Eminem’s decision to collectively sign Joell Ortiz, Joe Budden, Royce Da 5’9” and Crooked I to a Slaughterhouse deal under his Shady imprint will likely remain one of 2011’s top headlines. But, in an interview with the UK’s HipHopChronicle, Joell Ortiz addressed the very real issue of critically acclaimed artists signing major label deals and failing to meet expectations. Ortiz said his previous experience with Slaughterhouse gave him confidence that the Shady partnership would be a success.
“We made the first Slaughterhouse album happen,” Joell recounted. “When we were talking about it and everybody was just like, ‘Ah, we know. Y’all formed a group; we’ll see what happens.’ We made that album happen in six days, with a deadline that was just sprung on us.”
Ortiz also explained that Eminem doesn’t want to interfere with what the four-man collective already does. Joell said Em expressed interest in producing and lending verses to the Slaughterhouse project, while still taking a mostly hands-off approach.
Joell Ortiz, like the rest of Slaughterhouse, also maintains a solo career. As the title of his latest effort indicates, he is a “free agent” currently fielding offers from various labels. After logging time on Aftermath and Koch/E-1, Joell says his next potential suitor only needs to have a few choice qualities.
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“I want to be with somebody that believes in Joell Ortiz,” he said. “They need to know how much I want to win, and they have to be able to get money. No matter who I sit across from that might be a fan or might respect me as an artist, I’m a business investment. So I want them to understand that I like money as much as they do. Let’s collaborate and make great music and lots of money.
