Mar
27
Best rapper alive? (1/2)
Posted by: rodfcua | March 27, 2011 | Leave a Comment
Following Lil Wayne’s second platinum album, “Tha Carter II,” released in 2005 many people were left wondering, “what next?” Realistically speaking let’s stop and think at how many rap stars actually stick around for more than a couple years and make a real name for themselves…not many. So what did Wayne do to ensure that his name didn’t become a thing of the past? He revolutionized the world of mixtapes taking this form of releasing music to an entirely new level. Between 2006 and 2008 Lil Wayne released hundreds of songs and verses for free via the internet allowing people around the world to listen and download his music at no charge. Sampling is one of the most costly sales promotion tools, but is also one of the most effective. Lil Wayne spent hours of his time making music, and thousands of dollars on studio time recording it, but when all was said and done it was worth it. By making and distributing music he conducted a premarket test which allowed him to see how many people actually listened to and liked his material. Listeners around the world were able to sample his music and familiarize themselves with his genre and style and they soon came to realize that this music wasn’t just free, it was good.
When it came time to make a real studio album Lil Wayne already had a tremendous following made up of people who had become loyal fans without having to spend a dime. People like me around the world recognized what he was capable of and had fallen in love with his lyrical manipulation. “Tha Carter III” was released in June 2008 and sold over 1 million copies in the first week shattering the predictions of music analysts around the world. It is difficult enough to move 1 million albums in one week, but to have an artist accomplish this feat in a genre that has been constantly criticized for its inconsistency and lack of talent was that much more impressive.
This was only the beginning. Following this release Lil Wayne went on to sell out arenas around North America with his, “I Am Music,” tour, graced the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine not once, but three times, and was featured in, what seemed like at what point, every song on the billboard charts. There was no stopping him.