Rick Ross throws Def Jam in the bushes, signs deal with Epic Records

[ORDER_66]

You're missing why artists sign to majors.

1. Your ceiling is capped in terms of being a star. You're there because your dwindling core fans keep coppin. At that point you've given up on regaining any stardom you had or gaining new fans. That's a hard pill to swallow if you still view yourself as a star.

2. Venues are much more favorable towards booking artists on majors. Publishing, same thing. Long story short, Rozay may not have the clout to book big time venues whereas a major still gets his foot in the door.


The only reason why you as a fan would rather see them indie is because you think they'll make music more in line with what you prefer (no label meddling, no forced tracks) but an artist also knows that fanbase doesn't buy shyt so it defeats the purpose.

Put it like this: everyone's favorite darling on here (Curren$y) is still on a major. He just has more freedom to do whatever because Atlantic ain't betting the house on him.

All I know is that I aint signing no contract if Im not getting a lions share of the profits, all things considered its my work Id rather own it, not to be under anyone's heel...

 

[CodeBlaMeVi]

Signing a dude who's never went platinum and latest album was brick is seen as a win. You dudes couldn't manage a restroom stall.

 

[tremonthustler1]

How do you know they're not thinking about it?

They're not on one.

J. Cole's deal with Columbia is supposedly up and J. Cole's not going indie.

 

[THE MACHINE]

You're missing why artists sign to majors.

1. Your ceiling is capped in terms of being a star. You're there because your dwindling core fans keep coppin. At that point you've given up on regaining any stardom you had or gaining new fans. That's a hard pill to swallow if you still view yourself as a star.

2. Venues are much more favorable towards booking artists on majors. Publishing, same thing. Long story short, Rozay may not have the clout to book big time venues whereas a major still gets his foot in the door.


The only reason why you as a fan would rather see them indie is because you think they'll make music more in line with what you prefer (no label meddling, no forced tracks) but an artist also knows that fanbase doesn't buy shyt so it defeats the purpose.

Put it like this: everyone's favorite darling on here (Curren$y) is still on a major. He just has more freedom to do whatever because Atlantic ain't betting the house on him.

It basically comes down to security I think. Most guys don't think they can compete against the machine in terms of radio play and ads. Plus majors have departments for marketing etc. which would have to be done by the artists otherwise. I still feel indie is the way to go for a lot of these established artists. IG/snapchat twitter is all you really need now for marketing along with a couple of radio interviews during release week. Assuming your music is still good.
I hear your point about supporters but we have been talking about hip-hop being dead (I don't actually agree with that) for how long now yet guys still sign to majors for 5 and 6 albums. Having 1/3 of the album dictated by guys whose children listen to Miley Cyrus/Beiber/Taylor Swift etc.

 

[tremonthustler1]

All I know is that I aint signing no contract if Im not getting a lions share of the profits, all things considered its my work Id rather own it, not to be under anyone's heel...

That's all fine and good, but you're also abandoning the idea of blowing up and being a huge star. If you're willing to accept that then indie is your route but that's not how artists with big dreams think.

 

[BK The Great]

A major

But this isn't a great look for Ross.

Everyone shyttin on Def Jam but y'all shytted on Def Jam back when they threw the older rappers in the bushes to focus on the R&B singers they had and who do you think ran that?

L.A. Reid.

The only reason why some of y'all like this is because Future is on there and let's be honest: 1. Y'all shytted on that label too when Fewtcha dropped Honest AND 2. For all the hype Future is riding on you'd think his numbers would be better than what they are. Rozay just hopping on another sinking ship.


That said, @ everyone saying he should go independent as if he has that kind of clout to do that. If it was that easy, why wouldn't stars who clearly don't need majors still be on them?

it's not a good look cause he won't be recouping that money, on a indie he be cashing in more.

 

[hex]

You're missing why artists sign to majors.

1. Your ceiling is capped in terms of being a star. You're there because your dwindling core fans keep coppin. At that point you've given up on regaining any stardom you had or gaining new fans. That's a hard pill to swallow if you still view yourself as a star.

2. Venues are much more favorable towards booking artists on majors. Publishing, same thing. Long story short, Rozay may not have the clout to book big time venues whereas a major still gets his foot in the door.

The only reason why you as a fan would rather see them indie is because you think they'll make music more in line with what you prefer (no label meddling, no forced tracks) but an artist also knows that fanbase doesn't buy shyt so it defeats the purpose.

Put it like this: everyone's favorite darling on here (Curren$y) is still on a major. He just has more freedom to do whatever because Atlantic ain't betting the house on him.

Not saying everyone can go the indie route but there is literally nothing a major can offer Ross at this point in his career. Especially if he's doing 50k or whatever his last album was. That's Def Jux numbers from 1999.

If you're a rapper in 2016 and your main priority is being a star....when industry revenue is literally half the size it was 20 years ago....you need to re-prioritize ASAP.

Gibbs is indie and doing just fine. Never mind people like Tech N9Ne that are worth $10 mill and 100% indie. Both of them tour pretty much nonstop and neither are as well known as Ross. He could easily get venues.

The problem is rappers want to tour well beyond their draw late into their career which is why we see 5000 seat arenas 2/3rds empty and they get clowned on here. If they'd swallow their pride and do smaller shows at lesser venues they could knock out 50-60 sold out tour stops, easily.

Fred.

 

[tremonthustler1]

It basically comes down to security I think. Most guys don't think they can compete against the machine in terms of radio play and ads. Plus majors have departments for marketing etc. which would have to be done by the artists otherwise. I still feel indie is the way to go for a lot of these established artists. IG/snapchat twitter is all you really need now for marketing along with a couple of radio interviews during release week. Assuming your music is still good.
I hear your point about supporters but we have been talking about hip-hop being dead (I don't actually agree with that) for how long now yet guys still sign to majors for 5 and 6 albums. Having 1/3 of the album dictated by guys whose children listen to Miley Cyrus/Beiber/Taylor Swift etc.

And where are Miley, Bieber, and Swift signed to?

Majors. And those artists need them LESS than rappers and you can argue they do less work in terms of product

 

[KravenMorehead™]

They not droppin the ball. It's white washing in progress.

 

[BK The Great]

Signing a dude who's never went platinum and latest album was brick is seen as a win. You dudes couldn't manage a restroom stall.

he's got multiple Gold plaques, it's better than nothing. Port Of Miami is close to platinum too.

 

[hex]

And where are Miley, Bieber, and Swift signed to?

Majors. And those artists need them LESS than rappers and you can argue they do less work in terms of product

No man.

All due respect....but what?

All three of them are pop stars that more or less only exist due to a nonstop marketing barrage. They wouldn't exist at all on an indie. They're basically modern day Spice Girls.

Ross has only ever had a niche market. He's not some big ass pop star that demands a "machine" to promote him. He's only ever went gold. He could comfortably do 50k-100k on indie releases from now until he dies, instead of chasing gold again, which was his ceiling on a major.

Fred.

 

[THE MACHINE]

And where are Miley, Bieber, and Swift signed to?

Majors. And those artists need them LESS than rappers and you can argue they do less work in terms of product

I meant in terms of the quality of music like being forced to add in pop reaches for singles...not the business side. But I hear you.

 

[CodeBlaMeVi]

he's got multiple Gold plaques, it's better than nothing. Port Of Miami is close to platinum too.

Business is about now and the future.

 

[tremonthustler1]

Not saying everyone can go the indie route but there is literally nothing a major can offer Ross at this point in his career. Especially if he's doing 50k or whatever his last album was. That's Def Jux numbers from 1999.

If you're a rapper in 2016 and your main priority is being a star....when industry revenue is literally half the size it was 20 years ago....you need to re-prioritize ASAP.

Gibbs is indie and doing just fine. Never mind people like Tech N9Ne that are worth $10 mill and 100% indie. Both of them tour pretty much nonstop and neither are as well known as Ross. He could easily get venues.

The problem is rappers want to tour well beyond their draw late into their career which is why we see 5000 seat arenas 2/3rds empty and they get clowned on here. If they'd swallow their pride and do smaller shows at lesser venues they could knock out 50-60 sold out tour stops, easily.

Fred.

Rozay is on Epic because he thinks LA Reid can revive his career and rekindle the magic. He's not doing it for any other reason. Rozay can't accept the idea that he's never gonna be what he was. That's what the major can offer Ross that an indie can't: the stardom he used to have.

 

[tremonthustler1]

No man.

All due respect....but what?

All three of them are pop stars that more or less only exist due to a nonstop marketing barrage. They wouldn't exist at all on an indie. They're basically modern day Spice Girls.

Ross has only ever had a niche market. He's not some big ass pop star that demands a "machine" to promote him. He's only ever went gold. He could comfortably do 50k-100k on indie releases from now until he dies, instead of chasing gold again, which was his ceiling on a major.

Fred.

The point duke made was "all you need is social media and stuff and you got marketing down pat." Well, those artists dominate Twitter and IG and all that and we all know who they are by now. Taylor Swift's not coming off 1989 thinking "shyt lemme get this indie money." That's for artists who kinda know their best days are behind them. Ross doesn't think he's there yet. Tip didn't think he was there yet when he was demanding $80 mil for Grand Hustle and went with Sony. Now he's independent because life came at him fast and he's accepted where his career is.