Music Revival

So its been almost three months since I've posted on here. Chalk that up to massive amounts of overtime at work. No human should have to work 60 hours in one week, especially at a factory. Enough complaining though, that's the difference between doers and never-doers... If that even makes sense. Anyways...

Seeing as how I had only done about 3 beats this whole summer, I think I'm about to throw myself back into music head first, with a nice little sprint to start off with. Actually, I've already started running, too. Just yesterday, I drove up to D.C. with J Mack for the "Million DJ March". Originally set up to be a National Mall event, they had to change the venue at the last minute and move it to the Bohemian Cavern in NW D.C. Had to hit up MapQuest hard for that one.

The event itself was pretty live, even though it probably wasn't the magnitude the organizers had set out to accomplish. But still, getting out and seeing some nice performances from up-and-coming rappers and singers from the DMV and surrounding states was worth it. Great atmosphere too, everyone getting along, networking, moving cd's and promotional materials... There was even a guy outside with an MPC hooked up to a speaker, doing beats live with people around him going off the top. Good stuff, good stuff...

We'll be looking for more events like this too now that work is slowing down, and we can get back into the music scene. I'll be posting anything I come across on here as well, try to spread the word about what we find. So yup, it's about time to fire up the old keyboard and drum machine...

Tools of the Trade

Seeing as how this is supposed to be a blog about hip hop production, and I haven't really been discussing hip hop production that much.... Well, I think I should. I've had a lot of people ask me what kind of programs and equipment I use to make beats, so I think I'll take a few minutes and discuss just that.

FL Studio, also known as Fruity Loops. Yes, you REALLY CAN make professional quality beats with this software. *GASP* But seriously though, FL Studio has a reputation for being beginner's software. To be honest, it's just that. BUT..... It's also used by intermediate and expert producers also. Its ease of use, great GUI design and tools is what makes FL Studio my weapon of choice. Some say that its more interesting to bang out on the pads, or flex fingers on the keys, as opposed to clicking. Hence the reason I use a
Behringer U Control UMX 61. A 61 key midi keyboard, in English. Great setup, lightweight, many features for midi control for any midi-capable program. Big shout-out to S Black for hooking me up with this. Works wonderfully through FL Studio for laying downs melodies and also tapping out drums.

Formerly known as Cool Edit Pro, this powerful software serves many purposes. The main uses I get out of it are recording my vinyl to pc, chopping up and editing samples, and mixing down vocals for artists whose songs I've recorded. Adobe Audition also features VST and DXI compatibility. Great for plug ins like


Waves Audio. Some of the best and most effective audio editing plug ins that exist. Whether adding simple effects to a drum track, or mastering a complete cd, Waves should be the tool of choice for software audio producers and engineers. Tools such as the UltraMaximizer, MaxxBass, and PAZ Analyzer are powerful, efficient, and most importantly great sounding.

In my next installment I believe I shall go over a few more vst's that I use to compose with. SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

Peace

Producing vs. Singing/Rapping

I go through phases with my music. I'm currently in the "lack of inspiration" phase. I've made one beat in the past few months. While I have been doing a lot of recording and mixing these past few months, I still really have no motivation to hit the keys. I tried to work on something earlier but it never materialized. This made me think of the differences in those that create the instrumentation and those that write and perform the lyrics.

I started off back in high school rapping in a group called 5-N-0 (like a sports record). There was only ever four of us though, the fifth guy was always M.I.A. We caught a lot of jokes about that, let me tell you... LOL. Being in that group was what got me into producing, though. We needed original beats, so I started to hone my talent on the boards. I've come a loooong way since then, but I'm still nowhere near where I would like to be. But anyways, I'm rambling...

What I'm getting at is that back in my performance/song-writing days, I almost always wrote to my own beats. Still the same way now. But as I come across so many talented producers on the web, hearing what they've created makes me think about writing and rapping to it, something I've never really done before. I also think about what goes into making a successful artist-

• Singing or rapping talent
  
• Attractiveness (Sex Sells)
  
• Personality/Swagger
  
• Intelligence
  
• Business Minded
  
• Songwriting Talent (optional)
  

Well, intelligence and business minded are optional too. You can always pay someone else to write for you, think for you, and take care of your assets. Self made musicians with all of these qualities are rare, and to be honest a lot of the major label recording artists you see aren't as talented as you think. A producer basically needs only one skill though- an ear for music. To be a successful, that skill must be sharp as all hell.

So when I think of becoming a full time rapper, I just think about what kind of personality, swagger, business, looks, and talent it takes to succeed. I eventually realize that its not so much for me. I have the confidence that I could get somewhere if I put tons of effort into it, but at the end of the day what my idea of good music is can vary drastically from what commercial music sells to the masses. I'll just stay back here in the shadows where I belong.

"Soul" Music

Seeing as how I've been a grumpy old ranting man lately, I think I'll change up the pace of this blog. I got the urge earlier today to make a list of music I've been into for the past year or so. Here we go-

Jay Z - American Gangster. Based loosely on the movie of the same name, which is also my favorite recent movie. As far as lyrics, the production value, the overall flow of this cd, in my opinion nothing in the last few years comes close to this one. "Watchin' Eric Estrada, baggin' up at the Ramada. Table full of powder. AC broke, bout to take another shower on my 25th hour." That line sums up the entire cd.

Prodigy - Return of the Mac. Ok, this is more of a mixtape, or so he says. The precursor to H.N.I.C. 2. But even so, that grimy raw New York sound keeps this one steady bumpin' in my rotation. From the dope production of the Alchemist, to the gritty tales of crime and woe that Prodigy spits, ROTM is a must for heads like me.

Ghostface Killah - The Big Doe Rehab. GFK is another New York artist that always comes hard with both raw beats and fly lyrics. With wallabies, furs and plenty of nose candy, Ghostface is constantly bringing style to the table, right along side of tales from the street. The perfect blend too, if I may say so. Even though Fishscale came out a few years back, that one is still on rotation too. Big Girl is still my ish.

So what do these albums have in common? Besides being New York rappers, all whom have been out for years now, these three albums to me is what should define hip hop. Dope beats, dope rhymes, in the words of Little Brother. Also, they all have SOUL. And not just soul samples, which they all have plenty of. Every artist comes hard with emotion, honesty, and feeling with their music. To me, that's soul.

Ohhhh yeah, a few more cd's that I should have added to the list-

Kanye West - Graduation
Little Brother - Getback
Lupe Fiasco - The Cool
Scarface - Made
Pete Rock - NY's Finest
Clipse - Hell Hath No Fury

Ya Heard.

Schoolin' these young cats...

Over these last 4 years I've been producing, I've learned more about music and life in general than I ever really cared to know. This is a shady, lowdown dirty, grimy business we're in. I'm trying to get a few points across to people new to the game, and also get some shit off my chest thats been bothering me lately.

One of my biggest things is that nothing is ORIGINAL anymore. Whether its the same exact type of songs over and over, or the countless stories about BIG NAME SO AND SO getting his chain snatched, its all so damn old. No wonder the music industry is in the can. With the decline in the quality of music being produced, the value of the product also declines. Therefore, simple economics takes place. We need more innovation and less note repeat snare rolls.

A lot of new guys coming to this music thing, and even some that have been doing "music" for years now, are clueless about actually making money from it. For example, I've recorded enough material for a few local artists to put whole albums out, and I even went as far as to get FREE beats and FREE album covers for them. What do they do in return? Nothing. Yeah yeah I know you got bills, and you have to have the newest air forces and brand new Evisu's, your album can wait. Can't risk losing those new 22's for some ole album you just spent 5 months working on.

Its easy as hell nowadays to make beats. What we are doing is NOTHING SPECIAL. Producing software is currently cheap as hell, even hardware is at a great price now. You know what it takes to be a great producer? Dedication. Commitment. Knowledge. Motivation. So go ahead and take your drum kit loops and your gated synths and your 808 claps and sell em to MC so and so for $20. I bet he'll be the talk of the block with his newest single "Basement Ballin".

Sidewalk-sized Vent

I want to take a few minutes to get some things off my chest, for lack of a better phrase. Usually I'm not the kind of person to let things get to me, or dwell on the negative; it causes unnecessary stress and headaches (which I actually have right now, surprise...). Maybe if I treat myself to some good-ole keyboard therapy, lets see if that helps. I have a lot to rant about, so bear with me.

Money is a big issue to me, like most of us working class tax-paying citizens. One day I hope to be financially secure and not have to worry about bills, job security, etc., but for now I must cope. The place I work at isn't too horribly bad, despite what you may have heard from my previous blog. It does leave much to be desired for, though. It would be nice to work in a cool air conditioned building, sitting down all day in front of a computer or behind a mixing board. Leaving after being there for ONLY 8 HOURS would be nice too. But no. Not for me.

Music isn't going anywhere fast. Well, at least not for me. For anyone out there that does make money from their music, you should fell very blessed. There are so many of us that can only dream of doing such. That brings me to another problem, actually. There are too many of us doing the same thing. The producing market is WAY TOOOOO saturated. My only guess is that every "musically-inclined" high school student in the past 3 years went out and bought or downloaded a copy of FL Studio, threw a few drum loops together and now call their self a producer. Pfftt.... Producing is more about paying dues, amassing musical knowledge, and having mixing and recording skills. Trust me, there IS a difference in a beat-maker and a producer. The next time someone claims to be a "producer", ask them to hear completed songs that they've produced. Or better yet, ask them how many copy writes they have. Aww-ready.

One more thing before I let you go today. I got paid today, and seeing that my gas gauge was yelling at me about being so low, I decided to mosey on up to the old BP station. Low and behold, I see that a gallon of gas has gone up another 40 CENT since I last got it a week ago. v_v
There are videos on youtube about how the middle-easterner oil sheiks live. Everything you see in those videos, like the mutli-million dollar mansions, the Rolls Royce's and Ferrari's, lavish lifestyles they live- WE PAY FOR THAT. We are the ones that buy their ultra-luxury cars and colossal palaces. I wish more people would look at the BIG PICTURE and see that we as a nation need to be more independent. Why are we making foreigner countries wealthy, but at the same time going into an economic recession?

Oh well, back to another wonderful day at work. Oh joy.

*sigh*

Back to the Factory

So, back to work today. Hoooo-ray. Oh well, we have to eat somehow. And until this music thing I'm gambling on starts to get me somewhere, I'll be pulling this 7-7 for awhile. No 9-5 for me. Just three or four long, boring 12-hr shifts every week. Decent pay, but the work itself is bollocks. So for all you employees out there complaining about sitting at a computer for 8 hours straight, why not come work with me?!

THIS IS MADNESS!!!

I often say that to myself when I'm at my place of employment. Before I started working there, we were bought out by a company not quite as large as the previous company. In fact, I don't even think the stock for our company is traded on the market. Its more of an investment group type company, mainly focused on making a large profit margin. In order to do that, so far this year they have canceled our perfect attendance bonus, taken away their 401-k matching (which really isn't so bad, because a lot of companies don't even offer 401-k matching from what I've heard), and also they won't be handing out free turkeys at thanksgiving anymore... DID YOU HEAR THAT?!? GAAAHHHH, NOT THE FREE TURKEYS.

So what could possibly be next, I wonder. Maybe a pay cut, because our factory is one of the highest paying in the company. Or possibly layoffs when things slow down this winter. This is what I have to look forward to. Guess I better get on the ball with this music career, eh?

Let the Bloggings begin!

So I'm just sitting here bored, been off from work all week on vacation, and I've decided to create a blog. What do people with blogs usually write about? Doesn't matter, I guess. I'll start off on something I know the most about- me.

Chheeaaa......

First and foremost, I do music producing, recording, mixing, writing... Almost anything having to do with music. Really just hip-hop and rap right now, but other genres in the future if I ever get the urge. Thats about the most exciting thing about me right now....

OHHHHHHH

My website! Not online yet, but when it is it's going to be a site for the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region, with music news and events, featured local artists, and forums for artists, producers, and fans to network on. Basically the site itself is finished, I just need the capital to put it online. A friend of mine suggested hitting up local area businesses and offering advertising space, which is a good idea. If anyone else has suggestions, feel free to hit me up!

Stl5n0@gmail.com

More about me and my wonderful world later. Adios...

*Shameless self-plug*

www.soundclick.com/naproductions