Why hasn't any of our Hip Hop legends/pioneers/architects ever started labels?

[VulcanRaven]

Because none of them understand the business side and outside of LL could barely sell albums themselves.Also maybe they are not as GOOD as you think and you are giving them TOO much credit because they were great artist? If you knew anything then you would know that "the mechanics if writing good songs and taking pride in their lyrics" is not the business motto to sell records.I blame those artist for the crap today anyway since they did not step up ladder in the corporate side so that they could gain control and have the influence to decide what type of artist are signed and what will be marketed.All of those guys were dummies basically who only complain about the industry because they got jerked by it.

 

they were basically people who took the financial hits that label owners today have learned from ....

them were the first cats to jump in the pool with no jacket, others learned from them and jumped in without drowning ....

 

[ocelot]

Because rappers back then wasn't getting money like that... Hate or Love it hustlers are the reason hip hop is still around...

 

[VulcanRaven]

they were basically people who took the financial hits that label owners today have learned from ....

them were the first cats to jump in the pool with no jacket, others learned from them and jumped in without drowning ....

Wow me and you finally agree on something.Them 80s rappers were getting raped and are now broke preaching about real Hip Hop lol while LL is playing a fed on TV,playing the police just like Ice T.

 

[Disciplined InSight]

Because none of them understand the business side and outside of LL could barely sell albums themselves.Also maybe they are not as GOOD as you think and you are giving them TOO much credit because they were great artist? If you knew anything then you would know that "the mechanics if writing good songs and taking pride in their lyrics" is not the business motto to sell records.I blame those artist for the crap today anyway since they did not step up ladder in the corporate side so that they could gain control and have the influence to decide what type of artist are signed and what will be marketed.All of those guys were dummies basically who only complain about the industry because they got jerked by it.

Yeah I know the business motto: 90% business...10% talent.

Funny thing...I never heard of those artists I've mentioned getting jerked, regardless if they were commercial or not...the point is they are great artists which would make them more qualified..you're too emotional in your post.

Plus LL's niche was making songs for the ladies and that's why he was more commercially visible than the others.

 

[supersajinfo]

They were getting the same bad deals that blues and RnB artist got.Luckily the hustlers started getting involved and created labels because they were handing out slave deals left and right

 

[georgia boi]

LL had a label back in '98-'99. Not sure what happened, but this group released an album on his label:


Not sure why the others never got into the entrepreneural side of music.

 

[VulcanRaven]

LL had a label back in '98-'99. Not sure what happened, but this group released an album on his label:


Not sure why the others never got into the entrepreneural side of music.

Because they did not see Rap being bigger than the block and had the same complacent mentality that the Hip Hop purist fans have, never wanting Hip Hop to grow and expand. Commercialization was the only way that the genre would survive and those artist outside of LL with his chick songs never saw that fact.If things had stayed the way they were in the 80s then the genre would have died a long time ago.You have to sell records point blank period to succeed.

 

[Wild Self]

Because they loved the music. Its damn near impossible to run a label AND drop albums on the regular. That's like working 20 hour days for years on end. Something has got to take a hit. Best for artists not to sign to slave deals and just tour year round.

 

[son of 1973]

Because none of them understand the business side and outside of LL could barely sell albums themselves.Also maybe they are not as GOOD as you think and you are giving them TOO much credit because they were great artist? If you knew anything then you would know that "the mechanics if writing good songs and taking pride in their lyrics" is not the business motto to sell records.I blame those artist for the crap today anyway since they did not step up ladder in the corporate side so that they could gain control and have the influence to decide what type of artist are signed and what will be marketed.All of those guys were dummies basically who only complain about the industry because they got jerked by it.

You just seem to have a grudge against the greats of the golden age apparently. In that time guys didnt start labels, they signed to labels. For you to blame the guys who gave hip-hop most of its flavor and creativity sounds like you're ranting. PE and KRS did more to try and keep hip-hop real than almost anybody before or since, the fans made hip-hop change because it started catering to women and simps followed/tried to impress women so here we are today. Them dudes having labels wouldnt have been able to stop that. BTW Hip-hop was selling when it was considered real hip-hop, all the artist mentioned went gold or better more than once in their primes and PE went platinum so i dont think they're bitter about being washed up, they're bitter the creativity and diversity of commercial rap is dead.

 

[antarticp]

they were basically people who took the financial hits that label owners today have learned from ....

them were the first cats to jump in the pool with no jacket, others learned from them and jumped in without drowning ....

very true and even tho alot of the pioneers maybe never had thier own "label" but dont forget guys like Marley Marl started the crews a la JUICE CREW to put new guys like BDK Biz markie etc ... on .... and i was just peeping an Positive K interview and he help alot of dudes back in the day .... he almost got nas signed if he wasnt a close friend of mc search he let search walk nas in the game out of courtesy ... but he help rza independently release protect ya kneck ... and he is also starting his own label right now ...

its alot of stuff going on but its just behind the scenes ... KRS-1 is responsible for discovering and signing Nelly believe or not ...

so all though the legends dont have "labels" they still used thier pull over the years to get people on and working ......

 

[choppa_style]

Why would you expect them to? They are artists, not businessmen.

Just because a lot of rappers do it now doesn't mean it's something you should expect all of them to do.

 

[georgia boi]

Why would you expect them to? They are artists, not businessmen.

Just because a lot of rappers do it now doesn't mean it's something you should expect all of them to do.

I agree with this. None of them are obligated to be businessmen, but fans expect them to be entrepreneurs for whatever reason.

 

[Washington_Red]

Making music and doing business are 2 completely different things. I couldnt imagine KRS or Chuck D running a successful label. They dont have the hustlers mentality like that.

What I would like to see tho is a Rap Players Union that mediates rap beefs, rates albums, and gives out and revokes Hip Hop passes.

 

[Wild Self]

Why would you expect them to? They are artists, not businessmen.

Just because a lot of rappers do it now doesn't mean it's something you should expect all of them to do.

It should be optional, not a requirement for an MC.