connections can only get you so far imo. you have to be able to execute.

You gotta remember when you was 15-17 though.

You wasn't really tryna hear depressed quarter life crisis raps lol.

I'd say that the problem is just a lack of a video countdown type thing that matters to put Earl next to YK Osiris and DaBaby or whatever (which is funny bc DaBaby pushing 30 and Earl like maybe just now 24-25 lol)

Went through a few of your songs. I fw them but bruh the videos need some work man lmao. I like your style a lot btw.

I'd say its a bit of both. Marketing for initial success (I guess if memes count as marketing in 2019 then those too.) but talent is gonna be what gives you longevity.

B**** I still don’t have an album

Lil Nas came up on a meme but knows how to make dope music, and is probably gonna be popping for a while. Not to mention he knows how to use twitter to his advantage. So I def see what you're saying

Execute like Rich The Kid? French Montana? Lol it's a lot of relatively sucky niggas who kinda just flourish bc they finessed connections.

I actually see it happening right now in my own area with producers getting plugged to platinum artists and flourishing off of loops lol. this whole game just about being in the same room

Yeah I kinda wrote him off initially but he def showing me wrong. Idk, I think s*** like Tik Tok gonna really push artists at least for the next couple years since that platform really starting to blow up

but then you have established rappers trying to make waves on tik tok

no slander please. I will say A&R is a talent. Everything depends on your definition of success.

execution meaning... yo, hit the studio and come out with a record with the resources that you have.

execution meaning... yo, hit the stage and destroy every last bar.

I used to love Soulja Boy's little vlog s***s around this time 11-12 years ago.

That s*** aged like microwaved milk but hearing "Hey You There" or like Jerkin music still take me back to being 12-13 lmao.

I'd assume it's gonna be a dynamic like that with these kids. It's just that now niggas (and subsequently the social media commetators like Ak) get gassed to think they gonna be here for 20-30 years when I'm sure in Ben J and Legacy mind they knew what it was LMAO.

Huh? I don't understand what you're tryna say please rephrase.

Watch that mans yt videos, he dont even know wtf going on

I do agree with you to an extent. I'd just rather not name any names. I'm not into using d*** riding as a means of transportation...

I appreciate it man. it's DIY all the way. so just keeping it in that style. I still think talent is the key.

Yeah I feel you. You got the mainstream sound but its unique and not 'bad'. I fw it. Followed you on twitter

Lmao huh? Who brought up even "naming names"

I'm weird AF. my bad for that. talent is key. connections could hook it up for sure but talent/expertise allows you to write your own ticket.

you gotta have both for a long lasting career, like you don't have to be the most talented or the most marketable but you gotta be at least both to some extent

also you gotta stop boxing in what talent is tbh

ppl here taking extra lyrical rappers as the barometer of what "talent" is as if making the most intricate triple entendres were the only thing that mattered. there's a certain skill tied to the ability to create a melody thatll forever stay in the minds of ppl and a flow thatll make everyone dance in your city and i highly doubt that even if they tried their hardest, artists like aesop rock or earl sweatshirt could do this.

Eh

I think for the very first people who do a style (Thug, Future, Keef, Carti/Uzi to an extent) this is true but for most of the people who come to mind when this convo is had (melodies and trap esque flows) they're copying a blueprint that already works and they just have the image and $$$ behind them to do their own version of it

I’ve come across people who didn’t even do music and said if they just focused on their image and how they presented it, they’d gain a following. Music can be figured out in time, or even never at all with the way writers and studio talent can be hired, but an image people gravitate towards is difficult.

I Agree, like i said you gotta be cool first

ofc its marketing but skill will always prevail at the end of the day, like if you got real talent u will somehow, some way get yout foot in the door