"Once you're signed to a label you compromise"

In this quote, Talib Kweli is suggesting that as soon as an artist indications a contract with a record label, they are forced to make compromises in their music and innovative vision. This is due to the fact that record labels typically have a particular image or sound that they want their artists to comply with in order to attract a larger audience and make more earnings. This can be frustrating for artists who wish to remain real to their own special style and message. Kweli is highlighting the pressure and restrictions that come with being signed to a label, and the prospective loss of artistic freedom that can happen.