when you're basically dwelling in obscurity

the examples given of "pure artists" were independent artists and jazz artists which aren't good ones in this case. Now, if all of a sudden jazz music started to become popular again I'd bet you that their would be more demands made of jazz artists by the label to cater their music to whatever is popular. Or if you're an independent HipHop artist, lets see how pure you are once you get signed to a major label and they tell you they want you to make records that sound like Lil Wayne or whoever and lets see how "pure" you remain then or if you have the courage to buck the system.