Def Jam, Columbia, Interscope, Top Dawg, so on and so on are a few of the label’s we encounter on a daily basis. The music industry has shifted throughout the years due to technological advances. We live in an era where you can text someone, FaceTime someone, and take a photo of someone, all while someone refereed you to download that new mixtape because it’s lit. Basically, almost anything is readily available to us at the touch of buttons. The freedom to get what we want, whenever we want, has gracefully overflown into music. This is made possible through independent artists and their agenda to share sounds and stories with the public. Some artists are eager to strike a deal with record labels, while others are fighting against the corporate musical jukebox through their own style.
I personally enjoy listening to independent artists. They’re typically up and coming and I like finding new people and stuff to listen to whatever the occasion. When you’re independent, the level of creativity one can craft is infinite. They call all of the shots so to speak. For example, who gets to produce, mix the track, writes the track, and how it gets released to the public. This liberates the constraints of other parties that may want to interject on your creative being. Music cannot be owned. Yes, there are licensing rights and legalities, but the practice to do what you wish with music is a right to all people. I know I sound a tad bit political, but that’s all out of love that I have for the divergent genres. Many unsigned artist’s might share this commonality, and use their talents to give their art unto the people.
The means in which these artists share their craft in the internet generation, focus on mobility. Services such as iTunes and Amazon, though ideal for economical gain, may not fully reach the ears of music investors (the public). Also, these services do not fully promote an artist or their music. So along comes SoundCloud, Spotify, Datpiff, Audiomack, and many more sites that offer artists the ability to promote, share, and stream their work with the world. The best parts about these uploading services, is one, it’s free, and secondly it gives a chance to further popularity and collaboration among other artists. It’s one big musical super-hub where they have a chance propel their career or hobby. I personally know individuals who are unsigned artists. Day in and day out they work on themselves and their craft diligently, hoping to send a message or share something in common with listeners. The man I’m about to introduce, I’ve had the pleasure to know since I was 15.
Darion Harris is a 17 year old rapper and producer from New York originally from SeaBoard, North Carolina. He has begun to emerge in the hip hop scene as a determined and young artist. Harris is currently in high school, taking classes at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University (NYU). Here, he has worked with known artists such as Nxgn and MeLo-X. Darion comes from a menacing part of Harlem, but through music he is able to escape, have fun, and create an enticing perspective of community among people. He is heavily influenced by Childish Gambino. As to why, Harris believes he has a playful and experimental view of hip hop trap produced today; With melodic instrumentals and infectiously bombastic deliveries, Gambino inspires Darion in his musical prowess. He has currently released a new energetic song for the party scene on Spotify called “Get This Money” and his album will be coming out in June. Here is the link.
The world needs more musical masterminds like Darion, and I look forward to watching him grow and succeed as well as many other artists I personally know. I enjoyed watching Chance The Rapper, Rockie Fresh, Freddie Gibbs, and many more rise as unsigned artists (Fresh and Freddie are signed to labels now). Unsigned artistry is a cultural pillar in the way we listen to music. It brings a unique perspective that can be exciting yet fearful for the music industry. I commend all the music libertarians for giving the people what they need to hear, and I encourage you all to keep on pushing no matter the circumstances.
