Labels dropping hip-hop completely?

[Spin]

Universal broke up Island/Def Jam and now Def Jam is a stand alone label. You can bet the funding won't be the same.

Jimmy Iovine is rumored to be leaving Interscope for Apple by the end of the year.

Lyor Cohen was pushed out of Warner awhile ago, and his new 300 label has been a joke.

Not saying these 3 avenues are the only channels for hip-hop, but it's worth paying attention to. Jimmy and Lyor are looked at as culture vultures by some, but the fact is they put out hip-hop. If budgets are being dropped and key insiders gone thats shows the money has dried up and they're moving on.

You can point to the legacy artists and guys like Birdman, but they have all been around forever. Even Kendrick Lamar was pushed using the Dre influence. Dre doesn't seem to do anything unless Iovine is involved and he will soon be gone.

Will artists start experimenting more without the influence of labels "guiding" their sound and image?

 

[End Cruelty]

I would love it if some of these rappers started experimenting more. And not just with their music, feel me?

 

[Droopy]

Good. Now let's get back to making good music.

 

[really tho]

the creativity might be there but the production unfortunately will probably lack if the funding isn't there.

Might see more and more independents pop up and soon it won't be that special or unique.

 

[NotaPAWG]

the creativity might be there but the production unfortunately will probably lack if the funding isn't there.

Might see more and more independents pop up and soon it won't be that special or unique.

not with all these youtube/soundcloud producers who are making better beats than these top dollar guys.

asap ferg's album was produced by entirely youtube/soundcloud producers and the production is fire

in fact, i think artist should be working with a lot of these types instead of being convinced by the label to work with a bunch of hot producers and hot artists, to aim for a hit to sell albums and then when the shyt flops or doesn't sell a ton, they're stuck going broke over it.

artists should be more frugal with their album budget. just cause you got a mil to spend on putting an album together, doesnt mean you should.

 

[aboss4real24]

trash rap is being accepted everywhere.....

 

[Jemmy]

Hip Hop use to be involved with the stand alone labels more back then anyways. It probably will be better off that way as artists will have more freedom.

 

[Pinyapplesuckas]

the key to hip hop coming back and having another golden era is getting away from the labels and bringing the music back to the streets. it can go commercial again, but it needs a solid foundation so we can be taken serious again.

 

[atlbound]

good

 

[Grand Champ]

The labels will never be done with this Hip-Hop shyt. Its way too profitable. Hip Hop is one of the biggest genres, the labels aint missing out on that money.

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

The labels will never be done with this Hip-Hop shyt. Its way too profitable.

How? People don't buy street music anymore. At most maybe they can cash in on touring but that's nothing like selling a million CDs.

 

[Trey0'5Blue2Gz]

The labels will never be done with this Hip-Hop shyt. Its way too profitable. Hip Hop is one of the biggest genres, the labels aint missing out on that money.

True but maybe we won't see a lot of labels more like 2 or 3 big labels really pushing it

What we see a lot of now a days is hip-pop

 

[Redwing80]

Hip Hop is basically Pop now, the labels aren't done with it, the money just isn't the same anymore, hence the 360 deals.

Artists are finding it more beneficial to function independently, it's the entire music industry that's going into transition.

Especially as everything's going digital

 

[BocaRear]

I would love it if some of these rappers started experimenting more. And not just with their music, feel me?

pause

 

[MiC]

Will always be a saviour for mainstream rap. He will pick up all the hot young acts and make them stars