Isaac Hayes: ...I foster education, music education in schools for kids in inner cities who wouldn't have a chance, because when they dropped out all the arts, that was atrocious.
Tavis Smiley: How do you think that's impacted, that reality? I've heard people complain about that before, and I think it's a legitimate complaint. As an artist, though, how do you think that has impacted the creativity of African Americans and others?
Hayes: Well, I think that gave rise to hip-hop, because the kids didn't have any music lessons, so they had to find a way to express themselves. That's when Sugar Hill Gangs and things like that came out. Of course, it took a weird turn and became gangster rap and all that stuff, but kids have to have a way to express themselves. And people found out it was commercial, and that's when the kids started being exploited by record companies. So we need to get them back on track. Get them back into music and creating real music.
Tavis: Speaking of being exploited by record companies, tell me what made, back in the day, record companies like Motown and Stax was for a moment a hot competitor of Motown. Stax, of course, out of Memphis. Motown out of Detroit. Tell me what made those record companies such a wonderful A&R experience for African American artists and compare that to how black artists and others are being treated by record companies today.
Hayes: Well, those companies--and mention Philly International--
Tavis: Philly International, sure. Gamble and Huff.
Hayes: That's right. They gave blacks a chance to express themselves and create, and your creation, it would be experienced by people, be accepted by people. It was our voice, and it became very big. Motown, Stax, and Philly. And then in later years, it changed. When these kids had a way to express themselves, and they found out--they meaning the record companies found out that they could be exploited, then all they were looking for was money, that's all it was. So the things is, the problem is--I always tell the hip-hoppers, I say, man, learn something and earn something and save something. Remember the kids you left in the 'hood, help them get educated. Support them. These A&R people were so, feeling like, you know, like, they didn't, I can't think of the word for it, but they were very shaky. So what they did, they worried about getting replaced, so they had to have a winner. And then they wanted everybody to sound like everybody else, and that's where the problem came from. Therefore, back in the day, you knew everybody from everybody. You knew Teddy Pendergrass from Marvin Gaye, Kool and the Gang, you knew them from Earth, Wind and Fire.
Tavis: I know one thing. Even today when you hear Isaac Hayes, you know it's Isaac Hayes, and because he has so distinguished himself over the years, tomorrow, again, we celebrate Isaac Hayes Day here in L.A. To honor that, put on some "Hot Buttered Soul," some "Shaft," something. Anyway, Isaac, Congratulations.
Hayes: Thank you so much. Good hanging with you, man.
Tavis: I'm glad to have you here. Thanks for watching. Keep the faith.
Tavis Smiley: How do you think that's impacted, that reality? I've heard people complain about that before, and I think it's a legitimate complaint. As an artist, though, how do you think that has impacted the creativity of African Americans and others?
Hayes: Well, I think that gave rise to hip-hop, because the kids didn't have any music lessons, so they had to find a way to express themselves. That's when Sugar Hill Gangs and things like that came out. Of course, it took a weird turn and became gangster rap and all that stuff, but kids have to have a way to express themselves. And people found out it was commercial, and that's when the kids started being exploited by record companies. So we need to get them back on track. Get them back into music and creating real music.
Tavis: Speaking of being exploited by record companies, tell me what made, back in the day, record companies like Motown and Stax was for a moment a hot competitor of Motown. Stax, of course, out of Memphis. Motown out of Detroit. Tell me what made those record companies such a wonderful A&R experience for African American artists and compare that to how black artists and others are being treated by record companies today.
Hayes: Well, those companies--and mention Philly International--
Tavis: Philly International, sure. Gamble and Huff.
Hayes: That's right. They gave blacks a chance to express themselves and create, and your creation, it would be experienced by people, be accepted by people. It was our voice, and it became very big. Motown, Stax, and Philly. And then in later years, it changed. When these kids had a way to express themselves, and they found out--they meaning the record companies found out that they could be exploited, then all they were looking for was money, that's all it was. So the things is, the problem is--I always tell the hip-hoppers, I say, man, learn something and earn something and save something. Remember the kids you left in the 'hood, help them get educated. Support them. These A&R people were so, feeling like, you know, like, they didn't, I can't think of the word for it, but they were very shaky. So what they did, they worried about getting replaced, so they had to have a winner. And then they wanted everybody to sound like everybody else, and that's where the problem came from. Therefore, back in the day, you knew everybody from everybody. You knew Teddy Pendergrass from Marvin Gaye, Kool and the Gang, you knew them from Earth, Wind and Fire.
Tavis: I know one thing. Even today when you hear Isaac Hayes, you know it's Isaac Hayes, and because he has so distinguished himself over the years, tomorrow, again, we celebrate Isaac Hayes Day here in L.A. To honor that, put on some "Hot Buttered Soul," some "Shaft," something. Anyway, Isaac, Congratulations.
Hayes: Thank you so much. Good hanging with you, man.
Tavis: I'm glad to have you here. Thanks for watching. Keep the faith.
Related:
Hip Hop Is Read Presents: Fathers of Rap, Volume One
Isaac Hayes
(A Selection of Hip Hop Tracks Inspired by the Legend)
[Exclusive Download]
