Before we get into it, I want to tell everybody that I'm now on twitter. I was against it for the longest because I usually hate following what everybody else is doing and I felt that it was nothing more than an away message on AIM. However, I came to the realization that it can actually be a great networking tool and so I don't have the resentment that I once did. I just hope that it actually does pay off. If you are on twitter and want to follow, you can find me at twitter.com/her_lover. Now, down to business.

So after the post about Kid Cudi yesterday, I started thinking about the GOOD Music family and their roster, and they very well be the best label founded by an established artist. For the few that may not know, GOOD (Getting Out Our Dreams) Music is Kanye West's label. While I don't think that he is an artist on the label himself (probably due to contractual obligations with Roc-a-Fell and Def Jam), the roster that he has is a great one.

Kanye has John Legend, Common, Kid Cudi, and Consequence. These are just a few of the names, but as you can see from that list alone, it is a very impressive and talented group. Of course John Legend and Common are already very established, and Kid Cudi is getting read to drop his album. Consequence already dropped his debut album in 2007 and is working on his next project. So often we see artists starting their own labels and signing people, but nothing really comes from it. Either the artists never drop and end up getting dropped from the label, or they drop with very mediocre sales and very poor marketing. However, Kanye has done a great job of trying to establish his artists and making sure that they are brought to the forefront when their projects are coming out. Of course Common was already established, but John Legend was able to really blow and become a huge success, Consequence has a nice online following and is continuing to gain support from listeners, and Kid Cudi is gaining more and more attention as time goes on.

I really have to give Kanye credit because everything that I have heard come out of his camp I have enjoyed so far. He signs quality artists that really take the music seriously and put out quality music. We don't see that too often, but he really has a ear for talent and it shows. So, I will leave you with a video from all of the artists named above and lets hope that a few more acts that are signed on GOOD come out soon.

And of course, let me hear your thoughts. Is there any artist founded label touching GOOD? Which GOOD Music artists are you looking forward to dropping next? Leave a comment or email at straightouttahiphop@gmail.com.

 

(John Legend in concert at Michigan State)