Hard(Core) Fans
written by JusHH
written by JusHH
When you think about what happened to Ja Rule’s career, who do you give the credit to? 50 Cent, right? The truth is, 50 didn’t end Ja’s career. It wasn’t even the Federal case against Murder Inc. Nope, the downfall can be attributed to Ja losing his core fans when he switched up his music. What you have to understand that the most important asset that any rapper can have isn’t a major record deal, endorsement or even a hit record, it’s having a core fan base.
Before we continue, we have to differentiate between fans and core fans…
Fans will buy your singles and even your albums when you are hot. Core fans will buy your music just because you’re releasing it. Fans will go see you on your national tour at sold out arenas. Core fans will drive 120 miles to see you at a local club in a small town. Fans will download your music. Core fans will download your music – but only because they can’t physically wait to hear it and will still go to the store and cop it. Fans love you because everyone else does. Core fans love you, period. Fans are fickle. Core fans are loyal.
With “This is Why I’m Hot”, Mims sold more singles than any one single in Common’s career. However 5 years from now, if they both dropped albums, Common will without question sell more albums. Because all those people will have deleted that ringtone and would have forgotten all about Mims, but there are people who still replay that Resurrection album and recite lyrics to “The Corner”.
You see the reason why so many of these artists fail, even after having a hit record is that they haven’t established a core fan base. Today’s music industry is no longer concerned with artist development as they were 10-15 years ago. If you aren’t affecting the bottom line, then you are going on the shelf. The one thing you absolutely need to establish core fans is time. People need time to know you, to love you. One song simply won’t get it done.
Snoop Dogg is a wonderful example of how having core fans can keep you on top. When Dre left Death Row and 2Pac was murdered, it seemed like the end of the road for the S-N-Double O-P. To escape the cesspool that Death Row had become, Snoop signed with Master P’s No Limit Records. Now name one of the dope songs that came out during that time. Don’t worry, I’ll wait. The truth is, he made awful music during that time and completely fell out of any G.O.A.T. discussions. But every one of those albums, went platinum because the group of people who would never give up on Snoop still went to the store hoping to recapture that magic and if nothing else, to support the guy that gave them so many memories. Now that Snoop is back with Dre, on a better label and making great music again, it’s like he never lost a step.
Nas just went gold without a radio hit, The Roots can still sell out shows, Fat Joe can stay relevant, Scarface can always get on a feature all because of their hard(core) fans.
Your core fans won’t guarantee platinum sales or world tours but it will guarantee that you can still get a check from someone somewhere. You will be asked for an autograph and you will always, always receive that love.
When 50 kicked Game out of G-Unit, he wasn’t half the success story that Ja Rule was. A lot of people thought it was the end of the road for him. But it wasn’t. Game’s career actually got stronger once he left because in a short period of time, he established a strong foundation of core fans. I don’t even think 50 realized it at the time – some people became core fans of Game because they hated 50 so much. See your core can even protect you against the biggest bully in rap music.
… sorry I can’t say the same thing for Buck.
2 comments:
And there will be core fans as long as there is quality music.
Even though it's in the RnB realm, I remember when Musiq and Lloyd dropped on the same day. Lloyd was buzzing 'cause of the joint he did with Weezy and the Get It Shawty joint. Irv Gotti was hella shocked when Musiq debuted at #1 despite him having much less buzz than Lloyd.
Don't get me wrong. Everybody likes hits, but what do you have once you get past the single on the radio? Even deeper, is your radio song so fluffy that people won't even think your album has substance? Great post.
Great post man...just as you said the core fan is the key factor for any longevity. I'm always gonna cop Outkast, LB and Roots because I've been down from day one. I mean I get withdrawal feelings if I haven't seen the Roots crew live in over a year. Of course that doesn't mean you can't be critical of their work...but you still support.
To a certain degree I think that the industry isnt built for new core fans as much as it used to be. Its built more for fads, trends and hot ringtones. "Young who....I need an opening act"
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