we all know by now, my highly-anticipated and critically-acclaimed debut album BLUE COLLAR sold about 15,000 copies during the first week. As it stands now in the mass-marketing, single-driven genre of Hip-Hop music, this is considered a flop or a failure.? Or is it?

* Akon, the well-known R&B star, sold about 5,000 copies his first week.? And now, he holds a platinum plaque for his debut album TROUBLE.
* Lyfe Jennings: 6,000 copies his first week; also platinum.
* Maroon 5: 3,000 copies their first week; now multi-platinum.

While none of these artists that I named are rappers, they all understood the ingredients for success:


1. good music,

2. touring & great stage shows,

3. humble attitudes (checking their ego at the door) and finally

4. never giving up.

This is something that rap artists today have yet to fully understand the importance of. Just look at it: 9 out of 10 rap concerts are wack. After one or two singles, the rest of the album is intentionally trash, but we, as the artists, do not care because we have our singles. Also, some rappers are so insecure that if anyone gives us constructive criticism, or [in some cases] is just a little overzealous as a fan, we are ready to spaz out on them. Rappers have become divas (bitches), and the rap industry, radio, DJs and journalists have become complicit, spineless cowards.

Do not get it twisted; I am not heartbroken over my first week sales because I understand that through my appearances on shows like Jimmy Kimmel [You Tube], Carson Daly & David Letterman, my forthcoming tours with Wu-Tang Clan and A Tribe Called Quest as well as many opportunities that are opened for me through the Creator ALL afford me the chance to do what no other rapper has done: truly earn fans that stick with me because of the quality of the product and not the smoke & mirrors of marketing & promotion.

Keep encouraging your friends to purchase BLUE COLLAR. And know that 35,000 Rhymefest records sold hold more power than 1 Million Laffy Taffy records. I have managed to sell a consistent 5,000 - 6,000 records a week since my debut on the charts. My hopes are to not only continue that trend, but to increase my unit sales through the word-of-mouth of how good BLUE COLLAR actually is, as well as coming to a city near YOU to show you how great Rhymefest is. So, on to the question:

What do first week sales in Hip-Hop really mean?

Talk to me...
Comments

* Hashim says...
*

Lyfe is a great example of going platinum, the slow burn way. He tours like a mad man, which is thinik is more important than the other stuff on your list.

Juelz and Gnarls Barkley are other examples of low first week sales that grew over time.
* September 7, 2006 03:21 PM

Categories: HIP HOP NEWS [t]

Name.

URL.

[to enter your email, use "mailto:[email protected]"]
Subject.

Comment.

Word verification.

Copy the first 4 characters only.

If you are a member, try logging in again or accessing this page here.