ED209° decided to make this banger available for free on his mysp*ce since it got bootlegged quick fast when he sent out the promo cds.

Download: ED209° – Karma 360 ft. Imam THUG

Since the Karma360 joint has been bootlegged over the web and is even for sale as mp3s ( nothing to do with me ) then its best for you to get it from the source and download from my page.

For those keeping it really real and supporting vinyl then be one of the 500 and grab a copy.

Whilst you have the wallet open then the P Brothers ‘Gas’ LP is nearly on us … Vivit Post Funera Virtus … ya get me!

Earlier this month when I ordered my copy of the vinyl I sent Ed an email alerting him to the bootleg sites and asking him about what he thinks. This was his response:

Yes G.

On your bootleggers topic … have you seen this :

http://vulguerre.blogspot.com/2008/07/altruistic-hip-hop-bootleggers-vs-money.html

i was going to leave a reply but I wasnt registered so left it. Would have been as follows :

“Nice piece – I sent a few ( like 10 ) CDs out for promotion on Karma360 and one found its way to be bootlegged – now its literally all over the web … I’ve even found sites selling mp3s of the track! I can’t see how sticking to vinyl and download can help – its only one simple step to get them to be mp3 files and then do what you want with ‘em. Even myspace you can record the track if its not downloadable and do whatever. I understand the argument that its ‘promotion’ but, as you said, its not. If it was there would be links to buy the vinyl? to contact the artist? Back in the day the ‘mixtape’ spread the word – copied and copied and copied again – but we wanted ‘proper’ ownership of the music – which meant buying the vinyl – the tape was just the ‘menu’ … vinyl was the main course arriving. Now people accept they are happy to not own anything … just a harddrive with some 0s and 1s on then theres no second step ( other than in the minds of the few ) – you have all you need already on your computer/ipod/whatever – I can’t see that you can call independent artists ‘money hungry’ … shit – if I break even it will be a miracle… but I can’t stop because I owe hip hop for all its given me.

1.ED

And here is my response:

Ed,

I find it very funny that you sent me that link because I wrote that.

The actual post is here:

Altruistic Hip-Hop Bootleggers vs. Money Hungry Independent Artists

It’s kind of strange that you found it on what appears to be a news aggregating blog. Also disappointing as it seems grandgood is being de-indexed from google, but that’s another story I won’t bore you with.

Thank you for sending your feedback. My original post was an attempt at sarcasm and subtle advice. I don’t actually believe independent artists are money hungry. I think bootleggers need to take into consideration that independent artists are entitled to some form of compensation. But I also see that independent artists can’t rely on others for their own benefit. They need to act on their own behalf. My advice isn’t necessarily to stick solely to vinyl. It is to use vinyl as promotional tool (the physical product that many people still want) but also to be “first to market” with mp3 distribution. In other words, from my experience, fans of your music that are willing to pay for your product are very interested in listening to the music, literally, as soon as it is possible. They would prefer not to wait around. If you are the one that makes the mp3s available first, then I believe the fans will support you with money, as long as it is reasonabley priced. But historically it is bootlegging sites that have made mp3s available first. Which I strongly believe is one of the main reasons they are successful in their dealings.

Thanks again for hitting me back. If you don’t mind, I will publish this on our site.

Chill,

This is raw, unadulterated hip-hop. Support if you can. Visit ED209°. Cop that P Brothers when it drops.

related:
Audiocast No. 33 ft. Ayatollah, Ed209, Imam Thug, The Roots, Blueprint, D-Day One, Carlos Nino, Lil Sci, Keith Murray, Roughneck Jihad, Mike Chavarria And More
Ed209 + Imam Thug – Karma 360

[Falls asleep, wakes up 2hrs later]

If indie artists were smart, they would recognize these bootleggers as their primary competitors. They would never send out promos, never press up cds. Stick to vinyl and downloads. The artist has to be first to the online market, or else they give up their strongest leverage.

[Drinks warm cup of legal absinthe]

Ok, ok, fine. I see how bootleggers undermine artists currently. But don’t you see how they are ultimately making them stronger? These freakin’ bootleggers are responsible for bringing down an entire industry! Think about it thunnie, their voracious appetite and altruistic sensibilities have forced the collapse of the music industrial complex. The commodotization of culture is that much weaker because of them. And indie artists are lifting themselves up by the bootstraps, out of necessity. They’ll do it in the end. They’ll figure it out and blaze like the sun. Bootleggers will continue to share, but fans will support the real.

[falls asleep, wakes up next day]

Damn. I was trippin. Fuck bootleggers.

[Inspired by the recent bootleggings of Mood - Doom, Dj Clue - Blizzard '94, Ed 209 and Imam Thug - Karma 360, Envelope - Shark Bolt. All releases which I own or have ordered recently and which I think everyone should listen to. In other words, I want to share, just like these bootleggers. Deep down inside, I am one. Sort of.]

Side A by G

Ayatollah – Coonskin
Ed209 + Imam Thug – 360 Degrees
The Roots – Rising Down ft. Mos Def, Styles P
Big Boi – Royal Flush ft. Andre 3000, Raekwon
Blueprint – The Day To Day
D-Day One – Terminal 86 (The Transition)
Carlos Nino + Lil Sci – Love, Hugs and Hip-Hop Soul
Dagha – She Left
Cee Rock (The Fury) – 16 Bar Appetizer
Islord + Zu – We Ain’t Playin
Craig G + Marley Marl – Made The Change
Krs-One – Self Construction ft. Nelly, Styles P, Redman, Game, Ne-Yo, Method Man, Busta Rhymes

Side B by CV

Gurp City – for the weasels
Kool Keith – tight pants with the skinny legs
Serengeti – wallet and keys
Isaiah + Dj Signify snippet
Pop Da Brown Hornet – love yall miss yall
Mischkas World – monkey on the run (cv mix)
Prodigy – when i see you
Keith Murray – Pen Life
Roughneck Jihad – No Emotion No Lotion
Mike Chavarria + Mr. Porter – 4US
Al Green – Standing in the Rain

Dj Eons One of Grand Invincible recently interviewed Ed209 about his production style and upcoming record with QB vet Imam Thug. Karma 360 is a banger, look for it on 12inch soon. Link

Ed209′s productions are hip hop in the purest form; never afraid to loop a breakbeat in favor of programming drums with a Just Blaze sample disc from eBay, nor is he afraid to rock the famous Dynamic Corvette’s stab one more time just one more time to make sure we haven’t all fallen asleep. For these small details I applaud Mr. 209.