If you were and up and coming rapper, or maybe I should say artist, what would you do? Would you go for the mainstream hit to make big bucks, or would you try to stick towards the "hip-hop roots" and produce real hip hop, instead of the bullcrap you hear in mainstream? Remember if you pick choice two, you probably won't blow up as big as if you picked choice one, which means you will probably be taking a big paycut just because you want to make real hip hop. The reason why I'm bringing this up, is because in RTT, I've seen a lot of guys dissing the mainstream, saying hip hop is dead and ect. Don't get me wrong, I do not like most of the hip hop music being produced today, but I think some of us have to look at it through the artist's perspective. The general audience of hip hop America do not want to hear well thought out verses, instead they want to hear hard beats with a catchy tone. Can you really blame artists for coming out and producing singles like A-Bay-Bay or This Is Why I'm Hot, if that is what will make them the most money in the long run? You may not like it, but at the end of the day, those are the type of music that sells. CDs coming from guys like 50 Cent, who many call untalented, and horrible artist, sell more than CDs coming from someone like Talib Kweli. I know if I'd had to choose between picking the big bucks, or making "real hip hop" just because I don't want to go against the hip hop roots, I'd take the big bucks any day of the week. This is not me disrespecting the hip hop culture, but at the end of the day, the job of a hip hop artist is to make music. And if that is their job, I'd like to think they would want to capitalize on their job by making as much money as possible. Honestly, how many people hear would sacrifice big money, big mansions, and fancy cars just to produce "real hip hop?" Because most of the artists out there that produce "real hip hop" do not live the same lifestyle as those in the mainstream who produce hits like Walk It Out, or do Snap Your Finger dances. And although this doesn't seem fair, it is the reality Sorry for the long post. It has been a long week, and I just want to get mind straightened up. This post has helped
That's a rough question actually. I would still go with the hip hop roots one. You'll still be making lots of money and you will have respect from all the greats (Nas, Rakim, Eminem, Jay Z, etc.) and smart rap fans instead of the mainstream fans.
The thing with hip hop is, everybody is so quick to judge. Hip hop is not dead, nor will it ever die. It's still a YOUNG genre of music...how can a culture die when it's first generation is still around? There are people who haven't picked up a pen and paper right now, who will make great hip hop in the future. Right now the quality of the music is just at an all time low, mainstream wise. And the ringtone rappers, the dance rap, none of that really sells records either. For example, I don't think Mims is gold. Only a handful of rappers these days go platinum. And you got these dance record rappers controlling the radio and all of that, it doesn't matter because there time is now, there careers will have no longevity to them...when good music does. I'm writing raps, and I'm going to start making music soon...I'm not taking it that serious...but I'ma try to put into music what I get out of it...something I can nod my head to...with lyrics I can relate to. Some people should just be a little more patient
But the thing is, if you become a mainstream artist, all it really takes is 2 or 3 ?successful? singles, (and by successful singles, I mean singles that generate attention and are played again and again on radio or MTV) and your name will be out there. It doesn?t matter if the concept of the song is incredibly stupid, if it appeals to the teenagers who are too stupid to understand the lyrics of ?real rap,? it?s bound the be successful. Once you get out that successful mainstream hit, your name will be out there. People will be checking for you. Where as if you want to take the route and produce ?real rap? as a career, you have to take into consideration that most of the people that produce ?real rap? are in the underground, and most of them never rise to the top. They?ll have their own group of fans and their cult followings and such, but most of them never make it out into the mainstream, and most of them never generate a large enough fanbase to make substantial money. Meanwhile, for mainstream artists, their jobs are way easier. All they need to do is go out and get a good beat, and put a nice catchy verse or two on top of that, and there?s the single. Mainstream artists actually have to sit down with their pens and papers, and write each line with effort and thought in order to get their messages across. But in the end, most end up making substantially less money than that of the mainstream artist. And like I said, is that fair? No. But that is the reality of things. Also, a mainstream artist doesn?t make money just off their music. Once you become a popular mainstream artist (which in my opinion, really isn?t even that difficult now a days considering all the crap that has been accepted by the general artist) you don?t make money just off of music. You also get endorsement deals with shoes and all sorts of other products, even vitamin water. Not to mention all the commercial appearances you could have on TV Now don?t get me wrong, by no means am I accepting the horrible music being put out now a days, but I understand why mainstream rappers put out the music they do today. It?s not because they are too stupid to understand the true meaning of rap, it?s because those type of music are ?in,? and they make you money. If I had a choice, I?d definitely choose to become a mainstream artist, because it is much easier to blow up, and my chances of making big bucks are far greater than that of an underground artist
Brian, in the end good hip hop lasts and artists who build their careers on singles don't. Look at Talib for example, dude has never sold a lot of records or had a huge single, but he has still had a successful career, he is living comfortably, and is a well respected MC. It's also very possible to make a product that is true to hip hop, while still commercially appealing as well. Just look at your favorite mainstream artists.
I could never enter hip hop or the music industry in general, looking at it as a career path. It'd be a personal way of expressing myself and if my music happened to catch the interest of a label or something, I'd just go from there. That way I really wouldn't have to compromise myself.
I'm not going to lie, I'd go after the money, but thats only because I've learnt in my 20 years that cash really does rule everything around me. Although saying that, If I was living comfortable while producing good quality Hip-Hop, but on the d/l, then I would be happy with that.
I'd go mainstream for sure, no doubts in my head. Make something as whack as aye bay bay or something like bawwwwwwwwwwwwllllin or money in the bank... and you're bankin forreal. More ppl are into mainstream than roots of hiphop, anyways. Not many ppl really know the real roots of hip hop and all about Nas and REAL rappers to tell you the truth. Even I dont ...
<div class="quote_poster">Swish Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'd make some mainstream **** and some lyrical hip hop roots ****. I'd cover it all.</div> Same.
It's not like I would just do it to get the best of both worlds either. I think it would be good because it would introduce people to different kinds of hip hop and possibly expand their tastes. If I come out with half club tracks and half hip hop root tracks, everyone will be happy and they'll hear a variety of good music. People who want to hear mainstream music would get their fill and the people who like nice lyrics and messages would be satisfied as well. In the meantime, the mainstream guys might get into classic rap and some other lyrical guys while the hip hop roots junkie might start blasting a club banger in his car on the way to work. You know?
I wud go mainstream at first. Make a lot of money, and then start rapping rap the way it should be rapped.
The thing is, you can make a club-party type track without basing the song about being in the club or a dance. Just look at all the ish that was in the 90s...all of that got played in clubs and parties...they didn't have to be a "club song". <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I'd go mainstream for sure, no doubts in my head. Make something as whack as aye bay bay or something like bawwwwwwwwwwwwllllin or money in the bank... and you're bankin forreal. More ppl are into mainstream than roots of hiphop, anyways. Not many ppl really know the real roots of hip hop and all about Nas and REAL rappers to tell you the truth. Even I dont .</div> Correction...not many young people know. There are plenty of people who know.
MAINSTREAM. If i had chance i'd work with 50 even though im not a fan, dude is the smartest guy in the industry.
<div class="quote_poster">NTC Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not going to lie, I'd go after the money, but thats only because I've learnt in my 20 years that cash really does rule everything around me. Although saying that, If I was living comfortable while producing good quality Hip-Hop, but on the d/l, then I would be happy with that.</div> True that, money is everything.
I would start off talkin about some struggles in my life. If I don't get noticed, then I'll make up some wack a$$ dance and get everybody pumpin. And get some wack a$$ artists on my songs like Dipset, 50 Cent, and Lil Wayne.
