About this episodeUncle Murder (Le Jet Lenny) details his journey from a Penn State criminal justice graduate to a signed artist…AI summary
Uncle Murder (Le Jet Lenny) details his journey from a Penn State criminal justice graduate to a signed artist at Empire Distribution, highlighting the importance of in-house production, brand ambassadorships, and maintaining authentic Harlem roots. He shares a pivotal story of being hired as an intern, getting fired for self-promotion, and then rehired as an artist after executive Nema recognized his hustle, underscoring the value of seizing opportunities within existing networks.
Key takeaways 5
Business Mindset: Uncle Murder treats his music career as a brand, leveraging brand ambassadorships with True Religion, Supreme, G-Shock, and Vans to generate income and visibility alongside his music.
In-House Production: He maintains creative control and efficiency by keeping his team in-house, including his producer (Kron), videographer (Dre), and manager, rather than outsourcing key roles.
Harlem Fashion Legacy: The conversation emphasizes Harlem's dual influence on music and fashion, citing ASAP Rocky's unique 'down south' sound mixed with high fashion (Rick Owens, Mar Jan) as a blueprint for cultural crossover.
Criminal Justice Degree Utility: His degree in criminal justice is not just academic; it provides practical knowledge of the law to navigate police interactions and understand industry contracts, giving him an edge in business negotiations.
Empire Distribution Strategy: He advocates for independent labels like Empire that offer major-label support without restrictive terms, noting that many artists regret leaving for majors due to loss of creative control and ownership.
Notable quotes 4AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.
“We understand business. We understand we a brand at the end of the day. Ain't just about making music. It's about it's you. your likeliness you a brand at the same time too.”
▶ 5:32Explaining why Harlem artists naturally collaborate with fashion brands and view their personal image as a marketable asset.
“I got fired from three jobs... Going late. I don't like people telling me how to dress, how to talk, how to move... some of us is not meant for 9 to five.”
▶ 13:47Describing his transition from corporate life to music, highlighting his inability to conform to traditional workplace structures.
“Nema goes... 'Wait, who shooting?' He like, 'Oh, he works there.' Oh, he an artist. He an artist. Wait, he he works for us? He start going into my music... He [__] sign that sign him right now.”
The pivotal moment where his intern status was used to shoot his own videos led to his discovery and signing by Empire Distribution executive Nema.
“It's like a crown, huh? You the baby Harlem baby. You go. But it's full circle, man. And this is an indication and just letting us know that we we doing this and we supposed to be here.”
▶ 7:14Reflecting on his feature on Big L's posthumous album 'The Last Meal,' viewing it as validation of his lineage and place in Harlem's hip-hop history.
Chapters & Sections (26)▼
0:00Harlem Fashion, Music, and Big L Legacychapter2
2:49Cam'ron Co-sign and Harlem Music Legacy
4:20Harlem Fashion Collaborations and Brand Deals
6:44Harlem Legacy and Studio Vibeschapter1
8:06Studio Vibes and Visual Storytelling
11:00Importance of Team and Criminal Justice Degreechapter2
13:47Rejection of 9 to 5 Corporate Life
14:56Fergie's Internship and Hustle at Empire
17:10Hustling Internship and Empire Records Breakthroughchapter1
18:40Support from Legends and Harlem Artists
21:03Empire Records Deal and Harlem Top 5chapter1
23:30ASAP Rocky's Unique Harlem Sound and Fashion Influence
25:33Harlem's Top Five Rappers and Legendschapter2
27:07Defining Top Five Rappers by Era
28:39Doug F Fresh Legacy in Harlem
30:00God from Harlem Album Features and Empirechapter2
31:45Harlem Dance Trends and Music Beefs
32:50Harlem Culture and Album Marketing
34:37Harlem Release Party and Food Recommendationschapter2
36:16Harlem Food Recommendations and Dining Spots
37:31Desired Musical Collaborations and Crossover Goals
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