See What Had Happened Was...

I know, I know. Where have I been? Well, I've officially made my move to the ATL, and I haven't had the time, or should I say, the motivation to blog. *blank stare* But I have been keeping busy writing for other establishments like shivemagazine.com and handsonnetwork.org. As for as this blog, I just haven't had anything "inspiring" that has happened worth blogging about...until now.

Over the past couple of months I've been learning a lot about time and patience. Time--who and what to give it to. Patience--allowing God to have His way. But more on that latter.

I've recently submitted an article, but it won't be featured in the magazine I've submitted it for. So, poot on them. It's below. It's basically summarizes where I've been mentally and spiritually for the past couple of months. Comment if you like:

God has a secret.

Yes. I know you’re like. How could the all omnipotent have a secret? Well, it’s true. What’s his secret you ask? It’s called life.

Living on my own for the past couple of months, I’ve learned that life isn’t a planned destination. We as humans cannot plan the future, because we don’t know it. It’s a secret. Of course, I’ve participated in all the necessary steps to secure that my future would be what I’ve planned it to be.

1) I made straight A’s in high school to make it into a “top-notch” school.

2) I precociously went all out to finish college in four years with a GPA over 3.5.

3) Etc.

But then reality came after that glorious and ceremonial celebration called graduation. I’M STILL NOT LIVING MY PLANNED LIFE.

You see by now, I should ‘of’ been making well over $30,000 a year doing something I love—oh! and don’t forget the benefits. But now I’m anxiously waiting on my planned future to happen. Sometimes I wonder will it ever happen. Will I ever find the woman of my dreams? Will I ever be able to purchase that brand of clothing called Gucci just because I can, even though I don’t like it? Will I ever be able to live the life of a 50 cent music video with a Kelly Rowland-esque woman as my wife? Will I ever? So, I turn to the Almighty for answers to my questions. And he tells me, “It’s a secret!” What?! It’s a secret!

So, I squander in life looking for a sign or something to learn my future. But as time has passed, I’ve learned that those signs never really give me the answer that I’m looking for. They never really reveal “the secret.” I’ve read numerous articles and “how to” books. I’ve asked peers and mentors for advice. Others have sought psychics, prophets, and witches. Some have even read the The Secret by Rhonda Byrne thoroughly over and over again to find out what “the secret” is. But what we haven’t learned is that life’s a secret…and probably for a good reason. Imagine a world where everyone lived according to how their life would be in the future trying to prevent or make certain things come to pass. Life would be crazy (as I’ve seen on ABC’s Flash Forward)! Some of us would kill ourselves, literally.

So after squandering and searching for the secret, I turned to God, and asked him a question: “Well…how will I know rather or not I’ll be a success?” He then turns to me and says, “Faith.”

FREE = RELATIONSHIP?!

Recently, I've ran into artists and business people that disdain the notion of "free." Normally when I present this idea of "free", I get a barrage of questions such as the following:

• How am I suppose to make money?
• I don't want people stealing my stuff. How do I stop that?
• FREE?! What's that?

The notion of "free" isn't a total lost for the artist (which explains the quotations I put around the word "free"). Remember when your mother told you nothing is actually free? Well, she was right. Nothings ever totally free. The word "free" is just used as a marketing tool.

For example, the mixtape has become the prominent medium for free. Artists like Drake and Lil Wayne have achieved major success by releasing their material free through the mixtape format. I've often wondered how did they achieve major success off of giving away free products. Relationship. Free = Relationship.

Ever purchased a product with a free sample of a new product? The mixtape is built around this marketing strategy. The majority of people are not "risk takers" when it comes to music or any other product. So, giving away your product for free is the most logical step in building a relationship that can lead to monetary returns. You must build a relationship with your audience before you expect them to pay for anything. They need to know that the product they're purchasing is quality based on your past releases. Don't expect a potential fan to buy a product they never heard. Again, look at Lil Wayne and Drake as case studies. Now, "FREE" isn't so bad after all.

Michael Jackson: The Stranger In Moscow

How does it feel/When you're alone/and you're cold inside/Like a stranger in Moscow/Lord have mercy/Like a stranger in Moscow/We're talking danger, baby.

The lyrics to Michael Joseph Jackson's "Stranger in Moscow." There is no better song that captures the feelings and depth that Michael Jackson, The King of Pop, felt for most of his life. Our greatest entertainer of all time, was probably the most tortured. But through it all, Michael Jackson still gave us memories and excitement with little to no form of selfish reason.

Since an early age, Michael possessed a relentless since of self and emotion. As he breathed life into the lyrics to classics like "Got To Be There" and "Ben," there was always this raw talent to connect to his inner most soul and inflect a since of loneliness that would make the tough and stern cry. Where did this talent come from? Who taught him how to do such? I really don't know. But I do know his talent was sent from heaven. The most astonishing thing about Michael Jackson wasn't his eccentricities. But it was his ability to unselfishly give us music despite being attacked by the masses.

The whole world is mourning the death of Michael. He represents the end of an era. An era where music was a platform for super stardom. Your looks couldn't do it. Your personality couldn't do it. It took passion, great music, and the ability to perform and capture mass attention for more than 3 minutes and 30 seconds. It took raw talent. And most of all integrity.

Michael Jackson stood for something. He believed in the healing power of love ("We Are The World," "Cry," "Man In The Mirror,"). And that music was the platform to share that power. And that dancing was the formula for love. This is why I have a particular love for the albums Off The Wall, Triumph (The Jackson's), and Thriller. This was the era in which Michael turned his troubles into a 1-2 dance step. He was young and fresh. Cool and debonair. There were no musical constraints. He explored and defined the sound that is now known as "pop." Its not that I don't love his later works. There were some awesome pieces, "Remember The Time" and "Break of Dawn." But there was some since of tarnish. He was either trying to prove a point or trying to out do himself, which resulted in grunts and groans that were indecipherable ("Scream"). Those were great pieces of art, but it's a shame the price he had to pay to write such gems. Gone were the days of his lite, alluring vocals and lyrics like on "Don't Stop 'Till You Get Enough," "Lovely One," and "PYT." Yes, Michael Jackson was our biggest star, but at a huge cost.

As I sit back and think about the musical life of Michael, I don't mourn for him so much because I know he's in a much better place. To be honest I'm more sorry to see him go the way he did. Yet, in the back of my mind I thought it was better for him to retire. But I still mourn for all the children and the future generations that will never get a chance to experience The King of Pop. However, there's still hope. Just recently, my 7 year-old cousin proclaimed that Chris Brown stole his moves from "Mickey Jackson," and my 3 year-old cousin thought she saw "Michael Jasmine" on TV when The Temptations was on VH1. I know it would be an extreme rarity, and I know there will never be another. I just hope there's another entertainer that will capture our attention as much as Michael Jackson has, but next time we will appreciate him or her while they're still on earth. The angel, Michael Joseph Jackson, was truly a stranger on earth. Now, he's where he belong--in heaven. All hail the King of Pop!

Brandy & Ne-Yo Cheating On Each Other On 'Decisions'

Ok. I must first start this blog by stating that I'm not a big fan of Ne-Yo, but I am a fan of his writing. His material falls flat when he performs it. (Maybe, I should do another blog post similar to this one about good writers/bad singers). But this duet with Brandy is real and authentic.

Brandy and Ne-Yo take on a practical turn about cheating. Many times we hear the after affects of cheating, which normally leads to busting somebody's window or a cat fight. But "Decisions" takes on a clever spin on cheating (the psychological aspect of deciding whether or not to cheat). My decision--this jam is HOT! Listen to the track above.

Ryan Leslie Puts His Fans 2 Work

Ok. I must admit I was suspicious of Twitter at first. But just like any other social networking site (MySpace & Facebook), I've become addicted to twittering. In fact, I think it's now my favorite pastime.

Anywho, let's get back on the subject. I follow Ryan Leslie on Twitter. Who knew this could turn into a job? Ryan was willing to give one of his followers $100 for increasing his followers. Whoever recommended him to their friends and increased his followers by 25 first, would receive $100. I missed out on this opportunity, but this is a smart way to get your fans to work for you for little or for nothing. So, the best advice I can give to any artist is to put your fans to work. If you have 4 or 100,000 fans, it doesn't matter. Your fans are your hardest workers, and with a little incentive they'll work their butts off. So use them. It's okay. They want to be used. [Click here for more details.]

Vitamin Water & MySpace Music Sync Up

Vitamin Water and MySpace are teaming up to give us free music. Yeah! They're starting an ad campaign for the launch of their latest bottled drink Sync with the help of 50 Cent, Alicia Keys, and Carrie Underwood. Vitamin Water will pay for the free MP3 downloads available on MySpace through Amazon. This is a good look for MySpace and Amazon, especially in a market were free is better than paying. I think it will further allure costumers into the idea of paying for things off a service that was commonly used for free "promotion." However, I don't believe it will create a surge in sales. It will most likely create awareness among those dedicated consumers who visit their favorite artists' MySpace everyday. But MySpace still needs to come up with a differential strategy to separate itself from other purchasing outlets. [AA]

Can 'The Man' Stop Piracy?

Can "The Man" stop piracy? No. Piracy is like shoplifting. You know that it will always be around. You just try to minimize it as much as possible. But how?

The UK creative industries seem to think they can eliminate piracy by joining forces and lobbing the government. Will this work? I doubt it. It will result in the same results. They will file a class action lawsuit against a 20-something college student resulting in bad press for the industry.

I'm sorry but the industry needs to accept that they lost. Haven't they learned their lesson with Napster. They missed out on a huge opportunity (to Apple--iTunes). So, what now? What can be done now? The industry can learn from their mistakes and recognize the opportunities that are ahead. There has been some steps in the right direction--imeem, Spotify, etc. But its not enough to stop piracy. In fact, nothing will ever stop the "free mindset." But it can be minimized with more legal options for consumers, within the concept of being "free." [F]

Tracks of the Moment: Busta Rhymes, TI, Mary J., & Hollyweerd

Ok here is a post I will try to keep up every week. I need to discipline myself. But I'm not going to make vague promises, hence the name "Tracks of the Moment" instead of "Tracks of the Week" or "...Day."

"Decision"

Busta Rhymes ft. Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, John Legend, & Common

First up is Busta Busta. He teams up with Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, John Legend, and Common on "Decision." I know. It sounds like he couldn't "decide" on who to sing the hook, but the appeal of the track transcends any chance of the track being over-done. It's a beautiful track that is timely and soothing. I don't smoke, but it's one of those songs that you just sit back and light up a blunt to relax after a stressful day at work. Hmmm!

TI ft. Mary J. Blige--"Don't Forget"

TI follows suit with another duet with Mary J. on "Don't Forget." And the hook is definately "unforgettable." I love it. Its another track thats reflective in nature, and of course The Queen brings the song to new heights. I definately won't forget.

Hollyweerd--"Automatic Classic"

Last but not least is the future of hip hop, Hollyweerd's "Automatic Classic." And that's what it is. I'll file this one under "riding music." It's one of those jams that you bump loudly for the whole neighborhood to hear on a hot summer day. And I can't stop singing the hook: This right here is an automatic classic.... I'll be checking for their new mixtape Candy for Kleptos.

Where R The Entrepreneurs?

Seriously. This is a perfect time to be an entrepreneur. The economy is in a recession. The music business is in a transforming stage (if not dead already). Yet, there is still room for innovation. Believe me when I say, "This is the best time to enter the 'bizness.'" Turning a threat into an opportunity is clearly a way to prove your tenacity and shrewdness within the music business.

The Internet is seriously leveling the playing feild for independent success. You can just look at the "Internet rapper" phenomenon. There's a plethora of free music out there in the form of mixtapes, and some of them are better than full-length albums. This is the "threat." How do we turn this into an opportunty--how do we monetize? I can't pretend I know how to do this. But please believe I'm trying to figure it out. It may not be in the form of a traditional record label, but there is a business model waiting to be formulated that will benefit both the artist and the "bizness."

Maxwell Finally Gives Us 'Pretty Wings'

Yes! It's been almost two years since Maxwell posted a snippet of "Pretty Wings." From teasing us with vague blog posts to a national tour, Maxwell has been tickling our ears with broken promises for a long time. But now Maxwell has finally given us the video for his latest single "Pretty Wings." In the video, Maxwell brings class back into the R&B game. The video supports Maxwell's lyrical prowess, which is a far cry from "doing a little sumthin sumthin." And I dont' know about you, but I'm in high anticipation for his trilogy Black, Summer's and Night. Thank you Maxwell for bringing chivalry back into the game.

R&B Dudes Need To Get It Together

Talent is hard to find within the R&B game right now--especially from male R&B singers. But every now and then there is an R&B male singer who has the chops to be associated with the best. However, their talent is drowned out by wack music. They have the vocal talent, but the material they sing is completely booorrring.

My first subject is Brian Andrews of Day26. Really, Brian is the vocal glue that holds Day26 together. Listen to their latest single, "Put It On Her." Brian takes that song to another level. However, most of the production on their latest release don't fully demonstrate Brian as a vocalist, which is a sad mistake for Day26. Brian can very well shape a more profound musical identity for the group. I don't even think Brian knows his talent.

Day 26 Feat Yung Joc & Diddy - Imma Put It On Her / NEW
by PeteRock

Trey Songz is another phenomenal singer. In fact, Ms. Aretha Franklin, herself, deemed Songz as a vocal force to be reckoned with. However, Songz has reduced himself to mostly a "sing-songy" rapper. It's never cool for an R&B singer to sing over a hard hip hop track as though he is a rapper. Leave that up to Lil Weezy and Kanye. Songz should stick with the smoove R&B similar to his Grammy-nominated "Can't Help But Wait." If he doesn't, he'll stay a mediocore artist.

Trey Songz - Can't Help But Wait
by foxysoul

Last but not least is Mario. Mario has to be the best R&B vocalist out now, hands down. He's also the closest to maintaining a certain level of musical integrity. He has a vocal range out of this world, which is hard to find these days. But the material he sings is bordeline corny. If he can drain all that mushy sap out the songs he sing, Mario can monopolize the R&B game. Just listen to Mario reach heavenly soprano hights on "Promise Land."



Now that I've pin-pointed the faults in contemporary R&B male vocalists, let me introduce you to an R&B artist who is on top of his game. Miguel. He is the most well-rounded R&B artists I've seen in a while. He can dance. He has stage presence. He can write. And most of all, he understands what versitilaty means. Visit his myspace page, download his mixtape The Mischeif, and watch him perform below.

Day26: A Microwave Success?

Don't pretend like you don't watch Making The Band. As Dave Chappelle once noted, "OOOHHH, IT'S A BEAST!" And this season has been the most drama-filled season since Diddy first tried his luck at making Da Band. Come on, Diddy gave us classic episodes like when he made the cast of season 2 fetch him some cheesecake. There were some characters on that show, which made it easier to watch rather than purchasing their music. And if you haven't noticed, the only band that's left off this series is Day26. Why? The main reason is the lack of artist development, which makes them a mirowave success. Yes, they're hot for minute. But after their minute and 30 seconds are up, they're still not better than a stove-cooked meal. Let's be honest. Danity Kane's musical chemistry as a group didn't fully develop as a group until their second album, and Day26 still performs like they just met. There's no doubt that some of these groups have talent (I see you D. Woods), but is Diddy taking his time to get to know them as artists? No. Initially, he probably just saw how personaility clashes make great TV.

Funkmaster Flex Don't Understand 'Internet Rappers'

This has to be the most "interesting" and bizarre interview I've ever seen. Kid Cudi was interviewed by veteran DJ, Funkmaster Flex recently. In the clip below, Flex questions Cudi on what he calls "internet rappers." Watching the clip is like watching a kid explain the computer to his disgruntled grandfather, who dreams about the golden days when the computer was just a hand-held calculator. But the most hilarious part was when Cudi explained how he used MySpace to decided his next single. Flex looked at him like he never heard of such a thing occurring in history. This clip proves how salty aging-hip hop DJs are towards the game changing. Here's some advice Flex. CATCH UP! If you're a DJ and you're no longer giving up-and-coming artists a chance, then those same artists will create their own buzz through the Internet. But at least Flex's "learning to embrace the movement."

Teedra Moses Is 'LIONHEARTED'

Teedra Moses is the truth. Her is music is the truth. And her personality is the truth. Unfortunately, not many know this.

I've been bumping her latest mixtape, Young Hustla Vol. III: Lionhearted, to the fullest. To be honest, her mixtapes are better than 95% of R&B albums currently released. I truly believe she has what it takes to bring R&B to the next level. Want proof? Check out her song "Love Devine" produced by 9th Wonder. NSFW.

Teedra Moses - "Love Devine"

Learning Obama

The music industry can learn a lot from President Barack Obama's candidacy. Besides the notion of change, the ultimate lesson to be learned should be titled "How to Reach the People." President Obama's platform basically reiterates and reestablishes the Gettysburg Address: "...by the people, for the people...." This same concept can be and should be applied to the music industry.

Recently, President Obama introduced a new feature on WHITEHOUSE.GOV, which gives the public the opportunity to submit questions and vote on questions to be answered during an online town hall. This new effort by the White House to give the government back to the people is something the music industry has been struggling with for the past 10 years. Instead, the people are taking the music industry back by force. Maybe, these big record companies should give the industry back to the people simply by making their artists more reachable similar to the way President Obama is doing in his presidential office. This would be a great marketing angle. [CL]

My Favorite Quote

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE, GROWTH IS OPTIONAL.

Twittering Music

Remember that post I did on Twitter. Well, I've found more sites to help explain Twitter's potential in helping market music to the masses. Check them out:

techcrunch.com

bob-baker.com

Is This The New Napster?

CNN recently wrote an article about a teenager creating a free music service. Sounds familiar. Muziic is a new interface that allows you to play YouTube clips as high quality MP3 files. Yes, you can play those rare performances from artists like Chaka Khan or those unreleased songs from artists like Brandy. This idea seems so simple and pragamatic that it makes me ponder this question: "Why didn't YouTube think of this already?" Obviously, Muziic doesn't equal Napster or Limewire in popularity, but I'm sure the record labels are already preparing for legal action. Or maybe the labels have learned their lesson--to turn every threat into an opportunity.

If I Want It, I'll Pay For It?

Don't you just love the Internet? Especially, its excessive capabilities. I can watch any TV show I've missed during the week on it, which beats Tivo any day. But what's more interesting is the ability to utilize the Internet as a launching pad for new products, particularly as of lately, the marketing of products with webisodes. The first effort for launching a product I've noticed is from the Chevrolet Traverse with 2 -minute webisodes of My Manny (which has the potential of becoming one of my favorite TV shows). But what's really caught my attention is the partnership between Honda and Mickey Factz. The website is centered around a show named Rhymes & Reasons which spoofs the late night show genre. I know many of you are like, "Hip Hop and a Honda Accord?" But the concept is very clever and probably more lucrative for the up-and-coming rapper Mickey Factz. The best thing about the website though is the FREE MUSIC. But will I buy either of these vehicles? Probably not. But it'll spark interest in those in search of a new vehicle. Just ask my mother. She just purchased a Traverse.

Miracle At St. Anna--Another Classic Spike Lee Joint

Spike Lee is an artistic visionary more so than he's a cleverly opinionated rebel. So, any of his theatrical adventures are worth watching, and his latest, Miracle At St. Anna, is no exception. Based on the book written by James McBride, the movie maintains the integrity of a great book that keeps your attention from beginning till end. It might take you a while to understand the full concept, but once you've watched it in its entirety, you'll fully understand Spike's vision. It's on DVD now.

Some Maury Povich Shhh!

Want to know the definition of "ghetto fabulous?" Syleena Johnson. On Chapter 4: Labor Pains, Syleena takes her presumptive baby daddy to the Maury show for a DNA test. No. It's not what you're thinking. She actually performs her song "Maury Povich" with Cold Hard of Crucial Conflict, which results in some hilarious entertainment...at least to me. Matter of fact, I'm going to start a petition right now to make this the theme song for the show. It would be so funny to hear that song being played right after Maury's signature proclamation: "YOU ARE NOT THE FATHER!"

Cool Video: Only U

Here's a cool video from an artist in New Orleans. His name is Elliot Luv. The video explains the feelings a man goes through when facing the challenges of falling in love. Check out his MySpace for more info.

Elliot Luv -Elliot Luv Blaque - Only You

I Love Soul Music

There is a great amount of soul missing in today's music. The type of music that makes you want to cry, scream, and fall in love. Yes, there has been a resurgence in retro-soul from across the Atlantic (Amy Winehouse, Adele, etc.). But I'm not talking about that genre of soul. I'm talking about the type of soul music that speaks to and for this generation. We're in an economic crisis. There are wars and rumors of wars. And there seems to be a cultural disconnect between man and woman. But there is very little soul helping us explain the hard times. Marvin Gaye's What's Going On and Stevie Wonder's Innervisions are classics that gave sentimental hope to thoses looking for a better future. Now, everything is sexualized and glamorized (e.g. "Bust It Baby"). The same can be said about hip hop. Where are the Public Enemy's, NWA's, and LL Cool J's? Where is the innovation that made Mary J. Blige's My Life? (Diddy?) I really miss soul music. Don't get me wrong. There still are artists keeping soul music alive: Erykah Badu, D'Angelo, Alicia Keys. But that's not enough. Hip Hop Soul needs to be resuscitated back into life.

Twitter: A New Marketing Tool?

Twittering. Heard of it? No it's not the sound a bird makes. It's another social networking site. I know. You're probably thinking, "Another 'social networking' site to expose myself on!" But can Twitter become a new marketing tool for music? Possibly.

Since the birth of MySpace, the landscape of music marketing has totally changed. Once thought of has one huge montain, the landscape has morphed into a plain full of hills and valleys. The real question is, "How can I efficiently market my product?" If you can't market your product efficiently, it'll just become another pesky flier that ends up in the nearest garbage can.

The first step is to figure out your target market. What networking sites do your target market use? How often do they use them? For me, twittering is "brand new" and a little trivial. So, it is of little use for me.

For Twitter (or any other social networking site) to work it has to have the following:

1. a descent amount of known friends to "network" with
2. contstant updates from those friends
3. and an innovative method for meeting new friends

Since Twitter doesn't meet all of these requirements for me, I'm basically talking to myself even with celebrity friends. (The chance of them replying is slim to none.) So for Twitter to work as a marketing tool, there must be a significant amount of innovators and "influencers" attracting the majority of their friends, and it's obvious I don't have enough influence to attract anyone. But overtime, that will change.

2009 HERE I COME!

WHAT IT DO! I guess a more fitting question would be, "What do I do?" Well, I am currently a former student suffering withdrawal systems from the secure life of college. Yes, I was one of those students who graduated in four years expecting to find that "good a$$ job" after graduation. However, I've been in search of that "good a$$ job" since May 10, 2008. Now, I'm finally learning that things don't always go according to plans. I've must of been delirious at the time. No major experience. In a falling economy. On top of that, the diminishing recording industry. It seems that finding that "good a$$ job" is like finding a million bucks in the toilet after...um, releasing some tension. This is where I've learned I have to make my own "good ass job." The problem is I DON'T KNOW HOW. This is where blogging will come in handy...hopefully.

I've also learned that I have to make myself more marketable within this job market. I have to make employers and business associates want to network with me, and blogging is one of the first steps in doing so. Yeah, I've tried it before: solowe.wordpress.com. But the best thing is I can always change.

Change. Yes, we've heard that word so much over the past year or so that it's become cliche to use. But it's the truth. If you want different results, you have to change. This is what I'm trying to do, change my way of thinking and expand my talents. So, don't be surprised when you see me do things out of my "ordinary." America has her first black president! And even though others don't recognize the change that's occurring (I was also a victim of racial profiling last year. Patting me down, asking me if I have a job, and having a dog sniff my car all for not signaling when getting in the passing lane was not necessary.), I've decided in my heart not to let others deter me from my progress. Yes I can! Capeesh?