After watching hip-hop documentaries, seeing new music videos of major artists, going to hip-hop shows of local artists and hearing the mixtapes and LPs of my friends who have been tackling every aspect of the rap game for years..... I began to wonder what makes a real MC.
And if new rappers are popping up everyday with overly simplistic lyrics and hit songs. What are they called?
NOT HIP-HOP
Rather ignorance put into rhymes or bad pop music. Unlike other styles of music, you can't have a good hip-hop song by simply having a good beat and catchy lyrics, because the verses of hip-hop songs show the lyrical talent of the artist and untalented rappers will quickly manifest themselves . i.e. Soulja Boy, Flo Rida, Gucci Man ect.
After learning about a battle between acclaimed rapper Kool Moe Dee and Busy Bee at Harlem World in 1982, it occurred to me that there is two types of MCs. In this historic rap battle, Kool Moe Dee killed Busy Bee with his lyricism even though Busy Bee had an immense talent at hyping crowds. I learned that each understands the importance of hip-hop, but in different ways.
One type of MC embraces the poetic value of hip-hop and the other encompasses the form of hip-hop that focuses on live interaction. When we look at many musicians that embody true hip-hop it is clear what category they fit in. Artists like Common, Mos Def, Blu, KRS-One, Jay Electronica, Saul Williams, and Nas clear fit into the 'lyrical and poetic MCs'. I once heard that Nas is an amazing rapper, but he is incapable of making a club hit. The other group of MCs are the party rock/club types like Afrika Bambaataa, Rye Rye, The Cool Kids, Black Eyed Peas, Rob Base, Kid Sister and Theophilus London. Recently these types of musicians have been typecasted as 'hipster-hop' because they try to embody golden era hip-hop and incorporate electro and house music to their sound, which garnered them fans who typically listen to only electro and indie music i.e. hipsters.
Then there are artists who do a little bit of both, like N.E.R.D, Kanye West, Souls of Mischief, Lupe Fiasco, Wale, and A Tribe Called Quest. Just because an artist is known for rapping lyrics that can be easily turned into spoken word, it doesn't mean they can't turn out a dance hit easily. Artists like Common showed it can be done. The party MC also ca show that they are capable of making fun and lighthearted songs that make people want to dance, while still having witty lyrics that incorporate wordplay and an understanding of hip-hop culture.
In the last five years I feel like hip-hop has changed. I am not speaking solely about the sound of hip-hop, but about the way it is distributed. Due to filesharing and the ubiquity of mixtapes, it has made it easily to produce, disseminate and promote hip-hop music. In the hip-hop industry, the internet is used to gain fans from mixtapes downloads on datpiff or plays on myspace. However, the dominate forms of communication still lies within the radio and television industry. True success seems to be reached only when your songs is played nationwide on the radio and your video is on MTV and BET. For example Drake unquestionably became famous in 2009, and not 2008 or 2007. Even though he has released four mixtapes, his most popular songs are the ones that are played on the radio and the majority of his fans don't know the songs on his most recent mixtape, let alone all four mixtapes in his discography. This creates tons of artists who are considered famous in the world of "underground" hip-hop, but seem to be completely unnoticed by radio and left to be played in snippets during commercial breaks of TV shows. However, some progress has been made because many of these artists are actually acknowledged by the websites of music networks years before they play their music.
Like many things in life, it takes time to achieve success. We can only hope that our favorite underground MCs don't change their "sound", "direction", or "image" in the realm between mixtape popularity that the time they finally bubble up the surface of mainstreamdom. I personally believe artists like Drake has changed a lot from his first mixtape and video to his most recent work. Many fans also hope that most people won't limit an artist's potential to their first single. For example many people have not been able to get a good impression of the total package of Kid Cudi, because the Crookers remix of Day n Nite has been the only song played on the radio for all of this past winter, spring and most of this summer. His ability as a true hip-hop artist is best shown through his mixtapes and radio freestyles, because it shows that he tackles a range of subjects about individuality and emotion.
When it comes to progress, it goes from the internet to television to radio. Blogs and social networking sites and music blog aggregator site has allowed people to access music as soon as it is released to the masses. Everything is realtime and it allows for more communication and opinions than radio and television. However, even though radio has more live programming, television uses the internet to get an understanding of the best new artists coming up. Even before they have new music videos available to broadcast, television conducts interviews and live performances. Lastly radio comes into the picture. Usually when a songs are announced on the radio nationally, it has been know by internet fans for weeks to sometimes over a year in advance. People are not worried about pirating, because the song hasn't even been released as a single on itunes yet. Just like it is a known fact that radio still takes part in Pay To Play methods (PAYOLA), whether it includes middlemen known as promoters or not, record companies are also responsible for exposing to new music via the internet when they leak entire albums, future singles, or demos. This process produces buzz and it doesn't hinder a lot of sells, because despite popular belief, many people still purchase cds physically, through music purchasing sites or at least download it illegally after it has been officially released and has gained exposure from the radio and television.
Luckily despite all of this controversy, many fellow musicians know of these underground musicians before they get big. It is likely you will see up-and-coming musicians featured on the mixtapes of big stars. Also it is common to see cameos of them in music videos or simply seen together in party pics.
So what is my advice as someone who is not an expert, but an advent follower of the underground music scene of various genres of music.
1. Be yourself Luckily we live in a generation where people appreciate individuality. So much so that people are mindlessly following individualistic trends that don't represent their self at all. It is becoming more and more apparent when a person is being their self or copying a trend. Based on the different cultures that exist in different regions of America and the musical influences people have, being yourself is simply making music you like about your life experiences. Also the sound of music changes every year, but it is important to stay with the times while not loosing what made you a unique and interesting artist. 2. Record music Make mixtapes, EPs, LPs, or simply get featured on other people's songs. Do whatever it takes to get your name out there. If you are truly talented you will be getting thousands of plays on myspace, reverbnation, imeem or whatever site you prefer to use. This will lead to other people to promote your music and send links to download your music on blogs. Once you have enough songs, make mixtapes and distribute them for free and sell cds once you have a market that will feed into that concept. In addition, being featured on another artist's successful song is just as good as having your own successful song. Your first objective is to get your name out there. Also try to get your music on COLLEGE radio. Unlike normal radio, college radio stations arent concerned about having artists pay to play their songs. The idea of building a local scene and supporting local artists is in the framework of college radio. 3. Online promotion All major blogs that post mp3s are listed on websites called music blog aggregator sites. These sites are like search engines for all the songs posted on blogs on the internet. Most blog posted songs come with some background of the artist or at least a link to their myspace page. Blogs also include interviews with artists, it is important to never refuse an interview, because people will appreciate your music more if they know your mission and your history. Also have a well designed website that has your pictures, songs, mixtapes, videos so fans can get a feel of you as an artist and encourages them to buy your music and go to your shows. 4. Shows/Tour It's great to e known your talents among your friends, but word of moth and a myspace page can take you only so far. Shows at local venues is essential for people to hear your music, even if you have cds distributed, there is nothing hearing music live. Also there is no need to be too arrogant that you will not perform at open mics, talent shows, loft/house parties, and events at high schools or colleges. If you can build a community of peers that support your music you will have devout fan that will stay with you throughout your career. They form PR teams by word of mouth and have the opportunity to hit untapped fans across the country. Also ake sure you get their emails so you can continue to contact them.
5. Magazine promotion Just like the cover of Rolling Stone magazine had signified superstardom in the past, gaining the cover or even a mention in certain magazines has a great relationship to future success. It seems like every single hip-hop artist (and artists of other genres) have be listed in either URB Magazine or XXL when they were considered obscure, but by the next year they we're getting radio play or at least somewhat know. For the last few years XXL magazine has created a yearly list of The Leaders of the New School. It is a list of new hip-hop artists who are destined to make a great impact on the industry the following year. URB Magazine.has a list called the Next 1000 which is compiled by artists who submit their demo, then URB Magazine editors select 10-20 artists each week to be featured on the site. Then people vote on the artist and every few months the NEXT 1000 is published in the magazine with the artists who have the most votes. The last day for July-September 2009 submissions is September 18th 2009.
XXL's Leaders of the New School (Nov '07) Lupe Fiasco Plies Rich Boy Lil' Boosie Gorilla Zoe Papoose Young Dro Saigon Crooked I Joell Ortiz
XXL's Leaders of the New School (Dec '08) Kid Cudi Asher Roth Curren$y Wale Mickey Factz Charles Hamilton Blu B.o.B. Cory Gunz Ace Hood
URB's Top 100 (mar/apr '08)
kid cudi mickey factz teyana taylor 88 keys holy ghost! wiz khalifa rye rye dj klever jackie chain treasure fingers ocelot south rakkas crew ghostland observatory totally michael willy joy chip tha ripper really doe dj zebo million $ mano mic terror peachcake heartsrevolution pacific division flying lotus glass candy mixhell does it offend you, yeah? late of the pier no kids the teenagers sinden enter shikari jay electronica
N.A.S.A. sounds like: Well produced Grammy peformance, which means all of your new favorite performing together from Santigold to Lykke Li to Spank Rock to The Cool Kids.
Drake sounds like: The opposite of what a rapper backed by Disney would look like, but has the attractive clean cut look that makes girls pine and guys jealous.
Asher Roth sounds like: this generation's version of the Beastie Boys. Not because of his lack of melinin, but because he has lyrical skills but stays true to himself which means diverging for current hip-hop trends.
Prodigy Asher Roth Skyzoo, Acid Girls, Cory Nitta, The Whip, Wavves, Colin Monroe, Claire Hux, Theophilus London, Bird Peterson, Buraka Sistema, Felix Cartal, Mapei, Brokencyde, U-N-I, Passion Pit, AC Slater, Old Money, PJDP, Dances With White Girls, Thieves Like Us, Ninjasonik, Keys N Krates, Miike Snow
artists who are no so well known from May '09 URB 100
Makers of Sense, Lauren Flax, Diz Gibran, Alex B, Tim Exile, Truckasauras, Loose Shus, House of House, Miami Horror, Ultrnx, Keelay and Zaire, U-Tern, Mibiase, Temper Trap, Autodrone, Derek Plaslaiko, The Golden Filter, Don Rimini, Mexicans With Guns, Muja Messiah, lackfinger, The Japanese Popstars, Eli Escobar, Spree Wilson, J-Philip, The Qemist, Warpaint, Simcity, Mux Mool, Mungolian Jet Set, Micah James, New Look, Xrabit and DMG, Boss in Drama, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Hired Gun, Blonde Acid Cult, VV Brown, Sleepy Eyes of Death, John Roberts, Mayer Hawthorne, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour, Kuroma, Young Lords, The Morning After Girls, Cazals, ApSci, Pezzner, suckers, King Roc, Amazing Baby, Memory Cassette, shur-i-kan, Rainbow, Arabia, Jobber, Sweat Shop Union, Tiago la, The Praire Cartel, Breakbot, Buff1, Freddie Gibbs, thecocknbullkid Zaki Ibrahim, Deastro, nancy, Riz MC, Siriusmo Ro Blvd, Enfant Terrible, Seth Troxler, Kissy Sell Out
HOVA IS BACK! The man who is commonly claimed to be one of the greatest rappers alive has released the first single for his upcoming album, The Blueprint³ . This will be his eleventh studio and it will be released on September 11, which is the same date of the release of the first album of the Blueprint chronicles. The new album will contain the charttopping singles Swagga Like Us and Brooklyn Go Hard. Kanye West will help produce The Blueprint³ and has said it will sound like 808s and Heartbreaks, but no autotune will be on Jay-Z's album. This was made very apparent on Jay-Z's first single Dead, which was released on Hot 97 this past Friday. In the song he attacks the prevalence of autotune in rap songs as well as "ringtone rappers", rappers who sing, tight jeans, and colored jeans. After such a song that calls out a lot of the changes in the hip-hop industry, I am unsure if he he is asking Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy to be on the remix of this song or if he is suggesting that they should change their behavior. I also was confused that Jay-Z confronted autotune and skinny jeans, which are two of Kanye West's trademarks, even though Kanye produced this song.
Has Jay-Z made a song that will be appreciated by the hood and suburbia? Has Jay-Z changed since the first Blueprint album? Is autotune an actual problem in hip-hop music? Does skinny jeans affect your credibility as a rapper or are skills the only factor?
The Mr. Do-It-Alls of DG Entertainment In New Orleans, Blair Taylor is definitely a well known guy for those who are in the music industry. He has worked with great artists like G-Eazy, Rantz and 3rd-Shift. Another New Orleans crooner is Yuri, who is also an accomplished song writer for R&B musicians and combines R&B, hip-hop, electro and alternative music in his songs.
Did you wear green yesterday or did you get pinches like a Boston crab. Maybe I can have a photography career. I just found out that one of my pictures I took during my D.C. trip for Obama's Inauguration has been short-listed to be in Schmap Washington DC Guide for April 2009. I took it when I was visiting the Smithsonian's Natural Museum of African Art.
Behind every cool shirt there is a story and an talented artist who drew it. Recently the cool California brand, The Hundreds, started to tell the story behind their designs. I always wished 'The Hundreds' was a reference to Chicago's southside neighborhood, 'The Wild Hundreds', but something always reminds me that Chicago never had a big surf scene to inspire their clothing brand. Anyway, they created their “Monkeys” design obviously after See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil. However, they decided to make the monkeys represent bitter gossip, hate, and negativity. I think Kid Cudi should get a shirt. The Hundreds shirt called "Salad Bowl" relates to the concept that American culture is like being in a salad bowl. What are you in this salad bowl of a life? A tomato? The lettuce? The mushrooms? Maybe the underrepresented carrots. Steve Nazar, an artist known for his 1980s work with T&C Surf has designed the 'Welcome To The Jungle' shirt for The Hundreds. Steve created a set of characters that represents The Hundreds lifestyle. Meet Rhino Loco, Fatty the Bear, Captain Handsome, Way Jose, Skunk, and Riot the Hyena.
Here is some of Steve Nazar's oldschool surf drawings.
The guys at The Hundreds even wear tight pants. What's not to love about them.
I think this random need for a fixie/moped/ect. is a Chicago thing.
Wow, I don't know if I'm maturing or if I actually found quality R&B. I'm known for my tastes in hip-hop and rock music, but I think I might turn into a R&B fan after listening to New Orleans' very own Yuri. Well maybe its because he's not really R&B. Perhaps he's actually soulful-alternative-acoustic-hiphop-neosoul-experimental, like John Legend meets a male santogold meets kenna meets a male lauryn hill with a little New Orleans flavor. Personally I don't care what label the music industry gives him, I just think everyone should check him out before he becomes a big star.
l appreciates and acknowleges the producer Rob Bates
Maybe I can have a photography career. I just found out that one of my pictures I took during my D.C. trip for Obama's Inauguration has been short-listed to be in Schmap Washington DC Guide for April 2009. I took it when I was visiting the Smithsonian's Natural Museum of African Art.
Steve Nazar, an artist known for his 1980s work with T&C Surf has designed the 'Welcome To The Jungle' shirt for The Hundreds. Steve created a set of characters that represents The Hundreds lifestyle. Meet Rhino Loco, Fatty the Bear, Captain Handsome, Way Jose, Skunk, and Riot the Hyena.
Here is some of Steve Nazar's oldschool surf drawings.
The guys at The Hundreds even wear tight pants. What's not to love about them.
