"Why aren't hip-hop acts remastering their old work?"
I've been listening a lot to Aquemini over the last year or so. The production is as timeless now as it seemed back in '98. And while, I'm able to enjoy the mixes as is, I'm wondering why OutKast hasn't remastered this album. And I wonder why other groups like Tribe or Gangstarr or Dr. Dre or The Roots haven't remastered or reworked some of their past work to maximize the aural quality in a way that technology of the past didn't allow.
The odd remastering comes up. ATLiens, DYWM, People's Instinctive Travels.
But you can't tell me there'd be a demand for remastered versions of The Low End Theory or Things Fall Apart and illadelph halflife, or De La Soul is Dead
Is the reason cost? Or time? Or a lack of demand by fans and labels?
2. "I think some artists just don’t believe in it" In response to Reply # 0
In genres like rock and hip-hop, the rough sound usually adds to the music.
Who wants a clean sounding 36 Chambers?
I think there’s a point when you can polish the record up too much to the point you begin to lose its natural element.
Not to mention, it’s probably not worth the time and money they’d spend. It’s not like hip-hop fans are flocking to the purchase physical copies of anything at this point.
3. "RE: I think some artists just don’t believe in it" In response to Reply # 2
>Not to mention, it’s probably not worth the time and money >they’d spend. >It’s not like hip-hop fans are flocking to the purchase >physical copies of anything at this point.
Agreed. Rap fans aren't buying physical products now and the artist would more than likely waste money remastering their older material.
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12. "I'd take a clear version of Tical..." In response to Reply # 2
To this day I don't know what half of Biscuits
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Dj Joey Joe Member since Sep 01st 2007 13770 posts
Sun Sep-25-22 07:50 PM
13. "Agreed, "Tical" Needs Remastering " In response to Reply # 12
I never liked how much this album had no highs and was very muddy but bass heavy but when it came to the singles, those songs sounded great cause they had to make sure the singles were mastered for airplay quality.
We all know RZA lost all his equipment in a basement flood, but the album was mixed & mastered some place else and the label Loud & RCA (which is owned by Sony Records) would have copy of the 48 tracked down masters in a vault somewhere, the same for all the music that was released by RZA.
--------- "We in here talking about later career Prince records & your fool ass is cruising around in a time machine trying to collect props for a couple of sociopathic degenerates" - s.blak
4. "RE: Why aren't hip-hop acts remastering their old work?" In response to Reply # 0
I was floored when I found that Simple Citizens had a remastered spatial audio version on Apple Music.
There were also some others that I was floored with the fact that they were remastered, because of there being a perceived additional cost, especially in contrast to the perceived interest.
There are some severe money grabs being done to try to generate interest in the Spatial or Dolby Atmos version. Notorious B.I.G. Ready to Die was not well done in my opinion.
8. "They went all out for Stank, but not the others." In response to Reply # 5
I’ve heard ATLiens backwards and forward since the day it came out. At this point, I want more than the same songs. Dig in that vault for some extras or some shit.
10. "That release was kind of the genesis for this post" In response to Reply # 5
When the ATLiens re-release came out, I was hyped. I guess OutKast can get away with spending the money for the remastering because they're gonna get enough sales/streams to justify the expense.
But with Tribe, De La, or even The Roots, the cost/revenue balance might not work out.
It's a shame because all of those groups pushed the technical capacities of the medium to new levels. Hearing that music refashioned for modern-day technology would be great to experience.
9. "Because it's not seen as a money maker" In response to Reply # 0
I mean even when the records were new and hot the often didn't get additional printings. And most were never re-pressed so if you wanted a copy you'd often have to buy them used.
They were never embraced as product in the past - this just continues the pattern for most of them.
How much did it cost to jsut re-issue something like Freestyle Fellowship Inner City Griots?
11. "The first two 2pac albums need remastering so badly" In response to Reply # 0
I HATE the vocal mixes (read: radio version of Keep Ya Head Up's stacked vocals vs the album version's thin, reedy vox), and they are desperate for a new mix.
I wish Shock had been able to revisit the prime DU albums as well (i wonder where/what the state of those tapes are?)
I still go to bed at night wishing for a better mix of Eightball & MJG's On The Outside Looking In.
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