Not Sold In Stores

Lately I've been spending a lot of time reading the websites and watching the latest reality shows. I have a whole new understanding of how money is being made these days. Everyone is going Independent  and underground. Especially those who can't get record deals or book advances. What I've discovered is that most blacks especially in music came through Atlanta. I didn't know that was where Nicki Minaj got her start. She gives all the credit to "Lil Wayne." and "Cash Money."  Now with the success of Tyler Perry and the "Madea" movies,that includes the big screen as well. With all the movie and music stars living there. I bet they have a disproportionate number of starving artists, former pro athletes and opportunists living there as well. With Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long and Jasper Williams having congregations there. How could I forget the church?

The  mix tape is a sign of  the changes taking place in the music industry. The rappers are selling 20,000 units for $10 after the shows and keeping all the money themselves. Instead of doing a video and having a million seller being sold on shelves everywhere. They buy some studio time and blank discs and mass produce and sell their own. That might be alright now, but what about later? Waka Flocka Flame is getting $25, 000 for a show these days. What about next year or the year after that? Don't even think about ten years from now. The people won't even know him. Where is Slick Rick and D.J. Quick these days? If the Independent artists hasn't invested and spent the money wisely, it will all be gone. How do you collect royalties on underground music or a mix tape? 

Even the multi-millionaire beat maker Lex Luger, who thanks to the likes of Kanye West, Rick Ross and Wiz Khalifa is rich. He knows he got a lucky break. Otherwise he would still be hustling beats for the Brick Squad with "Southside."  Though he has made a fortune at his young age. Even he knows in the midst of his intoxicated state. When all you do is write beats, smoke weed and drink all day. If you don't set a whole lot aside. You can never stop working.

There aren't enough actors and actresses to talk about.  Denzel Washington and Halle Berry are the exception to the rule. Samuel Jackson doesn't count himself as a minority anymore. He is an old actor finally getting his money. He ain't no Lincoln Perry. Taranji P. Henson and Kevin Hart are the only ones with various projects that haven't gone completely Hollywood yet.. The rest of them don't go any farther than South Beach.

Now for the next Toni Morrison. They're out there too. You might not think a writer could go Independent. Let me assure you. That's no longer true. Now there are tutorials and how-to clinics on self publishing.  With Facebook, Twitter and Instagram you buy your books directly from the writer. I don't know whether she got the idea from television or they got it from writers like her.  Deja King was selling her book at beauty shops and out the trunk of her car. With the Atlanta Hawks, Falcons and the Braves. That explains the former pro players. That's where the money left them. And any where there's food there will always be flies. Unless it's too cold or steps are taken to get rid of them. Some times they still get through.

Is all money good money? I don't know. That's what all these people in question in this blog are faced with daily. Everybody needs to eat. I get hungry everyday. Do you pound the pavement and market your talents the old way? Then the buzz about you spread by word of mouth or a catchy song you sang. Winning some contests always helps too. Like Jay Z and the Beyonce of the past. Instead of going on Facebook or Twitter and getting your name out there like that. Plus doing mix tapes in the place of videos. Only the people who happen to hear you will know who you are. You have to be bigger than the city where you live. Like Gucci Mane and K. Michelle. That's why Gucci Mane left Mizay Entertainment. And K Michelle is no longer with Vibe. Your name needs to be ringing in a number of places. If you don't have a deal. You can't afford a manager.

This would make a good example. Toni Braxton vs. Rasheeda Frost. Both of their careers are in the same place, but they're in different situations. One is barely making it, and the other is broke. Toni Braxton still walks around like she is on top of the world. That's why she won't do projects with her sisters. Even though she has filed bankruptcy and doesn't have a hit. She still has a budget for background singers. To the contrary Rasheeda is doing collaborations with Lil Scrappy and shopping at "Burlington Coat Factory." She carries the title  "Queen Of Crunk." According to her husband  Kirk she is selling more records than ever before. But according to Debra Antney she's considered dirty. She has to fire her manager/husband of sixteen years to try to make some serious paper. They both have been in the business twenty years or more. Now to get some Social Security. People like Kirk and Rasheeda need a job. Success in this town is like a mix tape. It's not sold in stores.