Fri 14 Dec 2012
The Big Debate: Hot97’s Ebro Darden on “Major League vs. Minor League” Rap
Posted by Mikey Fresh under Interviews[13] Comments
Throughout the hip-hop Blog-world and Twitter-sphere this week there’s been a huge debate going on around the state of mainstream hip-hop and radio. Rap Radar’s B-Dot recently sparked the conversation that lead Hot97’s program director Ebro Harden to break down all the radio politics and his views on “Minor League vs. Major league rap.” Last night, he appeared on Combat Jack’s radio show to discuss it all. It’s really a fascinating debate about radio’s role in hip-hop and the internet’s role.
Listen to the full interview after the jump…
Related:
The Realness: Rosenberg Fires Back At Ebro and Bloggers [VIDEO]
Moment Of Clarity: B.Dot vs. Hot 97
Moment Of Clarity: B.Dot vs. Hot 97 II
December 14th, 2012 at 8:11 pm
…still a bunch of lies
What does their playlist look like 40 tracks?
Djs that get payola and are part of street teams (remember that argument?)
Djs that have never scratched or remixed a track, I think they started playing with Luke’s ‘pop that’ sample before the actual song a month ago? a real dj could have done this on day 2
December 14th, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Ebro came off like the kind of arrogant douche that really believes the bullshit he said in that initial video clip.
December 14th, 2012 at 10:48 pm
But he also made a lot of good points about corporate radio.
December 14th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
Ebro Darden drops wild gems on a barrage of topics.
Some things I knew, others I’m not ashamed to say I didn’t. (Can’t be ignorant your whole life.)
For those who don’t have time to listen, here’s the rundown from top to bottom from the entire show.
______________________________________________________________
Why radio doesn’t break records anymore and how the change affects artists.
How and Why radio picks songs for it’s playlists, market research, and the business of radio.
The KISS FM story and how radio gets it’s ratings.
Mainstream and artists marketing.
The 3 major facets for mainstream radio exposure.
Majors vs. Minors: Artists deciding what they really want to be.
Passing the torch and why top producers pick and choose artists to work with.
The dreaded topic of Payola and measuring a record’s progress in rotation from beginning to end.
NY rap and how they like their artists struggling and being about something.
Advise to artists on how to get into radio rotation and the importance of having your business right.
December 15th, 2012 at 2:36 am
A conversation LONG OVERDUE!! tHANK yOU!!
December 15th, 2012 at 4:28 am
Talking about just blaze and swizz beats going to joey badass or action bronson and giving them beats for free just to push those dudes into the majors thats the kind of thing we need for the culture, move these underground artists forward but like just blaze said they dont know how to monetize it. When you are new artist all you want is that just blaze beat to rhyme on put it out on the streets get that buzz going you dont care about monetizing the project before you do it, you think trinidad james was thinking about monetizing that awesome trash he popped out.
December 15th, 2012 at 11:29 am
I’m surprised this topic got no comments. Perhaps The CT tragic got folk off of this but I’d think many on this blog have some thoughts on this.
A view Hot97 and mainstream radio as a whole as a platform for numbers generating entertainment vs being the definition whats skillful and true to culture.
December 15th, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Best interview of 2012 hands down!
December 15th, 2012 at 4:27 pm
I’m not going to listen to all of this shit, but perhaps ebro should realize this is 2012 and not 1960. Radio is not as big anymore and with these alternative outlets, maybe it is time for radio to take a different approach. People don’t fuck with radio today, the same way they did in the 90s. It’s dying, and he sticking to old models. He talking about jay-z and them had to go to the minor leagues too. But that was in 1993. in 2012, you can sign 2 million dollar deals offa one song, as we just saw this week.
people wanna hear fresh new shit, not the same 10 songs all day from major label artists. How many ASAP’s and OFWGKTA and Trinidad james and weeknds and countless others have to come along before modern day radio realizes that they need to switch their style up.
but in reality it doesnt matter. I dont know anyone who listens to radio anymore, no disrespect to y’all. This site is more on top of the full spectrum of hip-hop than hot 97 the radio station can ever be. NO one gives a fuck about the actual radio anymore except for the morning shows and throwback at noon.
People don’t need radio anymore. they arent the gatekeepers they used to be. so it really doesnt matter. I can play my sean price all I want, without hot 97. so it’s all good.
December 16th, 2012 at 4:08 am
I’m totally an outsider looking in, but that was such a good watch.
December 16th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
This was a great interview. EBRO broke down the whole radio business well.
December 25th, 2012 at 1:57 am
brilliant interview, combat jack does some of the best hiphop interviews available by far.
really great conversation and discussion about how radio REALLY works and lack of business foresight some artists have.
every artist, dj, and fan from every genre (not just hiphop) should watch + listen to these clips, interview is GOLD.
December 27th, 2012 at 2:16 pm
HOT 97 used to be “Where Hip-Hop Lives” and the epicenter of hip-hop culture. No more though. The mix shows used to be where you would hear the up and coming, underground music. Mix shows now? Not even mix shows….the same 8 songs, over and over, and over. Open up the mix shows overnight and on the weekends at least to the newer stuff….not just Rosenburg’s show