The three major labels, Universal, Sony and Atlantic have a habit for catching a lot of flak. Whether it is artists or fellow industry members, the majors have a bad reputation among many camps. Waka Flocka Flame has had a tenuous relationship with his label Atlantic Records and today it appears he has had enough. The Speaker of the House candidate, took to Twitter to slam his label, saying, among other things, "Let me buy out."
The rapper expresses his displeasure with the label, which he feels is isn't investing in him or their artists.
I fucking hate my label
— Waka Flocka Flame (@WakaFlocka) October 22, 2015
Atlantic Records ----- LET ME BUY-OUT FUCK!!!! — Waka Flocka Flame (@WakaFlocka) October 22, 2015
Labels don't do shit for the artist #FACTS Labels don't invest #FACTS Labels hire a bunch of amateurs to keep cost down #FACTS
— Waka Flocka Flame (@WakaFlocka) October 22, 2015
He accuses them as only seeing him as another way to make money and shares a tale of how he after he was shot, they quickly asked when he would get back in the studio.
The first thing the label asked after I got shot is --- "can you go to the studio" — Waka Flocka Flame (@WakaFlocka) October 22, 2015
From that day forward I knew my label didn't care I'm just another dollar sign #GetChaMoneyYoungNigga
— Waka Flocka Flame (@WakaFlocka) October 22, 2015
He goes on to give a lesson in corporate structure and how being a behemoth the size of Atlantic can stifle an artist who wants to put out music. He does not note that those resources can be put behind artists to do some pretty incredible things, but he feels those resources haven't been put behind him.
For example, from the time a band is signed it can be a full year or longer before their first record is finally released owing ---- — Waka Flocka Flame (@WakaFlocka) October 22, 2015
in part to this dense hierarchical management structure. A lot can change in a year. #UnderstandLife
— Waka Flocka Flame (@WakaFlocka) October 22, 2015
record companies can often delay or even derail a recording project indefinitely, leaving artists in the lurch. #UnderstandLife — Waka Flocka Flame (@WakaFlocka) October 22, 2015
Yall woke up a sleeping giant --- thank you #WakaFlame
— Waka Flocka Flame (@WakaFlocka) October 22, 2015
Waka does not appear to be very happy and is not the first rapper to go to war with Atlantic. Lupe Fiasco famously battled with the label, even staging a protest outside of the main record label building, but it seems unlikely that anything like that will happen as a result of whatever is causing this spate. Flockavelli 2 was supposed to be released in June, but that release date came and went without a word, so this could be the problem.
