Gangsta Rap Kills Hip-Hop: A Lost Culture

By Jerome Joyce

Outside of what many people may believe about Hip-Hop it’s not a genre of music, but a culture built around R.A.P. music (Rhythm And Poetry), dance, tagging and DJ’s. After the rap music was broken into different categories, such as gangsta rap, down-south rap, and snap, hip-hop was used to define the original type of rap that the culture itself was built from.

Photo Credit: Black Culture Is Popular

Hip-Hop the cultural movement was crated in the early 70’s in the South Bronx, kids got together to keep away from the gangs to impress themselves in the form of visual arts (graffiti art or tagging), dance (b-boying or break dance), verbal expression (rapping or rap) and an aural expression (DJ’ing).  Kids wanted to get off the street and do something positive through music. When hip-hop first started the rhymes that were told were more story-like than what’s being released today. The basis of these stories was about self-empowerment and had a positive tone.

In the 1980’s the hip-hop culture expanded out of the community and became main-stream and commercialize, breaking into the before mention sub-genres such as gangsta rap. When gangsta rap came to life hip-hop died, the culture was broke. The DJ wasn’t needed because the sound was different, the difference is sound change the dance almost to elimination, the graffiti art didn’t exist no more, but more importantly the positive message to empower a group of people was silenced.

Unfortunately sex, violence and drugs sells faster than a positive message, which made the records companies encourage the artist to write more gangsta rap, which resulted in the death of a lost culture. Surely Hip-Hop still exist, but now it’s considered a genre of music that is mainly conscious rap. The art of DJ’ing has changed to a computer assist form of mixing, which is no longer a craft. Since the song “Lean Back” became popular, songs such as “Watch Me Whip” instruct the dancing done today; dancing is no longer a form of expression.

 Since the fall of the culture there has been many speculations that says gangsta rap is the cause of the heighten violence in the urban communities. Although this statement hasn’t been proven, but if Hip-Hop was created to keep the community away from violence, destroying hip-hop may have introduced them to violence.

Making It In Music Without A Deal

Making It In Music Without A Deal

By Jerome Joyce

In the communication era, and the advancement of technology has made it far more easier to release and promote and album. With the aid of an laptop, a few recording accessories and access to the internet, a new artist can create and self-publish their own music. Artist such as Soulja Boy, D-Low, and Silentó have all “made it” before they had an actual record deal.

Soulja Boy made his debut by creating a YouTube dance video entitled “Crank Dat Soulja Boy originally created in a software called FL Studio and then professionally reproduced. The song was number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks and received a Grammy nomination (Daniel Kreps , 2008). Soulja Boy later was signed to Interscope Records.

The D-Low Shuffle, created by D-Low (Darrion Simmons) was another YouTube dance craze in 2014 and was featured on the Steve Harvey Show. After over 9 million views on YouTube, D-Low is now signed to Atlantic Records (Holiday, 2013).

Silentó is the creator of the latest dance song entitled “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)”. The song was so popular people were posting their own videos which were later featured on the Ellen Show, creating a unique viral buzz.  The song’s popularity also gained it’s time on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.  Watch Me peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Charts and spent a total of nineteen weeks on the charts (Billboard, 2015).  

Record companies have the same expectations of a bank loan, banks want to know how and if they can make a return on their investment. Social media gives a new artist a free opportunity to promote their work and build popularity; while doing so an artist can earn revenue through sites such as YouTube, iTunes, Google Play and CD Baby. If the artist can prove their music can generate revenue, then a record label wouldn’t hesitate signing that artist.

Hint: The one thing the above artist all have in common is that they made dance music. DJ’s are the first to play and the key to a song getting heard and popular. Makes songs people can enjoy and party too, they will get shared and become popular.

References

Billboard. (2015, July 18). Watch Me. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from Billboard: http://www.billboard.com/artist/6495286/silento/chart

Daniel Kreps . (2008, January 4). 2007 Nielsen Numbers: Groban, Eagles, Nickelback, Soulja Boy Lead. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from Rolling Stone : http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/final-2007-nielsen-numbers-are-in-with-groban-eagles-nickelback-soulja-boy-leading-the-way-20080104

Holiday, K. (2013, April 7). FSD Feature: DLow Talks Record Deal, Chicago's Bop Scene & DLow Shuffle. Retrieved November 14, 2015, from Fakeshore Drive: http://www.fakeshoredrive.com/2014/04/fsd-feature-dlow-talks-record-deal-chicagos-bop-scene-dlow-shuffle.html/

  

Legal Troubles In Music

Legal Troubles In Music

The importance to dot your ‘I’s and cross your ‘T’s cannot be stressed harder in the music industry. Also the importance of making sure the music that is being produced is copy protected and has license clearance for samples used.

Sir-Mix-A-Lot vs. David Ford for ‘Baby Got Back Royalties

David Ford is a DJ who claimed to have contributed to the beat production of the 1992 hit single, “Baby Got Back”, he also created the scratch effects on the song. Not until the Nicki Minaj 2014 release of “Anaconda” is when Ford filed suit for royalties in March of 2015 against Anthony Ray (Sir-Mix-A-Lot). According to an article cited on iHeartRadio, Ford didn’t realized that he wasn’t listed apart of the publishing and Sir-Mix-A-Lot was the sole owner of copyrights. In September of 2015, Sir-Mix-A-Lot won the law suite. Since original release of Baby Got Back the song has won a Grammy and featured in numerous television shows, commercial and films.

Nothing in this business should be left to trust. If David ford was indeed the contributing party of the beat of ‘Baby Got Back’, then he should have been included in the copyrights. It was his responsibility to make sure he was apart of the ownership of the song. What is not understandable is why Ford waited, twenty-two years to say anything or investigate the copyrights. The song went through so much other licensing before ‘Anaconda’, something should have been done on the first transaction.

Blurred Lines ‘Clearly’ Paid 7.4 Million to Marvin Gaye’s Estate

After a jury awarded the estate of Marvin Gay 7.4 Million for the use of Gaye’s recording “Got To Give Up” in the recording of Robin Thicke’s “Blurred lines”, writers of web magazine Plagiarism Today says this maybe be the fall of creativity in the industry. A good number of hit R&B songs have used some sort of sample from an older song. The predictions of some would have the world think that the entire genre of R&B will fall if cases such as Blurred Lines make it tough for new artist to sample.

It’s not tough to sample, copyright laws just insure that the rightful owner is credited and paid for their samples. The problem with the ‘Blurred Lines’ case is not that Robin Thicke sampled ‘Got To Give It Up’, it’s that he tried to ‘sneak-and-sample’ and not pay what was due to Marvin Gaye. This case will not be the fall of R&B as long as artists pay their dues like Nicki Minaj did with ‘Anaconda’.

Empire Vs. Empire

According to The Hollywood Reporter Fox made a preemptive suit against Empire Distribution, a California based recording/distribution label, to insure the continued use of the TV series show title “Empire”, that’s produced by Lee Daniels. Fox was responding to demands made by Empire Distribution to pay $5 Million and cast some of its artist in the series. Experts at Hollywood Reporter suggest that a preemptive suit is a risk because of the outcome of the “Blurred Lines” suit. The California recording label is claiming the show is dilutes and tarnishes the trademark by featuring "a label run by a homophobic drug dealer prone to murdering his friends." Fox claims that there is no previous trademark registration for ‘Empire’, only ‘Empire Distribution’ and ‘Empire Recordings’ and there is no confusion.

It’s interesting that Empire Distribution realized that Fox’s Empire is worth more to them Alive than Dead. Instead of sending them a suite to seize the use of the title, they sent a demand letter for money and more importantly, casting of their artist, which will turn into an ongoing income for the distribution company. However, without registration of “Empire”, the distribution company has no rights to the title in its market. The term Empire is a general term that cannot be trademarked. Empire Distribution is not a famous mark such as Universal of Universal Studios and Universal Music Group. Inside the show there is never a reference of Empire Records or Empire Distribution, the title ‘Empire’ is to infer the power of the company in the series and to pay homage to the location of New York the Empire State.

Interview Blog

Interview Blog: DJ Apollo

Apollo Miller has 24 years experience in the music & entertainment industry as a professional disc jockey specializing in corporate, school & wedding events.

1. How did you get started in your career field?

I got started in the business because I wanted to be an entertainer, I enjoy being creative and watching people enjoy themselves because of it. I got started in 1988. I used to watch other DJ’s at parties and then go home and try to mimic what they did with the equipment I had. I took my sister’s phonograph and hooked it up to a mixer I brought and used my father’s radio that played tapes and that’s how I did my first party, that I only got paid $20 for. But it must have been a good job, because I was hired for other gigs and kept going and going.

2. What are your favorite parts of your job?

My favorite part of my job is being creative, and watching the dance floor move. I get extremely excited and in my zone when the party is rocking.

3. How have negotiations played a role in your career?

Negotiations play a role on my career because everyone is looking for a deal. Although I have set prices, I still have to wheel and deal to fit into potential clients’ budgets in order to seal the deal. I typically try to keep negotiating to a minimal by advertising a more than fair price for packages that are all inclusive to the clients needs. This eliminates a lot of haggling. The client typically understands quickly that the prices and benefits are as fair as it can get and quickly agrees.

4. Why is it important to work toward a mutual benefit in a negotiation?

Both parties have to be totally happy with the deal for it to be a great deal. For me to comfortably feel like I want to do the gig it has to be worth it financially for me and not over extensive on the benefits given. Same thing goes for the client. They have to feel like they are getting their money’s worth.

5. How do you separate the person from the problem in a negotiation?

I attack my negotiations with the benefits that I know will be tailored to the specific client. I try to give them an offer they can’t refuse. The negotiations, of course, start with the initial phone call that inquires about my service and prices. I analyze their tone of voice and from that point I know what type of client I have, a penny pincher or somebody who want’s great service at any cost. I structure my pitch to fit the person’s personality. I tried to avoid problems in the negotiation.

6. Do you engage in dirty tricks or tactics when in negotiations? If so, give an example.

I typically don’t use dirty tricks or any special tactics. As I said before, my prices are pre-structured to be extremely fair. It’s a “take it or leave it” situation. But, during the negotiation I highlight the points that will best suit that client and quickly gain their interest.

7. What tips do you have for people interested in your career path? DJ Apollo

Tips I give to new DJ’s. Learn your craft, build a strong brand, know your worth, and charge what you are worth.

Finances and Personal Life

Finances and Personal Life

Growing up, my parents never sat me down and discussed finances with me. Finance is not a subject taught in school. For me, and many other Americans, finance is something learned through experience. A blog from the Huffington Post Education section shares one man’s opinion about this topic. Scott Gamm writes that learning personal finances is more important than many other subjects such as Calculus. All fields require for the person to handle their own finances.

I have been living on my own for years now. I had to pay my own bills, and still am paying my own bills. Anything that I know about money came from trial and error. I am 27-years-old and I’m just figuring this “money thing” out. Now, I think about how many credit card companies are out here targeting college students. They disguise selling their credit cards and debt as building credit. Although, having and using a credit card can build credit it is mostly used to build debt in young people. I know from personal experience because I had a credit card, and fell into the trap of its debt. Then, there are people interested in starting businesses that have no idea about finances. They end up going under due to their lack of financial education. I do not want to be that person. Therefore, I am glad to be in this course.

Business finance can be a scary subject. I am excited to be in this class to learn about essential pieces that come with being an entrepreneur. However, this is going to be a challenge for me. This course is my very first time seeing, analyzing, and understanding financial documents such as income statements and balance sheets. I am glad Full Sail University includes this course within the program. Financial competency is a necessary step to being a successful CEO. I also do not want to get ripped off by anyone due to my lack of knowledge.