To start with, i didnt want to infiltrate everyones lives on facebook, twitter or any other social media so i thought i'd write my thoughts down on the blog (since originally thats what blogs were specifically used for).
The following is an OPINION, not an 'I know more about Hip Hop than you" one sided arguement, because there are a lot of people who know more about it than me, so just look at this as it is, an opinion.
Here goes nothing;
Lately, i have kept myself out of the making music loop which has been difficult to not get any emotion out in production form, BUT it has allowed to to look at the whole scene in an unbiased way and for that i am thankful to myself for staying away for a while.
What i have seen, sometimes i find shocking and ridiculous, others i cant stress enough that good things are happening and i will try to explain what i mean by that..
Basically, i remember first getting into music production, LUCKILY for me i had some good friends and somewhat well known connections (in their respective market that is), who happen to still be good friends and others i have lost contact with. (Samuel Tafari, Jim Reaper, Edd Bundy mainly but the names are not the point..) SO i pretty much think i was eased into a scene that a huge chunk depends on who you know, not what you know.
For example, if you are NEW to Hip Hop aka you have no connections, you just like writing lyrics and making beats, to get into the scene takes ground work, messaging people on Facebook (yes, i know, youve all done it, so have i), hoping that theyll be generous to give you a free beat or a free verse to help your cause, or the price is cheap enough you wont have to go out robbing for the money. Then the name of that person you spread around like wild fire "i just recorded a track with (random person)" and hope that said person will also share the song around to their friends to open you up to a whole new selection of people to work with.
There's positives and negatives to it, everyone will know youve bought a verse, if its of a particular high calibre you'll be another "look at that rich kid buying verses to try and get a rap name" (producer or emcee) case, but if you DON'T try and connect with people you can never move forward, you will never be heard by a wider range of people, you will never build with anyone out of your immediate circle, which to think of is fine until only 5 people turn up to your show, because theyre the only people who know who you are.
This will happen to everybody UNLESS they have a foot in really, or they make a name on the battle scene or they perform all the time at open mics, street cyphers etc but thats less likely.
Everybody wants to be at that level, and most get up the a reasonable level with reasonable features and reasonable fans... is that a good thing? is it right? does it show that underground Hip Hop is respectable? no... infact, HELL no. Does it happen? Will it continue to happen? Will people continue to complain about it? Yes, of course.
Every high calibre emcee/producer needs money, and dropping basic throw away verses for 200+ dollars is paying for all the shit they want. A lot emcees/producers who WANT to be at that level that they can start charging for things, will continue to pay these guys to look as though they are "working" with them. So really its a vicious circle and nothing is ever going to change, so its more about embracing it, and understanding that most people who dont deserve it will find a way of being up there somehow.
ON THE OTHER HAND, so many people don't want to promote another emcees or producers work unless they promoted theirs first, or and emcee won't even click on a link of another emcee because they generally dont care, they dont even want to hear it, regardless of whether its good or not...
Just showing the state of the scene as every man/woman for themselves, and the constant change in "fans" becoming "musicians" because they have illegally downloaded fruity loops or went out and bought maschine, anyone can do anything.
I guess that technology is to blame, but ill go into it more in the future... part 1 of my random thoughts over.
Mysti.
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