The Straight Dope on the Rawkus 50

Posted by Justin Boland on Jan 07, 2008 | 0 Comments

The Official Story

RAWKUS RECORDS will consolidate the cumulative fanbases in the interests of the co-operative. As one of hip hop’s most trusted brands, RAWKUS, will select 50 members ideally suited represent our logo and to work together.

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Social Networking, Dood

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The Benefits for Artists

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Slopfunkdust: if you look at CD sales… They definitely aren’t what they use to be. Digital distro is where it’s going to be at soon.

The Rawkus 50 could be viewed as a cynical attempt to use their leftover brand recognition in order to lock down a quality digital catalog at an insanely low cost.  It’s also a valuable digital catalog…an investment. All the artists on the Rawkus 50 are young and busy, and unless they change their names, Rawkus has over 50 people working full-time to promote their products, regardless of wether or not Rawkus continues, or even starts, to pay them.

But looking at Rawkus 50 like that is selling the artists short-it will become whatever they make it.  Everyone on board already had a strong career, and that will not change in 2008.

Total Hick Ignorance.

Of course, this is all total hick ignorance, patched together from online research.  I’ve talked to a number of artists on the Rawkus 50, but never asked them too many specific questions about the business end.  If anyone reading this has experience they’d want to share-or if anyone from Rawkus thinks I’m full of shit-let a mammal know.