The problem came from the early 90s where labeled coddled extraordinary talent and and catered to their needs. That's why the older MCs of that era, outside of a KRS, Rakim, or a Big Daddy Kane, we're

as long as they dropped a dope project once every 2 to 4 years. That's why selling CD out of kinkos and back of their trunk was a foreign concept outside of old Rocafella for most NY rappers. Method Man and Jadakiss, when they first came into the game said that rappers only recorded and toured 6 months of the year and chilled for the other 6 months...until DMX came in and Hov started dropping platinum albums annually.
Those rappers always ran to the labels because they were more focused on quality than hustle. Back when labels were profitable.
Now, cats gotta work 24/7, tour like mad, drop mixtures and projects like it ain't nothing, to keep up with that ADD social media lifestyle that the south laid the blueprint on. With a 360 deal.
That's why the older NYC rappers have a hard time adjusting to these times of the digital era.