Joe Budden Doesn't Think Today's Artists Should Sign to Record Labels
Because nowadays, they can pretty much do everything themselves.
Joe Budden thinks that today’s artists don’t need record labels to be successful.
Noah Callahan-Bever sat down with the former rapper and current podcaster host for Idea Generation's Season 4 return. NCB asked whether artists should sign to a major label today and Budden revealed that he didn’t think so. “Now more than ever, I don’t really see it. I don’t really see the benefit,” he responded.
“Because you used to have to rely on a record label for almost everything, and today you don’t,” he continued. “You couldn’t distribute, you couldn’t market, you couldn’t pay for things, you couldn’t get radio, you couldn’t get listeners without them.”
Budden then explained that as long as you have a squad of people you’re close with, you don’t need to have a record label on your side.
“Today, if you have your own team, and most people that work with labels they have their own team, to kind of take care of things, there’s nothing you pretty much cannot do,” he remarked. “So what are you signing for? What do you want out of it?”
Budden has lived many lives in hip-hop and media as a former reality TV star and former co-host of Everyday Struggle. He has become one of the most important voices in hip-hop media with The Joe Budden Podcast.
Last month, Budden received an RIAA-certified gold plaque for his 2003 hit single, “Pump It Up.” While he celebrated the achievement, Yung Miami seemingly laughed at him finally receiving the plaque so many years later. Responding to someone else, she said “I was 9 I’m 30 now” followed by a series of laughing emojis.
After catching wind of her chuckling at his expense, Budden addressed her on his podcast. "The thing about laughter, I think that she will soon realize is it's also a luxury. Laughter is good for the soul...laughter is also a privilege,” he said. “So while I'm happy Caresha is able to laugh because she's had a stressful year, I am a little surprised she has found enough time to laugh at anything."
That was, admittedly, tame for Budden. What he said next, was not. "I want to keep this professional and on the music. If Complex were to do a list where all the female rappers ranked, Caresha, you would be last on the list,” he added. “You would be drop dead last on that list. Every female out there is wiping you down right now....Caresha was the very last person I expected to do this."
Watch Budden look back at his entire career, and see how it all started with one idea.
