Legendary MC tear the music industry’s streaming mode to pieces, comparing its greed to Scrooge McDuck.
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Yasiin Bey (formally known as Mos Def) has made a sharp criticism of the modern music industry, likening its greed to cartoon tycoon Scrooge McDuck.
In a harmless interview with The Guardian, Bey reveals his early disillusionment with the business, saying it drained his passion for music very early on.
“I’m really disillusioned,” Bei said. “You start with idealism and passion and then meet the behaviors and values that George Orwell calls ‘unrelated’. They do it to everyone, it’s not even personal, it’s systemic.”
He didn’t stop there. Bey exploded the streaming service, saying their business model was “Hawk” and “Exploitation” for each song.
“S ### is a part of total, paying people a penny for their music,” he said. “The people who have mothers bleeding, like Scrooge McDuck, licking their lips when he jumps into a pile of gold… The music industry now makes me start to look charitable. It’s totally exploitative.”
Bey has long been outspoken about the economics of the music business, and his views are consistent with many artists who feel that streaming platforms are profiting from their work, while paying little back. While record labels and streaming giants defend their revenue-sharing model, artists continue to push back, demanding fairer pay.
Despite his frustration, Bey thanked for the opportunity to continue creating. His latest project, Forensic, is expected to be expected later this year, and he remains focused on the bigger picture.
“I’m so happy to be alive and able to create art and beauty and do my best,” he said. “Like, it’s a miracle to be a human being. We’re using this spaceship, Earth, to share this experience, and it’s crazy. Like, who needs peyote? Baby, we’re already in outer space.”
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