Lord Jamar Talks Andre Harrell Quitting Rap Career After Seeing LL Cool J Perform

BYErika Marie4.2K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Kris Connor / Stringer / Getty Images
Andre Harrell
Andre Harrell's unexpected passing has caused many to discuss his career, including Lord Jamar & DJ Vlad.

The music industry is still grieving the loss of Andre Harrell. The beloved music executive has created a legacy that is unmatched, and it's clear that his protegĂ© Diddy continues to have a hard time coming to terms with Harrell's death. "I MISS YOU. HE WAS SO KIND. SO BEAUTIFUL. SO PATIENT. SO BLACK. SO CARING. SO SHARING. SO WISE. THE LIFE OF THE PARTY. A MUSICAL GENIUS! MY HERO," Diddy wrote in the caption to a photo of himself and Andre Harrell.

Frazer Harrison / Staff / Getty Images

Lord Jamar and DJ Vlad chatted about the late music legend in a recent episode of VladTV, and during the discussion, they brought up Harrell's early days in hip hop. Before he became instrumental in inking deals that turned some of our favorite artists into icons, Harrell was one half of the 1908s hip hop duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde. Vlad mentioned that he read that Harrell was gung-ho about his music career until he saw LL Cool J perform. It was then that he decided to go another route.

"'Cause their whole style wasn't aggressive like that," Lord Jamar recalled. "It was more like that early emcee type of style and it was good for that, but he was smart enough to know. You see? And that's part of it, being smart enough to assess your strengths and your weaknesses and know what you can do and what you can't do. You might want to do some sh*t but I can't really do that even if I want to do it... But I can help other people do that."  The two also talked about the evolution of Harrell's hip hop duo partner Alonzo Brown who apparently didn't do too bad for himself after becoming an executive producer of the Judge Mathis show. Watch the clip below. 


About The Author
Erika Marie is a seasoned journalist, editor, and ghostwriter who works predominantly in the fields of music, spirituality, mental health advocacy, and social activism. The Los Angeles editor, storyteller, and activist has been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. E.M. attempts to write stories that are compelling while remaining informative and respectful. She's an advocate of lyrical witticism & the power of the pen. Favorites: Motown, New Jack Swing, '90s R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, & Punk; Funk, Soul, Harlem Renaissance Jazz greats, and artists who innovate, not simply replicate.
...