Following his previous success with a similar model in 2013, Nipsey Hussle has sold at least 60 physical copies of his album Mailbox Money at $1,000 apiece, according to The Guardian. Two years ago, Hussle sold 1,000 copies of his album Crenshaw for a $100 each. Both Mailbox Money and Crenshaw were made available for free download upon release while the high-priced, limited run physical copies were promoted as a part of Hussle’s #Proud2Pay campaign.
“It surprises me,” Nipsey Hussle told The Guardian of his latest rollout. “As much as I believe in it. Every time I get a transaction, I get a text on my phone, and I’ve been hitting them back. The feedback and the connection I have with these people help me understand the psychology of the person paying $1,000 for some songs that, realistically, you could download for free.”
“The highest human act is to inspire,” he added. “Money is a tool—it’s the means, not the end. [Inspiration is] the metric that dictates whether or not a project is a success. It’s more realistic than trying to aim for radio play, or trying to satisfy an A&R, or the other gatekeepers on these platforms. I don’t even know how to create with those things in mind. But if you tell me the goal is to inspire? That makes my job a lot easier.”
While the contents of his latest limited edition CD package aren’t available to the public, a purchase of the album is coupled with an invitation to a private listening session for the rapper’s next release.
In the same interview with the Guardian, Hussle also credited R&B singer Ryan Leslie with the means by which he released the new album.
“Ryan gave me access to software that he’s been developing, and even redesigned my website,” Hussle said. “The software is a direct consumer enhancement tool that allows creators of the content to own the relationship, and own the data of those transactions. It existed before Mailbox Money, but its first usage is with the release of this album. It’s going to blossom pretty soon, and I feel like it’s something every artist is going to use. You had to add Instagram, you had to add Twitter, and I feel like everybody will be using this.”
As for the inspiration behind his unusual pricing structure, Hussle seemed to blame current major label signing deals for his own bypassing of the system.
“The labels aren’t letting us live,” he said. “They’re not letting artists own anything! We’re going to end up 60 years old without a pot to piss in—no catalogue, no mailbox money, no residuals. We’re supposed to be in control. We’re supposed to own this shit. Unless you don’t have the mental capacity to do so, but that doesn’t apply to me.”
60 FUCKING DUMB ASSES. PROBABLY THE ENTIRE DX DUMB ASS STAFF BOUGHT THEM. I WOULDN’T GIVE 1,000 M&M’S FOR NIPSEY GARBAGE
No one’s forcing you to buy it idiot.
Your mentality keeps you at the bottom.
u getting angry at dx staff about this? lmao
LOL IM SO HIGH THIS COMMENT ALMOST MADE ME PISS MYSELF.
I would GIVE him 1000$ to let me suck his cock but he also has to bend me over and open my hole.
lmfao^^^
c’mon man. that’s the lamest troll ever. step your gayme up.
You know damn well he’s lying let me see the receipts BITCH !
dope
This nigga is lying about 60 niggas dropping 1K for the shit… but it’s a dope money laundering scheme, so holla at Nipsey! He a smart dude.
Always Right No Doubt!!!
lol who the hell would be gullible enough to waste 1000 on a single fucking cd (and a nipsey hussle album at that)?? the many things you can do with 1k…and you spend it on this? nigga please XD
Idiots are missing the point. This is about a movement and he made it available for free for those who want the music without the 1k price tag. You cant knock the man for being a boss and trying to buck the fixed system. I didnt buy it for 1k either but I respect what he is trying to do.
GREAT IDEAS. THIS IS GREAT IDEA FOR HIS REAL FANS.
I would never pay 1K for a CD even tho I like Nipsey, but yall acting like there arent at least 60 people in the world that dont have 1,000 to drop on nothing. There are some rich motherfuckers out there and its not like 60 is a huge number
something wrong with you if you pay 1000bux for this… 1000bux for an average lp??? GTFOH!
Like Always Right said, this is a money laundering scheme, nothing more
THIS IS BULLSHIT, MONEY MAKING SCHEME
All the broke people mad. I think that shows how people recognize real music. Mfs bump lady thug for free & she ain’t tlkn bout shit. At least they got their money worth with nipsey. It’s always a message in his music
Salute to Nipsey on every level, I been a big fan for years and the the fact is that the movement is bigger than money. It’s about standing behind the product you put out. A lot of people simply won’t relate because they don’t understand the struggle to make it when you come from nothing. Its great to see a real one from South Central LA rise above the streets and be in control of something influential. What Nip is doing is legendary, revolutionary, and inspiring. Makes me want to drop my first album independently!
i need your money for my new house