When is the artist no longer really the artist?

djchameleon · 08-13-2013, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FRED HALE SR.

I do love that song. I also really like the John Legend song Used to love You. I can even appreciate the Kweli song Get By. I've never understood the super stardom of KW I think his downfall at least to my ears is Overproduction. I feel like his sound is artificial and seemingly lifeless. His Rhymes bore me also.

With regard to the artist not being the artist any longer, It really boils down to the factors that Urban and Jansz were discussing. I don't believe major labels will allow the freedom they used to with artists and almost invite the collaboration aspect because they see dollar signs. I can't really fault their reasoning, but I think its more of a major act problem then it is an indie problem.

I will give you credit and say yes his rhymes are boring for the most part but how can you say that overproduction is lifeless? When something is stripped down and minimal is when it sounds lifeless imo. I love overproduced material so maybe I'm biased but the more that's going on in the background the more I tend to like it. I love picking out little sounds here and there from either samples or instruments. This applies to all music, not just Kayne and his production techniques.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 216

as for kanye, he went under the radar producing for years so if a lot of people are helping him now and hes getting over credited then i think its only right

I agree with this! Cut Kanye some slack and quit dick riding him. He deserves to get help from others. He's such a control freak that I know he has a vision of what he wants and how he wants it then has the producers help him create that vision so even if you feel like a certain track being producer by a certain person might sound more like that person's work than Kanye's it was still his vision for what he wanted for the overall project.

~~Soulflower~~ · 08-13-2013, 12:45 PM

My question, about artists in general, is when are they no longer really the artist? If you didn't do the majority of the writing or performing, if your primary role was simply getting a bunch of talented people in a room together, does it make any kind of sense to give you full credit as the artist?

What do you guys think?

To me, an artist is someone who is the true mastermind behind their music regardless if they are doing everything by themself or not. They are heavily involved in the arrangement, production, writing and overall direction of their music. They come up with concepts, themes, melodies and are very involved in the creation of their music.

On songwriting credits- Anybody can get a songwriting credit for changing or contributing to the melody or the lyrics. For example, if the ONLY thing the artist did was change one word or decided to extend the melody a little longer towards the end of the song. They are legally suppose to get a writing credit which I completely disagree with because changing one word around doesnt really showcase whether or not the artist contributed in the writing process or the making of the song. To me, I think it is really stealing a "credit" that was not rightfully deserved.The artist could have received the full song completely written and then decided to change one word for the credit. Alot of pop singers do this on purpose just to have their name in the credits and for royalties.

I think songwriting credits should only be given out to the actual writers who came up with the lyrics and creation of the song.

08-13-2013, 12:45 PM	#32 (permalink)
~~Soulflower~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,304	My question, about artists in general, is when are they no longer really the artist? If you didn't do the majority of the writing or performing, if your primary role was simply getting a bunch of talented people in a room together, does it make any kind of sense to give you full credit as the artist? What do you guys think? To me, an artist is someone who is the true mastermind behind their music regardless if they are doing everything by themself or not. They are heavily involved in the arrangement, production, writing and overall direction of their music. They come up with concepts, themes, melodies and are very involved in the creation of their music. On songwriting credits- Anybody can get a songwriting credit for changing or contributing to the melody or the lyrics. For example, if the ONLY thing the artist did was change one word or decided to extend the melody a little longer towards the end of the song. They are legally suppose to get a writing credit which I completely disagree with because changing one word around doesnt really showcase whether or not the artist contributed in the writing process or the making of the song. To me, I think it is really stealing a "credit" that was not rightfully deserved.The artist could have received the full song completely written and then decided to change one word for the credit. Alot of pop singers do this on purpose just to have their name in the credits and for royalties. I think songwriting credits should only be given out to the actual writers who came up with the lyrics and creation of the song.