Tension between producers, artists and labels has always existed within the Hip Hop industry as musicians fight for proper credit and fair compensation. While the gripes often come from those behind the boards, Bobby Shmurda flipped the script this week when he complained about producers quoting him “crazy” prices for beats.
“These producers is giving me the hardest time right now. I’ve never seen no shit like this before,” he said in an Instagram video. “I done made over half a million for the year, it can’t be that bad outside, my n-gga. Why is n-ggas OD’ing right now?
“I’m trying to drop my project but these niggas is asking me for clearances and these fucking producers is asking for some crazy shit. I don’t know what rumors is going around that they think Bobby is just dropping bags. I ain’t giving n-ggas no fucking $10,000, $8,000 for no fucking producer song, bitch. Who the fuck told you n-ggas to fucking make songs with 10 muthafuckas on the song, bitch?! Don’t play me, bro.”
Bobby’s rant didn’t go unnoticed in the producer community. Boi-1da, the multi-platinum hitmaker behind some of Drake’s biggest songs, issued a straightforward response in the comments section of 2Cool2Blog‘s Instagram post.
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“Designer beats cost designer bread,” the Grammy-winning producer politely reminded the Brooklyn rapper, who is now an independent artist after securing an exit from Epic Records in March.
Fellow beat savant Cardo — whose résumé includes Drake’s “God’s Plan,” Travis Scott’s “Goosebumps” and Baby Keem’s “Family Ties” — was less restrained in his response as he defended the prices that producers charge.
“Rappers saying producers overpricing their beats shows u we don’t get any respect in this shit. Y’all N-ggas weird,” he tweeted on Tuesday (June 22). “we HAVE to make y’all n-ggas pay us more every time … cuz y’all be tryna offer 2500 for a beat. I gotta let it off one time.
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“And in most cases that never works and n-ggas have no choice but to settle for that 2500 cuz we got mouths feed and bills to pay. I’m just speaking up for the producer community… that’s all. No complaining of any sort … but y’all will not continue to try and step on N-ggas over here. Cuz Im fasho with the bullshit. Just ask around.”
He added, “I’m out this bitch … y’all have a pleasant and blessed evening like any other. Love y’all. Album otw.”
Bobby Shmurda, Boi-1da and Cardo’s comments add fuel to a conversation that has been raging among Hip Hop producers for years. In 2017, Sonny Digital led the charge by calling for a union to protect the rights of producers and ensure their receive proper recognition for their work.
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“Legit question: Why don’t producers get nominated for shit and we do all the fucking basework and shit, though? Don’t get no awards,” he said in an Instagram video. “Don’t get no recognition. All the artists just sweet up our everything.
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“All I’m saying, y’all need to start respecting the producers a little more, big or small, in between. It don’t matter. They all making all the sounds to this shit.”
The “Birthday Song” producer went one step further and argued, “Every person on XXL [Freshman] cover should OF had the producer of whatever song that got them on the XXL COVER with them on the cover” — a sentiment that has been shared by Southside, Cardo and most recently ATL Jacob.
