Industry & Culture
25 Things That Killed (and are Still Killing) Urban Music
In the midst of everyone's declarations that "Hip Hop is Dead" we somehow forgot the slow death that is spreading across all aspects of "urban" music, as the legacy of Soul and its close cousins has devolved into a writhing mass of commercialism, homogenization, thuggification and overall laziness. Now, in no particular order, we present to you the "25 Things That Killed (and are Still Killing) Urban Music" because you love lists and SoulBounce isn't afraid to say what you're thinking. Keep in mind that there will be some overlap, as certain items gave way to others that deserve their own spanking.
1. The End of the "Event" Album: There was a time when albums encompassed an era that included a look, a feel, and a style that informed an artist's videos and live performances for as long as they (or the label) could squeeze revenue from a project by releasing singles. The "event" album can chiefly be credited to Jacksons Michael and Janet, who have entire timelines built around the idea of a "Thriller Era" or a "Rhythm Nation Era." Nowadays, instead of treating albums as what they are (a collection of songs with one unifying theme) artists are more likely to seek out the most ubiquitous Hip Hop beatmakers of the moment and record over a hundred songs from which to "pick" singles. Also, when you have artists that are too scared to release music with a healthy 3-5 year gap in between, the lines to between albums begin to blur, and the eras become indistinguishable, rendering them null.
2. Big Name Hip Hop Producers: With respect due to the beatmakers that introduce a track with the name of their production imprint, ad-lib all over it, and insert themselves as guest rappers 50% of the time, they overshadow the actual vocalist of a song. We certainly don't begrudge any of them the right to employment, but when an artist has to do an inventory of who produced her project to qualifiy it instead of telling us what the album is about, we have to take exception. Reality check: If you're trying to goad me into a purchasing your album because you have a Pharrell beat on it and I'm a Pharrell fan, then that's the only song I'm buying. Your album has to have legs of its own.
3. Deaths of The Notorious B.I.G. & 2Pac: You can probably draw a direct line from the deaths of Biggie and 'Pac to the current state of Hip Hop. The two of them cultivated a style that even a decade later is re- and misappropriated to the nth. Perhaps if they were still alive, they'd have pushed the genre forward. Or maybe they'd be wack and irrelevant. Hey, at least they died while they were still good.
4. "Neo-Soul": We understand the emergence of the "neo-soul" genre as a response to the growing commercialization of modern R&B. But even the artists lumped into this category began to the see that the term was as much a marketing ploy as the very things they eschewed. The language used to describe these artists ranged from "organic" to "avant garde" and any press materials would claim that he/she looks up to Stevie, Marvin and Donny. And don't stand too close to the stage lest you get burned by the candles and frankencense! Before long, the audience would be fooled and we would either grow to love or loathe this music, defending the art of its purveyors and loudly wondering why they couldn't move as many units as their mainstream counterparts. Simply put, "neo-soul" has become a term used by people to describe music they respect but would never buy.
5. Reality TV: Aside from the manufactured Pop idols that are struggling to stay signed within their prize contracts, we have to question the motives of Sean Combs, Robin Antin and Missy Elliott, who have all aped the reality television format to generate acts for their own stable of artists. To be sure, reality TV has replaced proper Artist Development as a means for these entrepreneurs to cash in, stroke their egos and embarrass people who, 9 times out of 10, deserve it. Speaking of which, what's O'so Krispie doing?
6. Lazy A&R Departments: Did you know that A&R people are also responsible for Artist Development? Probably not, since these days a newly-signed artist is more likely to be stripped of their identity and given one that falls in step with what's popular or, even worse, none at all. Take Cheri Dennis, for example. While her album has a respectable amount of solid R&B tracks, we still don't know who Cheri Dennis is, what sets her apart from everyone else or even what she sounds like. But, she has earned the distinction of being signed to her label for nearly a decade with no album to speak of. Did the A&R department utilize that time by playing Spades? Probably.
7. Scarface and The Untouchables: Okay, rapper, we get it, Scarface and The Untouchables are the greatest movies ever made; your life in celluloid, even. But, if you look close enough, you'll come to learn that you are neither Pacino or De Niro and should stop emulating them by using audio clips from the films in your interludes and the script in your lyrics. Too many of you are still doing this after all these years. Also, tell members of your crew to stop calling themselves "Ness" and "Nitti." Just, please, cut it out. Thank you.
8. Thugs: Not only do we have "Studio Thugs" that use de Palma films to inform their image (see above) but there's the "Corporate Thug" (robs an artist of his publishing and signs him to a hellified contract he could never fulfill) and the questionable "R&B Thug," which happened somewhere between R. Kelly and Jodeci and continues to this day. Along the way, labels got the bright idea that the way to a woman's heart was by selling drugs and beating up people. Sexy! This trend has also given rise to something else we'll never understand: "R&B Beef," in which two singers talk trash about each other to the media. Unfortunately, this doesn't result in a "sing-off" but pretty much makes everyone involved look kind of retarded.
9. Crime: Between violating probation, not paying child support, being pulled over and caught with an ounce of weed or cocaine, assaulting nail technicians, shooting people, tossing concertgoers off the stage, committing perjury, tax evasion, and urinating on minors, we have to wonder if being a good artist means being a bad citizen.
10. Ringtones: "Real Music Ringtones" were created as a way to distinguish your ringing cellular from someone else's while also bringing you closer to your favorite artist. Unfortunately, the labels realized this was the only way to generate revenue and started making music for the sole purpose of selling ringtones. Now, we have stripped-down keyboard beats and grunts and "yaahhs" instead of lyrics. Is that my cellphone ringing or yours? We'll never know, because we both downloaded Soulja Boy.
11. Lack of Music Programs in Schools: Programs like GarageBand have not only made producers lazy, but undercut the importance of immersing young would-be musicians in music history as well as basic composition. Unless a popular musician was trained in the church, they probably lucked into a contract without knowing how to write, play an instrument, or worse, sing a note.
12. BET (and by extension its corporate owner) is on a mission to not only destroy urban music, but poison the perception of Black people in the process. If we were to use this network as a guide (and people unfortunately do), we would believe that "drug dealer > rapper > pimp" is a logical career path, alcoholic beverages can be used as bodysplash, women of exotic or indeterminate race are the standard of beauty, darker-skinned women are only valuable if they have a big ass and a tiny waist, a person's worth can only be determined by what they drive and what they wear, you ain't sh*t if you're over 30, and a week's worth of debauchery and decadence can be undone with a Sunday marathon of religious programming. It's funny because it's true.
13. The Radio: Used to be, you would turn on the radio and hear a variety of artists with a variety of sounds. But due to the "Clear Channeling" of Urban Radio, you'll hear a T-Pain song followed by 15 minutes of commercials, followed by a song featuring T-Pain, some shucking and jiving by unbearable radio personalities for five minutes, then something that resembles a T-Pain song, but isn't because just about everyone sounds like T-Pain now. And it's probably a commercial.
14. Spineless Club DJs: If you're going out to a club, you might as well sit in the house and blast the radio instead of paying the inflated cover charge. Once upon a time, DJs were tastemakers, but now so many of them are afraid they'll clear the floor by spinning something new that they just play album versions of songs people are tired of but are too drunk to notice. Then, they add insult to injury by showing off their "skills" with poorly-timed scratches, blends that don't line up and screaming over the music. And consider yourself lucky if you happen upon a DJ with ACTUAL! VINYL! RECORDS!
15. Mainstream Hip Hop Publications: Back in the '90s, holding one of these rags in your hands was like holding a monthly Bible to all things Hip Hop and R&B. Now, they've all been relegated to chasing blogs and reiterating things we already knew weeks ahead instead of properly utilizing the print medium to do something unique. Changes in personnel and ownership aside, they were already marching towards irrelevance. Even the covers suck now, but you probably won't get the damn thing delivered on time in order to find out.
16. Bloggers: Guilty as charged! Trifle few of us are qualified to be writing about music with any authority, especially since most of the people behind blogs haven't been alive long enough to have a healthy perspective on the subject. Although it can be argued that record companies rely on blogs for buzz, most of the music championed by popular websites is the same music that would've gotten attention anyway. Also, we have to point out that the commenting system has turned discussions about music into an unholy war of "haters" versus "stans," where everyone is an expert on what they hate or love, but have no concept of anything else including real life. Oh, and providing your readers with the URL to full album leaks doesn't "help" the artist.
17. YouTube & MySpace: On the Internet, everyone is a star (thank you, thank you). But while sites like MySpace and YouTube can provide mainstream and indie musicians with a means of cultivating and connecting with an audience, it becomes a chore to sort through the muck of people with a webcam and a login classifying themselves as "artists." And damn you all to Hell for having the crap you made in Grandma's basement on auto-play.
18. Singing Rappers, Acting Rappers & Rapping Athletes: We'll keep this short. Every now and then you'll happen upon someone that has been able to organically transition from one career to another. Will and Latifah come to mind. To everyone else (coughCurtiscough), stay in your lane. Again, we don't begrudge anyone the chance to make some extra ends; it just shouldn't be at the expense of the audience.
19. The End of Real Singing Groups: Once upon a time, you not only had singing groups that weren't put together by a reality show, but wherein each member contributed a distinct voice or purpose to the group. Sometimes they had members that barely sang a note, but who actually produced or wrote the song. Point is, throwing a bunch of strangers in a house with one phone and giving them makeovers doesn't create synergy. Also, name a recent singing group that wasn't created for a television show or for the purpose of launching someone's solo career. Exactly.
20. "Kanyitis" is a temporary, yet frequent, illness that afflicts singers and rappers alike, wherein an artist waits until the precise moment they are in front of a camera, microphone or reporter to say something shocking and stupid, which will then be quoted by bloggers and searched on YouTube ad nauseum. Then the artist has to explain what they "really" meant, but by that time everyone already thinks they're nuts and doesn't care about a retraction.
21. Death of Aaliyah: Not that Aaliyah took an entire genre of music with her to the grave, but it can be argued that her passing made way for a wave of young, pretty dancers with okay voices and no personality. Only difference between them and Aaliyah is, Aaliyah had personality along with talent, ideas and a willingness to experiment. Also, she wasn't so full of herself.
22. Money: Even worse than artists releasing garbage because they know it sells is the audience's obsession with how much an artist makes. Unfortunately, we've given lack of artistry a pass because someone's "making that paper," which totally undermines the hard work of true creative talents that are constantly writing, recording, and performing. When I buy an album I don't want to hear an entrepreneur, which brings us to--
23. Products & Brands: Whether rappers and singers are inserting the names of designer alcoholic beverages into their lyrics or cable companies are inserting rappers and singers in their ad campaigns, things come to a point where we need to start realizing how owned these artists are. There's a thin line between businessperson and corporate slave. We'd also like to reiterate a fact that has been pointed out time and time again over the past 10 years: If you can't pronounce it, why should we care that you're wearing it, driving it, or drinking it?
24. People That Aren't in Any Way Associated with Music: Opportunities in the industry are built on connections and there's almost never been a time when someone didn't rise to stardom on someone else's coattails. But now, things have gotten way out of hand. Why be an actual artist when you can be someone that danced in videos, screwed a bunch of rappers and got a book deal? Or, you can be a butler or Executive In Charge of Umbrella-Carrying? Or, worse, be the "Fifth Mic" guy on stage and reliable instigator? Who needs a recording studio?
25. Teenagers: Young people have always had the power to determine trends in all genres of music, which is why corporations defer to them. However, today's teenagers seem to be slightly more insipid than they were in previous generations and definitely have a shorter attention span. Whether it's the teens themselves driving the garbage labels are releasing, or the labels that are leading teens down a path of ignorance, is totally up for debate. It's the chicken/egg question in its purest form.
Comments
Great article! I'm an experienced rapper, lyricist and songwriter (there is a difference). I started in the game with Kool and the Gang in the 80's and the Fugees in the 90's. Being an older brother I decided instead persuing my own career to help develope young artists and prepare them for the music business. Teach them the ropes. Warn them about the pitfalls. After seeing so many of my people chewed up and spit out by the music industry I felt it was my duty as an educated, imformed Blackman. Know what, they wouldn't listen. Most jumped ship for the first bling bling offer that came along. Usually the offer turned out to be B.S. Some got swallowed up by the industry (remember R.O.C from So So Def, I discovered him when he was 12 years old) and were never heard from again, has-beens that never-were. A few years ago I just stopped trying to work with young people like I had done with Lauren Hill. Most of the kids I was working with had half her talent and a 100 times more ego anyway. I started writing and producing my own CD. Guess what, people like it. And they buy it. I'm still looking for venues to perform, but the internet is open like the wild west and if you create a good product, people will support you. As for the music business, I think going to continue to suffer until it finally dies out. The big boys forgot that they're greatest asset is the artists and the art, and not just the singers, but the songwriters, the producers, that special once in a lifetime sound. If everything sounds alike, nothing stands out, people get bored, they look for something new, something refreshing, something good. Not everybody can be a great artist, but the industry has become so adept at turning average talents into supertsars, everybody thinks they can. If everybody can do it, what's so special about it? Nothing! OK, every now and then I hear something special and gues what! I buy it. I bought John Legends "Save Room" or Lloyds "GET IT SHAWTY" and Beyonces "crazy in love" with Jay Z. I don't think I've bought a rap CD since DMXs "get at me dog". We are very creative talented people, but I think we're gonna have to fall in order to rise again. Holla back!
Nuri Amir
Nuri Amir | June 3, 2008 6:07 PM | Permalinkhttp://www.myspace.com/ikhanonemc
nuri_amir@yahoo.com
I disagree strongly with many of the things on your list, especially considering many of them have been around since the beginning of hip hop. (eg: crime....commercialism...name-dropping brands...teenagers? really? teenagers killed hip hop? ...sigh)
Hip hop isn't dead, it just lives underground. Sure rappers like Soulja Boy and Yung Joc are wack as fuck, but even in the past (maybe your teenage years, when you were apparently more immune to outside influence and only supported authentic hip hop) artists like Wrexx-N-Effect, MC Hammer etc etc etc sold millions of albums... innovative hip hop is still being created, as I'm sure you're aware. So why complain about the garbage that gets fed to teenage white girls in the suburbs?
Stop wasting your time despairing over what you see as the death of hip hop, the only thing dead is its past. The hip hop of your youth is gone forever, and in 15 years this shit will be over with too. Its an evolution, and when you try to blame things like reality tv for killing hip hop you end up looking like a dinosaur.
versus | May 15, 2008 4:50 PM | PermalinkI totally agree. I thought I was the only one who felt that way about Neo-Soul. I hate Neo-soul with a passion. My thing is why do I need so and so when I have Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder. Neo-soul artists bring NOTHING new to music. They weren't "neo-soul"--they're just people who try to mimic Soul Legends. Regarding Aaliyah, I agree with that as well. Aaliyah may have not had the greatest voice in the world but Aaliyah was a badass risk taker. She was forward thinking and she rejected the stuffy old labels and rules that seem to govern R&B. I would argue that her last album was more on the lines of Songs in the key of Life ideologically than the best Neo-Soul record. Obviously, quality wise, her last album isn't up there but that musical fearlessness is embodied in AALIYAH and Aaliyah.
Finally, I would arguethat Urban music isn't just a problem. Music in general is an issue. Nobody wants to take risks anymore. That's why I listen to a lot of 70s Soul, a lot of classic Jazz and a lot of 70s and 90s rock.
mabs | May 10, 2008 2:55 PM | PermalinkI agree totally with this but I have to say this, daprinceofhiphopsoul added his comment to this that should be added right to the top of the list about the making of cd's. I remember going to Camelot music(F.Y.E now) and buying the 1.00 singles(80's and early 90's) way back in the day. I cringe at my son when he wans to buy a cd knowing he's only buying it to listen to one or two tunes($15-20). I want the old school back where a new cd is like the old tape or album all the songs are music to the ears and a good 45 min or hour of ##it ya want to hear not a bunch of garbage!!! That's y I don't buy music no more I just get tunes I like and make my own cd with ##it I want to hear and leave out the bullsh##...........
lilbitcraze | May 5, 2008 6:02 PM | Permalinkread my mind...
Peter Martinez | May 2, 2008 2:21 PM | PermalinkMan...this is the TRUTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you...thank you...thank you. Rt!
Russell Taylor | April 30, 2008 3:37 PM | PermalinkEverything that could be said has been said. I just wanted to add my name to the list of your admirers, nOva. Keep it up!
AntBee | April 25, 2008 8:54 AM | PermalinkDope post. you are right, there are so many things involved with the death of R&B. which is the name of a book by Nelson George. check it out.
Brotheromi | April 24, 2008 5:34 PM | Permalinkgreat post!
siostra | April 24, 2008 5:07 PM | PermalinkThis is like Martin Luther's message nailed to the door! Amen!
Teisha Marie | April 24, 2008 11:16 AM | PermalinkI especially cringe when I see white people singing and dancing the way Black people used to. When I think of big voices today I think Christina Aguilera, where are our new Whitneys? It is a DAMN shame
Jandi | April 24, 2008 10:04 AM | PermalinkI would add number#26-Black People. We don't expect more from ourselves so naturally we don't expect more from our artists.
lisjaka | April 23, 2008 10:11 PM | PermalinkTHE LAST BIT
" As an alternative, we will be confiscating weed supplies and replacing them with magic mushrooms, in hopes of helping niggas see beyond their reality. (stop) "
beeles | April 23, 2008 8:30 PM | PermalinkI'm not into music like most of you but I totally agree with it all and I can understand the frustration. Allow me to stick some Saul Williams here that I feel is relevant:
" Telegram to Hip Hop: Dear Hip Hop .(stop)
beeles | April 23, 2008 8:28 PM | PermalinkThis shit has gone too far (stop)
Please see that mixer and turntables are returned to Kool Herc. (stop)
The ghettos are dancing off beat. (stop)
The master of ceremonies have forgotten that they were once slaves and have neglected the occasion of this ceremony. (stop)
Perhaps we should not have encouraged them to use cordless microphones, for they have walked too far from the source and are emitting a lesser frequency (stop). Please inform all interested parties that cash nor murder have been added to the list of elements. (stop)
We are discontinuing our current line of braggadocio, in light of the current trend in "realness". (stop) "
preach it!!! make this a book!!!!
agrred | April 23, 2008 4:31 PM | PermalinkMy sentiments exactly!
I concur with 1,6,11,& 13, but especially 11! Gone are the days when "artists" acutally meant that you were a musician, meaning you actually studied and mastered the craft/art of music. You weren't just a fan of music, in which you used samples to produce music. No wonder noone sings live anymore. Cause they have to ask, What key is this song in again? If someone tells them, the next question will be, What does that sound like? Meanwhile, A&R is to busy playing cards to notice.
TiP | April 23, 2008 3:54 PM | PermalinkAnother bullet to the dome is the creation of the CD. Here's why:
Back in the day, or when I was a little prince, we had ALBUMS that could only fit 7-8 songs. Seems like artists back then strove to make sure those few songs packed creative punch. And much love to cats like Issac Hayes who would release an album of 1 2 3 4 solid soul cuts!!!
But then the CD came out it was like "what do do with the extra space" Use to be, you'd get a bonus cut not available on the CASSETTE (holla if ya hear me) or an "extended remix/club version" (sorry Diddy, u aint make that ish up!).
NOW though, you get a CD with 2-3 good songs and 17 filler tracks. Its rare when u find a CD now in 2008 that you can enjoy ALL THE WAY THROUGH. Makes me miss the 3.50 cent singles.
peace
daprinceofhiphopsoul | April 23, 2008 2:30 PM | PermalinkI like what I read, showing that its not just one single thing it is the collective or combination of any of these 25 listed reason. I also know that there are far more than the 25 reasons listed.
Keep saying the truth and hopefully we all will wake up and listen.
AfterSixProductions "A6P"
AfterSixProductions | April 23, 2008 1:42 PM | Permalink'Nuff Said.
sdg1844 | April 23, 2008 11:02 AM | PermalinkAlthough you covered a lot of ground - and all of it spot on - you omitted the worst offender: The Fake Performer.
Gone are the days when you'd search the afternoon and late night talk shows to catch someone actually 'singing' a song. Now it's either an exact recreation of a studio track or a music video reproduction (with a reduced squadron of dancers gyrating on a tiny stage.
Even the talented singers who are still out there are seem too afraid to ever perform live. Truth is, most of them shouldn't simply because audiences at home wouldn't be able to sing along.
Great Post.
tezza | April 23, 2008 10:53 AM | PermalinkExcellent article man.... I couldn't have said it better myself. The problem today is the music industry is consumed with making a quick dollar. Simple music without much thought or originality behind it makes it easier for artists and labels to put out music quicker and easier for the mainstream music fan to digest. It's a win/win economical success, but its hurting the musical art form and making true music fans suffer in the meantime by not allowing "real" music to be heard.
Kevin Nottingham | April 23, 2008 9:26 AM | PermalinkEh . . . I'm getting tired of reading the invocation of the death of Tupac and Biggie. The current trends in hip hop had more to do with the increasing expenses of sampling than it had to do with their stardom. Well, in death, musicians' standing are often overstated.
The rest of the list, good stuff.
Mark Mays | April 23, 2008 1:51 AM | PermalinkLove this post, Every one of those points is so true. #12 makes me sad cuz I used to like BET when they would play artist that were different like sy smith and cherokee ,but now they just play the same crap constantly. and #25 I know you're right about that one cuz I have a teenage neice that listens to some of the worse music I've ever heard and If I ask her why she listen's to it she doesn't know why! I swear it's like she's being brainwashed (LOL) but, like Jnez said I've had to introduce her to some of the music I listened to growing up.
LissaLin | April 23, 2008 1:09 AM | Permalink"Although it can be argued that record companies rely on blogs for buzz, most of the music championed by popular websites is the same music that would've gotten attention anyway."
Very true
Love | April 22, 2008 10:40 PM | Permalinkwow this is a well thought out, researched and sequenced post man. I agree with all of your arguments and more times than I could count I found myself shaking my head wistfully. it truly is another era in music now, where what's popular has truly become fragmented. But I'm not gonna whine about the way things were when I was a teenager because i still have access to the music I came of age with and have introduced it to a new generation. I love the opportunity to cherry-pick the music I want thanks to itunes and ipods, so even though the industry as we knew it has tanked, i'm over here oblivious to the downtrend and so grateful for an ability to filter my music that 20 years ago wasn't even imaginable.
thanks again for an excellent summary of the past two decades or so in music man!
JNez | April 22, 2008 9:28 PM | PermalinkExcellent post Saucy N. There's really nothing left to be said. You're totally on point with 1-25.
Glad Stylus commented on this. It's important that we heard the DJ's perspective. Also absolutely right.
Vivrant Thang | April 22, 2008 8:50 PM | PermalinkIt's not back in the day anymore.
I break records to progressive crowds all the time. I don't have to say what it is, folks will rush the booth and ask me for the titles. Hell, they'll pull out their phones and record a memo for themselves. They'll even show up a month later or email me tawnbout "Your remember that joint you played that went _________? What's that called?" I've become well known in my little sphere of influence as the guy that broke THAT song.
But mainstream clubs?
No.
Well, maybe if it's eaaarly... like happy hour time.
Or if you're a big star. In that case they're not coming to hear you rock the party, they're there for celebrity worship, but that's another gripe. You could fart into your the mic, capture it in Serato and do a transform scratch on it and the crowd will cheer.
Otherwise, if it's peak time or immediately leading up to it? Stick to the hits or crash & burn.
DJStylus | April 22, 2008 8:32 PM | Permalinkwell worth me reposting on myspace/fb whereever
now who needs mags tho when we have real bloggers?
and really I think DJs dont take the time to force hot music like the radio does, if I was still spinning,I'd be introing the song in the hot middle of the heat at my party (back in the day when they weren't simply living out their music video fantasies) and MAKE DEM KNOW DI TUNE! and then the subsequent weeks they'd hear the tune until it hits outside of my party and they'd know that I was the one that BUS DI TUNE.. anyway..
where is the shit going now with 25 crucial factors sucking the life out of it?
brandon | April 22, 2008 7:00 PM | PermalinkI agree with all 25
Brown Suga | April 22, 2008 5:47 PM | Permalink@DJStylus:
I totally understand. I'm 21, and everyone ask me why I don't go out. Why pay over $15 to hear music I can hear on the radio every 15 mins?
Mr. Lowe | April 22, 2008 5:14 PM | PermalinkYo.....I got to say that this is exactly the type of criticism in music that I have been searching for. I'm sure, so many true music lovers echo these sentiments, I know I sure did. Its a shame that with all music, artists and the whatnot have really turned their backs on music history. And instead of embracing it and educating the masses....producers, labels, and the like (its hard to know who is really at fault)have instead chose to re-write and dumb it down. Now the music biz is like vegas with a simple bet on black reaping huge returns. One area you did miss was the new trend in soul music which is having a non-black artist sing like Aretha Franklin......sigh!!! While the black artist churn out uber synthesized, vocally devoid pop yarns.
EP | April 22, 2008 4:58 PM | Permalink::clapping::
Good stuff!
MarvalusOne | April 22, 2008 4:41 PM | PermalinkGetting beyond the fact that I obviously have issues, the list is solid. I emphatically co-sign on #11 and #22.
DJStylus | April 22, 2008 4:26 PM | PermalinkGonna take a while to digest this one. Excellent post.
rkj | April 22, 2008 4:24 PM | PermalinkYou are so saucy there, Nova.
I agree with all 25. I am trying to think of what Urban Music would be like today without these things, and it's hard to figure that out.
Liz | April 22, 2008 4:19 PM | PermalinkGreat post and I agree with all 25! Especially #25! Its amazing that at just 21 my taste in music is so different than what's popular right now.
0731 | April 22, 2008 4:00 PM | PermalinkGenius!!!! So on point. You have got to do more like these.
Thadd | April 22, 2008 3:59 PM | PermalinkIf you can't say "amen" say "ouch."
V-tini | April 22, 2008 3:59 PM | PermalinkRe: 14...
Any DJ trying to break a record in a mainstream club will not be employed for long. No one wants to hear anything that hasn't already been crammed down their throats. And club owners micro-manage the shit out of you. Blaming DJs in this context is like blaming on-air hosts for the terrible music programming of their stations.
As a DJ, if you drop the biggest hit on the planet, BEFORE the mass media has had a chance to brainwash people with it, it will flop like Paulus. I've experienced this many times over the years. Of course once the record is unleashed on the masses you will be pretty much attacked in the booth all night by folks clamoring to request it.
Most folks that go to clubs these days are just stupid.
I came up in the days of going to the club to hear something I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE. Nowadays when I dispense face crack by turning down requests, bammass be like "I've got my iPod".
??!!!??
So I don't play those gigs anymore. But I'm also still pretty unknown compared to the years I've been in the game and I don't make much loot. I get to play what I want but it's usually an exercise in preaching to the choir. Fun, but not a career.
DJStylus | April 22, 2008 3:38 PM | PermalinkPreach it, my brother. PREACH IT!!!!
john murph | April 22, 2008 3:29 PM | Permalink