Why Eminem never does a Mixtape?

[AbramIsaac]

Off the wall? Anger Management 3?

Those don't really qualify. One was done by some random guy with an internet connection and the most basic of graphic design skills, and the other is a few freestyles and a shitload of songs from other artists. The Invasion series would be a slightly better example.

Eminem doesn't put out mixtapes because there isn't a need for him to. Mixtapes are often a project of necessity, to build a buzz. What has a bigger buzz than an Eminem album?

That and he's too much of a perfectionist to put out a project of rejected material, outside of the odd bonus or sampler CD. Besides, his fans would probably just bitch about it and say how much better something else he put out was compared to it.

[NextEpisode]

In short...

* First you must ask yourself; why do artists release mixtapes? To me it's obvious, it is to create an interest & demand in the artist in question. That's a smart business move - even if it (income-wise) doesn't do very much for the artist directly - because, its main purpose is to gain potential future consumers. Which means... money for the artist and the label.

* Now to the big question, why doesn't Em release mixtapes? I mean, obviously, the label want to maximize the possible profits Em can pull, right? Yes, that is correct, BUT... Em has - basically - more to lose, than to gain, when releasing mixtapes... Because...

(i) Expectations upon new Em releases are sky-high, and when your fan-base is as big as Eminem's, it's likely that he'll dissapoint more fans, than gain interest in new ones.

(ii) A question of demand... If Em does not put out new material for a while, he creates a huge demand... Just as when you don't eat for a while, you get hungry... Well, imagine, Em's full fanbase, starving - for new material...

(iii) Over-exposure... Eminem's image, is the guy who appear very rarelay on events etc... but when he does, there are a lot of buzz created around it. It's basically the same for the music he puts out.

To summarize, as and established artist, who's potential consumer-base, is probably larger than anyone today, it isn't very wise - in terms of money-making - to put out material for free. Em often put out a freestyle or two before album releases, though, to give people a hint of how the album will sound like (and create interest & demand). Which - basically - serves the same purpose as a mixtape.

Hope this helps.

[EminemBase]

1. He's a worldwide musical icon, not just a rapper. When it gets to that level, dropping a mixtape would seem a bit unprofessional, and of course there's probably $ politics involved.

2. Business aside, he's also conscious of over-saturating which is why in the earlier stages of his career he would hand-pick his collaborations more. He and Paul have always been aware of the 'element of surprise' and keeping a mystique and excitement going.

- So, if he drops mixtapes constantly like other rappers do in between albums, it's not as exciting hearing the next chapter, because we would already have an idea and, he wants you to wait.

Which is why news of certain other rappers releasing a new album is nowhere near as exciting. Idiots like 50 Cent do the complete opposite and think the thing to do is to ram yourself down people's throats. Fuck knows why that works for Wayne, he's clearly got something or enough going for him to have established fans, but generally speaking... it's a bad idea. As an artist.

Rare things are valuable. If we could all walk outside and pick up diamonds, everywhere, every day - they would lose their value. And diamonds aren't actually all that rare, they're controlled. Scarcity makes things valuable. So in artistic terms, Em makes himself more scarce. Which is where the perception of 'class' and quality comes into play, and why he has that.

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Which is why news of certain other rappers releasing a new album is nowhere near as exciting. Idiots like 50 Cent do the complete opposite and think the thing to do is to ram yourself down people's throats. Fuck knows why that works for Wayne, he's clearly got something or enough going for him to have established fans, but generally speaking... it's a bad idea. As an artist.

I beg to differ. 50's def not in the same situation as Eminem. 50's mainstream popularity has been shrinking ever since his Interscope debut in 2003. He needs to regain - mainstream - interest. If the label notice that an artist is creating a buzz around him, the label is obvisouly going to ride the wave, and put some effort into the album when it drops.

[EminemBase]

Which is why news of certain other rappers releasing a new album is nowhere near as exciting. Idiots like 50 Cent do the complete opposite and think the thing to do is to ram yourself down people's throats. Fuck knows why that works for Wayne, he's clearly got something or enough going for him to have established fans, but generally speaking... it's a bad idea. As an artist.

I beg to differ. 50's def not in the same situation as Eminem. 50's mainstream popularity has been shrinking ever since his Interscope debut in 2003. He needs to regain - mainstream - interest. If the label notice that an artist is creating a buzz around him, the label is obvisouly going to ride the wave, and put some effort into the album when it drops.

My point was that 50 over-saturated himself to begin with and that's partially why people got sick of him, and part of the reason his mainstream career plummeted.

It's not the entire or sole reason, the main reason is the decline in the quality of the music. And, on that note - an artist can over-saturate as much as possible but if it's all genius, then so be it. They're still going to get praised and be poured over.

But 50 has that mentality and he makes himself less valuable. He'll pretty much jump on any song or try any trick in the book to get people to notice him.

He's a business man, not an artist.

He's tried the same thing with movies which is also why he, has no movie career. He's just said yes to every script that's come along, aka every piece of shit script and so killed his career before it's begun. And once you do that, you become cheap, easy to get and - not, valuable.

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Which is why news of certain other rappers releasing a new album is nowhere near as exciting. Idiots like 50 Cent do the complete opposite and think the thing to do is to ram yourself down people's throats. Fuck knows why that works for Wayne, he's clearly got something or enough going for him to have established fans, but generally speaking... it's a bad idea. As an artist.

I beg to differ. 50's def not in the same situation as Eminem. 50's mainstream popularity has been shrinking ever since his Interscope debut in 2003. He needs to regain - mainstream - interest. If the label notice that an artist is creating a buzz around him, the label is obvisouly going to ride the wave, and put some effort into the album when it drops.

My point was that 50 over-saturated himself to begin with and that's partially why people got sick of him, and part of the reason his mainstream career plummeted.

It's not the entire or sole reason, the main reason is the decline in the quality of the music. And, on that note - an artist can over-saturate as much as possible but if it's all genius, then so be it. They're still going to get praised and be poured over.

But 50 has that mentality and he makes himself less valuable. He'll pretty much jump on any song or try any trick in the book to get people to notice him.

He's a business man, not an artist.

There are many factors as to why artists don't stay relevant. But the quality is - unquestionably - an important one. Another - not so often mentioned - factor is the fact that 50 don’t really follow musical-trends. He's been doing "his" type of music since he came out. In the meantime, the consumer-society has definitely changed since the beginning of the past decade.

In regards to music - and in relative terms - I would not say 50's oversaturated himself to an extent that his fans got sick of him.

He's a business man, and an artist. A good combination - since the music industry is a business.

From an objective point-of-view (without the "50 sucks, he's and idiot" mentality), you have to ask yourself; How can 50 get back to the top? To me, "The Big 10" was a good start to regain interest - it's been relatively well critically acclaimed. The optimal following would be a club single that received a lot of airplay in combination with some sort of business partnership (which seems to be happening with Pepsi), to put 50 back in the mainstream's eye. But... 50's in desperate need of a decent club single. "Girls Gone Wild" is not decent.

[EminemBase]

Another - not so often mentioned - factor is the fact that 50 don’t really follow musical-trends. He's been doing "his" type of music since he came out. In the meantime, the consumer-society has definitely changed since the beginning of the past decade.

WHAT!? 50 not follow trends?! are you kidding me.

He's been built on a mass-appeal foundation since he came out.

His debut was an album full to the brim of gangsta cliche, and yes that may have been his life but then you have the club single and the 'relationship' single.

50 absolutely follows trends and at points is desperate for approval.

Just like getting JT on Curtis and just trying to hop genres and do techno and dance, and whatever he can in order to be liked again. That's not a real artist.

He's a business man, and an artist. A good combination - because the music industry is a business.

From an objective point-of-view (without the "50 sucks, he's and idiot" mentality), you have to ask yourself; How can 50 get back to the top? To me, "The Big 10" was a good start to regain interest - it's been relatively well critically acclaimed. The optimal following would be a club single that received a lot of airplay in combination with some sort of business partnership (which seems to be happening with Pepsi), to put 50 back in the mainstream's eye. But... 50's in desperate need of a decent club single. "Girls Gone Wild" is not decent.

Well yes he is an artist, he's just a bad one.

Even bad artists are artists. But he was never an artist of quality caliber.

His debut was huge for a number of reasons - image, a knack for melody / hooks, great production and the backing of Dr. Dre and Eminem who at the time were the biggest duo in music. But he was always a bad lyricist with a lazy flow and mediocre (at best) concepts.

He used to be successful because he could make hits. He was never a truly acclaimed artist who contributed anything noteworthy to the genre or music as a whole. And the fact is, he's unable to make hits now, he can't come up with as good as melodies.

And doesn't have as good production, so that's why he's failing IMO.

Not to mention the fact he's the most repetitive rapper I've ever heard. Nearly ten years of quite literally almost the EXACT same lyrics and barely ever a change in style or tone what so ever makes somebody predictable. and boring. Hence the loss of interest.

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Another - not so often mentioned - factor is the fact that 50 don’t really follow musical-trends. He's been doing "his" type of music since he came out. In the meantime, the consumer-society has definitely changed since the beginning of the past decade.

WHAT!? 50 not follow trends?! are you kidding me.

He's been built on a mass-appeal foundation since he came out.

His debut was an album full to the brim of gangsta cliche, and yes that may have been his life but then you have the club single and the 'relationship' single.

50 absolutely follows trends and at points is desperate for approval.

Just like getting JT on Curtis and just trying to hop genres and do techno and dance, and whatever he can in order to be liked again. That's not a real artist.

My point was/is, that - for the exception of the JT collab - I could easily see Curtis as a 2003 album. Based on the beats & the subject-matter. It has a lot of ingredients from the Get Rich & Massacre albums. And those albums (esp "Get Rich") was basically defining mainstream-rap at that period (2003) - based on sales numbers. The same basically goes for "BISD". He didn't jump on the "Autotune" bandwagon either.

And as you point out, he's been having that "club single" and "relationship single" on every album since his 2003 Insterscope debut. Not changing the formula.

He's a business man, and an artist. A good combination - because the music industry is a business.

From an objective point-of-view (without the "50 sucks, he's and idiot" mentality), you have to ask yourself; How can 50 get back to the top? To me, "The Big 10" was a good start to regain interest - it's been relatively well critically acclaimed. The optimal following would be a club single that received a lot of airplay in combination with some sort of business partnership (which seems to be happening with Pepsi), to put 50 back in the mainstream's eye. But... 50's in desperate need of a decent club single. "Girls Gone Wild" is not decent.

Well yes he is an artist, he's just a bad one.

Even bad artists are artists. But he was never an artist of quality caliber.

His debut was huge for a number of reasons - he had a knack for melody back then but was always a bad lyricist with a lazy flow and mediocre (at best) concepts.

He used to be successful because he could make hits. He was never a truly acclaimed artist who contributed anything noteworthy to the genre or music as a whole. And the fact is, he's unable to make hits now, he can't come up with as good as melodies.

And doesn't have as good production, so that's why he's failing IMO.

Not to mention the fact he's the most repetitive rapper I've ever heard.

I guess my question ("From an objective point-of-view (without the "50 sucks, he's and idiot" mentality), you have to ask yourself; How can 50 get back to the top?") was to much to ask for... In all of your 6 sentences in this post, you betittle 50 cent. I simply wanted to point out that a mixtape which create a positve buzz - among fans - is a good start to get back mainstream interest.

[EminemBase]

I guess my question ("From an objective point-of-view (without the "50 sucks, he's and idiot" mentality), you have to ask yourself; How can 50 get back to the top?") was to much to ask for... In all of your 6 sentences in this post, you betittle 50 cent. I simply wanted to point out that a mixtape which create a positve buzz - among fans - is a good start to get back mainstream interest.

So what if I belittle him, that's my opinion on him.

I still answered your question. If you don't like what I have to say about him as an artist, just ignore those bits. I still responded to your question.

From an objective standpoint, it's obvious that he's failing because he can no longer write infectious melodies that connect, and does not have as solid / catchy production.

And, his themes are too repetitive. It's pretty hard to answer 'how he could get back on top' without pointing out his faults as those are the reasons he is now not on top.

So he could get back on top by fixing his flaws.

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I guess my question ("From an objective point-of-view (without the "50 sucks, he's and idiot" mentality), you have to ask yourself; How can 50 get back to the top?") was to much to ask for... In all of your 6 sentences in this post, you betittle 50 cent. I simply wanted to point out that a mixtape which create a positve buzz - among fans - is a good start to get back mainstream interest.

So what if I belittle him, that's my opinion on him.

I still answered your question. If you don't like what I have to say about him as an artist, just ignore those bits. I still responded to your question.

From an objective standpoint, it's obvious that he's failing because he can no longer write infectious melodies that connect, and does not have as solid / catchy production.

And, his themes are too repetitive. It's pretty hard to answer 'how he could get back on top' without pointing out his faults as those are the reasons he is now not on top.

So he could get back on top by fixing his flaws.

Indeed, you do point out flaws in the quality of his music. But my original point was not about the quality (I actually pointed out "quality" as a factor of his mainstream decline) - it was about 50's case from a business-perspective. I won't spend my time arguing music, because in the end - it's subjective. And quality doesn't equal sales. That is a fact.

You originally posted "Idiots like 50 Cent do the complete opposite and think the thing to dois to ram yourself down people's throats. ..., but generally speaking... it's a bad idea. As an artist." .

On which I disagreed. My original point was - and still is - that a mixtape which creates a positive buzz - among fans - is a good start to get back mainstream interest for 50 cent. Because in 2009, 50cent reached an all-time low, in terms of mainstream popularity and album sales. Since BISD, however, 50 has been putting out a lot of, free, material that has been received well among fans - most recently “The Big 10”.

[EminemBase]

^ I was about to reply individually to each point...

But then I realized we're discussing 50 Cent here lmao.

I really don't care man, 50 can do what he likes, and I don't care if he fails or succeeds.

[Shady-Yo]

I dont understand?

He's too big and famous and awesome to do a mixtape. Jimmy Iovine/Interscope won't let him.

This

Damn, Em is such a beast.
They probably thinking "why 4 free if we can get millions out of it".

and this.

[NextEpisode]

^ I was about to reply individually to each point...

But then I realized we're discussing 50 Cent here lmao.

I really don't care man, 50 can do what he likes, and I don't care if he fails or succeeds.

Good - Because I've got to get back to that Mathematical Analysis anyways