The Truth 2.0

As a Crusader for Independence of art from Major Label control, I once again get reminded of what these Major Labels are all about. Cleveland Rapper Kid Cudi took to Twitter to Lash out at his label Universal Republic only shipping 55,000 copies of his new project WZRD. He also blamed them for lack of promotion and he says that they tried to rush him to put out another Man on the Moon Album. Now I feel that this whole I can play tough guy image on twitter is Non-Sense because its clear that if there is a disagreement between Major Label and Artist the LABEL WINS. Its called the power of the purse. Young Jeezy and Lupe Fiasco fell victim to similar circumstances and Kid Cudi isn't half as popular as either artist. So I think when you sign on the dotted line for these major record deals you put yourself at the mercy of whatever they say. If you stay independent you get more of your own money, you control what every you put out, and with the various strides made in technology you sell just as much (if not more) than a Major label artist like (Mac Miller, Lil B, Tyler the Creator). So again I urge all artists to stay independent as long as you can. Unless of course you get a Major deal that's similar to a Master P distribution deal...... If that happens you take it and you run with it  

Rico Love's Tough Love to Aspiring Artists

Today I was on Future Producers and I ran into this thread about Rico Love a hit song writer and producer's V-Blog on aspiring artis. In a nut-shell he advises anyone who even thinks about quiting to go head and quit. I totally agree with this because their is too many people that are trying to arrive at success when success is an on going never ending process. Everyone sees their talent and compare it to the next man's talent and figure, that alone makes me good enough to make it........ WRONG!!!!!!! The one thing I learned in life early on is that the hardest worker will always beat out Talent and if you think about quiting because your not where you think your talent should be that that speaks to your Character. I believe that Rico Love's Tough Love is what every Artist needs to hear and just like in anything in life Only The Strong Survive

Lil Wayne Speaks the Truth



I remember when I was about 16 years old me and my friend would argue back and forth about the best rappers. I would constantly tell him about Nas and he would argue Lil Wayne. I never was a Lil Wayne fan but I respected him because of his impact he had on the Mixtapes and the south. But, in recent months I have begin to become a bit of a Lil Wayne fan.... Mainly because of his willingness to tell the truth about recent trends like the "Everything tatted Trend" and Even the "Long Dread don't Care Trend" in the Early 2000's. I feel like he started all of those trends (The tattoo one can be argued) but he definatly popularized the Dreads. People can argue what they want but people didn't start Dreading their hair up until lil wayne started it in the Late 90's early 2000's. I also believe the skateboarding trend as well. In the End we live in an Era where Careers will be forgotten and no one gives credit where credit is deserved, but I applaud Wayne for addressing the issue of people doing things and not acknowleging why they do them. I feel that If more people would take the time out to really examine why their making the decisions they make people would make more informed decisions.

The Truth

I believe that the problem with our generation and music is rooted in the fact that we don't consume different genres of music. Today music is segmented, so it gives people the perception that you consume a lot of different type of music but its more than likely the same genre. For instance, Rock has (progressive, punk, metal, heavy metal, grunge, etc) they are all segments of the Rock umbrella. The problem is that the person who says they listen to all these segments believes they listen to all types of music which is false. I listen to Jazz, Hip Hop, Rock, Reggae, and Go go which the latter is a music which is indigenous to my hometown Washington, DC. I was fortunate to be introduced to Jazz by my college teacher and a good friend exposed me to Rock music, but some people will live and die only listening to Hip Hop and R&B and that is the saddest thing in life..............

The Foundation

Rhythm and Reason Is an Organization who’s name orginates from my favorite movie Rhyme and Reason. In the movie I was inspired by the way that The pioneering artists supported the Hip Hop movement In particular the scene when Grand Master Caz was explaining how they would host free block parties and people Artists would Quote ” Lose more money doing Hip Hop than they would Make.” I based my organization on the principles of Artists supporting artists on campus. I currently reside at UMES and I have effectively helped many artists network and create partnerships with other artists and organizations. So far we have hosted campus shows and Open Mics and we have had some success. Our end goal is to Unite each campus community together through artistic expression the same way that Hip Hop early on in the movie and also to help inform and one day erradicate the issue within the movie rhyme and reason.

Shades of Me

Shades of Me

I love my Organization Rhythm & Reason. I’ve come to learn that their really isn’t another organization that is quite like mine on any college campus. Im slowly learning how to be a leader, and one of the things I am going to work more on is implementing my vision and really puting my stamp on this organization. I garnered a lot of respect for the things I’ve been able to do thus far and I know that we are ready to take that next step. I want Rhythm & Reason to represent the underground artists and the current movement of independency in all art. This will be in conjuction with our community service initiative. I want to eventually group mentor kids and at risk youth in every comunity that we reside in. I feel like The art today doesn’t get the support it should get because of the overall disconnect that most artists (visual, vocal, musical, etc) lack a true presence in the community. Rappers call it “street cred” but that refers to gangsterism which is ingnorant to me. But the premise of “street cred” which is the support of ones community is still very important. I feel that people would be more loyal to artist that care about the communities they come from. I wouldn’t bootleg an album from an artist who came down to my recreation center and talked to us. I would pay the extra money to see a show from an Artist who was giving his time to a cause of some sort. I want Rhythm & Reason to bring artists back to the community and help them establish a fan base through more than just Art.