The big bad Brother responds to a question (shown below) asked on his new site BrotherAli.com. The first vlog about the site in general is shown after the jump as well.
Is it ok to download music as long as you spread the word and go to the shows?”
PREVIOUS: Introducing BrotherAli.com (Video)
US in stores September 22nd. Pre-order now!
go listen to daniel tosh’s stand up about rappers complaining about downloading music, hilarious
Brother Ali keeps it real
“so we download for a taste test, yup / cuz we ain’t trying to waste a pay check” -Slug
^^^ thats the same line that went through my head..lol
i def understand wat he means when it comes to people not understanding that it costs money for him to put his cd on sale! I have to deal with the same stuff with my book, you got to pay for marketing, printing, everything costs money! Just to get it in a store costs money! Its a sad reality but everyone thinks that these artists (including authors like myself) are just making something and getting pure profits from it, but its not that case, we invest more then are heart and sole in our work, our art, were putting in our money! investing in ourselves!
@ pdid
Cosign. Some dude on here tried to tell me it’s illegal and wrong but we as fans of music are allowed to download or in a way listen to the product so we’ll know if it’s something worth dropping money on or not.
co-sign brother ali 100%
Mr. Glass it’s Soul not Sole just FYI I hope you got a good spell checker haha but good luck with your books.
It’s still illegal but it depends on ones morals.
Truth.
I am the actual cat he mad the response too, and I appreciate it, and it encouraged me to go buy some cds.
actually encouraged me to go cop some CD’s my self, first ima download them though see if its worth buying. I already have a couple albums in mind that im defiantly going to buy, one is when ever J.Cole drops an album i will go cop it as soon as possible that boy is (2)dopeeeeeee.
word ima send this to some peeps who ain bought cds in years cause in sep. alone im finna buy at least 4 albums; rae, cudi, jay, and wale if he still droppin the 22nd
Yea I told myself earlier this year I would start buying cd’s again. There so much music I’m enjoying nowdays, and with the internet all these mixtapes out here that most of these cats drop for free…..or I download them bcuz I don’t feel the need to pay for a mixtape =). I’m happy to go out and buy ALBUMS again! I just hate how most stores I go to, even the independent music stores, charge more for a smaller artist or a “indy” artist. My pockets don’t feel good enough to almost pay 20$ with tax for a CD!
Ive spent never a grand on albums this year alone all new and albums I never got to buy when I was younger
^^
word 20 plus tax for a cd with 12 tracks on it is bs shit better be 18 and up. what he said was real shit. if an album you hear and you just connect with it so deeply you should buy i mean its money well spent but shit its still a recession and alot of dope ppl dropping albums so that shit could leave you broke. nut rappers make their dough mostly off shows and most of the time those arnt free so they are getting some paper just all of it.
*alot
I really have to go back. I mean, I have been getting them bootlegs since before I had a computer from my papa, since he’s a computer tech. and all, he been rockin’ that shit. My top Two Favorite rappers, Lupe & DOOM, I don’t have a lick of their music.
This is my new rule: If I don’t buy it, it gets a download and one straight through listen. If I don’t like, then it probably wont be listened to again. If so, cop.
I have a lot of music to get. Madvillainy, Food & Liquor, The Cool, Born Like This…
Just thinking out loud here.
I’ve bought a lot of cd’s, but ive also downloaded a lot, too. The way I see things, though, don’t get mad at the dude downloadin for free who can’t pay for it, because they have other things they have to deal with or don’t have a job…get mad at the dude who downloads when theyre perfectly able too.
every time I get a grip off money, I go out and buy a cd and i just got a new job, so im gonna be buyin plenty this september. Am I gonna lie and say I won’t still download? hell naw, but I’m still gonna support the music I feel should be supported.
Brother Ali dropped science and I respect that, I started buying music back in ’90 and I have over 2000 store bought albums…let alone when I started they were cassettes (so who knows how much I really had). Anyways, I agree that, we should support these artists out here that are actually putting together decent music (not just money, bitches, guns & drugs)….
“Drugs, Bitches, Guns, Money that’s your summary lyrically your under me” – Del the Funkee Homosapien from Tame One’s Oooops (smegma)
When more artists put their heart and soul’s into their music, it’s easier to let go of the monopoly money we hold so dear….but until then downloading will continue….
It’s kinda like the restaurants that bug you and ask “Would you like a sample?”
@ Cr!tical
Same here dude. I still need to cop F&L and The Cool but I do have them on the computer and the ipod.
i buy the ones i like after downloading but if there’s only 3 or 4 tracks im actually feeling on an album with 15 tracks and 4 interludes whats the point in spending 20 bucks but atleast at target they are 10 bucks the first week
[...] Spotted at 2DopeBoyz, Brother Ali answer a question posed by one of his fans: [...]
Brother Ali Speaks on Downloading vs. Buying Music (VIDEO) | The Real Frequency said this on August 28th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
[...] posted here: Brother Ali on Downloading vs Buying Music (Video) | 2dopeboyz Posted in Talk About Music | August 28th, 2009 Leave a [...]
Brother Ali on Downloading vs Buying Music (Video) | 2dopeboyz | Wildtonemusic said this on August 28th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
insert generic *i’m going to go buy CD’s again* statement. I respect brother ali a hell of a lot, but I will say that I will NOT go and buy CDs just because it’s someone’s name who i respect anymore. I download them first, then i decide if it’s worth supporting. I buy many CD’s…but if i do not like what the MC/group’s overall message is, or what they’re doing to the hip-hop game (i.e. Drake) I will not buy it. There are some things not worth supporting, but hopefully in the near future there will be much that is. We can only hope.
i’m still buy CD, but sometimes im downloading.
i only download if the artist has passed away, or he’s rich as hell like jay-z
no other times ever, just being real
I download.. to make up for the money I lost when I was a teenager on 1 good songs per album I bought.
I only buy albums from independent artist that I like to show support (slaughterhouse,Immortal Technique,Term ect ect) but this rich mainstream motherfuckas like Em and Jay!? Yeeaaah Im downloading that shit! They dont need the money that bad.
I downloaded tracks from this site. I’m happy to say that I’ve never downloaded a full cd though. Artist I like, I support. My library is a motherfucker and due to seeing my Father and Mother with their extensive album collection back in the day only made me carry on tradition. The 1st album I asked to be brought was LL Cool J’s Bigger and Deffer when I was 12 and Whenever I got some paper, I ran to the record store.
My way of buying music:
If you sold over 2 mil, I don’t buy your shit.
If you’re wack, I don’t buy your shit.
If you’re promising, I download to check.
If you’re lyrical, I check.
If you’re Elzhi, instant cop.
If you’re Nas, instant cop.
If you’re anyone from QN5, instant cop.
If you’re anyone from Statik Selektah’s crew, I keeps an eye out.
If you’re either; Drake, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy or Asher Roth, you can eat shit.
Much respect for your music and your commentary brother
When it comes down to downloading or buying, for me it is 50/50. I have bought hundreds over the years and I have downloaded just the same. My reason for downloading is to get the music early. I get all of the music weeks before release dates,I always have. the last cd I bought recently was “Jay Stay Paid”. To be honest,I probably will not buy ” Blueprint 3″ OBFCL2″,ect… not because I think they won`t be good,but because I can get them early. Everything that Brother Ali was saying is all true and fans take that all for granted(including me at times). But I saved alot of money by downloading even though I am one of the reasons for the decline of the Record industry`s sales.
whats good with all you hating on drake now? kid destroys wayne.
^^^Bruce Wayne or Lil Wayne?
I got my money on Batman, and 5 year old girls destroy the latter.
Brother Ali is the most heartfelt, honest, and intelligent emcee in the game today. He is one of the few artists that I will go out and buy their album the day it comes out, without even hearing a track.
I can give a damn if somebody who’s mad rich with major label support is getting my money. I buy independent or “really really good” artists, I buy vinyl, and I go to shows. They’re not making that much off of a CD; royalties are bullshit.
My_Pops_Son got it right! I love how Ali breaks it down and explains everything in the way he does…His entire persona is in line with his music..He is one of the few artists that is real and it is reflected in everything I see of him- his shows, music and his interviews. He has actually convinced me to support more artisits that I love and hold up my end of the bargain. I appreciate his honesty and his music.
I don’t buy into his argument. I never pay for a damn thing but I still have a strong emotional connection to the music I listen to, the music in my library. I don’t think he fully understands the process because I still get to listen to the album as he intended it, I just get to use the rest of my money on food and rent, which are kind of important
what i’ll do sumtimes is that i’ll buy an artist album, when he drops a new album and its above average, i’ll cop, like talib kweli’s the beautiful struggle, quality was great! but i wasnt feeling tbs so i decided to download, n sumtimes when a song REALLY hits me, like when i was thinkin of gettin the ecstatic i decided to hit up myspace to check out the songs, “WORKERS COMP” was the song that made me wanna buy the album, i could relate to it cuz it captured the time so accurately….thats my two cents
peace!
I agree with Ali. You need to support the artists you really feel and believe in. Downloading to get a taste is fine but dont download the whole fuckin album check the singles or a few leaked tracks. I want music and albums as an artform to survive. I want artists to be able to sell albums and continue to live their musical lifestyle. Im coming up in the game myself and as a producer or artist i dont just wanna have digital format music, i want phsyical copies of shit instore! I mean damn even if youre broke im pretty sure you can support one favorite artist a month at best buy for $10 on their tuesday release date
def agree with brother ali. I like having the cd rather than downloading an album.
[...] Spotted @ 2DopeBoyz [...]
Brother Ali Speaks on Downloading Vs. Buying Music « MIND INVERSION said this on August 31st, 2009 at 8:18 pm
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