Do You Think Rap is too Commercialized?

sil3ntst4lk3r · 03-22-2005, 05:20 PM

Mainstream rap/hip hop seems like it's getting more and more scripted every day. Do you agree? Who do you think the biggest sell-out is?

Shelly Werewolf · 03-22-2005, 10:19 PM

I did remember a thread like this one and while I thought they were on the same subject, I decided to look for it to merged both threads, but I realise that they are a bit different. I thought you might still want to look at it though: http://www.radiomute.com/musicthread12473.html

Allisauce · 03-23-2005, 10:02 AM

Biggest Sellout? Method Man. He was in the Wu-Tang Clan.. arguably one of the best rap groups of the 90's... and now where is he? last i saw him he was doing Right Guard commercials with his sidekick, Redman.

Rap has moved its way into the mainstream, and as such, record labels have done their best to dumb it down for the lrgest mass appeal. I agree that most the rap out there today sounds scripted.. listening to the local hip hop station will provide me with 9/10 songs singing about the same thing.

phantasmagore · 03-23-2005, 04:12 PM

I think music in general is too commercialized. Just think if the playing field was even and every artist had equal opportunity to spread his or her work to a mass audience; just imagine if popularity was determined by talent and originality instead of corporate backing and airplay. What a crazy world that would be.

sil3ntst4lk3r · 03-23-2005, 04:41 PM

How Thought Provoking

viktor vaughn · 03-24-2005, 12:28 PM

Yeah I agree a lot of mainstream stuff seems to be made for marketability, prime example being G-Unit. However, I think while the commercial rap does give hip hop somewhat of a bad image, it increases the fanbase and overall has a positive effect on all of hip hop.

Haakon · 03-24-2005, 04:01 PM

Most of all they show the manufacturing process to the public. Speak openly about how great they marketed their clothing line or next artist under their control. This culture isn`t present in other styles of music. Allthough it apparently is very commercialized, I think it is more of the old business than it would seem.

Digger · 03-25-2005, 10:59 PM

I don't want to single anybody out.
It is what it is. I think it's been (mostly) pretty stagnant for a whole bunch of years.
BUT, who cares what I think?
People like it and they buy it. I think the 'underground' is where it's at for rap. The super politicized stuff that doesn't get a lot of distribution.
maybe it'll catch on, maybe it won't. The people who make it are into it. I think that counts for something.