R&B Artist Tank took to social media to express his frustrations with the music industry. Not too long ago, Tank ranted on Twitter about his TGT group (Tank, Ginuwine, & Tyrese) losing the “Best Group” category to Young Money at this past year’s BET Awards (catch up here if you missed it).
Now, Tank says that he is completely worn out by all of the hard work and dedication he has put into his music only to receive little to nothing back in return. He is confident that he is one of the best singers, producers, writers, and performers in the game. If he were “white” he says his sales would be through the roof and he wouldn’t be stuck in the “urban” category.
Tank’s last album Stronger sold a little over 22k in the first two weeks. Those numbers are very…well.
As a result, he has decided that it is no longer worth it to put energy into his dying career. Instead, he chooses to focus on his family and more important things.
Read what he had to say below:
Via Tank’s Instagram
If I look tired it’s because I am. I’m deeply saddened and disappointed that “Stronger” will not get a video or the continued promotion it deserves! I’d love to blame Atlantic Records but that would be a lie! It’s tough for record companies to continue to fund music that people don’t support! I pride myself on giving you real musicianship, real singing, real lyrical content and being true to the music that inspired my very existence. The problem is there aren’t many people left that want to hear it or buy it and if there are they won’t stand up and be noticed! Who am I doing this for? Who am I maintaining this so called integrity for? Not many as u can tell by my first wk sales..lol. The artist that don’t give a f— sell the most and do the most! Should that be my new route? Maybe I should have been born white then all of my music would go straight to mainstream and pop radio instead of urban ac.. A format that continues to kill the true R&B artist! (Not mad at white artist just to be clear!) What I do know is that i will not continue to be faithful to something or someone that is not being faithful to me. I love you but I have a family. I have a mom and dad just like you. I have goals and dreams just like you. I refuse to work hard for nothing. I look better, sing better, produce better, write better, and perform better than dam near everybody and this is the thanks I get?.. Again I’m not angry I’m just tired.. Please enjoy my last real R&B album “Stronger” cause you’ll never get another one! #letterfromaking
Is R&B really dead? Do you agree with what Tank has to say? I mean, K. Michelle reached 87k in sales the first week and she’s an R&B artist. Chris Brown is an R&B Artist and he sold 145,000 copies his first week of releasing the X album. Could it just be the artist and not the genre that is the issue here?
