Fero : Independency Equals Suicuide

[Fero Blaque]

I've been saying this before, not just once but a thousand times 'n still people who claim to support hip-hop don't listen to this actual message. Indie labels are kind of hot nowadays for the artists out there since there's less bullshit and more profit to be made, but I'm seeing kids uploading the most underground albums out there 'n comment on It like 'It's really raw, 90's material' 'n they bump It for 3 weeks straight. Let's say, the album costs 10$ ? You get these Internet-rap kids 'n the download link Is clicked about 150 times...since this artist Is 'underground' dropping an Independant album you just stole 15000 $ of his profits.

Maybe even half of his albumsales If he's commonly unknown to the public, so without even blowing this up out of proportion you can ruin an artist's carreer eventually. I've posted up albums In the download section, but these albums were originally purchased by me and I posted them up 2-years after they dropped. Not saying It's good, but still ... I don't put up the newest releases. So what's your view on this ? I never had problems with piracy when I started listening to hip-hop because there wasn't any pirate-material, but nowadays the internet Is THE tool to grab hold of free music and whatnot. I download 'Jay-Z' albums and I download 'Nas' albums because they won't starve In a thousand years not even If they sold zero copies but underground hip-hop Is a different thing, artists signed to major labels make enough money but these Independant labels have artists that sell one-sixth of big names on the album copies.

They already robbed 'Domingo' of 8000 $ because of an early album leak, to an underground artist that's alot of money ... they downloaded the album 800 times ... that's alot. If you claim to support hip-hop and are In 'love' with underground music why do you download It ? Support these people, you all say you don't want another '50 cent' but this way not a single soul out there can maintain the raw and keep their heads above water. Underground artists their job Is actually making music, not even for the money but for the people so the least you could possibly do Is purchase It for a lousy 10 $ that means nothing to your or me but helps tem to survive and keep on making music.

Thank you.

[Côld Flúìdš]

been sayin it since day one..

[Al@moe.]

Yeah true but its never going to stop. If Rf stopped doing it it wouldnt mean a thing. What I say is that, if you download an album and you like it then BUY it. I support artists that are worth buying. I Love to collect albums but thats just me, I like having the whole package. Start buying albums. Internet is a gift and a curse.
~!

[run]

its funny how so called gangstas could get upset that people are "stealing" their album.

with hiphop today, at least 70% is garbage, downloading helps you decide whether or not to buy it. Also, not everyone knows every single rapper in the game and what they are capable of. If someone uploads a "Movemeant" album and says it dope, other people that have never heard of Movement can then check it out and decide if they like it or not.
You cant say because an album is downloaded 150 times that the rapper is losing $15000, cos im sure not everyone who downloaded it would have bought it in the first place.

I feel what your saying about the rest, but thats how the cookie crumbles in the industry. What about Movies? Computer Applications, Books etc etc its all the same.

[Mistuh Grippz]

What I say is that, if you download an album and you like it then BUY it. I support artists that are worth buying. I Love to collect albums but thats just me, I like having the whole package.

Thats that real talk.

[Pembroke]

The effects don't end in sales. Personally, the download button is more attractive than a $13.00 disc.. burning regulations will become stricter in the future.

Thanks for the read.

[Fero Blaque]

Thank you people for taking the time to read this, now It's up again I want to let kids know they're destroying a music genre without thinking about It.

[run]

underground artists are striving. sales for indie rap albums have gone up like crazy in the last couple years.

i think the major losers in the whole downloading issue are big labels.

[Eski Boy]

Originally Posted by run

with hiphop today, at least 70% is garbage, downloading helps you decide whether or not to buy it. Also, not everyone knows every single rapper in the game and what they are capable of. If someone uploads a "Movemeant" album and says it dope, other people that have never heard of Movement can then check it out and decide if they like it or not.
You cant say because an album is downloaded 150 times that the rapper is losing $15000, cos im sure not everyone who downloaded it would have bought it in the first place.

That excactly what i think of the whole situation. Ive expanded what i listen to by downloading on RF, thats how i got exposed to most of the artists i listen to at the moment. Then if the albums dope then i'll buy it, not going to waste my hard earned cash on something terrible. Would never of bought 50/60 % of the albums i'd bought since i'd been on her. Im only going to support a worthy cause

[Fero Blaque]

Originally Posted by run

underground artists are striving. sales for indie rap albums have gone up like crazy in the last couple years.

i think the major losers in the whole downloading issue are big labels.

It's not since a couple of years, that change In Indie albumsales set In about one and a half year ago If not shorter. Selected few can benefit from this but still the majority of under the ground artists earn more ... but they don't get It. Major labels are Indeed fucked In the ass If you're talking In terms of piracy, but as I said they do have a worldwide fanbase so even IF equalizing and comparing this to an underground artist on an Indie label you notice Indie artists work for like two bucks an hour (figure of speech) and majors get the hundreds handed to them.

You can see indie-labels as the saviour of hip-hop and It does contribute to the cause, but don't forget there's hardly any marketing or whatsoever ? It's mouth-to-mouth not posters and flyers. They still have to do what big guys don't have to do that makes the difference In album-sales plus fanbase.

[groad]

Originally Posted by Côld Flúìdš

been sayin it since day one..

likewise