Will Rappers be Rich Again?

A$AP Rocky, a young rapper from Harlem, New York just signed a record deal for over three million dollars, this is the biggest signing in hip-hop since 50 Cent, which is really significant as most major labels find themselves in unrelenting downward financial spirals. What's even more unique about this, is that A$AP Rocky came to popularity not through co-signs, but trough viral internet success. The only co-signs he's received are from colleagues like spaceghostpurp and Clams Casino, who are not even close to being household names. Drake rose rapidly to riches, but that was largely due to the support of Lil Wayne, a rapper who first broke into Hip-Hop when it was still a highly popular profession. The internet changed all of that, now everyone expects a constant outpouring of free material (interestingly enough, Lil Wayne was one of the first artists to oblige, releasing multiple albums full of songs every year in his creative heyday). A$AP scored his deal largely because of his youtube videos, and now in addition to his record deal, he is he on tour with Drake and fellow internet sensation Kendrick Lamar. Hip-Hop is appears, is beginning to discover how to make a fortune off of the internet. Something many corporations have been trying, and failing to do for years now.