“FIRST THINGS FIRST!”

More after the Jump
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In the second part of my interview with Steve Rifkind, the SRC founder recounts the time when he signed the Wu Tang Clan.

He was with E. Swift (Tha Alkaholiks) when RZA brought “Protect Your Neck” for them to hear. An hour later, RZA brings the whole clan to the spot and they perform “Protect Your Neck”. While they are performing, a random intern (who I’ll call the phantom intern) runs into the room saying “that’s that shit!”. Steve Rifkind only saw that intern on that day and never again. But that guy ultimately influenced Rifkind’s decision to sign the Wu.

We speak about his relationship with Diddy. He revealed that Rifkind introduced Diddy to Clive Davis’ bosses.

I also ask Steve about his first run-in with Tupac Shakur. Steve Rifkind revealed that Pac stayed at his house in L.A. because Steve’s label were doing the promotion for Interscope at the time (before Death Row). Steve and Tupac used to smoke together at the office.

And finally Steve tells me the time when he broke his nose playing basketball and while on the way to the hospital, he was told to listen to 3 Akon records, which he loved and decided he had to sign him.