Rico Love

Did knowing the business behind songwriting make you a better songwriter?

I was just having this conversation with Shabazz and Zion today.

So basically, understanding the business changed the whole perspective of my career.

When I came in the game, I was sitting in the studio with Jagged Edge, Jermaine Dupri.

I was in the rooms with Brian Michael Cox and Jazzy Faye and Tricky Stewart.

Dream and I were in those rooms with Tricky Stewart, and he was across the hall, I was in the back with the corner boys.

That's how we came up in the business.

So we would hear these conversations about I need to make sure I meet my quota.

I got three more songs to turn in.

I got to do this.

I got this many songs in my deal.

If I don't turn in this many songs, I don't meet my commitment.

I don't give my mother money.

Exactly.

So I understood how the business worked.

And then I started hearing guys talk about how they were formulating their deals.

And I would pay attention to that.

So when it was time for me to go with my...

My first attorney was a guy named Kendall Mentor.

He passed away.

Rest in peace, Kendall.

But Kendall Mentor, he understood the business like the back of his hand.

And I learned from him.

But also, I was able to regurgitate things that I was hearing from guys in the business.

And I would say, well, I don't want to deal like this.