SA hip hop money maker

[Sunshine]

i'll join in too...speak your success - a LA - 'The Secret'

R20 mil isn't too difficult :)

I've spent ZIM$ 1.5  million on nothing but pizza! I'm on my way to living large!

[Dpleezy]

"I can’t live off rap."

- Slikour

Hmm,,, i think we should rule him out then.

[sips]

You see the point all goes back to the media industry in SA not being as big "profitable" as it's made out to be. Niggaz can't live off music because people don't buy it, they bootleg it instead. Unless you getting catz like Steve Hoffmeyer and Shwi No Mntekhala...... You barely hear those acts on radio airplay, but they are making the most money in the country... Why is that :?:  Cosistency & an estabilshed following.
 
It's best to get the best of both worlds_ Do what you love, but do something that gets you paid also.  :idea:

[blakrok]

"I can’t live off rap."

- Slikour

Hmm,,, i think we should rule him out then.

C'mon D, this IS Slikour we're talking about. No disrespect but I would be shocked if he COULD survive on RAP alone.

What confuses me about hiphop and money is the perception among SA artists that "real" hiphop doesn't sell and therefore, they should water-down their material to suit the market. WHICH MARKET?!

Someone let me know if I'm going off-topic here (bad habit).

Looking at SA today, wouldn't it be a good thing if hiphop was done/portrayed exactly the way artists wanna put it out? ie If everyone stuck to their guns and not compromised on it (meaning: less weak rhymes and more of the mentality that "this is me & somebody's GONNA relate) but rather we beef up on our marketing and promotional skills.

The reason I say this is because every time I hear a rapper saying "I quit that hardcore shit cuz people ain't down for it" I get the feeling that we're underestimating our audiences, or rather, we don't know who our market is. For instance, cats are doing party/joke tracks to compete with Kwaito and House markets that have more to do with the "party and bullshit lifestyle" than the message-conveying/expression qualities that hiphop has. I have more chance of hearing a buju mujo track at a shebeen than I do a Ba4za track. Sho.

So now cats do tracks that will get play in jukeboxes and parties and shit but still nobody's feeling them. Why? Cuz hiphop music requires, even demands a person to listen/pay attention...and trust me, ain't nobody tryina listen to nothing but the sound of alcohol journeying down the throat or that hot shorty hollerin back. So why don't we just find ways of marketing hiphop to people who want to listen to it instead of just doing hiphop to compete with House and Kwaito? It obviously hasn't worked so far.

Does this make sense?

[MrC The Rap God Almighty]

"I can’t live off rap."

- Slikour

Hmm,,, i think we should rule him out then.

C'mon D, this IS Slikour we're talking about. No disrespect but I would be shocked if he COULD survive on RAP alone.

What confuses me about hiphop and money is the perception among SA artists that "real" hiphop doesn't sell and therefore, they should water-down their material to suit the market. WHICH MARKET?!

Someone let me know if I'm going off-topic here (bad habit).

Looking at SA today, wouldn't it be a good thing if hiphop was done/portrayed exactly the way artists wanna put it out? ie If everyone stuck to their guns and not compromised on it (meaning: less weak rhymes and more of the mentality that "this is me & somebody's GONNA relate) but rather we beef up on our marketing and promotional skills.

The reason I say this is because every time I hear a rapper saying "I quit that hardcore shit cuz people ain't down for it" I get the feeling that we're underestimating our audiences, or rather, we don't know who our market is. For instance, cats are doing party/joke tracks to compete with Kwaito and House markets that have more to do with the "party and bullshit lifestyle" than the message-conveying/expression qualities that hiphop has. I have more chance of hearing a buju mujo track at a shebeen than I do a Ba4za track. Sho.

So now cats do tracks that will get play in jukeboxes and parties and shit but still nobody's feeling them. Why? Cuz hiphop music requires, even demands a person to listen/pay attention...and trust me, ain't nobody tryina listen to nothing but the sound of alcohol journeying down the throat or that hot shorty hollerin back. So why don't we just find ways of marketing hiphop to people who want to listen to it instead of just doing hiphop to compete with House and Kwaito? It obviously hasn't worked so far.

Does this make sense?

I CO-SIGN ALL THAT SHIT. YOU FOUND THE WORDS FOR WHAT WAS IN MY HEART.WELL SAID.

[Dpleezy]

blakrok, i agree to a certain extent...

however, it is not a 'perception' that so-called 'real' hip hop doesn't sell in SA, it's a fact.

there are many reasons for this fact:

- south africa has an immature music market with very little room for niche music (like 'real' hip hop)

- independent labels don't have the marketing power or control of the media to help establish new artists

- distributors won't push material from independent labels because they've had their fingers burnt too many times (and it's much easier for them to sell mid-tempo house compilations)

- radio won't play anything 'challenging' because it doesn't fit their commercial format

- independent labels can't afford to take their artists on tour

- south africans don't see themselves reflected in highly americanised local hip hop

you can't have it both ways - you can't be underground, alternative or revolutionary and hope the establishment will support you.

in countries with more mature markets, specialist niches are supported by independent media, specialist music shows on tv and radio, clubs, magazines and festivals. we have very little of this in SA.

you have two choices - appeal to the mainstream or do your own thing and create your own niche. the latter takes money, marketing skills and most importantly, time. If you really believe in your product and you have the determination to break a new market, you have a good chance of succeeding. If you are naive and believe that just because you're good people should buy your CD, then you're in for disappointment and disillusionment.

[DaT NiGGa P-DuB]

Preach D! people dont really understand the whole concept of marketing, besides with modern technology such as the internet, itunes, and all that jazz even global hip hop sales are going down...

cast ur mind 4-5 years back, in the states every tom dick and harry was going platinum eg (Murphy Lee, Jkwon and all that bull...)...now even guys from the south with their generic sound are failing to sell good figures... look at the charts today Project Pat who is well known and respected in the south sold 15 000 copies....!!! Talib Kweli with all his great might and skills couldnt even crack 150,000 copies... and dont give me that underground excuse, coz his previous albums have done far better than this one...why, so maybe there is a general problem....

as for africa... im here in zambia my homeland and we can even get mixtapes out... i dont know one nigga that released a CD (bar Kapuka - who had to go release it in South africa) within the last 6 monts...so at least 4 u cats in SA its moving...

however, i do feel as a mutual observer or rather a fan of music in general, there is pressure in SA to keep it real... i think u must also understand that for some people is about keepin it fun...have u ever heard run-dmc preaching to the world ( and yet they are icons)! to some people keepin it real is party and bullshit... imagine if everyone could rap like kweli... would he be special..?

but anyways dudes to you guys who are making an effort... keep it up man.. and i envy u dudes..4 real!