There was no Joe Budden on Everyday Struggle today, and there won't be any Budden going forward. But they did have Apple Music's Head Of Artist Curation Carl Chery, and during their chat he pushed back against Chance The Rapper being the model for artists who don't want to sign a traditional record contract.
"Chance [The Rapper] is an anomaly, he's special, but... his success is misleading," Chery said. "Now you have all these other independent artists thinking you don't need a label. Chance is special. He's charismatic, he's smart as hell, he's just special."
DJ Booth wrote an article on the interview this afternoon. Chance didn't appreciate the website's argument that he isn't a good model for young artists without labels, and Chery didn't appreciate how they worded the article's headline. You can view the Twitter discussion that followed below.
.@ChanceTheRapper’s independent success is “misleading,” according to Apple Music’s @carlcheryAM, but he doesn't owe anyone an apology. https://t.co/i7RfxS0QEs pic.twitter.com/JIxQvy3bXK
— DJBooth (@DJBooth) December 26, 2017
Guys! Come on with that headline! Lol 😂
— Cousin Carl (@carlcheryAM) December 26, 2017
It's true. Is it not? You literally said that his success is misleading and we provided further context to your statement.
— DJBooth (@DJBooth) December 26, 2017
I know. Unfortunately some people only read headlines. I just read the piece and it's fair.
— Cousin Carl (@carlcheryAM) December 26, 2017
This is wack. Yall steady tellin ppl they need a label/publisher/distributor to achieve success as an artist. Thats a lie. @carlcheryAM @DJBooth
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 26, 2017
Chance, Carl didn't say that and we didn't write that.
— DJBooth (@DJBooth) December 26, 2017
“He should be allowed to talk about leading the independent artist charge while knowing full well that the level of success he has achieved isn't realistic for everyone. “
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 26, 2017
Thats from your article, and its untrue.
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 26, 2017
We didn't write that it's impossible, we wrote its unrealistic. And that's true. Because if it was realistic, there would be more artists who have done what you have done independently. But there aren't.
— DJBooth (@DJBooth) December 26, 2017
Its only unrealistic because of the conditioning all artists are exposed to by different forms of media creating the narrative that you need to be discovered or put on in order to be successful. We wouldnt seek out deals if mfs knew there were other avenues.
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 26, 2017
Also have some damn patience, all your favorite artists are locked up in deals and until they get out (and stay out) you wont see the realization of their full potential.
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 26, 2017
Spot on, but that doesn't change the fact that not every independent artist can follow in your footsteps and expect to see the level of success you've achieved. That would be foolish. Like Carl intimated, and we've written about you before, an artist must have "it."
— DJBooth (@DJBooth) December 26, 2017
EVERY ARTIST HAS “IT”.
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) December 26, 2017
If “it” means the access and ability to be successful (assuming this success is individual to the artist) while retaining ownership of your pub/masters and royalties from other media appearances, full oversight of metrics etc. THEY ALL HAVE “IT”
That's all true, Chance, but access alone isn't enough.
— DJBooth (@DJBooth) December 26, 2017
Ironically, we actually wrote about this eight months ago and used your success as the prime example: https://t.co/qXTE8zaAo3
Please don't conflate "this isn't possible for everyone" with "this isn't possible." It IS possible, and we encourage independent artistry, but to suggest that access alone is the golden ticket would be misleading.
— DJBooth (@DJBooth) December 26, 2017
Do you think Chance can be a model for artists who want out of the label system? Or is he a unique talent?
Check some seasonal indie Chance below: