It's a very legitimate question. Arguably the best Canadian rapper in quite sometime. Gets tons of airplay here but can't seem to make it into the USA at all. Extremely talented, creative, socially conscious, pro marijuana, and has collaborated with many big stars.
Just a few of his vids below (from last 2-3 years) to give you an idea of how flexible he is.
You asked a serious question I assume so Im going to give you a serious and believe it or not, educated answer.
1) Hes white.
If you're white in hiphop, you have to either be _fucked up_, or have a pedigree that shows you went through some Very Heavy Shit. This guy looks acts and sounds like he assumes hes perfectly at home around 'brothers', and also looks acts and sounds like he cries during pillow fights. Thats not a strong hand to play in the industry.
2) He has absolutely no pedigree.
Rap/hiphop, as opposed to pop/mainstream, has certain requirements in terms of ones bona fides. Very little rap/hiphop cant be traced back to roots in either NYC, LA, or ATL. An example of someone who overcame that is Iggy Azalea, who basically ran away from Australia or wherever to live with nigs at the age of 16. She sucked and fucked her way to legitimacy, and is outrageously good at her job to boot. This dude looks like he'd flinch if someone ashed their blunt on him.
Look at how many insanely talented acts came out of the Bay Area during hiphops prime. Exactly one of them has anything to show for it, and thats because his entire hiphop career was a money laundering gig for his coke empire. If you dont have a recognizable sound, you are blued screwed and tattoo'd, because if you dont appeal to a market, you dont get a market share.
Why would I, as a producer or a label, invest in this guy? Who would I market him to? What market isnt sewn up for mainstream white pothead rappers with no legend?
Whats his tag line; "Hes like Eminem but sillier"? Thanks, Im good.
3) Production.
There are two schools in the US hiphop production; murder and party. No fucking way this guy can sell murder so hes stuck with party, which is no ones idea of a blessing since party is a stacked division in terms of vocalists, and also has the most competition due to the retail strength of the market.
If this guy wants to break into the party scene, he is going to need to:
- Link up with a known producer. Timbaland once sold a beat for a suitcase with $1m cash in it. Is this guy able to roll with that? If not he better...
- .....Sign with a major. Which he probably cant, because hes signed with a label with zero US juice, which is why no one ships his vinyl to the DJs, which is why no one requests him on the radio.
- Guest on made artists tracks, which isnt going to happen because hes not here. Hes not at the shows, hes not on the bus, hes not on their labels, so why would anyone give this dude the time of day?
His only hope would be to get into the 'college' act market and nothing here stands out in a way thats going to get him in the door there. Nothing here is exemplary in terms of production, lyrics, message, or image.
Its pop music about how cool hiphop is, and no one is going to feel cool bumping it here, you know?
"Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness." - Alejandro Jodorowsky
"America is not so much a nightmare as a non-dream. The American non-dream is precisely a move to wipe the dream out of existence. The dream is a spontaneous happening and therefore dangerous to a control system set up by the non-dreamers." -- William S. Burroughs
because rap sucks balls.
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Originally Posted by Hockey Guy
Who?
speaking of Eminem, his daughter just graduated high school. def would splash
Waiting for chaps....
Like honestly I just went through his tour dates until 2010, the only one I saw that wasnt in Canada was in Utica NY. Which is basically Canada.
Also I stand corrected, he signed with Atlantic, which is definitely a major, but Im guessing they recognize that there just isnt much of a market for him here. People take their rap seriously in the states, its big business. And how well is this dude going to sell in Canada if he bombs here?
I just read an interview he did with Vibe where he basically blamed the Canadian music scene for not blowing up in the states.
Im sorry but in the year of our lord 2014 all you need to get market penetration is a tasteful, esoteric product and a cell phone with an internet connection.
Guess which one this guy needs most?
"Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness." - Alejandro Jodorowsky
"America is not so much a nightmare as a non-dream. The American non-dream is precisely a move to wipe the dream out of existence. The dream is a spontaneous happening and therefore dangerous to a control system set up by the non-dreamers." -- William S. Burroughs
Because even the greatest Canadian rapper is still like number 5000 or so in America.
If his total obscurity in the only real hiphop market isnt enough to get this rapper thinking about a management change, maybe the fact that I cant even view all his songs because Im not in Canada should.
"Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness." - Alejandro Jodorowsky
"America is not so much a nightmare as a non-dream. The American non-dream is precisely a move to wipe the dream out of existence. The dream is a spontaneous happening and therefore dangerous to a control system set up by the non-dreamers." -- William S. Burroughs
Except when you are on Degrassi.
Grain of salt this because I havent cared in ages...:
Master P = dirty south, so ATL for all practical purposes. Honestly all the New Orleans acts were locals who blew up in the ATL market.
Nelly's from Missouri, which means hes dirty south, so ATL for all practical purposes.
Scarface is 5th ward but honestly, Ghetto Boys were a fluke. A bunch of white faggots geeked on a dwarf rapping about schizophrenia and the rest was history.
Twista, who knows where hes from but he blew up thanks to LA marketing and LA talent.
And if youre going to claim with a straight face that Bone Thugs & Harmony were rap/hiphop then Ive wasted my time here.
"Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness." - Alejandro Jodorowsky
"America is not so much a nightmare as a non-dream. The American non-dream is precisely a move to wipe the dream out of existence. The dream is a spontaneous happening and therefore dangerous to a control system set up by the non-dreamers." -- William S. Burroughs
sonatine, first off Bushwick Bill is god. Second off that is quite the fucking fluke. Thirdly fuck yourself.
Faggot ass Canadians.... Are you for cereal? He's fucking Canadian dumbass! I give people way to much credit... Eh? Ooot an aboot.. Dontcha know... FUCK THAT SHIT DONT WORK IN RAP NIGGA!
This is the stupid shit that happens when you get a retard Canadian who raps.
"Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness." - Alejandro Jodorowsky
"America is not so much a nightmare as a non-dream. The American non-dream is precisely a move to wipe the dream out of existence. The dream is a spontaneous happening and therefore dangerous to a control system set up by the non-dreamers." -- William S. Burroughs
Honestly, my first thought was of shock that you accused Bone of not being, I dunno, not real hip-hop?......before saying the same of Nelly or Master P. Twista is/was Chicago BTW. I was going through cities that popped in my head and the most easily identifiable acts from there.
Then again, after listening to a coupel videos posted by the OP here, I think this dude is going more for a pop/mainstream sound TBH.
WHAT IS THIS SONATINE?
FUCK THAT LAME WHITE GUY.
Why has Jay Electronica not broken into mainstream USA?
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