Tony Yayo has opened up about a very valuable piece of advice that was given to him back in the day by Ludacris‘ longtime manager, Chaka Zulu.
During an interview with Vlad TV, both the former G-Unit soldier and the host discussed the dangers of trying to recreate someone else’s success. Taking Eminem as an example, Vlad noted that once he achieved mainstream success, people wanted to copy his formula.
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The situation made Yayo recall visits he made to Atlanta in the ’90s, noting that’s where he met Ludacris, who was a popular radio DJ at the time, and Chaka Zulu. The rapper reflected on his relationship with Chaka and shared one piece of advice of his that stuck with him.
“[He told me] success doesn’t come in the masses,” he said. “There’s only gonna be one Eminem, one Dr.Dre, one Timbaland, one 50, one JAY-Z, one Diddy.”
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He continued: “If you cool with your poistion, and what you got in life and what God blessed you with, then sobeit, be happy. That’s why I am who I am, [and] move how I move.”
Check out Yayo’s chat with Vlad below:
This wasn’t the first time Yayo has shared lessons he’s picked up over the years. During another segment of the same interview, he claimed 50 Cent and Dr. Dre taught him important business lessons as far as expanding his brand beyond Hip Hop.
He thanked 50 and Dr.Dre for teaching him the ropes of business deals outside of the music industry. Both men broke ground with their respective partnerships with brands such as Vitamin Water, Beats, STARZ, Apple Music and more.
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According to Yayo, the real money for an artist comes from all the deals outside of the music industry. He was able to learn that by having a front-row seat to 50 and Dre’s business dealings.
“The outside ventures,” Tony Yayo said. “I always learned from 50 from Vitamin Water and Dr. Dre, the outside ventures is what makes the most money. Even with JAY-Z, the [Ace of Spades], Diddy with the Ciroc, so we see the biggest artists, most money came from outside ventures.”
Meanwhile, Chaka Zulu is currently facing a murder charge following the fatal shooting of a man outside his Atlanta restaurant in June 2022.
In September, TMZ published surveillance footage from outside Zulu’s APT 4B restaurant, which shows the Disturbing Tha Peace co-founder firing the deadly shots into the victim, 23-year-old Artez Benton, as well the fight that preceded it.
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Zulu turned himself into authorities on September 13 and was hit with a litany of charges, including murder, aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and simple battery. In a statement following his arrest, Zulu’s lawyer, Gabe Banks, claimed his client acted in self-defense.
