SZA has the Tinashe epidemic written all over it

[T.H.E. Goat]

Facts. Her song 'Boss'. She's another artist who shouldn't of signed to get behind the machine and rode her own wave instead

2 On actually was the first song I heard from her, but I liked In Case We Die which is my favorite project from her

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

Lol soulful artist ain't really selling though. She got to get to the bread. With few exceptions but even Anderson Paak is making more money off tours then record sales and his music is fire.

Paak has a distinct voice reminiscent of 70s soul. So yeah, dude is thriving because it's different from the norm. Plus, he can spit on the mic. So that's a double bonus in his case.

Soulful artists not selling has more to do with the machine turning out turnt up trash bullshyt, rather than a complete balance. Trust, if there were more labels trying to push artists like King, Eric Roberson, Daniel Ceasar, and so forth...it wouldn't be much of a problem with selling records if you are an soulful act. So it's all about Bandcamp and Soundcloud clout with those dudes.

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

Lol soulful artist ain't really selling though. She got to get to the bread. With few exceptions but even Anderson Paak is making more money off tours then record sales and his music is fire.

You don't have to sell - no black chick singing not named rihanna or beyonce are selling!...you gotta have a circuit of people who come out and support you, a fanbase that gets you talked about, interviews, added to tours and festivals, etc. Ledisi is someone with a nice following and has never sold well, sza seems to lack that type of fanbase to me, partially because she's trying to be ratchet mainstream as well as be the shea butter nag champa chick

 

[Lo-Co]

Tinashe on the other hand...her fan base is literally 90% corny thirsty dudes who drool over her and talk about eating spicy burritos out from her ass

 

[InDePickWest]

2 On actually was the first song I heard from her, but I liked In Case We Die which is my favorite project from her

She shoulda never strayed from this.
She wrote it. Produced it. Directed the video.
Got fans from it.

She signed a deal cuz she got thirsty for fame.

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

You don't have to sell...you gotta have a circuit of people who come out and support you,ma fanbase that gets you talked about, interviews, added to tours and festivals, etc. Ledisi is someone with a nice following and has never sold well, sza seems to lack that type of fanbase to me, partially because she's trying to be ratchet mainstream as well as be the shea butter nag champa chick

Exactly. This whole "you gotta get that money" mentality is a cop out when even artist that tried to go that approach still doing low to none sales. The key element is a core base and nothing beyond that. Artists who find that core can easily make some funds, work some shows, and come home to chill with their families. Hell, Jazzy Jeff prove this argument void when he released The Playlist in seven days and that album was on the radar of most heads in that corebase.

 

[Drew Wonder]

Facts. Her song 'Boss'. She's another artist who shouldn't of signed to get behind the machine and rode her own wave instead

Nightride was one of the most slept on projects last year and probably her best overall project. That had me stanning Tinashe again. But I think the fact that it garnered very little buzz or interest discouraged her from going back to her original mixtape sound. And now we have that pop music garbage from her again that the label keeps trying to push

 

[Guvnor]

Paak has a distinct voice reminiscent of 70s soul. So yeah, dude is thriving because it's different from the norm. Plus, he can spit on the mic. So that's a double bonus in his case.

Soulful artists not selling has more to do with the machine turning out turnt up trash bullshyt, rather than a complete balance. Trust, if there were more labels trying to push artists like King, Eric Roberson, Daniel Ceasar, and so forth...it wouldn't be much of a problem with selling records if you are an soulful act. So it's all about Bandcamp and Soundcloud clout with those dudes.

I agree and I hate that it's like that. I mean even with Paak I feel nx worries would have went platinum or goal if it came out in the past. With that said the current state of the game makes it harder for quality artist to thrive. Also SoundCloud and band camp will have you earning less then what you could if your music was more mainstream. With that said, it's nice they allow you to build a strong and loyal fan base and you can make a career off that. However if I was in an Artists position I just might have to make music with more mainstream appeal because that's where more money is.

 

[Drew Wonder]

She shoulda never strayed from this.
She wrote it. Produced it. Directed the video.
Got fans from it.

She signed a deal cuz she got thirsty for fame.

Ol girl needs to realize she's just not destined to be a Beyonce or Rihanna level star, go the independent route and stick with that atmospheric, introspective R&B that her small but dedicated fanbase loves. Because the mainstream ain't feeling her pop songs and it only alienates her core fanbase

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

I agree and I hate that it's like that. I mean even with Paak I feel nx worries would have went platinum or goal if it came out in the past. With that said the current state of the game makes it harder for quality artist to thrive. Also SoundCloud and band camp will have you earning less then what you could if your music was more mainstream. With that said, it's nice they allow you to build a strong and loyal fan base and you can make a career off that. However if I was in an Artists position I just might have to make music with more mainstream appeal because that's where more money is.

But it's still flopping. Tinashe is doing straight top 40 going no where, sevyn, teyana, tiarra thomas, and others did mainstream r&b and it's flopping. None of them are growing their fanbases thru this. SZA came out on some soulful shyt and switched up on the people who were liking her for that, we'll see if it pays off but looking at the lack of sales success of TDE and the other women out here struggling, she'd do better to have the soul lovers hold her down and ride that tour/blog circuit.

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

I agree and I hate that it's like that. I mean even with Paak I feel nx worries would have went platinum or goal if it came out in the past. With that said the current state of the game makes it harder for quality artist to thrive. Also SoundCloud and band camp will have you earning less then what you could if your music was more mainstream. With that said, it's nice they allow you to build a strong and loyal fan base and you can make a career off that. However if I was in an Artists position I just might have to make music with more mainstream appeal because that's where more money is.

True, but the harsh reality is that nobody is "technically" making money out in this music business. It seems like it, but in reality it's only a chosen few that are actually lucky in this industry. While Nx Worries should have been platinum by now, it still got an audience off of the strength of the Stones Throw brand. Honestly, I would rather them get recognition than no recognition at all. I'm one of those dudes that would be happy with a core fanbase that I can connect with, some funds I can just cop the simple things in life (records, games, and computer parts), and know that I can easily come home after a few shows to spend time with my family if I was in an artist shoes.

 

[CrimsonTider]

I see what you mean OP. Two main differences:

- I don't think sza has really gotten that mainstream push Tinashe got yet. I mean label push yeah but TDE is weird. Kendrick is the only one who really picked up in the mainstream. Q is kinda in C list purgatory, Soulo fell off, Jay Rock never made it, Isiah is disregarded. So it may just be TDE or just the Tinashe treatment
- Tinashe aint no damn average artist nikka


But yeah man it's hard for attractive black females to break into the upper tier it seems. Makes you wonder what did Rihanna do so right?



She a habitual liar, a common trait among the smutted. Even the freckles is fake

Rihanna is from a different era. She was able to ascend to the top when it was easier for black female singers in mainstream music

Rihanna is a Pop star, TOTALLY different lane. In Pop it's a huge plus to be attractive

Tinashe' trying her hardest to be a pop star

Tinashe was straight until her label tried to make her a pop act with 2 On

2 on is the only thing Tinashe is known for. She was be ok if she kept going to down the path instead of trying to make her appeal to white pop fans.

You don't have to sell - no black chick singing not named rihanna or beyonce are selling!...you gotta have a circuit of people who come out and support you, a fanbase that gets you talked about, interviews, added to tours and festivals, etc. Ledisi is someone with a nice following and has never sold well, sza seems to lack that type of fanbase to me, partially because she's trying to be ratchet mainstream as well as be the shea butter nag champa chick

Kehlani is the 3rd biggest R&B singer. Crazy I know.

She shoulda never strayed from this.
She wrote it. Produced it. Directed the video.
Got fans from it.

She signed a deal cuz she got thirsty for fame.

How can you blame her for wanting to be a superstar?

 

[Guvnor]

You don't have to sell - no black chick singing not named rihanna or beyonce are selling!...you gotta have a circuit of people who come out and support you, a fanbase that gets you talked about, interviews, added to tours and festivals, etc. Ledisi is someone with a nice following and has never sold well, sza seems to lack that type of fanbase to me, partially because she's trying to be ratchet mainstream as well as be the shea butter nag champa chick

I hear you but you got to look at it like this do you want to take a chance and be up there with the Rihanna and Beyoncé to the point where you are writing for them like sza is or be a Ledsi or an Odisee for that matter. It sucks the game is where it is where even Chris Brown ain't selling like he once was and he got the complete package, the brother can sing, he can dance and the women love him but even he not selling like he did at a time just off him being him. So with that said youre right in that many folks are it selling. At the same time if you have a shot I feel some folks are gonna try to make the most out of it then just playing it safe. Sure playing it safe like a Ledesi or Teedra Moses can get you a comfortable living but why not take the shot and be big time?

 

[ThiefyPoo]

@CrimsonTider she murked this song and if anyone listens to this version they never wanna hear the fags on the original.

 

[Guvnor]

True, but the harsh reality is that nobody is "technically" making money out in this music business. It seems like it, but in reality it's only a chosen few that are actually lucky in this industry. While Nx Worries should have been platinum by now, it still got an audience off of the strength of the Stones Throw brand. Honestly, I would rather them get recognition than no recognition at all. I'm one of those dudes that would be happy with a core fanbase that I can connect with, some funds I can just cop the simple things in life (records, games, and computer parts), and know that I can easily come home after a few shows to spend time with my family if I was in an artist shoes.

I hear you man, those are all good points but at the same time some people are gonna go for more then that. They want to be a star and make as much as they can do I can see why they would take that chance as impossible as it seems.