What I See - January07 by D2Nott
Name Change formerly Hip Hop Review Happy New Year! Will 2007 be a continuation of the previous or do we have something new and different to look forward to? Is Hip Hop Dead? How do aging rappers fit in the changing Hip Hop music culture? Does Hip Hop get you out of the street and springboard you into the boardroom? Do these statements represent the undercurrent of Hip Hop ambitions? Is every artist and/or label looking to the music industry to cash in like a free agent contract in sports? Have many of the resolutions made just a few weeks ago already fallen by the wayside as record sales follow the change in temperature, getting colder by the day? Notice the decline of over 18% in both Rap and R&B Album sales in 2006 compared to 2005. So stop to ponder why Nas would proclaim the death of Hip Hop. On Nas' part, was he ringing the alarm for those consciously charting a course for the culture or is he more of the prophet letting you know what it to come?
2006 GENRE ALBUM SALES REPORT (01/02/06-12/31/06)| GENRE | 2006 Sales | 2005 Sales | % Change | | Alternative | 109,672 | 120,797 | -9.2% | | Christian/ Gospel | 39,715 | 39,211 | 1.3% | | Classical | 19,447 | 15,875 | 22.5% | | Country | 74,886 | 75,327 | -0.5% | | Jazz | 15,720 | 17,139 | -8.3% | | Latin | 37,774 | 35,907 | 5.2% | | Metal | 61,557 | 64,473 | -4.5% | | New Age | 3,412 | 4,412 | -22.7% | | R&B | 117,005 | 143,392 | -18.4% | | Rap | 59,534 | 75,062 | -20.7% | | Rock(a) | 170,726 | NA | | | Soundtrack | 27,177 | 22,849 | 18.9% | (Note: Titles may appear in more than one genre.) (a) Rock was a new genre in 2006. Source: Nielsen SoundScan There were only a few major releases in the month of January, with two from South Florida that should draw some attention. Just in case you forgot Trick Daddy (a legend in his own right) put together another great album. Also from the 305, young guns "Pretty Ricky" put out something to get the ladies going with their 2nd album "Late Night Special". Look for "Late Night Special" by Pretty Ricky to climb to #1 on the Billboard Charts in its album's first on the charts.  A few other major developments going on outside of the studios have been getting the attention this month. There aren't many people that haven't heard The Sale of Crack Music Has Been Temporarily Cancelled. The rap game was dealt a major blow with the crack down on mixtapes. DJ Drama and 17 others were arrested and over 80,000 mixtapes were seized. For a DJ who made his whole career off mixtapes, this is a major set-back. He has helped many rappers; even though labels do not formally condone the use of non-copyrighted music. Lil Wayne's last album went platinum, without any of his songs breaking the top 25 on the charts. That is unheard of, so thanks in part should go to DJ Drama and other mixtape efforts.
Both DJ Drama (Tyree Simmons) and DJ Don Cannon (Donald Cannon) were arrested on felony charges under the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).  This is the record industry's way of saying "get your hands out my pockets!" DJ Drama being a major staple, not only for DJs in the South but rappers as well has been sidelined. DJ Drama's Gangster Grills mixtapes have featured everyone from T.I., to Young Jeezy and even Pharell. This turn of events will put a hurt on the mixtapes for a while. Others, such as DJ Clue and DJ Khaled, have had major success with releasing mixtapes through record labels. We'll see what happens next. Young Jeezy's album is surprisingly at the top of the hip-hop charts; living up to its name "Thug Inspiration". "How you rate music that thugs with nothing relate to..?" Speaking of which, Jay-Z's "Kingdom Come" is still holding strong, solidifying the legends staying power by being able to retire and then drop a successful (already certified double platinum) come-back album. While "Hip Hop is Dead" breathed new life into a drug heavy rap game, its release can be considered a huge success for Nas, (his 3rd #1 Hip Hop Album) although record sales are not reflective of his efforts. January has been a somewhat lack luster month, everyone is getting set to release projects and make the coming months something to look forward to. RZA is doing the soundtrack for a new show called "Afro Samurai" starring Samuel L. Jackson on Spike TV. Wu Tang is set to reunite and release a much anticipated album this summer. Bring on the Spring Break releases! Oh I forgot, those spring break mixtapes might land me in jail.
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