Never Forget Hip Hop Is Business: Pete Rock Suing Nas

Illmatic is one of Hip Hop’s most cherished, classic albums. The one single that went gold from the LP is “The World Is Yours,” and that’s the root of the controversy. Rock’s attorneys claim that he signed a contract that would grant him a portion of the royalties from “The World Is Yours,” a total Rock believes to be in the millions of dollars. The track has been sampled on close to 100 songs, by the likes of Eminem, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Mac Miller, Rick Ross, and others. Rock has a writing credit on the song. ​​Hip hop is about the love but at the end of the day it’s a business and unfortunately, disputes may arise between people who have great love for each other. The only solution is solid paperwork. 

When passionate people disagree it can be hard to find a peaceful solution. But business can’t be muddied by emotion and that’s why every entrepreneur, no matter what business they’re in, should take the time and spend the money to make sure your business is structured correctly and all parties– including you – are protected. Contracts are important. People can have very different understandings of the same conversation so it’s important that things are outlined clearly and that it’s all legally binding– feelings can change but contracts are forever. Even when two people love each other sincerely, thoughts and feelings about business can shift over time. Relationships are great but prioritize sound legal structure and protections for every business interaction.