Cuban reggaeton artist Chocolate MC delivered a powerful message to Italian businessman and producer Roberto Ferrante, owner of the record label Planet Record, accusing him of manipulating musical trends on YouTube and misleading the new generation of Cuban artists.
In a video shared on the stories of his Instagram account, Chocolate MC directly called out Ferrante, claiming that the view counts on the songs of the label's artists on YouTube are not genuine.
"Ferrante continues to try to play with the mindset of the new generation in my country, the reparteros. You and I know that trends can be bought. If not, just look at what happened to El Alfa, who had to pay a million dollars to YouTube for all that advertising, and he's getting more views than he was before," the singer expressed.
Chocolate MC criticized the fact that the songs promoted by Planet Record reach unbelievable numbers, comparing the phenomenon to internationally renowned artists
"It's impossible for Offset, Cardi B's ex-husband, to release a song and for you to get more views in a day than that guy, who is a superstar. Obviously, you're trending because you're inflating your views, just like they did with El Alfa. You're just fooling yourself."
The singer also suggested that Ferrante and Planet Record might be colluding with the Cuban government, whom he accused of influencing the careers of local artists to manipulate their popularity
"You are a leech. You came to the neighborhood to mess it up. You are an instrument of the revolution. The Cuban government and you are managing the careers of Cuban repairmen and making them look bigger than they really are."
Chocolate criticized that the false narratives and advertising campaigns are confusing the audience in Cuba, a country where, according to him, the population lacks a genuine "number culture" to interpret the authenticity of the figures.
"Here, nobody is foolish. A song comes out on the same day and gets more views than Offset. Those views aren't real; they're making people in Cuba believe things that aren't true," he stated.
The self-proclaimed King of Reparto concluded his message by expressing regret over the times when music became popular organically, without the need to "buy numbers." He asserted that no song from Planet Record achieves success naturally, accusing Ferrante of inflating statistics through paid campaigns
"Ferrante, you dedicate money to that, to the campaigns, and you have people confused. You won't fool anyone here. You're buying views that are what puts you in the trending list."
The controversial statement by Chocolate MC has sparked mixed reactions on social media, where many fans of the group debate the legitimacy of the success of the artists associated with Planet Record. Meanwhile, Roberto Ferrante has not issued any statements in response to these accusations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chocolate MC, Roberto Ferrante, and Cuban Urban Music
Why does Chocolate MC accuse Roberto Ferrante of manipulating musical trends?
Chocolate MC accuses Roberto Ferrante of inflating the streaming numbers for the songs of artists signed to Planet Record. According to Chocolate, these figures are not genuine and are used to manipulate the perception of success of Cuban reggaeton artists, which is also said to be connected to the interests of the Cuban government.
What is the relationship between Roberto Ferrante and the Cuban government according to Chocolate MC?
Chocolate MC suggests that Roberto Ferrante and his record label, Planet Record, serve as instruments of the Cuban government to manipulate the popularity of local artists. According to him, this is done to create an inflated image of success that does not reflect reality.
What impact does the use of inflated figures have on the perception of Cuban artists?
The use of inflated figures on platforms like YouTube can confuse the audience, especially in countries like Cuba, where Chocolate MC argues that the population lacks a numbers culture to interpret the authenticity of these figures. This can lead to a misunderstanding of the true success of artists.
How has the Cuban urban music community reacted to the accusations against Chocolate MC?
The accusations made by Chocolate MC have sparked mixed reactions and controversy on social media. Some fans of the cast are debating the legitimacy of the success of the artists associated with Planet Record, while others believe it is a marketing strategy by the reggaeton artist to remain relevant.
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