Scott- you totally missed the point. Nobody is knocking either Ludacris or hip hop so get your back up. When all you know of a celebrity is the face they present to the public, it's only natural to be surprised when you find out there's more to them than what you think.

You've made this about hip hop when in fact it's simply a response to a piece of news, and a look a the idea that being a celebrity clearly is not enough to make a business work.

Maybe you missed the last few lines - "With a business major from Georgia State University, some years of experience as a manager and a seasoned restaurateur to hold his hand, Ludacris is in a better position than most celebrities to try his hand in the restaurant business."

That says celebrities- not hip hop artists.

Emphasis mine...

"The 30 YEAR OLD rapper... a few months ago he paid $2.7 million for a building... He is the CEO of his own 8-year-old record label, Disturbing tha Peace Records, which has signed a number of prominent artists, including rapper Chingy" Hmmm... Able to drop 2.7 mil on a building at the age of 30... has been running his own label for 8 years... is one of the smarter musicians looking for continuing profits outside of the sinking music industry... and possibly has a hoe in every area code... LOL OMG stupid rapper! You're not savvy! Make with the dirty talk again!

I'll be the first of my hip-hop brothers and sisters to say that this is one of the most ignorant pieces of writing I have seen in awhile. While you make a strong point that celebrity owned restauarants do have a high failure rate (even though all restaurants have a high failure rate), your comments on Ludacris are very short sighted and condescending.

You should do your homework before writing stuff such as "I have to admit I was taken aback at the idea that someone who I know only in context...could be business savvy enough to be able to delve into the real estate business and make an attempt at being a real entrepreneur."

Ludacris, just like many high powered hip-hop artists (Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Jermaine Dupri, Snoop)to name a few are multi-millionaires due to their business savvy and entrepreneur skills. The lyrics they write have no correlation to business skills. For a website that is based on business, you sure lack the foresight to realize the power that hip-hop has and continues to have in all facets of popular culture. Educate yourself.

The previous posters are way too sensitive. As if this were a personal attack. The writer's point is simple... Just because you can market, sell records, and create a music brand does not mean you can be succesful in the real-estate and restaurant business. We will have to wait and see. It is totally on point. Get over yourselves and write something constructive.

Hi,

I enjoyed the article. For me it illustrated the fact that many people in the rock business do not make good business people - they either fail or recognise they need good management. A few possess the entrepreneurial skills to succeed in another career.

The 'celebrity brand' can of course be a strength or a great impediment as you neatly illustrated in your point that all you could remember about the rapper was his lyrics about hoes etc.

My book 'Sex, Leadership and Rock'n'Roll' compares the success strategies of rock stars such as Madonna, David Bowie, Prince and so on with those artists who either have no business acumen or who refuse to be managed. The 'art - management' divide is an important determinat of success.

I was involved with a musician who desperately needed management to help him launch a World Tour, but who refused to sell his soul to management and good organisation. The result was failure. The story is at www.academy-of-rock.co.uk/tour

All the best

Peter Cook

www.humdyn.co.uk

I must disagree with Scott, my hip hop brother. I don't see anything ignorant about the post. It was essentially on point. While Saabira Chaudhuri did leave out a few successful hip hop restauranteurs that I would have mentioned (Jay-Z, Jermaine Dupree, LA Reid, Puffy's Atlanta Restaurant and a number of ballplayers' eateries)for the sake of balance, it was basically right on. It's okay that his understanding about Luda is limited to what he has been exposed to through the lyrical content of his muisc. That's what sucks about mass media and imaging. You often only have the opportunity to be imaged one way and that is who you are to the global masses.

And respectfully, I find it a little humorous that a self proclaimed "hip hop brother" like yourself took offense to the post. The hip hop culture ushered in the opportunity for EVERYONE to "keep it real" and I might add, "be gangsta with it". When "keeping it real" there is no room for politeness or the mincing of words. Hip Hop certainly makes no bones about what it states, how it states it and who it states it to. Is not this "freedom" the foundation of the current culture of hip hop?

So brother give Saabira Chaudhuri a pass on this one. Your post validated for me the contradictory nature that I regularly observe in hip hop and the artists within the culture. If we must TRUTHFULLY talk about IGNORANCE and the breeding of IGNORANCE, that would be Luda's lyrical content.

Jasmine

Your blog is not only irresponsible for spreading a stereotype but its also discriminatory. I take offense to your writings. What do you think rappers are? The majority of them are entrepreneurs who own their own labels. This is true for the latest stars in Rap Music from Jay-z's Rocafella to Luda's DTP. Diddy has restaurants, e-40 does too. Your article makes the assumption that rappers would make bad entrepreneurs. I kindly ask that you apologize for your assumptions about rappers. I'm a subscriber to Fast Company, look me up. I will not renew my subscription. I live in San Diego, CA 92115 zip and that is my real name.

I wonder if the real issue here is simply that of people jumping out of their chosen profession into another. Many people find this very hard indeed - in the UK it seemed to be common for footballers to turn into newspaper shop owners a few years back before huge wages turned them into celebrities. But in many cases, they made lousy shop owners.

By the same token, I did not read an insult to rappers (or any other type of musician) in the post, just the point that it is very difficult to shift careers. What you become good at in life inevitably means you may not be able to acquire the skills for another profession?

All the best from UK

Peter Cook - Scientist and Musician turned author of Sex Leadership and Rock'n'Roll

On the subject of celebrities and their business acumen, I personally think Luda has the chops for it… and yes, there are other pillars of rap/hip-hop that have done very well and I respect. In fact, it’s beyond me that no one has mentioned the genius of Russell Simmons.

On the subject of stereotyping, hip-hop, and keeping all things real (not to mention the most intelligent thing said in this whole post), “big ups” to Jasmine for the comment, “So brother… Your post validated for me the contradictory nature that I regularly observe in hip hop and the artists within the culture. If we must TRUTHFULLY talk about IGNORANCE and the breeding of IGNORANCE, that would be Luda's lyrical content”.

While I’m at it, can we all please finally agree on one thing: That “P. Puffa-Diddy Pop” (or whatever), aka Sean Combs, is the Donald Trump of the rap industry? And that Puffy’s constant wearing-of-the-sunglasses to cover the prominent beady-ness of his eyes is tantamount to The Donald’s constant coifing-of-the-hair to cover his impending baldness? The parallels between the two – with their self aggrandizing and pompous antics – are undeniable. We can at least agree on that, can’t we?

Naw. you got it twisted. Donald Trump is the P.Diddy of real estate. Matter of fact P.Diddy holds more weight in hip hop than Donal Trump does in real estate. I'm a financial analyst at a real estate developer you think I give a crap if Trump looks at the projects I've been involved with? NO. However, I would consider P.Diddy's perspective on my music. hands down. Don't get me wrong Trump holds his own but he has no impact on the market whereas Diddy does and has historically and present. end of discussion.

These guys in rap industry are self-made multi-millionaires and you think they got there without being business savy?

Well I'm happy for ludacris. Hope your business in real estate does well..
Locksmiths

bang bus free