West Coast Connection Forum

DUBCC - Tha Connection => West Coast Classics => Topic started by: acgrundy on January 19, 2007, 10:22:18 PM

Title: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: acgrundy on January 19, 2007, 10:22:18 PM
It seems every rapper thinks that they have the talent to go platinum and be a huge superstar.  And yes, that is a great mentality, very ambitious.  But the realism of the matter is that very few rappers make it to that status.  I think many of these westcoast rappers just need to come to that realization, and be satisfied w/ being able to make money off making music.  Think about how many no name rappers try to cater their album towards the mainstream audience, yet dont' have any promotion, and still end up no names and don't sell shit.  Meanwhile, they actually dissapointed their already small fanbase, and most likely lost fans.  Either that or they just never put out an album because they keep waiting for the perfect deal.  Crooked I is a great example of the latter.  Dude is just not gonna blow up.  He has a ton of skills and talent, but he just doesn't make songs that fit the audience that is going to buy millions of cd's.  He just needs to drop an album for his real fans, and keep it directed to please them.  That is why I got a lot of respect for rappers like MC Eiht.  Sure his records may be pretty damn boring nowadays, and nothing new, and relatively below average...but...he has always kept his music for his fanbase.  He hasn't gone off track and sold out and done some wack ass pop shit tryna gain 12 year old girls as his fan base.  He don't try and make songs for the radio today.  He still drops that gangsta shit.  While it may be boring and nothing new, I think its better than say Warren G's latest album or Bad Azz latest album or many rappers in the bay, where they just try to capitalize on what is popular and selling right now.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: WC Iz Active on January 19, 2007, 10:25:31 PM
 :sleep:
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: Antonio_ on January 19, 2007, 11:21:24 PM
It seems every rapper thinks that they have the talent to go platinum and be a huge superstar.  And yes, that is a great mentality, very ambitious.  But the realism of the matter is that very few rappers make it to that status.  I think many of these westcoast rappers just need to come to that realization, and be satisfied w/ being able to make money off making music.  Think about how many no name rappers try to cater their album towards the mainstream audience, yet dont' have any promotion, and still end up no names and don't sell shit.  Meanwhile, they actually dissapointed their already small fanbase, and most likely lost fans.  Either that or they just never put out an album because they keep waiting for the perfect deal.  Crooked I is a great example of the latter.  Dude is just not gonna blow up.  He has a ton of skills and talent, but he just doesn't make songs that fit the audience that is going to buy millions of cd's.  He just needs to drop an album for his real fans, and keep it directed to please them.  That is why I got a lot of respect for rappers like MC Eiht.  Sure his records may be pretty damn boring nowadays, and nothing new, and relatively below average...but...he has always kept his music for his fanbase.  He hasn't gone off track and sold out and done some wack ass pop shit tryna gain 12 year old girls as his fan base.  He don't try and make songs for the radio today.  He still drops that gangsta shit.  While it may be boring and nothing new, I think its better than say Warren G's latest album or Bad Azz latest album or many rappers in the bay, where they just try to capitalize on what is popular and selling right now.

Man that's true, but i think you used bad examples (the only right one is Bad Azz, probably). I mean Eiht has nothing to prove, nothing to loose. It's easier for him (already a legend) to keep it strictly for the fans. He's a 39 years old with a few bullets left, and he's just using them the way he should. But Crooked is hungry. He was the most anticipated rapper (probably still is?) from the West, he got skills, he's probably the best MC at the moment, and he's in a situation where he needs an album (selling platinum) to be dropped. His fans wants him to make it. Just to say: "I told y'all". You know what i mean? I feel bad for him, man. I don't think he's selling his soul. He's just trying hard to make an album out. And about Warren G, he's 36 being in the rap game for 15 years. I think he just tried something different, on his last album. The one who sold his soul is probably Bad Azz. But it was mostly Snoop who "ruined" his album tho.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: WestCoasta on January 19, 2007, 11:24:47 PM
yea I know what you're sayin

some of these guys need a reality check, or less yes men

that's why I like the guys who go indy and sell about 100,000

it's funny too because lots of fags around here think that's a flop

the only guys on the west that can talk that platinum shit are really Snoop and Game  :P

who else did okay numbers?  E-40 did, but he had to go pop to do that
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: WestCoasta on January 19, 2007, 11:29:12 PM
Crooked is hungry. He was the most anticipated rapper (probably still is?) from the West, he got skills, he's probably the best MC at the moment, and he's in a situation where he needs an album (selling platinum) to be dropped. His fans wants him to make it. Just to say: "I told y'all". You know what i mean? I feel bad for him, man. I don't think he's selling his soul. He's just trying hard to make an album out.

but what Acgrundy is saying is that it doesn't matter, Crooked I isn't gonna sell platinum no matter how good it is

there's no reason to be holding back, loads of people will burn it, it will have some okay sales on the west, and that's it

nobody else will care and it matters nothing, he'd sell like 200,000 at the very most

might as well go indy with it, why waste time with a big label?
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: Antonio_ on January 20, 2007, 12:51:34 AM
Yeah. Well i don't know, man. Rap is so fucked up these days.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: Tanjential on January 20, 2007, 03:54:06 AM
rap's aways been fucked up. music's always been fucked up. the whack poppy people always have breaks and the dope artists get screwed. been that way since day 1.
it's like doc said, it's always been like that but you have to be transcendent of that. "it's just great SONGS man"
-T
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: Z the laidback Virus on January 20, 2007, 06:03:39 AM
What Bad Azz album are you actually talking about?
It could be me but wasn't 'Executive Decisions..' his last album? Snoop wasn't even involved on that one, so you obviously can't blame him for that failure. I guess you are talking about 'Personal Business'? Bad Azz sold his soul there? Au contraire, mon frere. It's a great album and it really doesn't have a mainstream guestlist, does it?
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: Oklin on January 20, 2007, 06:11:00 AM
They shouldnt just try to make music to make money... they should make music because they love it.. and they shouldnt try to hit the mainstream, they should make the music that they think is hot. But okay if they are stupid idiots, mainstream IS what they think is hot :)
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: Diggfinger on January 20, 2007, 06:24:33 AM
It seems every rapper thinks that they have the talent to go platinum and be a huge superstar.  And yes, that is a great mentality, very ambitious.  But the realism of the matter is that very few rappers make it to that status.  I think many of these westcoast rappers just need to come to that realization, and be satisfied w/ being able to make money off making music.  Think about how many no name rappers try to cater their album towards the mainstream audience, yet dont' have any promotion, and still end up no names and don't sell shit.  Meanwhile, they actually dissapointed their already small fanbase, and most likely lost fans.  Either that or they just never put out an album because they keep waiting for the perfect deal.  Crooked I is a great example of the latter.  Dude is just not gonna blow up.  He has a ton of skills and talent, but he just doesn't make songs that fit the audience that is going to buy millions of cd's.  He just needs to drop an album for his real fans, and keep it directed to please them.  That is why I got a lot of respect for rappers like MC Eiht.  Sure his records may be pretty damn boring nowadays, and nothing new, and relatively below average...but...he has always kept his music for his fanbase.  He hasn't gone off track and sold out and done some wack ass pop shit tryna gain 12 year old girls as his fan base.  He don't try and make songs for the radio today.  He still drops that gangsta shit.  While it may be boring and nothing new, I think its better than say Warren G's latest album or Bad Azz latest album or many rappers in the bay, where they just try to capitalize on what is popular and selling right now.

yes I agree, the reality for most rappers is that they are "has-beens" as far as the mainstream audience is concerned. To have had a hit record about 7,5,3,2 or even 1 ago aint shit....these people forget about that stuff and want something new. Therefore my hat is totally off for Snoopy and Dre who has managed to maintain there statue in the rap bizz-

But really - what is the acknowlegdement of people really worth?? F- that, I think any west coast rapper who still has a fan base and still manages to make bread should just be satisfied and enjoy life  8)


PS. Warren's last album was a monster though :)
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: khang on January 20, 2007, 07:11:09 AM
this is a good topic because of two things, it points out that there are major differences between people who are true to themselves and people who change their image because they feel that more people will like it more so they can get more money. 

if you look at Snoop and Dre, they didn't change anything to fit into 'mainstream'...they just made their sound what it was and people loved it and it made them rich.  they naturally had it on their own.  they had their struggles in reaching for the top but they stayed consistant and eventually became two of the biggest names in rap

    if you think you have it then you think you have it...there's nothing wrong with that.  there's nothing wrong with shooting for the top.  if i believed i could do better than just 'getting by' in the music business then i would do my damn best to reach my full potential.  I wouldn't settle for something less than what i knew i could do better in, that in itself is selling yourself out short.   

on the other hand, it's wrong to try to be someone else.  if you're not true to yourself, then what good is your success?  you can spit all the bubblegum rhymes you want but when it's all said and done you're just a puppet for the mainstream. just a replica of what's already been done, that's not Dre and Snoop, eminem, or the game... that's just being satisfied with making money off being someone else.  there's a difference.  you can be true to yourself and be successful if you just believe in yourself.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: acgrundy on January 20, 2007, 11:22:38 AM
What Bad Azz album are you actually talking about?
It could be me but wasn't 'Executive Decisions..' his last album? Snoop wasn't even involved on that one, so you obviously can't blame him for that failure. I guess you are talking about 'Personal Business'? Bad Azz sold his soul there? Au contraire, mon frere. It's a great album and it really doesn't have a mainstream guestlist, does it?

I'm talking about Executive Decisions.  Personal business is a dope album.  Bad azz is a dope rapper.  I was really looking forward to executive Decisions, but then was highly dissapointed.  The album is garbage.  I never said bad azz sold his soul.  He catered Executive Decisions to try and reach a broader audience.


Here is a point some of you are not getting.  I don't think any artist should sell themselves short.  If you really believe you got the talent to be a platinum rapper, then by all means go for it.  But you need a lot more than just your talent.  You need the financing, the big name producers, the promotion, the big label.

Here is my point w/ Bad Azz and Executive Decisions.  He catered the sound of that album to reach a wider audience, maybe a more pop/hiphop audience.  However he didn't have any big name producer, who knows what label he was on, and he pretty much had no promotion at all.  Hell I have never even seen the album in stores.  How the hell is he suppossed to reach a wide audience w/o any of this?  Nobody, other than his hardcore dpg fanbase, really knows who he is,still after dropping this album.  So take me, part of his small hardcore dpg fanbase.  I was pretty much really disapointed w/ the album, so now, I could care less about his next album.  Meanwhile, I highly doubt he gained any of the fans that buy Jay Z, or Lil' Jon, or Nas or what have you.  If Bad Azz couldn't multiply his fanbase w/ Personal Business and the heavy help of snoop, well face the facts, he is not meant to be a superstar platinum rapper.  Not everyone in the NBA has the success of Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Shaq.  Thats just how it is.  Ain't nothing wrong with being a Rick Fox, or a Scottie Pippen. 
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: Diggfinger on January 20, 2007, 11:23:58 AM
if i believed i could do better than just 'getting by' in the music business then i would do my damn best to reach my full potential.  I wouldn't settle for something less than what i knew i could do better in, that in itself is selling yourself out short.   


^^ and so you should my friend!! We all have to live and feed our potential with the necessary ambitious, which will ultimately allow us to get anywhere we want to be here in life  8)
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: Z the laidback Virus on January 20, 2007, 11:40:34 AM
What Bad Azz album are you actually talking about?
It could be me but wasn't 'Executive Decisions..' his last album? Snoop wasn't even involved on that one, so you obviously can't blame him for that failure. I guess you are talking about 'Personal Business'? Bad Azz sold his soul there? Au contraire, mon frere. It's a great album and it really doesn't have a mainstream guestlist, does it?

I'm talking about Executive Decisions.  Personal business is a dope album.  Bad azz is a dope rapper.  I was really looking forward to executive Decisions, but then was highly dissapointed.  The album is garbage.  I never said bad azz sold his soul.  He catered Executive Decisions to try and reach a broader audience.


Here is a point some of you are not getting.  I don't think any artist should sell themselves short.  If you really believe you got the talent to be a platinum rapper, then by all means go for it.  But you need a lot more than just your talent.  You need the financing, the big name producers, the promotion, the big label.

Here is my point w/ Bad Azz and Executive Decisions.  He catered the sound of that album to reach a wider audience, maybe a more pop/hiphop audience.  However he didn't have any big name producer, who knows what label he was on, and he pretty much had no promotion at all.  Hell I have never even seen the album in stores.  How the hell is he suppossed to reach a wide audience w/o any of this?  Nobody, other than his hardcore dpg fanbase, really knows who he is,still after dropping this album.  So take me, part of his small hardcore dpg fanbase.  I was pretty much really disapointed w/ the album, so now, I could care less about his next album.  Meanwhile, I highly doubt he gained any of the fans that buy Jay Z, or Lil' Jon, or Nas or what have you.  If Bad Azz couldn't multiply his fanbase w/ Personal Business and the heavy help of snoop, well face the facts, he is not meant to be a superstar platinum rapper.  Not everyone in the NBA has the success of Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Shaq.  Thats just how it is.  Ain't nothing wrong with being a Rick Fox, or a Scottie Pippen. 

Thanks for clarifying that, but still, why do you mention Bad Azz having 'Snoop's heavy help'? At the time, he didn't. Snoop had basically left Bad Azz without mainstream exposure since 2001. He hasn't been on a Snoop-album after that, and Snoop himself hasn't been on an album by Bad Azz since 'Personal Business'. I know we have the Welcome to the Chuuch-mixtapes but really, how much exposure did those give to the people featuring on them?
Bad Azz was without Snoop's help then.

Of course, keep in mind that this is a technicality. I do not disagree with your message itself.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: Episcop Cruel Cvrle on January 20, 2007, 11:41:17 AM
Crooked is hungry. He was the most anticipated rapper (probably still is?) from the West, he got skills, he's probably the best MC at the moment, and he's in a situation where he needs an album (selling platinum) to be dropped. His fans wants him to make it. Just to say: "I told y'all". You know what i mean? I feel bad for him, man. I don't think he's selling his soul. He's just trying hard to make an album out.

but what Acgrundy is saying is that it doesn't matter, Crooked I isn't gonna sell platinum no matter how good it is

there's no reason to be holding back, loads of people will burn it, it will have some okay sales on the west, and that's it

nobody else will care and it matters nothing, he'd sell like 200,000 at the very most

might as well go indy with it, why waste time with a big label?

Cant say how much Crooked I will sell, nobody knows that. One thing i know is that u gonna be surprised by the quality of songs on BOSS album thats coming, its not some battle rappin ish, its just pure high classy lyrics over dope dope ass beats, damn even inhouse producers like Gittum outdone themselfs. You aint gonna be frogetin about that CD in one-two weeks , that shits gonna bump in your stereo for a looong time, beliveee that. Shits coming this year so i cant wait for us to comment on that together.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: We Fly High on January 20, 2007, 11:47:02 AM
Crooked I just doesnt have the persona or charisma to blow up. point blank. Its been damn 10 years, and still no album. He's only getting older and no one wants to hear old ass rappers, believe me. Dont get it twisted, hes got talent, but we all know that doesnt equate to sales.

Bad Azz blackballed himself in the industry with that name.. he might have gotten somewhere a little further with his dpg affiliations, but his name killed his career straight up. no one named Bad Azz will ever blow up.

but i think what AC is saying is right. some people just arent cut for the mainstream, and they need to acknowledge that.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: d-nice on January 20, 2007, 11:56:06 AM
I see so many artists taking that Koch deal and selling 100-200k for a couple of albums and a major ends up picking up the rapper and in some cases the label (BG comes to mind). I don't know why more artists do not go that route and wait for a lebel situation instead of going on a major and floppin. The room for error on a major is low and it is alot harder to get on another major after floppin on your 1st. Bad Azz's situation I think he was tired of reporting to a boss and he wanted his own situation. So he went the indie route and his album was not promoted, something that falls more on the artist to do. I think Snoop was trying to help Bad get over the top with Personal Business and Wrong Idea did good for a single, but they did not follow it up with anything else.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: jeromechickenbone on January 20, 2007, 12:00:49 PM
:sleep:

Spice is a tool. (karma's a bitch huh)

Very good points Grundy.  I brought up similar points in the AZ discussion in outound.  He's doing the type of music that's true to him, not jumping on every fad that comes out to try and stay relevant.  He may only push 50k units for an album, but almost all promotion is done on the net which next to free, he shoots his own videos and ups them on Youtube.  He's independant so he's not recouping money to some label.  So if he sells 50k x $12 per cd, that's $600,000.  So I mean if he nets 1/3 of those sales after expenses and producer fees, he's still sittin on $200,000.  That's living pretty damn good and he can do HIS music.

And I always know that AZ is gonna keep it real, and I've bought all his shit cuz I know I'm not gonna be getting a wack album.  A lot of these rappers today are only as hot as their flavor of the week producers they use. 

But keep in mind, a lot of these rappers that are in the mainstream are almost all solely in it for the: fame, notoriety, and money.  They know that they can do certain things and get paid, just like any other hustle.  It's the same as selling candy to other kids on the playground when they were little, and pushin yay on the streets.  They don't give a flying fuck about the music itself, just doing another hustle to makes some ends.  And I respect anybody trying to get theirs, but PLEASE don't call yourself a musicion because you're not.





Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: d-nice on January 20, 2007, 12:10:18 PM
:sleep:

Spice is a tool. (karma's a bitch huh)

Very good points Grundy.  I brought up similar points in the AZ discussion in outound.  He's doing the type of music that's true to him, not jumping on every fad that comes out to try and stay relevant.  He may only push 50k units for an album, but almost all promotion is done on the net which next to free, he shoots his own videos and ups them on Youtube.  He's independant so he's not recouping money to some label.  So if he sells 50k x $12 per cd, that's $600,000.  So I mean if he nets 1/3 of those sales after expenses and producer fees, he's still sittin on $200,000.  That's living pretty damn good and he can do HIS music.

And I always know that AZ is gonna keep it real, and I've bought all his shit cuz I know I'm not gonna be getting a wack album.  A lot of these rappers today are only as hot as their flavor of the week producers they use. 

But keep in mind, a lot of these rappers that are in the mainstream are almost all solely in it for the: fame, notoriety, and money.  They know that they can do certain things and get paid, just like any other hustle.  It's the same as selling candy to other kids on the playground when they were little, and pushin yay on the streets.  They don't give a flying fuck about the music itself, just doing another hustle to makes some ends.  And I respect anybody trying to get theirs, but PLEASE don't call yourself a musicion because you're not.







REAL THREAD AND REAL TALK! +1
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: acgrundy on January 20, 2007, 05:46:18 PM
What Bad Azz album are you actually talking about?
It could be me but wasn't 'Executive Decisions..' his last album? Snoop wasn't even involved on that one, so you obviously can't blame him for that failure. I guess you are talking about 'Personal Business'? Bad Azz sold his soul there? Au contraire, mon frere. It's a great album and it really doesn't have a mainstream guestlist, does it?

I'm talking about Executive Decisions.  Personal business is a dope album.  Bad azz is a dope rapper.  I was really looking forward to executive Decisions, but then was highly dissapointed.  The album is garbage.  I never said bad azz sold his soul.  He catered Executive Decisions to try and reach a broader audience.


Here is a point some of you are not getting.  I don't think any artist should sell themselves short.  If you really believe you got the talent to be a platinum rapper, then by all means go for it.  But you need a lot more than just your talent.  You need the financing, the big name producers, the promotion, the big label.

Here is my point w/ Bad Azz and Executive Decisions.  He catered the sound of that album to reach a wider audience, maybe a more pop/hiphop audience.  However he didn't have any big name producer, who knows what label he was on, and he pretty much had no promotion at all.  Hell I have never even seen the album in stores.  How the hell is he suppossed to reach a wide audience w/o any of this?  Nobody, other than his hardcore dpg fanbase, really knows who he is,still after dropping this album.  So take me, part of his small hardcore dpg fanbase.  I was pretty much really disapointed w/ the album, so now, I could care less about his next album.  Meanwhile, I highly doubt he gained any of the fans that buy Jay Z, or Lil' Jon, or Nas or what have you.  If Bad Azz couldn't multiply his fanbase w/ Personal Business and the heavy help of snoop, well face the facts, he is not meant to be a superstar platinum rapper.  Not everyone in the NBA has the success of Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Shaq.  Thats just how it is.  Ain't nothing wrong with being a Rick Fox, or a Scottie Pippen. 

Thanks for clarifying that, but still, why do you mention Bad Azz having 'Snoop's heavy help'? At the time, he didn't. Snoop had basically left Bad Azz without mainstream exposure since 2001. He hasn't been on a Snoop-album after that, and Snoop himself hasn't been on an album by Bad Azz since 'Personal Business'. I know we have the Welcome to the Chuuch-mixtapes but really, how much exposure did those give to the people featuring on them?
Bad Azz was without Snoop's help then.

Of course, keep in mind that this is a technicality. I do not disagree with your message itself.

I'm talking about snoops help on personal business, that is it.  personal business is a dope album.  Executive decisions sucked.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: acgrundy on January 20, 2007, 05:56:00 PM
:sleep:

Spice is a tool. (karma's a bitch huh)

Very good points Grundy.  I brought up similar points in the AZ discussion in outound.  He's doing the type of music that's true to him, not jumping on every fad that comes out to try and stay relevant.  He may only push 50k units for an album, but almost all promotion is done on the net which next to free, he shoots his own videos and ups them on Youtube.  He's independant so he's not recouping money to some label.  So if he sells 50k x $12 per cd, that's $600,000.  So I mean if he nets 1/3 of those sales after expenses and producer fees, he's still sittin on $200,000.  That's living pretty damn good and he can do HIS music.

And I always know that AZ is gonna keep it real, and I've bought all his shit cuz I know I'm not gonna be getting a wack album.  A lot of these rappers today are only as hot as their flavor of the week producers they use. 

But keep in mind, a lot of these rappers that are in the mainstream are almost all solely in it for the: fame, notoriety, and money.  They know that they can do certain things and get paid, just like any other hustle.  It's the same as selling candy to other kids on the playground when they were little, and pushin yay on the streets.  They don't give a flying fuck about the music itself, just doing another hustle to makes some ends.  And I respect anybody trying to get theirs, but PLEASE don't call yourself a musicion because you're not.







Well, but see the thing is westcoast rappers are not in the mainstream.  Snoop, game, dre, 40, and cube are pretty much the only westcoast rappers in the mainstream.  What I'm sayin is these rappers tryna get to the mainstream, need to realize that they are better off pleasing what audience they already have.  Xzibit is another great example.  His last album was wack as fuck.  He should not have tried making an album that would appeal to a crowd outside his fanbase.  Yet he did, w/ no promotion.  Album failed sales wise, and it also failed w/ his real fans that been buying his albums for years now.

I understand what you are saying about them not caring about the music and just tryna hustle.  but the music hustle ain't working imo.  personally I think many of these rappers who are switching up their records to gain a bigger fanbase are usually losing their fanbase.  I can definately say that is the case w/ me.  I think if they specifically made their record for their hardcore fanbase then they would actually be more successful, rather than try to cater to a crowd that really isn't their fanbase.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: jeromechickenbone on January 20, 2007, 06:20:55 PM
:sleep:

Spice is a tool. (karma's a bitch huh)

Very good points Grundy.  I brought up similar points in the AZ discussion in outound.  He's doing the type of music that's true to him, not jumping on every fad that comes out to try and stay relevant.  He may only push 50k units for an album, but almost all promotion is done on the net which next to free, he shoots his own videos and ups them on Youtube.  He's independant so he's not recouping money to some label.  So if he sells 50k x $12 per cd, that's $600,000.  So I mean if he nets 1/3 of those sales after expenses and producer fees, he's still sittin on $200,000.  That's living pretty damn good and he can do HIS music.

And I always know that AZ is gonna keep it real, and I've bought all his shit cuz I know I'm not gonna be getting a wack album.  A lot of these rappers today are only as hot as their flavor of the week producers they use. 

But keep in mind, a lot of these rappers that are in the mainstream are almost all solely in it for the: fame, notoriety, and money.  They know that they can do certain things and get paid, just like any other hustle.  It's the same as selling candy to other kids on the playground when they were little, and pushin yay on the streets.  They don't give a flying fuck about the music itself, just doing another hustle to makes some ends.  And I respect anybody trying to get theirs, but PLEASE don't call yourself a musicion because you're not.







Well, but see the thing is westcoast rappers are not in the mainstream.  Snoop, game, dre, 40, and cube are pretty much the only westcoast rappers in the mainstream.  What I'm sayin is these rappers tryna get to the mainstream, need to realize that they are better off pleasing what audience they already have.  Xzibit is another great example.  His last album was wack as fuck.  He should not have tried making an album that would appeal to a crowd outside his fanbase.  Yet he did, w/ no promotion.  Album failed sales wise, and it also failed w/ his real fans that been buying his albums for years now.

I understand what you are saying about them not caring about the music and just tryna hustle.  but the music hustle ain't working imo.  personally I think many of these rappers who are switching up their records to gain a bigger fanbase are usually losing their fanbase.  I can definately say that is the case w/ me.  I think if they specifically made their record for their hardcore fanbase then they would actually be more successful, rather than try to cater to a crowd that really isn't their fanbase.

Yeah I got you.  That's why I brought up AZ because he's catering to his true fanbase.  I'd be willing to bet that none of his OG fans have disliked any of his CD's.  He's never been accused of selling out.  And because of that, those fans will likely continue to support him.  They know he probably wants mainstream success, but he's not about to abandon his existing fanbase to try to get that teeny bop market.

I heard that "Concentrate" joint by X and is was fucking god awful.  So many people tried to duplicate that simplistic sound that the Neptunes did on "Drop It Like It's Hot".  When I heard that, I knew right then I wasn't buying it cuz he was just trying to recreate that pop success that that song had.  He ended up alienating me, a fan who had bought every one of his prior albums for some first week sales.  Usually I'd say it'll fuck him in the long run, but it fucked him pretty quick because the album didn't sell at all.  And considering his spot on MTV, he def had an inside track that most people don't have.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: Jakubs on January 20, 2007, 10:17:32 PM
Just wanted to drop in here and say this thread has been a great read. Props for the intelligent discussion without bashing eachother.
Title: Re: Something rappers need to realize
Post by: Tanjential on January 21, 2007, 12:49:21 PM
Here is my point w/ Bad Azz and Executive Decisions.  He catered the sound of that album to reach a wider audience, maybe a more pop/hiphop audience.  However he didn't have any big name producer, who knows what label he was on, and he pretty much had no promotion at all.  Hell I have never even seen the album in stores.  How the hell is he suppossed to reach a wide audience w/o any of this?  Nobody, other than his hardcore dpg fanbase, really knows who he is,still after dropping this album.  So take me, part of his small hardcore dpg fanbase.  I was pretty much really disapointed w/ the album, so now, I could care less about his next album.  Meanwhile, I highly doubt he gained any of the fans that buy Jay Z, or Lil' Jon, or Nas or what have you.  If Bad Azz couldn't multiply his fanbase w/ Personal Business and the heavy help of snoop, well face the facts, he is not meant to be a superstar platinum rapper.  Not everyone in the NBA has the success of Micheal Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or Shaq.  Thats just how it is.  Ain't nothing wrong with being a Rick Fox, or a Scottie Pippen. -------------------TRUTH

-T