The Oversaturation of the Soundcloud: Is it a Good Thing?
Every minute, 12 hours worth of music is uploaded to Soundcloud, according to DMR Statistics. The oversaturation of the hip-hop genre is a direct byproduct of the growth of Soundcloud and the internet. Never before has hip-hop been such a prominent piece of the American Culture as it is now. According to Business Insider, Nielsen reported in 2017 that hip-hop had overtaken rock music as the most popular genre.
Soundcloud provides artists the accessibility and platform to be able to put their music and sound out there. Soundcloud estimates that there are around 20 million music creators on the platform, so it’s definitely a little cramped. Despite the overflow of artists trying to find their way in Hip-hop, the oversaturation of artists is beneficial for the genre and the culture.
Nathalie Navarrete, an avid listener of Soundcloud and close friend of local Hip-hop group, Freak the Mighty, believes that Soundcloud is beneficial. “I like Soundcloud a lot because it gives the unheard a chance to be heard,” says Navarrete, later elaborating by saying “I think it can be seen that a lot of times the people who chose rapping are kids from areas of poverty, maybe like kids that are minorities and kids that come from tough homes.”
Soundcloud provides accessibility to the disadvantaged and doesn’t discriminate.
Digital Music News reported in late 2017 that 50 out of the top 50 artists on Soundcloud were Hip-hop artists. If anything, the oversaturation of the genre through Soundcloud has led to a greater success of Hip-hop artists. Due to the genre’s success, more and more artists have become hip-hop artists. With more artists releasing content, there is more new music which in turn becomes inspiration for other Hip-hop artists and eventually creates new styles and kinds of Hip-hop.
Freak the Mighty is a prime example of paving your own path and creating your own sound. “I would like to think that we are creating a genre of our own in a way, but I couldn’t even put it into words right now.” says NAMIC, one of the producers in the group. “It’s got R&B, it’s got trap, it’s got elements from all different kinds of genres.” The group combines multiple types of sounds and styles into one product and that most likely wouldn’t be possible without Soundcloud and its many artists. “Whatever I’m listening to lately, I like to listen to those beats and put my own spin on it sometime.” NAMIC says further describing his sound.
The oversaturation of the genre may seem wholly beneficial but that doesn’t mean it comes without some drawbacks. With 20 million creators and over 180 million tracks on the platform reported by Soundcloud, maintaining a base and gaining listeners can be a immeasurable challenge. With so many artists releasing music on the platform, standing out in the crowd becomes much more difficult. As a result of this newfound accessibility, swarms of aspiring hip-hop artists and producers utilize Soundcloud and the internet to further their careers. “I like it because anybody is able to use it. And the fact that it’s free is really good,” says NAMIC, giving his thoughts on Soundcloud “I feel like some people who put music on Soundcloud just shouldn’t sometimes (laughs).” Amidst such an influx of new artists, there will be some great ones but there will obviously be some terrible ones.
Besides untalented artists, it also brings people looking to take advantage of the accessibility. “ People are in it for the wrong intentions. People know, that in these days you can have one hit to make good money,” says Navarrete. Sadly, these types of artists aren’t in music because of a passion, but as a means to make money. The presence of these artists can take away from aspiring artists who are passionate about their music.
You would think that these Soundcloud artists tarnishing the culture would really irk passionate artists but it does the opposite for NAMIC. “It separates the people who are going to be in it for the long run.” He says, “Everyone deserves a chance.”
Despite some of these negatives, Soundcloud and its oversaturation of hip-hop artists is a positive for the genre. The genre as a whole has grown as a result Soundcloud. Mainstream Hip-hop artists mimic Soundcloud artists all the time, and dozens of Soundcloud artists have broken through into mainstream Hip-hop. We also get multiples types of Hip-hop from millions of artists, along with new genres.
Now artists from places traditionally not known for Hip-Hop, like Buffalo, can get their name out there and publish their music. When it all boils down to it, the accessibility of Soundcloud has changed the Hip-Hop Culture forever.
Soundcloud provides artists the accessibility and platform to be able to put their music and sound out there. Soundcloud estimates that there are around 20 million music creators on the platform, so it’s definitely a little cramped. Despite the overflow of artists trying to find their way in Hip-hop, the oversaturation of artists is beneficial for the genre and the culture.
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| Freak the Mighty, (Namic, Suskingbrad, Neftali and Karma Beads) are shaping their own genre in Buffalo |
Soundcloud provides accessibility to the disadvantaged and doesn’t discriminate.
Digital Music News reported in late 2017 that 50 out of the top 50 artists on Soundcloud were Hip-hop artists. If anything, the oversaturation of the genre through Soundcloud has led to a greater success of Hip-hop artists. Due to the genre’s success, more and more artists have become hip-hop artists. With more artists releasing content, there is more new music which in turn becomes inspiration for other Hip-hop artists and eventually creates new styles and kinds of Hip-hop.
Freak the Mighty is a prime example of paving your own path and creating your own sound. “I would like to think that we are creating a genre of our own in a way, but I couldn’t even put it into words right now.” says NAMIC, one of the producers in the group. “It’s got R&B, it’s got trap, it’s got elements from all different kinds of genres.” The group combines multiple types of sounds and styles into one product and that most likely wouldn’t be possible without Soundcloud and its many artists. “Whatever I’m listening to lately, I like to listen to those beats and put my own spin on it sometime.” NAMIC says further describing his sound.
The oversaturation of the genre may seem wholly beneficial but that doesn’t mean it comes without some drawbacks. With 20 million creators and over 180 million tracks on the platform reported by Soundcloud, maintaining a base and gaining listeners can be a immeasurable challenge. With so many artists releasing music on the platform, standing out in the crowd becomes much more difficult. As a result of this newfound accessibility, swarms of aspiring hip-hop artists and producers utilize Soundcloud and the internet to further their careers. “I like it because anybody is able to use it. And the fact that it’s free is really good,” says NAMIC, giving his thoughts on Soundcloud “I feel like some people who put music on Soundcloud just shouldn’t sometimes (laughs).” Amidst such an influx of new artists, there will be some great ones but there will obviously be some terrible ones.
Besides untalented artists, it also brings people looking to take advantage of the accessibility. “ People are in it for the wrong intentions. People know, that in these days you can have one hit to make good money,” says Navarrete. Sadly, these types of artists aren’t in music because of a passion, but as a means to make money. The presence of these artists can take away from aspiring artists who are passionate about their music.
You would think that these Soundcloud artists tarnishing the culture would really irk passionate artists but it does the opposite for NAMIC. “It separates the people who are going to be in it for the long run.” He says, “Everyone deserves a chance.”
 |
| Namic, pictured above, is one of the best young producers in Buffalo |
Now artists from places traditionally not known for Hip-Hop, like Buffalo, can get their name out there and publish their music. When it all boils down to it, the accessibility of Soundcloud has changed the Hip-Hop Culture forever.
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