The Business of Music: These Are Some of The Most Expensive Features And Samples Artists Have Paid For
By Jasmine Browley ·Updated August 17, 2022
Some of our favorite songs were very expensive to make and it’s not just because of the studio time.
Guest verses and sampled beats from previously arranged songs have been a trend in music for decades now, but it’s hit an all-time lucrative high of recent. Some musicians trade verses at no cost, but others charge a hefty price to lay down their vocal on a track. Although this was a once a fairly private practice, musicians are more transparent than ever about how much they have paid or been paid to be featured on a song.According to prior interviews or even their own song lyrics, it can be extremely profitable to collaborate, or be tapped to have your sample used in a new production. From Nicki Minaj to Megan Thee Stallion to Lil Baby, it will likely cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars to hear them on another artist’s song. But in the end, it’s usually worth it.
Here are a few of the most expensive features or samples artists have spoken about publicly.
01Danny BrownCreating an album is one of the most important investments an artist can make. Rapper Danny Brown said it was one that plummeted him into debt, particularly because of his decision to purchase multiple samples. In a 2018 interview he shared that he spent $70,000 to clear samples for his 2016 album ‘Atrocity Exhibition.’ “I wanna make timeless stuff, so you’re gonna have to spend a couple dollars,” Brown told Rolling Stone in an interview prior to the album’s release. “You could have Rolex or you can have a Swatch.” 02Megan Thee StallionThe original Hot Girl is currently promoting her new album Traumazine, and
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