Ive actually started making a whole branch of trax now aimed at the lowest common denomintor..
In fact I may call that whole collection or album lowest common denominator. lol
Look, I know of a band that took the same approach. Initially they were all about writing what they wanted (normal for any artist.) They wrote songs about all types of shit. They kept pushing to get signed and everything fell on deaf ears. Think they had a couple showcases given to them at the mercy of friends.
Then the guitarist wisened up after hating his job at a coffee shop, getting older and not having anything to show for it. He and the lead singer started writing love songs and shit that their girlfriends liked. They did it as a joke, with cheesy fucking choruses. Anyway, they scored off those songs almost immediately and got a publishing deal. The guitarist now sells his songs to pop stars. I think he has a Porsche.
Maroon 5 also had a similar trajectory, started off as an alt-grunge band called Kara's Flowers. They had no success, switched up to a cheesy love-music band, and their lead singer drives an Aston Martin.
I guess the point an artist has to think is -- when do I get sick of the daily grind and just sell the fuck out, so I don't have to worry about bills.
The thing is, Relic, take the LCD approach as a joke, experiment with it, and see if it works out. Don't stop doing your other shit though.
Trust me G.O.D, I aint knocking you my friend. I appreciate you telling us how shit really is. It just so happens the "way shit is" is fucked up. RESPECT goes further and last longer than any check will.
Disagree, respect matters-- but money matters too. People respect money. Lionel Richie owns a fucking castle in Beverly Hills and is a multimillionaire many times over. He sold out. I don't think he gives a shit about respect (although his wife did beat the fuck out of him). He has a comfortable life has FREEDOM from the daily grind and can do whatever the fuck he wants.
The music industry is filled with rappers who were about respect, didn't make the right move, and are fucked over. I think they would trade places with a pussy like Lionel Richie any day when they're cracked out living in a fucking cardboard box in Corona Park reminiscing about their "glory days".
If record companies stop putting out bullshit, "the lowest common denominator" mufuckas wont have bullshit to buy. If they put out "real shit"(good music) they wont have any choice but to buy "real shit"(good music)...just like I dont have a choice but to dig,purchase, and download "real shit" (good music) off the internet.
Wrong. People will just stop buying the music. A demand will be sought for stupid music, and there you have it -- the market corrects itself.
The fact is that the powers that be dont want music with substance that will educate and hip people.
I can look online right now and find a ton of real heads that are true to hip-hop. Guess what? They appeal to a small demographic.
Don't let me bring up the Lupe Fiasco example....
In HIP HOP you had eras where cats got influenced off of Gangsta rap and God body rap (5%ter type shit) Those were considered movements in hip hop and the "powers that be" cant have people getting a "SPARK IN CONSCIOUSNESS" just because of the music they listen too so they market "soulless music" the deaden the the senses. After years of this abuse you tend to lose feeling on what "real shit" is anyway.
Hip-hop WAS a movement. Now there are underground "movements" in hip-hop that should be surfacing. I honestly thought the backpacker demo would take off. Still hasn't.
Everyone knows that "real shit"(good music) will outsell this bullshit thats being played on the radio today...the problem is that "real shit"(good music) is not productive to the "AGENDA"
The main AGENDA is to make a SHITLOAD of money.
but have people forgot that there is millions of cats that feel like us on this site...why isn't anyone tapping into this market on a mainstream level?
Okay, where were the millions of real hiphopheads that bought the first Lupe Fiasco album? There weren't any. That record didn't even get a gold record. Supporting cats like him would've sent a message.
Why do you think he dumbed down to chart a Top 40 hit with "Superstar." He needs money, and as an artist he would create a couple dumb songs that sell, and then put "smarter" songs on his albums. He wisened up and learned that the mainstream audience is the lowest common denominator. His current album, "The Cool", went gold and his single is making him good coin.
People didn't buy his first record, which was a masterpiece, in droves. What did they buy? The album with fucking "Superstar" on it-- a dumbed down song. Why? Because they like the fucking CHORUS. I asked a friend about the song, and she said, yeah I love that song. Does she know/give a shit about what Lupe is rapping about. No -- "I like the chorus" she said.
He did it to survive and be a bankable artist.
Where were the millions of concerned hiphopheads on Lupe's album, Common's earlier albums and a ton of other cats' albums. Hell, Black Eyed Peas were on their indie/Rawkus sound before they realized "shit, we need to get paid, or we're gonna get dropped. Let's hire Fergie, write pop and sell out."
My advice to ANY artist, especially if you WANT to sell but keep some integrity. Write a two-three lowest common denominator songs-- with catchy choruses, sing along shit. Have the rest of your tracks be where you spit wordplay, multis, metas, etc.
Again, Skidflow, we're just having a little difference of opinion here. No disrespect is meant, homie.
