Tierra Whack “World Wide Whack” Album Review

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Since dropping 3 genre-blending EPs back in 2021, Philadelphia rapper Tierra Whack has remained mostly quiet. Her groundbreaking debut album Whack World showcased a unique blend of sounds and vibes when it dropped in 2018, though the project was criminally short with each track clocking in at just one minute in length or less. On March 15, 2-24, Whack finally released her long-awaited follow-up, World Wide Whack. The latest effort from the 28-year-old contains 15 tracks with a total run-time of 37 minutes, offering the most robust look into her growing catalog yet. World Wide Whack has no features and already serves as an easy contender for best album art of 2024.

Read More: Tierra Whack Net Worth 2024: Updated Wealth Of The Rapper

Tierra Whack Is Ms. Morale

While Tierra Whack has gone above and beyond to carve out her own lane in the music industry, crafting sonically unique tracks that sound unlike anything else, a few songs on World Wide Whack seemingly prove that she does have one major rap influence. The fried vocal effects and jungle-style drum patterns on “Ms Behave” make the track sound like it belongs on the Top Dawg Entertainment Black Panther soundtrack from 2018, curated by former TDE signee Kendrick Lamar. This isn’t the only time Kendrick Lamar’s influence is felt on the record, either, as the track “X” sounds like it could have easily been an early demo for Kendrick’s 2022 track “Mr. Morale.” The discordant piano melodies that open “Snake Eyes” are also reminiscent of the intro instrumentation to Kendrick’s “Count Me Out,” proving that the Compton, California rapper has an unshakable impact on the state of modern music.

Despite a few instances of World Wide Whack wearing its influences on its sleeve, the album is wholly original and entirely peerless, as no working artist is creating the specific blend of out-of-the-box sounds that Tierra Whack has mastered. One track near the back-end of the album, titled “Invitation,” offers the lyrics “Every song I drop I change the sound” showcasing Whack’s penchant for delivering a flurry of sonic curveballs.

The Album’s Themes Are Very Dark

Unlike Tierra’s previous work, this album is very dark and often references depression, self-harm, and even suicide. The earliest and most glaring instances of these themes crop up on the track “Numb.” “Numb” is an especially vulnerable song, offering a haunting spaced-out instrumental with lyrics like “How’d I make it this far? Long sleeves cover scars/ My tears in a jar/ Drink ’em like I’m at the bar/ To the bridge in my car, now I’m swimming with the sharks/ Can’t swim so I’m goin’ down/ Can’t swim so I’m goin’ drown.”

From there, the album continues to provide additional thematic gut-punches, with tracks like “Burning Brains” and “Accessible” telling a tale of lost love in the final days of a failing relationship. While Tierra Whack’s woes do not all stem from her difficulty connecting with her partner, this impending break-up weighs heavy on her and worsens her already depressed state.

All of this comes to a head on the song “Imaginary Friends,” which sits dead in the center of the album’s tracklist. The song ties each of the major themes of World Wide Whack together at once, focusing on the cyclical nature of fighting and making up with your partner, depression and suicidal thoughts, and childhood innocence. On the surface, this song is about the nature of friendship, though reading between the lines offers a heart-breaking glimpse into Tierra Whack’s fractured view of love and loss.

Read More: Tierra Whack Reveals Tyler, The Creator’s Advice & Updates Fans About Collab

Conclusion:

Tierra Whack concludes her latest album with a one-two punch of “Two Night” and “27 Club.” The former is a delightfully upbeat song that sees the Philadelphia native succumbing to her feelings about death, and finding herself in the throes of blissful acceptance. The track is a certified tearjerker, solidifying the album’s dark themes before transitioning into the haunting “27 Club.” World Wide Whack ends on an especially dour note, with Whack waxing poetic about the possibility of taking her own life.

While the album is sonically fantastic, fans of Tierra Whack’s music will surely be left in tears when the final track cuts to silence. Despite the album’s sad closer, World Wide Whack showcases Tierra’s generational talent, and offers some deep insight into her creative process. The project is handily one of the best releases of 2024 thus far, and is all but guaranteed to appear on several “best albums of the year” lists this coming December.

[Via]

The post Tierra Whack “World Wide Whack” Album Review appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Tierra Whack “World Wide Whack” Album Review

by

Since dropping 3 genre-blending EPs back in 2021, Philadelphia rapper Tierra Whack has remained mostly quiet. Her groundbreaking debut album Whack World showcased a unique blend of sounds and vibes when it dropped in 2018, though the project was criminally short with each track clocking in at just one minute in length or less. On March 15, 2-24, Whack finally released her long-awaited follow-up, World Wide Whack. The latest effort from the 28-year-old contains 15 tracks with a total run-time of 37 minutes, offering the most robust look into her growing catalog yet. World Wide Whack has no features and already serves as an easy contender for best album art of 2024.

Read More: Tierra Whack Net Worth 2024: Updated Wealth Of The Rapper

Tierra Whack Is Ms. Morale

While Tierra Whack has gone above and beyond to carve out her own lane in the music industry, crafting sonically unique tracks that sound unlike anything else, a few songs on World Wide Whack seemingly prove that she does have one major rap influence. The fried vocal effects and jungle-style drum patterns on “Ms Behave” make the track sound like it belongs on the Top Dawg Entertainment Black Panther soundtrack from 2018, curated by former TDE signee Kendrick Lamar. This isn’t the only time Kendrick Lamar’s influence is felt on the record, either, as the track “X” sounds like it could have easily been an early demo for Kendrick’s 2022 track “Mr. Morale.” The discordant piano melodies that open “Snake Eyes” are also reminiscent of the intro instrumentation to Kendrick’s “Count Me Out,” proving that the Compton, California rapper has an unshakable impact on the state of modern music.

Despite a few instances of World Wide Whack wearing its influences on its sleeve, the album is wholly original and entirely peerless, as no working artist is creating the specific blend of out-of-the-box sounds that Tierra Whack has mastered. One track near the back-end of the album, titled “Invitation,” offers the lyrics “Every song I drop I change the sound” showcasing Whack’s penchant for delivering a flurry of sonic curveballs.

The Album’s Themes Are Very Dark

Unlike Tierra’s previous work, this album is very dark and often references depression, self-harm, and even suicide. The earliest and most glaring instances of these themes crop up on the track “Numb.” “Numb” is an especially vulnerable song, offering a haunting spaced-out instrumental with lyrics like “How’d I make it this far? Long sleeves cover scars/ My tears in a jar/ Drink ’em like I’m at the bar/ To the bridge in my car, now I’m swimming with the sharks/ Can’t swim so I’m goin’ down/ Can’t swim so I’m goin’ drown.”

From there, the album continues to provide additional thematic gut-punches, with tracks like “Burning Brains” and “Accessible” telling a tale of lost love in the final days of a failing relationship. While Tierra Whack’s woes do not all stem from her difficulty connecting with her partner, this impending break-up weighs heavy on her and worsens her already depressed state.

All of this comes to a head on the song “Imaginary Friends,” which sits dead in the center of the album’s tracklist. The song ties each of the major themes of World Wide Whack together at once, focusing on the cyclical nature of fighting and making up with your partner, depression and suicidal thoughts, and childhood innocence. On the surface, this song is about the nature of friendship, though reading between the lines offers a heart-breaking glimpse into Tierra Whack’s fractured view of love and loss.

Read More: Tierra Whack Reveals Tyler, The Creator’s Advice & Updates Fans About Collab

Conclusion:

Tierra Whack concludes her latest album with a one-two punch of “Two Night” and “27 Club.” The former is a delightfully upbeat song that sees the Philadelphia native succumbing to her feelings about death, and finding herself in the throes of blissful acceptance. The track is a certified tearjerker, solidifying the album’s dark themes before transitioning into the haunting “27 Club.” World Wide Whack ends on an especially dour note, with Whack waxing poetic about the possibility of taking her own life.

While the album is sonically fantastic, fans of Tierra Whack’s music will surely be left in tears when the final track cuts to silence. Despite the album’s sad closer, World Wide Whack showcases Tierra’s generational talent, and offers some deep insight into her creative process. The project is handily one of the best releases of 2024 thus far, and is all but guaranteed to appear on several “best albums of the year” lists this coming December.

[Via]

The post Tierra Whack “World Wide Whack” Album Review appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Snoop Dogg’s Youth Football League: Which Players Have Been Drafted To The NFL?

by

Most of the world knows Snoop Dogg as a legendary rapper and an iconic figure in the Hip Hop scene. While that is true, the MC has also ventured into many other things in entertainment and beyond. One of his most interesting ventures yet is inarguably the Snoop Youth Football League, which he founded in 2005. Since its inception, the league has had over 60,000 kids go through it. Out of the multitude, several of its former players have moved on to greater things. As a matter of fact, a number of former Snoop Youth Football League players have been drafted into the NFL while others, like Vince Staples, have followed more closely in Snoop’s footsteps. During a recent appearance on Nick Cannon’s Big Drive, Snoop shared that his league has produced a handful of NFL players. Here they are.

Read More: The Life & Legacy Of Death Row Records

C.J. Stroud

One of the most popular alumni of the Snoop Youth Football League, C.J. Stroud is a very gifted player. The 22-year-old was born on October 3, 2001, and honed his skills at a young age in Snoop’s league. Subsequently, Stroud played college football at Ohio State before being drafted into the NFL in 2023. He was the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft where he was selected by the Houston Texans. Since then, he has gone on to achieve some impressive feats playing as the team’s quarterback. At the NFL Honors on February 7, 2024, Stroud took home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. 

Jack Jones

Jack Jones currently plays as a cornerback for the Las Vegas Raiders. Before being drafted into the NFL, he went through the Snoop Youth Football League. Subsequently, Jones went on to play college football at USC, Moorpark College, and Arizona State University. While at Arizona State, he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. After being waived by the Patriots in November 2023, Jones was claimed by the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Read More: Snoop Dogg & Adidas Link Up For Adizero Football Cleat

Keisean Nixon

After sharpening his skills at the Snoop Youth Football League, Keisean Nixon moved on to play college football at Arizona Western. Soon after, however, he transferred to the University of South Carolina. While there, in 2019, Nixon was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Raiders. Subsequently, in 2022, he signed with the Green Bay Packers, and has played with them since. The 26-year-old recently agreed to re-sign with the Packers.

Juju Smith-Schuster 

In the 2017 NFL draft, Juju Smith-Schuster was the 62nd overall pick, selected in the second round. Before this, he had spent some time in the Snoop Youth Football League when he was younger. He also gained significant skills and experience playing college football for the USC Trojans. After he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017, he played with the team until the 2021 season. In 2022, Smith-Schuster played for the Kansas City Chiefs, but only for a year. Since 2023, the wide receiver has played for the New England Patriots. 

Read More: Snoop Dogg’s Netflix Series “Coach Snoop” Is A Must-Watch For Inspiration

Romeo Doubs

Another product of the Snoop Youth Football League, Romeo Doubs now plays for the Green Bay Packers. The 23-year-old played college football at the University of Nevada before he was drafted into the NFL in 2022. Doubs was the 132nd overall pick, and was drafted in the fourth round by the Packers during the 2022 NFL draft. Since then, he has played with the team as a wide receiver.

Deommodore Lenoir

After his time at the Snoop Youth Football league, Deommodore Lenoir went on to play college football at the University of Oregon. Being a phenomenal talent, it’s no surprise that he subsequently got drafted into the NFL. During the 2021 NFL draft, Lenoir was the 172nd overall pick, and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round. He plays the cornerback position, and has remained in the team since he joined in 2021.

Daiyan Henley

Since his time at the Snoop Youth Football League, David Henley has been a notable football player. Likewise, while playing college football at Nevada and Washington State between 2017 and 2022, his talent shone brightly. Subsequently, Henley was selected in the 2023 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. He was drafted in the third round, and was the 85th overall pick. The 24-year-old plays as a linebacker, and is slowly but surely making his mark in the team. 

Ronnie Hillman

Ronnie Hillman is notable for being the very first Snoop Youth Football League alumnus to make it into the NFL. After his time in the league, he played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs. Subsequently, he transitioned into the NFL when he was drafted in 2012. The Denver Broncos drafted Hillman in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft. He was the 67th overall pick, and stayed with the team until 2015. Afterwards, he played for the Minnesota Vikings (2016), the San Diego Chargers (2016), and the Dallas Cowboys (2017). Unfortunately, Ronnie Hillman passed away at the age of 31 in 2022 due to renal medullary carcinoma, a rare form of kidney cancer. 

De’Anthony Thomas

De’Anthony Thomas played college football at Oregon after his time with the Snoop Youth Football League. Subsequently, Thomas was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He is a wide receiver and a return specialist, and played with the Chiefs from 2014 until 2019. Afterwards, he played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2019 to 2020.

John Ross

A talented wide receiver, John Ross is among the alumni of the Snoop Youth Football League who made it into the NFL. After playing college football at the University of Washington, he was drafted into the NFL in 2017. Ross was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals as the ninth overall pick. He stayed in the team from 2017 until 2020 before transferring to the New York Giants in 2021. Afterwards, Ross signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in January 2023. However, in July 2023, the 28-year-old informed the team that he was retiring.

[via]

The post Snoop Dogg’s Youth Football League: Which Players Have Been Drafted To The NFL? appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Snoop Dogg’s Youth Football League: Which Players Have Been Drafted To The NFL?

by

Most of the world knows Snoop Dogg as a legendary rapper and an iconic figure in the Hip Hop scene. While that is true, the MC has also ventured into many other things in entertainment and beyond. One of his most interesting ventures yet is inarguably the Snoop Youth Football League, which he founded in 2005. Since its inception, the league has had over 60,000 kids go through it. Out of the multitude, several of its former players have moved on to greater things. As a matter of fact, a number of former Snoop Youth Football League players have been drafted into the NFL while others, like Vince Staples, have followed more closely in Snoop’s footsteps. During a recent appearance on Nick Cannon’s Big Drive, Snoop shared that his league has produced a handful of NFL players. Here they are.

Read More: The Life & Legacy Of Death Row Records

C.J. Stroud

One of the most popular alumni of the Snoop Youth Football League, C.J. Stroud is a very gifted player. The 22-year-old was born on October 3, 2001, and honed his skills at a young age in Snoop’s league. Subsequently, Stroud played college football at Ohio State before being drafted into the NFL in 2023. He was the second overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft where he was selected by the Houston Texans. Since then, he has gone on to achieve some impressive feats playing as the team’s quarterback. At the NFL Honors on February 7, 2024, Stroud took home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. 

Jack Jones

Jack Jones currently plays as a cornerback for the Las Vegas Raiders. Before being drafted into the NFL, he went through the Snoop Youth Football League. Subsequently, Jones went on to play college football at USC, Moorpark College, and Arizona State University. While at Arizona State, he was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. After being waived by the Patriots in November 2023, Jones was claimed by the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Read More: Snoop Dogg & Adidas Link Up For Adizero Football Cleat

Keisean Nixon

After sharpening his skills at the Snoop Youth Football League, Keisean Nixon moved on to play college football at Arizona Western. Soon after, however, he transferred to the University of South Carolina. While there, in 2019, Nixon was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Raiders. Subsequently, in 2022, he signed with the Green Bay Packers, and has played with them since. The 26-year-old recently agreed to re-sign with the Packers.

Juju Smith-Schuster 

In the 2017 NFL draft, Juju Smith-Schuster was the 62nd overall pick, selected in the second round. Before this, he had spent some time in the Snoop Youth Football League when he was younger. He also gained significant skills and experience playing college football for the USC Trojans. After he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017, he played with the team until the 2021 season. In 2022, Smith-Schuster played for the Kansas City Chiefs, but only for a year. Since 2023, the wide receiver has played for the New England Patriots. 

Read More: Snoop Dogg’s Netflix Series “Coach Snoop” Is A Must-Watch For Inspiration

Romeo Doubs

Another product of the Snoop Youth Football League, Romeo Doubs now plays for the Green Bay Packers. The 23-year-old played college football at the University of Nevada before he was drafted into the NFL in 2022. Doubs was the 132nd overall pick, and was drafted in the fourth round by the Packers during the 2022 NFL draft. Since then, he has played with the team as a wide receiver.

Deommodore Lenoir

After his time at the Snoop Youth Football league, Deommodore Lenoir went on to play college football at the University of Oregon. Being a phenomenal talent, it’s no surprise that he subsequently got drafted into the NFL. During the 2021 NFL draft, Lenoir was the 172nd overall pick, and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round. He plays the cornerback position, and has remained in the team since he joined in 2021.

Daiyan Henley

Since his time at the Snoop Youth Football League, David Henley has been a notable football player. Likewise, while playing college football at Nevada and Washington State between 2017 and 2022, his talent shone brightly. Subsequently, Henley was selected in the 2023 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. He was drafted in the third round, and was the 85th overall pick. The 24-year-old plays as a linebacker, and is slowly but surely making his mark in the team. 

Ronnie Hillman

Ronnie Hillman is notable for being the very first Snoop Youth Football League alumnus to make it into the NFL. After his time in the league, he played college football for the San Diego State Aztecs. Subsequently, he transitioned into the NFL when he was drafted in 2012. The Denver Broncos drafted Hillman in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft. He was the 67th overall pick, and stayed with the team until 2015. Afterwards, he played for the Minnesota Vikings (2016), the San Diego Chargers (2016), and the Dallas Cowboys (2017). Unfortunately, Ronnie Hillman passed away at the age of 31 in 2022 due to renal medullary carcinoma, a rare form of kidney cancer. 

De’Anthony Thomas

De’Anthony Thomas played college football at Oregon after his time with the Snoop Youth Football League. Subsequently, Thomas was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He is a wide receiver and a return specialist, and played with the Chiefs from 2014 until 2019. Afterwards, he played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2019 to 2020.

John Ross

A talented wide receiver, John Ross is among the alumni of the Snoop Youth Football League who made it into the NFL. After playing college football at the University of Washington, he was drafted into the NFL in 2017. Ross was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals as the ninth overall pick. He stayed in the team from 2017 until 2020 before transferring to the New York Giants in 2021. Afterwards, Ross signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in January 2023. However, in July 2023, the 28-year-old informed the team that he was retiring.

[via]

The post Snoop Dogg’s Youth Football League: Which Players Have Been Drafted To The NFL? appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Lil Yachty Fires Back At Critics Accusing Him Of Biting Playboi Carti’s Flow

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Earlier this week, Kai Cenat previewed a new Lil Yachty track during a livestream, giving his fans a taste of what’s to come. Unfortunately, however, some listeners have been less than impressed, and have even started to accuse the performer of jacking Playboi Carti’s style. Aside from the flow-stealing allegations, Lil Yachty is also being called out for what critics call a lackluster beat.

Amid all of the backlash, Lil Yachty hopped on Twitter/X to fire back, coming to his own defense. He responded to one user’s comment on Kai Cenat’s preview, writing, “Carti can’t try 1 new sound without rappers immediately biting him, he’s generational.” The Georgia-born performer made it clear he didn’t appreciate the attack. “Biting him?” he asked. “How did i bite him? the beat? if that’s the case i been workin with cardo since 2019-2020 on record yall fans be smoking the strongest d*ck.”

Read More: Lil Yachty Hilariously Previews New Track On IG To Some Lukewarm Reactions

Lil Yachty Denies Biting Playboi Carti’s Flow

“The song is terrible,” the critic then replied. “The beat is a ‘H00DBYAIR’-type beat. Your flow is an obvious attempt at a Carti flow, and you used a ‘what’ ad-lib in the same cadence [that] Carti uses.” Unfortunately, Playboi Carti isn’t the only fellow MC Lil Yachty’s been accused of copying as of late. After he teased his new track “Swing My Way” this week, fans had mixed reactions, though many agreed it was reminiscent of Veeze. While some think the track isn’t nearly as groundbreaking as they’d hoped, others are eager to hear it in full, and already predicting it could become the “song of the summer.”

Either way, it doesn’t look like Lil Yachty plans on letting critics get him down anytime soon. What do you think of Lil Yachty’s response to being accused of stealing Playboi Carti’s flow? Are you picking up on any similarities, or are critics reaching? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Lil Yachty & Dr. Umar Debate Use Of The N-Word

[Via]

The post Lil Yachty Fires Back At Critics Accusing Him Of Biting Playboi Carti’s Flow appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Lil Yachty Fires Back At Critics Accusing Him Of Biting Playboi Carti’s Flow

by

Earlier this week, Kai Cenat previewed a new Lil Yachty track during a livestream, giving his fans a taste of what’s to come. Unfortunately, however, some listeners have been less than impressed, and have even started to accuse the performer of jacking Playboi Carti’s style. Aside from the flow-stealing allegations, Lil Yachty is also being called out for what critics call a lackluster beat.

Amid all of the backlash, Lil Yachty hopped on Twitter/X to fire back, coming to his own defense. He responded to one user’s comment on Kai Cenat’s preview, writing, “Carti can’t try 1 new sound without rappers immediately biting him, he’s generational.” The Georgia-born performer made it clear he didn’t appreciate the attack. “Biting him?” he asked. “How did i bite him? the beat? if that’s the case i been workin with cardo since 2019-2020 on record yall fans be smoking the strongest d*ck.”

Read More: Lil Yachty Hilariously Previews New Track On IG To Some Lukewarm Reactions

Lil Yachty Denies Biting Playboi Carti’s Flow

“The song is terrible,” the critic then replied. “The beat is a ‘H00DBYAIR’-type beat. Your flow is an obvious attempt at a Carti flow, and you used a ‘what’ ad-lib in the same cadence [that] Carti uses.” Unfortunately, Playboi Carti isn’t the only fellow MC Lil Yachty’s been accused of copying as of late. After he teased his new track “Swing My Way” this week, fans had mixed reactions, though many agreed it was reminiscent of Veeze. While some think the track isn’t nearly as groundbreaking as they’d hoped, others are eager to hear it in full, and already predicting it could become the “song of the summer.”

Either way, it doesn’t look like Lil Yachty plans on letting critics get him down anytime soon. What do you think of Lil Yachty’s response to being accused of stealing Playboi Carti’s flow? Are you picking up on any similarities, or are critics reaching? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.

Read More: Lil Yachty & Dr. Umar Debate Use Of The N-Word

[Via]

The post Lil Yachty Fires Back At Critics Accusing Him Of Biting Playboi Carti’s Flow appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

James Blake Launches Vault Amid Streaming Payout Debate: Everything To Know About The Direct-To-Artist Platform

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Earlier this month, James Blake went viral for a series of comments on social media about the royalties that artists earn from streaming services and TikTok. In an Instagram story, he criticized TikTok’s effect on songwriting and listeners’ attention spans. He specifically detailed the pressure on artists to prioritize social media marketing over creating music. Blake referenced TikTok’s reduction of songs to short clips, leading to fans only knowing a small portion of them.

James Blake later took to Twitter to elaborate on his comments, opening a dialogue with his fellow artists. “If we want quality music, somebody is gonna have to pay for it. Streaming services don’t pay properly. Labels want a bigger cut than ever and just sit and wait for you to go viral. TikTok doesn’t pay properly, and touring is getting prohibitively expensive for most artists,” he wrote. Blake also stated that streaming encourages artists to produce and release music quickly, diminishing the creative process. Such little pay prepares consumers for “AI-generated music that pays musicians nothing at all.” Tyler, The Creator, Blood Orange, Shay Lia, and others supported his comments.

Further expressing his frustrations with the exploitation of artists from labels, digital streaming platforms, and the industry at large, he called out the financial and artistic struggles faced by artists as a result of these business practices. Since then, James Blake has been campaigning for his fellow artists. His tweets and behind-the-scenes conversations have culminated in the announcement of Vault, a brand-new direct-to-consumer platform specializing in unreleased music. Here is what we know about James Blake’s latest venture.

Read More: James Blake Net Worth 2023: What Is The Singer Worth?

Vault Is a Direct-To-Consumer Platform

Yesterday (March 20th), James Blake took to social media, once again, to share some statistics about how “one million plays equals $3,000. If you are signed to a label, then that number’s cut by at least 50%.” After breaking down the splits of streaming royalties and the cost of creating, he revealed a possible solution for this issue. James Blake revealed that quickly after his viral social media posts, he was contacted by the creators of Vault. The service is primarily geared towards unreleased music, which does not always see the light of day due to not meeting “certain requirements or trends,” according to Blake. The British musician is assisting the platform’s launch in a major way. He is Vault’s first artist to share their unreleased songs, which can be unlocked for a $5-per-month subscription.

Pros & Cons Of Vault

Vault presents itself as a logical solution to the frequently expressed frustrations of artists with streaming companies and record labels. With James Blake backing the recently launched platform, it clearly offers a way to combat the current system of streaming payouts. Based on the current available information, it raises some pros and cons for both artists and fans. For artists, Vault cuts out the middleman, allowing them to receive fair compensation for their work at a direct-to-consumer rate. It also connects artists with their audience. Some perks include the chance for fans to chat with artists and priority offers including presale access to upcoming tours. Vault allows artists to share their unreleased music as frequently as they want.

So far, some cons of Vault include the fact that it is still being worked on. As explained by James Blake, he is the first artist to be a part of “this experiment,” specifying that the platform will add features or updates as necessary. But, as a paid service, it becomes just another subscription for fans. Many consumers already pay a monthly fee for one or multiple music and video streaming platforms. Vault seems to be most beneficial for artists like James Blake with established fanbases, not those aiming to develop their audience. 

In his video announcement, James Blake said that only “19% of artists on Spotify have over 1,000 monthly listeners.” It seems that Vault would positively affect this percentage of artists significantly more than other creators. Fans are more than likely going to pay subscriptions for their established favorites, excluding up-and-coming artists looking to build their careers. There is also the fact that this business model already exists with platforms like Patreon, but Vault positions itself as a personable service that specializes in unreleased content. 

Read More: James Blake Gets Experimental With “Playing Robots Into Heaven”

“Drop Music On Your Own Terms”

Vault’s slogan is a promising sentiment to artists fed up with how their music is valued by streaming and social media platforms. It offers a way for them to connect with their fans on their own accord, providing access to unreleased material and exclusive content. Most importantly, it cuts out extra expenses and allows them to release music at their desired frequency. With James Blake leading the charge, we will see how Vault fares in the current landscape of the music industry. 

[via]

The post James Blake Launches Vault Amid Streaming Payout Debate: Everything To Know About The Direct-To-Artist Platform appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

James Blake Launches Vault Amid Streaming Payout Debate: Everything To Know About The Direct-To-Artist Platform

by

Earlier this month, James Blake went viral for a series of comments on social media about the royalties that artists earn from streaming services and TikTok. In an Instagram story, he criticized TikTok’s effect on songwriting and listeners’ attention spans. He specifically detailed the pressure on artists to prioritize social media marketing over creating music. Blake referenced TikTok’s reduction of songs to short clips, leading to fans only knowing a small portion of them.

James Blake later took to Twitter to elaborate on his comments, opening a dialogue with his fellow artists. “If we want quality music, somebody is gonna have to pay for it. Streaming services don’t pay properly. Labels want a bigger cut than ever and just sit and wait for you to go viral. TikTok doesn’t pay properly, and touring is getting prohibitively expensive for most artists,” he wrote. Blake also stated that streaming encourages artists to produce and release music quickly, diminishing the creative process. Such little pay prepares consumers for “AI-generated music that pays musicians nothing at all.” Tyler, The Creator, Blood Orange, Shay Lia, and others supported his comments.

Further expressing his frustrations with the exploitation of artists from labels, digital streaming platforms, and the industry at large, he called out the financial and artistic struggles faced by artists as a result of these business practices. Since then, James Blake has been campaigning for his fellow artists. His tweets and behind-the-scenes conversations have culminated in the announcement of Vault, a brand-new direct-to-consumer platform specializing in unreleased music. Here is what we know about James Blake’s latest venture.

Read More: James Blake Net Worth 2023: What Is The Singer Worth?

Vault Is a Direct-To-Consumer Platform

Yesterday (March 20th), James Blake took to social media, once again, to share some statistics about how “one million plays equals $3,000. If you are signed to a label, then that number’s cut by at least 50%.” After breaking down the splits of streaming royalties and the cost of creating, he revealed a possible solution for this issue. James Blake revealed that quickly after his viral social media posts, he was contacted by the creators of Vault. The service is primarily geared towards unreleased music, which does not always see the light of day due to not meeting “certain requirements or trends,” according to Blake. The British musician is assisting the platform’s launch in a major way. He is Vault’s first artist to share their unreleased songs, which can be unlocked for a $5-per-month subscription.

Pros & Cons Of Vault

Vault presents itself as a logical solution to the frequently expressed frustrations of artists with streaming companies and record labels. With James Blake backing the recently launched platform, it clearly offers a way to combat the current system of streaming payouts. Based on the current available information, it raises some pros and cons for both artists and fans. For artists, Vault cuts out the middleman, allowing them to receive fair compensation for their work at a direct-to-consumer rate. It also connects artists with their audience. Some perks include the chance for fans to chat with artists and priority offers including presale access to upcoming tours. Vault allows artists to share their unreleased music as frequently as they want.

So far, some cons of Vault include the fact that it is still being worked on. As explained by James Blake, he is the first artist to be a part of “this experiment,” specifying that the platform will add features or updates as necessary. But, as a paid service, it becomes just another subscription for fans. Many consumers already pay a monthly fee for one or multiple music and video streaming platforms. Vault seems to be most beneficial for artists like James Blake with established fanbases, not those aiming to develop their audience. 

In his video announcement, James Blake said that only “19% of artists on Spotify have over 1,000 monthly listeners.” It seems that Vault would positively affect this percentage of artists significantly more than other creators. Fans are more than likely going to pay subscriptions for their established favorites, excluding up-and-coming artists looking to build their careers. There is also the fact that this business model already exists with platforms like Patreon, but Vault positions itself as a personable service that specializes in unreleased content. 

Read More: James Blake Gets Experimental With “Playing Robots Into Heaven”

“Drop Music On Your Own Terms”

Vault’s slogan is a promising sentiment to artists fed up with how their music is valued by streaming and social media platforms. It offers a way for them to connect with their fans on their own accord, providing access to unreleased material and exclusive content. Most importantly, it cuts out extra expenses and allows them to release music at their desired frequency. With James Blake leading the charge, we will see how Vault fares in the current landscape of the music industry. 

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