For as long as artists have been aware that it works, gimmicks have been practiced. I am not aware of any groups, soloists, rappers, or musician who hasn’t considered or attempted to come up with a gimmick of some kind that would help them benefit in popularity and wealth. Now if asked, they may deny it, but if you look at all the attention, both negative and positive, what they have done was attract attention to themselves that made everyone want to know who, what, why, where, when and how. Some of the most famous culprits are Niki Minaj, Kanye West, Rihanna, Beyonce, Madonna, and the list goes on and on. I’m not speaking negatively about what they’re doing, but I have a question. Is it necessary? And if so, how far is too far? Would you parade around naked in the city like Erika Badu, or put on little clothing as tolerable to get viewers? Are the consequences worth the reputation placed on you? For the moment, followers appear to be desensitized to the antics. It’s almost like they’re expecting someone to come up with the next big thing. So, whether you like it or not, gimmicks are probably going to be around for a while, and as long as it’s effective, artists are going to use them.
