Tyler, The Creator Explains Why He Turned Down Deal From Jay-Z: ‘I Just Want Creative Control’
Tyler, The Creator Explains Why He Turned Down Deal From Jay-Z: ‘I Just Want Creative Control’
Tyler, The Creator recently opened up about the time Jay-Z tried to sign him to his record label!
During a recent episode of DJ Drama’s new Gangsta Grillz Podcast, Tyler, The Creator (born Tyler Gregory Okonma) appeared as a guest and revealed that Jay-Z tried to sign him while they were eating tacos at his Los Angeles home.
Tyler recalled,
“[He] invited us to one of his L.A. homes and we just ate tacos. We ate some tacos and he wanted to sign us. I was like, ‘Man, you’re cool, but no.’ Him, Puff… a lot of people were interested… I don’t know, I just want creative control and [to] do everything.”
He continued,
“Going to that man’s house is just enough to be like, ‘Oh, you can do this! You could be a f*ck up, figure it out, be good, be great and do this.’ That man’s what, 51? Bro, he has the spirit of an excited 16-year-old at basketball camp. He’s just fun and he’s ageless. I don’t know how to explain it … bro, he’s a geek. Geeks are so important.”
Despite turning down Hov’s deal, Tyler, The Creator and Jay-Z went on to have a great relationship. In 2017, the pair collaborated together on Frank Ocean’s “Biking,” and in a previous interview, Tyler revealed that the New York rapper has been giving him “ill advice” for years.
It’s safe to say that Tyler, The Creator has done well all on his own. Over the years he’s been able to build a pretty large fanbase with his unique and artistic style. The California native scored his first No. 1 album in 2019 with IGOR which also earned him his first Grammy Award. In 2022, Tyler went on to win his second Grammy for Best Rap Album for his hit album, Call Me If You Get Lost.
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