However these sales predictions are calculated, Mac Miller is about to accomplish something only done by Tha Dogg Pound some 16 years ago. Mac’s independent LP, Blue Slide Park, is set to debut at number one on the Billboard charts next week. DPG’s classic, Dogg Food, was the first “indie” album to receive the honor and, at least until now, looked as if it would be the only Hip-Hop project to ever enjoy the distinction. Yet, credit Miller’s hustle (and marketing team) the past few years and social media barrage for this potential groundbreaking honor.
Blue Slide Park is expected to crack the 100,000 sold mark. Rostrum Records lead executive Benjy Grinberg spoke with Billboard about the lessons learned since Mac’s introduction and how their plan of attack happened to mess around and work. “We’ve learned a lot about the ins and outs of the majors and how different things operate [through working with Khalifa],” Grinberg says. “We try to apply those lessons to everything we do . . . I’m not on some sort of revolutionary [anti-major] kick. I just know there are better ways of doing things.”
So much for that “all those Twitter followers won’t mean anything when it comes down to selling music” train of thought, huh? A hundred thousand sold in 2011, on an indie at that, speaks for itself. Let that man live.
Previously: Smile Back: Mac Miller On His Blue Slide Debt, Influences & Fans
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Nice write-up. This doesn’t apply to anyone on this blog, but it seems like everyone mistakes the amount of albums sold does with an artist’s talent or that the amount sold makes the album a great album.
I have literally tried to listen to this guys material to give him a chance, but his music is just terrible to my ears (even at parties).
Any quick notes on the album before I listen?
^For some reason I didn’t see the first comment…damn AT&T
I fucks with ol boy. The KIDS mixtape was dope. He has a nice niche
@Shaolin
Co-sign on that one. Props to Rostrum Records for staying with their artists though. He has potential to sell a lot though for sure.
This hass made me lose faith in music. Dude is WHACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree….dude is wack
Did anyone of you check this post?
http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/2011/11/elevating-the-game-with-rashad-thomas
Or this post?
http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/2011/11/download-diz-gibran-and-moonshine-the-return-ep
Or what about that new Trip?
http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/2011/11/new-music-don-trip-pistols-in-paris
There’s “not wack” stuff there for starters…but when we post it, nobody seems to comment, care or give a fuck.
I don’t personally like his music, and kinda hate his voice, even though I’ve heard a lot of people tell me that he can actually spit when he wants to. But I definitely respect him and his whole team for making an indie artist sell 100,000 in the first week (doggpound did that off the coat tails of dre and snoop, mac’s done this only partly on the coat tails of Wiz). I know he’s been touring heavy, and im sure thats a big part of it. I’d love to study the process of how they made this success happen, because Im a nerd like that. I heard he plays guitar at his shows too, cant disrespect that, unless he’s on Weezy’s skill level.
Mac gets a lot of undeserved hate simply because some times he comes off as a little bit corny, for lack of a better word, but he does have quite a bit of dope music and he hasnt changed hes been that way through every mixtape.
I like the kid, He’s not Talib Kweli Lyrically but He makes good songs
I do not compare this release to Tha Dogg Pound. I purchased “Dogg Food” first day it came out. Same label(s) as Snoop (Death Row/Interscope), only difference is that it (Dogg Food) was manufactured and distributed by Priority.
Since I come from the land of the indie… that number above does not impress me.
Sorry.
It’s comparing them quality wise.
And to each their own TRA, I have to give respect to the man where it’s due.
i hate to see this fucking kid win.
fuck what you think…this shit is awful.
Dude, chill. Y’all define the term ‘hater’ right now. Miller is patently white, and he’s not trying to pose as anything else. But give the kid’s music a chance, it’s dope shit.
@Gotty I’ve heard dude rap I went to highschool when he did his KIDS days. (wich most of his stans say is his best work) Dude is trash his punchlines are okay his flow is average and his musical content is straight shit. And yeah dude is indie but only in the sense that he don’t have a Major label backing him. He’s got the backing Of WIZ KAHLIFA. He gets radio play, video play MTV loves the shit out of him. That takes major money spending.
Yo, smoking section–do you guys moderate every post before it goes up?
This really isn’t too surprising, the people I know personally who like him (which is way too big a number) seem to really want to support him so I’d expect his fanbase to put up a big showing
Also saying homeboy is Independent is Crazy cause He is on Rostrum who also has Wiz on the roster. Wiz is a cash cow plenty of money backing the whack mac train.
ok burst of ball…..people need to stop saying he’s riding Wiz coattails…when have you ever heard Wiz go hard on cosigning the lil nigga? most you ever heard is “shout out to my young boy Mac Miller”
How many songs do they have out together? 1 song per mixtape maybe! and none on Wiz’s tapes. Mack did it on his own, just under the same label….smart dumb niggas need to follow this game more closely…really go back and analyze before you make these off the cuff comments
on a sidenote…when I saw him live in nyc opening for Wiz (when rolling papers dropped) his live performance fucking sucked….too much yelling and it was 40 nondescript niggas with a mic jumping around….he needs to work on that
asher roth and mac miller should come out with a collabo album called cagney and lacey.
Fuckin’ Awesome. Applaud that man!!
Thanks, MeLo. You saved me some keystrokes.
Its ironic. The main people complaining about dude are the same ones who keep saying “I don’t listen to him”. So where is the complaint coming from? Not defending, just pointing out the inconsistency in the argument. It makes all of us on these blogs look bad; unsupportive of hip-hop (like Gotty said), reactionary, and worst of all, that big R-word. Rhymes with “face prism”.
Honestly, I’m happy for the dude, because he is good for hip-hop. He is showing you don’t need the major label, the huge distribution conglomerate, or the (let’s keep it real) “gray-area”, state-sanctioned payola that still goes on these days.
Fuck it. I want the kid to win, because regardless of how you feel about his music, if he wins, we all win. He may not be the best, but he’s opening that door. If somebody comes out on a successful indie label after this, it will be due to the precedent this young man has set. The closest we ever been (we being the hip-hop community as a whole) to this moment is Rawkus. Soak that in. And even they needed Geffen or Columbia or whoever to distribute the joints.
*downloads Diz Gibran’s new EP – thereby supporting “real” hip-hop*
@Tins
You know it is always love with you and the TSS fam my dude. I reread what I wrote and send my apologies. I always respect your words and opinions and I certainly did not intend for it to read otherwise because that simply will never happen.
I agree with Mr. Smarter
@Aaron Smarter. It’s funny too me cause you talk like he’s the first to do it ever heard of Tech N9ne? Or DogPound? Tech’s been doing it for years difference is he made his own label and actually made his own music. How can you even preach this is good for Rap? Another half assed rapper rapping to what the flavor of the year is? Mack Miller, Wiz, Drake and Lil Tunechi. All of these rappers I will never have anything but beef with.
How can you even preach this is good for Rap? Another half assed rapper rapping to what the flavor of the year is? Mack Miller, Wiz, Drake and Lil Tunechi. All of these rappers I will never have anything but beef with.
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That’s cool and all b/c it’s your opinion…but it doesn’t make much sense to me. Reading your statement, it sounds like you’re upset and have “beef” b/c people like them and they’ve had success, no?
TRA – No disrespect taken at all sir. Everyone has an opinion. I’m not the guy’s biggest fan, nor do I go super hard for him. And I meant to say I’m NOT comparing Mac’s album to Dogg Food quality wise lol.
How can you even preach this is good for Rap?
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How can you not? An independent artist just sold 100k+ in 2011. You may think Mac sucks, but my guess is that your favorite rapper is also chillin on an indie. Think about it. If people are figuring out how to eat without the labels, it can only be a good thing for more creativity in the genre.
Mac may not be my cup of tea. But he is making original music and succeeding, that’s a win for the hip-hop community. Especially when labels push so many artists “mainstream” and want them to produce club singles.
Dude is young, has a pretty good flow, has tons of charisma(that’s goes a long way nowadays), and he’s stayed in his own lane that’s worked for him. I think its good to see dude winning. The hate crimes are strong in here tho…smh
The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference.
Props to Mac.
Pardon my ignorance, but can someone explain why Mac, Wiz, Wale, & Cole all only sold under 200k the first week while Wayne sells 1 mill? They all have a crazy buzz, appeal to all kinds of people all ages and market more than Wayne (twitter, the ambition trend, huge tours with stops in every state.) I just don’t get it, is it just that Birdman drops stacks on copies during the first week or what?
I think one thing that hasn’t necessarily been credited here is the audience Mac targets. He is perfect for the frat boy or sorority girl who has always loved hip-hop but never really related to the streets. He makes them feel comfortable. Cool. Good rhymes, bad rhymes, whatever, he has targeted a market that is screaming for more.
Wayne has been in this game twice as long as those rappers mentioned, Lu. His fanbase varies across all walks. A lot of people are quick to bash Lil Wayne, but fact remain that dude put in more work than some of those “underground only” rappers niggas be putting on pedestals.
And peace be to Mac. It seems that people forgot how to respect the hustle.
@Lu
Turn on the radio, count how many times you heard lil wayne’s voice, then listen to how many times you hear Mac, Wiz, Wale, or Cole’s voice. That should answer your question?
*walksnin, salutes Mac, turns around to leave bump “So Smooth” from Dogg Food*
This is DJ Eaaaaaaaasy Dick….
LMAO. TSS got them wolves, man. I guess I can understand why “some” rap fans are mad. Some really need every white rapper to be Apathy, every Black rapper to be Nas, and really wish that the average person cared more about “lyrics”.
But, the sad truth is, man (sarcasm), rhyming a lot, having the most wordplay, the best delivery, or some boom baptastic drums… Means shit to 90% of the population. Relatability, narrative, and feeling are what the average person listens for. It doesn’t make them dumber than you. It just means they find enjoyment of different aspects of the music.
Although, going around talking trash about how awful their taste in music is might be a factor in their decision not to listen to YOUR favorites as well. No one likes a troll.
I get it though. You want your taste to be validated by the larger audience. It’s not about hating Mac, Wiz, Wayne, Lil’ B, Wolf Gang, Veggies, or whoever the hell. It’s: “Why are they popular when my favorite artist isn’t? I want people to acknowledge that this thing I like is cool, by also liking it. Then I can be even cooler because I WAS THERE FIRST.”
Welp. Sorry rap fans. It doesn’t work that way, and it never will. Once you accept it, things really are that much easier.
Also, just to bust the last of the bubbles… There was never any such thing as “real hip-hop”.
Have a nice day.
Haven’t been able to read through all the responses yet, but I’m a fan of Mac. Kid has always just been about fun, and the way he and his team have approached business has been extremely fun to watch. They’re smart. There’s no way around it.
It now looks like his first week is going to be closer to 175-200k.
With that said, the album is kind of boring. I thought K.I.D.S. was incredible, Best Day Ever was good, but there doesn’t seem to be any true hits on Blue Slide Park… IMO
Hold man, hold the hell up. This was never a post saying you HAD to be a fan of Mac. Your taste is music is YOUR taste in music. I’m not even a huge fan of dude.
But the fact some people find it wrong that another man finding success is truly amazing. I don’t know most of y’all from this comment box I’m typing in and I damn sure hope you have as much success as life will permit you. Where I’m from you don’t knock down another man for making money and finding success in something he loves. Shit, I can only pray I do that in life.
Mac found his lane and is sticking to it. How hard is that to respect? If everyone rapped about the same exact stuff filling the same exact lane, what would be the point in even listening to music?