So, while I was reading that Timbaland interview...

[XaNdEr]

Quite simply put: No.

DOWNLOADING HAS KILLED SALES, HATE IT OR LOVE IT. IT'S A TRUE FACT

i hate to admit but i think youre right, the days of multiplatinum/diamond sales (like someone said before me) are over, and its a shame

but maybe with some new, fresh and changing records, maybe...maybe it will bring back some of the old shine, but with all respect i dont see dudes like bishop and them *new west* rappers do something really innovative like some nas illmatic-type of shit, like some snoop dogg doggystyle-type of shit, i dont see that happening anytime soon to be honest, but i really hope im wrong

[Elevz]

The days of diamond sales are over. But is that because of internet bootlegging, or is it because people just don't appreciate music anymore?

[wcsoldier]

but I just don't see Detox turning into an instant unquestionable classic.

if Detox isn't an instant classic, it won't come out.. we all know it.. I know Dre current work is very average but I think it's part of his "strategy" to come back stonger.. I mean if he came with crazy beats now then drop Detox, people would be dissapointed 4 sure.. I know it's gonna be a crazy cd, if not it won't see the light of the day

[Elevz]

but I just don't see Detox turning into an instant unquestionable classic.

if Detox isn't an instant classic, it won't come out.. we all know it.. I know Dre current work is very average but I think it's part of his "strategy" to come back stonger.. I mean if he came with crazy beats now then drop Detox, people would be dissapointed 4 sure.. I know it's gonna be a crazy cd, if not it won't see the light of the day

What makes you say that he's weakening his stuff down now? Do you remember before the Chronic dropped, how Dre came with Deep Cover? Do you remember the stuff Dre did not long before the Chronic 2001, with songs like "Just Dippin" and "Buck 'Em"?

[Chief]

everyone goto get off dre's back... some recent BANGERS he did include:

-wheres your money (busta rhymes & ODB)
-outta control (mobb deep & 50)


imo both these tracks are 5/5

[XaNdEr]

The days of diamond sales are over. But is that because of internet bootlegging, or is it because people just don't appreciate music anymore?

both, people get tired of hearing the same formula over and over, nobody is trying anything new (and risking) cause they might lose money on it....

labels wont accept their artists trying something new and maybe flop and lose money on it

and independant artists wont make anything new and innovating for the simple fact they wanna earn some cash from their records (ice cube, xzibit, etc...)

last years i havent heard anything new or fresh, kanye's beats are played out by now, swizz beatz just drops the same stuff over and over again, scott storch sticks to his same old succes formula and is hesitant to change...

what hiphop needs is some tough guys who actually are tougher then those *self proclaimed gangsta's* and arent afraid of putting in some new, fresh stuff...

just my 2 cents

[XaNdEr]

and 1 more thing, i just realized that this might be why everyone who likes a lil bit of *true* hiphop is looking so bad towards Detox...

dre has changed hiphop with his fresh, innovative sounds, everytime he dropped an album...my guess is hiphop needs such an impulse at this time very badly, it might even boosts sales again...

but here is my fear too, what if dre retires (or better, the question *when*) or if he wont drop detox, we cant always depend on 1 or 2 people to drag the whole game to another level, i think we need more people who like to deliver new, fresh stuff, and who want to keep improving their styles and products (albums) and arent just looking for sales and money, but actually take the time to make something great...