Why dont rappers release their mixtapes as indie albums?

[AlbertPullhoez]

I see all these nikkas putting out album worthy material for free and the shyt is

Im all for giving the people good music and working on your craft but why put out album quality music and not get no profit of it? I dont like that well they get show money excuse either, cause what's the point of being a rapper if you dont want, cant or try to sell YOUR music

I know these nikkas got buzzes if not nationally but regionally for sure. A nikka like Freddie Gibbs couldnt have dropped BFK on a small label and do nice numbers in the Midwest or wherever nikkas really fukk with him. Same goes with KRIT and any other nikka that drop countless free mixtapes

I mean yeah nikkas gonna download your shyt regardless but why not at least try to make money off your work?

 

[Fmju]

Cuz you have to be signed to an Indy label to do that

And ain't no one tryna go through all that. Just wanna release music and show their stuff. For real artists its not always about the money

 

[ManBearPig]

We all gonna download it anyway

 

[L. Deezy]

so wait, most rappers who put out so called "MIXTAPES", none of the mixtape songs ever end up on ITUNES??

somebody fill me in.. cuz if so, the whole mixtape concept aint free music and its a fraud

 

[AlbertPullhoez]

I mean shyt if im a rapper and I got a project that I know nikkas is waiting for and it's gonna be heat shyt why not get down with a local label or something to put it in the stores for you?

Why not try to move units of it and get some bread off that? At least that's how Texas rappers would do the shyt.

 

[cleanface coney]

cuz bossman aint letting that shyt happen unless they get a cut

 

[Long Live The Kane]

A lot of them do...you mentioned Freddie Gibbs, he released his last mixtape independently

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/baby-face-killa/id563367205

Don't know about the nice numbers part, cause he doesn't really have a tangible local/regional following like that...he was more of an internet rapper...but yeah, plenty of rappers do what you suggest...others don't...for whatever reason...your other example Krit, for instance couldn't if he wanted to because of the complications of sample clearances and the like (see: his "mixtapes" being VASTLY superior to his actual album)...others just don't really bother...a guy like Yo Gotti who has a actual regional fanbase will just put out mixtapes and do shows every night and cake off...