“List Of Demands…”
GENERAL By Gotty™ on April 15, 2008 at 11:29 am
I was having a convo with a friend the other day about Saul Williams, Kris Parker & the words “selling out” came up.
I cannot really say that I see anything overtly “wrong” with artists taking on these lucrative endorsements. What attracted the companies was their music, their art. In Saul’s case, he didn’t change anything & his work, the song “List Of Demands,” wasn’t altered. All he had to do was sign a contract & agree that it could be used. Cut the check.
“It’s weird, but their ads give attention to the music. You walk away thinking, ‘That’s a cool song,’ not ‘I’ve gotta get those shoes.’…I feel like it’s been wonderful, a marvelous result for me. And at the end of the day, it’s been about the exposure. Not only the exposure to me and my music, but for me, who always falls in the category of being a ‘message writer,’ there are a lot of people being exposed to perhaps a new way of thinking, some new ideas, and that really excites me.”
This also bolsters Trent Reznor’s business model, which is based on the idea that if you can get a large group of people to check something out, then you have a larger chance of those same people paying for it. Current stats show that Saul’s The Inevitable Rise…has sold more in downloads than his previous release did in stores, the one that actually includes the track from the commercial, did in stores and has received a boost since the commercial aired.
And at the end of the day, rappers don’t have retirement plans. If they’ve been toiling in the trenches for years, preaching to the choir and finally the rest of the congregation decides tithe with what may be a lofty, one-time sum, how do you say “no”?
There’s a distinct difference between being standing firm for what you believe and playing the fool.
Saul Williams still hasn’t found his niche, and he’s thrilled [Chicago Tribune]
Previously Posted — “Downhill…” | TSS PRESENTS FIFTEEN MINUTES WITH SAUL WILLIAMS
De La Soul – Baby Phat (VLS)
Outkast – Git Up, Git Out 12″ (1994)
Lil Kim – The Jump Off/Came Back for You (CDS)
The Diplomats – Dipset Anthem (2003)
Wu-Tang Clan – It’s Yourz 12″
Run DMC-Run’s House/Beats To The Rhyme
Nappy Roots – Awnaw (CDS)
Posted in GENERAL, SMOKE BREAK, THE NEW MODEL — Tags: KRS-One, Nike, Saul Williams
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21 Comments
As you said Gotty ‘cut the check’. It is all about
mass marketing w/o losing your integrity. Give
a ‘f’ what any artists says about wanting to stay
underground. He/She is doing themselves a
disservice. I’m in the school of thought which says
you want the most folks to hear your music, read
your books or see your movies.
Sellout? Naw…a contradiction of what i would expect saul williams to do? yeah. Not mad at dude tho.
Anyone got Chrome Children vol.1?
Sellout? Naw…a contradiction of what i would expect saul williams to do? yeah
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That about sums it up. I know Cats gotta eat, but this kinda goes against who I thought Saul was as a person & an artist.
“selling out”
That’s a loaded fcuking topic, and I’m kinda sick of some of these “feel good” ni99as talking bout Saul and KRS selling out..
KRS??? That dude has done more in his lyrics and lectures to have you wipe your snotty nose, pull your pants up, and stand like a man than most of y’alls own fathers…
ridiculous…
Saul??? That dude is incredible….and his lyrics are like vitamins for your soul when you dissect what he’s saying…
Some cats act like these dudes are sposed to live in caves and only come down from Mt Sinai to deliver the good word to us, “content to live in sin” muhfkkkas ….
Grassroots cats use SOAP, shop at Macy’s for Mother’s Day, got iPods, and wear Nike’s too… Why can’t they endorse the sh*t they use like the next man as long as they believe in the product????
I still curse the Marvin Gaye and Rakim ads for Henny, but often do it w/ liquor on my breath…. We all hypocrites…
How can this be considered “selling out”? Hell with all the difficulties artist are having selling records, they have to start using other avenues to earn income. More power to him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDCDrcZK4NE
I still curse the Marvin Gaye and Rakim ads for Henny, but often do it w/ liquor on my breath…. We all hypocrites…
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LOL
Hell with all the difficulties artist are having selling records, they have to start using other avenues to earn income.
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There will always be those that question, but I still have to say, I agree. As long as it doesn’t alter who you are or what you produce, get paid.
First of all I am said “friend”.
Secondly, KRS cites the fact that “record exec’s” like his music, which is irrelevant ,and the fact that he ain’t change his steez for that Smirnoff remix as evidence that no selling out is taking place.
Then there is the video that has Saul talking about “Nike is making a Saul” commercial. Say word.
All of this is detailed in my post titled “Did Saul & KRS Drink the Kool Aid?”
Corporations exist solely for the purpose of enhancing shareholder value.
It ain’t about corp executives liking hip hop or Mc Donalds making veggie burgers, its all about that cake/chedder/scrill/cheese….all that.
Why don’t we just all agree on that, and let it do what it do.
Gotty thank you for the quasi shout….Gimmie my laink nagguh.
^ I didn’t know you had already spoken on it Buster. You owe me a link lol.
@ Gotty and M.Dot
You two fight like an old married couple.
@ TheRuggedandRaw
One Chrome Children uploading now, good thing I have remote access at work.
What up E.
Please don’t insinuate between me an G.
Nets be chattin…
@ E. Brock
They ARE married.
I still curse the Marvin Gaye and Rakim ads for Henny, but often do it w/ liquor on my breath…. We all hypocrites
=======================================
ROFL. That’s classic shit right there OED…
tc….you just couldn’t wait. Could you?
effin Young buck.
@ M.Dot
What’s up? I have got to get at you.
@ TC
Yeah, I know. Jay & Bey those two are not.
E,
You havin’ fun…clearly…thats bueno….
You gotta get at me? Lame.
@ M.Dot
Lame? HAA. NO further words necessary.
@ TheRuggedandRaw
Sorry I’m so late. Work got me busy. Here you as requested.
Chrome Children Vol 1.
http://sharebee.com/c1a21d5b
Enjoy!
As usual, RMF people.
RMF.
thank youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu e.brock! damn, ive been diggin all over google for like two weeks tryna find that…good look
Eff what you heard….99.999999% of the MFers on here would do the same thing if in that position. I say if you do it with integrity, why not? That’s called BUSINESS, not selling out. People forget that while music is an art, musicians are also in the music business. They gotta eat just like everyone else, and their commodity they offer is their art.
It’s a touchy subject with some fine lines, but I still say if it is done with integrity, there is nothing wrong with it.
Saul Williams speaks out about his Nike Contract
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFkyG-6fdm0
I still curse the Marvin Gaye and Rakim ads for Henny, but often do it w/ liquor on my breath…. We all hypocrites…
__________________________________________
lol dammit why didn’t I say that?
Like you said, the song wasn’t changed in any way. Also, it gets more people to hear the music. It’s song of the day today on thishereboogie – http://thishereboogie.com/saul-williams-list-of-demands-reparations/. It’s a great song, with or without the Nike association. And that’s coming from an Irishman, for what it’s worth.