Former Interscope Records Chairman Jimmy Iovine has been named GQ Magazine’s “Icon Of The Year.”
Alongside presenting Jimmy Iovine with the award, the publication interviewed the co-founder of Beats Electronics who, among other things, detailed the origins of his relationship with longtime business partner Dr. Dre.
“Him and Suge [Knight, then CEO of Death Row Records] came in, and they brought The Chronic,” Jimmy Iovine explains. “I’d just come out of Rattle and Hum with U2. I knew Hip Hop was going around, but I had no idea what it was. And then Dre walked in, and I said, ‘I don’t know Hip Hop, but I know my speakers. Who engineered it?’ Dre said, ‘I did.’ When they told me the story of how they made the record, you might as well make a record falling out of a building. They were sneaking into studios. The government was after them. There were lawsuits, one RICO case, all on a bunch of guys who had no money and were making an album. I said, ‘Wow. If you can do it under those circumstances, let’s go.’”
Continuing on the theme of his relationship with Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine likened the pair’s bond as to being in a band.
“Just my relationship with Dre, I want to make sure that’s—’cause that’s really a special thing,” Jimmy Iovine continues. “We trust each other implicitly. It’s the closest to a band as I was ever in. We know what each other does, and we trust each other’s instincts so much, that when he’s moving somewhere and I go, ‘No,’ he goes, ‘Okay, let’s not do that.’ We’ve been through a lot. This is a guy—I always say, ‘You may know a lot of people who have gotten shot, but you don’t know a lot of people who have shot back.’”
Later in the story, Jimmy Iovine revealed how he first came across Eminem in 1998, thanks in part to his-then temporary assistant.
“In 1998, Death Row was exploding,” he says. “‘Pac got killed just before. Everything was fuckin’ upside-down. And my assistant got married, so they put in a temp. And the kid had balls. He said, ‘I went to this rap battle last night. I saw this kid who was incredible.’ I said, ‘Figure out how to get a CD from that kid, and I’ll play it for Dre.’ Next day, he comes back: ‘Here it is.’ I listen to it, and I go, ‘I have no idea what the fuck this is.’ This guy is screaming about his mother. He wants to kill his mother. I come from a place where you don’t kill your mother. Right? I saw Dre, and I gave it to him. The rest is a fabulous story. His name was Eminem.”
GQ’s December issue is currently available on newsstands nationwide.
Cool of them to finally come out to the closet. 2014 was a big year for gays in hip-hop. Shout outs to Young Thug for paving da way.
How does that dick feel down your throat? Devil.
I am truly disappointed with the state of hip-hop. most of the artists are black men who come from very humble beginnings. they have become very wealthy in spite of many hurdles and obstacles in front of them. they, however, with their success have a great opportunity to lift up their communities and speak up about racial injustice – ferguson,california,cleveland, nyc. instead kanye, nas, jay-z, lil wayne, fifty, fab, drake, say nothing. some of you may say they don’t have to. others may say I should stop preaching. if you think that, also know this, the rights you enjoy came from civil disobedience and disturbance. many black celebrities stood up with the brother and sisters in the streets then to advance the rights and freedoms we enjoy today. if these people are not willing to support us and those who look like them why should we continue to support them. have courage brothers. don’t just talk about it in a song.
The sad fact of the matter is that these people you mentioned and others alike wont speak out because they simply don’t want the hassle, as they are too comfortable.
Are these brothers and sisters a certain race? Just curious.
ARE AMERICANS GETTING MORE STUPID BY THE SECOND?
ESP. THE URBAN HIPHOP LOVING ONES.
THEY THINK “RELATIONSHIP” ALWAYS CONNOTES A SEXUAL RELATION.
THE IGNORANCE IS MIND BLOWING.
I BET YOU IDIOTS THINK THE WORLD IS JUST AMERICA AND THAT AFRICA, EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST ARE ALL LOCATED ON A DIFFERENT PLANET.
I NEED TO STOP COMING TO THIS SITE. ITS NOW ON THE SAME LEVEL AS WORLDSTAR. THE COMING TOGETHER OF STUPID PEOPLE.
Jimmy Iovine is the pimp and Dre is the bitch
and their both billionaires and your a foolish broke virgin nobody smfh
Jimmy is the master and Dre is his favorite house negro.
lmao sit your ass down, ain’t no relationship, you’re the master and Dre’s the slave, just tell it like it is