| From the May 2004 Issue of POLITRICX E-MAGAZINE |
BOOTLEG CD's- The New Underground Radio
by Java Bomani
I know the Big Will's up in their plush pads and
penthouse offices can't bear the thought, but… the
$2.00 bootleg CD spot is actually assisting them in
work they used to do. The corner store Blackbusters are
basically acting as a street team for the fat cats who
earn all the money. They used to work, but now the only
GRIND they know of is what their man - servant does to
their personally picked and imported coffee beans for
their morning Latte. The only time they are induced to
sweat is when they cash their paycheck. Stress
triggered anxiety attacks are bought on when they
wonder whether the bank will have enough loot in the
Safe to cover their paycheck. It used to be a time when
dinosaurs walked the earth. There was also a time when
record companies supported and built up the careers of
their artist through grass root marketing, going to
clubs, airplay and more, but that doesn't happen
anymore. There was also a time when radio stations
played more than the top 30 records of the day. I know
some of ya’ll are too young to remember… but, back in
the day a artist or two actually had their careers take
off when their records hit the air waves. I know it's
hard to believe. They also used to play more than the
same 12 songs, 12 times a day. I have a personal policy
as a broke ass brother in America; if an artist wants
me to buy their CD, I need to hear at least 2 classics
or 3 that I really like. I’m tired of buying the CD’s
of artist who only got into the business for the money
and the backstage sex sessions. Cool… do that, yeah…
true, I’m jealous, but at least have some pride in your
craft. Look on the back of the CD and there’s 20 song
and skits. When you hear it, 2 of em are hot. I feel
like I just got jacked, ‘don’t you?’
So few of the artist X*%X#@X wait. Let me call them
what they are, they earned it.
So few of these rappers work on their craft. They bring
their boys in and put them on, or they put a woman in
the game cause she looks good, or has a big ass. None
of that is going to make a hot CD; which is what I want
from you. Maybe it’s wrong, but most of ya’ll don’t get
the benefit of the doubt no more. You could’ve at least
used grease when ya’ll did my wallet OZ style. I’ve
been forced to go the new underground radio – the $2.00
man. Now let me say this; I support all the artist I
like and I can’t stress enough to hip hop fans how
important it is for you to do that, go to the store (or
online store, download) and buy their records. If you
don’t, they won’t generate the sales numbers the record
companies need to keep them on the roster, leaving us
with only the pop u lar. As a writer, I am very
sensitive to copyright infringement, but you rappers
can’t expect people to just buy your crap because you
put it out. There’s only a few artist who you can trust
to go out and buy their work as soon as it comes out.
You don’t even have to hear it – you know they’re gonna
bring it. It’s not a homerun every time, but you know
they we’re trying.
Here’s how some of the artist benefit by having their
CD’s bootlegged.
It gets heard. Mixtapes also help out with this
problem. You don’t hear it on the radio. I just got a
$2.00 CD of a group I never would’ve bought because
their image and sound is in the popular vein, and found
out that I actually liked it more than I would’ve ever
thought. That’s good for them, because now I respect
them as a group and as artist. Did I go to the store
and buy the legit copy? No… but they got my respect.
Next time I won’t need to be convinced that they are
real before I make a decision.
Java 'Tha Ancient' Bomani
by Java Bomani
I know the Big Will's up in their plush pads and
penthouse offices can't bear the thought, but… the
$2.00 bootleg CD spot is actually assisting them in
work they used to do. The corner store Blackbusters are
basically acting as a street team for the fat cats who
earn all the money. They used to work, but now the only
GRIND they know of is what their man - servant does to
their personally picked and imported coffee beans for
their morning Latte. The only time they are induced to
sweat is when they cash their paycheck. Stress
triggered anxiety attacks are bought on when they
wonder whether the bank will have enough loot in the
Safe to cover their paycheck. It used to be a time when
dinosaurs walked the earth. There was also a time when
record companies supported and built up the careers of
their artist through grass root marketing, going to
clubs, airplay and more, but that doesn't happen
anymore. There was also a time when radio stations
played more than the top 30 records of the day. I know
some of ya’ll are too young to remember… but, back in
the day a artist or two actually had their careers take
off when their records hit the air waves. I know it's
hard to believe. They also used to play more than the
same 12 songs, 12 times a day. I have a personal policy
as a broke ass brother in America; if an artist wants
me to buy their CD, I need to hear at least 2 classics
or 3 that I really like. I’m tired of buying the CD’s
of artist who only got into the business for the money
and the backstage sex sessions. Cool… do that, yeah…
true, I’m jealous, but at least have some pride in your
craft. Look on the back of the CD and there’s 20 song
and skits. When you hear it, 2 of em are hot. I feel
like I just got jacked, ‘don’t you?’
So few of the artist X*%X#@X wait. Let me call them
what they are, they earned it.
So few of these rappers work on their craft. They bring
their boys in and put them on, or they put a woman in
the game cause she looks good, or has a big ass. None
of that is going to make a hot CD; which is what I want
from you. Maybe it’s wrong, but most of ya’ll don’t get
the benefit of the doubt no more. You could’ve at least
used grease when ya’ll did my wallet OZ style. I’ve
been forced to go the new underground radio – the $2.00
man. Now let me say this; I support all the artist I
like and I can’t stress enough to hip hop fans how
important it is for you to do that, go to the store (or
online store, download) and buy their records. If you
don’t, they won’t generate the sales numbers the record
companies need to keep them on the roster, leaving us
with only the pop u lar. As a writer, I am very
sensitive to copyright infringement, but you rappers
can’t expect people to just buy your crap because you
put it out. There’s only a few artist who you can trust
to go out and buy their work as soon as it comes out.
You don’t even have to hear it – you know they’re gonna
bring it. It’s not a homerun every time, but you know
they we’re trying.
Here’s how some of the artist benefit by having their
CD’s bootlegged.
It gets heard. Mixtapes also help out with this
problem. You don’t hear it on the radio. I just got a
$2.00 CD of a group I never would’ve bought because
their image and sound is in the popular vein, and found
out that I actually liked it more than I would’ve ever
thought. That’s good for them, because now I respect
them as a group and as artist. Did I go to the store
and buy the legit copy? No… but they got my respect.
Next time I won’t need to be convinced that they are
real before I make a decision.
Java 'Tha Ancient' Bomani
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