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He was a human Wikipedia for the industry.
It was such an education.
He was the music industrys Yoda, if I had to pick a title.
He wore so many hats for so many people.
From that day on, I knew to take my career a lot more serious.
Before that, it was rap.
When I met Bert Padell, it was business.
You fronted the money for the studio equipment to start Bad Boy Entertainment.
That was who you were, a giver, life saver.
As Bad Boys reign reached apotheosis, the Notorious B.I.G.
In subsequent yearsRun-DMC,Talib Kweli, andJinwould also namecheck Padell in song lyrics.
DiMaggio was an early client.
I was his batboy, his teammate, and his business manager, Padell told Kangol Kid.
Theres not too many people that can say that about anybody.
Once saw him make Faye Dunaway chill in the waiting room because he was cutting a check forT.J.
Padells offices became creative hubs in their own right.
He was like the original WeWork, said Padells daughter, Ellie Padell Levin.
Rakim,the God MC, even recalls gleaning valuable artistic advice from his accountant.
Bert told me you have to make the juices flow.
Sometimes people aint gonna wait for that light bulb.
That was something I looked forward to every year.
He wouldnt miss a year, wouldnt miss a date, wouldnt miss a note.
While hip-hop has witnessed its share of financial mismanagement, to a degree that buck stopped with Bert Padell.
He was the first person to help hip-hop artists get their money right.
