Queen Latifah told Billboard Magazine that she’s working on a hip-hop album after a nearly decade-long absence from rap. And Salt-N-Pepa will star in their own VH1 reality show next year documenting their reuniting attempts.
Can they do it again?
Probably not.
But I’m assuming that they are (hopefully) grounded enough to realize that. which is why I’m thinking their idea of success this time around is different.
And it’s about time.
Success in this industry has to be defined in new ways. It can’t just be about album sales and awards anymore. Especially considering that hip-hop sales are pretty much garbage right now – there weren’t even five hip hop albums released last year that went double platinum. And God only knows when was the last time that awards went to the person they should have gone to.
With music success eventually demanding a new definition, how will artists determine if they made it?
What is success in the music industry now? Especially for artists past their prime or those that don’t appeal to the main music-buying audience? And for people who refuse to be defined by the status quo?
Gene is a journalist in Phoenix. Check him out at YBPguide.com.
12 comments:
Gene,
Your on point with your comments. I think these old hip hop moguls are reaching for some fame since no one has heard from them in a few years. What's next a Cool Moe Dee "How you like me Know" Reality Show? lol....
Gene,
Your on point with your comments. I think these old hip hop moguls are reaching for some fame since no one has heard from them in a few years. What's next a Cool Moe Dee "How you like me Know" Reality Show? lol....
I do feel like there is a demographic for mature hip hop. The inaugural hip hop classes are still blasting The Breaks, The Bridge is Over Ladies First, Cinderfella...
Its getting harder and harder to keep tabs on all these lil's and the difference between the two step and walking it out...
I don't think Queen will be making the same sales as Kanye (matter of fact no one in hiphop is selling.) I don't remember what happened with Run's CD...maybe not well marketed...
BUT
I do feel like its a good look...
God PLEASE don't let Kool Moe Dee come out with a reality show. Dude actually came out with a book in 2003. It was about great rappers. Don't know how it did, but if it was well put together it SHOULD have done well. Writing books is a good look for people trying to reinvent themselves ... especially in the nigglature genre. Supahead anyone?
I agree Twilla. There is a market. I was at a professional conference last month that hosted a party where MC Lyte was the dj. It was supposedly hot.
But these folks can't compete with Kanye's sales and I guess that's ok. But how will they determine if they are successful or not?
These days I don't feel like you can really go to the charts to determine success.
That's why the Kanye/50 marketed beef was genius...it got people off of their comps and into the stores!
I feel like there are a lot of artist who don't really sale that well but we still consider them successful. I think the longetivity of their careers speak for itself...
Ugh -- some people just don't know when to let go.
It happens to everyone in the entertainment world Athletes, Politicians (yes I included them in entertainment) Actors and Musicians. They just can't get that thrill back so they keep trying and unfortunately tarnish, instead of enhancing their legacy.
Like you're 40-45 now, raise your kids, join the mother board -- shoot, help the McDowell's rebuild Lincoln Park by going to the Black Awareness Rally -- but don't keep making CD's!
It's painful. Like for instance, how many of yall knew that New Edition, Babyface and Boyz II Men have come out with new cd's in the last five months?
Exactly.
This joint
"Ugh -- some people just don't know when to let go."
made me think of this not so fit, 50 something year old man at my church who rocks Under Armor shirts as FAITHFULLY.
And this joint
"shoot, help the McDowell's rebuild Lincoln Park by going to the Black Awareness Rally"
took me here:
"Well that's what your doing wrong boy. You can't go to no bar to meet nice women. You gotta go nice places, like library, good women there, and church is good girls...or where I'm going tonight, the black awareness rally, they gonna be some fine women there tonight, good good clean girls! That's where I'm going. Sh*t."
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!
But seriously (I'm still crying),
Babyface, NE and B2Men releasing albums isn't bad UNLESS they trying to pull the same stuff they monopolized in 1992. Concepts of success have to change. Natalie Cole for instance steal performs and has a faithful following, but not because she's the same Natalie that's singing on them match.com commercials. She's managed to reinvent herself into this classy, grown chick.
Pepa, I suggest you let the box braids go and do the same.
I agree that artists need to grow and change. I don't even like when artists make consecutive CD's that sound alike. Give the audience something different.
Like, New Edition trying to come out with Bad Boy was a dumb business move. The Bad Boy audience doesn't want to hear Old Edition. Mattafact, is there still a Bad Boy audience?
"Mattafact, is there still a Bad Boy audience?"
Yes. And they are looking forward to next season's Making the Band 11.
I think alot of people will be interested in hearing from Salt N Pepa. Let me guess...the show will be on Vh1?
I'm with Don. I'd like an update on Salt N Pepa. I'd even like them to perform a song or two. But I'm not so sure how I feel about them trying to compete with Lil Mama and Rihanna.
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