Outside of 50 Cent, 6ix9ine is next in line as one of the internet’s biggest trolls. From clowning rappers by going to their block or joking about their album sale, the rainbow-haired rapper is making a living by trolling. But what happens when you become what you clown? That is what’s happening to 6ix9ine whole first-week sale is falling way short than the projected 150K.
If you talk the talk, you better be ready to walk the walk; after going after Smokepurpp for his dismal album sales, 6ix9ine is getting the taste of his own medicine. The rapper was supposed to sell 150,000 units in the first week, but some counting changes made over the past few months are invalidating 6ix9ine’s numbers.
Well, you probably know how he is reacting to his numbers being downgraded. But the rappers he was clowning all year are laughing at his expense, which is only fair. So, here we take a look at what happens when Instagram followers do not turn into album sales numbers.
Instagram Followers vs. Album Sales
6ix9ine album sale was adjusted to 50K, lower than the expected 150K plus.
Source: DJ Akademiks Instagram
The follower count of a rapper or singer is considered to the fan reach of the said artist. The larger the number, the more impact they will have when releasing their work, or so it is thought. But with the rise of SoundCloud rappers and other social media rappers, the norm of your followers being your fans is being challenged.
6ix9ine has over 24 million followers on his Instagram page, and everything he posts on the image-sharing platform receives massive engagement. This is why it is amazing to think a rapper with so much “following” cannot even break the six-figure mark when it comes to album sales.
He is not the only rapper falling into the trap of thinking their followers are their fans. One of the earliest examples of clout rappers thinking they are hotter than the norm was Smokepurpp. He is the butt of many jokes when it comes to album sales as he sold less than 5,000 copies, even with a massive social following.
Smokepurpp and Lil Pump both rose at the same time, and Pump is another rapper who is known more for his antics than his numbers and prowess in the booth. And the same fate is coming for 6ix9ine.
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Most of the people on social media follow the TattleTales rapper because he is a funny person to follow. They are not there for his music, only to comment on the pictures he posts, telling him he is a clown and a rat.
Lil Pump’s massive following is also a result of people wanting to see his latest antics instead of those interested in the music is producing. So, you can see how an artist can get disillusioned by the follower count on their Instagram, only to be brought back to reality when they release an album and it fades away, not even cracking the top 20 on the charts.
Why was 6ix9ine’s Projected Album Sale Lowered?
6ix9ine new album was expected to sell more than 150,000 units in its first week. This resulted in the rapper getting excited about the numbers only to later be told that some units will be devalued.
Some music and chart heads may know that right after Taylor Swift’s new album Folklore was released, there were some changes made to the Billboard charts. The music unit counting organization said they no longer count units of albums sold along with a bundle of any kind.
For example, if you purchase a hoodie from a rapper and his/her latest album comes along with the sale, then Billboard no longer counts that bundle as a sale. Previously almost all the albums bundled together with merchandise or other properties sold by the artist were counted, and it is not the case now.
This is the reason why the majority of 6ix9ine’s first-week sale was invalidated. His albums came in a bundle with limited merchandise, which is why the projected number form 150K went all the way down to 50K.
6ix9ine’s Reaction to His Album Sale Plummeting
You already know that the rainbow-haired rapper was not happy with the way his album was being treated. He was angry at Spotify and iTunes, saying the two companies were not putting his album on the front page along with other new music.
Most people on his Instagram comment were telling him to stop whining because he has 24 million-plus followers; he can promote it through his social platforms. You can watch the complaint video from 6ix9ine here.
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Last modified: September 8, 2020
