Why do rappers still sign to labels in the 2012

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

If you have no buzz unsigned, signing your life away won't create it

And if you have an unsigned buzz, you're not selling enough records to recoup, and you can hire your own management to book your shows

Plus correct me if I'm wrong but don't labels not give out cash? They give you a loan to record your album, which you have to pay back. They just happen to give you 1000000000x the $$$ you need to record, which you may or may not spend on "100,000 white tees" and literal ice jewelry

For every Jay-Z there are literally thousands of Jeru Da Damajas

So why do nikkas still subject themselves... to the rape

 

[blackslash]

If you have no buzz unsigned, signing your life away won't create it

And if you have an unsigned buzz, you're not selling enough records to recoup, and you can hire your own management to book your shows

Plus correct me if I'm wrong but don't labels not give out cash? They give you a loan to record your album, which you have to pay back. They just happen to give you 1000000000x the $$$ you need to record, which you may or may not spend on "100,000 white tees" and literal ice jewelry

For every Jay-Z there are literally thousands of Jeru Da Damajas

So why do nikkas still subject themselves... to the rape

Dnt even ask me how

 

[45123]

If you have no buzz unsigned, signing your life away won't create it

And if you have an unsigned buzz, you're not selling enough records to recoup, and you can hire your own management to book your shows

Plus correct me if I'm wrong but don't labels not give out cash? They give you a loan to record your album, which you have to pay back. They just happen to give you 1000000000x the $$$ you need to record, which you may or may not spend on "100,000 white tees" and literal ice jewelry

For every Jay-Z there are literally thousands of Jeru Da Damajas

So why do nikkas still subject themselves... to the rape

Answered your own question right there.

 

[Long Live The Kane]

Prolly because the average actual reality of an unsigned, truly independent artist isn't as beautiful as it gets romanticized as being...people tend to the take the most successful indy artists and hold that up as being easily attainable to the average act...when in reality they're just as rare as the top tier super successful major label platinum type artists...unless you're somebody that appeals to some pretty sizable niche market that doesn't necessarily need the traditional big look outlets to gain traction (think cac rap acts like Mac Miller or this Macklamore dude...or the gospel rap dude that a had relatively impressive debut a couple weeks back...tech n9ne who spent the past decade endlessly touring idaho, iowa and montana and shyt building up that juggalo white trash fanbase) or an already established older legacy type artist that already has a solid fanbase...it's a lot harder to really substantially cake off independent than people make it to be...

take a guy like Bobby Valentino (not a rap act but is contemporary rnb and targeting the same urban crowd as the average rapper)...he's been independent the last couple of releases...one even went gold, and has been consistently more successful than the vast majority of indy rappers...and he's on The Breakfast Club talking bout how he has to do free shows across the country to promote his albums...and how that kills him because once you a show for free in a market, it kills what you can charge when you want to do a show the next time in the same city...the struggle he has trying to get his singles in heavy rotation at radio...and how despite being indy for years now, is very much considering signing to a major again...and we see this happen again and again, even the successful indy acts essentially using it as just a stepping stone to leveraging a more lucrative major situation...people will say, oh that's just because artists are all fame whores...but it happens so often, I'm more willing to suggest that's money talking...all the romanticism of being indy gets thrown in the bushes when the reality of the money is at stake...and unless you have an legitimately tangible cult following, there's still some things having a major behind you can do for you

 

[Da Jungles]

http://www.the-coli.com/booth/50642...y-n-ggas-sign-b-s-contracts.html#.UH9Oi7v_T6Q

 

[Harry B]

Because you wanna be on radio, be invited to industry events, have services, be an artist and not a executive, award shows, have your music distributed all over, be promoted on spotify, pandora etc..

You say for every Jay-z there is 100000 Jeru's (even though he was kinda successful considering the type of music he was doing). The same goes for indie for every Tech n9ne there is a billion nobodies. Who is doing it indie today? Freddie Gibbs and he's still on CTE, who else? Even Mac Miller is on a kinda big label that has a big distribution deal (just not a major).

The thing with rappers is that they have mixtapes, so if they get pushed back they can still have million acquire their music and go to their shows.

 

[Tom Foolery]

If you want to be underground then I don't see the point of signing. But if you want to be a star and do big shows, you have to sign with a major.

And good luck booking a large venue with no major behind you.

 

[daboywonder2002]

Prolly because the average actual reality of an unsigned, truly independent artist isn't as beautiful as it gets romanticized as being...people tend to the take the most successful indy artists and hold that up as being easily attainable to the average act...when in reality they're just as rare as the top tier super successful major label platinum type artists...unless you're somebody that appeals to some pretty sizable niche market that doesn't necessarily need the traditional big look outlets to gain traction (think cac rap acts like Mac Miller or this Macklamore dude...or the gospel rap dude that a had relatively impressive debut a couple weeks back...tech n9ne who spent the past decade endlessly touring idaho, iowa and montana and shyt building up that juggalo white trash fanbase) or an already established older legacy type artist that already has a solid fanbase...it's a lot harder to really substantially cake off independent than people make it to be...

take a guy like Bobby Valentino (not a rap act but is contemporary rnb and targeting the same urban crowd as the average rapper)...he's been independent the last couple of releases...one even went gold, and has been consistently more successful the vast majority of indy rappers...and he's on The Breakfast Club talking bout how he has to do free shows across the country to promote his albums...and how that kills him because once you a show for free in a market, it kills what you can charge when you want to do a show the next time in the same city...the struggle he has trying to get his singles in heavy rotation at radio...and how despite being indy for years now, is very much considering signing to a major again...and we see this happen again and again, even the successful indy acts essentially using it as just a stepping stone to leveraging a more lucrative major situation...people will say, oh that's just because artists are all fame whores...but it happens so often, I'm more willing to suggest that's money talking...all the romanticism of being indy gets thrown in the bushes when the reality of the money is at stake...and unless you have an legitimately tangible cult following, there's still some things having a major behind you can do for you

but thats what confused me about bobby v. first he's an established r and b artist. why is he doing free shows? and they kept mentioning radio play. last time i checked the internet is the place to promote your music. cats barely listen to the radio anymore. so why are artists still pushing radio stations to play their music?? radio is played out. it doesn't drive the industry anymore. the internet does.

 

[Mac Casper]

Prolly because the average actual reality of an unsigned, truly independent artist isn't as beautiful as it gets romanticized as being...people tend to the take the most successful indy artists and hold that up as being easily attainable to the average act...when in reality they're just as rare as the top tier super successful major label platinum type artists...unless you're somebody that appeals to some pretty sizable niche market that doesn't necessarily need the traditional big look outlets to gain traction (think cac rap acts like Mac Miller or this Macklamore dude...or the gospel rap dude that a had relatively impressive debut a couple weeks back...tech n9ne who spent the past decade endlessly touring idaho, iowa and montana and shyt building up that juggalo white trash fanbase) or an already established older legacy type artist that already has a solid fanbase...it's a lot harder to really substantially cake off independent than people make it to be...

take a guy like Bobby Valentino (not a rap act but is contemporary rnb and targeting the same urban crowd as the average rapper)...he's been independent the last couple of releases...one even went gold, and has been consistently more successful than the vast majority of indy rappers...and he's on The Breakfast Club talking bout how he has to do free shows across the country to promote his albums...and how that kills him because once you a show for free in a market, it kills what you can charge when you want to do a show the next time in the same city...the struggle he has trying to get his singles in heavy rotation at radio...and how despite being indy for years now, is very much considering signing to a major again...and we see this happen again and again, even the successful indy acts essentially using it as just a stepping stone to leveraging a more lucrative major situation...people will say, oh that's just because artists are all fame whores...but it happens so often, I'm more willing to suggest that's money talking...all the romanticism of being indy gets thrown in the bushes when the reality of the money is at stake...and unless you have an legitimately tangible cult following, there's still some things having a major behind you can do for you

This..

+ larger financing

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

Because you wanna be on radio, be invited to industry events, have services, be an artist and not a executive, award shows, have your music distributed all over, be promoted on spotify, pandora etc..

Debatable. Debatable. What services? Do you need a label to do this? You can buy a ticket. You can sell your music on ITunes and upload it to the internet. Lil B is unsigned and on Pandora.

You say for every Jay-z there is 100000 Jeru's (even though he was kinda successful considering the type of music he was doing). The same goes for indie for every Tech n9ne there is a billion nobodies. Who is doing it indie today? Freddie Gibbs and he's still on CTE, who else? Even Mac Miller is on a kinda big label that has a big distribution deal (just not a major).

Theres a lot of indie dudes doing it up. Max B was touring before he got locked up.

The thing with rappers is that they have mixtapes, so if they get pushed back they can still have million acquire their music and go to their shows.

Which is my point. You dont need a label to reach the fans. In fact they often get in the way, dictating the music you make and the shows/appearances you do.

 

[TLR Is Mental Poison]

Prolly because the average actual reality of an unsigned, truly independent artist isn't as beautiful as it gets romanticized as being...people tend to the take the most successful indy artists and hold that up as being easily attainable to the average act...when in reality they're just as rare as the top tier super successful major label platinum type artists...unless you're somebody that appeals to some pretty sizable niche market that doesn't necessarily need the traditional big look outlets to gain traction (think cac rap acts like Mac Miller or this Macklamore dude...or the gospel rap dude that a had relatively impressive debut a couple weeks back...tech n9ne who spent the past decade endlessly touring idaho, iowa and montana and shyt building up that juggalo white trash fanbase) or an already established older legacy type artist that already has a solid fanbase...it's a lot harder to really substantially cake off independent than people make it to be...

take a guy like Bobby Valentino (not a rap act but is contemporary rnb and targeting the same urban crowd as the average rapper)...he's been independent the last couple of releases...one even went gold, and has been consistently more successful than the vast majority of indy rappers...and he's on The Breakfast Club talking bout how he has to do free shows across the country to promote his albums...and how that kills him because once you a show for free in a market, it kills what you can charge when you want to do a show the next time in the same city...the struggle he has trying to get his singles in heavy rotation at radio...and how despite being indy for years now, is very much considering signing to a major again...and we see this happen again and again, even the successful indy acts essentially using it as just a stepping stone to leveraging a more lucrative major situation...people will say, oh that's just because artists are all fame whores...but it happens so often, I'm more willing to suggest that's money talking...all the romanticism of being indy gets thrown in the bushes when the reality of the money is at stake...and unless you have an legitimately tangible cult following, there's still some things having a major behind you can do for you

Who would be paying to see a Bobby V show if he was signed? Being signed has nothing to do with his issues.

And I am not saying being "indy" is glamorous, but it is one less entity to have to answer to and more importantly PAY. People are not buying records, what other functions does a label serve?

 

[Rominati]

Doing things independent isnt as sexy as ya nikkas make it seem. Even most underground cats you know. You know of them because of a popular cosign from a MAJOR label artist. Imo if I was a rapper. I would do a 2 album deal on a major like MGK is doing with Bad Boy. Get all the start up fame and lights and connections. Then branch off and try to do my own thing.


Alot of nikkas mention Mac Miller. But Mac Miller is signed to a indie label that is run by a man who used to be a head A&R at Epic if I recall. It aint as easy as ya make it sound.

 

[Long Live The Kane]

but thats what confused me about bobby v. first he's an established r and b artist. why is he doing free shows? and they kept mentioning radio play. last time i checked the internet is the place to promote your music. cats barely listen to the radio anymore. so why are artists still pushing radio stations to play their music?? radio is played out. it doesn't drive the industry anymore. the internet does.

Yeah...radio still means a hell of a lot...from a pure promotional point of view, having your music played to a national audience of millions 24/7 still counts for a lot...outside of the publishing money to made from it, the exposure is still there...the internet is certainly a powerful tool, but it requires people to actively look to search you out...there are still a vast amount of people that just hop in their car and listen to the radio or have playing while they're doing whatever around the house...for a guy like Bobby Valentino that's still an invaluable tool to have...yeah he might have a certain core group of people who are actively making it their business to keep up with every thing he puts out and go look for it on the internet...but what about the chick that ain't heard a Bobby V song since the hook to Mrs. Officer who has no idea he put a new album out till one day she's listening to the radio and hears his new single..likes it...then after that initial point of exposure decides go download it on itunes or cop his album

 

[STEVE]

it costs literally nothing in 2012 aside from a good condenser vocal mic to record a studio quality album if you take the time and work hard enough to learn programming beats and mixing. take a page from punk rock: DIY

 

[Harry B]

Debatable. Debatable. What services? Do you need a label to do this? You can buy a ticket. You can sell your music on ITunes and upload it to the internet. Lil B is unsigned and on Pandora.

Theres a lot of indie dudes doing it up. Max B was touring before he got locked up.

Which is my point. You dont need a label to reach the fans. In fact they often get in the way, dictating the music you make and the shows/appearances you do.

What's debatable? Which rapper you know on radio doesn't wanna be on radio? Which rapper you know at the most exclusive functions doesn't want to be there? Services like getting not having to put up your own money (that you don't have) for promotion, transportation, magazines, all the blogs, endorsement deals and stuff, people that gets you performances at different events and more. And yes you can sell your music, but you can sell a lot more on a major label. And the sales are so small that the promo and all the other things i mentioned are a lot more important for your touring money, the real money.

Lil B is one cat, and he's got the indie movement rolling besides that he's released 50 mixtapes in 2-3 years. And yes indie artists are on streaming services BUT I said promoted. And Lil B is still on a indie label that some other jew owns, that definitely is gonna get his. He is so wack that major labels couldn't do shyt for him, the hipster kids like him and he's a good internet sensation joke.

You still haven't made a compelling argument, for why to choose indie unless you want freedom to do whatever you want. The money is not better and the grind is harder.
Why put your album on a indie label that will take their cut, just a bit smaller when they offer practically no services when you can go major and get a lot of things served.
In some very, extremely rare cases you get a Mac Miller (who still pays his label and distributer a big chunk of what he sees) but that's 1 every 10 years.

I talk to people in that weak ass industry, and of course you can eat indie but chances are that you will eat better on a major label and if you looking for radio, endorsements, world wide promotion & reach, fame and all that.. Major is the way to go.