In all reality, searching “Kermit” or “Lycos MP3 Search” just does not compare to the ease of Napster. All of the files on any MP3 search engine often require the user to upload new material before he can download the desired track. Sure, there is occassional slow download speeds, but there is no limit. Users can get almost any song/album they want by typing in artists’ names and songs. Napster is just too simple to NOT use.
I recently became fans of many underground hip-hop artists through the ease of Napster. Imagine searching webpage after webpage for a measly song from an unsigned artist. Most get lucky to find one underground track on traditional MP3 web sites. However, punch in a few words in the Napster search fields, and you can get the song you want — and hundreds of copies!
Benefit, my favorite underground MC caught my attention on a song titled “Proceed With Caution.” This song has possibly the illest lyrics to separate the good and the bad. I was amazed by his talent and visited his label, So Sick Records, on the web. I grabbed a few titles and brought the search into Napster’s hands. The program returned at least 50 results and many were exactly what I was looking for. This sparked my love for Benefit. Then later to find out he supports Napster and he won the contest sponsored by Napster and Rapstation.
Did you know that the RIAA profits off of every CD-R you buy. Yes, they demand a small percentage of every blank disc sold. Yet they complain about music pirating and crack down on copyright violators to the point of imprisonment — does this make sense? Of course, a law is a law, but shutting down Napster just to supposedly boost record sales? No, that’s unnecessary.
Yes, I own a CD-RW. I use it religiously. It allows me the opportunity to spread Benefit’s cutting-edge lyrics into the hands of many other avid hip-hop heads. Recently, Benefit gained another fan because of Napster. I explained to my friend about Benefit’s extraordinary talent, and now he’s on a quest for the entire album. Do I bootleg for other people who do not have a burner? The answer is no. It is distribution of copyrighted material — illegal. Do I pass my MP3s around the Net? Not at all and for the same reason. I feel artists do deserve money for what they do. However, the music is about the love and the fun. Music wasn’t invented to make loot.
It seems as if everyone is “all about the benjamins” now. Unfortunately, rap artists that do not produce their own albums receive about 10 cents on every check. Some receive even less. It’s the producers and exec’s in suits who pocket most of the cash. For example, what in the hell is Dr. Dre complaining about? He’s a producer and an MC. I bought his latest album and I thought it was great. Dre has experience in the game, and he deserves the cash. He’s going to make money AND fans by using Napster.
“Download the track and buy the albnum if you like it.” I hear that a lot. In fact, I believe in it. I used to buy albums after sampling tracks in MP3. That was before I had a CD burner. I am 100% positive that many other people did (and still do) the same thing. I feel that artists are worrying about nothing. You’re probably expecting me to discuss the shut down of Napster. I apologize, but it irritates the hell out of me.
Napster is definitely becoming an integral part of the MP3 phenomenon. It has been the greatest advancement for audio file sharing to ever hit the Net. It has enabled unsigned artists to gain free promotion. Without Napster, many people wouldn’t be fans of some of the artists they are today.
By RhymeLife.Com for Hip Hop Hot Spot .Com
