When should an mc stop touching mic?

[The merkiest guy]

i know this isn't 'grime' but it is related to what i want to talk about. Here are some album sales of some American artist and how they have declined over te years.

LL Cool J (AGE: 39)
(22) Momma Said Knock You Out…1990, 1.4 million copies sold
(25) 14 Shots To The Dome…1993, 581,000 copies sold
(27) Mr. Smith…1995, 1.9 million copies sold
(29) Phenomenon…1997, 757,000 copies sold
(32) G.O.A.T…2000, 822,000 copies sold
(34) 10…2002, 980,000 copies sold
(36) The Definition…2004, 756,000 copies sold
(38) Todd Smith…2006, 334,000 copies sold

EDITOR'S NOTE: LL released three album during pre-Soundscan era. Looks like his sales have fluctuated over the years, but are steadily declining after the age of 35.

Jay-Z (AGE: 38):
(27) Reasonable Doubt …1996, 1.4 million copies sold
(28) In My Lifetime Vol. 1…1997, 1.4 million copies sold
(29) In My Lifetime Vol. 2…1998, 5.3 million copies sold
(30) In My Lifetime Vol. 3…1999, 3.1 million copies sold
(31) Roc La Familia... 2000, 2.5 million copies sold
(32) The Blueprint…2001, 2.5 million copies sold
(33) Blueprint 2…2002, 2 million copies sold
(34) The Black Album…2003, 3.3 million copies sold
(37) Kingdome Come…2006, 1.5 million copies sold
(38) American Gangster…2007, 643,000 copies sold

EDITOR'S NOTE: Hov's done well, but seems to be slowly going down after 35. However, he still sells well in comparison to other artists.

GO TO THE NEXT PAGE AND SEE THE NUMBERS OF ICE CUBE, FAT JOE AND OTHER OLD FOGIES...WE'RE JUST KIDDING.

:: NEW PAGE ::

Ice Cube (AGE: 38):
(21) Ameri***a’s Most Wanted…1990, 2 million copies sold
(22) Death Certificate…1991, 2 million copies sold
(23) The Predator…1992, 3 million copies sold
(24) Lethal Injection…1993, Certified Platinum
(29) War & Peace Vol. 1…1998, Certified Platinum
(31) War & Peace Vol. 2…2000, Certified Gold
(37) Laugh Now, Cry Later…2006, Certified Gold

EDITOR'S NOTE: Good thing Cube is rakin' in the dough from those films, because he seems to have been bit by the over-30 bug too as he hasn't gone platinum in his 30s.

Scarface (AGE: 37):
(21) Mr. Scarface Is Back…1991, Certified Gold
(23) The World Is Yours…1993, Certified Gold
(24) The Diary…1994, Certified Platinum
(27) The Untouchable…1997, Certified Platinum
(28) My Homies…1998, Certified Platinum
(30) The Last Of A Dying Breed…2000, Certified Gold
(32) The Fix…2002, Certified Gold

EDITOR'S NOTE: Scarface suffers from the same thing as Ice Cube, no platinum album in his 30s.

Fat Joe (AGE: 37):
(23) Represent…1993, 90,000 copies sold
(25) Jealous Ones Envy…1995, 190,000 copies sold
(28) Don Cartagena…1998, 496,000 copies sold
(31) Jealous Ones Still Envy…2001, 943,000 copies sold
(32) Loyalty…2002, 253,000 copies sold
(35) All Or Nothin…2005, 298,000 copies sold
(36) Me, Myself & I…2006, 207,000 copies sold

EDITOR'S NOTE: Fat Joe had his best selling album at age 31, but hasn't even cracked 300K since his 32nd birthday. Could be more than just his age.

WE'RE NOT DONE JUST YET. GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE FOR MORE. IF YOU'RE A RAPPER OVER 35, WE'RE SORRY, BUT THE BEATING IS ALMOST OVER.

:: NEW PAGE ::

Snoop Dogg (AGE: 36):
(22) Doggystyle…1993, 6 million copies sold
(25) The Dogfather…1996, 2 million copies sold
(27) The Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Sold…1998, 2 million copies
(28) Top Dogg…1999, 1,503,865 copies sold
(29) The Last Meal…2000, 2 million copies sold
(31) Paid The Cost To Be The Boss…2002, 1.2 copies sold
(33) R&G: Rhythm & Gangsta…2004, 1.7 copies sold
35) Blue Carpet Treatment…2006, 849,000 copies sold

EDITOR'S NOTE: Snoop seems to have done well in his 30s, but not as well as he did in his 20s.

Wyclef Jean (AGE: 35):
(25) The Carnival…1997, 1.9 million copies sold
(28) The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II A Book…2000, 1 million copies sold
(30) Masquerade…2002, 373,000 copies sold
(31) Preacher's Son…2003, 258,000 copies sold
(35) The Carnival II: Memoirs Of An Immigrant…2007, TBD

EDITOR'S NOTE: Are we proving our point yet?

Busta Rhymes (AGE: 35):
(24) The Coming…1996, 790,000 copies sold
(25) When Disaster Strikes…1997, 1.7 million copies sold
(26) Extinction Level…1998, 1.6 million copies sold
(28) Anarchy…2000, 681,000 copies sold
(29) Genesis…2001, 1.3 million copies sold
(30) It Ain't Safe No More…2002, 673,000 copies sold
(34) The Big Bang…2006, 605,000 copies sold

EDITOR'S NOTE: Going down, down, down too.

Eminem (AGE: 35):
(27) The Slim Shady LP…1999, 5.1 million copies
(28) The Marshal Matters LP…2000, 10.1 million copies
(30) The Eminem Show…2002, 9.7 million copies
(32) Encore…2004, 5.1 million copies

EDITOR'S NOTE: Though Em's consistently higher in sales than everyone else, he's still been declining since he reached the 30 mark.

Nas (AGE: 34):
(21) Illmatic…1994, 1.2 million copies sold
(23) It Was Written…1996, 2.5 million copies sold
(26) I Am…1999, 2.1 million copies sold
(26) Nastradamus…1999, 1.2 million copies sold
(28) Stillmatic…2001, 2 million copies sold
(29) God's Son…2002 1.3 million copies sold
(31) Street Disciple…2004, 708,000 copies sold
(33) Hip-Hop Is Dead…2006, 745,000 copies sold


At what age do you think an up and coming mc should stop if they haven't made significant progess in the grime scene? Also what age do you think an mc should stop touching mic.

[Demos]

ummmm good question.

they should stop when ppl completely lose interest, theres no real ages limit imo

[Jay]

all that proves is records sales in general have gone down steadily, the mc's getting older has absolutely nothing to do with the sales going down

[Quality Control]

...When they eventually get so bad that they're average or below...

...i hate seeing all these great rappers ruining their legacies late on in their careers...

[Quality Control]

all that proves is records sales in general have gone down steadily, the mc's getting older has absolutely nothing to do with the sales going down

...actually they do gradually get worse as they age...

..the only rappers i've noticed who havent been too affected by age are Common and Andre 3000...

[Equilibrium]

dere record sales goin down is more to do with hip hop diein, nuthin fresh and new same old spittas bringin out albums

[Demos]

their record sales going down is more to do with hip hop dying

agree with that

[Aaron]

Well wileys getting on a bit isnt he.. lol

[GrimmyGrimGrim]

They should know when to stop, there is just a feeling.
They could listen to what the forums/roads are saying. Probably drift into production or bringing through younger talent etc

[Eric Cantona]

lol, Like they care

LL Cool J (AGE: 39)
(22) Momma Said Knock You Out…1990, 1.4 million copies sold
(25) 14 Shots To The Dome…1993, 581,000 copies sold
(27) Mr. Smith…1995, 1.9 million copies sold
(29) Phenomenon…1997, 757,000 copies sold
(32) G.O.A.T…2000, 822,000 copies sold
(34) 10…2002, 980,000 copies sold
(36) The Definition…2004, 756,000 copies sold
(38) Todd Smith…2006, 334,000 copies sold


Not that good for him but 334,000 thousend copies is alot.

[Wiz]

I dunno, but I'ma buy Dr Dre's album if it ever comes out, pretty sure he's gone 40.

[Demos]

I dunno, but I'ma buy Dr Dre's album if it ever comes out, pretty sure he's gone 40.

standard purchase

[Quality Control]

lol, Like they care

LL Cool J (AGE: 39)
(22) Momma Said Knock You Out…1990, 1.4 million copies sold
(25) 14 Shots To The Dome…1993, 581,000 copies sold
(27) Mr. Smith…1995, 1.9 million copies sold
(29) Phenomenon…1997, 757,000 copies sold
(32) G.O.A.T…2000, 822,000 copies sold
(34) 10…2002, 980,000 copies sold
(36) The Definition…2004, 756,000 copies sold
(38) Todd Smith…2006, 334,000 copies sold


Not that good for him but 334,000 thousend copies is alot.

yeah but he's fuckin up his legacy even more with each release

[Omni]

Has anyone actually thought that maybe their album sales are becoming less because the album hasn't been available for purchase yet? I bet if you give those albums more recent a few more years then they'll be much similar to their early album sales.

[VectrA]

yeah but he's fuckin up his legacy even more with each release

Not really he's just keeping his bank balance sweet

[ALM]

his legacy is his bank balance.

[Jay05]

The albums may have sold less. But in Real terms the gap wont be as big as appears.

but records sales have declined majorly so the gap wont be as big as it appears.

Thats like saying people earn more after the age of 35 and not adjusting the figures for inflation. The salaries do go up but part of that is due to inflation.

[Quality Control]

Not really he's just keeping his bank balance sweet

...you think LL Cool J wasnt set up for life after his peak? he doesnt need to carry on releasing albums.. he aint been relevant since the mid 90s..

['nuum general]

records sales have declined majorly so the gap wont be as big as it appears.



big point. Obviously peoples music changes change as they get older as well, eg i doubt fans of ice cube back in the early 1990s are still buying his new material.

Theres also the obvious point that younger guys come in to take the mantle. LL should have retired 10 years ago though

[Tickbites]

More People Found Computers, More Started Downloaded Illegaly.
Also Mentality Of Some Rappers Might Be Made A Million Already I Dont Need To Put In All My Effort Into The Music Therefore The Quality Ain't As Good.
Or Am I Wrong?

[Mister Lacey]

In fairness it might not be the artists but just the general decline in sales period. Em will sell a shit load when the new lp drops though.

[Grime Star]

rah eminem sells breee

bt isnt it sad dat PTO,greatest hits or star in da hood hasnt sold as much as the lowest one of those americans

[Tickbites]

Not really, grime is still young man. It's not even the leading UK genre atm is it just gotta be patient.

[Captain]

More People Found Computers, More Started Downloaded Illegaly.
Also Mentality Of Some Rappers Might Be Made A Million Already I Dont Need To Put In All My Effort Into The Music Therefore The Quality Ain't As Good.
Or Am I Wrong?

Exactly what i was gunna say fam

[S.Man]

Could it also be the fact that there is more piracy today than there wa a few yrs back?

When u wanted n album u went n bought it....now u download for free.

Still i can see what ur sayin but no matter what ur figures ur pullin in it matters whether ur making good music. Sayin that all those artists mentioned did make better music when they were younger.

But thats hip-hop. If we look at grime, the first person that comes to mind is Wiley. He may be gettin older but is graftin alot harder and, i feel, is still puttin out some good music. i personally think Tunnel Visions are a flop but listening to Playtimes Over n from what iv heard from Grimewave i think he has definately upped the levels from anything he has previously done. (baring a few tunes off Treddin on thin Ice).

On the flip side i think Dizzee is goin the same route as Eminem. Lyrically they are improvin, but the music they are making is gettin worse. when i say improvin...i dnt mean better lyrics/bars i mean they have improved theri skills for spittin ie. Rhythm, delivery etc.

[casual]

But you have forgotten to consider the fact that music piracy and bootleggin is almost at its peak these days..
If nothing, people draw for tha bearshare/limewire/morpheus and download tha best tracks off the cd..
obviously there is gonna be a decline in sales.