Diggin' In The Digits

In Part 2 of DITD's mini-series "Major vs Independent", we finally get to talking about the side that we cherish so much. The Independents.

As independent writers and Podcasters, we value the fact that we don't have anybody to tell us what we should do because it helps the bottom line. The thing that we forget is that Hip-Hop is, was and forever will be a culture & lifestyle. NOT a business.

With that in mind, we begin with defining "Independent". What is an Independent artist exactly? The differences between Majors & Independents. Why it may be beneficial for you to go with a Major in the long-run, you risk having your art pimped out to marketing ploys, advertisements & put plainly, put on things you don't give the time of day.

There are a lot of long-winded answers on this one, it'll be the last big topic we'll do for a while, so strap in and enjoy. And don't hesitate to let us know where you stand on the monolithic Majors against the DIY Independents.

TIMESTAMPS:
Topic Intro - (7:25)
Define "Independent Artist" - (12:13)
Even Kanye feels the thumb of Major Labels - (17:07)
Statistics on how rare charting Independents are - (20:45)
What can a Major Label do for YOU? - (26:05)
What it took "back in the day" to get your name up - (32:06)
Independents are the tastemakers - (35:57)
Charlie's final say on the value of Independence - (49:58)
Ben's final say & what he wanted from this mini-series - (57:58)
Lighter Notes - (1:04:30)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

Last year, Kanye West unloaded the clip. We knew that he was working on something, the hype train was picking up speed. He then announced three "albums" that we now know as "DAYTONA", "ye" & "KIDS SEE GHOSTS".

A couple of weeks later, he announced two more! Nas' "Project That Shall Not Be Named" & Teyana Taylor's "KTSE".

So since we're in the space of a year anniversary of the whole thing, Ben & Charlie decide to go through every project, give thoughts (& statistics) on them and with a reminiscent mindset, ask ourselves... Was it all worth it?

Was it worth the clear rushing of it all on Kanye's side, was it worth handing Nas another stain on his discography? Was it worth shafting Teyana Taylor when this could've been her break-out project? All to maybe flex on Drake and force him to push back his album?

TIMESTAMPS:
General thoughts on the "Wyoming Sessions" - (11:19)
DAYTONA - (20:17)
ye - (27:20)
KSG - (31:38)
"Project That Shall Not Be Named" - (38:45)
KTSE - (49:15)
Was it all worth it? - (57:13)
Guys... Desiigner was part of this... - (1:05:55)
Lighter Note - (1:06:49)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

In a 2-part series, DITD tackles the one topic that has been clouding over every other topic Ben & Charlie has talked about so far on DITD.

Major Labels.

In the 90s, the US "Big Three", Universal Music Group, Warner & Sony consumed Hip-Hop as soon as it became a cultural force. From '86 to '96, there were 17 No.1 Hip-Hop albums, 11 of them were under Major Labels. It's even more clear looking at singles. Moving onto now, the numbers of Major Labels owning charting artists are in the high 90%. Artists may be able to start their own labels & host their own festivals, but they're still a cloud in the blue atmosphere that is the faceless Major Labels.

Hip-Hop, as it is now, is more business-oriented. For some people, the soul of Hip-Hop has been sucked out due to how dominant the 'White Collars' have become over Hip-Hop. In the day-to-day, their influence is invisible, but if we broaden the scope, it's clear that Major Labels have made Hip-Hop into any other genre, a money machine.

Ben & Charlie tackle Major Labels - (7:57)
Trying to grasp the dominance - (21:56)
Judging whether the positive growth of Hip-Hop is even positive - (43:05)
Is the risk worth the reward? - (49:11)

Next episode, we'll look at the other side of the coin, Independent artists & labels.

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

In the times we live in right now, it could be said that we're in a golden age of protest. All around the world, there are protests of large numbers being held. They're so prevalent now, you could probably name a few of them.

When it comes to Hip-Hop, it too is on the frontline. From Kendrick's Grammy performances to Stormzy's BRIT Awards performance. Music has always been a place to protest and Hip-Hop is definitely no different.

Ben & Charlie (The main subject starts @ 5:23) take a look into protest in Hip-Hop. How the 80s birthed groups such as Public Enemy & NWA to a rousing commercial as well as conscious success and looking at the constant stream of protesting that Hip-Hop has done.

They also look at now and wondering whether the political messaging in Hip-Hop is more subtle than the explicit political messaging of the 80s,(19:26) why Hip-Hop statistically is less political once 45 got into office (26:57) and how MC Hammer, MARKY MARK & THE FUNKY BUNCH and Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back" were the pioneers of political bars in commercial Hip-Hop. (48:59)

And for "A Lighter Note" (59:25) Charlie talks about the "death" of iTunes and a quick salute to people that buy vinyl.

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

Episode 8 of DITD is all about the women. In the '90s, there was a healthy contingent of women getting the job done in the Hip-Hop space. There were many female Hip-Hop artists to name, some of them got to the point where they had genuine, landmark chart success.

But in the two decades since, the numbers have been cut by more than half. If we look at it from the broadest scope, there's only been six No.1 Albums from female Hip-Hop artists, it's even worse on the production side.

Ben & Charlie get into the weeds of just how under-represented female Hip-Hop artists are, especially when it comes to chart success. Slicing the blame pie between the audience. Maybe the audience subconsciously doesn't want to hear females rap? And because of that, maybe the major labels don't sign too many of them for that subconscious reasoning? Why do we perpetuate the Highlander Theory that "There can be only one."

Is it right to put some of the blame on the female artists that have household names? Should they have an obligation to further the culture and create opportunities for up & coming female Hip-Hop artists?

We cover a lot of ground like we always try to do. It's a necessary conversation and something that we should always be cognisant of.

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

The subject of Mental Health is a conversation that has been increasing in volume in the past decade. Not just in society, but in Politics as well. (Although most National Jurisdictions are way behind...)

But it's not just in day-to-day life, it's also becoming more and more prevalent in the music we love dearly. Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop is historically been iffy when it comes to Mental Health, coinciding with African American culture & society not really knowing how to deal with such complexities. 

But the more black men & women in America learn more about Mental Health, so are the musicians coming out of those communities. 

Ben & Charlie take a deep dive into the very recent surge in Mental Health content, headed by the likes of Kid Cudi & Kanye West. Taking personal segues into why they gravitate to Hip-Hop and how it has gotten them through tough moments in their life.

The duo also compares the recent embracing of Mental Health conversating to the lack thereof in the era's like "The Golden Age" and wondering why it has taken so long for artists to make the jump. The duo finishes by giving statistics in their native homes, justifying why music that reference Mental Health will always have a place in the culture.

And on "A Lighter Note". Charlie goes off, wondering how we allowed DJ Khaled to become a force for being a glorified boxing promoter, doing the BARE MINIMUM artistically. (Can you tell Charlie is writing this description?)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

"Rap Unicorn" - Phrase - A Hip-Hop artist that rarely drops music, but when they do, everybody listens.

E.g. Andre 3000 & Ms Lauryn Hill.

Ben & Charlie explore another angle in the relationship between the artist and the fanbase. More specifically, is it right for the fan to demand an artist to drop music simply because they haven't dropped in a while?

Ben gives statistics on the "Rap Unicorns" Andre 3000 & Ms Lauryn Hill and for context, gives numbers on artists on the other side of the spectrum, the artists that drop music frequently.

This evolves into a conversation about art and wondering if the artists that drop frequently consider their work as art? Or as Charlie estimates, just a "factory" that they own in their own head?

The duo also talks about fanbases getting out the pitchforks for artists (& labels) that take their time. Do they have the right to rush & berate an artist just because they want something new?

This is an interesting talk about autonomy, service & how artists, at the end of the day, do what they feel.

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

Out of the Five Elements of Hip-Hop, two of them are based on music.

MC & DJ. Rapper & Producer. Both are important in equal measure.

So why is it that in this age, where the Hip-Hop sound is bigger than ever and one could say that Hip-Hop production quality is as high at it has ever been... Why has the producer has taken the back seat in every facet of the game? 

Why do they get less money for producing in the Streaming age? Why does the consumer not tout Producers more,  when (In an age where lyricism has dipped in quality) some songs are popular strictly because of the sound?

Ben & Charlie explore the Producers' place in Hip-Hop. Their place in the Culture, the money lists & on Social Media. It's gone as far as Producers selling their stems & beats in the form of production kits. That was a Cardinal sin 10 Years Ago... 

It's clear that it's hard for Producers to get their credit, DITD tries to find solutions for it all.

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

Religion and religious content is a staple in music. And when it comes to Hip-Hop, it's no different.

Since it's inception, there has always been a section of Hip-Hop culture that is dedicated to looking for meaning and purpose. And in some walks of life, Religion has been the key.

For Episode 4 of DITD, Charlie & Ben take a dive into Religion & Hip-Hop. Specifically, Christianity and Kanye West's relationship with it. We get into the numbers for Kanye's mentions of religion, which may underwhelm you considering how synonymous Kanye & Christianity has been over his career. Especially recently with his "Sunday Services".

The guys also cover some Hip-Hop History, talking about the "5 Percenters" of the Golden Age and, more recently, Hebrew Israelites in which Kendrick Lamar dedicated some of "DAMN." to actually mention the offset belief.

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

In recent Hip-Hop news, Dave East hopped on Instagram to call the viral Country/Hip-Hop track "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X "wack". Hip-Hop social media proceeded to swell up with defensive shots at Dave East.

Shots like "NAME ONE DAVE EAST TRACK", "DAVE JUST SALTY HE DOESN'T CHART", you get the idea. People missed the chance to look at the context and the deeper conversation about inorganic fanbases.

This is the catalyst for Ben & Charlie to dive into multiple topics, the main of which, Ageism in Hip-Hop. Why do we as Hip-Hop fans throw great artists with fuel still in the tank by the wayside because they're past the age of 35-40?

This bleeds into many other avenues, such as seeing elements of "Stan Culture" laced into the defence of this one viral song by an artist we never heard of a month ago. How the major labels have "put stock" into Hip-Hop and the unique position Hip-Hop as THE genre of recent times has in this musical atmosphere. 

Compared to Jazz, Rock, Disco etc. that had their days in the previous Century, none had social media influencing the mainstream. Because of this, maybe the legacies Charlie, Ben and other true Hip-Hop fans hail will die out quicker? Has it already begun? Are we already too late to correct this? 

A lot of ground is covered and subject matter gets very impassioned but we always try to end it on a fun note. The first episode to crack an hour, and it's worth it. 

Be sure to peep Ben's blog post containing all of his statistics on Ageism.

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence