The term began to get used on ktt1 back when Raury was gaining traction, and it had a clear meaning
after a little while it started getting used by Complex and other media outlets, which is when the confusion and misinterpretation began (Complex is now absolved of any blame after giving YNS a look). This soon led to Raury appearing on the XXL freshman list cover with the infamous t-shirt
For one to be an industry plant, yes they must be signed to a major label. But that is not the only criteria; they must also be putting on a front that they are independent and have zero major label backing
An industry plant is not just any artist who gets signed to a major label, even if they were unknown beforehand. It is literally the job of a label to find talent and develop/give them a platform. The issue arises when said talent attempts to lie about the nature of their platform. The term was meant to call out dishonesty, not call out a label and artist for doing something completely normal and OK
That is all
edit: that is not all, found by @safe :
complex themselves say
"It’s difficult to pinpoint the first use of the phrase, but it seems to have emerged through message board culture at the start of the 2010s. A thread on the influential forum KanyeToThe from 2012 posits that everyone from Waka Flocka Flame to Lil Wayne to 50 Cent was an industry plant, albeit without any evidence."
im not saying og maco is bro, but pump definitely was
Pump wasn't lol, i've been following pump since 2015 and it's pretty evident when he was and wasn't indie
Industry Plant: signed to a label but pretending not to be signed and the come up to be organic
Industry Pushed: getting a strong push from the label via playlists and radio - think Khalid
Industry Connected - family/connections in the industry - think Clairo
3 different things
industry plants are not common
Pump wasn't lol, i've been following pump since 2015 and it's pretty evident when he was and wasn't indie
damn I feel sorry for you then
he did pop up outta nowhere tho
Industry Plant: signed to a label but pretending not to be signed and the come up to be organic
Industry Pushed: getting a strong push from the label via playlists and radio - think Khalid
Industry Connected - family/connections in the industry - think Clairo
3 different things
industry plants are not common
Clairo and Keem are definitely plants to an extent, they both really tried playing off their connections, especially clairo
people blowing up off the interent created the idea that everyone comes up the same way
all of your favorite artist are industry plants one way or another
im not saying og maco is bro, but pump definitely was
Pump wasn’t lol he owns his master for his debut album because Warner f***ed his contract up since he was a minor when he signed
damn I feel sorry for you then
he did pop up outta nowhere tho
not at all, he was part of the neu-Florida wave with Purpp, X, and Ski. They were all collaborating at the same time and even performed shows together
This is also why chance wasn’t a plant.
People confuse having connections with being a plant
Clairo and Keem are definitely plants to an extent, they both really tried playing off their connections, especially clairo
Yea agree
Not in a pure sense but they intersect
Also pretty sure RMR was a plant - he apparently signed after going viral but it seems too convenient feel like label signed him and made him go viral
This is also why chance wasn’t a plant.
People confuse having connections with being a plant
Chance definitely had plant tendencies. He contiuously said he was independent but had a ton of streaming deals out there
not at all, he was part of the neu-Florida wave with Purpp, X, and Ski. They were all collaborating at the same time and even performed shows together
Only one you mentioned that was worth talking about is X, the others fell off hard, so I guess they arent plants.
This is also why chance wasn’t a plant.
People confuse having connections with being a plant
The only somewhat legitimate argument for chance being a plant was the Apple deal
What about how bryson tiller popped up outta nowhere?
i wasnt listening to R&B when Bryson started popping
What about how bryson tiller popped up outta nowhere?
He’s been making music since like 2010