Music Labels the new NBA

Music labels are just like NBA teams. They want to comprise a super team to combat their competitors. Some of these new labels are expansion teams like the Toronto Raptors were back in the 90’s. They try to start out fresh with talent to compete with the major labels. Look at the Sony Music Entertainments, Warner Music Group’s or Universal Music Group. They are the big three of music labels. They are figuratively your NBA teams that always make it to the playoffs. The ones you have no doubt will do well. You’re Lakers, Spurs and now your Heat. They try to produce super teams enticing other players (artists) to come along with them to maximize both parties’ profits and make them the most winning label. I treat those big three like your owners. With each owner each team has their set rosters. G.O.O.D. music is like the label to be at the moment. They have comprised a slew (yeah we doing words like that today) of artists who could be your NBA super team. Lets look into the artists on the roster; Kanye West, Big Sean, Common, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, John Legend. This is a record labels dream team, full of players who can contribute on a consistent basis. They fall into the team of Def Jam its just one big chain of command. It all leads to knowing the top three labels are running the music industry. It’s almost as if you have to be apart of a bigger team to try to make something for yourself as a player in this musical game.


Yet the bigger question I pose to you is what that means for the smaller labels (teams). Does that mean that they either have to fold or should they try to make it and let what ever happens happen for their musical career?

Mood Music

We all have a song or album in its entirety that once we hit that play button, the entire mood of your day changes. From a dull pain of the boring work day to the over stressed and over worked business day. All it takes is just one song, one album, one punch line to some that can jump start your mind. I can personally say there are lots of songs that all it takes is that beat drop to get things started. Think about it… remember when “Knuck if you Buck”, came out. Think about how much energy you felt run through your body as soon as the beat came on. No matter what you were doing that song came on and you knew it was going to get crunk. You could be driving your car down the freeway; beat drops it all goes out the window with your previously calm demeanor. You are now shaking your imaginary dreads in the air probably doing about 70 speeding for no reason. Just because you felt that song take you back to 2005 and the moment when you first heard the song. It’s not always about the hard energy songs either. Sometimes a song can take you in the totally opposite direction. Look at Drake, (yes I am about to get some people in their feelings) Marvin’s room is something we all can relate to. That drunken phone call you know you shouldn’t make, yet you are still calling that guy/ girl up just to try to change and convince them that you still have feelings. Nine out of ten times, you are going to not get energy off of this song. Yet, you will sing this song loud in your home thinking about the last time you drunk dialed someone and how you were all in your feelings. Even at the workplace, you can have your Pandora on full blast at your desk and soon as Drake lets that first tear filled note across those speakers you are going to start into your last phone call. We all have done it, singing that course as if your life depended on that last note to hit correctly.

That’s the main thing; music especially hip hop is a gateway into ones emotions. You can feel mind swaying trying to decipher what your next emotion moving song is going to be. You even set yourself up for your feelings. Take a moment and look at your playlist titles. I bet there are few of the playlist based off of an artist and more of the playlist when you are in your feelings. Mood playlists consisting of, “Monday commute” which we all know isn’t always the best time of the day.

Back again here is the Incredible

It’s been a while… to too long. In the time which I’ve been away, I have a new job. Worked with kids volunteering and started freelance writing on the side. I have put my creativity on the back burner. (The worst thing I could have done to my career.) I have decided to start my blog back up for real this time. I cover more than just music, I write about everything from my perspective. Yes it’s been said and done before but no two views are ever really the same. I want more artist’s spotlights and more different articles. 

Something I do want to focus on, the elements of Hip Hop and show how we as people are a product of hip hop. The Dj, Emcee (MC), Graffiti and Breaking (B-boy/girl); can’t forgot about beat boxing either. Hip Hop has been an ever-changing movement/ genre/ lifestyle. It has touched everything and everyone at one point or another. My blog will reflect getting more influence by the elements. 

Plus there will also be the comedy and funny stories that I have done before. I am going to do better and I shall. 

The Art of a Freestyle: A thought

I wonder what will happen in the future, as technology grows and evolves. The art form will have to evolve with it. Will the freestyle slowly phase out? The “off the dome,” part of it and become off the phone? The allure of it will slowly fade away and become a long lost art form. Which is a big part of the culture. I have no problems with this “pre-written,” freestyle or free verse. My question is why do it?Where is it? I know talking about something like this may seem like a rant. Which is what I do not want this to be like. My question is, where and when did freestyles change. Some of my readers are like what do you mean? If you think about how many times have you heard a freestyle and loved it? Now re-listen to it, and think about the flow. Now to the untrained ear its no different. Yet, there are many who Black Berry Freestyle or (BBF). Some examples of artists who I have noticed who do this consist of Lil Wayne, Joe Budden, and more.

My favorite happened to be battle rappers who used their skills to the extreme. When you battle your mind has to be quick and sharp. You can tell a veteran from a rookie in the battle world. By the way they react and respond to what their opponent says. I stated before, “pre written freestyles,” are even present in the battle world. Trust me, I have seen it before, I was doing a battle, final round and the I was battling was nice, until his style changed. His verse dynamics changed and it did not seem right. The battle went on, and oh by the way (I called him on it in a verse, ha!) Needless to say I lost the battle, don’t you just love hip hop politics...anyway. Once this happened it made me rethink how battles are past and present.

No matter if you believe it or not, written freestyles are being passed off as non-written freestyles. It is becoming the new “it",” thing to do now a days. Prime example, Black Entertainment Television (I use that term loosely). Who remembers the tv show “The Basement,” Many of the artists who appeared on the show actually previewed the beat they were going to freestyle to. So it gave them time to prepare for what they were about to rhyme about. Which goes against what the show and the basic skills of the art form are about. Going further, some of those freestyles, became real verses for other songs that many people recite now.

I wonder what will happen in the future, as technology grows and evolves. The art form will have to evolve with it. Will the freestyle slowly phase out? The “off the dome,” part of it and become off the phone? The allure of it will slowly fade away and become a long lost art form. Which is a big part of the culture. I have no problems with this “pre-written,” freestyle or free verse. My question is why do it?

Deeper than Hip Hop- Why so much hate?

Why does Hip Hop (Rap) get a bad rap from many non-listeners? It is as if they believe everything they hear about the genre. Oh it’s misogynistic views towards women mean that’s what all those so called “artists” speak about. The lyrical content is only about drugs they have sold or have smoked. Oh no talks of drugs then it’s the women. Wait women…let me rephrase that, the bitches, hoes(whores), skeezers, jumpoffs, breezys, tricks, sluts, run thoughts, etc. The only other thing they talk about is their “bling bling,” lifestyle. You know those hundred thousand dollar cars, their new mansions and the jewelry that could snap the neck of a small child. These arguments though valid to some, to others including hip hop scholars like myself, that is far from the truth.

Many don’t realize that there is more depth within the lines of these songs. Yes, songs about killing yourself (Suicidal Thoughts), hustling to make ends meat (Grindin). The phrase “Deeper than Rap,” is going to be the definition to many of these songs. These lyrics and countless more paint vivid pictures to showcase their struggles as musicians. Sometime the face value of a song is only the gateway to the truth meaning.

Now the main topic that those against hip hop haters is the treatment of women. Groups have said that all the males do is degrade women. Noting some of the worst artists as, Too $hort, (Uncle) Luke, Notorious B.I.G, Three 6 Mafia and countless more. Now yes things may have been said or videos shot but even those songs are party songs. Not saying that is the reason why they are okay to do what they have done or said. Yet, we do not discuss other genres that have done or artists who have mistreated women. It is as though their genre gives them a free pass. When Jordan Knight came out with his song (Give it to You), Everyone loved that song, making it on chart after chart. Even though the song itself was filled with hypersexual lyrics, and innuendos throughout. Oh it is just a harmless pop song that the kids wont catch. So is the song “Make it Clap".” Yet the rap communities lyrics are always under a microscope. Same premise just because the genre is different they treated the Busta Rhymes as though his song was the worst. Why is it that the microscope of hip hop is ten times stronger than any other style of music? We focus on how every song is misogynistic towards women. Songs like Dear Momma prove a point. Look at 2Pac, people deemed him as the worst yet when Dear Momma cam out everything was okay. Then you have his song, “I get around.” That instantly made him a misogynistic person.

This is Part 1…

O.C

This sounds familiar...

I think I am a fairly good person when it comes to my thoughts on music. I listen to everything, yes literally everything. (As I'm writing this blog I have Daft Punk playing). Trying to give it all a fair chance. But as a former producer...well a producer who is on his own personal Detox shit. This is something that goes and gets to me every time. That is when two tracks (worse when they are one after another). That pretty much sound the same.

This to me is an album faux pas. It is as if they liked the song a little TOO much and decided to keep it going. Or the producer liked a particular sample and kept it going throughout. This to me gives off a feel of a lazy musician. Think of some same sampled songs...I'll wait..I know your going to find something.

For Example:

Please don't forget the whole Crime Mob cd. Each track had a sample that went track to track.

I think there are many more. I just want producers to stop doing so. Show your versatility and expand your horizons.