By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Rapper Kendrick Lamar has another studio album on the way, and he recently stopped by Hot 97 to dish on his new music and his incredible success in the music industry thus far.
Interestingly enough, he got real candid on album sales and revealed he feels black people don’t support their own artists enough nowadays.
He says:
“We’re in a music game where black people don’t necessarily support the artist like they like should. Period. And you wonder…they don’t buy the music. Because we don’t believe in it like we should. And then you wonder why country artist Taylor Swift can go out here and do these numbers because they believe it. And not even making it a numbers game. They wholeheartedly believe in what she’s doing.
“And not just saying for myself. But for the other artists that doing they thing and new artists that’s coming out…have they on lane. Make that connection. Don’t make it all about the money or about the dollar…how many singles you can sell…how many albums. Make the connection some way. Make people say, ‘This is Hip Hop. This is our culture. We stand by it. We gon believe in it.’ Rather than jumping on the next artist when they feel like you don’t have the hottest song on the radio no more.”
Check out the video below. It’s a really good interview.
And I agree with him 100%. I make it a point to support black artists I really enjoy. I go to concerts, I buy albums and I support their other hustles because I know how hard it is out here when you don’t have white privilege. We have to support our own more than we do.
He’s right. The only black people who can sell music now is Beyonce, Rihanna, Jay Z, Kanye, Weezy, Drake and Nicki. That’s it. Smh.
Give me that dack Kendrick.
He’s not lying but he has nothing to worry about. His next album will go platinum easily.
I’ve been saying this and people don’t want to hear it. They want to blame the artist and say artists need to make better music but Taylor Swift sold over a million in a week. And her music ain’t quality either. Just support your people man. If you don’t, they’ll just come and take over like Iggy and Macklemore did.
Well said. Love me some Kendrick. I can’t wait for the new album.
He is definitely correct in what he is saying.
Did he lie though?
And this is why I’m a fan. Speak that truth Kendrick.
Amen.
Yea let me make it a TOP priority to take care of MILLIONARE evey body dont have the money for concerts or ablums the farthest ill go is having their Pandora station and downloading their music im not bout to buy jack Iwill support and say yes download that song but he can do me a favor and support the people buying his stuff I love bey but have not bought a album since 2004 however does that mean I dont support her uh no I have a regular job a mortgage a new born daughter and husband um support US we need it this is straight crazy since 2012 hit all I hear and see is black people this and black people that what the hell can I do word of mouth not good enough ill stick with my oldies
It’s laughable that some black people will come up with a million reasons for why they don’t support their own (I don’t want to support celebrities, they’re rich so I don’t want to give them my money), but the idiots don’t see that your money is going to the rich anyway. So why not support your own people? Eh, forget it. Trying to make sense of stupidity will only make my brain hurt. And they wonder why black artists will break their necks to go mainstream.
I’m one of those people who still buys albums. I hope to own a business one day, so I get the importance of supporting other people I like and not stealing from them.
Well I’m definitely buying Kendrick’s album so…
I support those I like and buy singles. But let’s be clear it’s not a black thing. Many artists out here these days were ok with making our culture accessible to everyone. Not to mention when you used to buy whole albums it was only two songs that were great.
I refuse to claim this “hip hop” music as part of my culture.. period. I do and have always supported what resonated with me in the different stages of my life. I don’t think it’s a black thing… Taylor Swift be singing that real!! I’ve yet felt disrespected by a Taylor Swift song.. that’s just me.. I’m grown and I decide what will go into my mind, body, and soul.
Some of y’all are denying what Kendrick said yet you’re also proving him right. Why do black artists need to make great music for you to support, yet the Katy Perry’s of the world can still go platinum with terrible music? That is what he is talking about. It’s not fair and y’all need to stop with these weak excuses. White people will always support their own. We don’t.
I see no lies, Kendrick.