Rapsody To Sell $100 Vinyl Copies Of New Album Under Nipsey Hussle’s ‘Proud 2 Pay’ Business Model
Rapsody has announced that autographed vinyl copies of her forthcoming album Please Don’t Cry will be available for $100, a move inspired by late rap star Nipsey Hussle‘s groundbreaking Proud 2 Pay campaign.
On Wednesday (March 27), the lyricist took to Instagram to inform her followers of the latest development in the rollout of her highly-anticipated album. Posting a ‘Proud 2 Pay’ ad Nipsey had published via XXL more than a decade ago, Rapsody spoke of Hussle’s influence on her own campaign, namely his desire to test the valuation of his music among his most ardent supporters.
“Nipsey created legacy in so many ways,” the North Carolina emcee wrote in a lengthy message explaining her decision to adopt the All Money In rapper’s blueprint.
Nipsey Hussle arrives at the 2019 Roc Nation THE BRUNCH on February 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
Amanda Edwards/Getty Images
“When I sat to think about this season of art and the valuation of it in the music business, his 2013 #Proud2Pay campaign came to mind,” Rapsody acknowledged. “It affirmed that our art is genius, rare, and valuable to our super fans that see and feel it in a deeper way. ‘Always by choice, never by force’, in the words of Hussle.
“Some look at a Basquiat and see rudimentary drawings, others see a multimillion dollar piece of genius on canvas. It’s in the eyes and ears of the beholder that makes them #Proud2Pay. And I think it’s so exciting to see this model adapted by new platforms in this era. But, for me it was important to take it back to the genius that inspired me, Nipsey. Black Sam shared that this is a platform & business model he wanted every creative to have access to.
“So, I’m grateful through #Proud2Pay that we get to see that through, continue to pour into this legacy, and create meaningful engagement with our fans (whom I like to call the Loved Ones) and celebrate the value of art & creativity.”
Rapper Rapsody attends ESSENCE + New Voices Entrepreneur Summit And Target Holiday Market at West End Production Park on December 14, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE
The Grammy Award nominee concluded her message by adding, “Deep love & continued light to the Estate. The footprint is forever. The marathon continues. [infinity emoji]️ Forever inspiring us to grow & ascend. All money in!”
In addition to $100 signed vinyl copies of Please Don’t Cry, Rapsody will be offering signed vinyl copies of the album and an exclusive merchandise item for $250. A $500 package includes the aforementioned items, as well as early digital access to the album, a “Behind The Music” Virtual Q&A session hosted by Rapsody, and exclusive access to unreleased songs recorded for Please Don’t Cry.
Nipsey Hussle famously released his Crenshaw mixtape via his ‘Proud 2 Pay model,’ offering each physical copy of the project for $100 each. He would sell all 1,000 physical copies of the album, with JAY-Z purchasing 100 copies himself.
The late rap star, who was murdered in 2019, would later sell the first 100 physical copies of his 2014 mixtape Mailbox Money for $1,000 each.
See Rapsody’s Instagram post below.