Month: July 2008

The news that Shady Records giant signee eventually decided to leave the label might have saddened a few people, but, in my opinion, it is the best thing a talented emcee like Obie could do.
I first heard about Obie in 2003…I even had the chance to meet the talented artist the same year, at Eminem’s concert, at a time he was less known from the public eye.
Since O. Trice was introduced to Eminem by Bizarre in 2001, the skilled artist had proven more than once, what he was capable of.
Don’t get me wrong, but I am against the music industry’s policies regarding artists. In 2003, 50 Cent was in a major spotlight- for some obvious commercial reasons. The same commercial interests would partly obliterate Obie’s talent…it is shocking when you consider that Obie has much more talent than 50 Cent. He’s probably not the best CD peddler, but who cares?
We hip hop heads want people who stay true to their roots.
Obie had set a lot of efforts on his first album, Cheers. But his most remarkable piece of work is probably Second Rounds On Me that seems to have been overlooked by many mainstream hip hop listeners.
Underrated he is…yes, for sure…but things are not meant to stay that way.
Obie did the right move. I am happy he did. He needs more recognition for his well composed lyrics and his good instrumentals.
That’s why I wish him best luck at his new label, Worldwide Hu$tle.
Learn more about Obie at his personal blog.
Copyright by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

It is entitled The Giant Leaves Shady Records. Listen to the rough and energetic track here.

Sorry to disappoint some Eminem groupies and some die hard Shady Records fans, but this is GOOD news as far as I am concerned! Obie didn’t receive the attention he deserved at Shady Records. The Detroit emcee is inventive, lyrical, creative as hell… leaving Shady Records is the best thing he could actually do…Obie deserves much more, as far as I am concerned:)
Read the original article here.
By Tai Saint-Louis
Following the heavy circulation of Obie Trice’s new single “The Giant” signaling the Detroit rapper’s departure from his situation with Shady Records and it’s parent company, Interscope, the brass at Shady issued a statement Monday (Jun 30) reaffirming its support of Trice’s decision.
“Shady Records has agreed to allow Obie Trice to pursue his craft in a different forum free from the constraints of the current major label model,” Eminem’s long time partner and manager Paul Rosenberg told AllHipHop.com.
Sources on the web have erroneously reported that the new explanatory track released to the web on Sunday (Jun 29) included lyrics meant as a diss to his former label and Eminem, who added Trice to the label’s roster in 2000.
At issue was the song’s opening verse, on which Trice raps “Guess it was meant / for me to branch off from my Caucasian friend” and “Nope, no more 2nd place to Eminem / question if I was 2nd is the question to many men.”
“Eminem will continue to support and work with Obie on many levels of his career,” Rosenberg stated frankly. “He remains a close friend and member of the Shady family.”
During his time as a Shady/Interscope artist, Obie Trice’s two albums which were well received critically, established the artist as Eminem’s heir apparent.
The first, 2003’s Cheers, sold over 500,000 copies worldwide, while its follow-up Second Round’s On Me found slightly less commercial support.