'Without ambition, one starts nothing. Without work, one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you. You have to win it.'

These are the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson. Today these words apply to a very ambitious UD student.

Danny McLean is currently a third-year student in the School of Business here at UD. Ask this Brooklyn native what he is all about, and he wont hesitate to tell you, it's 'Big Bizne$$.'

'What's that'? one might ask. It's the name of the record label he is working hard to establish.

McLean's ambition is to start 'Big Bizne$$' as a club or non-profit organization here on campus that provides different ethnicities a vehicle to showcase their talents. He is currently drafting a business proposal, and should have things up and running soon.

Next summer when he returns home to New York, the majority of the heavy lifting will be done through marketing, starting campaigns and getting the label name out there.

'I want to get the name out there, let people know that I'm running a legitimate business,' said McLean. 'The true meaning behind 'Big Bizne$$' is real, honest business. I want my artists to be the best. I want them to have the best.'

Today in the recording industry, many artists are being exploited. One of McLean's goals is to create a label where exploitation is minimal.

He experienced this first-hand last summer when he was employed at an entertainment law firm and the treatment of artists caught his eye. There, the corporate aspect of the recording business was something that McLean not only saw, but had hands-on experience with as well.

'People are being treated unfairly,' said McLean. 'In reality, the artists are struggling to get what they want, like you and me. When I saw artists being jerked around on the ownership of their publishing, copyrights, touring, etc., I felt they should have the money they deserve for their craft, which they aren't getting.'

However, McLean attributes a lot of his knowledge about the business of the music industry to the education that he has received from UD.

'Due to my business background here at UD, I'm so fortunate to have the intelligence ... I have,' said McLean. 'This being my junior year, I'm thankful I am able to take the knowledge I've acquired and apply it to the real world.'

McLean is currently looking for talent to sign to his label and is open to a wide range of artists.

Although he's predominantly interested in hip hop, R&B and reggae, he's willing to expand his empire to all music genres eventually.

According to McLean, in order to achieve legendary status, one must have ambition and hunger. McLean is not only is hungry for success but for knowledge too. He admits he still has a lot to learn, but he is out there establishing himself.

'To those that doubt me, they can ask about me,' said McLean. 'I love when people got something to say, I feed off that energy. It's the energy that makes me go. If everyone loves everything you do, you can't make money.'

Currently McLean has artists in New York (Show-N-Prove, Slim), as well as UD rapper Dekontee Lombell (featured in the Sept. 23 edition of Flyer News). To catch the interests of McLean, one has to have something valid to offer, as well as a distinct, original style.

'I like hearing artists who are actually saying something,' said McLean. 'Meaning is big to me. The greats and the legends had that, and that's what I want ' the greats and the legends.'