Record Labels: The Biggest Scam in Hip Hop

You know the whole "give the artist a car instead of the more money they deserve" really is the same as when you are working a regular job and they give you pizza parties or cake on your birthday instead of regular wage increases. We are all getting caught by the same traps whether you be a artist, office worker, or retail worker.

Not just hip hop. It’s the entire music industry period.

Now I think we can understand why these rappers are getting younger. These labels know exactly what they're doing

“If You Don’t Know You In A 360, You In A 360. It’s One Of Those” Is Crazy 😭😭😭

That's why Master P and Frank Ocean are the two best examples of guys who knew their worth, understood the dark practices of the music business, and found a way to come out on top. Love how Master P took the $10 million from Universal and said it was for a "music video" and never came back, whereas Frank who was in a two-album contract decided to drop that visual album of him building a staircase and making it seem like it was his 2nd official album, only to drop Blonde the next day 100% independent and collecting more than $20M from Apple Music and being out of his deal. Genius moves by both.

What Russ doesn't tell you is that his friend/rapper Bugus had rich parents of African heritage that passed away and left Bugus and his brother a huge fortune. Russ was their friend and that money was used for all of them to live very comfortably while pumping lots of money into Russ' career the average person (or, "independent artist") does not have.

The saddest story to me is what happened to TLC. How can you be one of the biggest acts to ever come out ever in the history of musical acts and be broke. Something I've noticed is a lot of musical acts get out of contracts that are bad but they've already put out the best of the music that they're going to put out no matter how hard they try their best music was already produced. And they will never make as much off their new music. Nsync and Backstreet Boys have the same story. By the time they got out of their terrible contracts their biggest albums were behind them and the guy who produced then made all the money

This is all true!!! I intern at a label & worked my way up for 10 years learning the business of music. And they are definitely taking advantage of all artists, selling dreams & hope.

Can’t forget the story of Frank Ocean escaping his deal with Def Jam and getting $20 million afterwards

I always appreciate ANY musician who owns all their masters (even if I’m not a fan of their music).

Dr. Dre said it back in 1996, after his departure from Death Row, the record business is the worst business you can get into.

Russ makes a point - but someone needs to address the fact that, even if you have the money to jumpstart your career - what about the connections to actual legit music marketing people. & actual radio people? Having the money is one thing but what about the connections & network of people who are actually going to do what they say.

A lot of rappers have less than a year shelf life. We have made rap like this. The masses wanted microwave music and the industry capitalized.

Only way you will beat the labels is doing everything yourself.

It’s very discouraging when we grow up idolizing artists and wanting to be them or like them and then learn about the shady business. Damn

Never ever sign with a major label. Just save up or get a bank loan and do it yourself.

The biggest and "best" artists are given their own record labels by their labels. Shows where the money and power lies

Master P , gave everybody the blueprint 30 Years ago, yet they still sign wack deals...oh well!!

Thank you for Posting this. The Truth. I want to remain independent, I really don't like the idea of doing all the hard work yourself, building an audience, then having some label notice you and say, "hey you're good enough for us to consider now". Then they just take advantage of you and sign you. Ridiculous.

Just found this channel and it’s literally speaking to the background conversations I have. Thank you for voicing this content!