Bootlegging has become a massive problem for artists since the development of MP3 files, and things are only getting worse. It is the point now that albums are being leaked months in advance, like 8 months in advance. The latest is Jay Z (again), he has completed 4 tracks for his next LP “The Gift & The Curse,” and they have already leaked to the Internet. At first I doubted their authenticity, but I heard the songs and they are Jay Z and they are new. Another one of the worst bootleggings that I have seen is Jay’s other new album, “The Best Of Both Worlds” with R Kelly.
There are a lot of albums available right now that will not be released for at least a month. Victims of bootlegging are Cee Lo, X-Ecutioners, Noreage, Royce Da 5’9 El-P, Ol’ Dirty Bastard and more. I know that it is nice to be able to hear shit early but don’t let it keep you from buying the album when it is released. And it is not just the artists that are suffering, it is the fans biting themselves in the ass. When albums are bootlegged, the artists often go back to the studio and re do some songs, which delays the album and often hurts it badly, just ask Mobb Deep.
