So being as it was a slow week in hip-hop and I rather not update the whole Rihanna situation for 3 weeks straight, let’s take this time to discuss the current state of underground hip-hop.
Now growing up in the 90s; arguably the most solid decade for hip-hop, I grew up with the understanding that early underground hip-hop was that gully hood shit that didn’t really make its way too far from New York; which is partly true. Early 90s were a transitional period. On one side you have the fundamentals of hip hop, on the other you have the raw realness of hip hop. This is where you begin to see a divide, the tribe called quests against NWAs. Seeing as underground has always been non mainstream by the definition of the word, this period of time is when many of greats we know now began to master their crafts. At one spectrum you have groups link Onyx, MOP and Wu-Tang and on the other you have the brother Common Sense, De La Soul, Talib and Mos. When these acts moved into the mainstream, we witness the next era of the hip hop underground. The abstract hip-hop or back pack rap and that crack music. We are currently on the back end of this era; the likes of Atmosphere, Kidz in the Hall and Doom reppin one side and the late Stack Bundles, S.A.S. and Cory Gunz on the other.
This brings me to the main topic of discussion, we are currently in a time where internet and hipster hop are coming up from the underground. In a media crazed society it is really difficult to be underground. Charles Hamilton has already put out like 20 mixtapes this year. Cool Kids, Kid Cudi, Asher Roth, WALE!! they are experiencing great fame on the blogosphere, but do you think they will come up from this and make it in the mainstream as those who have risen from the underground have before them? I personally feel like they have and they will. Record sales will be down of course, it’s the easiest to download of the internet. My theory is they will be getting paid of the endorsements and not the record deals. I don’t see albums doing well; they have already put out great shit and even more great shit. Not sure what they would offer on an album that they haven’t already gave you. I’m not gonna go in on the this that much cause I’d like to know your thoughts on the topic (plus I’m still re-upin from Royal’s b-day); I know there’s a few heads out there who read this. Royal, Cap, Sticksworth, get at me.
I leave you with this great video
- Drama
(get at last week here)
I think that ever since the inception of Napster, the retail album died.
It’s an economic decision fam. I mean you can either go to the store, purchase a 15 dollar album and ride out bumping that shit…or…
you can get the album from the internets for free, save your money, then actually go to the artists shows and concerts. As a hiphop fan, I perfer going to concerts and shows rather then dropping gwap for an album. On the same hand I hate supporting labels and putting money in tall Israeli’s pockets. I’ll admit, the only time I will actually front money for an album will be if it is truly some underground shit, or if I really eff’s with the particular artist.
I remember a few years ago when mixtape were coming heavy people thought that the mixtape was going to be the death of the retail album. I believe that those previous statements were correct. It’s not to take anything away from the grind of those artists really putting on and putting out retail albums, but there is a huge difference between how hard a (c)rapper will go on a mixtape vs. a retail album.
I guess in my opinion the mixtape is really for the heads, where the retail album is for making money.
There are alot of cats who have deals now, and who are in progress of dropping albums, but for some reason labels are taking forever to get their shit out.
If you look at the Interscope roster (for example) there are artists across all genres who got a deal, but still haven’t put out. Shit I’ve heard for the longest that WALE was going drop in march, but I’m almost certain that Interscope is dragging their feet on doing so. Actions like this, once new artists get put on make the luster and hype for these types of artist DIE.
It’s a sad but true fact.
Major labels are what kill artists.
i fully agree on the concerts tip, thats an experience you will have that not everyone else would. thats why this summer we’re going on tour. the last album i bought was that fancy footwork which i later tried to return and failed. already had it but had like $10 of best buy money that i needed to spend. that may be the only time you ever see my buying an album, and thats only if i don’t have more best buy money to put towards something more practical. my feelings are that major labels will never put out anything from talented artists, they arn’t the ones that will make money for them. wayne used to go the hardest on the mixtapes, now that hes whack hes makin that label money. not sayin that he sold out but its like you have to sell out to sell out ya dig?
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