Is Your Favorite Artist An Industry Plant?

Katt Williams history making interview with Shannon Sharpe brought the term “Industry Plant” back into lexicon of the layman. Whether the comedians like Kevin Hart, that Katt accused of being “industry plants” actually are plants is up for debate. The reality of people placed inside the music/ entertainment industry to achieve goals outside of said industries is all to real. First, what is an industry plant?

Industry Plants are “artists who have major/indie label backing their movement while presenting themselves as a ‘home-grown start-up’ act to create a pseudo organic following. They act as if things are miraculously happening for them based on their talent. The reality is a low-risk/high-reward situation for labels looking to build next new star- According to Urban Dictionary. Industry Plants are also known to push and create narratives that are unfavorable to Black people for international exploitation.

For example, the most recent and apparent industry plant, Mexican rapper Tekashi69, aligned himself with the Bloods gang, committed several crimes with this gang, including murder, all while live streaming almost every second of their crime spree. This resulted in Daniel Hernadez aka Tekashi69 only getting two years for crimes he could have easily served life or even been executed for, and him testifying against his fellow Nine Trey Blood gang associates, who were all Black. Prior to rapping Tekashi was never in a gang. How did he get there? How did he solidify himself in the industry? Was he placed there to testify against gangsters that are also closely associated with other rappers in the music industry?

Now, more than ever before, social media allows celebrities to connect with their fanbases, let their authenticity shine, and share intimate details about their personal lives. There are benefits to this, but for those in the public eye, the constant pressure to perform and overshare can become frustrating. While they have every right to protect their mental health and inner peace, stars might find themselves being labeled as an “industry plant,” among other things, should they choose to set boundaries.

In recent years, Black creators specifically have been targeted with allegations about the validity of their come-up stories. Some find themselves being put on blast by their contemporaries, while others are simply subject to scrutiny from internet sleuths and strangers. Are these artists also “Industry Plants”?

Cardi B Denies Azealia Banks’ Allegations

Cardi B, who also is said to be affiliated with the Nine Trey blood set that 69 testified against, has long been accused of being a plant. With her 2017 debut LP, Invasion of Privacy, Cardi B left her mark on the music industry, even taking home a Grammy for Rap Album of the Year. Since then, the mother of two has failed to produce a sophomore effort but has miraculously managed to stay relevant thanks to her other creative pursuits. Of all the femcees in the game, Cardi has some of the best style, and she’s been in her acting bag lately too. In the past, other lyricists have accused the New York native of being less authentic than her fans praise her for. Fueling some of the accusations is Cardi B own admission about drugging men and using transexual women to rape her victims who she said, in her own words, she stole money from. Though some people have claimed they had been victimized by Cardi B’s pre fame schemes- she has never even been questioned for these very serious crimes

“She was an industry plant lmao,” Azealia Banks alleged on Twitter/X in 2022. “But sis took advantage of the opportunity and rode that b—h the f–k out. Assembled the right team, seized the moment, and made herself a cultural mainstay. [You] have to respect it,” she added. When Cardi got wind of the accusations, she addressed them in a tweet. “You can’t buy the general public, no machine, no money can buy that… You can’t buy the people,” the Hustlers starlet confirmed.

Lil Nas X Laughs off Conspiracy Theorists

Another celebrity who hasn’t been shy about calling out conspiracy theorists is Lil Nas X. The Georgia-born creative quickly blew up with the success of his “Old Town Road” single, which only took him to further heights after Billy Ray Cyrus jumped on the remix. Like many other Black stars who find themselves on a fast-track path to success, skeptics have long questioned if Lil Nas deserves his fame and fortune. Lil Nas X has been accused of being an industry plant to further push the LGBTQ+ narrative, as he became the first openly gay chart topping rapper. Nicki Minaj said she was going to introduce a “gay rapper” to the industry. It was revealed that before his fame Lil Nas X was one of Nicki’s biggest “Barbz” (online fans) and actually ran one the biggest twitter pages promoting the New York rapper’s music. Was Lil Nas X the “gay rapper” Nicki was referring too?  Did Nicki Minaj make a way for Lil Nas X to get into the industry? Taken her loyalty to her fans It wouldn’t be far fetched at all.

Instead of ever addressing viable claims of him being an industry plant, Lil Nas makes nonsensical reaction videos, mocking strangers speculating how he rose to the top of the charts. He is probably one of the most plausible plants in the industry, but he definitely will not tell it.

H.E.R. Grows Bored of Industry Plant Talk

H.E.R. (born Gabriella Wilson) is a one-of-a-kind vocalist, but considering how long she’s been sharing her music with us, there’s still a lot of mystery surrounding the “Best Part” collaborator. As one Reddit user pointed out, Wilson earned a record deal at a young age thanks to her elevated skills. This information isn’t hidden, but some believe that marketing executives intentionally kept information about H.E.R. on the down low to strategically increase her intrigue.

“I think the secret persona marketing was actually smart and obviously worked. However, she has received a lot of Grammy nominations. 2 AOTY nominations is kinda suspect based on those albums just being compilations of EPs,” they speculated. She might not share all of her life online, but H.E.R. has still acknowledged the gossip. “I’ve seen so many bands and artists with a ‘small’ amount of followers sell out MSG and headline some huge festivals. Y’all think everybody’s underrated or an ‘industry plant’ with massive success outside of Instagram,” she told music lovers.

Russ Previously Put Chance the Rapper on Blast

To this day, hip-hop heads love revisiting Chance the Rapper’s Acid Rap and other earlier projects. There’s been a noticeable change in the Chicago-based rhymer’s music over the years, and though he no longer generates the same hype of a decade ago, Chance continues to come through with new music for those who do appreciate him. Around the 14-minute mark in the Everyday Struggle interview above, “What They Want” hitmaker Russ – who’s maintained a steady audience while releasing independently – shared his thoughts on potential rap industry plants, including Chance.

Will Ice Spice Ever Beat the Industry Plant Allegations?

One of the most apparent and arrogant of the alleged industry plants is 24-year-old Ice Spice. She’s been dubbed “one of the biggest industry plants of our lifetime” in more than one Reddit thread. Her first viral hit came in the summer of 2022, when “Munch (Feelin’ U)” earned the bodacious redhead a co-sign from fellow mulatto Drake. While it was very apparent that Ice Spice got more acclaim from her lightskinned “ass shaking” then her actual raps, Ice Spice aka Isis Gaston, has managed to climb further up the ladder of superstardom, collaborating with Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift on the “Princess Diana” and “Karma” remixes. She showed really how much of a plant she was when she made an obvious pledge to her illuminati handlers at the Super Bowl wearing an upside down cross and throwing up the “Baphomet”  hand gestures at the Super Bowl while she was watching the game with another accused plant, Taylor Swift.

Is your favorite artist an industry plant? Are any of the artists industry plants? They will never forfeit their ill gotten fame and fortune to tell you. However it is very suspect how someone comes to prominence quickly all the while they have an image and/or narrative that does nothing but further negative stereotypes and cause confusion. In some cases, like that of 69, leading directly to the murder and incarceration of people who may not have been that easy to jail or kill prior to their interaction with said “plant”. Industry plants are really plants- instead of  “watering” these plants with H2O we water them with our attention. It’s time to take attention away from those who do NOT have our best interest at heart.  Let these so called artists shrivel up and die on the withered vines of “industry hype”. When you take your focus off the mainstream and whatever else they want you to focus on – there will be no fake artists infiltrating the art- there will be just the art. Let’s stop acknowleging the idiots- for the culture. Subscribe, Share, Stay Tuned. The revolution will not be televised 2raw4tv.tv