In this game we call Hip-Hop, second chances are rarely given. Rapper G-Dep is looking to change that perception.
You may remember Dep (Real name Trevell Coleman) from the early 2000’s for his classic hit “Special Delivery”, a video infamously known for bringing the dance “The Harlem shake” from his home in East Harlem’s James Weldon Johnson housing projects, nationwide
Dep’s debut,”Child of the Ghetto,” was released in 2001 and did respectably on the charts.
However, everything isn’t sunny for the former Bad boy Artist. Fresh from sitting 23 days in Rikers Island on a Jan.15 arrest, for breaking a T-Mobile cell phone display model in a Manhattan store, G-Dep’s fall from grace became all the more obvious.
His bail was only set to 750$, but Dep was forced to endure 23 days, simply, because he could not raise the funds. That gets you to thinking: “This is the man that introduced the Harlem Shake to the world, and he can’t come up with 750 dollars”?
The thought of it is ridiculous, but all too common in today’s Hip Hop world. G-Dep, is only one of the many victims to fall prey to the vices of stardom, and not having knowledge of the business.
Having signed a 5 album contract with P.Diddy’s (Known as Puffy then) Bad boy Records in 2000 for 350,000$ (Good money for that time) Dep found himself in a paradise that was to be short lived. . Friends of Dep vividly remember Diddy rolling up in fancy cars, and how easily he was swept into that world.
He blew through the cash quickly, throwing caution aside; It wasn’t too soon after that Dep began to tamper with drugs, further plunging himself into a downward spiral. Now regretting his past actions he offers this quote: There are a lot of things I should have looked into,” Dep now says. “At the time, I didn’t think about it too much.”
Having gotten his mind cleared while incarcerated, ands preparing to go on tour, G-Dep is in talks with VH1 about video opportunities.
His struggles should serve as a cautionary tale to upcoming artists about signing your life on the dotted line. Make sure you know your business.
Audiobit: G-dep feat. Diddy:Lets Get it
COMMENTS
Special Delivery- ill be the first and probably last 2 comment on this, NO ONE CARES G DEP'S NEVER BEEN HOT
^^^^real shit
who really cares 'bout G-Dep?
Shit damn he been out of the music stage for along time.
i care...he was hot..nigga got flow..yall just dont know..he had the best flow on badboy since big died...and his album was fire..yall need to go on albumbase.com and pick that up for free
dep was aight but diddy is the true career killer
bxballer is 100% right. i had his first album. shit was aight. production wasn't so great but he did good on it. diddy is a fucked up dude and isn't a good producer or w/e else title he has in the label sense. diddy had total, 112, faith evans, carl thomas, g-dep, black rob, mase & whoever else he had and never really pushed to make them great. he even was screwing over 112 i think with their deal that they had on bad boy. diddy doesn't impress me too much because it seems all his artist don't last long. 1 or 2 albums and you never see most of them again. maybe its the artists but its too many of the same occurrences so i think its him.
The record business is NOT no game... this is one of the reasons you won't see artists back for their sophomore or junior albums, especially if they didn't sell. they are like binded to a record contract forever. I think the industry standard, AND I'M NOT SURE, I'M JUST SPECULATING, is presenting the artist with a 4-6 album deal and they're locked in2 it 4 a minute, ala Nas, Lauryn, whomever. If they don't finish the albums they can't go 2 another label and if they don't sell, then the record co. won't push them anymore and their music career is basically over unless they go out touring. That's why artists put out compilation cds, like Jill Scott's current one, which is pretty good might I add, and "best ofs"; it counts as an album! And it works, especially, like again, in Jilly's case, if it is a setup for an upcoming album in the summer!
~I gotta agree with u Matic,
The industry is crazy...especially with Lauren...
She got locked into a 6 album deal and they aint even trying to do shit with her right now. She's literally on PAUSE! That shit is crazy....
In the meantime, she can't perform or anything under her OWN name! They OWN her fuckin' name! The game is crazy! That's the same shit Prince went through!
As far as G-Dep goes, him and Puffy smashed the Game with that Party shit. I didnt really think he was worth a 5 album deal... butshit for 350,000... I guess that was beautiful for Puff! Especially considering the fact that he got that money back and then some...on just 2 singles from Dep!
~Be Eazy!
what a sad case? we love to talk about how much the white man is jerking us around when we doing it to our own people.Diddy should be a shame of himself, duke is the richest man in hip-hop; let someone else eat a little, there's alot of money to go around. At the same time artist especially black artist or latin artist; should get to know the business of things before signing that paper, the pen is mightier then the sword.True story just look around you.
and when u do the math, g-dep only got $50k per album... Special delivery and let's get it, these two singles alone made a millions combine. From Commericals,tv show,radio etc you hear that shit. talking about getting jerk! For those posting comment about who care's about G-dep? remember ya use to dance to his music.For dude who had two hits single can't make $750 bail. Very sad story my dudes.
Damn puff could of drop $750 for duke
Dman this nigga still alive...lol
Anyone know who produced that special deleivery Track?
just Google it, Skillz... Oh and R.I.P. MileHigh
Damn fucked up this nigga diddy is a real dick man. He shitted on all his artists like a serial rapist. Fuck em and leave em. I pity this cat nigga should have learned from THE LOX and all before. Diddy call Bbbbbig his friend and still bought his publishing for 200 thou. Grimey ass motherfucker only for delf.
P Greedy Has seriously Fucked over many ppl in his time. Almost all of his artists had madd skillz and potiential. Now look at em all. Mase cant get down with G-unit.
Black Robs in Jail (again) i think hes gone for a good minute. Shyne Gone , coming back in 2 years. G-dep couldn't even Fucking Make $750 Bail WTF!!!!!!
Choppa Is in jail for murder i think. Do you guys C the patteren. All these dudes were hot in the Day. P Greedy Fucked them al over. Now they either in jail or Fucked in the Game. Oh ya.. Cant forget L.O.X. He was fucking them dudes FOREVER. 350,000 Puff was taking Off Every Project they did. Now how fucked up is that. You cant entirely blame puff cause those dudes Did Sign those deals. But C'mon How the fuck Can you knowingly Butt Fuck these dudes for such a long time like this. Puffy is a Modern Day Slave Owner
G Dep's album was pretty nice 4real 4real. Its sad how record execs rape the artists though. Especially with me being an artist trying to get into it, you gotta be on ur a game when talkin 2 these cats.
Cory P good point but Black Rob is always in jail, Choppa is with Cash Money now, bu the point is a lot of careers go bad dealing with Diddy. Shyne, G Dep, and Rob went bad as far as jail time, and being left to dry. Buisness wise you got the Lox, Mase,Ness, Babs and Choppa.
Trust me Whooz i understand its hard getting your music out there then you got to worry about being exploited. not to mention all the other shit to look out for good luck with your hip hop odyssey its not easy out there.
G Dep 1st album was decent but if you fuck with Puff your music career will be short!
all i gotta say is niggas from harlem is nice as a mutha. g-dep is nice and puff fucked up sumthin good, like he always do
that g dep cd was good........camron used one of the best beats off that cd at the end of that curtis video.....but i dont think he gonna have niggas shakin again...
$750? damn puffy is a fucked up for that......guess that throws takin care of your people out the window for puff
WORST HIP HOP LINE IN HISTORY: "I was born ready, i was already on fish and spaghitti"
and the winner is...... G-Dep!
Yeah that line was stupid...G-Dep was just a replacement for Ma$e..a bad 1 to add
heard his first joint...shit wasn't all that y'all...
this is a waste of a story he will have to come back real hard if you get me to even listen. he was garbage everyone forgot about him real quick and special delivery he just featured on it
knowledgeisking — 9 minutes ago
this is a waste of a story he will have to come back real hard if you get me to even listen. he was garbage everyone forgot about him real quick and special delivery he just featured on it
It's his song, Knowlwedge.
Im not gonna even hate them two songs were my favorite at that time because that special delivery and lets get it beat still gets to me.........
VA!!!
G-Dep if u listening , there is always Koch Records my nigga.
"However, everything isn’t sunny for the former Bad boy Artist. Fresh from sitting 23 days in Rikers Island on a Jan.15 arrest, for breaking a T-Mobile cell phone display model in a Manhattan store,"
LMFAO.Wow A Teenager Will Do That.
That is some petty shit to get arrested 4. Puff signed shine for 3 million. Dep only got 350,000! Puff be some other shit. He signs people who dont have a clue about the music buisness.
Good fuckin' question MRMR~
U mean to tell me that this dude is still signed to Badboy...still contracted for more albums...
...and Puffy's inconsiderate heartless ass couldn't send $750.00 to get his artist out? Wow...
Puffy just doesn't give-a-fuck about fixing his image...he doesnt care about being known as a Jerk...
Lox, Total, Craig Mack, Mase, Da Band (lol...I dont blame him though), E-Ness, 112, Faith, etc etc...
He's jerks everyone!!!
~Be Eazy
I never heard about Puff jerkin' Carl Thomas, or B5! lol, just bein a smart ass! Member when Nas said, "I'nt like the way P.Diddy did Shyne"?? lol...
how u gon not read contracts?..any label owner would do the same...the lox was just dumb as shit...mase would be out if he hadnt took his dumb ass to atlanta...faith left cuz of some other shit..diddy always took care of her tho..and shyne did that shit himself...now u got me on the rest of them...but for the record...loon fucked up his own life
and to all u niggas that think he's so wack...go back and listen to his cd and hear everyday, nothings gonna stop me, special delevery, etc...nigga was nice on the mic...killin depset for a harlem nigga...but who isnt..i still think mase was better...but the list on bbr is, biggie, jada, styles, mase or shyne, sheek, g-dep, e ness, black rob, craig mack, diddy, and loon
man total was the best female group. fuck diddy :(
FUCK G DEP HE WEAK AS HELL "I WAS ALREADY ON FISH AND SPAGGHETI" LOL GARBAGE
G-Dep...Can't really Rap but his album was tight....but shit nowadays thats how everybody is...welcome back Dep
what?? g-dep cant rap?? go find his album and listen to Everyday and Child Of The Ghetto...and if you dont like him you can atleast say he better then Cam and 50 lol
Most people don't even get the line.
What G-Dep is saying is:
"I was born ready, and I was ALREADY on Fish And Spaghetti" Meaning, he was born for this, and was already living the high-life.
With a better understanding of that, you feel it more.
I really hope this dude comes back out.
He had one of the most unique flows in the game. AND his lines are hot. I still bump the few songs I have by him, and his flow is timeless, a classic.
He needs to get off of Bad Boy ASAP though...
Make this money
Take this money
Ain't no way you can take this from me
Ain't shit funny
Shake it honey
Take it money
Now let's get it
Harlem Shake
LOL That was the joint in Junior High School Old ass Niggas LOL
Does he think Diddy going to put money into him well HA!
The nigga wouldn't even send the nigga money to get out.
G-Dep just laydown somewhere an think about how you fucked your life up
dealing with diddy.