Didn't want to derail the thread either, I get where you're coming from but its a weird angle to start off the discussion. I personally do not care what someone decides to do with money they rightfully earn, I think artists should get compensated accordingly

WAVES ALL OVER THE PLACE!!!!

these are all valid critiques of the streaming model but i also don't think many if any of the more 'left of field' alternatives do anything to deal with the material problems with streaming rather they just allow more money to flow upwards to already established artists.

lots of artists have started doing more direct to consumer sales, for example (although i appreciate there's usually a middleman inevitably!) and have seen some success with it. would it really have been more effort and less financially beneficial for black star to sell a download directly or w/e and let people keep it permanently?

this AOTY until further notice

isn’t that the whole point? to allow the money to flow upwards directly to the artist? doesn’t matter if they are established or not. the artists are dictating how how their art is consumed. it works for them, we have no say in how it should have been handled.

you’re also assuming the decision to use luminary was purely financial. if that were the case they could have easily charged $100 for an exclusive download and they would have gotten their bread. they already have a podcast on luminary so releasing this through that platform is a bit left field but it makes sense. at the end of the day the artist remains in control and that should be celebrated instead of criticized.

when i say upward, i mean it flows to artists who are likely already benefiting significantly (in relative terms at least) from being well established rather than providing more equitable terms for artists generally, despite such moves normally being couched in very 'global' terms about the fairness or unfairness of what are accepted models of distribution now.

and again, there's no obligation on mos def or talib to solve all the ills of the industry. but im just always iffy about what is basically individualism being portrayed as some sort of collective action is all!

and yeah i agree, there are obviously other less tangible benefits to releasing it through the platform. but it's pretty obvious why people would be less likely to support or listen as a result too.

I never got the impression this deal was being portrayed as collective action personally

Respiration is the greatest hook to a rap song ever

Talib released a tape of unreleased s*** awhile ago on streaming that has a Black Star track I believe produced by Madlib as well that's really fire I'ma try to find it...and I wish the Marciano cut was on there

Yeah this is fire. I've let it marinate for a few days, playing it in different settings, etc. Outstanding return for them.

The themes of this album have been resonating with me in a major way. Life, death, and the everlasting. I can’t stop playing it. I lost my grandmother back in January and it’s impossible to witness someone that close to you turn cold & perish right before your eyes without being effected. I’ve been dealing with anxiety surrounding death ever since but it’s been really therapeutic bumping this album every day since it dropped and it’s motivated me further to continue to search for alternative forms of existing that feel “freer” and less taxing on the body & the mind. We are only here for so long man and trust me, no matter how long it is, it never seems long enough. Still, “as long as the soul is born and you feel a vibe, Don't trouble your mind, it's quite alright More will be revealed in time” *bird whistle

Bro is it me or the main thing etc... sample a song that was already sampled by $uicideboy$?

Automaticautomaticautomatic

How can I listen to this? Don’t have Luminary

So does Yasiin Bey own Luminary?

link in OP or get a luminary subcription

Wasted? Blu killed this.

The tape was great too.

mannnnn so be it feels like it’s straight from The Ecstatic

Wow are Tribute and JGB floating around?

mos deserved a verse on supreme alchemy bro

nah but im sure they were compensated greatly for putting their album and podcast on there. Maybe he owns a percentage of the company