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Blessed to Be Where I'm Headed

Record Labels and Their "Criteria" ... Shit Makes No Sense

What up y'all Week 4 with the blog. It's funny how when you make a comment there's always one person that can misinterpret what the fuck you said. I ain't even mad if you do so, but it's funny how I said "Hip Hop needs Joe Budden and Saigon to release an album and receive mainstream success," and there's that one person who suggest I meant they should sell out in the process. I can't get mad at anybody, 'cause misinterpretations happen all the time but this is what Hip Hop I guess has turned into. Mainstream means selling out and nothing else? You know it ain't just that one reader its many people who feel like that. "Oh don't go commercial you don't need to do a snap song." Damn man this is what Hip Hop has turned into? I can't make a album and drop it on a major label and be on BET or MTV without being a sell-out? 

Something that bothers me with this game and why I feel it has taken a turn for the worse is when I see people stretch and try and find reasons as to why lyrics aren't important anymore. It's funny when cats say "it ain't being lyrical its about blah blah." I grew up in an era where "The World Is Yours", "Dead Presidents", and "Warning" were singles. You could spit some shit and still get radio play. Shit even "Quiet Storm" was a single and was bumped heavy in the clubs and that was real hard Hip Hop record. Now the whole idea of what a single is has changed. It has nothing to do with the fans or even artist. Nah, one day these suits woke up and decided what type of records were going to circulate on rotation. Their idea of what that shit is fucking corny to me. Labels have tried to limit us as artists. I heard Beyonce tried to drop "Crazy In Love" as a single and Sony wasn't haven't it 'cause there were too many horns and shit. B's team had to get Jay on it to  convince the suits it was a strong enough single to push and next thing you know that shit won like 5 Grammy's. Rest assured, Jay wasn't the main reason that happened. That record was a smash! Jay obviously added on to it but that record was a smash. It goes to show what these cats really fucking know. 

I'm gonna finish this off without really promoting my shit or anything. I don't understand how Joe Budden, Grafh, Saigon, and Joell Ortiz could be signed to majors and get no type of push from their labels. All these fucking artists who come out within this time span and none of these cats could see the light of day? Not even get a real shot? You know if a true artist can't get a shot 'cause what he's doing doesn't fit with your formula then I think you need to adjust your formula. Biggie Smalls, Tupac, Big Pun and Nas didn't have to get some type of BDS spins and "buzz" or anything before a label proceeded to push they product. They were talented enough so the label put everything in motion and eventually set them up. Next thing you know "boom" dudes sell records and everyone is happy. Talent never ever fails. Record sales suck but I mean its obvious that people ain't supporting these artist past a single anymore. I know there's many different variables but part of it is cause they don't have quality music beyond one lil' radio hit. The dudes who did have quality shit beyond their singles back in the days prospered and established strong careers. The dudes that didn't came and went. Now these days we have too many of these type of dudes. You wanna know why? 'Cause an artist like Joe Budden, whose "Mood Musik 2" was better than 90% of the albums that have dropped in the past three years, Saigon who's "Yard Father 1 and 2," ditto, Grafh's "Oracle" as well, and Joell Ortiz who fucking moved 50,000 units alone with Koch and built a huge buzz by himself; can't cut a fucking break 'cause they don't fit the "criteria" labels need to push. What the fuck is this "criteria" doing to the game? I'll tell you ...making it worse! Now you got Joell Ortiz saying "get me out of here if you ain't doing shit with me."

Suggestion labels: I know you need some tax write off's and shit but if you want those why don't you waste them on those rappers who have those singles and nothing more. Try and push an artist who overall has quality music. You can get the spins, you have the money and the connections and where there's a will, there's a way. Stop being lazy and only try and push artist who have set you up 'cause they generated most of the BDS spins and following on their own. You'll be surprised what can happen if you actually go hard at it. You might end up finding the next Biggie, Nas, or Jay Z even. You're not going to find that type of artist if you aren't willing to believe in talent but rather numbers on a fucking paper or screen that shows this artist has value. Maybe they don't want to find that artist, who the fuck knows. Shout out to Joell 'cause I respect that dude's grind. I seen it firsthand and that cat was everywhere and doing everything he could to be known. Another rapper suffering from this lame ass "criteria" and not getting his proper shot. Real talk who knows if its just "here say" but honestly Joell has built a stronger buzz for himself than most these labels have done for their own artist. I believe if this "criteria" was all that mattered 15 years ago or so a lot of great emcees would have never came about. Fix this fucking formula or whatever it is, 'cause it damn sure ain't working.

Get at the kid myspace.com/ninobless

Til Next Week Yurp!

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