New York, NY (August 29, 2008) – New Jersey native Rasheed Chappell has been grinding for a minute. He readily admits there was a point in time when it didn’t look like it was going to happen, and he began to think of Plan B. But sometimes things just work themselves out. And so after a few brushes with labels, a grip of ciphers, radio shows and live events that had people wanting more, and numerous late-night studio sessions that provided some classic material for his hood, he’s finally landed with a label that understands his vision and has the means to realize it.
Ill Friction Records, headed up by Grammy-winner Kenny Dope, has invested in Sheed’s upcoming album, “Nostalgia,” and the results have been monstrous. Before we got into the interview and spits, I was privy to a few tracks, bumped through the speakers of a car that struggled to do their job. Nevertheless, the music found a way out. It evokes an early 90’s vibe, but with accessible, modern lyrics and the mature touch of a producer (Maleet) that’s given an artist the perfect soundscape for his style.
We got up for a good hour and chopped it up about “Nostalgia,” following through on dreams even as they seem nearly impossible to reach and also the night he got to spit with Nas. Be sure to check the last verse in his Full Volume segment, too, it’s probably one of the realest verses you’ll ever hear. All the old-school heads yellin, “Go Rasheed!” HIP-HOP.
New York, NY (August 28, 2008) – (Editor’s Note: We met Mikey Mike at Dynamic Producer a few weeks ago. We dug dude’s beats and he came off as a real knowledgeable cat that was making some moves in the industry. He was a natural choice to be a guest blogger, and we’ll be introducing you to more of our guest bloggers as the weeks go by. For now, though, sit back and enjoy a little bit of Salsbury funk.)
Loud.com, what up? It’s Mikey Mike here. I’m a 20 year old up and coming producer from Salisbury, MD, and for the next little while, I’ll be blogging on what it’s like to be an up and coming producer in this crazy industry and also any other random shit I feel like getting at. I’ve done joints for lots of up and comers, and also some more well-known dudes like Sha Stimuli. I know every kid out there who downloaded Fruity Loops on their computer at school last week during lunch detention claims to have “big shit about to pop off,” but I’m not one of them. I’ll explain later on as nothing’s certain, but I do have some big things in the works.
Most the time blogs and interviews like this are done with dudes who have already “made it,” which is cool, but most of us can’t really relate to them because we haven’t made it yet ourselves. Hopefully, I can be a good middle-man for those at the bottom who are trying to get to the top. Just like most of yall, I’m still doing beats in my bedroom, hearing cries from downstairs to, “Please turn that shit down because Desperate Housewives is about to be on!” But, hopefully with time, those same cries won’t be coming from my mom, but from someone like Jay-Z, sounding more like, “Please turn that shit up because that beat is fucking retarded!” Each week, I will try to address some aspect of being an “up and comer” and share some stuff that I’ve learned along the way.
To kick it off, I want to talk about keeping quiet with the shit you’ve got going on as a producer. Like I said before, everybody and their mom thinks they’re about to blow. I’ve found its best not to speak details on the things you have on the plate because so often in this industry, things get fucked up and fall through. I don’t know how many times I’ve gotten calls or emails from so-and-so, like “Yoo, I played that joint you sent me for (insert famous rapper’s name here) and he went crazy, he’s recording to it tonight,” only to find out later on that things didn’t pan out. For me, that is absolutely the most frustrating part of this game. You just can’t get your hopes up or your gonna get let down hard again and again. Until somebody cuts you a check and you actually hear your track on the album, just pretend it never happened.
I remember a while ago, when I first started getting news like that, I would be like fuck the dollar menu, I’d buy new kicks, I’d get Grey Goose instead of Popov etc. etc., all cause I thought I was going to get a check soon. Haha, I was wrong! It’s cool to tell your close friends and shit when your excited, but don’t hop on the Internet and start posting shit like, “Yeah, I’m gonna be on 50’s album, he’s flying me up this weekend so we can eat pizza together” cause, when things fall through, you’re gonna look like a clown and no one is going to believe the shit you say. If people ask, just say, “I’ve got some things in the works,” but don’t get ahead of yourself. Nothing is certain until you actually hear the track on the album with your own ears.
The beat I’m bumping as I write this: Common – 1999. Anyone trying to get in touch with me can hit me up here at Loud.com (friend me!) or at my MySpace. Email is always a good option, too.
New York, NY (August 28, 2008) – This is some straight hip-hop right here! The homie Big Zoo from EOW is featured over this disgusting beat with his people the Mudslingaz. I played this three times in a row until the office paid attention. Bang your head…
New York, NY (August 27, 2008) - This is good shit! I spotted this trolling through the NY Times today. Somehow it’s gone under the radar for the last few days. Allow me to bring it to light:
… AS an actor in films like “Hustle & Flow,” “Crash” and “Iron Man,” Terrence Howard has played characters whose calm demeanor conceals a suppressed rage that is the result of dreams deferred, denied or realized on only barely acceptable terms. That he is African-American inevitably introduces race into his portrayals, but not because of anything he does, at least overtly. Whether it’s in the script or not, Mr. Howard not only doesn’t play the race card, he buries it in subtleties. So if, as a viewer, you find yourself searching for it … well, that’s the point, and the problem.
That complex dynamic extends into Mr. Howard’s music, or to people’s expectations of what it will be. He said his own record company assumed that he would make a hip-hop album after the song “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” which Mr. Howard performed as the pimp and aspiring rapper DJay in “Hustle & Flow,” won an Academy Award for best original song for its composers, the rap group Three 6 Mafia, in 2006.
But Mr. Howard, 39, refused to perform the song at the Oscars because of its language and content, and his own musical tastes lie in a decidedly different direction.
Indeed. The title track seems like a smooth fusion of Jack Johnson’s surfer/lament, mixed with some 70’s funk and a touch of R&B. “Love Makes You Beautiful” starts out like a Broadway anthem and then transitions into a Motown-sounding mash of gospel and pop. Get an opinion on the third track for yourself! It’s excellent stuff and definitely doesn’t sound like ANYTHING that’s out right now. Definitely worth the few minutes to listen.
New York, NY (August 27, 2008) – While it’s no question who he’ll be rooting for in the Yankees/Sox series, the Beantown transplant is for sure gettin ready to take over the Big Apple. Below is a video for duke’s EPK; be on the look for something special with Loud.com and Termanology coming up soon…
New York, NY (August 27, 2008) – We recently had the chance to build with Round 3 Emcee winner Obae. Shout out to Skype for enabling the call recording. I wonder if that’s what 50 used? Obae expands a little bit on the Colorado hip-hop scene, his influences growing up, and what an album would sound like should he win the $100,000 and record deal with SRC
New York, NY (August 27, 2008) - As Barnes and Noble and Borders and the host of other big chain entertainment stores move to diversify their bonds, Hastings is reporting that the results thus far are mixed. More from The Coolfer:
…Entertainment retailers are having mixed success in lessening their dependence on CD sales. Hastings reported lower earnings earlier this week. Its comp revenue was up 0.6% and gains in other product categories helped make up for an 11.7% slide in music sales. Gross margin was up slightly, and SG&A as a percent of revenue was up a bit over a percentage point.
Yesterday, Trans World reported a loss of $19.2 million on lower total and comp sales. Through the first six months of the year, Trans World has lost $31.1 million, up from $19.1 million last year. The retailer, which operates chains such as f.y.e., said it was “on plan for the quarter.” Some fundamentals, however, weakened. Gross margin decreased and SG&A as a percent of revenue increased. Inventory reductions are a positive step toward using capital more efficiently, but much of that reduction can be attributed to the closing of 174 stores since the end of Q2 2007.
Read more about Borders’ own struggles on today’s blog here.
New York, NY (August 27, 2008) - Was cruising around today and found this. What makes it extra dope is that I randomly met Mr. Metaphor the other day at Fat Beats. Funny ol’ world isn’t it? Shout out to Brooklyn Academy doin their thing. Look out for “Bored of Education,” dropping soon!
1. Ashes feat. Tools and Mokeout (prod. by Thoro Tracks)
2. Role Call feat. Wordsworth (prod. by Khrysis)
3. Matters feat. Lego (prod. by Unknown)
4. My Life feat. Sha Stimuli (prod. by J. Cardim)
5. Doin’ It ‘08 feat. Fresh Jones (prod. by Brady Becklo)
6. Told U feat. Vinnie Paz (prod. by Ruler)
7. Funeral (prod. by Will Tell)
8. Fool’s Gold (prod. by Shuko)
9. Brooklyn Goonery feat. Poison Pen & Blitz (prod. by Etik n Clint)
10. Fiyah feat. Castro (prod. by I See On & Block McCloud)
11. The Last Passion (prod. by Snowgoons)
12. Seven Sins feat. Raw Dawgz & Killah Priest (prod. by Shawnecy)
13. Leaves in Autumn (prod. by Sick Doctor)
14. Park Slope Boys feat. Illzburry Doeboy (prod. Beat Brewers)
15. Bored of Education (prod. by Haze Attacks)
16. Haze Outro
Download the Summer School Mixtape (Hosted by DJ Haze) here.
New York, NY (August 27, 2008) – Lex Butter was one of the many bright spots from our tournament the first time around. He had a successful run throughout, won the Rock With Wu contest, catching RZA’s ear for the chance to spit at Rock The Bells in Hawaii last summer and garnered himself some street buzz here in New York. We caught up with Lex at EOW’s 8 Year Anniversary Concert this past weekend in Manhattan, and he went in on his latest projects, the Loud.com community and even a few verses. Lift Every Xpectation!!
New York, NY (August 27, 2008) – Hip-hop has changed a lot over the years, but the one defining element of the culture has always been energy. The Blues is fueled from the soul, and Rock music often borrows it’s identity from rebellion; Reggae is surely a synthesis of the two, while Country puts it’s own unique, down-home, “way-life-should-be” ethos on everyday life. But the bottom-line is that all are regional products of their environment, and hip-hop’s energy is tied to the struggle and smile of its people.
As hip-hop has crossed over into the mainstream and become a profitable enterprise, it’s not out of line to suggest it’s lost a bit of its fun factor along the way. Bronx emcee Don Cerino won’t have any of that, though. Over the course of two plus hours, Cerino wandered around the Meatpacking District of NYC spitting for people, cracking jokes and in general, infusing some fun into an art form that seldom sees that kind of energy in today’s mainstream dog and pony show.
Check out his segments where dude chops it up about his mixtape experience with Peter Parker and Statik Selektah, his upcoming collaborative project with DJ Incise (with features from Royce Da 5’9, Skyzoo, Termanology, Grandmaster Caz, Guilty Simpson and a host of other underground favorites), Lobe Bryant, how he got into hip-hop, and of course, the unforgettable Favorites segment.
Part 1 – Watch for the appearance of Lobe Bryant around the 2:00 mark.
Part 2 – Cerino elaborates on his evolution from “Guinea” to “Cerino” and his compilation project with DJ Incise that features Royce Da 5′9, Grandmaster Caz, Termanology, AC, Skyzoo, etc.
Part 3 – Two-plus hours of filming was trimmed down to this as son wandered around the Meatpacking District of NYC and spit some of his favorite verses for random people. Hilarious. Enlightening. HIPHOP!!
New York, NY (August 26, 2008) - There are a few things that can stir the beehive quicker than religion and politics, so if I ever post about both, believe that it will be a concerted effort to do so without bias.
In much the same way the web has dictated the evolution of music, this year’s presidential election will without doubt be more concentrated on the Internet than ever. Many pundits out there could argue that Barack Obama’s friendly relationship with the media may in fact stem from his campaign’s tech-savvy beginnings (a sign he’s a “man of the times”), but TechCrunch is citing a report by Attributor that suggests Obama is losing ground to Republican hopeful John McCain.
While I can’t say for sure if the race will be won on the Internet, it’s a surefire way to keep the ball in your court. My question is: Who wins if the Ludacris and Daddy Yankee squared off? More from TechCrunch:
…In general blogs still favor Obama by about two to one, but the opposite is true for traditional news sites. McCain’s speeches and position statements appear on traditional news sites 80 percent more often than Obama’s. And on the sites of the major TV networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox), McCain has a 3 to 1 advantage. (This ratio should come down with the Democratic convention this week).
What is behind McCain’s surge? One factor is negative attacks on Obama, such as the Paris Hilton ad or John Corsi’s propaganda book. Over the past two weeks there have been twice as many attacks on Obama’s positions than on McCain’s, and those attacks were seen 2.8 million times so far in August versus 1.1 million views for attacks on McCain. (Attributor’s technology can identify negative or positive words). And it is not just the traditional news media that is eating up the attacks. Bloggers love them too. As the attacks have increased, so have blog matches citing McCain’s positions. In the past week, 350 new bloggers wrote about McCain’s views, marking the first time that McCain gained more new blog coverage than Obama (who picked up about 250 new bloggers). Going negative works.
Still not a fan of ANY candidate attacking the other for personal gain. Leave the schoolyard tactics at home and do your job.
…Andre Romelle Young Jr., the son of rapper and pioneering hip-hop producer Dr. Dre, was found dead in his Woodland Hills, California, home Saturday morning, according to Dre’s representative. He was 20 years old.
An autopsy was conducted on Young’s body Monday, but a cause of death has not yet been determined, pending the results of a toxicology report, a representative for the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office told MTV News. The coroner’s rep confirmed that an Andre Romelle Young Jr. passed away Saturday, but was uncertain if he was Dre’s son; Dre’s rep confirmed that information Tuesday (August 26).
New York, NY (August 26, 2008) – Kid is dope. Spotted this over at Eskay’s. I like what I’ve heard so far from him, we’ll see what the album is all about soon enough.
New York, NY (August 26, 2008) – Loud.com on our exclusive grind once again. Check out “The Perfect Beat” from Talib Kweli featuring KRS-One off of “Eardrum.” I been bumpin this song for months!
New York, NY (August 26, 2008) – Minnesota’s biggest DJ chopped it up with us for a hot minute about everything: growing up white in a minority culture, Spider-Man, Public Enemy, having his jaw broken to fix a speech impediment, Boston vs. Minnesota hip-hop, radio’s future, ducking the police while driving with a cell phone and his reasons that Asher Roth will change the game. One of my favorite interviews. Download the entire thing here. Go in!!
…No matter how you spin it, radio’s revenue story is still bleak. Combined local and national spot radio advertising dropped 8% in the second quarter to $4.6 billion for a 7% drop in the first half to $8.4 billion, according to recent figures released Thursday by from the Radio Advertising Bureau.
Even factoring in a robust 12% growth in off-air advertising to $889 million and a healthy 3% climb for network radio to $567 million, radio advertising is still down 5% to $9.9 billion at midyear.
Radio continues to be hit by a soft national ad market with national spot dropping 11% in the second quarter and staying there. For the first half, national spot is down 11% to $1.4 billion.
Local advertising was only slightly better, down 7% in the second quarter to $3.8 billion, and down 6% to nearly $7 billion for the first half.
Peter Parker said the same sort of thing when I spoke to him last week. Look for that interview to be dropping this week. Holler.
New York, NY (August 25, 2008) – Kevin Nottingham is hosting a week dedicated to Ghostdini, and one of the cooler posts is this one. Check out all of the samples from the Wally Champ’s full catalog.
New York, NY (August 25, 2008) – The homie Donny Goines is settin off the last week of summer with a grip of new bars segments. In his own words:
…The summer of 2008 has been a good one for me and it’s only right that I end it off on a high note. With that being said, I’m going to send you a new Bars segment everyday this week to close out the season. Let’s start it off right with my boy Rain from North Carolina. This dude is on his grind for real (Did you see him on TRL?) and has many things in the works including the new mixtape “American Dreamin”. Check it out:
