Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
DJ Amir was the only Black person I remember on Fat Beats’ executive staff. Great guy, very knowledgeable and easygoing.
Today, he needs help getting back on his feet after an overseas work experience went bad. In his fundraiser, Amir describes months without pay, housing uncertainty, and struggling to afford basic needs.
Here is his GoFundMe:
gofundme.com/f/help-dj-amir…
Please donate if you can. Share it if you can’t. He’s also open to DJ bookings, lectures, curation, and other work.
Amir was a Fat Beats OG who spent almost a decade there, including serving as head of A&R and vice president of sales. His work helped build an institution in independent hip-hop.
In 2024, Benjy Grinberg’s company, Rostrum Pacific, acquired Fat Beats. In December 2025, Rostrum announced $150 million in financing from Crayhill Capital Management to acquire and grow music catalogs.
Investment firms love Black culture.
The Black PEOPLE who actually built it? not so much
That $150 million raises a question worth asking: as money flows into businesses built around hip-hop, what support reaches the people who helped build them?
For context, Black founded startups receive about 0.4% of venture $. Access to capital is everything beloved.
oh and to the capitalist coons who will be defending white men clad in ALD in my comments: spare me the “Why does it always have to be about race?”:
Because this is America, where HipHop is a BLACK art form traded as a commodity,
White men get funded and own the HipHop catalogs while Black OGs are crowdfunding basic needs.
Today, he needs help getting back on his feet after an overseas work experience went bad. In his fundraiser, Amir describes months without pay, housing uncertainty, and struggling to afford basic needs.
Here is his GoFundMe:
gofundme.com/f/help-dj-amir…
Please donate if you can. Share it if you can’t. He’s also open to DJ bookings, lectures, curation, and other work.
Amir was a Fat Beats OG who spent almost a decade there, including serving as head of A&R and vice president of sales. His work helped build an institution in independent hip-hop.
In 2024, Benjy Grinberg’s company, Rostrum Pacific, acquired Fat Beats. In December 2025, Rostrum announced $150 million in financing from Crayhill Capital Management to acquire and grow music catalogs.
Investment firms love Black culture.
The Black PEOPLE who actually built it? not so much
That $150 million raises a question worth asking: as money flows into businesses built around hip-hop, what support reaches the people who helped build them?
For context, Black founded startups receive about 0.4% of venture $. Access to capital is everything beloved.
oh and to the capitalist coons who will be defending white men clad in ALD in my comments: spare me the “Why does it always have to be about race?”:
Because this is America, where HipHop is a BLACK art form traded as a commodity,
White men get funded and own the HipHop catalogs while Black OGs are crowdfunding basic needs.
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
Kanye West's iconic performance of "Love Lockdown" at the 2008 MTV VMAs almost never happened 👀
With the MTV VMAs going down this weekend, Complex's @n_c_b recounts how an MTV producer tried to talk Kanye into performing "Heartless" in 2008 instead of "Love Lockdown." In he stuck to his vision.
With the MTV VMAs going down this weekend, Complex's @n_c_b recounts how an MTV producer tried to talk Kanye into performing "Heartless" in 2008 instead of "Love Lockdown." In he stuck to his vision.
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
Imagine being outside when Jay-Z, OutKast, A Tribe Called Quest, Black Star, and Brand Nubian all dropped ON THE SAME DAY 🤯🤯
Complex's @N_C_B breaks down why September 29th, 1998 is the greatest release date in hip-hop history.
Complex's @N_C_B breaks down why September 29th, 1998 is the greatest release date in hip-hop history.
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
Today is the anniversary of Kanye West's "Christian Dior Denim Flow," a epic posse cut featuring Pusha T, Kid Cudi, John Legend, Lloyd Banks, and Ryan Leslie.
Complex's @N_C_B looks back on what led to that song.
Is "Christian Dior Denim Flow" the greatest rap song that's not on streaming?
Complex's @N_C_B looks back on what led to that song.
Is "Christian Dior Denim Flow" the greatest rap song that's not on streaming?
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
Is it easier for a song to go diamond in the streaming era than it was in the physical era?
Complex's Chief Content Officer @N_C_B certainly thinks so, and he's got one stat that proves that the RIAA made it way easier for an artist's song to go 💎 in recent years.
Complex's Chief Content Officer @N_C_B certainly thinks so, and he's got one stat that proves that the RIAA made it way easier for an artist's song to go 💎 in recent years.
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
When it comes to songwriting, Errol Holden lets the beat be his North Star ✍️
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
Watch the full episode of @ideageneration with @N_C_B and @ErrolHolden__ on Complex:
youtu.be/7mF9b_m0EFI?si…
youtu.be/7mF9b_m0EFI?si…
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One of our best episodes in years, IMO.
Watch the new episode of #ideageneration here: youtube.com/watch?v=7mF9b_…
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
By 1996, @REALDJPREMIER had arrived at what most people recognize as his signature sound.
He caught glimpses of it on records like "Mass Appeal" and his work on KRS-One's "Return of the Boom Bap" album, but it landed right in his lap after persistence and pressure from Biggie one more track before his album was complete. Premier didn't have time - he was already overbooked. He told Biggie he'd make him something for his next album.
"I don't care if it's Impeach the President, just make me something!" Biggie insisted.
So Premier told Big to meet him at D&D Studios. He tuned a single note to multiple different keys and started playing around with it. Biggie interjected:
"Do that, do that!"
After laying down the track, Biggie suggested Premier sample R. Kelly saying "it's unbelievable." Premier was hesitant "it might not be in key" he said; but Biggie encouraged him to try it anyway. It fit perfectly.
What's the lesson here?
Maybe you can only find your signature style when you're forced to work fast and stop over thinking.
Maybe you only find your signature style after encouragement and guidance from someone who doesn't know your process but sees your genius.
Maybe we need to indulge the simple suggestions people make to each other, more.
Source: Idea Generation with @N_C_B
He caught glimpses of it on records like "Mass Appeal" and his work on KRS-One's "Return of the Boom Bap" album, but it landed right in his lap after persistence and pressure from Biggie one more track before his album was complete. Premier didn't have time - he was already overbooked. He told Biggie he'd make him something for his next album.
"I don't care if it's Impeach the President, just make me something!" Biggie insisted.
So Premier told Big to meet him at D&D Studios. He tuned a single note to multiple different keys and started playing around with it. Biggie interjected:
"Do that, do that!"
After laying down the track, Biggie suggested Premier sample R. Kelly saying "it's unbelievable." Premier was hesitant "it might not be in key" he said; but Biggie encouraged him to try it anyway. It fit perfectly.
What's the lesson here?
Maybe you can only find your signature style when you're forced to work fast and stop over thinking.
Maybe you only find your signature style after encouragement and guidance from someone who doesn't know your process but sees your genius.
Maybe we need to indulge the simple suggestions people make to each other, more.
Source: Idea Generation with @N_C_B
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
💡 IDEA GENERATION LIVE 💡
@ColeBennett, the creative mind behind @LyricalLemonade, joins host @N_C_B for a live interview on the ComplexCon(versations) stage.
Only at #ComplexCon, October 25th. Don’t miss it.
🎟️: tixr.com/groups/complex…
@ColeBennett, the creative mind behind @LyricalLemonade, joins host @N_C_B for a live interview on the ComplexCon(versations) stage.
Only at #ComplexCon, October 25th. Don’t miss it.
🎟️: tixr.com/groups/complex…
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
Matthew McConaughey dives into his legendary career and his life story you never seen before with Noah Callahan-Bever on #IDEAGENERATION
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
Matthew McConaughey needs freedom of time to be creative. #Ideageneration
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
The @Ian_Schwartzman and @marclamonthill Show - 'A Complex Struggle' | Episode 12 (feat. @JLaPuma & @N_C_B)
🎥 @deejaypoe @JBuddenNetwork
📌 patreon.com/joebudden
🎥 @deejaypoe @JBuddenNetwork
📌 patreon.com/joebudden
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Noah Callahan-Bever retweeted
who tf is samara cyn?
2025 RAPPERS TO WATCH
@LazerDim
@thesamaracyn
@lexagates
@mollysantana00
Osamason (@slimepointe)
@BenjiBlueBills
Full list 📲 bit.ly/4hrX1vc
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