Hip Hop Vibe's Independent Artist of the Year: A-Thug

By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer

This year, A-Thug took his game to a higher level. For seven years, he had been holding things down in Harlem. But, late in the summer, his game finally went national. A-Thug also has an incredible hustle that has led to him having a small empire in Harlem.

While he has released an album each year, this year his Icon album has received higher sales than his previous releases. Much of this has to do to the connections he made this year. But, his hustle never stopped no matter what situation he was in.

The high sales of his independent album, along with the professional sound of his music has landed him this title. Outside of music, he also has his own clothing line, which is independently owned and operated. A-Thug is the only rapper with his own pantie line.

Outside of his own career, A-Thug also runs his own record label, Black Rolling Stones Entertainment and he handles each detail all on his own. A-Thug does just as much, if not more, in the run of a day as hip hop millionaires, Diddy and Jay-Z. But, unlike the other two New York legends, A-Thug has accomplished all of his feats without the backing of a major company.

There is no denying, A-Thug and his businesses as being hip hop and there is no denying his entire career is completely independent.