---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, I was doing platinum albums…"
description: "\"Well, I was doing platinum albums back-to-back with Jive when they were the hottest hip-hop label. There was a time when Jive made a lot more money tha..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/too-short-5557_hip-hop_well-i-was-doing-platinum-albums-back-to_1817368.jpg"
---

#  Well, I was doing platinum albums back-to-back with Jive…

![“Well, I was doing platinum albums back-to-back with Jive when they were the hottest hip-hop label. There was a time when Jive made a lot more money than Def Jam. They had KRS-One, Too $hort, E-40, Mystikal, UGK and Keith Murray. They had Will Smith when he was still the Fresh Prince.” quote by Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/too-short-5557_hip-hop_well-i-was-doing-platinum-albums-back-to_1817368.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/too-short-5557_hip-hop_well-i-was-doing-platinum-albums-back-to_1817368.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/too-short-5557_hip-hop_well-i-was-doing-platinum-albums-back-to_1817368.jpg)

> “Well, I was doing platinum albums back-to-back with Jive when they were the hottest hip-hop label. There was a time when Jive made a lot more money than Def Jam. They had KRS-One, Too $hort, E-40, Mystikal, UGK and Keith Murray. They had Will Smith when he was still the Fresh Prince.”

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker reflects on Jive Records' peak success and its roster of influential hip‑hop artists, noting its financial dominance over Def Jam at the time.

**In simple terms:** Jive was a top hip‑hop label with many famous artists.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how industry dynamics shift over time.

Themes

music industry competition legacy artist development

Mood

nostalgic reflective informative

Type

historical industry career

When to use this quote

- Music business analysis
- career retrospectives
- label negotiations
- artist collaborations
- historical documentaries

Key Concepts

Hip‑hop culture label economics artist branding

Questions to Reflect On

- How do label successes influence artist careers?
- What factors cause a label to lose its edge?

A Different Perspective

Jive's success was temporary; market trends can reverse quickly.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Albums Jive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/albums-jive-2165659/) [Fresh prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fresh-prince/) [Hip hop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hip-hop/) [Jive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jive/) [Jive Hottest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jive-hottest-2165661/) [Jive Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jive-lot-2165660/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/more/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Jive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-jive-2165662/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/)

## Related quotes

> [Jive never saw any value in me as a long-term artist. Even as I was doing it they were like, 'You're not really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/jive-never-saw-any-value-in-me-as-a-long-term-artist-even-as-i-was/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I think Jive was just a shady label that they didn't want artists in the same room like, 'Hey, what you making?' Like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-think-jive-was-just-a-shady-label-that-they-didn-t-want-artists-in/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [Men Against Jive is a brilliant title! That's a military story, that's a difficult one to explain really because that's sort of a war...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/men-against-jive-is-a-brilliant-title-that-s-a-military-story-that-s/)

[Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/)

> [I wonder if, as a society, we will ever be able to call someone a jive tofurkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetri-martin/i-wonder-if-as-a-society-we-will-ever-be-able-to-call-someone-a-jive/)

[Demetri Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetri-martin/)

> [The Jive is a small man's dance. It's easier for small men to move around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-taylor/the-jive-is-a-small-man-s-dance-it-s-easier-for-small-men-to-move/)

[Jason Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-taylor/)

> [Jive for me always gets me panting and burning the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-johnson/jive-for-me-always-gets-me-panting-and-burning-the-most/)

[Jenna Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-johnson/)

> [Jive is a good label, but they're R&amp;B'ed out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prodigy/jive-is-a-good-label-but-they-re-r-b-ed-out/)

[Prodigy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prodigy/)

> [Basically, Jive is used to acts like R.Kelly, Britney Spears, N'Sync, Justin Timberlake. They're used to the big R'n'B acts selling top, top records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mobb-deep/basically-jive-is-used-to-acts-like-r-kelly-britney-spears-n-sync/)

[Mobb Deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mobb-deep/)

> [I've always wanted to learn the jive. It's fast, it's fun and it just looks awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-whitmore/i-ve-always-wanted-to-learn-the-jive-it-s-fast-it-s-fun-and-it-just/)

[Laura Whitmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-whitmore/)

> [ “Wouldst like to con a glimmer with me this early black?’, which he \[Cab Calloway\] helpfully explains as ‘the proper way to ask a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-forsyth/wouldst-like-to-con-a-glimmer-with-me-this-early-black-which-he-cab/)

[Mark Forsyth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-forsyth/)

> [Jive has been really, really good to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-allen/jive-has-been-really-really-good-to-me/)

[Kris Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-allen/)

> [There was a bidding war between Epic Records and Jive - now RCA - which was bittersweet. Just having labels bid over me was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-latimore/there-was-a-bidding-war-between-epic-records-and-jive-now-rca-which/)

[Jacob Latimore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-latimore/)

> [“The proponents of Harlem jive talk ... do not hope that courses in the lingo will ever be offered at Harvard or Columbia. Neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-burley/the-proponents-of-harlem-jive-talk-do-not-hope-that-courses-in-the/)

[Dan Burley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-burley/)

> [I had every major label in the world - I mean, any label that dealt with rap music wanted to sign me. I ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-40/i-had-every-major-label-in-the-world-i-mean-any-label-that-dealt-with/)

[E-40](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-40/)

> [My crew used to listen to 'Taking It to the Top' by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-premier/my-crew-used-to-listen-to-taking-it-to-the-top-by-jazzy-jeff-and-the/)

[DJ Premier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-premier/)

## More by Too Short

> [In my opinion, the Bay is a trendsetting area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/in-my-opinion-the-bay-is-a-trendsetting-area/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [In 1979, I was in ninth grade. Before I started tenth grade, I was already rapping myself. I didn't wait around to see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/in-1979-i-was-in-ninth-grade-before-i-started-tenth-grade-i-was/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [When I finish contributing, I feel like I've left enough to where people are gonna say, 'They got that from Too $hort.' I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/when-i-finish-contributing-i-feel-like-i-ve-left-enough-to-where/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I would never marry for feelings and love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-would-never-marry-for-feelings-and-love/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I'm not the one to pat myself on the back or even need somebody else to give me credit, but I listen to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-m-not-the-one-to-pat-myself-on-the-back-or-even-need-somebody-else/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [We can all admit this - women do it better when it comes to planning and shot calling, running households, raising kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/we-can-all-admit-this-women-do-it-better-when-it-comes-to-planning/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I think Jive was just a shady label that they didn't want artists in the same room like, 'Hey, what you making?' Like I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-think-jive-was-just-a-shady-label-that-they-didn-t-want-artists-in/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [It's not a passion of mine to follow politics. When I deal with political issues in my songs, I just say stuff that's current,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/it-s-not-a-passion-of-mine-to-follow-politics-when-i-deal-with/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [Hip-hop is not one thing. There are 50 different approaches to making it and showing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/hip-hop-is-not-one-thing-there-are-50-different-approaches-to-making/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [People who really know me say it's funny I'm Too Short.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/people-who-really-know-me-say-it-s-funny-i-m-too-short/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I've always had opinions on what was going on in my community. I always knew a lot of people listened to me, so why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-ve-always-had-opinions-on-what-was-going-on-in-my-community-i/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I love Vegas. I come to Vegas all the time... Check into a hotel for a day or two and enjoy the city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-love-vegas-i-come-to-vegas-all-the-time-check-into-a-hotel-for-a/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I really do respect and appreciate all the Bay Area artists and all the love they always give me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-really-do-respect-and-appreciate-all-the-bay-area-artists-and-all/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [I've got a core audience, so regardless of what I put out, I can sell 100,000 records on an independent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/i-ve-got-a-core-audience-so-regardless-of-what-i-put-out-i-can-sell/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

> [When I make a song, I actually literally talk to one person on purpose... I don't focus on, are people in Chicago gonna like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/when-i-make-a-song-i-actually-literally-talk-to-one-person-on-purpose/)

[Too Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

[Explore all 100 Too Short quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/)

## More Fresh prince quotes

> [My crew used to listen to 'Taking It to the Top' by Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-premier/my-crew-used-to-listen-to-taking-it-to-the-top-by-jazzy-jeff-and-the/)

[DJ Premier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-premier/)

> [My style has been compared to someone probably like the Fresh Prince.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle/my-style-has-been-compared-to-someone-probably-like-the-fresh-prince/)

[Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle/)

> [I grew up watching shows like 'Martin' and 'Fresh Prince' and 'Moesha,' and I was inspired by all these shows. When I was growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-fowler/i-grew-up-watching-shows-like-martin-and-fresh-prince-and-moesha-and/)

[Jermaine Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-fowler/)

> [I don't think I've ever been chatted up, and I don't think I've ever chatted anyone up. The Fresh Prince has the best chat-up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-mvula/i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever-been-chatted-up-and-i-don-t-think-i-ve-ever/)

[Laura Mvula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-mvula/)

> [Growing up, there was this explosion of B television. 'Fresh Prince of Bel Air,' you have 'Family Matters,' 'A Different World.' I had examples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-c-moore/growing-up-there-was-this-explosion-of-b-television-fresh-prince-of/)

[Adrienne C. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-c-moore/)

> [I was trying so hard. I would memorize the entire script, then I'd be lipping everybody's lines while they were talking. When I watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/i-was-trying-so-hard-i-would-memorize-the-entire-script-then-i-d-be/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

> [I'm in a 'I can do whatever' phase. I'm taking this '106 &amp; Park' opportunity into full force. I'm really focused on doing my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bow-wow/i-m-in-a-i-can-do-whatever-phase-i-m-taking-this-106-park-opportunity/)

[Bow Wow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bow-wow/)

> [I learn things myself. I call it YouTube University; YouTube has taught me more than anything. I learned how to tie a tie, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masego/i-learn-things-myself-i-call-it-youtube-university-youtube-has-taught/)

[Masego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masego/)

> [I was a real avid 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' fan. I think I may know every episode.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/i-was-a-real-avid-fresh-prince-of-bel-air-fan-i-think-i-may-know/)

[Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/)

> [Every time I try to move forward, somebody brings up 'Fresh Prince.' Every time I walk into a room or make a phone call,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-hubert/every-time-i-try-to-move-forward-somebody-brings-up-fresh-prince/)

[Janet Hubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-hubert/)

> [I always liked crop tops after I saw it on 'Fresh Prince.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iman-shumpert/i-always-liked-crop-tops-after-i-saw-it-on-fresh-prince/)

[Iman Shumpert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iman-shumpert/)

> [I don't want to die before Will Smith 'cause then I miss that awesome 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' marathon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannibal-buress/i-don-t-want-to-die-before-will-smith-cause-then-i-miss-that-awesome/)

[Hannibal Buress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannibal-buress/)

> [I think with the 'Fresh Prince,' there were all of these really interesting personalities and characters, and yet there's so much love in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiki-layne/i-think-with-the-fresh-prince-there-were-all-of-these-really/)

[KiKi Layne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiki-layne/)

> ['Moesha' is very strong in my brain. The black women on 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' are very strong in my brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michaela-coel/moesha-is-very-strong-in-my-brain-the-black-women-on-the-fresh-prince/)

[Michaela Coel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michaela-coel/)

> [The first time that I performed as an actor was the first day on the set of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-smith/the-first-time-that-i-performed-as-an-actor-was-the-first-day-on-the/)

[Will Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-smith/)

[Browse all 41 Fresh prince quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fresh-prince/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Well, I was doing platinum albums back-to-back with Jive when they were the hottest hip-hop label. There was a time when Jive made a lot more money than Def Jam. They had KRS-One, Too $hort, E-40, Mystikal, UGK and Keith Murray. They had Will Smith when he was still the Fresh Prince.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Too Short"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/well-i-was-doing-platinum-albums-back-to-back-with-jive-when-they/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fresh prince"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/well-i-was-doing-platinum-albums-back-to-back-with-jive-when-they/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/too-short-5557_hip-hop_well-i-was-doing-platinum-albums-back-to_1817368.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/too-short-5557_hip-hop_well-i-was-doing-platinum-albums-back-to_1817368.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c35/too-short-5557_hip-hop_well-i-was-doing-platinum-albums-back-to_1817368.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Well, I was doing platinum albums back-to-back with Jive when they were the hottest hip-hop label. There was…” — Too Short",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Too Short",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/too-short/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Well, I was doing platinum albums...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/well-i-was-doing-platinum-albums-back-to-back-with-jive-when-they/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/too-short/well-i-was-doing-platinum-albums-back-to-back-with-jive-when-they/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
