A different Music Industry

The Mixtape industry is a different music industry within itself. The fact that the artist are producing music that is not really socially acceptabele but is still widely distributed makes this true.Rapper Run of Run DMC says that mixtapes been around since rap came about."The tapes of these guys' live performances sold like [regular] albums are selling now. If you think about it, Flash and them been platinum. Cold Crush Brothers would have had platinum records and they would have them on their wall right now, but back in the day there was no rap records." When rap did hit the scene in the 80's, mixtapes were called "party tapes" because people wanted copies of a DJ's live performance at a club to take home with them. Although the music industry has evolved heavily, mixtapes are still produced because artist find it hard to land a deal and become excepted by mainstream America. However, even DJ clue admits that distributing mixtapes are illegal,(mtv.com)buti guess that's just like downloading music for free on the internet...Who cares!! we love music and mixtapes or illegal distribution and downloading will not stop.

Rated R

I finally got a chance to see Rhianna's Russian Roulette video. It's weird and beautiful at the same time. I love how she just continues to blossom after her "embarassing" altercation with her ex boyfriend Chris Brown. Although his career is on thin ice, Rhinanna stands on solid ground. Well I guess anybody standing behind Jay Z & Kanye on the other side would be. I also like her collaboration with rapper Young Jeezy "I'm So Hard". It appears on her new album & yes it is Hard!!

Solely Mine

For all inspiring music artis i suggest you literally get a copy of Jay-z 's BluePrint. He has developed a design that will bulid up on high. He has stepped out with a sigh of relief as he recieved the right of passage to independance. (gigwyse.com) Excluding his self from the restraints and demands set forth by major record labels. Jay-z also recieves full profit on his work. He has launched a major record label RocNation signing pop artist Kanye West, Rhianna and Neyo. With such freedom He has been able to broden his ideas. Heading a Broadway production Fela, along with co-producers actors Will & Jada Pinkett Smith.



Other Artist have taken similar paths. Multi-platinum artist lil Wayne has recently become the CEO of his indepent record label Cash Money Records. Recently introducing his newly signed artist on various talk shows The Monique Show and BET's 106&Park.

Mixtape madness

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As mainstream artist continue to do their thing comercially, artist who find it a little more harder to gain acceptance will continue to do their thing underground. Artist such as Gucci mane, Fifty cent & Lil Wayne continue to release the music that the radio's don't play all of the time, or at least not until it starts to get lot of buzz locally. I guess that's the upside of mixtapes, it is all exclusive music that music fans cant't wait to be the first to hear. Radio stations are just playing catch up!!! well hopefully they can keep up with some of the new hits from 50 cent's Last Mix Tape!! That's right 50 just announce that this will be his last mixtape. And yes the streets will miss 50's madness because we all know that his mixtape is what made him famous. And of course it's titled "Forever King"....These rappers & their Egos!

MySpace Music

When Myspace first hit the social network scene,it was the most popular site for teenagers across the country to post pictures make profiles and friends. However, with the emergence of popular sites like Facebook and Twitter, Myspace traffic has declined rapidly. So what is keeping Myspace alive? Music of course! Today, MYspace has emerged into a leading online music community and leading independent music agency as well. MySpace Music emerged in he U.S. a year ago and plans to expand worldwide. MySpace continues to be the home for many independent artist and bands who dream of being international one day. But theres more! Last year some time 12,000 independent record labels joined forces to make one "major" label called Merlin. This label is virtually supposed to be the "fifth" major label next to Sony BMG, Universal,Warner and EMI. It represents ten percent of the global music market and has now joined forces with the MYSpace Music community. This deal will allow members within the community to purchase and stream music from artsit affiliated with Merlin. Merlin labels will be able to monetize their content through MySpace and easily track their fan engagment.(press-releases.techwhack.com)

Female Rappers Fading

while it remains a struggle for many artist to get in the spot light, Hip Hop female artists seem to be fading away. When rap first came about, it wasn't as hard for groups like Salt & Pepper, Queen Latifah and Mc Lyte, because it was so cool to see women be part of a new movement. As time went on, Hip Hop was easy to adapt to, with the individual only needing a beat, a Dj, and some attractive lyrics.

Today, competition is extremely high, rap has changed a lot. Its no longer about a funny dance or who could get a party rocking, It's who appears to be more dangerous, and immora,l with men dominating the industry. In many forms of art and business it is always harder for women to be accepted and to get the same credit as men, causing women to take drastic measures. The women who rap today & do hold some credibility are Little Kim, Remy Martin (who is currently incarcerated), Foxy Brown and a new artist who is affiliated with Lil Wayne named Nikki. These women are forced to rap about what many male artist rap about sex, drugs and violence, except they are still discriminated against significantly, and look ten times worse! Lil mama who is not associated with a "thug" style of rapping at all, still finds it hard to gain respect with many who consider her lyrics as "bubble gum" rhymes. Who knows where female artist are heading in the future. Queen Latifah says, "There are not enough female rappers out there right now," she said. "The voice of the female is not strong enough in the game at all right now. It's almost nonexistent."(cnn.com)

Crime Wave

Hip Hop is considered one of the most influential forms of music that actually inspired many styles of music including the various forms of rock & roll. Maybe that is why both genres have been rejected many times in the past, and are still subjected to much discrimination today. Explicit lyrics that portray the truth about the sex and drug world of America put these two musical forms in the same category. However, if you comapre many Rrock & Roll artist with Hip Hop artist of the past or present day, you will find that they have a lot more in common. Provocative moves, unruly behavior and sometimes the need to reinvent themselves; they start out as "bad guys", cross some boundaries to make more socially acceptabale music, then reappear more dangerous than before. Fifty Cent who is now an international star, was not always so commercial. He received recognition from "50 is the Future" his underground independent mixtape flaunting his notorious street reputation. When he was discovered by rapper Eminem, he signed a major deal and released records that we love to party to including,"In the Club" and "Candy Shop". And now the antcipated hit "Crime wave", Fifty told MTV ""I meant for it to be a little harder and what I fell in love with about hip-hop and within hip-hop," Well how much harder can it get? As the youth continue to be enfatuated with anything that is the opposite of "good" artist like Fifty will continue to prey on a negative driven society.

Independent Icon

It seems like the music industry will continue to make it hard for aspiring muisic artist to land a good deal with a major record label and actually sell records. Hip Hop artist such as Kanye West, P Diddy, Lil Wayne, Fifty and of course Jay Z, continue to dominate the Hip Hop music charts, making it almost impossible for artist coming up to shine. But it's not just diffcult for fresh rappers to get a break. Hip Hop pioneer Rakim who made his debut album in 1986, is known by many to help revolutionize the way rhymes were delivered with his unique sound. He and his partner Eric B, originated classic including "Follow the Leader", and "The 18th Letter". Moreover, their album "Paid in Full", which is also the title for a 2002 "Roc a Fella" film and soundtrack, is considered by many the greatest Hip Hop albums of all times selling multimillions. Still, years after enjoying much sucess, Rakim has to find the best route that will allow him to market himself and his music, and also be profitable.That is the independent route.

It's harder to promote yourself without the major label, but if you score a big hit, then the labels come looking for you. Rakim's view on the industry is, "It's like they're pimping us for our product. It's like a door-to-door salesman and I come up with an item for $10 and I go knock on the door and sell that item and get $10. If I step back and let somebody else sell it, why if he go to the door and my product is $10, then why do I only get $1"? For this reason, many artist branch off and do their own thing. His independent label called "Ra Records", is combined with SMC recordings, which is distributed by Fontana who is an independent subsidary of Universal records.

His up and coming album labeled "The Seventh Seal", will reveal more "conscious" lyrics. The rapper agreed that children need role models, and that entetainers should be considerate of who their audience is. He quotes, "we do play a part and there is something you can do about it. That's addressing the situation, addressing our hood, addressing our youngsters, and schooling them. A lot of times, "keep it real" is a little slogan. But, the kids look at it as if they are really keeping it real when that's not what these dudes are doing. At the end of the day, the little kids wind up busting their guns and going to jail, while the rapper's sitting in his crib watching TV on his big screen doing him. So, we're setting the wrong example because the little kids look up to us and they take it to the heart.We need to be a little bit more responsible. We can't say that we're not role models when we are making records".(rap.about.com) All this time has passed and Rakim continues to reform Hip Hop by taking a new more challenging route, and representing a new attitude that will distinguish the legend from many artist today in a positive and independent way.

Message in the Music

I grew up listening to hip hop, but while I love the culture of the music, I must say that it is played out how rappers such as Lil Wayne, Young Geezy, 50 Cent and Eminem constantly degrade women, boast on how much drugs they sold, even glorify violence and going to jail. Most Hip Hop stars have a lot in common;they beef over who has the best "swag", most money, and who deserves the utmost respect. However, they all need to find something new to talk about! That is why i'm looking forward to the hip hop album Bill Cosby is putting together. Wouldn't that be hilarious with him doing those weird impersonations on the track? However, the album will include artist such as Alicia Keys, LL Cool J and Miles Davis. He spoke on the Rap music of today on beatcrave.com,“I don’t like referring to the music as clean,” Cosby told Boombox. “What I like is what you’re not going to do. You’re not going to curse. You’re not going to put women down. You’re not going to put the glory of the gun somewhere. And you’re not going to put a whole lot of violence up front like that’s the thing that will cleanse you and make you feel better.” It is disappointing to know that people of the stature of entertainers are not considerate of the children who model them, and take for granted that they have a huge impact on the youth. Esspecially, when a lot of the things that they touch in their music is actually happening. Cosnarati: State of Emergency, will include 14 tracks that will include music that will focus on spreading positive messages. Minus the chaotic, angry, and overwhelming lyrics.

Obama Are You Listening?

I admire Lady GaGa more and more everyday. Her bold outfits and erratic behavior,
portrays a woman who is by all means self made. What really impressed me about the “lady” is her standing up and speaking out for gay rights. I have to say it must take very strong opinionated woman to do that, knowing that it can possibly have a negative effect on her heterosexual fan base. She was very bold in the way she addressed our president, screaming and demanding that he listen up!