Swizz Beatz loosely threw the idea around of contributing $1 million each to Hip Hop founders such as Kool Herc and Sugar Hill Gang while speaking to Joe Budden for Beatz’s Zone Radio earlier this week.
Now, he’s doubling down and is clearly serious about making it happen. During an Instagram Live conversation with LL Cool J, the two veteran Hip Hop artists discussed the possibilities and the Radio legend said he’d be one of the first to donate to — what Swizz has dubbed — the “Hip Hop Founders Fund.”
As the conversation got underway, LL made sure to give the Verzuz co-founder some credit, saying, “You always talk about you about the people, you’re about making sure these icons get the love and the respect and appreciation they supposed to get, and you’ve been pushing it forward.”
Swizz replied, “I mentioned something about giving back to the pioneers of Hip Hop and everybody just went crazy. Most misunderstood me, but what I was saying was this is something I wanna do. Period. I want to start a pioneer fund with the founders of Hip Hop getting taken care of. The founders of Hip Hop shouldn’t need medical. They should be in a great situation.
“If you look at other cultures and other pioneers that started things, they’re living well. I feel personally that it’s a bad representation on Hip Hop that our pioneers are not being supported in a major way.”
Swizz went on to explain a lot of people misconstrued his idea and thought he meant younger artists should pay the older artists.
He clarified, “This is a dream I had … I’m not saying pay LL. I’m not saying pay Swizz. Let’s come up with a plan to take care of the founders of Hip Hop. It’s our duty to do it. Everybody don’t have to do it … I’mma do it. To see these icons living and we’re living at the same time and we know better at this point…we gotta take care of those guys.”
LL, who currently hosts the SiriusXM classic Hip Hop radio show Rock The Bells, responded, “I couldn’t be more on board than I am. I’m so on board I’m in the helm of this shit laying with you. It’s that vibe. It’s about paying it forward. I learned early on in my career it was about me, but you get humbled and you realize, ‘There’s a bigger world out there than you.'”
Swizz Beatz Wants To Give $1M Each To Kool Herc, Melle Mel & Other Hip Hop Pioneers
Swizz then explained how his biological father grew up one floor apart from Herc at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx and therefore has a really close connection to the cause. Although he wouldn’t rattle off the pioneers he believed was deserving, he did mention Herc.
LL then confirmed, “I would 100 percent contribute to that — 100 percent. Because I think it’s necessary. It’s the right spirit. It’s the right heart. It’s love. It’s evolved.”
Watch the full conversation above.
Joe Budden has been talking about this for a long time. This idea isn’t a Swizz idea, it’s been a Joey idea for well over a year. Go back to the files, he’s been on record saying that artist should pay a tax to take care of the older rappers. Even if it’s only the legends.
Actually the first person I heard talking about doing this was NORE on the Drink Champs podcast 3 or 4 years ago.
Aaah yes! Back when he started talking about giving flowers to the legends while they’re alive. You right! This idea dates back to even then.
Grand Puba mentioned the idea of a union or at the very least medical and a pension plan in The Source way back in the 90s.
Joey wanted to start a union
good on Mr. Beatz but it also says something about hip hop that you niggas don’t advocate for reparations. these dudes think they’re so revolutionary in their thought but should be asking themselves why the black elite of decades prior were more activated for their people with a fraction of the money and influence.
Reparations? Hahahahaha. Do the Joos get a chunk from the African descendants over Egypt building pyramids etc? What is the statute of limitations on that? How about the native Americans? Do they get the lion’s share? LOL. Maybe we should let black people open up casinos in the hood. I’m with that. Reparations is ridiculous. You’re better off here than in Africa friend. It worked out in your favor. EVERYONE in the US is privileged. Stop complaining. I bet you are overweight and have never been hungry. You are perpetuating racism and stereotypes.
Yeah, all the rich should give their money to other well off hiphop makers! Fuck all of the world’s needy people! Fuck the kids with cancer! They don’t deserve it nearly as much!
You do realize that most of the pioneers from the 70s are not “well off” right?
Its only right its own to them every other genre of music give props to their musicians why cant we give to the ones who paved the way and why we at it start a hiphop hall of fame too so we dont have to wait to be in the rock n roll hall of fame
Realest shit I heard all year
Great idea. The pioneers don’t get their due. People that come up don’t give a sh** about the ones that paved the way. There is no respect. It’s the only art form/music that doesn’t credit the founders. Rock..pop..jazz..funk etc they all pay respects.
But how would you determine who is classified as a pioneer? Is it everyone before LL? Is it everyone who came out within 10 years of Cool HERC? Would Kool Moe Dee make it but not Big Daddy Kane? It’ll be interesting how they figure this out.
The record companies ripped of the old artists. The record companies shud b sued or laws made or stuff out unxontracts. Also more protection because record companies Still encouraging addiction as a way to control artists and ‘slave xontracts’. This “idea” is just Trojan horseto make broke fans pay more for versuz.