Russ Reveals Evil Secrets of Music Industry, How Artists FAKE Streams, & Problem with Drug Culture

Yerrrrrr, Russ came through to hang with the Flagrant crew and talk about how major musician labels are faking streams, what race he REALLY is, his new favorite place to travel and how he's handling his success. All that and much much more on this week's Flagrant episode. INDULGE 00:00Intro 00:52Russ responsible for standup clips 02:11Boardroom Performances 05:07Labels tricking streams + cost for a no. 1 10:17Relationship between labels & streaming platforms 12:04Audit your label 16:37By pointing the finger, people question you 20:35Major artists not selling tickets 24:04Being independent + “Advance” economics 35:27Worth of 1m streams & Drake's catalogue 43:27Perception of Residencies + Soft tickets 46:42Labels aren't happy with Russ 48:35Radio's role, Stadiums + Ed Sheeran performance 52:54Smallest crowd + delusional self-belief 55:02Learning to make a good show 57:39Feeling pressure + disassociating on stage 1:01:50Pyramids, banned songs & Kuwait shows 1:07:12Everyone's human + Japan is odd 1:09:03Russ in India + racially ambiguous benefits 1:15:30Fairly Odd Asians? Memories of Japan 1:23:20Visiting Marrakech, Switzerland + Santorini 1:30:11Using money to change realities 1:36:26What excites Russ now? + Living by other's standards 1:39:55Impact of therapy + discomfort is necessary 1:47:27Gauging how much to reveal 1:49:41Ego v self-mastery + process of achieving that 1:59:35Billboard's rules took sales away 2:02:09"I love you boy" was progress for Russ 2:04:53Russ' thoughts on Mos Def v Drake 2:08:57White people's fascination of black trauma 2:12:58Faking dangerous lifestyles is evil 2:17:15The only time Russ lied in raps 2:17:55Real impact of faking v society's own accountability 2:42:44Rick Rubin's true impact = taste 2:54:17Kanye has TASTE 2:57:46Good music forgives everything + Ye repeats without thinking 3:02:53Using more empathy 3:04:20Japan owns everything 3:07:12J Prince's power + everyone understands violence 3:13:42Creating next star + what is counter-culture? 3:21:37Labels need Hip-Hop to succeed 3:25:26Russ leaving Columbia + ebbs and flow of music industry 3:31:59What is an industry plant? Benefits from insecurity 3:39:32Success doesn't make you immune + sensitivity = super power 3:47:30Where is Russ in 20 years?