S. Samuel
Former Murder Inc. CEO Irv Gotti is receiving more support for his informal bid to become Def Jam Records' next president,as the label's co-founder Russell Simmons views him as an adequate candidate.
In addition to Gotti, Simmons also named a few other worthy hip-hop candidates.
The business mogul and co-founder of the historic hip-hop label told XXLMag.com that he thinks the Murder Inc founder would be one of three candidates fit for the job. “I like Irv,” Simmons said. “I’d co-sign him. I like a lot of people lobbying. I like Irv, I like [DJ] Khaled. I’d co-sign [Violator Management President] Chris Lighty. These three people, I’d co-sign any of them in a second.” Gotti hasn’t been shy about throwing his name in the mix for the job, persistently mentioning that he would be the right man for the gig over the last few months. (XXL Mag)
A few days ago, Def Jam’s newly appointed Executive Vice President No I.D. weighed in on Gotti’s interest.
“I know here he’s coming from. Everybody got an opinion about it. I’m just there to do my job, to be honest,” No I.D. said in an interview. “He’s just strongly stating his opinion, and there are some facts in it and there are other parts to this business that have to do with how things be the way they are…I can’t say [if he’s the man for the job]. That’s what I mean by I won’t get into whether he can or can’t because who’s to say who can and can’t? It would be cool to have somebody in that position, but me, I’ma just stay in my position and do the best that I can do for music in general.” (WGCI)
Roc Nation’s Jay Electronica recently said he would vouch for Gotti’s presidency bid.
“#IrvGottiForDefJamPresident,” he tweeted October 12th.
“If Irv Gotti is on Twitter, Im down to help you campaign to achieve your spoken goal of becoming the def jam president” (Jay Electronica’s Twitter)
In early October, Gotti revealed his aim and motivation to become Def Jam president.
“I wanted to speak on this because I love the hip-hop culture with a deep, deep passion,” Gotti said in an interview. “Def Jam is the light of that culture; Def Jam personifies the hip-hop culture. There is no other hip-hop label like Def Jam…If you don’t want to hire me — the best man for the job, the man who will die for it –cool, I understand. You think I’m Suge Knight, you think the feds may come in here again if you hire me, cool…Put somebody in there, because you not giving any sign or any indication that you care about my culture.” (RapFix)
