Lil Uzi Vert Finally Got The OK From His Label To Drop His Album "Eternal Atake", But He May Be Leaving To Sign With Roc Nation
SOURCE – Lil Uzi Vert‘s issues with his record label are well-documented and appear to be the reason he has retired from music. As a result, Generation Now label head DJ Drama has been getting the brunt of fans’ backlash. Drama wants everyone to know he is not the reason for the hold up of the Philly rapper’s new album, Eternal Atake.
On Sunday morning (March 24), Drama commented on an Instagram post published by DJ Akademiks, which centered on fans’ desperation for Uzi’s new project. After being silent on the matter for a while, Drama decided to set the record straight. “Uzi should put out EA [Eternal Atake] tomorrow or any day he wants,” Drama wrote. “He has me and [co-CEO Don] Cannon’s total support and blessings to drop it.”
Fans have been waiting with bated breath for the album since the former XXL Freshman announced the project last July. Since then, he has put out one single, “New Patek,” but that’s about it. In the months following, he vented his frustrations numerous times. At one point, he compared signing a record deal to snitching. “You ain’t supposed to sign no muthafuckin’ paper in the streets because that’s ratting,” he said. “How the fuck I even sign this shit? I set myself up!”
In February, Uzi spoke candidly about his frustrating situation. “I really just want [the label] to respect me,” he said. “They just gotta respect me, ’cause I respect them. That’s the reason why I really went over there. Like normal shit. It’s just a different level in life. Everybody go through the same shit.”
LETS GO! It’s so annoying when label executives get involved in holding artists from dropping their music. I get it at times for marketing purposes but these bad business deals between music artists and labels are a tale as old as time. From the guy that Hesh in Sopranos (allegedly) ripped off to guys like Fetty Wap who has his music completely under label control and Trinidad James who’s basically broke from signing such a terrible deal.
In terms of creative control or money it seems there is always something fucked up in the labels favor unless the artists are able to stay independent until they have real negotiating power. If you are able to grow a strong enough following and independently make money, it gives them the power to make more money on their deal and have complete creative control over their music in terms of what kind of music they make and when its released. (Shoutout 21 Savage, A Boogie and all the other smart ones who didn’t fall into the trap)
Uzi was so sick of his shit deal he was about to retire from making music all together! It really puts into perspective the kind of straightjacket deals these labels have artists in. Uzi has been sitting on this album for awhile but after the public backlash of the label not letting him release it, his execs DJ Drama and Don Cannon finally caved and give him the green light to release it whenever.
No one can be too sure of what really was going on behind the scenes, but I’m really excited for this new album. Uzi hasn’t released any new shit in a long time and whenever rappers face any sort of controversy it always makes me assume they have some serious heat on the way. I imagine rappers as the kind of people who always play well when they’re angry. Like a Bobby Boucher, when you roast water he plays with reckless abandon to attack the ball carrier. Thats how I imagine a rapper attacking a beat after he’s been through some fuck shit. Hopefully Uzi channels his inner Philly and goes into Young AI mode.
Also, while I was writing this blog, this came to my attention.
Until we see Uzi in the Roc Nation chain nothing can be confirmed, but until then this is something to keep an eye on. I fuck with Lil Uzi so I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing him find a new label where he feels like he’s not being fucked over at. Jay Z owning Roc Nation would definitely make me feel more comfortable considering its an artists mindset managing artists. He knows their wants and needs and I haven’t heard any complaints from artists signed to his label.