Well, recently, an advance copy of "Beautiful Struggle", Talib Kweli's new album has been leaked, and he is understandably upset.. Here is what he had to say on okayplayer.com as a response to the person who leaked his unfinished CD (Same person who leaked the Kanye West CD advance):

"You know what, I

 

I think what he's said is great. I plan to join iTunes once I upgrade to Windows XP on my home computer... just so I can start buying one or two songs at a time, instead of paying $15 for a whole album.

I think artists should be compensated, but at the same time, I don't generally like an entire CD too often.

 

I do agree, however...

Do you agree that this man is capable of revealing himself as a capable and competent artist? For someone to say that his music is parallel to Michaelangelo's artistic ability, that's being fairly strong and assertive, especially since musical taste is so subjective. Personally, I've never even heard of this artist. My point is, is this really a big deal? Yes, it can be. If this man supports his children with his music, then buy all means, I will go out and buy the copy of the CD that he's trying to get across. But for all of you who have seen "Cribs" and the like on MTV, where bands and their clone bands have incredible amounts of money and buy POINTLESS S|-|it that practically has little or no REAL imperical value (not literal fiscal cost), I have no problem ripping them off and taking the ONE song that I happen to like from one of their MANY CD's that they have in constant reproduction.

So, finally, what I'm trying to say is subjective. No one really can say what's fair and what's not in this case. The Musical Community (Producers of large name bands, etc.) have gone after certain individuals with large amounts of mp3's stored on their computers. So far, from what I've heard, they've only arrested and prosecuted a handful of people.

File sharing and the like are here to stay. ALL of you computer people out there can agree with me that eventually everything will be interconnected // downloadable // viewable // etc. at the speed of light, anytime .. anywhere .. day or night. Kazaa and a handful of other "companies" are paving the way for what is to come. The next couple of years should prove interesting as to what is done about this, if anything is done at all. I know now that you can buy into certain companies and pay a flat rate for membership and download a song @ $.10 or $1 a song (don't believe me, just respond back). Don't these companies undermine the Music // Recording industry as well? It's the biggest crock ever. Eventually, the Recording Studios and Music industry will be in partnership with these filesharing companies, if they haven't started already (behind the scenes of course, until they realize that they can't do anything directly to people who transfer via P2P networks because of free marketplace of ideas, unless it's copywrited ... but who cares about that.)

Finally done. Please argue this with me, I like this topic.

~ Ryan

 

thing i dont like about mp3 is the quality can't match cds when i listen to it.

 

Never heard his first CD. Just the track they kept playing on the radio.. Good song though.

 

He's a pissy whiner. If he wants to put food in his kid's mouths, do a live show. People can't steal, duplicate, and download that experience. Be a musician, not a commodity.

He should be flattered that people care enough to steal his music. It isn't like he has any God-given right to expect millions of dollars from the record-buying public. If he wants to be a music artist, acknowledge that music is an easily replicated commodity, and live with it, or become a carpenter or something.

All this whining by people who put out albums is pathetic. Sure, you have a right to receive compensation for your music, but get it from record sales and live performances by working you butt off to make something people want. An MP3 is a poor substitute for a CD, and anyone who really likes the artist will support them by buying the album and/or going to a show. Some people have more money than others, and support more artists. I listen to the radio for free, and the record companies pay for the music to be played. What is the frickin' deal with getting upset when your music is distributed at no cost to the record company? It is free advertising, despite what the RIAA would like you to think. I have more music on MP3 than on CD, but mainly because, honestly, I can't afford to support every artist I like. And that's not my job. I don't feel guilty at all that some record company isn't making another few dollars off me. If they want to inflate the price of CDs, well, live with the consequences.

 

i don't see why that's so hard to figure out.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by IronHondaS2000
But for all of you who have seen "Cribs" and the like on MTV, where bands and their clone bands

 

It's different. He's claiming that the music he plays is for money to feed his children. That's logical.

 

think about it, when tapes came around people taped songs off the radio, made mix tapes and distributed it among friends. Now its on a global scale and there isn't any going back. Im not going to buy every artist's CD i like, i don't have that kind of money. I will support those who are my favorite and put out a quality album worth owning. Unfortunately Mr Kweli isn't one of them, and alot of artists aren't either.