These guys are heated but good points.. Kanye West really is the last artist I can think of that was successfully ushered in the game by someone else.

The young people of today's generation don't "empower" young artists like the legendary La Reid and Babyface's (who empowered everyone in atlanta in the 90's and early 2000).. The new generations aren't ushering the new "them in.." Rather, they are making the artists make it themselves within the media and then they jump on with them. La's generation, R. Simmons etc. was the last generation of execs to empower people with out the fear of those they empower taking their spot. Great business men and people with strong networks seem to empower others and see the bigger picture over being afraid or egotistical. If you look at the history of Atlanta Ga as a popular music "mecca" of talent, you can trace the mainstream musical exposure back to a very small group of people. La Reid was responsible for most of the city and there were a few others that also made great impact. La Reid brought talent from the south to the mainstream and helped change the sound of music forever. He is responsible for giving a shot to such artists as Outkast, TLC, etc. And then you had in house publishing companies like noontime that was catered to music publishing and making money of off producers. Now, if you are younger it is a different place in the A. Most of the people signing artists, or producers around town are so busy being artists, or producers, or writers, that they can't fully empower the younger generation like Russel Simmons could or La could... Check out this video about the state of the industry... interesting conversation