Boston Rapper Sam Adams Accused Of Buying Own Album To Top iTunes Charts
By
Allen Starbury | Published
03/13/10
A white rapper hailing from Boston named Sam Adams shocked hip-hop fans last week, when outta nowhere, his debut EP topped the iTunes hip-hop charts, beating out the likes of DJ Khaled and Lil Wayne.
His Boston's Boy EP hit no. 1 on iTunes last week, generating a buzz among the blogosphere, who according to the Boston Herald, began circulating a rumor that he was inflating his sales numbers by buying his own album.
A relatively unknown rapper hits no. 1 seems fishy right? Well, someone posted a document online, several thousand pages long, which allegedly showed that the majority of Adams' sales came outta one region.
Adams, however, denies the claims, stating that the numbers are real.
"I know there has been a considerable amount of controversy about my album release and hitting No. 1," the rapper told the Herald. "In response I'd like to say that the numbers are legit ... In this day and age where numbers are tracked, I'm shocked people would accuse me of buying my own records. Sometimes people don't want others to succeed."
Update: Sam Adams' rep emailed the alleged document to us on Saturday (March 13), a excel spreadsheet consisting of over 65,000 records of single and album purchases. It displays sales from the entire U.S., and not in just on region, as bloggers' claimed.
"Your article refers to a document that says it covers only one region. It actually covers the entire United States from A to Z, Alaska to Wyoming with 65536 purchases (albums and tracks)," Adams' rep, Daniel Cho, tells BallerStatus.com. "It covers all domestic sales across the US."
Adams himself was shocked by the sudden rise in popularity, especially since he recorded his first song seven months ago, according to a report from the Boston Phoenix.
"We were really surprised we jumped so fast," Adams explained of his quick rise. "Word-of-mouth is an amazing thing. People hear my stuff and like it and pass it on. It's pretty perfect how everything worked out."
As of Thursday (March 11), his single "Driving Me Crazy" was at no. 8, while his Boston's Boy EP landed at no. 3 on their respective hip-hop charts.
Adams also has a song titled "I Hate College," his auto-tuned remix of Asher Roth's hit called "I Love College." It has been viewed on YouTube more than 1 million times.
The Boston Herald says the buzz surrounding his sudden iTunes popularity has generated enough buzz that major labels have come a knocking, including Warner Bros., Atlantic Records and Universal Records.
Sam is not the 1st or last to do that shit. Def jam been doin it since day 1 ! Cash money records did it to jump start lil waynes album! Old news.
BAWSE2ULOOKOUTS
who cares if dude brought his own albums all da majors do it!!!!!
Eric Barnes
he bought about 8 thousand of his single, enough to get it in the top, then once it was in the top, it sold on its own. He was in talks with labels, that is over, he paid clinton sparks 3 grand to be in his video. kid is lame....
capton california
He just look like dat type of nigga 2 do sum lame shit like dat
Philly-O
Why is this news? The manager of The Beatles went out and bought something like 2,000 copies of their first single to boost sales and get them signed to a real contract. This is nothing new in the music biz.
Greg Sims
This dude is actually good. Cmon now, you know how much it would cost to buy 75,000 EPs? Not by an up n coming rapper. I don't see it. How do u think rappers blow up. I believe dude to an extent.
Philly-O
If y'all read the update, it looks like his sales are legit. Plus, you never know...a lot of college kids who get into underground/indie artists spend a lot of money on iTunes, so it's possible he's telling the truth to a point...
anzee11
It happens all the time.
Justineee
I bought the album, and it's legit! Like he said, people don't want to see others succeed, it're really sad. Go on Sammy Adams!!
http://aim.com Legend
Keep doin your thang Wiz. I feel some of your tracks. Fuck the nay sayers homie, do what you enjoy. Congrats on the the EP
Ran Contour
hes a trust fund baby thats how he had the cash to buy them all.
Frank Rizzo
Even if he did do it it's a genius move. It gets his name in the mouth of people who would have otherwise not heard of him.
Leonardo
Look im a rapper/singer and i am really from Boston man,i am really from the streets and i am a real rapper. This kid duin this is giving boston a bad name man. period! And i am not a hater i dnt care if he makes millions do ur thing just take Boston out of ur name bro. cause u aint Boston!
JV
So his team released a document showing that album sales came from all over...but he only plays in the new england area to college kids and had no press/internet buzz what so ever before itunes thing. SO ALL HIS SALES SHOULD HAVE COME FROM ONE REGION.
JV
Frank Rizzo, its not a genius move. if he spent 75k buying his album he would have been better off hiring a publicist, promoter, booking agent etc and actually trying to get people to buy his stuff. A good publicist will get your name in people's mouths and will cost a fraction of what he spent buying his album
HALO!4
When Beyonce's albums come out her jayz, her mom, her dad, rihanna, her sister, kelly michelleand her cousins and producers go buy 20 albums each. Thats the same when ever jay, rihanna, kelly and michelle release an album. Thats how the indutry is. Except when its Beyonce's team they buy and then give the CD's away.
getsomegetright
he can buy his own shit all day but is the music good not beat wise does he have something good to say or make you think about what he just said, rapper not pose to just make rhymes but good story teller to ps leave the street in the street not in the club,the club is where you pose to shake it off remember!
david
even if he purchease his own stuff,this guy is smart,look at the publicity he is generating,only Lil Wayne and Jay-z and making this hype.
ag
Yo JV, no internet buzz? I Hate College video had well over a milli views before the EP was released. This kid does seem like a herb, but I think his sales are pretty legit. Billboard released the Soundscan #'s and they were legit.
Frank Rizzo
@JV...sorry but that doesn't work anymore. The best publicist in the world is not getting him this kind of promotion. In most cases it's people's publicists who come up with this kind of shit. This is controversial so it draws attention. A post titled, "The hottest rapper ever" isn't getting shit for hits.
Alfredo
San Adams is not from Boston, Cambridge is a different city, it is not patrolled by Boston police! Sam is also a sell out for not shooting the music video in Massachusetts where his fan base is!
http://www.ballerstatus.com Michael
Legit yall have no lives! like ya maadd jealous, leave the kid alone and let him do what hes good at. And just cuz hes not from BOSTON dosnt mean he cant love it. Its friggen Massachusetts we all root for the same teams there really isnt a diffrence wether your from tha ''streets'' or your grew up in a nice neighborhood! legit you haters need to grow tha fuck up!
http://www.yahoo.com raindrops7
why cant he be from boston leo? dont be mad he can fill clubs in new england and you cant. i saw that boy at toads place in new haven, ct and he can put on a show. juss cuz he white doesnt mean he cant rap. sorry bro...im sure hes just better than ya and he's not from the streets...neither is kanye west brotha
v
I just want to randomly say that I'm from Massachusetts and it is ridiculous how many young people LOVE and know him. I know of a kid from my school that SA gave a shout out to at one of his shows (Merrimack College), and then all of a sudden, my entire school was listen to SA nonstop. He even said in a couple of interviews that he tries to be close to his fans.
k
id like to adress the people that says hes lame because hes not from the streets. no, hes not from the streets. but hes rapping about whats real to him. he likes to party, have fun, get high, drink, and get laid. just like everyone else. he just raps differently from the other people, and this kind of rap is getting big. just look at SA, chris webby, and asher roth.
Erin
If it was allin one region, it kind of makes sense. HE PERFORMED IN BOSTON, HE GREW UP IN BOSTON. Obviously there would be more records sold there?
http://freewebs.com/gansterbob Tiki
I just heard ab out this guy from my friend and I think its pretty crazy how he did it. Really though i hate college is a great song and it has almost 3 million youtube veiws. Just look at where his songs are getting on the charts those nimbers are the answer not accusing him of buying buying his own records. People may be jealous of his fat rising carrer but dont hate on his succsess by accusing him of this stuff. Good for him for being this great so fast.
jbbbbbbbbbbbb
hes legitttttttt
stony
A song is a song hes not rapping about selling crack and living in the hood he raps about frats which yea have money if you dont like the song then stop bitching and dont listen to it and if he wants to buy his own music stop hating because you cant afford it you lame poor haters thats why youll always be poor with hating attitudes dont get jealous get even
heavensdemon
dude not even sam adams is the shit... the man produced his own shit and tore up all the tracks... to me thats all that matters... he doesnt give a fuck about itunes ratings, he just wants to make some money
http://www.bostonknucklehead.com Boston Knucklehead
Putting Boston on the map. I love it.
danny kittredge
I am from boston but moved to minnesota with my mother a few years ago i currently have a radio show where i feature Sam and all day as i walk through the halls of my college people like where can i get the Bostons Boy shit he is legit in the midwest as well keep tearing em up Sammy!
Pat
I am from South Dakota, I bought his album and I know a shit load of kids in the college scene throughout all of Eastern SD, ya may not be that big but I would play his stuff at parties all the time...
taylor
sams the best who cares hes a boss
fan
Who cares? like even if sammy did do this...if he did then whatever he got his name out and everyone still loves him either way. im going to his show tonight in chicago and it has been sold out for two weeks. sammy is a good rapper stop being jealous and worry about your own self.
hush
hey other "rappers" you may think sammy isn't good and maybe he isnt well known yet but im a senior in high school and i have visted over 7 colleges this year and at every party i hear one of his song...he is loved get over it. keep doin your thing sammy!
barbara
what i want to know is the Red Sox Baseball Cap he is wearing,where can i get one?
mason ham
Sam, can't wait to see you @ Fisher in April! Good stuff, man. Good stuff. You'll blast to the top without a problem. You've got talent. And if I'm On A Boat got popular, I Hate College and all your other stuff will spike like there's no tommorow!
<333
I LOVE SAMMY ADAMS <33333333
snacktime
stop hatin'
snacktime
stop hatin'
whackkkkk
regardless...this guy is garbage. so if he did actually make himself famous then congrats. but if people are actually paying money for this mediocre wannabe mac miller shit then shame on you america. he's an older justin beiber.
whackkkkk
regardless...this guy is garbage. so if he did actually make himself famous then congrats. but if people are actually paying money for this mediocre wannabe mac miller shit then shame on you america. he's an older justin beiber.
Porker101
yo man you dont no what the fuck your talking about sammy aint lame i no him personally and the dude pretty chill he didnt presally buy his own records at all.. so next time dont call someone lame if you dont no them
Porker101
yo man you dont no what the fuck your talking about sammy aint lame i no him personally and the dude pretty chill he didnt presally buy his own records at all.. so next time dont call someone lame if you dont no them
datsmartchick
IDK y people r hatin'. His music is good plus he's super SEXY!!!!
Dat smart chick
Just let him be he's great and SEXY!!!.......But whats with the daddy trump stuff in the start of some songs?
idk
or it could be beacuse most of his fans are from boston? wtf are you people that stupid?
M Lmezakowski
I don't know if u relize that it don't matter where in mass u live everyone thinks it's Boston... I went to Florida and told them I'm from mass and everyone would ask where's that in Boston... We all from da bean... And moufy is the future of Boston...
M Lmezakowski
I don't know if u relize that it don't matter where in mass u live everyone thinks it's Boston... I went to Florida and told them I'm from mass and everyone would ask where's that in Boston... We all from da bean... And moufy is the future of Boston...
Anthony
Find out where he got that hat it's tooo fresh??
Bluntblowin
He's actually puttin Boston on the map of rap so idk wat ur talkin about hes givin Boston a bad name. Half of the rappers that say there from an area aren't from that area so u obviously don't know wat ur talking about
Anonymous
I can't believe this garbage passes for rap nowadays. I can't blame him for putting it out, but I can all the people buying and keeping this music popular. When i grew up you would get beatdown for listening to crap like this. I miss 90's rap...
Sfeinberg07
lame.......
Timskeepmyfeetdry
fuckin lame and u a faggot too
Kasiefalls
Sam Adams is awesome, I am all for his music not the drama that ppl spread the music is what counts an he defiantly has that. I just heard him on pandora and I can't get enough of him.. I love this dude !
Arroyo0953
Fucken haters! Straight up yo!
Skylar:D
He's hot anyways mhmmm YUMMY
Yo
he stinks
Mtom2003
People from outside of Boston don't know the diff. Plus, Boston is expensive as shit to do anything in.
A white rapper hailing from Boston named Sam Adams shocked hip-hop fans last week, when outta nowhere, his debut EP topped the iTunes hip-hop charts, beating out the likes of DJ Khaled and Lil Wayne.
