x had a distribution deal, which is still done through a major label.

i completely disagree, quite the opposite - when there is alot of money on the line it brings out the best. hence the reason why most rappers fall off after their deal.

Why not use tunecore or something to distribute your music and hire a sick independent marketing company and pay them 500k to promote your album. I have a feeling they would do a better job than a record label

Probably because of it

Every rapper? I'm assuming you are talking about those want to be an A list artist. But even then, not every artist need a record deal to do so (ex. Mac Miller pre Good AM, Macklemore, Chance) but some major label services can be taken advantage of.

For example, Warner Music (top 3 biggest labels) have a division called ADA specifically for independent artist who do not want to sign a record deal but may need something like distribution done. (This the route Mavklemore went)

Also not every rapper wants the same level of success or even have the same goals, so dont agree with the "every rapper" part.

It's a division called ADA, not weird. Many artist use this service including Run the Jewels. They actually just opened up a office in Japan so the division is going global

Alright well at the time (Around 2012/13) when Thrift Shop blew up, it was weird.

Mac Miller had this deal too.
It sounds like a distribution deal

not true, he had 10 albums that flopped and got big from gamers using his s*** lol

he was famous before that and he only got distributed by EMPIRE which isn’t a major label

False. Chance was hosting SNL years before he even put out his debut album. I know he eventually flopped but that's because the music was trash, not because he didn't have a label

I would say its more likely they find it harder to STAY relevant

Cuz a lot of people have deals and are irrelevant

Nice propaganda OP we're all staying independent nowadays

Never heard a track by him until I heard it on the 2k soundtrack

Because people have 500k laying around lol

Also Mario Judah is independent

radio will never die as long as major labels exist, they need radio to make sure their plants start getting listened to one way or another

i thought this too, but he signed to atlantic records apparently according to helloyassine. idk his source but it surprised me

lets say there was a way for artists to get that type of money (advance money) while remaining independent? Then what would stop an artist from paying 500k for marketing, 300k to record the album, and 200k for visuals like music videos and stuff. At that point an artist would be able to release a huge album without the help of a record label

His current songs are licensed under himself in AM, so he became relevant without a deal

I’d sell my soul for a bag 🤷‍♂️ F*** it id sell my masters too...