delnegro wrote:His name is Lee. And just because you know about Rock Steady and yes they were mostly Latino BUT they weren't the only breaking crews in the 5 boroughs!!! There mounds of other crews that dont get mentioned, weren't as up high in beat street and all that. Bootlegging aint come around til like the early nineties hiphop was thriving still. And believe me the people who were down with hiphop b4 it went mainstream would still be down now. I know who was making the majority of sales at this time cause I know the majority of people who listened to the music. Just like it doesnt take a genius to figure out blacks are about 15% of the total population of the U.S. so of course when we were the majority of buyers it would less then now. I said once and I'll say it again..Most of the trends, slang, innovations, fashion, in hiphop were started by blacks. Listen to Mos Def new album when he talks about rock musicians and you'll understand why I'm so adamant about making my point and wont be privy to revisionist history.
Did you just look that up or something? Thanks, I didnt remember. I never said Rock Steady was the only crew. Relax, you taken this way too personal. So basically what your're saying is, you know personally, most of the people who listened to rap music when it wasnt mainstream, and they all told you what they bought. And I guess you also know all the black people in the UK and they told you when they bought that Tougher than Leather album. Or when they bought that Whodini album right. This is preposterous. I lived in Bklyn for the first 25 years of my life and I never gave a memo to you when I begged my Mom for a Fatboys record, or Jam on it by Neucleus.. ANd no it doesnt take a genious to know that there's 15% black people in the US today, you can look it up!!! But so what?!?!? What percentage of that amount bought records back in the day, what percentage buy cds now?!? And when you find that percentage, can rappers back then or today, bank on platinum status based on african american record sales. C'mon man.
"so of course when we were the majority of buyers it would less then now"
What are you talking about?!?! Where are your facts..I do know bootlegging existed then, we didnt here about it because the big record companies didnt make or expect much from hiphop music. Its only until cats started going platinum and serious money got involved is when bootlegging became an issue. Rappers back in the day and still today rely on international sales. Ya know where all the black people are!!
A lot of cats used to tape sh!t off the radio. I too, used to listen to RED, Chuck Chillout, Marley ChillyQ, Pete Rock, actually more Marley Marl cause Red used to play the same damn tape with the same damn music for a month!!
There is no question that the black culture has influenced many. But to say, Hiphop start mainly cause of black people..Bootlegging has always been around where have you been.
I like the dialog man, but damn be constructive..
Peace
