I can understand that. But there are also differences between fans of different artists and music genres. A lot of fans of C-Way, Madesicc (underground rap shit) are collectors and like to support these underground artists. A lot of the times do I feel though, that most of these underground labels don't know how to profit from their fan base. Every couple months, somebody on this site brings up the old Siccmade jerseys they used to sell 10 - 12 years ago. Many fans would like to buy merchandise, but they can't, cause it is not available. Then there are fans who buy music directly, but never get any product. Then it seems that more and more underground rappers try to make themselve appeal more to the mainstream by choosin beats etc.! This all comes to these artists loosing their original fan base who bought everything and even if the rapper was just featured on some unknown dudes CD, to maybe gaining more fans, who at the other hand just dl it for free.
Techn9ne is ahead, because he gives his fans what they want imo. He puts out music frequently, he tours, he is close to his fans, he doesn't fuck over his own fans, he provides merchandise etc.!
But when you look at that, then you should realize, that it is not that difficult to do that shit. It is like running a company. You can't have people in charge who are always high and/or drunk. Madesicc is only still living because of Lynch's hardcore fans. Right now, they are on the verge of loosing these fans though imo. I really hope that Starnge can help Lynch to get them back!