The Sad Truth About Record Labels
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- čas přidán 3. 04. 2019
- Whether you’re a fan or not, it’s undeniable that Lil Uzi Vert has worked hard over the last five years to establish himself as one of the best rappers in the industry today. When he first came on the scene, he was an unknown artist with aspirations of making it big. Next thing you know, Lil Uzi Vert had become a staple in contemporary rap and a real favorite among Hip-Hop fans worldwide.
However, despite all his success and popularity, Lil Uzi Vert has also attracted a lot of notice for his constant, well-publicized feud with his record label, Generation Now (and by extension, Atlantic Records,)
#LilUzi #RecordLabel#HipHopMadness
/ hiphopmadness
/ hiphopmadness
Narrated by: Pro (@JaysnProlifiq)
Written by: Jason Cuthbert
Edited by: Roman Bill
Music by: Josh Petruccio
© HIPHOPMADNESS 2019. All rights reserved - Zábava
Lil Uzi Vert’s label is taking more than 80%. Thats crazyy. People say its around 85% to 90%.
YIKES
RileyTaugor yo wtf
Yeah, it's ridiculous. All the man is asking for is, give me better cuts. Its literally slavery, like yeah it's a lot of money but, wtf they working the man and giving him pennies for every dollar. Fucked up.
Lucid Dreamer the record label, promoting and music production are 100% of the reason he is popular so why don’t they deserve 80%? hell they deserve even more in my eyes were not talking Eminem Cole Kendrick we’re talking somebody who is were he is because of his backing tracks and promotion I’d be happy to get 20% of his money by putting in 0 effort and having no talent
EtnoD #LLJ well you clearly know how business and promotion works...
Almost all records label is owned by universal, Warner and Sony.
itkda
It’s an industry with a few major players just like any other industry the term is oligarchy.
Better to be independent or be in independent label
Not Empire
so it’s kinda like they got a monopoly goin on?
- Build up some capital
- Assess your value among your peers
- Read and negotiate all contracts with an attorney AND fiduciary
This is why Jay-z was able to strong arm the game when he dropped reasonable doubt in 96. He had an estimated net worth between 80-250k was able to promote himself, buy material and tour without having to cut a label in on his money. By the time he signed he demonstrated he didn't really need them and got amazing deals ever since.
Esharido Well said, in shorter words, he had leverage.
de132 great advice
Nah i see money i go dumb.
nigga just wanted to say fiduciary
its quite telling how no artist has a contract problem with roc nation, TDE and dreamvill just shows you who the real ones are
Or Quality Control
@@haydencassinelli still early tho but they seem like real ones
isiah rashaad is having a problem over his contract right now with TDE.
M S for real that’s a shame.
Unless they keepin them from talkin and makin it public
Records labels exploit artist that lack knowledge, see the fame and lump some of money. Its better to make money gradually and own it then be a slave.
You need to get to the root tho, it’s not the labels who stated this, 13 year old white boys who have meme accounts are controlling what’s hip hop and what’s not hip hop, cuz they make memes of the”latest rappers” and then all these lil kids then start to believe this is what hip hop is, then the record labels catch on to this and now exploits this
Misha R. 🎯
The reason people sign deals and join labels in the first place is because a ton of people have the mentality of "you ain't made it, if you don't have a record deal".
That's the bottom line. It doesn't matter how big you think you are or how good you think your music is. If no record labels are looking to sign you then you're not all that.
So once a record label approaches an artist (especially with a big advance) they are quick to sign their life away.
and they are not going about this for the same reasons writers want to get their contracts from harper collins , barnes and noble et all. let's face it most of us we don't have those managerial skills, we don't know the intricacies of global shipping and distribution and advertising and how many of us are aware of royalties structures ?
That’s why knowing thyself is so important.
Independent till the day I die
Rilo Robinson right
Amiri I watch your videos. Keep grinding brotha 🙏🏽
Tbh some of these artists are so untalented that their popularity is only due to a label
Like which artists
Lil yachty
Dont dis yachty bro😒
Straight FACTS!!!
Glo cardi b
Yikes! Independence is everything today. Selling my soul is not worth it. Thank you for this info!!
That does not mean you sell your soul... what is wrong with you gullible twats
Doesn’t mean ur gonna become a rapper lmfao stop worrying
For anyone selling your soul is a expression. So you illuminati niggas need to hop off. Read the contracts or have a attorney dumb it down to you.
@@mortisedthegamer778 All the rappers have attourneys and lawyers you cant sign the contract by yourself. However ur lawyer is telling u to sign so they can get their pwrcentage
@@IOG2K
Its true, stupid. When they sign the contract, they are technically signing over their soul,
Regardless....they have to sell their soul in exchange for the fame and riches they so desire.
Record label deals are like loans, in which you gotta Pay back heavy
Make sure you read your contracts, ask questions. Don't be dumb enough to think that labels are here to give you money, they're here to TAKE it.
Just read the contract it's that simple
How they can read but most of there iq is low
@@monzermerghani9686 that's what a lawyer is for to do the hard work for you. Ask questions along the way just to know different verbage
Or get a good lawyer.
What type of lawyer does not want an artist to sign ASAP, so they can get their money, Most lawyer are not on the side of the Artist, especially if the artist refuse to sign, they will do what ever it takes to get the artist to sign the contract and bill the Sucker later for a huge payday, when the artist starts making little money.
@@jason4275 most lawyers want they client to get the most out of the contract so that their commission and take home is the most possible because they only get maybe 10%. of what the artist gets.
Record label: "so 50/50?"
21 Savage: "issa knife"
Record label: "100%"
21 Savage: "21 21"
remember when fetty wap was on top of the rap game ? Yeah hes still stuck at 300 entertainment who has refused to release his album for almost 3 years now
Makes me wonder what happened to other great artists like fetty.. what are they doing rn
good
@@1smokee1xxx55 stfu
Fetty is microwaved dogshit
exactly!
Lil Uzi my favorite rapper and I feel terrible for him just because he can’t share his music with his fans , that’s all he really wanna do is want his fans to hear what he made . When Uzi get out this deal he really never needa sign a deal without actually reading the contract HIMSELF
facts man he just wants to release music and it sucks that these labels control fucking everything, I make music too bro just dropped my first music video on my channel not too long ago if you could give it a watch that would mean a lot to me 🙏🏽
Hopeless Romantic how long is his contract?
Cole Brown ok first of all the label pay producers very little the advances to rappers are typically to pay for a producer so shut yo face and let him like what he likes
You've got TERRIBLE taste in music.ijs
@@featherstonecraig9 yup that part
Selling popcorn for those who came to read the comments 🙂
Kaizen Kings I’ll take a medium please 🤣💵
Large for me my nigga
ill take chedder
gimme a extra large popcorn with extra butter on it, and a large sprite
Get me a large one with a soda
shit is going to evolve so much that labels are going to be not needed. just give it time
It allready has, Bones is an independent rapper who gets million views minimum every video ( One video has over 30million views ). He does shows in fucking europe and America which is crazy. Also Aj tracey the uk rapper
FACTS!
Raymond Spicer whats wrong w u niggas and all caps calm the fuck down
@@PakiiiBux I fuck with Bones and sesh but that ain't shit tbh. They making good money and they're real for building an authentic fanbase but if they want to take it to the next level they need to sign to a label. They're going to stagnate and fall off without it. It sucks but theyre not a good example of that changing.
2000s Birdman & Lil Wayne
2010s Dj Drama & Lil Uzi
Cole Brown calm down
Cole Brown you don’t sound like a dumbass, you are a dumbass
cole brown about to have a mf heart attack damn
The music industry is the most over glorified business in the world. Being a rapper isn’t paradise people you’ll be miserable.
How do you know this?
@@joeydaboss1001 did you watch the video?
@@jasperjarzombek ong
Not me I'll do what I love its better than working a 9 to 5
Reading contracts is like reading all the privacy laws included with each app we download, too much to read so we all hit agree and keep if moving then still wonder why we got a hundred new emails and spam calls. 🤔
Railway Runners and a contract that will impact your life is completely different
That’s why like 21, u stay solo, only sigh distribution deals
TENSION thats what spitta does
21 with a label
*21* is a industry plant. He was already signed to Epic Records before he came to the U.S nice try though.
THEKING he only in DISTRIBUTION look it up, and he came here @ 7, in like 2000
@@sdfghjklsdfghjklosdfgbhnjm57217
Shoutout to chance the rapper and cupcakke for not having no label!
A freaking men🙌🙌🙌
To many of these people didn't treat these contracts seriously when they mattered more than the actual money they would be getting later. Frank Ocean demonstrated how to use your head and outsmart the labels but their seem to be very rare examples of this, whether because most artists are young and ignorant or because of their artistic mind they don't connect well with techical and business material
What he do?
Esharido has always wanted yourmind
@@tmgjunior8458 search a video by Trap Lore Ross how frank finessed 20 million from universal
Back then you needed a label to get your CDs out beyond the back of your trunk. Now that social media makes us “global” it’s much easier to be independent and have fans overseas for example and generate enough profit to invest it into whatever will elevate you (better music videos, promo, recording quality etc) the ONLY thing about being independent is you hit a cap where you can only make low level millions, but it’s the labels and “selling your soul” aka becoming sell out to get to that 25 mil that 100 mil
That's how Ashanti and Mya makes their money. Touring overseas . And releasing indie albums
So do it all yourself, till you hit dat low level millions cap. N pursue on signing. Which makes you hold all the cards at these meetings.
Just logic thinkin really.
Gil Scot Heron oh 100% I know one big thing is they get them outta desperation, not everyone can turn down 100K especially when they don’t even understand these contractual terms and agreements They’re signing to. But either way you’ve seen artists that walked away instead of signing and it slowed them down, “they” don’t beg you, if you turn it down they say ok cool we’ll find a better “you” ANY day. This enters a whole other realm where the issue isn’t taking the money the issue is what they say you have to do as part of selling your soul, and that it never ends well. Iconic Legends don’t die super old especially if their career is declining (no more world tours, or like how some rock bands from the 70s will still be touring) “they” kill you so that the label can profit off all your music that WILL increase in sales.
They killed Whitney 2 days before Valentine’s Day, Whitney being known for her love ballads, but the drugs and everything by now had ruined a potential comeback...minutes after pronounced dead iTunes, etc doubled the price of her catalogue (this was a bit before stream services had taken over so it was still where you either pirate your music or You pay per song/album.
Anyways labels suck cause they can make you RICHHHH if you’re talented enough to survive like Drake to where he’s so rich label cuts don’t really screw him over, but then once you get TOO big they view it as a problem depending what you’re using your platform for
Lance Lorenzo Knowlegde beats everything, even if you r desperate.
Lets say you r an upcomin artist now 22 somethin. Lets say you happen to every now n then, from the age of 13 read an article.( xxl, rapradar, etc)
From of 13 till your 22, you’ve seen n heard about events on artist being hustled. Wouldn’t your mind begin to grasp at the situation.
N beginning to see the snakes on the grass n startin to manouvre differently.
Gil Scot Heron funny you say that because I am a 22 year old artist, but I live in Ottawa in Canada,
I’ve done what you suggested like I’ve read into this industry stuff since before I wanted to make music always looking up Illuminati and stories of how labels screwed ppl over from Milli Vanilli all the way to what we’re hearing about De La Soul and Tommy Boy records.. So right now I move independent because I know in the best case (cause I’m not focused on the money, just having fun tryna improve myself with every song I make) thru social media promo and the internet being as globally connected as it is, if I even was able to make 5,000$ off my music I’d then put it into all the other creative passions I have, I model, I taught myself how to DJ and through nepotism just have to prove I know what I’m doing and I get a club gig like THAT. I’d do it for free even at first just to get a rush off dropping that song the crowd wanted to hear ahah. But I wouldn’t be the one looking for label help because I’d have the mindset to then profit off the 3 or 4 passions that I’m insanely into you know ? I do that now on a smaller scale in my city. I make music, I edit videos, I directed a few videos here, have a camera team, and even when I go to clubs sometimes I’m the one recommending the DJ what they should play next based on the mix... so lucky for us I think im woke on this matter but that’s the thing, just like u heard blueface he didn’t care about his contract because he probably heard the money and instantly was down and that’s crazy
I feel like people forget about that whole thing with Thug & Birdman and what they were conspiring against Wayne. My whole opinion changed on Thug after that went down.
itsjoepro can you tell me what happened?
They really tried to kill Wayne, I’ll never forget that
OzzieMac thug didn’t.
Thug didn’t.
OzzieMac young thug just had someone try to kill him...coincidence 🤐🤭🤔
Do a Sad Truth about Hip Hop next.
Oh yea. That would be good, but we know the said #truth is that #REAL #hiphop is dead
Baraqua Amina Levy Belle Khan why
It's okay uzi will do what every rapper does when they become older and wiser, which is sign someone else to try to recoup the money that was robbed from them.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Wow someone actually said it
Mo Preme Same Model as a pyrimind scheme
It's a vicious cycle
I’m so happy Durk is independent he can keep all his show money and he ain’t in no contract
I thought he was on Young Thug's YSL
SYR TV dressing fly isn’t weird ass clothes😭 he just a fly young nigga getting checks
He's actually signed to Alamo Records (Gucci Mane)
Either way being independent got its perks as long as u maintain n stay consistent
But he ass
"free uzi" ain't controversial everyone Hates dj drama and Don cannon
Don cannon made some good beats
Ain't nobody's fault lil uzi ain't read his contract before signing smh stupid ass boy
But they didn't sign a contract to them smh
Don and Drama don't even like Don and Drama
this nigga said “everyone” lmaoo speak for yourself
Rule one: don't sign
💯💯💯💯💯
Independent
I'd rather stay independent than sign a label
Shamar Woodberry but labels are the goat of getting you the best exposure you need! That’s the side part they pay for everything to get your face out there they make you a product they invest in you . They pay for Music videos and tours etc obviously for a percentage. So that’s the bittersweet part of all this... either you struggle as an independent or get signed and make it faster but your money and your creativity is limited 🥺
Heavy Metal Kendra big facts it all about finding the right deal
Reading a long ass thick ass contract takes time dats y they don’t read them sadly and they are so anxious for fame, exploitation, and MONEY dat they don’t care about reading
fax
Lawyers are a thing
Why does every youtuber use the same kind of unnecessarily creepy background music on these kinds of videos? I just wanna be able to watch these late at night without being terrified to get up and go to the restroom down my dark ass hallway. Switch that shit up man!!
Timid pussy
So this is what they mean by “selling your soul” eh?
Pretty much
Yes
The thing that people don’t understand is these people sometimes were making totally different music, when you come from a rough place you gonna do what you gotta do to pay them bills. A lot of the time these rappers get picked up and will do anything to make sure their families have food on their table and they get stuck in a shitty situation. It happens way too often.
People say that you need to just watch and read your contract better. but when a rapper is seeking out a record deal he's like a person who's drowning and when someone throws you a life preserver you don't question where the life preserver was made or what material it was made out of most rappers feel as though they may not ever have this chance again. and with that on their mind they allow the record company to bend them over grease them up and rape them to they bleed sorry to be so graphic but life is. they also feel as though a record deal offer must be a blessing from God when most time you actually are entering a deal with the devil.
so true
I can understand why some artists stay independent. I wouldn’t want to hand over 80% of my earnings to some greedy label either.
Is it even worth going to labels anymore
You're right , but without label it's hard to do everything by yourself and only those who can do , who have a real fan following who's ready to buy there songs and other things like promotion it's hard.
Starting a record company is easy, but Promotions and Distribution is what most artist don't have and no amount of money can buy that types of connections, you have to hire professions to get you're work out there.
A lot more independent artists these days. Problem is most ain't as big as they could be with a major label which sucks, they're definitely making money though
No especially with the internet around
Ppl go to labels so they can get into mass retailers and so they can get that recognition of ppl taking them serious. And plus that advance checkb
thanks for the coverage
This how you know half these rappers be lying when they say they rich they be putting out this false nartive to trick you into believing them it's all smoke & mirrors half these dudes slaves to there record labels
facts
There real truth is that there's no such thing like an unsigned artist. YOU are running a label when you're independent, so you're signed to yourself.
This is why Master P said to go and stay INDEPENDENT!
*This video is very well put* 💯💯💯
How you gonna trust someone/something with "wack" in the name
Thank you for this video.
Just take a look at Clout Cobain by Denzel curry... perfectly sums up these types of situations today. It’s things like these that aren’t really talked about in hip hop, and it’s for a reason. Kendrick Lamar’s To pimp a Butterfly (best rap album imo) beautifully discusses this too.
Some people are just blindly being robbed
Dylan Dilman it’s not JUST clout cobain , its first black balloons, where the record label executive is sweet talking denzel into signing, when he does, the executive is doing shit to make denzel happy. then all of a sudden he’s in that jail cell, and then it transitions to clout cobain, where he is getting treated like a slave and doesnt have any rights to his music, that’s when he kills himself and all that. and then it’s vengeance, where he gets revenge on the executive
*Even if you're independent, and owned you're masters, you still need distribution, the record companies, now streaming services, still have a monopoly over everyone's music, if you want it played online, or sell CD's, so they still get you're money and rip you off.*
exactly , plus i didn't know that for video clips, from the first dress down to the lipstick and extras, all of it comes out of the artist's pockets, even what extras are wearing. no wonder artists go broke every day.
I.m with distrok i.m going on Spotify
Lechiffresix six i might just give up might dreams of becoming singer and doing youtube
jason4275
Streaming and downloads distribution: Distrokid, Tunecore, etc
If mfs want to sell CDs, CD distribution: CD baby, bandcamp, etc
Edit that bs again. Because independent mfs do not need anything from a label besides $$$$ and resources behind marketing and promotion. Which is necessary to create awareness. If an independent mf can come up with the $$$$ to create some good marketing and promotion, they can do the ish on their own.
Plus all the money you need UPFRONT. Buying and selling, distribution, hiring a legal team, staff, security, all the booking yourself. There's so much to do. That's so much money up front. Venues supply the staff but you still pay upfront for the services. Labels take care of all of this for you.
Anyone can rap and make music. Learning all of this BUSINESS shit is like a second job. You don't just learn it overnight. I work in Sales and I'm always learning new tips, laws, etc.. everyday. People change, music changes. You constantly need to be researching on how to sell yourself to the market, etc.. Again, labels do this for you. They have the connections and resources to get you out there.
Being Independent sounds great but touring on top of doing EVERYTHING is probably a heavy fucking load most people don't want. The average person hates working a damn 9-5 with 2 day weekends. Imagine working 12+ hours EVERYDAY with no days off. A label at least lets you breathe from time to time while doing all the heavy lifting. Being Independent you need business partners and endorsements. This brings on a whole new set of problems. Look at how many companies and groups split up from someone doing shady shit or stealing, etc. No huge business continues on without working with others. Again, Labels handle all contracts and legal issues that comes with working with others.
Being a solo artists sounds like a hot mess if you ask me.
Wow man. These industry executives are sucking the life out of these artists. Amazing.
New artists do not need a major publishing deal. They have all the power due to streaming and social media.
Love your branding for your channel. Well done!
Ever seen the new edition movie? It explains everything about how the industry works, this is why you have to READ before you sign on the bottom line, people get so caught up on greed and get rich schemes, they become completely oblivious to the repercussions, just for money, Id never sell my soul for that
GREAT VID
Xzibit said it along time ago. Some rappers are getting treated like prostitutes.
That's why it important for artist to stay independent
It's gonna get to a point where everyone has their own genre and they're signed to their own record label.
I hope so
And Uzi ended up blowing up with Eternal Atake. He'll drop the rest of his albums on his deal and have the leverage when it's time for a new deal. Big ups Uzi from a true fan. Just keep doing what you do and your fans will follow
Why would you sign to a DJ?
It depends on the DJ tho it's not totally impossible
Wet vegetables lol what
Wet vegetables nice name lol
For the same reasons you would sign to a label
I feel like an old lady why is this just now a topic. In the 90s when Prince was walking around with Slave on his cheek and TLC went diamond and broke at the same time this discussion was at the forefront
Great video!
Thanks man!
A lot of artist be broke and in need of money to take care of their people. They just sign whatever is thrown in front of them
That’s why I made my own record label so I could help people get there music out there and teach people what kind of deals to make and help people get out of bad deals
6:05 just look at his right hand, tells you every thing you need to know about the industry!!!
The dude wasn't even slick about it, lmao. He was proper like "Hey guys I'm Bart and I exploit artists, for Satan👌"
😂
Tech n9ne. After tryin to go big .. started his own with Travis. Going 50/50. Been independent for like 20 years.
Tech n9ne is a real one
Crazy how these artists NEVER read the fine print and then get mad when they get 'screwed' smh.
Idk tho I heard that the window for rappers is so short rn that if you get offered a deal you should take it because you won’t last long
And that is why Nipsey was killed,because he was independent he was his own boss nobody was over him.R.I.P the king.
Hopsin had a deal with Ruthless Records but got so mad at the chairwoman (Eazy E's former wife) he made a song called Kill Her.
"I'm fuckin dope an this is my reward? That's wacker than the 500$ you signed me for" imagine
He should be mad at himself who tf would take a 500 dollar record deal
Dubsfor20 🤣
Everything you do as an artist cost for the label! Either sign or dont
How do you reconcile with someone who tried to have you killed?
That was a "publicity stunt" with one dude doing the time. Them two laughed all the way to the bank while ol dude cried all the way to his cell. Shit is sad.
Herb was on that Xxl cover too
I thought it was 2014
You right 2016
Who
Mark Z U C C stop that!!!
I learned a lot from this
Be careful guys. I know someone who signed a loot of money and rights and became really unhappy bcause of it. always read the contract and if you're not sure if you understand, get legal help
Record Label is an outdated vehice when social media was not around back then. The main purpose of a record label is to market you.....which is not as important of a service as pre-internet era.
They more often, than not, destroy artists with draconian contracts. They serve no purpose if people would just start pointing out their uselessness in the modern era(internet era).
"Go to big lose ur wig stay small keep it all" I live by that saying
its really sad to know the generation i'm growing in has greedy labels like this, thanks for exposing the industry
Labels have been greedy for decades. Still sad tho.
He has nothing to offer but, a mean time in between time for the next big thing.
6:07 he got us all 😂
Jalen Rose said it best, you don’t get what your worth but what you have the leverage to negotiate.
"Where I'm from, we don't recognize that it's good math
If you don't teach the ones that's comin' up to multiply their cash
Think for themselves, think beyond sales
Everything with worth don't come with some whistles and some bells"
- Rapsody (Sojourner)
The facts with those bars.
People like lil xan where you can’t find any music at all before he was famous is perfect example of a industry plant
Thanks for ending it on a good note!
Dope video
I'm more concerned about what's in Wayne's cup.
I dunno lil uzi made fire ass music with the label. He had a lot of talented engineers and producers and they really made his sound unique. Big difference between 2015 uzi and 2016-17 uzi. The label gave him a good platform for his sound and his music was so fire. The rapper is important but ppl forget it takes a whole team to make and market a song.
It’s hard to say no when they throwing those zeros at you
50 - 50 is not a good deal imo. The rapper should at least get 70%.
But they don't. Labels sometimes get 80-90%
And that's why I just make music for the love of it
Good video!
I just found out about your channel today, HipHopMadness.
EDITS- 3:02 P.M.: *finishes video 11 minutes later*
I can see why a lot of rappers are staying independent these days.
3:03 P.M.: Signing to a record label is not always worth it.
You should consider doing an updated video after Jay-z's involvement with ROC Nation.
record labels are dying because their business model and their purpose to exist is obsolete.
Being a rapper I enjoyed watching this
This is the reason why I chose the indie route
6:06 right hand. Illuminati confirmed
I dont really think these people really actually sell thier soul to the music Industry You will know if somebody sold his soul if they change when they get to the top A lot of rappers dont do that
word to wise...sign direct partnership no third party
Have a solid team of people you trust with your life, because if you are real about your art and your career then this shit is your life, and read the contract thoroughly.
Don’t just assume that because people throw money in your face, that it’s all for your benefit alone. Not all money is good money, and not all intentions are genuine. 💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
I think it varies you have to find a label that sticks by you. Cuz some artists say how great their label is & their team. You just have to be smart with how you move.
Post more video bro plz
Can u do a video on atlantic records and their ways to try and sabotage alot of artists careers?
Be independent sign Distribution deals from Independent/ Distribution companies like EMPIRE. They have artist friendly deals 80/20 Most of the artist keep they’re Masters
No dj mustard does good business ..don't sign to a dj that wants to be in the limelight