretty interesting, I discovered some unknown unheard songs from many of my favorite artists just by trawling through the database. You can find out all the writer splits on there too.
Because 2pac could have picked anybody to write the music and still sold the same. From what we know, Pac already knew the samples he wanted to use and helped guide the process anyway. So.... On some songs he takes 15% of the royalties and JJ gets 50%. That seems crazy to me.
No offence to the majority of the producers he worked with, but they had very little success with anyone else.
Tupac was a decent and fair human being. He wouldn't take credits for something he didn't do.
Guiding the process and picking the samples means nothing. If you're not the one sitting their composing the music, programming the drums, playing the instruments, then you don't get any of that 50% cut for the music. Like I said, it's standard practice. If you deviate from that and demand writing credits for something you didn't do because of who you are, you're considered a giant douchebag. I've heard that Beyonce does this, demands writing credits on songs she has had literally no input on.
I'm not saying that. Tupac didn't need JJ to be successful, but JJ did need Tupac. It wasn't a 50/50 relationship.
That's irrelevant.
The new Jay-Z album has a beat produced by a 16 year old girl from Canada.
Guarantee that's still a 50/50 writers split.