HYPE Mag APR/MAY Issue - OUT NOW

[mizi.]

A HIP HOP ECONOMY


Why is it that, in a country where every single hood is filled with people involved in hip hop, only a handful of artists actually make a decent living out of the art form? Besides the… say six graf artists who do regular work for corporates, ten DJs doing regular gigs and four dance crews who actually get paid to do their thing, there must be a maximum of ten rappers who are able to live off of rapping alone. Of those, only three are living good. Now that’s a problem.

The reason for this problem is the fact that there is no industry. There is no hip hop economy. There is no regulation of the parts and functions of the organic whole – hip hop. There is no organised system or method. Our challenge as a hip hop community is to work out a system that artists will fall under, ensuring the generation and circulation of capital within SA hip hop. Only then can we call this an industry.

Take an artist like Kanye. Within a day, you would have heard his track on radio, seen his video on TV, read about him in a magazine or newspaper, heard his track on somebody’s phone, seen him all over the net and ultimately seen his album in a CD store. That’s when you buy the album. What has this artist done? He has maximised daily contact between his product and his market, increasing the chances of you purchasing the album. That is the only reason why his record has sold over 2 million copies. ‘How is this possible?’ you might ask yourself. Well the answer is simple. This product is being pushed through a functional organised system. A machine that is so well oiled that there is complete synergy between media, retailers and all other stakeholders. That’s what we need.

We need radio, TV, retailers, print media and events promoters to work in synergy.  As soon as an artist is getting airplay, retailers need to have the album available and promoters need to capitalise on this by booking the artist. All promising artists need to enter into this system. This synergy will ensure that, week after week, more artists are getting money in their pockets. Not only do the artists earn, but so do the retailers and gig promoters. An effective hip hop economy will consist of a lot more components, but if we can work on the basics now, it will all fall into place. My name is Mizi and this is my cause. Think smart, act smart and vote smart!

Mizi
Editor, HYPE
mizi@hypemagazine.co.za

[rob_one]

Lookin' good.

[Dpleezy]

nice cover.

[Darklight]

The reason for this problem is the fact that there is no industry. There is no hip hop economy.

*cough...cough*

http://www.africasgateway.com/forums/index.php?topic=22298.0

[K9 tha Pedigree]

I agree totally, but what are we gonna do about it

[mizi.]

There is a lot we can do. I have a plan and I have been talking to a number of key people

[Dpleezy]

There is a lot we can do. I have a plan and I have been talking to a number of key people

so,,, do we have to buy the magazine to hear what the plan is?

[cash]

yo mizi, we all got a plan too!
like u said there needs to be a synergy in the game.

after reading the article on me, i couldnt help but wonder how its possible that i PLUGGED THE MIXTAPE RELEASE SO MANY TIMES in the interview.....then it never got mentioned!

I gave Simma the new mixtape for a review(didnt happen)
i gave yall EXCLUSIVE tracks from the Monopoly Album comin up soon(no tracks chosen for the hype mixtape).

This is all not really a problem, but i think when artists give hype information,material and a blueprint of when and how they makin moves, hype shud try to move with the artists pace too, as to create that synergy u were eluding to!

We are creating mad buzz right now(Crackboys),the mixtape is out, and the DVD is out(U got a copy mizi hopefully these moves will be documented in the next hype mag. by then we will have released the next DVD and the Monopoly Album and possibly K9's solo mixtape tho.

Mizi, u guys pride urselves in being the FIRST!
why dont yall review our DVD(this has never been done in SA)
and why dont we do a series of interviews with each Crackboy(We did the same with Hearstreet Radio in the past coupla weeks)

check the link below to see all the interviews,videos and preveiws of the DVD:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Monopoly/6546093955
or
www.demcrackboys.com

u can review our FB page and our WEbsite too!

I aint bitchin,LOL, im jus sayin, KEEP UP with the movement!
Its Crack!

ps. i loved the article
Shout out to Simone

The mixtape was not good.
i still feel that the sneaker culture in hiphop is not represented.
but the HHP article was brilliant! love Jabba's new swag! i learned a lot from reading that!

Minus the mixtape, im still doublin up!

[MrC The Rap God Almighty]

Who's on the mixtape ? can somebody please drop the tracklisting ?

[K9 tha Pedigree]

Tracklist somebody

[K9 tha Pedigree]

@ Cash im 2 curious about your interview homez

[cash]

the only track that caught my ear/eye was Gliteratti feat LES.

the rest is the usual Abstract names.eish, i left it in the car man.

[K9 tha Pedigree]

Glitterati feat Les, i wanna hear the Les verse, and what about the fashion pages

[blakrok]

There is a lot we can do. I have a plan and I have been talking to a number of key people

so,,, do we have to buy the magazine to hear what the plan is?

co-sign that 

[cash]

yeah the fashion pages was on point with reason n spaceman!
sum G shit!
Jabba was lookin fresh to death as well!
Nigga is on point!!!!!
I think more rappers shud start doin things like Dancin,actin,etc!
Its a good look and opens u up to a wider market!
Good lookin fo HHP fo openin more doors!

Ay mizi, u need to do a Crackboy fashion shoot!
We gon dress ALL WHITE