Letting others shine

Scott Manning
March 19, 2003 | Comments (16)

I am currently in awe of the cover of the 45th issue of XXL magazine. On it, you have the up-and-coming rap artist - 50 Cent. Standing behind him are rap stars (or legends, depending on your view) Eminem and Dr Dre.

xxl45cover (15k image)

For those who not familiar with the rap word, let give some explanation. Dr Dre (back right) has been in the rap scene for over two decades. He started off as a rapper himself, but has also gone on to produce other rap stars like Snoop Dogg and Eminem (back left).

During these times of producing, Dr Dre took a backseat to the rap star in production. Making the beats, giving direction, and even using his own name to help the star get some attention, Dre let them shine.

Now both Eminem are taking a back seat to 50 Cent and using their names to get him some attention.

The reason this impresses me is because very few people are willing to give up the spotlight. Forget what you think about rap music, I�m just talking about business in general. How many people do you know would be willing to give up positions of power and fame to let someone else hold the position and possibly get more attention than themselves? Dre and Eminem are doing just that for 50 Cent and this magazine cover captures the whole concept perfectly. Eminem and Dre, two guys who are used to being in the front, are now taking the backseat for the next guy. It doesn�t matter if 50 Cent goes far or not, but at least he was given the opportunity of a life time from two greats who have come before him.

Succeeding by helping others succeed
Some of you may just blow this off as Dre and Eminem making a buck off of the new guy, but these two risk much more than that. Establishing yourself in the music world is a hard thing to do and staying on top is nearly impossible. Very few rap artists are remembered years after their last work.

At one point, Dr Dre had sold the most rap albums ever. He then produced Snoop Dogg who sold the most rap albums ever. Now Eminem has outsold both of them. Each of these three artists has, at one time, been called "the greatest". It�s hard to stay the best when you�re not in the spotlight. Now Dre and Eminem run the risk of 50 Cent becoming "the greatest".

Most egos would not be able to handle this. I see it all the time in the business world as bosses feel threatened by the next guy and do everything they can to hold their position. But to Dre and Eminem, it�s not about holding any position, it�s about furthering rap music. It�s about helping the up-and-comings succeed. And by helping 50 Cent succeed, they succeed.

No matter what you�re opinion is of Eminem and Dre, if more people adopted their attitude and perspective on this topic, there would be a lot more success in the world.

Related links:
The Music Industry is slitting its own throat
8 Mile movie review

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Comments (16):

1) Posted by: Jessica
March 20, 2003 10:31 AM

Well put...that's a great article! A great idea that we all forget when it comes down the the dog-eat-dog nature of life and greed.

2) Posted by: Mom
April 16, 2003 7:13 PM

In our narcissistic society it is very rare indeed to see anyone willing to stand outside the spotlight but in my opinion it the person who is doing the back lighting of another who truly shines.

3) Posted by: kristopher thomas
July 3, 2003 7:36 PM

I think I rap pretty good but I am mostly a
gangsta/talk about people/mostly about having fun/
all about the job type of rapper.

4) Posted by: Rap group ages 14, 16,and 16
December 14, 2003 1:19 PM

we are different from others more pucnhlines than most of these rap stars.we are very creative freestlye's, we might be young but the flows are amazing,we would not wast your time (I repeat we will not wast your time)

5) Posted by: micheal pratt
August 18, 2004 6:42 AM

hello dr dre,am 15 years old and am good in rapping so i will be happy if you will help me to become a star

6) Posted by: jason holland
December 17, 2004 9:56 AM

I know you get lot's of letter's form alot of people wanting fame. but not me I just want out the hood in willing to do anything to get there I rap but I mainly sing you never had a singer on your lable I don't know if you read this or not it's getting to hard for me

7) Posted by: illdre
March 2, 2005 5:27 AM

hi there i hope dr dr can read this artical for starters my name is dri and am a good talented rapper but you know one common problem in the kenya music industry is that only the rich are favoured and recognised man what ha fuck iz this man!but we the talented young rappers who come from poor back grounds are mistreated and not known .igat acouple of sons that i wrote and tried to produce and you cant belive what hapened some rich singer from my country called cmb prezzo a.k.a da cash money brothers stole my song and then they changed the instrumental and made money with my song man please help me in any way so that i can come and fuck up these cash money bitches cheers man this iz illdre da a.k.a da 2nd phenomena a.k.a da illest dre in the world

8) Posted by: kenielmelendez
March 24, 2005 5:33 PM

hey my name is keniel i live in lorain ohio i am 15 years of age i make beats i am the youngs in lorain ohio i am trying to get my name out any way i can i been making beats seens i was 13 i work in 2 studios out in lorain ohio trying to have some people rap on my beats so i can get my name out i work on a program called reason 2.5 i got my name out in lorain but i want to start taking my music out of lorain ohio this is a gife and i and going to do any thing i can to get out there.i know patienc bring good things but i never no what happen tomorrow.i been trying and in side i feel and a lot of people tell me i am going to make it and thats what i walk with in my head.i can send u a demo of what i am about just email me or call me at 1440-258-4712 and leave a message it my brother phone i will pray and hope this get to someone that feel and been trying to do the same and that can help me put my music out there thanks

9) Posted by: kenielmelendez
March 24, 2005 5:35 PM

hey my name is keniel i live in lorain ohio i am 15 years of age i make beats i am the youngs in lorain ohio i am trying to get my name out any way i can i been making beats seens i was 13 i work in 2 studios out in lorain ohio trying to have some people rap on my beats so i can get my name out i work on a program called reason 2.5 i got my name out in lorain but i want to start taking my music out of lorain ohio this is a gife and i and going to do any thing i can to get out there.i know patienc bring good things but i never no what happen tomorrow.i been trying and in side i feel and a lot of people tell me i am going to make it and thats what i walk with in my head.i can send u a demo of what i am about just email me or call me at kenielmelendez@hotmail or call me at 1440-258-4712 and leave a message it my brother phone i will pray and hope this get to someone that feel and been trying to do the same and that can help me put my music out there thanks

10) Posted by: kenielmelendez
March 24, 2005 5:36 PM

hey my name is keniel i live in lorain ohio i am 15 years of age i make beats i am the youngs in lorain ohio i am trying to get my name out any way i can i been making beats seens i was 13 i work in 2 studios out in lorain ohio trying to have some people rap on my beats so i can get my name out i work on a program called reason 2.5 i got my name out in lorain but i want to start taking my music out of lorain ohio this is a gife and i and going to do any thing i can to get out there.i know patienc bring good things but i never no what happen tomorrow.i been trying and in side i feel and a lot of people tell me i am going to make it and thats what i walk with in my head.i can send u a demo of what i am about just email me or call me at kenielmelendez@hotmail or call me at 1440-258-4712 and leave a message it my brother phone i will pray and hope this get to someone that feel and been trying to do the same and that can help me put my music out there thanks

11) Posted by: t.w.i
July 23, 2005 9:57 AM

Hey little nigga from kenya callin yourself illdre. am a kenyan to and one of the most versatile rap fans in the world. what song did prezzo steal from you? I dont mean am a Prezzo's fun but i think thats a cheap 'pick up line' to use so you can get dre'z attention boi. The likes of nas, dre, ice cube, Kshaka, Mashifta, Jua Cali, Nonini didnt get famous by riding on some elses fame. Got to work your arse hard to get somewhere homie.

12) Posted by: kiki
August 4, 2005 10:36 PM

i totally agree wit u i mean this lil faggaot here is tryin to say dat prezzo stole stole his song...just one question to u...when did you meet prezzo and talked to him about u bein a dope rapper and then stealin ur song. I'm from kenya myself so please don't embarras kenyans cuz some of us r real

13) Posted by: Stan
August 9, 2005 6:52 PM

Love bandit a.k.a Playboy also known as Diddy part 2 seems to be giving Kenya a new boost on the hip/hop scene. with his latest genge tack Teremka. Love bandit is following the suits of Cmb prezzo.

14) Posted by: Sidman
September 14, 2005 12:06 AM

Nee how. I am chinese man wanting to rap for million dollars. Have crazy chinese loops you never heard before. I come from de shaolin temple in pyongyang. Holla at dis pimp and we talk business. We got sexy chinese girls, can sing dance and give good head.

15) Posted by: christyle
November 21, 2005 9:57 PM

rapping ain't about being tough. its about keeping it real and speaking the truth. It's about what you've been through in the street life and how you lifted yourself off the ground. its about your word. and your word is everything.

16) Posted by: Josh Bryant
June 12, 2006 5:07 PM

If I had one shot I wouldn't put people on my shitlist/do yall get this or do u fuckers just miss it/millions of fans is what the artist needs to succeed his dream and continue to achieve/have your eyes to the sky and put your hands together/nomader how tough it is theirs always stormy weather/and this is life what u gonna do cause just remember theirs always someone worse of than you FREESTYLE By ECLIPSE A.K.A JOSH joshbryant@tmail.com anybody feel dis hit me up