The 'What Ifs' Of The Music Industry

[Ferbian]

Often you hear people talking about multiple scenarios of "What if..." in the music industry. What if John Lennon hadn't been killed, what if 2Pac and Biggie was still alive? What if, what if, what if?

A lot of these scenarios revolve around what would've happened if some big music artist hadn't been killed, but some also revolve around the idea of what could've become of smaller artists that never truly rose to fame. Some of these are bigger than others, and some even to an unrealistic point of what could've actually happened.

Recently I caught myself in a lot of these what ifs, specifically about Eminem's career - What if he had been black, where would rap music have been 10 years ago without Eminem, etc etc. and it brought me to ask, what really is the biggest what if of the music industry, or what have you been wondering about regarding "What if?"

A personal one that recently struck me is, what if Royce Da 5'9 and Eminem had stuck together as Bad Meets Evil and what sort of music there could've become of albums like The Eminem Show etc, where I'm sure a track or two could've been cut to make room for a bit of a Bad Meets Evil collaboration or simply a Royce Da 5'9 featuring act.

So now I ask you, whats your biggest "What if" of the music industry? Discussing other peoples choices is obviously encouraged as well.

 

[DethMetal]

What if Cliff Burton didn't die?

From Kill Em All to Master of Puppets, Cliff Burton was the bassist for Metallica. It might be due to his death, but many consider him to be the greatest bass player of all time. His time was unfortunately cut short due to a bus accident in Sweden, placing one Jason Newsted as the new bassist. What if Cliff didn't die and remained with Metallica all these years?

For one, St. Anger probably would've never been created. Load and Reload, probably, but not St. Anger. Metallica didn't really spiral out of control and into their personal issues until Jason left the band. Jason also probably wouldn't be as loved as he is by the metal comunity as he is now, because he would've never been hazed by Hetfield and Ulrich.

The music probably would be much different. People say that Metallica started going off into metal and into more groove orientated stuff during the Load/Reload era. Cliff actually wanted to bring a lot of groovy stuff to their music with songs like Orion. Then again, the music probably would've remained metal as bands like Slayer fairly remained to achieve throughout their tenure.

 

[wrestlingfan]

What if 2Pac and Biggie were still alive?

Simple, utter domination of the rap game. When Tupac & Biggie were alive they were still in their mid 20s, and people were considering them the Kings of Hip-Hop before they died or even the East-Coast West Coast rivalry happened. If Biggie was still alive, there would be no Jay-Z & Kanye, but a Biggie and Jay-Z since Jay would still be under B.I.G's wing instead of Kanye's. Jay probably wouldn't even be the King of NY if Biggie didn't die, and same goes for Nas. They would probably be his prodigees. Biggie also being alive would've delayed Rick Ross's rise to stardom if not obliterating it completely, and there would be no way for young coke rappers today like French Montana, Pusha T & Meek Mill to be stars. 50 Cent most likely would be a laughing stock if BIG was still alive. With Biggie alive, mafioso East Coast rap would have a god father to mentor new up and coming artists, and it wouldn't die.

If 2Pac were still alive, again he would take over. He also probably would be married to Jada Pinkett Smith, who was his best friend before he died. Chances are him and Eminem would've been the best of friends (Similiar personalities, Em being compared to Pac, etc) and had collaborations together. Also with The Game's beef with Jay-Z, & Pac's beef with biggie, Pac would've took the Game under his wing and they would have collaborations of their own. (It also helps that Pac was reppin the Bloods before his death.) 2Pac's personality and theme in his songs would start clashing with artists like Lil Wayne, and I can guarantee Pac would go on a rampage against all of today's mainstream rap. In terms of delaying success, guys like T.I., Young Jeezy, would have their rise delayed. If Pac was alive, socially conscious rappers would be more in style and people like Kendrick Lamar, & Lupe Fiasco might have more fame then they do now,

Biggie probably would've succceeded more in rap than Tupac in today's society. (Though I would listen to them both). In some ways it's actually a good thing Biggie & Pac died, sure with them leaving, Hip-Hop detoriated but with Pac's six albums, and Biggie only having 2 albums, yet both being 25 and 24 respectively, by the time they were 30, they would've taken over rap.

 

[Alex]

What If Andrew Wood Didn't Die??

Andrew Wood was the singer of Mother Love Bone from Seattle Washington, he died before the release of the band's debut album Apple, they disbanded after his death.

If he hadn't died the landscape of alternative music would be vastly different. We wouldn't have Pearl Jam for one thing (Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard from Pearl Jam were in Mother Love Bone) Chris Cornell of Soundgarden fame wouldn't have started the Temple Of The Dog band (it was a tribute to Wood) Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains wouldn't have penned Would? (which was in part a tribute to Wood) and I believe Nirvana wouldn't have become the big band of the scene.

You see Wood was a brilliant front man, he had brilliant stage presence and a great persona. The band encompassed elements of the glam era but filtered it through what would be termed grunge. I believe had he not died they would be the band to have ruled the 90s. They had the musical capabilities and a brilliant frontman to make it happen.