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DJ Drama's Drama
Article by:
Jason Fleurant
 It read like the scene in some old school gangster movie. January 16, 2007, a day after the widely celebrated Martin Luther King Day the Affiliates Music Group offices was raided by the feds and the RIAA. The now infamous DJ Drama and DJ Cannon were thrown into the slammer and charge with racketeering...but for what? Where they selling drugs, was it money laundering? What possible crime could be so harsh in a country that's fighting TERRORISM that a DJ would get knocked by the feds?
Well folks if you haven't yet heard it was over doing something Hip-Hop has thrive on for years, selling mixtapes. You see DJ Drama was obviously targeted because of his popularity, but I'm betting there is so much more to these recent events. Especially seeing that this tradition of mixtape hustle has been on and popping for years. Itâs said that the selling of mixtapes is illegal, which is an good argument. Yet Hip-Hop in general is illegal when you think about it.
It was birthed from using samples illegally, MC's rhyme over other MC's beats without permission. Graffiti art on subways and along the sides of buses and buildings, the truest form of Hip-Hop has always been illegal. That was kind of the point, the fact that this culture went against what society dictated was right. That was the beauty of it. And the corporations saw it and gave it a pass because when they saw the self-expression they saw dollar signs. So they condone it, especially the artist greatest form of expression the mixtape.
With mixtapes, rappers where free to be well... free of label restrictions and the rules of the land. You could say what you want and over any beat that you choose with no complications. It was the epitome of Hip-Hop, and the only way sometimes to hear real Hip-Hop. The labels once it got into bed with the culture seem to clip artists wings. Forcing them to stick to a 'full-proof' formula, one that in recent years has begun to fail drastically. So with the assistance of DJ, MC's kept their true fan base alive via mixtapes. And DJ's like Drama became house hold names, dare I say key keepers to the integrity of the artist.
Labels saw that and here's where everything gets fucked. They started to pay DJ's to make mixtapes with particular artist to create a heavy buzz in time for their album to drop. A fair trade off right? DJ's getting paid nicely, the artist keeps his fans happy and his wings are free, and the label cashes in when the album drops. Yet there was a problem lately, records weren't moving. Labels were not getting that green like they used to. All the while the mixtape scene was blowing up and selling heavy. So what we have here is a case of jealousy.
This arrest of DJ Drama who is currently the biggest name in the mixtape world isnt about him doing something illegal. It's about the corporate world loosing control on Hip-Hop and not cashing in. If this was such and serious offense I ask you why is it only now that the RIAA and the Feds are on the attack? Why is it that only now itâs a huge problem and a crime? The only reason it is, is because the music industry is loosing money. Their not getting the sales that they used to get, basically no return on the investment. Yet I ask who's fault is that? Is it the DJ's fault for putting out hot ass collaborations with artist? Is it the artist fault for finding freedom in the mixtape realm to make their kind of music? Is it the fan's fault for wanting to hear that real and not water-down bullshit the albums usually contain? Or is it the Industry's fault for basically telling everyone stick to the script cause a particular formula worked for a particular artist?
Now I'm not saying that this is a conscious attack on Hip-Hop, but the results do show it as such. The mixtape scene is probably the only avenue artist have to be just that artist. And that the mixtapes have been an huge stable in Hip-Hop. I'm not saying that DJ Drama didn't do anything wrong because it's obviously it's illegal to sell mixtapes. Iâm saying the real crime is that the Industry has just pulled a bitch move to try and solve an deeper issue. The only reason mixtapes are moving an albums are still on the selves is because they've restricted the artist. If labels want to get people to buy these albums then let the MC do his/her job and make their music.
When Labels and Mixtapes were in bed together it was all good until mixtapes started making more money. Now it's a problem after all these years? Now it's such a travesty that the fed's needed to get involve and treat people like fucking drug lords? Jealousy is a very funny thing, but all that's done in the dark will come to light. All I know is that something smells funny in the air and DJ's better be ready because their coming. Hip-Hop keep your head up! It's a war going on outside that none of us are safe from.
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