AB & Cease of Bars On i-95 open up about their commitment to maintaining high standards on their platform by turning down rappers who don’t meet the bar in this episode of ‘BagFuel’. They express their frustration with how difficult it can be to get rappers to appear on their platform, even though they create the content for the artists themselves, not for views or chasing viral moments. They emphasize that their platform prioritizes authenticity and quality, refusing to accept payment from labels or artists to secure appearances. While some rappers try to pay their way onto the show, they decline, explaining that they only feature artists who align with their standards and respect the integrity of their platform.
AB & Cease also discuss how they’ve turned down notable artists because their freestyle quality or style didn’t fit with the show’s format, despite the pressure from PR teams and managers. Even when freestyles are recorded, they won’t be released if the quality isn’t up to par, because it could reflect poorly on both the artist and the show. They stress that they care deeply about maintaining high standards and ensuring that every performance is strong.
Despite rejecting some artists, the show continues to discover and support underground talent, such as a rapper from Bridgeport, Connecticut, whose viral freestyles were successful because of his skill. They mention that while they might invite some artists back, it only happens if they genuinely meet their quality expectations.
