10 New Rules of the Music Industry

Christopher Polk / Noam Galai / Theo Wargo / Craig Barritt, Getty Images

On a Tribe Called Quest’s 1991 song ‘Check the Rhime,’ Q-Tip provides one rule: “Industry Rule #4080: Record company people are shady,” he says. Years later, Notorious B.I.G. would equate the rap game with the crack game on ‘Ten Crack Commandments,’ declaring, “I been in this game for years, it made me an animal / There’s rules to this s—, I wrote me a manual.” Bottom line: sometimes we need rules, and in the ever-changing landscape of the music industry, perhaps a little guidance would be helpful.

Forget everything you thought you knew about the music industry before 2012. It’s gone. Dead. Wiped out of memory like a PC’s hard drive after clicking an email that said “Check out my pics from vacation.exe.” The results is an environment where the higher ups are no longer as high as we think and our favorite artists are within reach — or tweet. It’s a new day, and with a new day comes a brand new set of rules.

If you’re looking to embark on a career in the proverbial “game,” this is a little blueprint to get you started. Artists, this speaks directly to your lives right now. For everyone else, this is just a simple guide about what’s really happening in the careers of those rappers and singers you fancy. You can print this out, and like Drake says “have a f—in’ read-along.” Here are 10 New Rules of the Music Industry.

1

Albums Drop With No Warning

Where were you on Fri., Dec. 13, 2013 at midnight? Don't say sleeping, because you're lying. You were posted up in front of your computer on iTunes purchasing Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter's self-titled opus and you know it. King Bey dropped 'Beyonce' and not a single member of the Bey Hive knew beforehand. It was perhaps the boldest, Beyonce-est move in music history, as the songstress delivered a sexually-charged independent release as a middle finger to her label for not supporting her new musical pursuits.

While some artists in a lesser tax bracket may randomly drop "free albums" (we call them mixtapes, right?) at random, no one has done what Beyonce did when she delivered a surprise album without a gigantic promotional vehicle. This new rule that albums will unexpectedly fall from the sky is reserved for the Kings who know they'll still profit, despite what Beyonce said on 'Ghost' with, "Soul not for sale / Probably won't make no money off this, oh well." You know what that means: Azealia Banks, don't try this at home.

2

Tweets Can and Will Be Held Against You

Many years ago, the worst nightmare for an artist would be the release of a sex tape, a nude photo or some sort of past endeavor that they did for money and wished they hadn't. Nowadays, it's unearthing past tweets. Even present ones for that matter. If you put it out on Twitter, consider it etched in stone. Know why? Because someone out there is randomly taking screenshots of that tweet to use at a later time, regardless of whether or not you delete what you wrote.

Take Macklemore, who just swept the 2014 Grammy Awards and won the hearts of Americans through the song 'Same Love,' which came equipped with same sex marriages (officiated by Queen Latifah) when he performed the song live at the ceremony. However, a 2009 tweet from the indie powerhouse showed his overzealous usage of "no homo," which had the LGBT community in an uproar. Your thoughts and ideals can change. Sure. But be careful what you tweet when you tweet it, because five years later, you may be reminded of the skeletons in your cyber closet.

Craig Barritt, Getty Images

3

Instagram Is Your New Getty Images

Hey websites, ever been sued over a photo? Not pretty right? Not cheap either. Photo copyright infringement is almost as "dangerous" as sampling a song without clearance. Major professional photo banks like Getty Images were (and still are) a viable means of obtaining press photos of celebrities, in addition to photos from the celeb's publicist or managament. Not anymore. With artists and actors taking photos of everything from their faces to their food on Instagram, a whole well of flicks are at our disposal. Some people use Instagram more than others. Singers like Rihanna and Beyonce always have a steady stream of photos to check out, along with Miley Cyrus (and her tongue). On the rap front, Rick Ross always has some lovely photos to offer, as does French Montana (he even shared an Instagram photo of himself getting arrested). If you need Kanye West photos, though, head over to Kim Kardashian's Instagram page.

4

Mixtapes Are No Longer Viable Promotion

There was a time when label delays led rappers to drop mixtapes to sate their fans in between album releases. It used to be a great idea. Used to be. That was until the mixtape completely replaced albums for a while, often being called "free albums" or "free EPs." You know what you don't make from free mixtapes? Money. And after a while, the effort put into mixtapes was on the decline after things like production and studio time came with no clear indication of a recoup. Projects like Lil Wayne's 'Dedication 5' and Meek Mill's 'Dreamchasers 3' are prime examples of mixtapes that would have garnered more praise in say, 2010, than they did in 2013. It's time for a change. Release albums, artists. Get studio time, grab beats from producers, record the album, sell it. You don't even have to promote it. Refer to Rule No. 1 for more information.

Isaac Brekken, Getty Images

5

Sponsors Can Giveth and Taketh Away

Beware of your lyrics, your public behavior, anything and everything you do once you land a coveted sponsorship deal. You will in fact be monitored, and you can lose that deal as fast as you received it. Back in 2009, when Chris Brown and Rihanna got into their fateful altercation en route to the Grammys, the photos that circulated of RiRi following the event led to Wrigley's pulling Brown from their campaign, even though 'Forever' was the new Doublemint anthem.

Reebok is another stickler. Last year, when Rick Ross uttered some sketchy bars on Rocko's 'U.O.E.N.O.' that suggested he was condoning rape, Reebok pulled his sponsorship right from under his large frame. Lil Wayne's Emmett Till line in Future's 'Karate Chop' remix left him without any more free Mountain Dew to drink. So you see, sponsors watch you like a potential employer does your Facebook page. Keep your brand squeaky clean, especially when you're paid to represent another one.

This one goes without saying, but it's a lesson we're all still learning. Hip-hop is a relatively younger art form compared to the extensive history of other genres. Since it's always been referred to as a "young man's game," the question of "What happens when the man is no longer young?" has been the elephant in the room for quite a while. Thank 44-year-old Jay Z for diminishing the boundaries of age set forth long ago in the rap game. It always feels like Jay is just getting started, so who knows? He may be rhyming at 60. And why not? Rock stars do it all the time. On the other side of the spectrum, we had a young Earl Sweatshirt of Odd Future who was geared to be the next Nas at the tender young age of 16. Teenagers being compared to legends (by the way, Nas is 40)? The age minimum and maximum are nonexistent. Age ain't nothing but a number.

Michael Kovac, Getty Images

7

When Album Sales Fail, Make a Reality Show

Showing up on a reality TV show in place of an album (or in tandem with a release) isn't all that new. In 2005, Run-DMC's Reverend Run brought 'Run's House' to MTV, highlighting his family, career and love life. In 2008, conveniently around Valentine's Day, Public Enemy's own Flavor Flav debuted his romantically-challenged reality show 'Flavor of Love' on VH1. Love seems to be the common theme when it boils down rappers' careers hitting the reality TV circuit. 'T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle' and 'Marrying the Game' are both examples of shows centered around one rapper (continuing Run and Flav's legacy).

However, since the advent of 'Love & Hip Hop,' it's been a revolving door for rappers. Joe Budden, Jim Jones, Consequence, Saigon, Peter Gunz and the list goes on and on of rappers who have either made a cameo or starred in 'Love & Hip Hop' in their respective city. It seems to be the easiest way for artists to stay relevant without creating music these days.

Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

If Macklemore and Ryan Lewis taught you anything over the last few years, it's that major labels are the furthest thing from a necessity when it comes to fostering a successful career. It's not like they're completely irrelevant. It's just that the tables have turned, and an independent deal or DIY is the preferred means of moving units. They earned Grammy Awards and sold millions of singles and made an impact with their album 'The Heist' all on their own.

Financially it makes sense, and the internet has become an artist's greatest ally (and sometimes his worst enemy), but check the careers of acts like A$AP Rocky, Joey Bada$$ and Odd Future. While indie and imprint deals were struck for some in the middle of the buzz, artists are given more options to no longer be tethered to binding gigantic contracts that restrict any upward mobility. Sure some artists still prefer this means of management, but for many it's not necessary. Guess that dreaded 360 Deal is approaching obscurity as well.

Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

9

Social Media Serves as a Press Release

For the 2014 publicist, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as a social media vehicle is perfect for their artists. However, ever since they learned how to press "send" on a tweet or status, it's been game over. From ranting about their label woes (we see you Lupe Fiasco and Azealia Banks) to just complaining about everything and everyone around them (hi, Gucci Mane!) and making public apologies (Oh, Kanye.), rappers in particular love a good rant, especially on Twitter.

That's the bad side of it. The good side involves announcing album releases, tweeting at other artists and producers to reveal potential collaborations and announcing tour dates. Sure, it completely replaces a press release, but who references those anymore? Read any website and the "proof" of anything is usually a screen shot of a tweet, Instagram post or Facebook status. So there you go. A word of advice for artists: still use Twitter; just don't abuse it.

Taylor Hill, Getty Images

10

Rappers and Singers Are Ambiguous

When Lauryn Hill delivered 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 'back in 1998, and then swept the Grammys the following year -- including a win for the Best Rap Album, hip-hop purists were a bit concerned. Sure, Lauryn knew how to rap seamlessly, but she also knew how to sing just as well, and an album that was arguably primarily singing earned a rap-related honor. Was she the gateway drug to this ambiguity? Probably.

And while artists like Drake and more recently Childish Gambino have proven they too can both rap and sing, the grey area is where confusion (and dissension) lies. Since T-Pain retaught the masses how to use Auto-Tune, guys like Future have followed suit and the result is sing-songy rap. So is it singing? Is it rapping? Well, it's both, which is a tough pill to swallow, but that's what it is. Welcome to the new world. These are the new rules after all.

Mike Windle, Getty Images

17 Best Hip-Hop Movie Soundtracks Ever

Paramount Pictures/ Fox Searchlight/ Miramax Films

During the Blaxploitation era, soundtracks were often more important than the movies they accompanied: Though ‘Shaft’ remains a classic portrait of black empowerment, it’s inseparable from Isaac Hayes’ theme song, and more people have heard Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Pusherman’ and ‘Superfly’ than ever saw the movie for which they were created. But by the early 1990s, filmmakers used these albums as much as savvy cross-promotion as a backdrop for their characters’ lives – which, it should be noted, became richer, more complicated and more interesting once the novelty of black stars wore off.

Looking at the movie soundtracks that have emerged from the hip-hop era, it would be easy to assemble a list of “the best” according to which sold the most copies, or had the most hit singles. But others produced not just pop smashes, but bona fide classics. Or introduced artists who became icons, because some forward-thinking music supervisor or producer hired them. Or were just incredibly consistent, providing songs that suit the themes of the film, or are of a quality that distinguishes them from the b-sides and also-rans that often take up space on compilations.

But even if ‘Juice’ remains my personal all-time favorite hip-hop movie soundtrack, quantifying the merits of these releases makes ranking them virtually impossible. Consequently, we’ve made a list of the 17 best hip-hop movie soundtracks of all time, arranged alphabetically.

NEXT: See the best hip-hop movie soundtracks

Would You Eat Sausage Made From Kanye West? (@kanyewest)

Probably not, because that sounds pretty gross; however, one company is betting there are plenty of people out there who would jump at the chance to gobble up meat made from Kanye and other celebs.

As crazy as it sounds, BiteLabs says it plans on biopsying famous people - including Jennifer Lawrence, James Franco, and Ellen Degeneres - and growing salami from their cells. They describe the Yeezy meat as such:

"The Kanye Salami will pull no punches: heavy, and boldly flavored, pure Kanye West meat will blend with rich, coarse-ground pork. Hungarian paprika and worcestershire give Kanye an underlying smokiness, spiced up with hints of jalapeno. The Kanye Salami is best paired with strong straight bourbon."

So far no celebs have volunteered their cells.

Source: xxlmag.com

Robin Thicke Pours His Heart Out Onstage, Dedicates Song to Paula Patton [VIDEO]

Robin Thicke and Paula Patton shocked fans with the announcement of their split earlier this week. In his first concert since the couple parted ways, the singer assured fans in Fairfax, Calif., last night (Feb. 27) that he’s working to get his wife back.

“I’m trying to get my girl back,” he said to the crowd, while wearing his wedding ring on stage.

“She told me the truth. You should tell them that you’re trying to get me back,” he explained to the crowd in footage obtained by TMZ. “She’s a good woman. It’s hard to say in front of everybody.” Thicke then dedicated ‘Lost Without You’ to Paula, a song he initially wrote for her years ago and which is featured on his 2006 album, ‘The Evolution of Robin Thicke.’

The couple revealed their separation after eight years of marriage in a joint statement. Thicke took to his website to break his silence shortly afterwards: “I want to thank everyone for the well wishes these last few days. My fans mean everything to me. I’m looking forward to getting back on out on the road and performing in Washington D.C., this Thursday, and the rest of the tour. Looking forward to seeing everyone out there!”

Rumors are circulating that the initial cause of Thicke and Patton’s relationship trouble stemmed from his racy performance with Miley Cyrus at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.

Watch Robin Thicke Speak on Paula Patton

Exclusive! Bun B, Mannie Fresh: OG Jordan 2s And Favorite Nikes (@BunBtrillOG @manniefresh)

Fabolous' Brother Exposes Kat Stacks on Instagram (@AdmireAndrea)

If you've been wondering where Kat Stacks has been, look no further than the DM's of Mr. Ruggs.

Fabolous' brother Mr. Ruggs posted a picture over the weekend of his direct messages on Instgram with Kat Stacks. In the past, Ruggs slapped Kat for her accusations of sleeping with rappers like Bow Wow, Fabolous and Soulja Boy.

Ruggs posted a nude pictrure Stacks sent him along with the messages she sent. In a very thirsty move Stacks admits to chasing Ruggs, but it seems like he isn't interested.

Ruggs has deleted the post, but you can check out the screenshot above.

Source: bossip.com

'Couples Therapy' Season 4, Episode 9 Recap: Ghostface Killah and Kelsey Work on Friendship

Ghostface Killah and Kelsey have gone from a couple to exes in the last few episodes. However, on this week’s episode of ‘Couples Therapy,’ the two show that they can actually still be there for each other, even if it’s not romantically, when the therapists put them through an anger management exercise that just lets all the emotions hang out.

Despite the fact that the therapy focuses more on the other couples this week, Ghostface and Kelsey show a few moments of alone time where it proves that the two are at least trying to forge some kind of friendship. When Ghostface asked Kelsey if it was worth it to come to the ‘Couples Therapy’ house, all she could say is, “Oh, I infinitely learned a lot of good lessons.”

However, Kelsey does admit that even though that she’s still somewhat heartbroken, she sees that not being with Ghostface is a good thing.

One of the interesting parts of this week’s episode is when Dr. Jenn Berman and Dr. Mike Dow bring everyone to this typical all-American-looking home, only to tell them they are allowed to tear it up. As a way to release their anger, frustrations and stress, the couples — who are dressed in grey painters suits and masks — will be able to find something in the house that brings them to a childhood trauma and break it.

With a sledgehammer, Kelsey throws her anger at a door with window panes where she is then left crying. Ghostface quickly comes to hug and comfort her. Dr. Dow then tells Kelsey to look at Ghostface as if he was her parents and tell them how she felt growing up. “I just needed somebody to understand me and how I feel,” she says in tears. “And what I want is to give some kind of compromise and effort. Meet me in the middle, you know?”

Ghostface finally sees Kelsey’s struggle. “I never knew what you was holding in was to the max like that, but I feel you,” he says. “And my heart is sorry for you and all that you went through.”

Dr. Dow asks Ghostface why he thinks it makes sense that Kelsey reacted the way she did after she found out about Latrice. “Because she’s a female, and you know, they just need the security,” he responds. “They need love. They need that trust.”

“I’m finally letting him know how I feel, and finally let him [understand] where my want for him to love me came from,” she explains. “We definitely had a moment of great communication.”

The two hug it out, and it shows a new stage in their relationship — not as lovers but as friends. The two talk about becoming friends again in a clip that wasn’t included in the episode but can be viewed below.

However, next week, the season finale shows that this friendship might be a little short-lived when Ghostface tells Kelsey he forgives her for taking him to therapy. How will Kelsey react? Does this mean that their friendship is kaput? And more importantly, has Ghostface really not learned anything from going to couples therapy? Find out next week.

Next: Watch ‘Couples Therapy’ Season 4, Episode 9

Watch Ghostface Killah & Kelsey Make Amends on ‘Couples Therapy’