Russ gives thoughts on the artists getting blackballed conversation.
Just recently, DaBaby responds to the first week’s sales of his new album “Baby On Baby 2“, and stated that he’s getting blackballed after only moving around 16,000 units in the first week. The project charted outside the top 20 on Billboard 200, which is a huge drop from his previous solo album “Blame It On Baby” which topped the charts in 2020 with 124,000 numbers in the first week.
Now the Atlanta rapper decided to chime in the conversation and gives his views on artists getting blackballed. “I just wanna give my two cents on something in my industry. No artist is blackballed,” he wrote. “Unless they cut off your Wi-Fi, remove your social media accounts and take your music off all the streaming platforms, you are not blackballed. If you are famous and can still tell your fans, ‘hey I’m putting out music,’ then you’re not blackballed.”
He continued, “Fans will listen to your music or they won’t. It’s that simple. Also if you’re a famous artist and you NEED playlists in order for people to listen to your music, how real are your fans? Why don’t they support you regardless? We’re giving too much credit and power to DSP’s and not enough power to us (the artists) and the fans.”
“I know for me, as long as I can tell my fans I’m putting out music. I’m straight. I’m not entitled to any playlists NOR do I need them for my fans to listen to me. That’s why they’re my FANS.”
no one is “blackballed” pic.twitter.com/LTSxCmjfSg
— RUSS (@russdiemon) October 3, 2022
DJ Akademiks previously stated that the rapper is getting blackballed by the likes of Ebro, Apple Music and others. Da Baby last project in 2020 ‘Blame it on Baby’ sold 124K first week,” he wrote. “His new project after being blackballed by Ebro, Apple Music is scheduled to do less than 20K. Now yall understand my Ebro convo…. DSPs control who is hot and who is not. Fall out of favor with them.. UR DONE.”
Since years ago, Russ’s admirers have remained devoted backers of the independent rapper. The 30-year-old shared Instagram account balances in July, showing off the bags he’d obtained from TuneCore and his own distribution. The modest initial cheque he received from TuneCore in 2012 and his updated figures were then put side by side.
“Inspirational purposes only,” he wrote. “April 2022. Half a million made off indie catalogue, just the master side. First slide is from my own distribution, second slide is Tunecore. Last slide is my first check ever independent. Make what you want. Stay consistent. Own it.”
