I have a dream... well, I constantly have daydreams of what my perfect rap label would be like (if you were expecting some inspirational MLK shit there, sorry if I disappointed). There are literally so many rappers with so many different types of skills that it's insane to think about what they could all do together (or with different collaborators, you remember my "who are your dream collaborations" article awhile back? this is almost of the same vein). Too many times have I thought about how limited some of my favorite rappers are because of their label, or because of whose in their circle, or even because of who they frequently collaborate with. You never know what could have happened with some artists if their career paths may have went differently, or if they do in the near future (butterfly effects aside). This post is for those like me that think (probably waaay too much) about how things could be if they were different. All I want to know is this: who's on your rap label?
Now before we start the game I have to lay down some guidelines: first up is the point system. I tried to make it as simple as possible in terms of what rankings each rapper got, the best rappers get a 5 point ranking while the worst get a 1, and so on. A 5 point ranked rapper is what you would want to lead your label: in terms of selling records and being the fan favorite, this is your go to artist. A 1 point artist isn't necessarily just a label filler, they could be whatever you want them to be, it is YOUR label after all, although to make it challenging I have given each label a 12 point limit per label, though there is no limit to how many rappers/artists are on your label.
Next up are the label tags (or in NFL terms, the "franchise" tags). These tags basically define what each rapper is and how the public sees them (or at least how I see them, you may see them differently, all I ask is that you follow the guidelines). Some rappers/artists will get tags that others won't because it is all based on how unique that rapper/artist is musically, but these tags include; Chart Topper (CT), Lyrical Miracle (LM), Fan Favorite (FF), New Artist (NA), Party Music (PM), Thought Provoking (TP), Story Teller (ST) and Original Gangsta (OG). The only guidelines I have for the tags is that every label have at least 1 Chart Topper (CT), 1 New Artist (NA), and one Original Gangsta (OG). Every other artist is up to you, there is no limit to how many of each.
The last rule is that there are to be no label heads involved on your label, obviously because you would be taking their place. So this means Eminem, Jay Z, Nas, Diddy, Lil Wayne, Dr. Dre, Kanye West, T.I., Rick Ross and Birdman will not make the list. The rest of the rappers, however, are all fair game. I only define label heads as the MAJOR labels (Shady Records, Young Money, Cash Money, GOOD Music, Roc Nation, Mass Appeal, Grand Hustle, Bad Boy, Maybach Music Group), so labels like Drake's OVO and B.o.B's No Genre would not make this list. Whatever you believe the guidelines should be, they have been set and to play the game you must follow them (it's supposed to be a fun challenge as well, I hope to readers follow the guidelines and play the game fairly). Anyways, below is a list of most every rapper that qualifies to make the list, along with their tags and point totals next to them.
5 Points 4 Points
Kendrick Lamar (ST)(CT)(LM)(TP) Logic (ST)(FF)(TP)(LM)(NA)
J. Cole (ST)(CT)(LM)(TP) Lupe Fiasco (TP)(LM)(FF)
Mac Miller (FF)(TP)(PM)(LM) Big Sean (PM)(LM)
Tyler The Creator (LM)(PM)(FF) Meek Mill (PM)(LM)
Drake (ST)(PM)(FF)(CT) Young Jeezy (OG)(ST)(CT)(PM)
Nicki Minaj (LM)(FF)(CT) Fabolous (OG)(FF)(PM)(TP)
Big K.R.I.T (FF)(PM)(TP) A$AP Rocky (FF)(PM)
Slaughterhouse (LM)(FF) Schoolboy Q (PM)(FF)
Ab-Soul (FF)(TP)(LM)
Common (OG)(ST)(TP)
50 Cent (OG)(PM)(FF)(CT)
Pusha T (LM)(PM)(TP)
3 Points 2 Points
Andre 3000 (OG)(ST)(LM)(FF)(TP) Joe Budden (ST)(FF)(LM)(TP)
Big Boi (OG)(PM)(FF) Crooked I (LM)(TP)(FF)
Bun B (OG)(PM)(LM) Royce Da 5'9 (LM)(TP)(FF)
Dizzy Wright (NA)(PM) Joell Ortiz (LM)(TP)(FF)
Yelawolf (ST)(LM)(TP)(PM) Nipsey Hussle (PM)
Tech N9ne (LM)(FF) 2 Chainz (PM)(FF)
Ludacris (OG)(PM)(FF) Rittz (ST)(TP)(LM)(PM)(FF)
Earl Sweatshirt (LM)(PM)(FF) Cyhi The Prynce (TP)(LM)(NA)
Wiz Khalifa (PM) Mick Jenkins (NA)(PM)(TP)
B.o.B (LM)(PM)(TP) MGK (PM)(LM)
Juicy J (OG)(PM)(FF) Ty Dolla $ign (PM)
Game (OG)(ST)(PM)(TP) Young Thug (PM)
Curren$y (PM)(FF)(TP) Rich Homie Quan (PM)
Nelly (OG)(PM)(FF) DMX (OG)(PM)(FF)
Wale (PM)(TP) Trinidad James (PM)(NA)
A$AP Ferg (PM) Lil John (OG)(PM)(FF)
Asher Roth (LM)(PM)(TP) Kirko Bangz (HS)(PM)
Jay Rock (NA)(ST)(PM)(TP) Usher (HS)(FF)(PM)
French Montana (PM) Omarion (HS)(PM)
Kid Cudi (TP)(FF)(PM) Tyga (PM)
Joey Bada$$ (ST)(NA)(TP)(LM)(PM) Snow Tha Product (NA)(LM)(PM)(TP)Childish Gambino (PM)(TP)(FF) Rihanna (HS)(CT)(PM)
Jay Electronica (NA)(ST)(LM)(TP) King Chip (PM)(TP)
Chance The Rapper (PM)(TP)(NA) Skyler Grey (HS)
Freddie Gibbs (FF)(PM) Jeremih (HS)
Action Bronson (PM)(TP)(LM) T-Pain (HS)
Twista (OG)(FF)(LM) Trey Songz (CT)(HS)
Talib Kweli (OG)(ST)(TP)(LM)(FF) Chris Brown (HS)(CT)
Mos Def (OG)(ST)(TP)(LM)(FF) Riff Raff (PM)(HS)
YG (PM) Mick Jenkins (PM)(TP)
Future (HS)(PM) Lil Flip (PM)
Project Pat (OG)(FF)(PM) Chingy (PM)
Anthony Hamilton (HS) Akon (HS)
Kevin Gates (PM)(TP)(NA)(IDGT)(SMH) Kurupt (OG)(LM)(PM)
Iggy Azalea (CT)(HS)(PM)(FF) Bow Wow (PM)(FF)
Jhene Aiko (HS)(ST)(TP)(PM) Paul Wall (PM)(FF)
Lil Kim (OG)(LM)(PM) Chevy Woods (LM)(PM)
Busta Rhymes (OG)(LM)(PM) Obie Trice (OG)(LM)(TP)
Jadakiss (OG)(LM)(TP) Tuki Carter (PM)(NA)
Trae The Truth (PM)(LM)
Now with the absolutely humongoid, gigantic, mammoth, Andre The Giant-esque list I just gave you (with the exception of a few, let me know if I left any names off or if there are any others that you would include in your label), you should definitely have fun putting together your label. Now I want to see what the people come up with! Honestly I can't even tell you who I'd put on my label with the point limit at the moment, it may even take me a couple days before I can come up with my list. But just remember the guidelines/rules, and just have fun with it, it's all about the discussion! We can talk over who you put on your label and why on Twitter (@SuperNovaRover) or Google+ when you make your decisions, you important label heads you. Now go and do big things with your artists.
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