Menzo wrote:NextEpisode wrote:aprilm wrote:most underground rappers end up staying "underground" because they aren't very good, not because they are too hardcore, or people who aren't real hip-hop don't get it, or because mainstream rappers suck, or because [insert the reason your favorite underground rapper hasn't made it big here].
You claim this like you're sure of it... Labels, in general, don't care for the actual quality of the music, what they care about is profit. Labels sign artists - in w/e genre - that (i) they see as marketable, for the
buying public, and (ii) they predict will make a profit for the label.
Well sure, but I honestly hate when underground artists rag on mainstream artists.
I mean, depending on the artist, of course. If it's a legitimate rapper from the underground to mainstream, and he gets hated on...it's just dumb. If your goal is to survive off of rap, blowing up shouldn't be frowned upon
unless you sell out and water down your content.Dunno why I said this tbh.
There are, indeed, "underground" rappers who rag on mainstream artists (for "selling out" etc...) because they're yellous of their fame & success. Most artists want to get signed, release albums, and make a living off doing so. I wasn't disputing this. I was simply pointing out what labels' intentions are when signing new artists.
Immortal Technique might be one of the exceptions, who - several times - has been offered deals with major labels. But then again, his purpose with music "goes beyond music".
It is, on the other hand, true - to a certain extent - that labels tend to interfere with artists' decisions on how to put together an album, which tracks should be (and not be) on there... What one can & cannot say on a specific track, etc... This, to make the album as attracting as possible to the public which the album is going to be marketed to.
okay then, I'll have a go at it.
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