Is the Music Industry Full of Gimmicks?

Who are we posing this question to? The independent rappers who come to the studio with the smell of crack on their clothes cause they had to chop and cook to serve their feening  mother  before they came? Or the depressed art student from college whom has the ability to make it but can’t express how he really feels? Or are we looking at the corporate standpoint when policies and procedures are in place and a blueprint is followed to market an artist?

Tunechi has ‘I Am Music' above his right eye. Does he deserve such credit? Prince drew slave on his check in an effort to take control of his publishing rights and revolutionize the music industry; did he have a right to do so? In an effort to create talent one has to have a passion for it. We hear stories of famous people and how they got started, like for instance, Missy Elliot’s claim of sleeping in her car and standing on the highway. But as the mainstream artist blows up and become commercialized, do they lose their talent in order to become gimmicky BY selling their souls to the devil?

Being in the music industry is a hard Molly to swallow.  Anyone can rap, it’s the tenacity, time and effort put into branding yourself that makes it work. Depressed souls sell the best R and B songs. With people like Kayne West who will come and snatch a mic out of your hand during an acceptance speech, I think it’s safe to say the Music Industry will expose you for whom you are quicker than another reality show hit from VH1. . We have watched some of our famous icons lose their lives in the industry while other become depressed and kill themselves.

Why is the blame and constant meritocracies continuously pointed at the music industry? Is it because people like Chris Donner online manifesto references to songs and artist before he took out three cops and their daughter? Or how about the teenager who got shot for listening to his favorite song loud?

 Music touches your soul, and the soul is not for the weak hearted.

There’s no room for false prophets, gimmicks or other fake intentions because people will live and die for music. The Stans will come for you if you talk bad about their favorite musician.With social media becoming the modern technology for artist development, the world is constantly watching and becoming a conglomerate fire ball full of critics. Like” Hov” said “The Streets are Always Watching” and make another “Hov” has proven that “gimmicks” will not only have to kick rocks but stop themselves from suicide watch.

The industry is not some get rich quick scheme. Talent comes from hard work and dedication. Even if you handed a suburban kid a sick hook, it won’t be catchy unless he has the talent to put the feel of the hook into the song.

So with that being said: Real niggas sit in the trenches

Lame niggas try to be like real niggas, wanksters try to copy real and lame niggas

And gimmicks are exposed by real, lame and wansters niggas.

Heather Henry