Can A 30-55 Yr Old Rapper/Singer Still Make It In The Industry?

[Shadow King]

i hate this mentality

i hate the way 'success' is measured financially. art is not a contest

whatever happened to just creating and if its good, people will come to it?

why does everything have to be 'viral' and inorganic and FAKE

I get what you're saying but when it comes to having a career with it, there has to be some measurement of how viable it is at taking care of you and yours.

How exactly would your measure an artist's success?

 

[Dzali OG]

No, not the industry industry.


Indie scene you could eat good tho, but you gotta work like at a Roc Marciano/Freddie Gibbs/Griselda/Curren$y level. Meaning a whole lot of fukking touring and merch.
At best youll probably top out at like a Lupe Fiasco/MF Doom level of fame

Im using mostly underground lyricist as examples btw cause nobody is trying to hear a 35+ drill rapper/drug lord

If you're a singer, same business model but switch out vulgar, Chris Brown/Jacquees RnB-Rap hybrid music for some Neo-Soul/arte nouveau vibes.

If you can foster a cult following made up of , elitist music snobs and weird kids you good

Do you not think Charleston White could blow up if he rapped?

 

[boogers]

I get what you're saying but when it comes to having a career with it, there has to be some measurement of how viable it is at taking care of you and yours.

How exactly would your measure an artist's success?

it would depend on the artist themselves and their own definition of success. some people would say quitting their day job and paying their bills with art is enough. some people want the whole world. some people give their art away. again, defining it financially just kind of perverts it for me.

KRS-One said:

Some of us guess while others of us are blessed
Take heed to the word, that I manifest
I manifest the future, the present, followed by the past
Everything in nature, rules by kickin ass
What they tellin me, but yo, you a friend to me
So I'mma tell you the secrets of MC longevity
Secret one: if it ain't fun, you're done
And about your career, huh, well choose another one
If you don't like what you do, you're through
Lesson two: make sure you got a dope crew
Not some crew, that's like an anchor on a shoe
A MAD CREW, that's of some benefit to you
Lesson three, might be contradictory or funny
But MC's should have OTHER WAYS of gettin money
That's to say learn other things beside music
Make money elsewhere, Hip-Hop you won't abuse it
Too many MC's, just emcee
So their longevity, is based on an Uncle Tom at the record company
Lesson four: sell your image, never sell a record, image is respected
Records come and go and get collected
Even the records of platinum artists, that used to rip shop
Can be bought, for a quarter at the thrift shop

of course Kris was talking about rap but i feel that way about art

i hate how rap is a hustle for so many people instead of a passion

 

[Belize King]

Lizzo blew up (No pun intended) at 30 years old, so yes.

 

[Cuban Pete]

Do you not think Charleston White could blow up if he rapped?

Nah, look at Big Hit, Hit Boys dad. I think thats about as far as somebody in their 40s/50s blowing up goes. Which is not bad at all really thats enough to make a mil or 2

Charleston White would do more cause hes a meme machine but he'd burn out like 69

 

[010101]

real musicians can become a star at any age*

 

[Shadow King]

it would depend on the artist themselves and their own definition of success. some people would say quitting their day job and paying their bills with art is enough. some people want the whole world. some people give their art away. again, defining it financially just kind of perverts it for me.




of course Kris was talking about rap but i feel that way about art

i hate how rap is a hustle for so many people instead of a passion

I hear you, which is part of why I stopped...but even quitting your job and paying your bills has a financial quota to it.

 

[Shadow King]

real musicians can become a star at any age*

Within hip-hop, gotta disagree.

 

[Astroslik]

real musicians can become a star at any age*

Key word, musicians. Most of these artists aren’t true musicians

 

[010101]

Within hip-hop, gotta disagree.

true*

 

[In The Zone '98]

The machine can make anybody a star

It shows you everyday

 

[010101]

Key word, musicians. Most of these artists aren’t true musicians

exactly*

 

[CrimsonTider]

Lizzo blew up (No pun intended) at 30 years old, so yes.

She was in the industry for along time

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

i hate this mentality

i hate the way 'success' is measured financially. art is not a contest

whatever happened to just creating and if its good, people will come to it?

why does everything have to be 'viral' and inorganic and FAKE

Facts, the simple love for the music is where it starts. If you stick with it you’ll get a shot. With that said, I think the best bet would be to get in through the back door as a song writer or some ancillary role. From there, you can use the resources around you to do your shyt and network until you get your shot.

 

[TMBlue]

My sister in law's boyfriend is a rapper who's older than me and I'm 39. That nikka got songs will Boosie, Charleston White. The nikka PGF Shawt. I must be old because I never heard of the nikka even tho I've met the nikka. His music is pretty good tho