Jeezy's last album nearly sold 700,000 and had one top 40 hit iirc. It was a trademark Def Jam/modern hip hop album: bloated guest list, expensive videos. I can understand why Def Jam isn't going to open the check book for another, especially given the diminishing returns effect that dominates hip hop. IE a rapper almost never comes close to out-doing his biggest recent record anymore, unless he's Jay-Z or Eminem. Even Drake looks like he won't outdo Thank Me Later. Most recently we saw this with 2 Chainz bombing, and next year we'll see it when Kendrick struggles to go gold.
The most interesting thing about this is that Jeezy got his last album release date around the time Ross was getting his project (GFID) pushed back due to multiple singles bombing. At the time I remember people here and on SOHH/The Coli/Twitter/etc saying Jeezy won. Now the tables are reversed: Ross is popping due to guest verse shine, Jeezy is nowhere to be seen.
But do you think the record labels are asking Jeezy and or 50 to outdo their best sales #s? Or are they asking them to do respectable #s for the budget they now demand? I see that as more of a problem. 50 cent probably thinks he deserves the budget a Jay Z or Em album gets, but he can't back it up anymore. The promotion and marketing behind such big projects has to be paid for.
With the exception of a few miscues here and there, record labels have access to all sorts of sales predictions, algorithms, and data and the only business they are in is to make more money. Why would they deny themselves even a small profit if it meant getting a contract off their books?
Went Gold and I don't think it's sales that are the issue. Jeezy got hits, he even mentioned a song he convinced Jay to give him during the MCHG sessions. They're probably bitter he showed his intention to join Atlantic too early by becoming their VP of A&R.
Personally I don't think it's sales that are holding 50 up either. They can't expect him to put those numbers up again. When it comes to hip hop in the mainstream across the world 50 is still a bigger name than most rappers and Aftermath doesn't want to lose him from the roster.
Nas better have a good route to escape. Once he is free hopefully he follows through on the plans to do the album with Premier.
I think at the end of the day the record labels only care about making money. If releasing a Jeezy or 50 Cent project guaranteed the money it once used to or even to make a sizable profit there would be no issue. And I guess I worded it wrong. Should have said profit, not necessarily sales.
I mean holding a guy hostage to his contract only to not let him go makes no sense because either way you aren't making money. The smart move would be to release the project, hope for a profit, and let the artist walk and bet on diminishing returns.
50 might be a bigger name than most rappers but I think his last 2 albums have been financial flops.
