I’m as reluctant to ask for your support as you are weary of hearing “the economy sucks and everything costs more.” That doesn’t make it any less true though. Every time anyone down the chain in domain name renewals, monthly webhosting, or software licensing feels they’ve been squeezed too hard by what everything costs, they raise their prices. This in turn passes the buck to me, and RapReviews.com feels the squeeze as everything costs more while our Patreon funding stays virtually unchanged. I recently put a modest increase on our monthly goal from $100 to $125 hoping we could meet that benchmark, and I’d like to express to you why that’s worthwhile.

Unlike many of the major players out there on the internet right now, RR is funded through community support. We don’t have advertising banners of pop-up ads of any kind. We don’t have major record labels throwing money at us in public or behind the scenes. We’re ruggedly independent — perhaps to the point of stupidity. That independence is valuable though because it means you know RR is a resource you can rely on. Our archive of nearly 10,000 reviews and articles exists because your pledges make it possible. Our uncensored opinions are uncensored because we don’t have to kiss any ass to keep the lights on. Even if you disagree with a take one of the writers has on an album, you know it’s their honest take, not one they were paid to have.

There are virtually zero times I ever want to pat myself on the back and say I’m doing some great service for hip-hop music and culture. Even when people come to me and offer me props for being online for 30+ years, I will say “I was just in the right place at the right time and I’m far from the only one. There are plenty of other people who deserve credit.” I’m not trying to be fake humble or insincere to look good in the public eye — I mean that. RapReviews is not the most important thing for the culture and far from it. If you’ve been riding with us for one, five, 10 or 20 years though, you know we put in work every single week. If that means anything to you a few bucks a month could go a long way. I know you’re getting squeezed just like I’m getting squeezed, so if you can’t afford to help you can still read our reviews and articles for free. We’re not putting this content behind a pay wall and we never will. If you can skip one cup of coffee and put it in our cup instead though, thank you — and much obliged to those who already do.

Sincerely,
Steve ‘Flash’ Juon, RR EIC