Bobby Shmurda was once signed to a label, but he’s now independent and dropping knowledge for those looking to navigate the music industry.
During a recent visit to The Party Starters Podcast, the Brooklyn rapper broke down the differences between signing to a major label and being an independent artist. To help illustrate his point, Bobby used the drug game as an analogy.
“You can think of independence like this: [think of] your albums and EPs as bricks, pounds, just for the streets,” he said. “You got a bunch of traps — distributors or labels. You can give an EP here, you can give an album here, you can give a half a pound here, you give a pound here, you give half a key here. It’s just like we did in the hood.”
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He continued, “Labels are different. They’re gonna give you all the fame, they’re gonna put you in front of everybody’s face, where everybody gon’ love you. But you ain’t getting no money. You gonna be wearing everything for free, going everywhere for free and the point in time you act up, ‘Bitch get your ass [out]!’
“And you don’t [own your music] and you don’t even make no money. Every 30 days, I need that check, I need my own check. Your music gone, you don’t get no money. You better get your ass up and get on them stages… It’s a pimp and ho game.”
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Bobby Shmurda exited Epic Records in March after eight years on the label. The “Hot N-gga” rapper celebrated his departure in an Instagram Story, writing, “I just sign my release papers also jus made ah milly today I can’t wait to drop s/o my n-gga @trulife ahh ahh ahh my n-gga I’m shooting my 1st independence video today called getting em back we celebrating all week in KODS.”
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Prior to his departure, Bobby accused Epic Records of withholding his debut album following his release from prison and claimed he hasn’t had control of his music since he catapulted to fame with “Hot N-gga” in 2014.
Gunna Advises New Artists How To Navigate Major Label System: 'You Shouldn't Say Fuck The Labels
“I ain’t been in charge of my music since I was 19 years old and I just turned 27 and honestly idk when shit dropping,” he wrote on Instagram last December. “So don’t ask me shit go ask them mf’s since they wanna control everything!!!!!!!”
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Bobby Shmurda is set to release his new BodBoy EP on August 5, marking both his first post-prison and independent project. The nine-song EP includes the single “Hoochie Daddy,” plus collaborations with Rowdy Rebel and Fat Tony.
