I get asked all the time by aspiring writers and other creatives about how to “make it” in the music industry. I tell them as soon as I figure it out, I’ll get back to them. In all seriousness, even entering my third year covering music and boxing, I’m still learning everyday. The fraternity of creatives trying to pursue their dreams is a special one, and I’ve seen my journey progress through the helping hands and advice of others who saw my potential long before I did.
For many musicians just starting out, the task ahead of them can seem daunting. How do you stand out from countless others? Make a mixtape or an album? How do I get tours and sponsorship? Industry veterans Kevin Nottingham and Kareem Fort have come together to answer those questions and more with DEMOS: An Independent Artist’s Guide to Success.
Being that there’s no set way to go about it, the duo have enlisted the opinions of successful artists spanning the last 20 years, ranging from former multi-platinum stars like Naughty By Nature, to new school upstarts like Mac Miller. The documentary drops in Summer 2011, and be on the lookout for various contests, additional trailers, and other details in the coming months.
Below is an expanded list of all the artists involved.
Narrated by the Grammy Award winning Hip-Hop Poet J Ivy, with appearances by: Pete Rock and CL Smooth,,Naughty By Nature, Shyheim, A-King from PNC Radio, Murs, Carl Choi, El Prez, Dae One, Statik Selektah, Talib Kweli, Tony Rock,Verbs, Wax, Dumbfoundead, Michelle McDevitt from Audible Treats, Money Making Jam Boyz, Z of DJ Booth.net, Asya of Fusicology, Spintelect, Big Pee Wee of KJLH, K Sparks, The Regiment, Convinced, Raven Sorvino, Jean Grae, Pharoah Monch, Big Dho, Jake Paine of HHDX.com, Da Beatminerz, Cisco Adler, Chris Young, DJ Houseshoes, J Davey, Sean Falyon, Marley Marl, TruthLive, Matt Diamond, Joe Scudda, Chaundon, DJ Rhettmatic, Kooley High, Tanya Morgan, Kyra Kyles, Tanvi Patel of Crucial Music, Mac Miller, Warren G, Verbs, Cymarshall Law, and more to be announced.
Living legend Quincy Jones is dropping his 37th (!) album next Tuesday (November) entitled Q: Soul Bossa Nostra. Like most of his recent LPs, it’ll be a complilation or sorts combining the best of Hip-Hop, R&B, and Pop music. The staggering guest list includes Usher, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, T-Pain, Robin Thicke, Amy Whinehouse, LL Cool J, John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Wyclef Jean, Q-Tip, Thee Six Mafia, Bebe Winans, Mervyn Warren, Jermain Dupri, and Scott Storch.
This track with Ludacris is a reworking of Jones’ “Soul Bossa Nova.” You might remember several years ago Ludacris sampled the song for “Number One Spot,” which featured Quincy Jones in the video. This version is a much smoother rendition, R&B styled rendition. Check it out and the other versions to jog your memory.
“Brothers that weren’t into hearing coke and Colombians…”
A Tribe Called Quest is rightly revered by anyone who calls themselves a fan of Hip-Hop. But what about some individual love for Ali Shaheed Muhammad? Focus enlists Tanya Morgan members Von Pea and Donwill, and Justus League soldier Chaundon to do just that.
This joint is the latest in a song series where Focus plays homage to a Hip-Hop great. We have Twitter to thank for how Donwill got involved.
“Focus… does these homages, like, monthly and Von had put me on to ‘em,” Donwill told Beats, Boxing & Mayhem. “After the RZA one dropped, I went to Twitter and said, ‘Somebody tell Focus… I want in.’”
I’m sure Ali Shaheed Muhammad is somewhere smiling. I’m loving the Midnight Marauders-styled intro.
FOCUS X VON PEA X DONWILL X CHAUNDON “HOMAGE TO ALI SHAHEED”
TIMBALAND CELEBRATES LIL WAYNE’S FREEDOM
Timbaland hasn’t confirmed a start date for his Timbo Thursday series, but late tonight he appears to be giving us a little preview. This song, “Talk That,” features T-Pain and a ”lost” Lil Wayne verse. I’m still hoping Timbaland drops some late 90s/early 2000s joints from Aaliyah and Missy. I can do without Magoo.
Last week, Atlanta’s sixth annual A3C (All 3 Coasts) Festival returned to entertain and educate Hip-Hop fans with three days worth of music, panels and exhibitions. Every year, the A3C organizers strive to top their previous incarnations. For 2010, they put together a staggering list of 200 plus artists spread out over five different stages at the city’s Masquerade venue.
The first day was highlighted by Red Bull Music Academy’s stage, which hosted performances from Skyzoo, Buckshot, Jean Grae, 9th Wonder and Murs. But outside of the actual music, what made the first day special was how accessible the artists made themselves to media and fans alike. While going between different stages, you were prone to bump into any of the performing artists. And of course anytime a group of Hip-Hoppers get together, you can always expect a debate to break out regarding the state of the culture, who’s wack, and how we can move forward.
Jean Grae and 9th Wonder were especially accommodating in the area of Hip-Hop discussion/debate. Both arrived hours before their actual sets and spoke for nearly an hour each on their future projects and thoughts on today’s Hip-Hop. 9th Wonder revealed some surprising news, such as the fact he’s submitted several beats for Nas’ upcoming projects. Later, he spoke at length on stage about his career and approach to music. Jean Grae has always been a irrepressible spirit, and gave her thoughts on everyone from Waka Flocka and Nicki Minaj to Jay Electronica and Mos Def. She made it point during the informal talk to criticize when warranted, but also defend when her peers delivered quality work.
“When I like my ignorance, I like my ignorance really ignorant. [But] not in a Waka Flocka way,” Grae quipped. “I can’t really enjoy that because it’s really just nursery rhymes. I see why it works; I get it, its nursery rhymes. I like this song already; I’ve heard it a lot. [I like Nicki Minaj] on certain things, and other times not so much… [But] she kinda killed that [“Monster”] verse.”
For an opening night, the performances were very diverse. Downstairs from 9th Wonder, Buckshot, Jean Grae and company, the venue carried specialty stages like underground West Coast (Pac Div, Rocky Rivera etc.), Detroit (Marv Won, Kodac etc.), Women in Hip-Hop (Lyric Jones, Miz Metro, Rita J etc), and the label Mello Music Group (Trek Life, Boog Brown etc.). In addition, producers got their chance to have their work critiqued by established, industry professionals like DJ Toomp, The J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and Needlz.
By the end of the first night, the performances had extended well past 2AM.
Punchline, Fokis, Senor Kaos, 4IZE at A3C Festival, Day 1
Jean Grae & 9th Wonder “My Story, #8, High”
Trek Life “Ready to Live, As the World Turns”
Day two was marked by nice array of informative panels for fans and artists alike. Artists looking to increase their online presence could check out discussions on social networking and media. And there were several mixers at the venue to allow journalists, producers, and emcees to link up and exchange their work.
Musically, older Hip-Hop fans were in for a treat. There was an event called “Red Bull 45’s,” where Diamond D, Evil Dee, DJ Scratch, Rob Swift, and Applejac took turns trying to outdo each other by spinning the favorites from their 45 collections. There were some rare ones that got dropped, and others that popped the crowd because they were recognizable, like Dionne Warwick’s vocals on “You’re Gonna Need Me (used on J Dilla’s “Stop”).”
One of better showcases that day came courtesy of the Bay Area’s stage, which mixed new (DaVinci, Moe Green) and established talent (Exile, Mistah F.A.B.). Exile is well-known for his production work, but made sure to display his fancy handiwork on the MPC with remixes of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” and some original tracks.
Mistah F.A.B. has no problems adjusting his content to fit the non-mainstream audience. He used Reflection Eternal’s “The Blast” and Soul of Mischief’s “’93 Til Infinity” to break the ice and to show off his talent as a freestyler. There was no semblance of Hyphy, just straight spitting that even those unfamiliar with his work could rock with.
Of course with a festival this size, making sure everyone got their proper shine was a persistent issue. Because some of the stages were outside, a city ordinance was in place to make sure the music wrapped before midnight. This placed those artists on a strict timetable regarding their sets. If you were late or about to run over, your mic was promptly cut off. Homeboy Sandman had one such problem and had to sprint through his songs. Luckily, he was around the whole three days and got to make it up on another stage.
The last day was loaded with workshops, panels and additional stages from 2Dopeboyz, Okay Player and AllHipHop.com. Between the latter three, fans were treated to sets from Reks (w/ Statik Selektah), Torae, Tanya Morgan and J-Live. Unfortunately, these stages were outside, and AllHipHop.com’s last performers, Kidz in the Hall & Killer Mike, became pressed for time and had to cuts their sets to just 2-3 songs to make the city’s noise curfew.
Inside the Masquerade, there were no such problems. In one room, you could hear Emilio Rojas or the Artifacts spitting. In another you could sit and get a tutorial on the new Scratch Pro software for DJs. To close out the evening, Camp Lo and Rhymefest manned the main stage. The Bronx duo satisfied their fans by performing roughly half the joints from their memorable debut Uptown Saturday Night. Rhymefest’s affable personality and freestyle skill kept the crowd engaged, and he ended the night with a passionate plea for Hip-Hop fans to add “political involvement” as another element to the culture.
For only $33, A3C gives fans an unparalleled Hip-Hop event. No review can truly do justice to a festival that carries over 200 artists, so mark your calendars for October 6-8 2011 and experience the phenomenon for yourself.
Rapper Big Pooh feat. Joe Scudda & Chaundon “Plastic Cups”
Camp Lo “Lumdi, Krystal Karrington, Park Joint”
Camp Lo “Coolie High, Rockin’ It”
Rhymefest “Brand New, Top Billin’ Freestyle”
Rhymesfest Announces Candidacy for Chicago City Council
Certain human endeavors are timeless. Music, for example, can last centuries and well beyond the original creator’s intentions. The late J Dilla’s stature has gone exponentially since his untimely passing in 2006. Every year, there’s more and more music fans being exposed, and consequently inspired by Dilla’s life work.
The latest is the talented trumpet player Farnell “Bleek” Newton. A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Portland State University, Newton uses his gift in the genres of Hip-Hop, latin, jazz and R&B music.
This beautiful trumpet rendition of the classic ”Fall In Love” was inspired when Newton heard Flying Lotus’ rendition.
“I fell in love with this song about five years ago when I heard Slum Village Fantastic [Vol. 2],” he explained. “I found out about FLying Lotus from a friend of mines, Byron the Aquarius, who was working with Flying Lotus. So when I heard his version of ‘Fall in Love’ I really wanted to put a solo trumpet ala Miles Davis on it! J Dilla will forever hold a special place in my heart for his arranging and creation of music like the jazz greats Duke Ellington, Miles and Coltrane! I hope that you enjoy!”
Enjoy is understatement. In fact, I zoned out and was left wanting more. For more information on Newton’s music, check out the links below.
Ice Cube Brings Officially Welcomes His Sons to the Game
The Don Mega is keeping it in the family. With all eyes on him via his upcoming I Am the West album, Cube is letting some of that light shine on his two sons, OMG and Doughboy. Cube enlists Bangladesh for the beat, and neither offspring embarrasses himself on the mic. But of course, Cube still had the best verse.
I Am the West drops on September 28. Check out those suits they’re rocking (it ain’t like you can miss them).
On the Come Up: Open
Atlanta is one of the most diverse cities for Hip-Hop on the planet. Whether its mainstream, underground or soul, the city offers something for your musical taste. A benefit of being a writer is sometimes you don’t have to search for the music, it’ll find you.
The latest new emcee I got put up on is Open, who’s going at independent via Stay Tuned Entertainment. Check out these this anti-materialism track ”Take It Off.” Future star or future bust? You decide. If you’re feeling Open, hit him at his contact info after the drop.
Tanya Morgan’s Von Pea will be releasing his own solo set on October 12, entitled Von Pea’s Gotta Have It. This track features Buckwild protegé Brizzio on the beat, and guest spots from fellow Lessondary members Che Grand and Elucid.
It’s a solid track that Pea lucked out on. Originally, Brizzio had made the beat for Che Grand. But due to Pea’s pending release date, Grand was gracious enough to step aside.
