There are some things on the internet that you didn’t know you needed until you find it. If you only look at one infographic for the rest of your life, make it this one.
From the makers of Which rapper has the largest vocabulary? comes an interactive map of the most successful rap labels since 1989, sorted by their popularity in various locations throughout the US.
It might come as no surprise that Def Jam takes the top crown, with 152 tracks charting, and a grand total of 48 Def Jam artists featuring on the charts, which really highlights the diversity that has been prevalent within the label for the past few decades.
Young Money comes in at number two, a result that is perhaps the best indicator of the ways in which the music industry has evolved. The label has supplied 83 tracks amongst only 9 artists. No prizes for guessing who they are.
While Def Jam has been a constant since 1989, Young Money had its first track chart in 2009, which speaks volumes of the euphoric rise of Lil’ Wayne and his rap empire, and the obscene amount of money that Birdman must have been raking in.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the infographic is a representation of just how loyal each state is to their own respective artists, and the importance of aligning a label with a state as part of the rap game itself.
Each state has it’s own bastion, and a label which represents the sound and style of the artists. Grand Hustle (Featuring B.O.B, Meek Mill and Travis Scott) reigns supreme in Atlanta, while Young Money is a constant within Weezy’s home town of New Orleans, thanks mainly to the work of Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga.
While no longer operating as it used to, Roc-a-fella Records claims the New York crown, with none other than Jay-Z and J Cole calling the label home.
It will be interesting to examine in the next decade or so whether new labels will begin to rear their heads, such as the OvO empire that Drake is building, or if the mainstays of the rap game will continue to reign supreme.