West Coast Connection Forum

DUBCC - Tha Connection => West Coast Classics => Topic started by: ZILLA THA GOODFELLA on June 25, 2003, 11:10:28 AM

Title: Interesting Quotes on West Coast Rap
Post by: ZILLA THA GOODFELLA on June 25, 2003, 11:10:28 AM
Real Talk rite here.....
Strate from Siccness.....

When asked why BET don't play West Coast shit.....


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gangsta shit is a very small reality to the world. it may be your whole world but 99.899 % of everyone else who listens to music just wants to have a good time and really couldnt give a fuck less about gangsta this gangbang that. if west coast shit could sell it would. point blank.


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Good point. But there's more to it than that. A certain percentage of buyers go with whatever the media (i.e. MTV, BET, magazines like PEOPLE) promotes as the "hottest" thing for today instead of thinking for themselves. And such fans who are interested in keeping up with the Joneses make up a large percentage of those who buy CDs, too.

Part of why Death Row, Ruthless, and the early Bay artists (E-40, Too Short, Spice 1, Celly Cel, Luniz, etc.) were able to sell millions back in the day was because West coast music was new to many suburban folks who let the media dictate to them what to buy (and again, who have the most money to spend). Since West coast street rap was new (for the early 'nineties), it was promoted by the media as the "hot new thing" for that time, so for awhile there, not only were OG fans buying it, suburban kids were, too, thus causing sales in the millions from '92 to '97 or thereabouts.

But once Puff Daddy and some of the southern labels started catching on (Cash Money, the Southern model No Limit from late '97/early '98), the media moved on to THEM and promoted THEM as the "hot new thing," and sure enough, the suburban folks who had supported West Coast shit from '92/'97 bit the bait and started buying Southern Rap instead. The faithful (like me) continued buying West Coast artists, but since the suburban fans weren't there anymore to beef up the amounts, sales dwindled.

And now, the media promotes Eminem, Ja Rule, 50 Cent, DMX, etc., as the "hot new thing" for today, so those same fans have abandoned Southern rap (although, again, those who supported the South before it was cool still do) and switched to these East Coast artists! See a pattern here?

So, part of why it's hard for the West Coast is because even though I know, and others on this board know, that the West Coast is still dope, the mass media sees WC street rap as a thing of yesterday, and won't hype it up--they've moved on to hyping 50 Cent, Ja Rule, DMX, etc. And once someone else "hot" comes along, the mass media will abandon THOSE artists and promote that next "hot" thing, whoever he/she is. Maybe if we're lucky, a West Coast artist will be that hot new thing, but don't expect miracles. The media will take boy bands and dance shit anytime you give them an excuse. PEACE!
Title: Re:Interesting Quotes on West Coast Rap
Post by: R-Tistic on June 25, 2003, 12:16:54 PM
Damn I got chills readin that shit, seein how true it is......who wrote that?

I always think of reasons of the decline of the west, but I never thought about it like that....but that is reaaaaaaaaaaaaler than a mothafucka..........
Title: Re:Interesting Quotes on West Coast Rap
Post by: _That_Cracka_J on June 25, 2003, 12:27:34 PM
Damn, that makes hella sense....
Title: Re:Interesting Quotes on West Coast Rap
Post by: Cold Bishop on June 25, 2003, 01:28:03 PM
Man, i could told you all that..........

NeWayz.... Thats some real shit there.
Title: Re:Interesting Quotes on West Coast Rap
Post by: Don Seer on June 25, 2003, 01:34:40 PM
yup... nail been hit on the head square on.

also shows why dre2001 sold well.. what did he do? went to NYC direct to MTV and drove lowrider right across time square to their door with snoop and xzibit in tow.. screamin.. I'm here! then a little later dropped a single with eminem to catch the eminem fever then one for the clubs with a nate dogg hook.. couldnta been pushed much better.

just gotta wait for the media to become west coast groupies again.
Title: Re:Interesting Quotes on West Coast Rap
Post by: R-Tistic on June 25, 2003, 08:45:09 PM
I honestly think the west coast just needs to break out their pocketbooks and pay MTV BET and radio stations for "sideways promotion."
But 4 real, I think that if the West wants to even have half the impact that they did in 89-92, they HAVE to change their gameplan...gangsta rap had its chance, and it won't be blowin up again as it did. They might have to come out controversial in some way, and right now I think the best thing to do is do shit like dissin the president, maybe even with death threats, because its a grip of rappers talkin bout the government but they need to do somethin that will get them in the news again. Same way the FBI sent NWA the letter, they need somethin that will have that same impact...talkin about doin crazy shit to government officials, threatenin their lives, etc. to the point that they are all over the news...that shit is guaranteed to work