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Read deeply-researched essays full of lessons to apply to your own business. It’s a fresh perspective on some of the biggest hip-hop business trends of yesterday and today. I write at least one essay every month.
If you’re new to Trapital, start with these two essays featured below. I love them both, and readers do too. You can also dig through the archives.
Got a topic in mind? I've probably covered it. Search for it here:
Why 50 Cent Hasn’t Been Canceled
What Chance the Rapper Gets Wrong About Ownership
How Political Hip-Hop Has Evolved Over Time
Why Death Row Records Was Bound to Self-Destruct
How Rappers Started Getting More Mileage Out of Their Music
Why Spotify’s RapCaviar Playlist Can’t Be Matched
Why Roc Nation Needed to Restructure
How Distribution Changed Hip-Hop
Why Cardi B Doesn’t Need to Go on Tour
Why Chance the Rapper Started Selling His Music
How Billboard Can Fix the Album Bundles Issue
Why Latin Hip-Hop is Still Undervalued
How Lil’ Nas X’s Success Will Impact Hip-Hop
Why Rappers Should Be Skeptical to Invest in Esports
Why Drake’s ‘Stimulus Package’ Can’t Save Everyone
Why Rihanna Broke Barriers That Others Couldn’t
Hype Williams Was Too Good At His Job
Why Streaming Exclusives Are Here to Stay
Beyoncé’s Streaming Strategy, Explained
Rolling Loud is Not ‘Hip-Hop Coachella’
How Nipsey Hussle’s Marathon Can Continue
What Hip-Hop Gets Wrong About Master P and No Limit
Why Def Jam Should Split the Record Label
‘Red Table Talk,’ ‘The Shop,’ and the Viral Content Trap
Why Kanye West is Bound to Keep Fighting for Ownership
Posthumous Careers are Harder Than Ever to Manage
Direct-to-Consumer Hip-Hop is Not a Game
Why Hip-Hop Can Help Venture Capital Navigate Changes in the Industry
How Rappers Can Maximize Their Mixtape Anniversaries
Why New York Hip-Hop Couldn’t Stay on Top Forever
Why Every Rapper is Heading to Las Vegas (and Why That’s a Problem)
I’m Officially Full-Time on Trapital!
Why the Super Bowl is Less Lucrative for Travis Scott
How Jay Z and Damon Dash’s Split Still Impacts Hip-Hop
Why Trolling Won’t Work For Every Artist
How Hip-Hop Podcasts Will Adapt in the Streaming Era
Trapital’s Top Five Stories of 2018
How Rihanna Can Use Fenty Beauty To Sell Her Next Album
Why Roc Nation May Move On From Its Record Label
Mike WiLL and Metro Boomin; UnitedMasters-NBA Deal; Happy Thanksgiving!
Why Tidal is Banking on Meek Mill’s Success
Why the Black Sketch Comedy Needs to Come Back
Why the Migos Solo Albums are Underperforming
Cash Money Records Has a Bleak Future Without Drake and Lil’ Wayne
How Hip-Hop Media Has Changed Rap Beef
Why Spotify’s RapCaviar Playlist Should Spinoff
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