Whos
A Sellout? Going Mainstream
: Max Pallot
A
very big topic of debate each year in the Hip-hop and Rap game is definitely
which of the artists has sold out on their own style and gone “mainstream”. Some names that come to mind right off the
top of my head would have to be guys like Lil Wayne, and b.o.b, their styles
have done a complete flip in what they sound like from their first few albums
and mixtapes to what they are putting out with their music now. A lot of the time people argue what is
considered to be mainstream, whether it just a song that is played on the radio
to much, or whether it is similar sounding to today’s popular music.
In my opinion mainstream would be
the type of music that is played on the radio stations or played a lot amongst
people. There is nothing wrong with
that kind of music, but seeing an artist change his style to fit that genre is when
it becomes a problem. An artist goes
mainstream I believe it is when their style of music changes in order to fit
that radio sound or appeal to a much larger audience.
Lil Wayne I think is one of the best
examples of a sellout, Tha Carter 1, 2, and even 3, were one style of Rap by
being lyrical, while Tha Carter 4 was very poppy in a way, something that
really fits what is heard on the radio.
Also it had very radio friendly features on it as well like T-Pain and
Bruno Mars. I Am Not A Human Being and
Rebirth also were completely different styles that Lil Wayne brought out, they
were very rock based, something that a lot of people did not like. When someone like Lil Wayne changes up his
style and people start talking about it whether they hate it or love it is what
an artist looks for. The media’s
attention is sometimes the best thing.
B.o.b is another great example of a
sellout. In an early mixtape the song Generation Lost talks about basically how
radio songs suck and that it’s good to be underground and what not, while in
the present day b.o.b is coming out with songs like Magic and Airplanes that
clearly were made for radio hits. He
just sounds so hypercritical when saying one thing and then once he finds the
money in another style he jumps to that.
We see him in commercials for Adidas now as well, something that you
really would not see out of an underground rapper.
I do feel that underground has been
becoming more popular these days. We are
starting to see more guys that are sticking to the “underground” label. Artists like Chance The Rapper, Macklemore,
and Hopsin, although becoming very famous have stuck to their own style and
staying away from a major label. Being
independent is becoming more and more popular, although some guys that become
big immediately go for the money and sign to a major label.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhr_-FM8yRo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfYcOYMNuXM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnYj9c3eMys&feature=kp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cq-NShfefks
Yeah i would agree. I dont know why people call it selling out though. It could also just be their style improving or showing the dynamics of their style. You cant always rap the same in every song with the same type of beats. It's good to switch it up a little bit.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%. I really like your examples of Lil Wayne. It shows your knowledge of Hip-Hop. I was a HUGE fan of Lil Wayne and now Im not; the same goes for Kanye West as well.
ReplyDeletePeople just start to change to make main-streamers happy, but what about the original fans? Now I could care less about Lil Wayne but I love the old "King of the South"
I don't call it selling out . Artist create what their labels want from them. Rapping is a hobby but for most artist its a job so they produce what sells and makes them profit. Also as a fan of music I don't like to hear the same sound. Artists choose to step away from their comfort zone to be creative , not a sellout.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your post. I think that artists don't necessarily sell out they just switch up their style in order to appeal to a broader audience. I think that artist do this most of the time to get their name out there and after all when more people know who the artist is the artist has a higher probability of selling more albums.
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% as well. You provided great examples and even though Lil Wayne is one of my favorites, I do think he is a great example. They change from what they originally thought was their art and made it to mainstream and want the people wanted to hear from them, not what they wanted to produce.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the post. A lot of rappers have ended up selling out. B.O.B used to be one of my favorite rappers but he went "pop" after Strange Clouds was released. To make money he ended up becoming very mainstream with his music and I wish he went back to his better music.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I will acknowledge that many artists to succumb to the pressures of their record label, and veer away from what made them popular, I don't like the term "selling out". There is a fine line between doing music because your passionate about it, and doing it for a living. Its a tightrope walk, some artists feel that although they have a good fanbase, they could gain more popularity if they change their look, style, or sound. Music and what audiences are wanting are constantly changing. Unless you're on an indie label, the major record companies need for their artists to sell records. Its a harsh reality, you're only as good as your last hit single. Sometimes artists feel that they need to change their music, style, image to sell more records and keep the record label happy. If they keep the record label happy, then they make a living and get to feed their family, keep their house etc. Perhaps to a certain extent it is "selling out" but its also being a smart business person and "playing the game".
ReplyDelete