How Important is RELEVANCY?

[UNORTHODOX]

Well? Do you see an artist gaining momentum (locally where you are, or nationally) if they arent relevent. how important is it that an artist raps about sex, swagg, guns and drugs, to you? Is it absolutely crucial commercially or can a artist really be successful without these topics/ style production wise and lyrically.

Theres been a resurgence of non-pop hop tracks lately eminem, alot of old artists, even jay-zs new record. alot of these aren't relevent per-se but are good. what I'm getin at is what chance do you FEEL this style (Non pop hop) becoming relevant or atleast succsessful for Indie artists. In your personal opinion of coarse.

 

[Ash Holmz]

Well? Do you see an artist gaining momentum (locally where you are, or nationally) if they arent relevent. how important is it that an artist raps about sex, swagg, guns and drugs, to you? Is it absolutely crucial commercially or can a artist really be successful without these topics/ style production wise and lyrically.

Theres been a resurgence of non-pop hop tracks lately eminem, alot of old artists, even jay-zs new record. alot of these aren't relevent per-se but are good. what I'm getin at is what chance do you FEEL this style (Non pop hop) becoming relevant or atleast succsessful for Indie artists. In your personal opinion of coarse.

i think TRYING to stay relevant makes you look even less relevant. You just gotta do what feels right. Music goes in cycles as does fashion as does life in general. Things are gonna swing back around. If your always chasing trends, your always gonna sound like ur chasing trends. I think it was Swiss Beatz who said he always does the opposite of whats hot at the moment. Not bad advice.

 

[UNORTHODOX]

true, music moves in cycles but to a degree, I dont think things will be the way they were again(golden era status). taking into account the money and machine behind club music, is it really realistic to think that music about more than that, will ever rise "above the underground". I mean I hope, my personal success depends on it, but I doubt it.

 

[Shonsteez]

what chance do you FEEL this style (Non pop hop) becoming relevant or atleast succsessful for Indie artists. In your personal opinion of coarse.

Indie-Artists have already been doin this for mad long, I dont really think theres a sudden influx in "organic hiphop" again all of a sudden. That flavor of music has been actively making waves on the under and even the not-so-under for quite some time now.

In the end, its BEST to just DO YOU!
Words to live by IMO.

Following a path others tell you to follow will always lead you in the wrong direction if you ask me....If your a producer - make beats that make your head knod first. If your an MC - write scripts that inspire the people around you and your inner self first. Being true to yourself will ultimately lead to being true to your "craft". This is at least how I always proceed to treat my musical endeavors...AND ONLY BECUZ I FEEL LIKE IM CHEATING MYSELF IF I DO OTHERWISE. Always lookout for self.

 

[UNORTHODOX]

Im not talking about self satisfaction Im talking about success outside of self

 

[Shonsteez]

I feel u man, but the two seem directly related IMO.
Just my perspective.

I suppose that means my answer is - anything is possible but in this day and age if your really looking for immediate acceptance outside a local to regional level your prob better off making music that sounds like everything else thats popular right now. I just basically refuse to follow that path, hence why I repeatedly chant to people DO YOU FIRST.

Thats not to say your music cant get popular by sticking to your guns and not making beats like everyone else or rapping about cars, clothes, and money....but i think the probability is much lesser. Yes, these days this has possibly decreased a small amount but not by much imo.

With all that said, you still have to have something people want too - whether your a biter or not. So if you suck, well then...you still suck....Cant change that really.

 

[UNORTHODOX]

I feel u man, but the two seem directly related IMO.
Just my perspective.

I can dig it. so you think its going to come back around, commercially?

 

[Shonsteez]

I mean, i agree.
Ive been seeing a slight change in peoples general approach and attitude towards their music in the commercial vein - but i dont see any drastic change occurring any time soon until things change on a grassroots level.

People need to get their mind right first before they just up and change their position on these issues in the first place and I know for a fact theres still a grip of people that are happy to rap about disrespecting women and shooting fools over the same old wack ass beats.

I really dont see a massive change until either Americans in general alter their perception of the world around them, or it suddenly becomes marketable to be the "good guy" - which I highly doubt will happen, at least for a long time....know wut I mean?

 

[Chrono]

it's as relevant as you make it.

no secrets

 

[UNORTHODOX]

I mean, i agree.
Ive been seeing a slight change in peoples general approach and attitude towards their music in the commercial vein - but i dont see any drastic change occurring any time soon until things change on a grassroots level.

People need to get their mind right first before they just up and change their position on these issues in the first place and I know for a fact theres still a grip of people that are happy to rap about disrespecting women and shooting fools over the same old wack ass beats.

I really dont see a massive change until either Americans in general alter their perception of the world around them, or it suddenly becomes marketable to be the "good guy" - which I highly doubt will happen, at least for a long time....know wut I mean?

I feel you completely. alot of it is deep rooted culturely In most of the communities.

 

[MagnaOpera]

Theres been a resurgence of non-pop hop tracks lately eminem

are you serious?

 

[UNORTHODOX]

are you serious?

r YOU serious, would you really call that pop?! not today!

 

[shadeed]

i think TRYING to stay relevant makes you look even less relevant. You just gotta do what feels right. Music goes in cycles as does fashion as does life in general. Things are gonna swing back around. If your always chasing trends, your always gonna sound like ur chasing trends. I think it was Swiss Beatz who said he always does the opposite of whats hot at the moment. Not bad advice.

I understand your point but nowadays the attention span of the consumer has decreased and in today's world it benefits hip-hop artists to tap into other channels to keep their brand present in the subconscious of their target market.

Nas hosting 106 and Park would be a lame attempt at relevancy. Nas producing a documentary entitled Queensbrige: Past, Present, and Future in between album cycles would hit the bulls-eye.

You can be relevant without chasing trends at all. You can't accomplish this IF you don't know who you're peddling music to in the first place. Once you understand who listens and why, then you have the roadmap to be revelant, legendary, whatever you want to be.

 

[LDB]

I think it was Swiss Beatz who said he always does the opposite of whats hot at the moment. Not bad advice.

Not bad advice when you're already an established producer! Trying to get in though I think u have to some what give the people what they have been accustomed to hearing, especially today. I'm referring to "just being a producer though". If you're an artist that produces there own material as well you can take the "brand new doing my own thang" route. But just as a producer I'm not saying it has to be exactly like what you hear on the radio today but it has to be in the same vein so to speak. I'm not talking about everything you drop. Just 2 or 3 tracks similar to what's commercial mixed in with your more creative stuff. That may bring the ear you need to hear your other production. Things do move in cycles but those cycles can sometimes span a career! It's 2009 and I haven't heard one inkling of 1996 coming back yet....that's over a decade now.

 

[Quality]

i think TRYING to stay relevant makes you look even less relevant. You just gotta do what feels right. Music goes in cycles as does fashion as does life in general. Things are gonna swing back around. If your always chasing trends, your always gonna sound like ur chasing trends. I think it was Swiss Beatz who said he always does the opposite of whats hot at the moment. Not bad advice.

I agree in full, you gotta just do you and ONLY you.

 

[DaWorldFamous]

All music has to evolve and grow..It's happened in every genre' at some point and time.
Now with that being said, You have to do what is critical for your own personal level of success.
Keepin it real ain't gettin niggas paid these days and the attention span of the hip hop audience has decreased recently...Now throw in all the commercialized shit that they see on BET and MTV and WAALAA...u are asking those"Can I Make It" questions...

You can't be all things to all people.....I say if it feels good then fuck it.....You have got to do what u feel deeply. That's an artist. When you can't be yourself that's a problem, not with then, but with you. That has to show in your music. Everyone has a style and a swagger. Rap was predicated off being boastful and braggin about what niggas had or how good he could he could rhyme and control the crowd. I really don't see a difference except for the lyric abilities of the rappers, and the tracks. And yes, Rap was also positive too, and it was conscience...it went thru phases.....and here we are. People don't wanna hear struggle and pain, they wanna party and have fun and live vicariously thru rappers.

To thine own heart be true......

 

[UNORTHODOX]

A year later and its been blown wide open lol Its all possible now.

 

[dacalion]

It's amazing how things can change in one year.

 

[UNORTHODOX]

right, I wouldnt've guessed lol

 

[2GooD Productions]

I think you have to make yourself relevant. No one is relevant until they are in the spotlight, i think its a bit of a double edged sword.
You can try to pander to current trends and "jump on the latest bandwagon", or you can stay true to yourself and create a new bandwagon, set a new trend and become even more relevant than just another person copying a current trend.