by Rashad Phillips
posted October 22, 2010 at 3:55PM EDT | 3 comments
One half of the former Young Gunz tells Dr. Jays' Boss Lady about staying cool with Jay-Z after the Roc broke into pieces.
After an unceremonious split between Jay-Z, Damon Dash and Kareem “Biggs” Burke, Roc-a-fella Records saw artists such as Cam’ron, Kanye West and Beanie Sigel no longer under the same umbrella. Dash and Beans were vocal with their displeasure over how things ended, while State Property members Young Chris and Freeway maintained their relationship with co-founder Jay-Z and continued touring. Now signed to Division One/Universal Motown, Young Chris says that made all the difference.
“It’s kind of tough us coming from that label, you’ve got to figure Roc-a-fella was kind of big when we came over there” Young Chris told Boss Lady of DrJays.com. “When they split up, we gotta keep it up. We just were hungry, and went from city to city, coast to coast doing whatever we had to do to get it.”
Chris said he humbled himself and asked to join Wale’s Attention Deficit tour, despite already having two major label releases under his belt. Young Chris’ solo career began somewhat reluctantly, after refusing the opportunity while he was still a member of the Roc.
“Dame was trying to offer me a solo deal after Tough Luv, and I said, ‘Nah, I’m gonna go back and do this Young Gunz deal,’” Chris recounted. “Even Dame ain’t mad at the decision at the end of the day…it was a smart one.”
The increased visibility and his diplomacy during the dismantling of the Roc didn’t go unnoticed, as Chris says Jay-Z complimented his initiative and encouraged him to continue touring.
“I spoke to [Jay-Z] yesterday and we’re great,” Chris added. “He’s excited right now. Now that I’m about to get rewarded, it’s dope.”
http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.1 ... with-jay-z
