Rowdy Rebel is putting his label on blast. Rowdy Rebel fired away at Epic Records in a since-deleted Instagram post on Tuesday (December 14) claiming he hasn’t been paid a dime for any of his music since 2014.
“I’m not dropping no more music until Epic Records pay me,” he wrote. “I haven’t received not one check for all the music I put out since 2014. I been patient but enough is enough.”
Rebel was released from prison in December 2020 after serving about six years behind bars on RICO charges including conspiracy to possess weapons and possession of weapons charges.
Since regaining his freedom, the 30-year-old rapper has released a handful of singles, including “Re Route,” “9 Bridge” and “Jesse Owens.” Most recently, he teamed up with Doe Boy and 2021 HipHopDX Rising Star 42 Dugg for “Aint My Fault.”
Many fans backed Rowdy Rebel in his comment section, calling on Epic Records to pay him properly for his music catalog.
“You need JAY-Z lawyer team gang,” one wrote, which isn’t totally out of the realm of possibility with Bobby Shmurda being represented by Roc Nation on the management side.
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The “Computers” artist was expected to release a proper debut album in 2022. but those plans may be on hold until this money issue is resolved. While behind bars, his team released a pair of EPs in 2015 and 2016 with Remain Silent and Shmoney Keeps Calling, respectively.
get paid for what? a small amount of streams on a few singles, only one of which really has a minor amount of name recognition? dude aint even got an EP, let alone an album.. and likely signed a shitty deal anyway. doubt he’s barely even owed into the 5-figures if anything at all.. not condoning labels screwing artists, but it should be common knowledge that majors don’t pay unless you’re a HUGE name putting up HUGE numbers; even actual sales dont pay much either when you’re on a major deal, furthermore streams. if you wanna get paid on doing small numbers, gotta stay independent.
These dummies sign these deal and take these advances without having a lawyer read the fine print. Then complain because they don’t understand that a record company is an entertainment investment company. Their job is to make money for the stockholders by taking the artists publishing and getting a piece of every revenue stream the artist can generate. For reference see Megan’s deal!
He probably got a shitty advance and he hasn’t paid it back yet.
Generally you get paid an advance and you don’t start getting paid until your have paid that advance back with your music.
Came here to say this. He prolly gotta recoup the advance and all other expenses. The list can be long and artists don’t realise these labels keep reciepts for every single thing.