Will There Ever Be Another Rap Megastar??? (GREAT READ)

[illadope]

People think that FUTURE will be a superstar? Someone please explain this.

 

[Long Live The Kane]

Nicki's situation is a classic example of narrative and perception > reality

In reality, her second album and the subsequent repackaged edition was more of a traditional rap album than her debut was...the first album was more of a Lasers-like alternative pop-rap album, I mean...Superbass ain't exactly a fukking Bahamadia record ..while the 2nd one was more of a mix of that and contemporary mainstream hip hop... the whole "she totally flip the script and completely changed everything about her image and sound completely away from rap on her sophmore LP" thing, is plainly bullshyt if you take the actual facts into account...but the popular narrative would have you believe the first album was basically Lil Kim - Hardcore and her follow-up was a female Flo-Rida album...when reality shyt like this was on the first album:








Meanwhile the 2nd album has ratchet strip club anthems with 2chainz and tyga





Posse tracks with Nas and Jeezy...Cam'ron and Rick Ross




And just random album tracks where she's on her rap shyt


The 2nd album has far more actual "hip hop" tracks than the debut, mind you it was still a Nicki fukking Minaj album...starships was on there just like Check it Out was on the first one...but the argument that she let down her fanbase (as if "real hip hop son!" hardcore rap heads were ever her core) that loved her for her 1st album and it's rap traditionalist sensibilities with a 2nd album that was so suddenly and starkly too pop, is really kinda bullshyt....the whole ordeal with the cac rap nerd on hot 97 and SummerJam moved the narrative from the reality, and it was a wrap from there..

 

[William Bassington]

To me, Drake is the only rapper capable of going multi-plat, selling out arenas, etc...but he has to shed the soft/ladies guy image...I think it's fair to say the majority of his fans are ladies, which is a double-edged sword...females buy albums, but at the same time you need male fans to really be a mega-star. Guys need to think you that nikka/respect you...and you MUST have the white male demographic, thats something Drake needs to build more of....but it's possible

 

[WhiteDawg3000]

subs

 

[Existential]

Then there would be no famous rappers cuz a lot of cats who rap for the love are trash as fukk...

And some are beyond because they have no boundaries

Don't forget how trash many famous rappers already are

Lastly, I was already speculating on what would happen after there stopped being famous rappers in the first place (after the ones who rap for cash kill it), making everybody underground by default.

 

[Wild self]

When I think about it your right Rihanna is a superstar but she's been in the game for a minute when you think about it.

That larger than life dynamic is still possible in today's era, I just feel like the ego has to match the quality.

Nowadays only the quantity matches the ego.

Somewhere along the line the LIL Wayne gimmick became the blueprint.

Drake is smart for quitting the mixtape game and to be honest it's clear he has a great gimmick along with a talented producer/engineer but his character along with his content is flawed.

He could still get there but he would def need a "graduation/blueprint/stillmatic" album under his belt.

I don't think there is anyone out right now with that persona. Timbaland even said it in the power 105 interview the industry is getting stale no one is being creative or taking chances and we now have a lack in superstars.

You could also can point the finger at these labels as well because artist development is nonexistent these days. They let YouTube and twitter numbers do the work for them.

Back in the day artist use to be trained groomed and developed well for years....I repeat YEARS!

Now a nikka can get an album deal with one single and then thrown to the wolves with a major album release the next.

This

THIS

See what happens when people sop innovating and remove music programs from schools?

 

[45123]

I think what really needs to happen is that the Superstar term needs to be re-defined. We live in an era now where it's almost IMPOSSIBLE for an artist to be "bigger than life" or seem "untouchable". A persons entire background can be dug up in a matter of three or four Internet clicks. Couple that with 24/7 Media scrutiny by bloggers, tabloids, trashy sites like Media-takeout, plus Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have de-mystified the celebrity. Drake may not SEEM larger than life because we all know his story, his background, pretty much his entire life, but he's still managing to be one of the FEW platinum ARTISTS of ANY GENRE in the industry. He sells out tours internationally, has endorsements, his album releases are regarded as tent-pole (to use the movie term) events. He's banging out the finest women, he's living in mansions that are certainly larger than my life. What is that if not the definition of a SUPERSTAR? Also I'd say Kendrick Lamar has that persona as well. He's talented, people are obviously drawn to his style of music and the way he portrays himself. His album is universally praised and he'll be platinum of his DEBUT album in probably less than 3 months. Is that not the beginnings of Superstar qualities?

No, because as much as you think you know about an artist most of their life is still private. tell me how much dirt you can dig up on asap rocky, hell, we hardly even know if jay was telling ducktales about his drug dealing days or if they were true or not. you're overestimating the power of the internet, there's a lot of falsely written websites, which is why people who rely on google and bing to research and learn are horrifically ignorant. Like i said, artists need crossover appeal, co-signs, and hits. drake has all of that which is why he's a superstar. nobody really takes drake seriously when he's talking about catching bodies or twisting silencers on a semi or some shyt, and everybody knows he's wheelchair jimmy, but they don't care. his image is already established and its that of a black, unique, jewish, sensitive dude who makes songs for the beanies.

and its hard to tell whether kendrick will be that guy, but i doubt it more than i believe it. He fills that role of "conscious credible hip-hop" which is why everyone embraces him. he plays the role of the underdog and the good kid in a mad city, and the general public don't warm up to that. remember, being a superstar means appealing to audiences beyond the hip-hop crowd. and people beyond the hip-hop crowd don't like to search for subtlety in music, they like listening to songs they can relate to or dance to, catchy hooks, and simple songs with a powerful message.

 

[C. Dante]

 

[Sad Bunny]

so we all agree weezy nicki and drizzy are the last hip hop superstars?

ymcmb stay winnin'

 

[45123]

You could also can point the finger at these labels as well because artist development is nonexistent these days. They let YouTube and twitter numbers do the work for them.

Back in the day artist use to be trained groomed and developed well for years....I repeat YEARS!

Now a nikka can get an album deal with one single and then thrown to the wolves with a major album release the next.

that's more of a blessing than a curse. Internet promotion changed the music industry and more people are encouraged to go out and get it, that's not a bad thing. The label's job is to put out release and develop your music not to train you on how to play a keyboard or act on a talk show. People like Chief Keef are exceptions, cuz money hungry Jews like Jimmy I. pounce at the opportunity anyways, they know he won't be a mainstay in the music industry. Sure, A & R's still do exist, and yeah, a lot of the times a label signs random talent off the street and try to develop them, but most of the time that doesn't work and labels just try and grab unsigned hype with a major buzz and squeeze every last cucumber out of them.



You know, I always thought J. Cole and Tyler had the right tools to become superstars, but the couple of things holding them back are major setbacks in themselves. They both can play instruments, produce, make good music, do hooks, have the co-signs, the fanbase, the crossover ambiguity, the hits, and the appeal, but Tyler is prematurely developed and J. Cole lacks a larger than life persona, two very heavy factors.

 

[BrothaZay]

There will NEVER be a rapper as popular as 50 cent was in his prime, hell I doubt we'll ever get another rapper as popular as Nelly was

@ nikkas thinkin ASAP rocky or Kendrick Lamar will ever reach that level that 50 cent or Nelly was on

 

[Nigerianwonder]

Drake has a lot of fans but he doesn't set trends. Other rappers dont idolize and want to be him like that. Thats why you cant call him a megastar Like a Jay z or 50. Kats forget Jay-z ended had everyone rockin' button-ups and 50 had grown men wearing G-unit bras (wife beaters). Their influence on the youth and culture was crazy. Rappers were even sampling Jay's recent verses on hooks to make new smash hits for themselves ( Cassidy Im a hustler and T.I. Bring em out for example). The newer guys may sell records but they dont have that appeal.

 

[Long Live The Kane]

Drake has a lot of fans but he doesn't set trends. Other rappers dont idolize and want to be him like that. Thats why you cant call him a megastar Like a Jay z or 50. Kats forget Jay-z ended had everyone rockin' button-ups and 50 had grown men wearing G-unit bras (wife beaters). Their influence on the youth and culture was crazy. Rappers were even sampling Jay's recent verses on hooks to make new smash hits for themselves ( Cassidy Im a hustler and T.I. Bring em out for example). The newer guys may sell records but they dont have that appeal.

Drake's the ONLY reason I can walk into hood clubs or corner stores throughout the country and order a glass/buy a bottle of moscato and why a lot of black males under the age of say...30... even know what a cardigan is, let alone the ones that think it's cool and fashionable enough to own and wear one...and if we're talking influence amongst other rappers, we got straight up and down drake clones out there now...that kirko bangz nikka is on some Lil Zane/Pac shyt...

 

[CrimsonTider]

I hope that less people rap over time because of declining profits and popularity, leaving behind the ones who truly do it for the love of rap.

you stupid

When I think about it your right Rihanna is a superstar but she's been in the game for a minute when you think about it.

That larger than life dynamic is still possible in today's era, I just feel like the ego has to match the quality.

Nowadays only the quantity matches the ego.

Somewhere along the line the LIL Wayne gimmick became the blueprint.

Drake is smart for quitting the mixtape game and to be honest it's clear he has a great gimmick along with a talented producer/engineer but his character along with his content is flawed.

He could still get there but he would def need a "graduation/blueprint/stillmatic" album under his belt.

I don't think there is anyone out right now with that persona. Timbaland even said it in the power 105 interview the industry is getting stale no one is being creative or taking chances and we now have a lack in superstars.

You could also can point the finger at these labels as well because artist development is nonexistent these days. They let YouTube and twitter numbers do the work for them.

Back in the day artist use to be trained groomed and developed well for years....I repeat YEARS!

Now a nikka can get an album deal with one single and then thrown to the wolves with a major album release the next.

Man,shut your hating ass up

Nicki's situation is a classic example of narrative and perception > reality

In reality, her second album and the subsequent repackaged edition was more of a traditional rap album than her debut was...the first album was more of a Lasers-like alternative pop-rap album, I mean...Superbass ain't exactly a fukking Bahamadia record ..while the 2nd one was more of a mix of that and contemporary mainstream hip hop... the whole "she totally flip the script and completely changed everything about her image and sound completely away from rap on her sophmore LP" thing, is plainly bullshyt if you take the actual facts into account...but the popular narrative would have you believe the first album was basically Lil Kim - Hardcore and her follow-up was a female Flo-Rida album...when reality shyt like this was on the first album:


will.i.am, Nicki Minaj - Check It Out - YouTube

Nicki Minaj - Save Me "Pink Friday" (With Lyrics) - YouTube

Nicki Minaj - Last Chance (ft. Natasha Bedingfield) Lyrics - YouTube

Meanwhile the 2nd album has ratchet strip club anthems with 2chainz and tyga

Nicki Minaj - Beez In The Trap (Explicit) ft. 2 Chainz - YouTube

Nicki Minaj - I Endorse These Strippers Ft. Brinx & Tyga (LYRICS On Screen) - YouTube

Posse tracks with Nas and Jeezy...Cam'ron and Rick Ross
Nicki Minaj - Champion ft. Nas Drake And Young Jeezy - YouTube

I Am Your Leader (Explicit) - YouTube

And just random album tracks where she's on her rap shyt
Nicki Minaj - HOV Lane (Official Full Track) - YouTube

The 2nd album has far more actual "hip hop" tracks than the debut, mind you it was still a Nicki fukking Minaj album...starships was on there just like Check it Out was on the first one...but the argument that she let down her fanbase (as if "real hip hop son!" hardcore rap heads were ever her core) that loved her for her 1st album and it's rap traditionalist sensibilities with a 2nd album that was so suddenly and starkly too pop, is really kinda bullshyt....the whole ordeal with the cac rap nerd on hot 97 and SummerJam moved the narrative from the reality, and it was a wrap from there..

C/s, Its the structure of the Second album that created the narrative.

You have the first half of the album straight hiphop, then the second half is straight Europop.

So if you listen to the album straight through on the 6th straight Europop sounding song to finish the album it kind of sticks with you

To me, Drake is the only rapper capable of going multi-plat, selling out arenas, etc...but he has to shed the soft/ladies guy image...I think it's fair to say the majority of his fans are ladies, which is a double-edged sword...females buy albums, but at the same time you need male fans to really be a mega-star. Guys need to think you that nikka/respect you...and you MUST have the white male demographic, thats something Drake needs to build more of....but it's possible

Why does he need to shed his persona?

He has plenty of Male fans, Drake makes club wham.

Only fans Drake doesn't have is nerds on internet message boards

Drake has a lot of fans but he doesn't set trends. Other rappers dont idolize and want to be him like that. Thats why you cant call him a megastar Like a Jay z or 50. Kats forget Jay-z ended had everyone rockin' button-ups and 50 had grown men wearing G-unit bras (wife beaters). Their influence on the youth and culture was crazy. Rappers were even sampling Jay's recent verses on hooks to make new smash hits for themselves ( Cassidy Im a hustler and T.I. Bring em out for example). The newer guys may sell records but they dont have that appeal.

at 50 setting trends. No significant amount of people ever wore those damn tank-top

Cam set more trends than 50.

 

[Shadow King]

I got ya'll just gimme a few years brehs

But really

The reason there isn't a new one is because of the whole "hip hop is dead" movement. fukking nas Listeners and the general public are too reluctant to give their attention to a popular rapper, instead opting for the lesser known underground choice who, most of the time, lacks the star power or the interest to become the next big thing. That in turn squeezes and sifts out the very few underground rappers who have a mere sliver of stardom and forces them to be propelled into the limelight. Take a look at Kendrick, J. Cole, Wale, Meek, etc. They're not stars by any means but they've been shoved down our throats as such. Drake and Nicki are definitely the two new megastars of today, but their current music is hardly considered hip-hop to be quite honest.

Now, to be a star, you have to have crossover appeal and entertain corporate fukkboys. the obsession with underground and backpacker lyrical rappers has crippled mainstream legitimacy and ultimately it discourages new artists to broaden their horizons and give in to industry demands every once in a while. Also, you can't be big if you don't have a mentor or a huge co-sign. Kanye had Jay, Drake has Wayne, Em Snoop and 50 had Dre, Wayne has Birdman, and so forth. Oh and they also have to have a larger than life character or a kind of messiah complex. And finally, the most important thing: hits. No hits = no starpower. And I'm talking Billboard Top 5, platinum 2 months in kind of hits, not those borderline hits everyone talks about.

Kanye was the last one.

It would be cool to see drake pull it off but I feel like his attachment to YMCMB hurts him a tad and I don't know how long his content would last unless he can switch up his content.

I feel like an r&b superstar male or female will emerge before a rap artist.

If you think about it were in the last leg of the last generation with the beyonce and ushers .

No one has even came close to being a threat.

The last big pop stars in general was lady gaga.

Being a superstar is so much more then just numbers and how many albums you dropped it's gotta be in your character in your performances in your interviews etc....



Social networking has def hindered that experience I feel like some artist over saturate themselves with too many features too many tweets etc.

I remember when artist would drop am album sometimes 2-5 years in between now nikkas drop albums every year and between that drop mixtapes.

Call me an old head or a hater, but no way is Drake at the Jay/Big/PAc/Em/Kanye/50 level (and I a 50 hater too). Superstardom is much more than numbers, he doesn't have that "larger-than-life" persona, I don't see him bringing something different to the table and he's doens't seem to be the "guy in charge".

EDIT: and to answer the question, I doubt it, mainly because it seems that these new cats, while talented, don't go through all that struggle far from the cameras that other went through: they're public personnas by the time they're 19, and I just have this feeling that you need some time to develop thru struggle and in anonymity in order to really "become" yourself, instead of becoming what "fits" the market. Seriously, how many original dudes do we have out there, where are the ODBs, the Bustas, the Redmans, hell even the Kanyes and shyt who have a very particular personna (love or hate it). In some way I feel it's like the NBA, kids are being pushed under the spotlight and their development is trumped, because they conform to that spotlight instead of having the spotlight adapt to them (which is what TRUE superstares do

When I think about it your right Rihanna is a superstar but she's been in the game for a minute when you think about it.

That larger than life dynamic is still possible in today's era, I just feel like the ego has to match the quality.

Nowadays only the quantity matches the ego.

Somewhere along the line the LIL Wayne gimmick became the blueprint.

Drake is smart for quitting the mixtape game and to be honest it's clear he has a great gimmick along with a talented producer/engineer but his character along with his content is flawed.

He could still get there but he would def need a "graduation/blueprint/stillmatic" album under his belt.

I don't think there is anyone out right now with that persona. Timbaland even said it in the power 105 interview the industry is getting stale no one is being creative or taking chances and we now have a lack in superstars.

You could also can point the finger at these labels as well because artist development is nonexistent these days. They let YouTube and twitter numbers do the work for them.

Back in the day artist use to be trained groomed and developed well for years....I repeat YEARS!

Now a nikka can get an album deal with one single and then thrown to the wolves with a major album release the next.

The bolded is all correct.

@mbewane what you mean "make the spotlight adjust to you" ?