I have notice that artists like Mr Hudson, Lil Jon and Drake seem to get better chart performances when performing with popular artists than they do with their own solo songs.

 

A few theories behind this I think are:

 

a) People buy the single due to the more established artist which has the fanbase

 

B) Record companies don't see a long-term success in these artists and prefer to let them work with a more established artists

 

c) Luck

 

d) Hanging on the coat-tails of someone elses fame.

 

I honestly think Mr Hudson is just someone they hire as featuring artist as they know he doesnt have the potential to do it on his own. This is someone who has a very poor live singing voice and a limited fan base. They know he is a loss profits wise, and prefer to hook him up with a popular artist. I could not imagine a Lil Jon album as he seems to shout all the time. How did he get hired?

 

What do you think?

 

 

Lil Jon has had hit albums in the US.. I just think his style is not very suitable to sell albums in Europe but he's been around for many years already.

 

Mr Hudson... I think it's a mix with a, b and d here. He definitely has the contacts (Jay-Z, Kanye West etc) but will never make it solo as an albums artist. The main reason is that he's not very interesting as an artist -> limited fan base.

 

will.i.am is also a good example. He'll never be big solo.

 

Then there are acts that are completely uninteresting outside the UK.. Like N-Dubz. I can't see them ever having more than one lucky hit outside the UK.

Edited February 15, 201015 yr by SKOB

Kelly Rowland has had 2 no.1s as a featured artist, but none solo.

Estelle :heehee:

 

Then she wasn't a FEATURING artist on 'American Boy' ut like Hudson on 'Supernova' both wouldn't have been half as big as they were without Kanye West imo.

Edited February 15, 201015 yr by Gramoodle

Kelly Rowland has had 2 no.1s as a featured artist, but none solo.

 

She has however had a No1 solo album, and four top 10 hits off her own back, which isn't bad going.

 

 

 

I'd say most of your rent-a-rapper crowd fits into this category - Lil Wayne is another example.

Lil Jon. He had a huge number 1 with Usher with Yeah.

Keri Hilson.. as well as being a featured artist.. having other artists feature on her song (Ne-yo & Kanye.. )

Edited February 15, 201015 yr by SweetDreams

To an extent, Will.I.Am, his solo stuff didn't do that well, except Heartbreaker with Cheryl Cole and 3 Words of Cheryl's which he featured. I guess you could say Will.I.Am as a solo artist would be counted here

I'd say most of your rent-a-rapper crowd fits into this category - Lil Wayne is another example.

 

Lil Wayne is not a good example. Sure he doesn't have hits on his own in the UK but Lollipop for example has sold over five million copies worldwide and Tha Carter III sold a million right out of the gate in the US. If the UK doesn't like him, does it make him failure as a solo artist? I don't think so.

 

will.i.am, on the other hand, has problems everywhere

Edited February 15, 201015 yr by SKOB

Keri Hilson is the epitome of this tbh - one big hit by herself and it has two massive superstars on it.

 

Also, Timbaland. He may be a good producer but he can't have a hit by himself.

She has however had a No1 solo album, and four top 10 hits off her own back, which isn't bad going.

I'd say most of your rent-a-rapper crowd fits into this category - Lil Wayne is another example.

 

I always forget about her #1 album :lol: other than Scooter I can't think of a noughties album that I was more surprised to see top the charts! must have been a slow week...

She has however had a No1 solo album, and four top 10 hits off her own back, which isn't bad going.

I'd say most of your rent-a-rapper crowd fits into this category - Lil Wayne is another example.

 

 

I wasn't saying she does badly its just she has this odd habit of doing better on other people's singles then she does on her own-not that her singles do that badly.

T-Pain, none of his solo stuff has done well at all. but Low with Flo Rida and Kiss Kiss with Chris Brown did better

Flo Rida hasn't had a single hit without a featured artist.

 

Right Round was considered solo in the USA for some reason, but it features Ke$ha.

Ciara as well.

Chipmunk.

Lil Wayne is definately an example- the only appearances hes had in the top 10 here are as a featured artist, with Kevin Rudolf (Let It Rock) and Jay Sean (Down), his solo hit Lollipop, could only make about 26 here

 

As with your three other choices: Lil Jon I cannot imagine selling as all he does is shout

 

Mr Hudson is a yes and no, he has had 2 top 20 hits with him as the main artist dont forget, and he didnt use to be urban- he used to be with The Library and were a soft rock group- although it certainly seems he is getting more success as the featured artist now

 

I havent heard a lot about Drake, but his first solo hit didnt do great and probably only got there because of all the big names featured on it- so your probably right about that

TINCHY STRYDER. How could I forget him? I only like Taio Cruz, N-Dubz and Amelle on his songs.

Lil Wayne is definately an example- the only appearances hes had in the top 10 here are as a featured artist, with Kevin Rudolf (Let It Rock) and Jay Sean (Down), his solo hit Lollipop, could only make about 26 here

 

As with your three other choices: Lil Jon I cannot imagine selling as all he does is shout

 

Mr Hudson is a yes and no, he has had 2 top 20 hits with him as the main artist dont forget, and he didnt use to be urban- he used to be with The Library and were a soft rock group- although it certainly seems he is getting more success as the featured artist now

 

I havent heard a lot about Drake, but his first solo hit didnt do great and probably only got there because of all the big names featured on it- so your probably right about that

 

Drake's first single reached no2. in the US and had no featured artists so I have no idea what you are going on about.

 

Lil Wayne provides people with hits not the other way around. Down would not have got anywhere without Lil Wayne on it. Lil Wayne is bigger than the people featured on his records.

Edited February 15, 201015 yr by Rated R

Drake's first single reached no2. in the US and had no featured artists so I have no idea what you are going on about.

 

Lil Wayne provides people with hits not the other way around. Down would not have got anywhere without Lil Wayne on it. Lil Wayne is bigger than the people featured on his records.

 

Well his first hit didnt do much over here and thats what Im referring too- his single Forever charted at 42, and that was very much thanks to all the names

 

With Kevin Rudolf maybe your right, but Jay sean had already had hits here- He was certainly bigger than LW over here, the fact it topped the US charts also helped Down chart highly here

 

Although I didnt know Lil Wayne was that big worldwide so I'll gove you one there

Edited February 15, 201015 yr by chart wizard