Photo by Aleksandr Popov on Unsplash
Joey Badass, the audacious rapper famous for his “Waves” single, has recently made some bold and provocative statements on the relevance and importance of first-week sales in the contemporary music industry. The young artist, known for his candidness, sparked a discussion on a largely contentious subject, asserting that first-week sales have lost their significance, primarily because nobody purchases albums anymore.
Joey took to his social media platform on a Monday, expressing his frustration and disbelief about the current sales-oriented state of the music industry. His unfiltered remarks, “Forget about first-week sales. They simply don’t matter anymore for the simple fact that nobody is buying albums. When was the last time anyone you know purchased an album?” stirred up a storm.
Continuing his rant, Joey highlighted the unrealistic expectations set upon artists in the era of music streaming. The rapper pointed out that to have a streamed song considered as a sale, a listener must play every track over a thousand times. Joey added, “They’re trying to create an impression that everyone is failing when in reality, they’ve altered the rules. At this point, everyone should just be quiet and enjoy the music.”
But Joey wasn’t done yet. In a follow-up post, he directly addressed his critics. The rapper fired back at those who claimed his comments were a result of his own lackluster first-week numbers, asserting that such assessments are subjective unless you’re on the level of Drake or Taylor Swift. In his own words, “Do your research. I’ve been selling out venues from the start and will continue to do so.”
Despite the controversy, Joey remains optimistic about his career. He shared plans of releasing his next album at the beginning of 2024 but also cautioned that plans might change as “life happens.” He also reminded fans of his return to the screen in Power Book III: Raising Kanan in December, where he plays the character Kadeem “Unique” Mathis.
Joey Badass’s candid remarks on first-week sales underscore the changing dynamics of the music industry. As we move further into the digital age, the metrics that once defined success are becoming increasingly irrelevant. Whether or not others in the industry echo Joey’s sentiments remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: he’s not afraid to challenge the status quo.
