Identity said:

[img:$uid]http://i56.tinypic.com/ie3uyp.jpg[/img:$uid]

Link

December 30, 2010

Public Enemy’s Chuck D says the album is an outdated concept and he’s in no rush to return to the studio for an extended collection of songs.

Speaking to The Age, Chuck D says he feels albums have been an outdated concept since the turn of the century. “I just do one song at a time,” he said. “I don’t believe in, like, there’s got to be an urgency behind recordings just because the industry says. What’s the rush?”

He says the web has allowed the band to have a healthy year despite leaving the corporation of Def Jam and Universal. “Everybody’s trying to figure out: how did we do it?” he says. “We’ve pretty much done it with our own rules.”

Those rules include shooting new videos for classic tracks from the Public Enemy back catalog, and establishing hiphopgods.com, an online distribution hub for artists such as Dana Dane and Digital Underground to release singles and join Public Enemy in bypassing the pressure to record whole albums.

Meanwhile Public Enemy hype man Flavor Flav has announced he will release an autobiography, called Icon, on March 1 through Farrah Gray Books.

Chuck is my all time favorite rappers. He is like the Bob Dylan of rap to me

Depends on what kind of music you make. Albums for genres like jazz, bluegrass, zydeco, and blues are still valid. They've never been dependent on singles, videos, radio hits, or mainstream popularity. The audiences for these are generally older and more likely to buy an album instead of downloading.

Instead of albums, most artists are better off releasing EPs. A EP release of only 6 songs is enough.

I see his point but i also think the less you say the less of a landscape U give to who you are. If you have 3 songs in 7 years, that tells me that you are not really dedicated and how the hell can i get into you? i mean, its a valid point on his end if you are already established, but with that approach from a new band putting out one song a year would be suicide, regardless how good it is

TonyVanDam said:

Instead of albums, most artists are better off releasing EPs. A EP release of only 6 songs is enough.

I don't think that's necessary, just start making albums 30-45 minutes in length like pre-CD albums were. I've always thought that trying to fill up a CD that lasts 80 minutes serves no purpose. That's just about the length of the average movie. Sade's newest album is only 42 minutes. There were occasional double LP's in the past, but they were not every album.

Identity said:

He says the web has allowed the band to have a healthy year despite leaving the corporation of Def Jam and Universal. “Everybody’s trying to figure out: how did we do it?” he says. “We’ve pretty much done it with our own rules.”

Those rules include shooting new videos for classic tracks from the Public Enemy back catalog, and establishing hiphopgods.com, an online distribution hub for artists such as Dana Dane and Digital Underground to release singles and join Public Enemy in bypassing the pressure to record whole albums.

Eh, I don't know, it sounds to me like Public Enemy are now an "oldies" act. They may record the odd new song but they are living off of past glories. There's an audience for that and I'm not saying it's a bad thing but I don't think they are doing anything different than countless other older artists that no longer make relevent new music.

MickyDolenz said:

TonyVanDam said:

Instead of albums, most artists are better off releasing EPs. A EP release of only 6 songs is enough.

I don't think that's necessary, just start making albums 30-45 minutes in length like pre-CD albums were. I've always thought that trying to fill up a CD that lasts 80 minutes serves no purpose. That's just about the length of the average movie. Sade's newest album is only 42 minutes. There were occasional double LP's in the past, but they were not every album.

Agreed. Very few acts are capable of maintaining high quality over the length of an 80 minute cd. Some people argue that they want a full cd to give them more value for their dollar but I would prefer a great 40 minute disc to a mediocre 80 minute disc.

For some artists,it seems pointless to make an entire album.Alot of these newer "artists" who don't sell alot of CDs should just stick with singles.I'm talking about someone like Ciara,whose latest CD sold sold less than 40k during its first week.She should have just released two or three singles and saved herself alot of trouble.

Longtime,legendary artists with a huge,loyal fanbase (Bruce Springsteen,for example) should continue making full CDs but the Ciaras and the Nellys should just stop.

SoulAlive said:

For some artists,it seems pointless to make an entire album.Alot of these newer "artists" who don't sell alot of CDs should just stick with singles.I'm talking about someone like Ciara,whose latest CD sold sold less than 40k during its first week.She should have just released two or three singles and saved herself alot of trouble.

Longtime,legendary artists with a huge,loyal fanbase (Bruce Springsteen,for example) should continue making full CDs but the Ciaras and the Nellys should just stop.

Identity said:

[img:$uid]http://i56.tinypic.com/ie3uyp.jpg[/img:$uid]

Link

December 30, 2010

Public Enemy’s Chuck D says the album is an outdated concept and he’s in no rush to return to the studio for an extended collection of songs.

Speaking to The Age, Chuck D says he feels albums have been an outdated concept since the turn of the century. “I just do one song at a time,” he said. “I don’t believe in, like, there’s got to be an urgency behind recordings just because the industry says. What’s the rush?”

He says the web has allowed the band to have a healthy year despite leaving the corporation of Def Jam and Universal. “Everybody’s trying to figure out: how did we do it?” he says. “We’ve pretty much done it with our own rules.”

Those rules include shooting new videos for classic tracks from the Public Enemy back catalog, and establishing hiphopgods.com, an online distribution hub for artists such as Dana Dane and Digital Underground to release singles and join Public Enemy in bypassing the pressure to record whole albums.

Meanwhile Public Enemy hype man Flavor Flav has announced he will release an autobiography, called Icon, on March 1 through Farrah Gray Books.

He looks a little worried and apprehensive in that photo, doesn't he?

purplethunder3121 said:

Identity said:

[img:$uid]http://i56.tinypic.com/ie3uyp.jpg[/img:$uid]

Link

December 30, 2010

Public Enemy’s Chuck D says the album is an outdated concept and he’s in no rush to return to the studio for an extended collection of songs.

Speaking to The Age, Chuck D says he feels albums have been an outdated concept since the turn of the century. “I just do one song at a time,” he said. “I don’t believe in, like, there’s got to be an urgency behind recordings just because the industry says. What’s the rush?”

He says the web has allowed the band to have a healthy year despite leaving the corporation of Def Jam and Universal. “Everybody’s trying to figure out: how did we do it?” he says. “We’ve pretty much done it with our own rules.”

Those rules include shooting new videos for classic tracks from the Public Enemy back catalog, and establishing hiphopgods.com, an online distribution hub for artists such as Dana Dane and Digital Underground to release singles and join Public Enemy in bypassing the pressure to record whole albums.

Meanwhile Public Enemy hype man Flavor Flav has announced he will release an autobiography, called Icon, on March 1 through Farrah Gray Books.

He looks a little worried and apprehensive in that photo, doesn't he?

That's how he always looked.

SoulAlive said:

For some artists,it seems pointless to make an entire album.Alot of these newer "artists" who don't sell alot of CDs should just stick with singles.I'm talking about someone like Ciara,whose latest CD sold sold less than 40k during its first week.She should have just released two or three singles and saved herself alot of trouble.

Longtime,legendary artists with a huge,loyal fanbase (Bruce Springsteen,for example) should continue making full CDs but the Ciaras and the Nellys should just stop.

Real Talk as my generation say's

Especially if you have nothing to say. And I haven't heard anyone say much of anything lately.

SoulAlive said:

For some artists,it seems pointless to make an entire album.Alot of these newer "artists" who don't sell alot of CDs should just stick with singles.I'm talking about someone like Ciara,whose latest CD sold sold less than 40k during its first week.She should have just released two or three singles and saved herself alot of trouble.

Longtime,legendary artists with a huge,loyal fanbase (Bruce Springsteen,for example) should continue making full CDs but the Ciaras and the Nellys should just stop.

Ciara should just stop recording music altogether. Singles, albums and all!

So I guess they couldn't raise enough money from their fans to get an album made, then. If it's a good album it's worth making, period. And absolutes regarding the music business hold no water.

Albums are only outdated if you don't have enough of a fan base to buy 'em!

SoulAlive said:

For some artists,it seems pointless to make an entire album.Alot of these newer "artists" who don't sell alot of CDs should just stick with singles.I'm talking about someone like Ciara,whose latest CD sold sold less than 40k during its first week.She should have just released two or three singles and saved herself alot of trouble.

Longtime,legendary artists with a huge,loyal fanbase (Bruce Springsteen,for example) should continue making full CDs but the Ciaras and the Nellys should just stop.

Bingo. I really don't know why this is such a hard concept.

kitbradley said:

SoulAlive said:

For some artists,it seems pointless to make an entire album.Alot of these newer "artists" who don't sell alot of CDs should just stick with singles.I'm talking about someone like Ciara,whose latest CD sold sold less than 40k during its first week.She should have just released two or three singles and saved herself alot of trouble.

Longtime,legendary artists with a huge,loyal fanbase (Bruce Springsteen,for example) should continue making full CDs but the Ciaras and the Nellys should just stop.

Ciara should just stop recording music altogether. Singles, albums and all!

Don't omit Flo Rida. His albums are instant flops but his singles have sold millions.

Albums are outdated. Everything's on ITunes now. CDs are Dinosaur now.

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

Albums are outdated. Everything's on ITunes now. CDs are Dinosaur now.

pretty much with the exception of taylor swift and susan boyle as of now

I don't think the format is at question, but rather the amount of music released at one time. A single vs an ep vs a full length album.

What an odd thing to say from a member of a band that's always been more album-based than single-based. It's been ages since Public Enemy released a classic collection of tracks though, so it's not necessarily hard to see where the comment is coming from. With comments like these it's as if he is willingly placing himself in the same category as pop singers as the aforementioned Ciara.

It sounds like he is more interested in financial security by milking the past of Public Enemy (shooting videos for old tracks?). Nothing wrong in that, though. If he isn't interested in making that much music anymore then it's for the better that he doesn't keep on putting bad albums. But as much respect as this man deserves, it's just a bit funny when he attempts to turn even something like this into an agenda.

An album is more interesting as an artistic statement. The listening experience isn't over in just a few minutes. Even if you were to simply distribute your music online you can distribute them as collection of songs - and - even if someone wants to download just the catchiest stuff it doesn't really hurt to have other tracks available as well. While putting out albums might not be as commercially viable for the mainstream music business anymore, it really shouldn't function as a reason to limit your own creativity due to that.

TonyVanDam said:

Instead of albums, most artists are better off releasing EPs. A EP release of only 6 songs is enough.

What's an EP now used to be an album.

Example: [img:$uid]http://www.shallownation.com/images/morris-day-and-the-time-debut-album-cover-1981.jpg[/img:$uid]

novabrkr said:

If he isn't interested in making that much music anymore then it's for the better that he doesn't keep on putting bad albums. But as much respect as this man deserves, it's just a bit funny when he attempts to turn even something like this into an agenda.

An album is more interesting as an artistic statement. The listening experience isn't over in just a few minutes. Even if you were to simply distribute your music online you can distribute them as collection of songs - and - even if someone wants to download just the catchiest stuff it doesn't really hurt to have other tracks available as well. While putting out albums might not be as commercially viable for the mainstream music business anymore, it really shouldn't function as a reason to limit your own creativity due to that.

What "bad" albums has he put out? Are you abreast of all of his works? I am. I'm curious as to what albums you are referring to?

BlaqueKnight said:

TonyVanDam said:

Instead of albums, most artists are better off releasing EPs. A EP release of only 6 songs is enough.

What's an EP now used to be an album.

Example: [img:$uid]http://www.shallownation.com/images/morris-day-and-the-time-debut-album-cover-1981.jpg[/img:$uid]

That was my thought exactly. Nobody told these kids they HAD to start making CD's with 18 songs, complete with intros and outros, segues, and skits, (along with a bonus hidden track) lol. A whole album back in the day could run 38 minutes, and you'd love nearly every song on it.

BlaqueKnight said:

What "bad" albums has he put out? Are you abreast of all of his works? I am. I'm curious as to what albums you are referring to?

I used that expression just in an effort to cut down the length of the post. It doesn't convey the idea I tried to put forward correctly. It even lacks the word "out" - as in "putting out" - so that should signal there was an editing blunder involved. In any case, he clearly states that he's not interested in making a full-length record at this point. So if he lacks the personal motivation then it's quite likely that the albums won't be that good and that they most likely would be just getting worse. That's the idea I was aiming for.

Your suspicions that I haven't listened to their (his) most recent output are right though. I jumped off around "Revolverlution". At that point the last Public Enemy material worth listening to, for me, were the new tracks on "Greatest Misses". Now that I look at their discography on Wikipedia, there seems to exist even two more recent records that I didn't know existed.

But if you really want examples of what I consider to be bad Public Enemy records then "There's A Poison Goin' On" and "Revolverlution" would serve as examples.

[edits]

[Edited 12/31/10 1:53am]

BlaqueKnight said:

TonyVanDam said:

Instead of albums, most artists are better off releasing EPs. A EP release of only 6 songs is enough.

What's an EP now used to be an album.

Example: [img:$uid]http://www.shallownation.com/images/morris-day-and-the-time-debut-album-cover-1981.jpg[/img:$uid]

Basically. I hate that 16-track rule.

PDogz said:

BlaqueKnight said:

What's an EP now used to be an album.

Example: [img:$uid]http://www.shallownation.com/images/morris-day-and-the-time-debut-album-cover-1981.jpg[/img:$uid]

That was my thought exactly. Nobody told these kids they HAD to start making CD's with 18 songs, complete with intros and outros, segues, and skits, (along with a bonus hidden track) lol. A whole album back in the day could run 38 minutes, and you'd love nearly every song on it.

I understand where you coming from PDogz but we have to put this in perspective.

Back in the day artists like the Isleys, Commodores, Barkays, etc. were releasing albums

once and in some cases twice a year. Why? Because they had a collection of 30 tracks or

more too spread out over two albums within 2 years. The music industry doesn't work like

that now. If i got to wait 3 years to hear a new music from some of my favorite artists then

yes i want 15 tracks on the cd not including interludes and such.

BlaqueKnight said:

TonyVanDam said:

Instead of albums, most artists are better off releasing EPs. A EP release of only 6 songs is enough.

What's an EP now used to be an album.

Example: [img:$uid]http://www.shallownation.com/images/morris-day-and-the-time-debut-album-cover-1981.jpg[/img:$uid]

And THIS early pressing (EP):

[img:$uid]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4d/This_is_an_EP_Release.jpg[/img:$uid]