Interview I did with Rapper Random aka Mega Ran

[Groo The Perverted]

http://www.searchingforchetbaker.com...-mega-ran.html

Click the above link to read the whole interview. Here's a snippet.

SFCB: I have noticed that a lot of the really good music that has come out, particularly in hip hop, has been of the indie variety. It seems that when you're on a major label, that the ability to be creative and think outside the box is curbed, out of fears of not succeeding.


An example I always use is Bubba Sparxxx's sophomore album Deliverance. An album I think is his finest, and one of my favorite albums of all time. I thought it was very creative and intelligent, and yet it only sold about 300 thousand copies. After that he was dropped from his label, and then he put out that atrocious single Ms. New Booty and the equally atrocious video for it, and yet that was a hit. On the Rock music side, George Michael put out his debut album Faith and it sold a ton of records. Then he came out with a more introspective and intelligent album of socially aware music which was nothing like his debut called "Listen Without Prejudice Volume 1", and it didn't sell as well, and as a result he ended up in a bitter back and forth with Sony.


It's the same with virtually any type of music. In the old days bands could put out 10 or 20 albums, nowadays if you have an album that doesn't sell a million or more copies, you're looked at as a liability, and the artist no longer has the luxury of time to grow and evolve their sound.


Why do you think the music industry has become like this?

Mega Ran: I know a million examples just like the Bubba Sparxxx one. I'd like to think that I'm a music fan first, to quote Eric Roberson's album title. I hate to sound like an old fuddy duddy, but the game has changed. I'm glad you brought up the George Michael example, to show people that it's not just hip hop. In general, being independent is so liberating, you get to create without someone looking over your shoulders. There's no major label in the world that would have let me make video game music, then conscious hip hop. They want you to find your audience, your lane, and stay in it until it ends. I can't do that. I have friends with deals, both major and indie, and the ones on majors never seem as happy, and quite frankly aren't making music as strong as those on independents.

You're right, there's no time these days. I had a rep at Def Jam tell me that she wanted a song that could go on the radio, TOMORROW. There's no time or money for artist development, these labels want a ready made star who can record themselves and motivate themselves. They're out there, on YouTube, mostly, haha. But if you intend on building a solid career, it's best to not worry about the major label approach. Its a trade-off that most true artists shouldn't have to make. Anytime you have to sacrifice your art, or integrity, it's a bad deal, no matter what they're offering.