These days - during the digital age - it's easier than ever to get a record deal. You can hop on fruity loops, make a catchy beat and a dance, toss that shit up on Myspace or YouTube, get some attention, and you're almost guaranteed to get a deal. Or you can be the ultimate hustler, say your name over and over on records, give out your real phone number and your almost guaranteed to get a deal. Or you can make up a random beef with a random successful rapper, put out a street video on YouTube and you're almost guaranteed to get a deal. The actual music has become secondary. But this doesn't lead to less quality music...just more shitty music. Here are the REAL problems, though:
1. We are lazy
I consider the golden era of rap to be 1994 -2004. During that time, countless 'damn good' to 'classic' albums were released. Let's take a random time frame from that period; summer 1996 - summer 1997. Jay-z dropped 'Reasonable Doubt'. Nas dropped 'It Was Written'. Outkast dropped 'ATLiens'. Big dropped 'Life After Death'. 2pac dropped 'The Don Killuminati: The Seven Day Theory'. And those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Back then, there was a different power player releasing a quality album each and every Tuesday.
And truth be told, things aren't that much different these days.
There is still plenty of quality music being released in 2009. The names may not be as recognizable, and we may have to look a little harder, but it's out there. Part of the problem is that, as consumers, we've gotten lazy - spoiled by years of an over abundance of hot shit. We don't want to take the time to weed through the Soljia Boys, D4Ls and Gucci Manes to get to the Killer Mikes, J.Coles and Joe Buddens. So what do we do instead? We bitch and whine that there isn't any good music out there. And what happens when we finally DO get off our ass and find the quality hip hop we're looking for?
2. We don't support good music
Picture this: You go in to work tomorrow and your boss calls you in his office. He tells you that you will no longer be getting paid for your services. Would you keep that job? If so, would you still work as hard at your job and continue to produce the same quality day in and day out? Well that's the message that we send to artists whose music we like when we download their music, as opposed to buying it. We tell them that they can put their blood, sweat, tears and labels money into a project, and the consumers (their FANS, no doubt!) will undercut them at every turn by stealing that music. So why would they continue to put such effort into making that music? They wouldn't. This results on two things:
A) Some artists compromise their art in an order to make up those funds. They start seeing that as long as you make simple club records and records geared toward women, they will actually SELL some records. So you see Sheek making 'Hood Love' and T.I. telling women 'You can have whatever you like!'. Good records? Yes. But also uncharacteristic of the artists.
Or
B) Artists start to generate income outside of music. We've been begging Dre 3000 to feed us with a solo rap cd. But as a man with a family, bills and activity above the brain stem, why would he lock in for six months, spend thousands on studio time, make an album, release it and have his 'fans' download it for free, as opposed to coughing up $12? Especially when he can shake hands with a Hollywood big shot and get a $2 million check to do a movie. Financially, music seems to be a less than viable option. We need to make it profitable for artists again.
And when I say 'we', what I really mean is 'you'. Because I support my favorite artists (for the most part). I BOUGHT Jay's Blueprint 3. I BOUGHT Slaughterhouse. I BOUGHT Killer Mike's 'I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind 2'. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have the right to complain. See proof below:
1. We are lazy
I consider the golden era of rap to be 1994 -2004. During that time, countless 'damn good' to 'classic' albums were released. Let's take a random time frame from that period; summer 1996 - summer 1997. Jay-z dropped 'Reasonable Doubt'. Nas dropped 'It Was Written'. Outkast dropped 'ATLiens'. Big dropped 'Life After Death'. 2pac dropped 'The Don Killuminati: The Seven Day Theory'. And those are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Back then, there was a different power player releasing a quality album each and every Tuesday.
And truth be told, things aren't that much different these days.
There is still plenty of quality music being released in 2009. The names may not be as recognizable, and we may have to look a little harder, but it's out there. Part of the problem is that, as consumers, we've gotten lazy - spoiled by years of an over abundance of hot shit. We don't want to take the time to weed through the Soljia Boys, D4Ls and Gucci Manes to get to the Killer Mikes, J.Coles and Joe Buddens. So what do we do instead? We bitch and whine that there isn't any good music out there. And what happens when we finally DO get off our ass and find the quality hip hop we're looking for?
2. We don't support good music
Picture this: You go in to work tomorrow and your boss calls you in his office. He tells you that you will no longer be getting paid for your services. Would you keep that job? If so, would you still work as hard at your job and continue to produce the same quality day in and day out? Well that's the message that we send to artists whose music we like when we download their music, as opposed to buying it. We tell them that they can put their blood, sweat, tears and labels money into a project, and the consumers (their FANS, no doubt!) will undercut them at every turn by stealing that music. So why would they continue to put such effort into making that music? They wouldn't. This results on two things:
A) Some artists compromise their art in an order to make up those funds. They start seeing that as long as you make simple club records and records geared toward women, they will actually SELL some records. So you see Sheek making 'Hood Love' and T.I. telling women 'You can have whatever you like!'. Good records? Yes. But also uncharacteristic of the artists.
Or
B) Artists start to generate income outside of music. We've been begging Dre 3000 to feed us with a solo rap cd. But as a man with a family, bills and activity above the brain stem, why would he lock in for six months, spend thousands on studio time, make an album, release it and have his 'fans' download it for free, as opposed to coughing up $12? Especially when he can shake hands with a Hollywood big shot and get a $2 million check to do a movie. Financially, music seems to be a less than viable option. We need to make it profitable for artists again.
And when I say 'we', what I really mean is 'you'. Because I support my favorite artists (for the most part). I BOUGHT Jay's Blueprint 3. I BOUGHT Slaughterhouse. I BOUGHT Killer Mike's 'I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind 2'. If I hadn't, I wouldn't have the right to complain. See proof below:
3. Marketing departments from music labels are very good at what they do
They're so good that they routinely convince us what artists we should like. Don't get me wrong; there is nothing wrong with commercial music. My favorite rapper is Jay-z, for Pete.s sake. Can't get much more commercial than that. But my point is that there is music and artists out there other than what you hear on the radio. For example, I'm pretty sure there is a good portion of the population that have never heard a Killer Mike record other than 'Adidas' or 'Akshon'. And have never heard a Joe Budden record besides 'Pump it Up'. But these are two of the most skilled, intelligent, hungry MC's doing it today. But you probably wouldn't know it, just judging of those singles. Now, they have gone the indy route and are consistently dropping quality music. But you won't see them on 106 and Park. Their records will never get a million spins a week on radio. And unless you actually WANT to know when they have shit dropping, they could release an album without you ever knowing.
My point?
Stop letting labels tell you who you should like and actually open your ears, let the music speak for itself, and make up your own mind. And don't let the fact that major labels aren't behind a certain artist cause you to not get behind them either. Quality is quality, whether it comes from your favorite super star rapper who has 3 million fans and always goes plat, or from the dude that only has a hardcore fan base of 200,000 who fuck with him regardless, but isn't on a major label.
That's pretty much it.
HIP HOP LYRIC OF THE DAY
It's best you stop screwing around homey and gimme mine/or get cooked in front of ya girl like y'all in Beni Han
2 comments:
About the Lyric of the Day...I just came from japanese restaurant. Go figure.
Anyway, as I was reading, I was thinking how it's the exact same thing for r&b/soul music as well. Rarely does the good stuff make it to the radio. Rarely! One of the things I Iove and hate about Atlanta is that soooo many people here want to be in the music game. It makes for a new random, usually crappy CD being handed to me each time I walk downtown. It also makes for a really AWESOME live music scene where you get to hear the god stuff before it makes it to the radio...if it makes it to the radio.
You should consider getting me itunes gift certificates...only so I can follow your wisdom and buy good music.
I agree with...anonymous. Need itunes gift cards. I just used all mine up last month. Kthx! Got that birthday coming up on January 18th. 24 years old..I'd say $5 per year of existence on a card will suffice. Tell AJ I'm sorry for taking food from his mouth.
Post a Comment