Actually, it's not that bleak for Kansas City rappers with a lot of talent.
However, a recent Pitch cover story by Nadia "Insert childish TKC insult here" Pflaum does a great job of reporting the several get rich quick schemes that surround Kansas City's music scene in general and local hip-hop in particular.
It's actually a really good story and should be required reading for anyone starting out in the Kansas City music scene . . . It kind of reminds me of something that Dallas Penn and Chuck D. have noted on many occasions: "It’s unfortunate that the vehicle that so many can use to make a living is being driven by those that only wish to make a killing."
However the most interesting passage for me was a passage regarding the disparity between KC rock bands and rap bands:
Money quote from the new management at the Hurricane regarding the practice of charging local rap acts to peform:
"Rock bands ain't got no money. They're barely alive, living day to day, where most of these rappers are funded by drugs."
That's a pretty big blanket accusations and it also relies on the silly logic that KC rock bands don't have anything to do with drugs.
Anyway, it's a nice article with an unnecessary shot at KPRS from a disgruntled former host of a show but all things considered that first 3/4ths of the article were worth reading.
Sounds like the moral of the story is to avoid doing business with Chad Waldrop. Even The Hurricane is a joke now... The only thing keeping it open is the reputation that was built by previous management.
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty brazen statement. Everyone must be having some brass ball issues this week.
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