I know what your thinking, “I thought you said your official rap name was Troy Buchanan?” It is, but I have also go by Troy Buck. The “Buck” suffix is one my brother and I have carried since our premature years in music and still do till this day. Troy Buck also describes a person who is slightly different from Troy Buchanan on a song (I love talking about myself in the third person by the way). He’s a little more risqué, rebellious, and a true artist. That is who emerges on the next mixtape which the new song below is featured.
When one releases their first collection of music to the world they learn much in the process. New artists go through a lot. Aside from the emotions and weariness of wondering whether people will like your music, and also battling the vengeance of proving those who wrote you off, while not letting that emotion get the best of you – you can also learn quite a bit.
Personally, the three most important things that I learned from Listen To My Tape were: patience and true perseverance. In my eyes, Listen To My Tape was a success. It was a classic collection of music, and by classic I mean, 5 years from now, If I play it back, the quality of the music will still hold up. Which is exceptional, for a new artist who put it together by himself (while getting some help from his brother), acting as his personal manager and promoter. Not many people can take on the roles of being artist, studio staff, manager, and booking agent and PR rep. It’s not easy by any means. It’s a lot of work. I was able to see my way through so much while recording this second mixtape. I wrote and recorded about 20 songs in 6 months. Of course, there won’t be 20 songs on the tape, some just don’t fit the theme that I have created.
What I have for you below kind of isn’t fair – it’s a tease. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a full song, but I want you to know it’s just a taste of what’s to come: representation for 3 new songs that you will be getting up to the release of Thoughtfully Crazy. And I promise, not one of them will disappoint. The first two songs will be up for free download, while the third will be the first official single on iTunes for myself, as an artist, and my label, Stereo Hall Records, LLC. Fall of 2010 will not leave without Troy Buchanan getting another shot to show the world that he is really serious about his music.
I’m showing you what I’ve got.
So without further adieu, my new single, Like A Dream featuring my brother, Sean Buck.
Like A Dream
Troy Buchanan feat. Sean Buck
Producer: Unknown
Engineered/Mixed by: Troy Buchanan
Sure that’s a bit crass but the words mean something. They had to come from somewhere. Some emotion or situation sparked inside this man that caused him to make a song about telling a girl to fuck off. I never believed in censorship. If someone wants to use those words to get their point across, than dammit, they have the right to do so. The pun was intended.
The song gives me chills every time I hear it. It hits so close to home, emotionally. It’s also such a masterpiece of a song. In an interview, Cee-Lo said that he feels the song is a work of art. I totally agree with him. It sounds like what could be the biggest song of the year, if not the song to set off the next decade expression art in music. I don’t think I’ve heard anything like this in quite some time. I also believe you probably couldn’t have released a song like this 10 years ago, hell, 5 years ago… Goes to show you how far we have come.
I heard the song when it first leaked to the internet and I was immediately a fan, but I was more curious what kind of visuals would come along to accompany the sound. What you see below, did not disappoint me. It’s classic Cee-Lo. It has some artistic value to it that is Cee-Lo Green, but most importantly its fun. If I can try to draw the right conclusion about the song and video, is that it’s not meant to be taken too seriously, but what’s awesome about the song title is that there is so much meaning behind it. When you say those words in any fashion, you mean something within it. It is the best balance between art/emotional, intention/execution, I have seen in a long time. I applaud him. He’s always been a real talent, and he never disappoints me. His voice and delivery alone on the track is something to marvel.
Clark Gable is the name of the song. J Nic$ is the name of the artist. The video is golden. I say golden because it carries you back to a young Hollywood, where stars such as Clark Gable once held the throne as the “it” guy. Right now, in Miami, J Nic$ and his comrades of the C9 group/movement, Phresh James, Sean Buck and Lil Champ with Fresh N3rd at the helm, are making a strong presence that can’t be ignored. As their fellow rapper who hails from 561 and has lived in the 954 and happens to support the 305 as well (but oddly no longer resides in either) I consider myself a nomad rapper. One that has talent and sees talent everywhere I go; I become fascinated in our generation of entertainment. It’s refreshingly new. I’m confident enough to say I have what it takes, and I see what I am out to accomplish and I can only hope that it carves out a nook deep enough to make a difference in this thing we call Hip Hop with Stereo Hall Records. C9 is out to do the same. Strength in numbers is their motto. That is the wonderful thing about our generation, we are all self-starters. We don’t give a damn about the esablishments. We pay our respects and our dues (at least I do) and then we let it be know that we are apart of this now. They must share the land, or we will take it.
There is so much music out right now. So much art. So many new filmmakers. Much of it is actually good. There is still a lot of art out there that is, well, just not that good. On the reverse, there are more artists that will be influential than center of amusement. That, I find just awesome. I think that it will be the first to happen that way in a very long time.
J Nic$ is definitely next up in Miami. This video shows something new and different. It think it should be embraced and congratulated. Toast to C9 from TroyB Arthouse/Stereo Hall Records. Salud!
This is one hell of a painting. I can’t stop watching this. It’s so cool. The symmetry and asymmetry in one. The art references, the color, the shooting techniques. How can you not like this?
Kanye West- Power
Directed by: Marco Brambilla
This is why I can’t stop pursuing music. Not only music, but showing the world that I am an artist. No matter what medium I will end up creating in, it will change how you see everything. I promise that. I love art, and I always said that, “Art is everything.”
The release of my next mixtape will be the start of it all. Thoughtfully Crazy- I don’t think they understand me. They probably think I’m crazy. If the shoe fits. So be it. Crazy with good intentions. I don’t think they really understand what I am trying to do. Well, the only way for them to get it. Is to show them. This fall, everything changes. But, since Kanye is in a better position than I am, I’ll let clear the path for me. You have to follow in someone’s footsteps. Most cases, when you do, it’s of someone who has lead. How else would you know how to be a leader? How else would you know how to evolve on what was already done? How will you ever know where you stand, if you don’t put yourself behind who is now, so that you can be next?
I couldn’t resist posting this. After I heard the “Free Mason” song off of Rick Ross’ new album for the first time, waiting to hear Jay-Z’s verse (knowing that he wrote it on the spot, in his head, when Rick Ross played the beat for him backstage after he finished his performance) my head dropped backwards. Just incredible. Excuse me, amazing. It’s a testament to why he is, in my opinion, the greatest rapper living. It’s not just his skill that I feel grants him that title. It’s everything he embodies. He’s an a artist, an orator, a self made millionaire, and probably one of few rappers who have held onto their integrity throughout their entire career. He has been, and will always remain my favorite rapper. Always. And for many reasons that extend beyond fanatics or obsession. He’s someone to look up to. A life influence. Someone who I felt made sense to aspire to be like. Better put, a black man who I felt was important to look up to. We don’t have too many of those left, you know? Rappers have such bad stereotypes that surround them, but when one comes along and has grown up in the industry, showing that you rise from literally nothing and be something, and have class. Most importantly, be respected universally for it. And by universally, I mean acceptance by the white culture. It may sound biased or one sided, but from the perspective of a young black man, that is a big deal. When you are accepted and respected by blacks as a good representative for them, and then whites – you’ve made it.
I can now add Obama to the list of someone to look up to and aspire to be like. But before Obama, for me, it was Jay-Z.
Side-note: This verse is in response to accusations that Jay-Z is a Freemason or “Devil Worshiper” after he released the video for “On To The Next One”
Niggas couldn't do nothing with me
they put the devil on me
I would have preferred if niggas squeeze the metal on me
Rumours of Lucifer
I don't know who to trust
whole world want my demise, turn my music up
here me clearly, if y'all niggas fear me
just say y'all fear me
fuck all these fairy tales
go to hell
This is God engineering
This is a Hail Mary pass
y'all interfering
he without sin shall cast the first stone
so y'all look in the mirror
double check your appearance
bitch I said I was amazing
Not that I'm a Mason
It's amazing that I made it though the maze that I was in
Lord forgive me I never would've made it without sin
Holy water my face in the basin
Diamonds in my Rosary shows He forgave him
Bitch I'm red hot, I'm on my third six, but the devil I'm not
My Jesus peice flooded but thou shall not covet
keep your eyes off my cupboard I'm a bad motherfucker
it's HOV
just say you love it
I’m sorry but that up there, is fucking poetry. You can’t deny it.
Take a listen:
“Free Mason” Rick Ross feat Jay-Z and John Legend
… as she has requested us to call her. Though most know her as Lauryn Hill, or L Boogie – one third of the legendary group, The Fugees, and the most talented female emcee to ever grace hip hop music. Ever. It’s arguable, but I strongly believe this, and I stand firmly behind it.
She has now, finally, after years of self exile from music, returned to recording. I don’t know if this song is new or maybe something she has been sitting on, but it’s so damn relaxing to hear her voice once again. This song is new to my ears so I’m going to call it new. I read in an interview she had with Hip Hop DX, not too long ago, that she has decided to return to recording music and was planning a body of work for release. I’m not how sure how long ago she decided this, because she could have been recording for years and has just sat on it, waiting for the right moment to give it to the world. I often belive this of artists, the fact that they never stop doing thier craft. It’s impossible for me to believe that one can just leave something as cherished as their craft cold turkey. So, that’s why I say, maybe she has been holding on this. It’s a gem and a wonderful taste of what is to come.
Of course Kanye beat me to it, and had it on his blog first. But, what else would I expect? The man is connected in the music world. I would expect him to be the first person all over this song. I mean, he did say that Lauryn’s solo debut, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” was the direct inspiration to “The College Dropout,” and you know what? I’m glad it was. Nevertheless, I feel that it belongs on my blog too. I would like to share this beautiful teaser with you all. I present, the second brith of Lauryn Hill (excuse me, Ms. Hill) with:
Repercussions (2010?)
It’s an old picture…but, I love this one of her. That is a beautiful black women right there.
Very few rappers can use their lyrics to illustrate a story on a level that commands your minds capabilities for visual manifestaion. Not to say that any rapper is better than another because they can do this, I’m more or less saying that it’s a skill that’s tough to master. It’s a combination of being a good storyteller and having the vocabulary to speak using the least amount of words possible that offer a visual intensity to get the point across. Some of the best to ever do this, in my opinion are Nas, Slick Rick, The Notorious B.I.G, Jay-Z, and Ghostface Killah.
My fellow rap peer of Miami, FL., J Nic$ offers his latest chapter on what he describes as Gotham City in his newest single ”The Illustration.” It’s a very cold song and the tone is erie. I personally love it. Its produced by Mr. Familiar. I’m sure this is not the last collaboration with these two guys. I invite you to hear and view “The Illustration” by young J Nic$.
I’m sure when my parents, or your parents, where kids, their parents said to them (still with me?), “This generation, they think they know everything. This music is crap now, all they do is spend time in front of the idiot box ( the TV. In fact our present idiot box is the computer and internet), and they dress like some rebels (gotta love hipsters). Rebels. Huh? Do they even know what they’re rebelling against? No damn cause at all…” I could go on, but I’m sure you’re catching my drift. I personally, often wonder about my own generation. I see so many brilliant minds in the making, but the I look to the right and I see a so many others who are confused without their own acknowledgement of being confused. As I get older and become more aware and mature ( I can only hope that I am) I see so many of my peers who out for causes they don’t understand, and jump on bandwagons and have no idea where it’s heading. They follow trends “just because” and, I have learned as a writer:
No.
One.
Likes.
Anything,
that’s long, has too many words that are not simple to follow, or is not visually hammering to the eyes.
No one likes to excite the brain anymore. Thinking has taken the backseat to everything being written out for you. I personally like intricate. I enjoy complex. I love puzzles. I cannot get enough of the perplexing moments that are the parts of the whole we call life. Sure not everything should be so serious but at least we should exercise our minds every once and a while. Keeps the world void of dummies. I the case of music (and I use this because I’m a musician) everyone likes simple cheesy music. Don’t get me wrong, I actually like most of the songs that’s in your Top 40, but they just are timeless. Here today gone tomorrow. In my music I attempt to change this. I only want to make classic tunes. More importantly, when I step on stage to perform these songs, I want the feeling to be extended. It should be different than hearing it on record. I wonder how can I ever achieve this if a club can’t even get their sound together? Really frustrating. Nevertheless I rise to the occasion. I fight with emotion to allow my voice to be heard. I love performing. It’s the most euphoric feeling (comparable to sex) that I experience. Two nights ago, I performed once again at The Airliner in Los Angeles, CA. I feel out of almost 20 performers. I was the best one. Said without arrogance. I performed for a little over 21 minutes. I actually went 5 minutes over my allotted 15 minute set. But, they fucked up my sound again, so they owed me. You’ll say, “Wow 20 minutes? That’s long.” True but I put my heart into it. I feel I was engaging. I commanded my audience’s attention. They probably didn’t even care that I was going more than I was supposed to. Maybe some did but, they’re haters. My lyrics are not the most simple either. I actually have pretty thought-provoking lyrics. At least I think so. You know, what’s funny is, if they could hear what I was saying, I’d actually believe they were listening to what I was saying. Maybe I connected. Maybe I was doing something right, despite the fact I was on more than most attention spans can handle or what most minds care to think of ones lyrics. Then, there are some who do care. I really appreciate you all.
Then again…Maybe I’m wrong about this all. Maybe I’m insulting people’s intelligence. Maybe this long ass blog post was a waste of time. Anyway, here is the video:
I’m on my grind shawty. Don’t block my shine shawty. – Gucci Mane on “Sihine Blockas” with Big Boi from Outkast.
When you work harder than everyone around you, you know it. That’s because they are partying and enjoying life when you’re no where to be seen, somewhere slaving away and getting it in. Life is full of challenges. But that’s what keeps life interesting. If things were so easy to obtain then there would be no balance. There would be no reason to fight for something you believe in, which I feel is the greatest feeling ever. The reason? When you get what it is you’re after, you feel like you’re on top of the world and no one can tell you anything. I chase a multitude of things: Success, The Cool, Money, Knowledge, Perfection, Growth, and the ability to Shine. Shine… See, Shinning is everything, and I don’t mean in the physical sense, like with jewelry or material posessions. I’m talking about that glow that emunates from one when they have reached their zenith. I’m talking that kind of glow that Bruce Leroy obtained in “The Last Dragon.” My life has become my passion. My passion is an extension of myself. I love it as if it were my own child. I feel everyone who has a passion should treat it as such too.
I want to Shine. And I will one day soon enough. Right now, I’m putting in my dues, working hard, and preparing myself for the day when everything will be for once right in my life. When I get there people will try to take it from me. They will hate me for what I have. Or, for who I am. But you know what? That’s the kind of person that will never be anything. They will slowly die inside. I personally hate to see that in any individual. There is a reason we strive for things. It gives life some value. I’m out for mine, and I will get it. And when I do, don’t block my shine homie. To all the girls, love me for my ambition, ’cause I’m on my grind shawty.
Big Boi feat. Gucci Mane – “Shine Blockas”
“When You’ve Got The Glow”
- From Berry Gordy’s “The Last Dragon”
I was thinking about doing another blog post last night but, I decied to focus on Mr. Aubrey Graham, or Drake, as the world currently knows him. I just had the opportunity to watch the MTV doc on him entitled, “Better Than Good Enough.” Incredibly insightful. For the first time I feel like I was given an opportunity to see who Drake was. I’ve heard all of his music (both the mixtape and the recently released album) but for the longest time I was saying to myself, “Man, he’s really good, but I can’t relate to him. I love all of the things he’s saying but for there was always some disconnect, and I couldn’t figure it out. Drake is extremely talented and an intelligent young man too. What’s even more odd is that I’m writing about my peer directly, being only a few months older than Drake, and I’m also a fellow emcee. Just so happens Drake’s fanbase and my fanbase are like a grain of sand and a bolder in comparison. But, I feel that I can reach where he is at somepoint in my career. I’m not sure when that will take place because I cannot predict the future but, understanding his point of views from a rapper to rapper perspective should have some merit. So, everything that I am about to say should have some validity.
Read this slow: I think the biggest problem with Drake’s career right now is that people are forgetting that he is human.
As spectators, we often forget that celebrities and public figures are no different than us. They bleed like us, breath the same air as us, and surprisingly put on their pants one leg at a time. Although, some may be rich enough to have a machine do it for them, but the message is that they experience emotion. They think, they analyze, and they even experience self doubt just like any other human being. No matter how on top of the world one may be, I am also sure they they question themselves at some point. Confidence goes a long way but no human is ever confident enough to not realize that it could all be over at any moment. Same as those who appreciate life and say, “Man, I’ve gotta live for today. I don’t know if I’ll be here tomorrow.”
I think it’s also forgotten that he’s an artist.
Everything we hear in Drake’s music is deriveed from some personal experience or an effort to paint a picture for us, becuase he wants us to appreciae his visions, and as he put it, “I just want people to be confident in my abilities…” That’s a quote of someone who is trying to prove something to people. But why would Drake need to prove something to anyone? He’s currently one of the biggest artists in music right now, he just became shy of reaching a gold certification on his first album in it’s first week’s release, and he was literally an overnight success. That sounds like someone who has proved himself doesn’t it? Yes and no.
When Drake began to skyrocket in stardom last year and get so much acclaim that people – and the media – began crowning him the king of the game, the next Will Smith, or next Jay-Z of the game. This was all when he hadn’t even put an album out yet. He was just rising off of the success of a very good mixtape and a smash single. His talent was not deniable but, I was confused as to why everyone was saying this about him. I felt I hadn’t seen anything yet. I really wanted to see what Drake had to offer. Not to mention I was still having trouble connecting to him. Therein lies what I think is something that needs to stop, especially with the media, for numbers sake: hyping these artists up so much that they are viewed as God’s when they have barely begun to start their careers. Same goes for the public. You’re cutting their legs from under them. In the intro to the documentary, Drake is on stage kneeled before a sea of people in an arena and he says, “My name is Aubrey Graham. I’m a 23 year old kid…” I think that says a lot about someone’s view of themselves versus the world’s view of them, and even though he’s exalted. It almost seems like he feels the world’s view is of the bird’s eye onto him. I find that incredibly interesting. Continuously throught the doc and in the interviews it seems that Drake is trying to fight to get people to believe that he’s not a rap legend, just yet. This is all the beginning for him. Sure there’s never been such a success for a hip hop artist in such a short period of time, but I think he deserves the right to grow as an artist. Let him release a couple of albums first. Let him actually try and make an impact first. What’s sad to me I feel like Drake’s impact at the beginning of his career will be minute in comparison for the rest of his career. He may continue to be huge but and become a rap legend, but I feel like he’s been robbed the opportunity to do what he probably envision’s as his impact. And he’ll have to just roll with it. I really want to see Drake continuing being a success. I hope that he has the chance to live out his career as he truly envisions.
My god brother, and hip hop head, is a big Drake fan. I remember when So Far Gone released, he was saying that Drake exemplifies greatness. And he wasn’t the only one. To myself I was saying, “But he just came out. He hasn’t even released an album yet. Drake is really good, but is it safe to say he’s ‘greatness’? Shouldn’t we let him become that first?” The first time I listened to Drake’s album, Thank Me Later, I was numb. I didn’t know what to think. It was good, infact, it’s a really good album, but it’s not a classic. I actually wanted to give it a 3.5 out of 5. Drake can make a classic album. I believe this strongly. And I can’t wait until the day he releases that album. His first effort is a good. But, I was actually disappointed in it a little. I was expecting so much more. But it was the hype that did that. I doesn’t make me want to listen to it over and over. I had to force my four listens before I could feel like I had a good grasp on what it was: a guy poring his heart over beats. That’s hip hop in it’s core but, as album, and it being a classic, I don’t feel so. Let’s let Drake make one first before we all become yes men to the hype and not take the time to really analyze what we are hearing. As a rapper, I want my friends to be totally honest to me on all the music that I put out. I’m not Drake’s friend, and I don’t know him, but if I had the chance to speak to him as one I would say, “You’re getting there homie. Your close. Just keep going. You didn’t get it this time, but you will. I’m just mad that it looks like you were rushed to put that album out.”
Obstacles are of the utmost important in life. The situations that make you feel uncomfortable, or moments of embarrassment that cause you to fight through and be resilient are the molds of what make you who you are. The night of my last performance was no different.
It was a calming night. I was nursing myself back from being sick earlier in the week, so I was saving my energy. I was ready. More ready than any other performance I have ever had. I was also going to be capturing footage for something really special that I am putting together in collaboration with my good friends who are very talented filmmakers and graduates of the American Film Institute. We did some pick up shots before I was to take the stage – that took a little out of me. Afterward I had to wind down, I needed to gather myself. The promoter of the event JiJi informed me that someone performing after me had canceled, and that she could move my set up 11:15p from 9:45p. I felt good about this and the turn out that I had was so humbling. At least 15 of the friends that I have made since I have been living in LA showed up. It made me feel like this is possible…Me, really being taken seriously as a musician. That’s the one thing I have been fighting for as long as I have been one, and one of my biggest self doubts. I believe in myself so much, but it’s different when others join in. Now, I have people that believe. It was very surreal.
11:15p, I’m not on yet, “What’s going on?” is what I said to myself. I turn to the host and remind him that I’m supposed to go on after the guys who took my spot. I anxiously waited by the stage. When it was my time, I stepped onto the stage with the feeling home being home again. I immediately got right into it and hype the crowd with the classic , “Can I kick it!?” As they shout back, “Yes you can!” Which I borrowed from Tribe Called Quest and the Jay-Z song “22 two’s” The energy they gave back showed they were ready. I turn to one of the DJs to run the tracks and he looks at me and says, “I don’t know it’s not playing. It’s not reading the tracks.” I immediately look down and see that he is running my tracks off of a CD player. I was so upset. To myself I say “You are a DJs. You have DJ software. The files are AIFF’s there is no reason you should be ill prepared to play these.” The thing that bothered me the most was I gave him my tracks way before my set and told him what I had and he assured me it was fine. I had to just keep cool and remaining professional. I asked how we can get them playing and it finally strikes him to play the songs on his DJ software off of his laptop. I swear they came across as amateur DJs and didn’t seem to really care. But they worked to get them playing and I was appreciative of their efforts… but I was standing there looking like a fool. I felt embarrassed. Thinking quickly I just jumped into a freestyle. I couldn’t leave the crowd hanging and I hate the sound of silence at a club. I just started going rapping, of the top of my head and other written stuff I had. I just gave some of the energy I was saving for the songs I was to perform. I noticed people started to come out of the woodworks. Soon enough, I was building a crowd. After about 3 different freestyles and turning to the DJs to see if they had gotten it together I was ready to go. In my mind I was just trying to keep it together and not fuck up.
The sound system was terrible. The speakers couldn’t save a house party. But I’m on the come up and I’m sure every rapper has had to perform under the most unfavorable environments. So I just gave energy and rapped my ass off. There was nothing else I could do.
Once they got things going I went in with a vengeance, but I could barely hear what part of the beat I was on, which caused me to fall off for a few bars on the first two songs but I worked my way back and saved myself. I was growing more frustrated as the set went on but I kept telling myself, “Keep going! Don’t let em’ see you falter.” The last 3 songs of my set were the most personal to me. The emotion began to come out, and that’s when I found it. I finished the set strongly and walked off stage to a now packed area and love from not only my friends but people I didn’t even know. That was a great feeling. It was the first time that I realized that maybe this is my calling. Maybe I am meant to be an entertainer. If I connected with a few people that night, maybe I could connect with hundreds at the right venue. I’ll only know if I just keep going. Fighting my way to the top. You have to take what you want. No one ever gives it to you.
Here is the video for that performance. It was very difficult for me to watch knowing how I was feeling throughout. But, every dog has his day. I can’t expect every performance I do to come out incredible. I can only make it memorable. Plus, I sure as hell can make sure that I get better every time, until I reach incredible.
Special Thanks to my friend Han who recorded this. It starts from the point I began to freestyle.
…Or Jigga Man, J Hov, Hova da God, The Blueprint Jay-Z, or Shawn Carter. So many names that describe one man that has done the impossible in a time, and at a age, where it is harder to be a rapper – let alone be successful - than ever before. There is much to be learned from him. I know I have picked up a few things over the years following his career closely to the point of obsession and fascination at why he has accomplished what no other rapper has before him. He’s definitely the anomaly.
In my last post, I spent some time tributing to my other idol Sean “Puffy” Combs and it was supporting the artful boasting that a man such as himself displays that lines itself with cockiness that you can appreciate but won’t annoy. You already know what he’s accomplished but his happiness in all those accomplishments is special because to me, it inspires. He’s risen to the top, rode the waves, roughed the seas, and sailed smoothly again and again. But Jay-Z, my other major life influence has had a different path – of the beaten persuasion. The two of them are only a few months apart at age 40, and are incredibly successful but have had different paths to that success. Jay has experienced the hard road and is not only experiencing the biggest success of his career – the kind of success that Puffy has experienced so many years before, in which he’s now maintaining – but Jay, even though he seems to be finally enjoying the fruits of his labor, you hear a hidden resentment and explanation for it in his music. Much of of those themes can be heard in Blueprint 3. I have always tried to deconstruct his lyrics because of their intricacy believing there is always a deeper meaning that what was directly said and to that, I can honestly say that I can catch things that a seasonal Jay-Z listener may not catch. This is one of the reasons that I adore hip hop and why I think it is such an important musical genre. You are getting real life in every song. Despite you general singles and club songs, you don’t get much fantasy. Then again, many rappers do fabricate their lives for sales but you can generally tell who’s being real and who’s not.
I tend to believe in signs. I found this magazine in the same week that I obtained the XXL with Diddy on the cover. And I don’t believe in coincidences, so I found it important to get the issue and read that article on Jay-Z like it was meant to tell me something important about getting into this rap game and how I should examine my career. Same for Diddy’s issue. The article is interestingly vague. It gives you a but only crumb more off of the giant gingerbread man that is Jay-Z. The comments they chose to quote inspire further thinking about how he views himself at this point in his life. You also read about a more personable side of Jay-Z. He’s a really curious guy…and extremely intelligent.
What’s amazing about Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter is that we may never really know what goes on in his mind. And I think that is the secret to the longevity of his success. As incredibly curious he is, we are in equal amount of curiosity about him.
We all do it. Most of us who want something so bad, we will go for it and risk losing everything we have in the process. Much of the time it’s our sanity. I heard this song and it allowed me to put everything back into perspective – one of the many reasons why music is so dear to me. It’s the language that speaks to me where I gain the most understanding. It’s just incredible to have that feeling. The feeling of solace and no worries. Everything will be alright. Mind’s clear again. Ok now, just focus and go do it. The negative will always try to find it’s way in the mix. It’s up to you to filter it out. That’s merely an extension of Asher Roth’s message in the song and my own interpretation, but it makes sense to me. And one day…As one of my favorite rappers, Common, once said in his album title, “One Day It’ll All Make Sense.” I told this girl to go listen and that album and take notes when she posted in her facebook status that, “she doesn’t understand life.” I don’t think any of us are meant to. If we do then it’ll probably be when we perish and the casket closes shut and etched on inside of the cover our soul will read the meaning. I never expect anything in life to be so simple to understand that’s why we live into old age, spending all that time learning about the things life has to offer. When your time is up, most likely means you’ve learned everything you were meant to. So, I urge you, take advantage. And I’m off to go take my own advice. But first…
Speaking on Asher Roth, I am a little upset with myself that I stumbled upon this song, which is a newly released single, and I hope from his new album to come, because I still have yet to listen to his first album. It’s not that I never wanted to, but because it kept slipping my mind. What’s so unfortunate about our media is that we never get an equal amount of attention on artists. So we only know a few. Which goes to show you why I know more about what’s going on in Drake and Lil Wayne’s career more than any other artist. The truth is, I never even seek out information on their careers. It’s just information that’s always there, which is unfortunate for talented emcees like Asher Roth who I feel deserves a little more exposure. He is of the new generation in Hip Hop and he’s contributing something worthwhile. I guess he’s not flashy enough.
Either way, this song feels like a nice new anthem for 2010.
G.R.I.N.D by Asher Roth
*Disclaimer: This is an unofficially released song. I do not own this song. It belongs to Asher Roth. I have no affiliation with the host of the YouTube upload.*
I have expressed the love that I have for my heritage to you all before, but I wanted to continue to share that love with what created many of the fonder memories in my childhood. The music of my culture. Jamaica is one of the richest countries that I can think of, when it comes to morality. Despite the high murder rate, corruption in politics, and the church, the spiritual ideologies that many of the people share is one to be cherished. In much of the music that I have heard from the Reggae genre as I grew older expressed life lessons and what I like to call musical Psalms that always seem to hit me deep in my soul. There are some artist that sing their message so powerfully that it comes as if they are singing to you, personally. I think much of that has to do with the hard life that many Jamaicans face. There are way more poor citizens than middle class ones, and the rich, most of which belong to the corrupted sanctions that keep the poor right where they stand. But those who rise above and separate themselves from the life that gave them so much sorrow always seem to be able to recapture those feelings and express it as if they are still living it. Memories can never fade. What I think is important to point out is that many of Jamaica’s artists, even though the become rich from their careers, always speak back to the people with uplifting tunes that give them hope or music that preaches on issues that need to be addressed.
From the perspective that I have had growing up in this world raised as an American and Jamaican I could never find a middle ground. I could never find the beauties in Jamaica that I loved, namely on the point I just spoke on, in American culture. To me it always seemed that America was lacking deeply in morals. Particular philosophies that I live my life by, many of my peers could never relate. That always made me wonder.
Maybe my points would be better explained with songs from big artists in Jamaica that no longer have the reason to sing about being poor or living a life that is hard, yet they still do. I find that in American culture as well, but it is so rare nowadays and far in between that you might as well say it’s none existent. And it mostly exists only in Hip Hop. These types of songs give hope to people, because not everyone is as privileged as you and I. And what you and I are privileged with, there are two other people out there who have it better than us. So in that, I feel it is necessary to always try and speak back to the people who are growing up where I came from. Let, them know that they too can escape all of what keeps them down…And how ironic, I haven’t even made it yet.
These are songs that have been released in the last 5 years, starting with the newest.
I always believe that the most talented people are the ones where it comes out of them naturally; as if they were born to be some anomaly to this world in whatever craft it is that makes them a talented wonder. I also believe that you can learn talent. It’s called practice. It’s also called dedication – to be the best. Dedication…that is the talent that a person who learned how to be good in their craft was able to become “talented.” Their is no science to it. It’s all about just doing it. Non stop. Breathing it. Literally doing it as you eat, which I have done many of times. They say there is no time for meal breaks or you don’t want to stop doing it so you switch between your meal and that craft sharing the attention. Example: I eat and write all the time. It could be me writing a blog and eating, writing rhymes and eating, or simply avoiding eating all together (most of the time it’s forgetting) because I don’t want to stop what it is that I am working on. At that point it lends itself to be called “for the love of doing it.” I once spent over 36 hours working on a painting and a drawn still life, going back and forth between the two for my art class finals. I must have eaten once in that entire time frame and drank 3 cups of coffee. I was having so much fun. Nothing in the world existed but those pieces of art. It was just me some music and my tools. I actually had some friends with me there too. I must have acknowledged them a couple of times.
It’s amazing to see people in their element. Especially the truly gifted. This is what they do, it’s what they love. Nothing else around them even interferes. It’s really amazing to see people so engrossed in their work. It keeps me inspired. You know for the longest time, I never felt I was talented until I proved it to myself. Then, for another long period of time I suffered from a lot of frustration trying to prove to people that I was talented. I started to hear it more recently after I put out certain works of mine that made some people say it to me at the drop of a hat. Then, there are some who just don’t get it. Some who no matter how much you try to beat them over the head with it, they don’t give in. Hard to please, haters, or just oblivious. At that point you just have to spell it out to them. Maybe I’m in that part of it all. Maybe it will take for me to be legitimally famous before they finally see it. Not that matters but, it’s about the mission in showing the world what you can do. Making it…THAT in itself is a talent. I’m trying to do that right now, and people who know that, are seeing me do it everyday. They are watching me work. From the trenches to the high rise. You know I like to think highly of myself, so I call myself a genius. Well then, I guess those same people have been watching a genius at work
Here are some of my favorite geniuses at work. Enjoy.
I know that I have been a little absent a couple of days at a time with the blog, but I have been very busy and for good reason. I have been working to align myself with the very same rappers that I have been posting in past blog as inspirations. I am, “On the come up,” as they say. I feel that I am more than just an emcee. I feel like rap and music is my whole life. It’s the only thing that I have ever really put above anything else. I am such as serious music fan that it still means something to me to go and buy an album of my favorite artist on release day and peel the packaging right there in the car and bump the tape on my way to my next destination. I will even listen to it like 10 times over before I even decided to switch to a new CD.
It’s self inspiring to see where I have come from, how hard I work just to get the small wins only to feel like, “Yeah! This is actually working out. I can’t believe it…” That’s how I felt when I booked my next show and my first actual debut to LA. The first two shows I did at The Good Hurt were practice. It was a great introduction for me too, but I performed mostly in front of co-workers and friends. Now comes the moment of truth. I will be in front of people who don’t even know me. All that matters now is the music. Can my music touch them in some way where they say, “Wow, who is this guy? He’s pretty good.” From that point, I have accomplished one part of my goal, get a new fan. This is about music. It has always been. It’s about making music that I like and hope that other people will like. I have a story to tell. I can tell the story of other people too, but I need to address my own before I can do that. It’s also about advancing music. I can’t just come out and expect to be like every other artist. I don’t want to be a clone. I do want to be myself but I know that I have something new to offer. All that it takes for recognition is ears and people who like real. I’m never going to preach how real I am in my music, I will just be who I am. That’s as real as you can get.
This is the real beginning. I can only pray that things go up from here. I always talk about what my story will be. Like, how will I get on in the game? I still think of that everyday. What’s funny, I’m listening to the last track on “The College Dropout” right now, where Kanye tells the story of how he got signed to Roc-a-Fella. It’s really awe-inspiring to hear stories like that. One day I will come back and tell everyone my story.
Below is the flyer to the show that I was able to book. It’s at The Airliner in Los Angeles on June 11th. I will be going on at 9:45pm downstairs. If you are in the LA area on that day, whether you know me or not, are a fan or have never heard my music, I would appreciate it if you came out and experienced what I feel is a special addition to the culture known as hip hop. Word is my bond.
This young man has been one of my favorite rappers since he stepped onto the scene in 2005. He released his first album in 2006 entitled, Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor. He’s the kind of rapper that you want to grow up to be like -well educated, being himself, and doing the music for the love of it all – yet he has something to prove. He has stated that many of times he feels that people are sleeping on his talents and he has let it be know that with the release of his new album Lasers, which was supposed to be L.U.P. End (his last studio album), it looks as if he is not going out without a fight.
He is also another rapper that kept me going after the dream of being a musician and not needing to form some image to succeed. Rappers struggle so much in order to separate themselves from that. I feel that they just want to be apart of music and not need to fall under any pressures of marketing gimmicks in order to sell albums. Lupe has overturned that many of times and has continuously been himself and released two successful studio albums. I for one am looking forward to Lasers. I need that chicken soup for my music soul. You should stand in line with a bowl ready as well. Enjoy his first single from the album, I’m Beamin’
I have to keep going. It’s a new month and a new set of events have yet to transpire. I put a hell of a grind in last month, and in May, I need to step it up even more. I am so close. I know it. I feel it. I can’t give up.
This video is classic hip hop and a perfect fit for today. Rock with me y’all and sing, “Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! It’s the first of the month…”
Music and Cinematography (or Videography). They marry and we have something is not commonly known as music videos (though it really is) but we have two art forms that, in a pair, are so adequate to the drive of a song that it becomes consistently underrated. So much that it’s presence has vanished from the television. Well, not so much vanished but just had MTV (the network that gave birth to music videos) turn it’s back on it for the plastic, silicone filled reality programs. Now, if you want to see a music video, trek to your computer and type YouTube into your address bar, then search for the video to a song, and wait for it – your directed to another site (VEVO) at which controls most of the music videos on the internet now. Hmm…something seems fishy. I mean, I see scales scattered about and I get the smell, so it has to be corporate control manipulation once again. Whatever happened to The Box? I miss my Video Soul, I want what I once new as Total Request Live back! MTV you officially are not what your name states you are. There is no music on my TV.
Music videos are a wonderful art and a wet dream of expansion for a musician’s creative vision. Not to mention, it has been a great platform for many of aspiring filmmakers to gain the start they needed to propel themselves into their passion: telling feature film narratives. Case in point? David Fincher. You might know him. He brought us classic films such as Fight Club, Seven, and most recently The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. He also started out directing music videos since the mid 80′s. Remember this video? It was actually banned from being played on television.
Nine Inch Nails Closer
Directed by: David Fincher
A beautifully sick kind of art, that video. I don’t know why but I liked it ever since I first saw it. It came out in 1994. Kind of ahead of it’s time. I wonder if they released that today, will it have had the same reaction? Maybe. I think by now, our culture has seen it all, done it all. But it also is a great representation of how artists feel about having the creative freedom to do what they feel best represents them, and that video is clearly Nine Inch Nails.
This video is one of the most clever videos that I can ever remember. It’s simple and it has an underlying narrative.
Kanye West Flashing Lights
Directed by: Spike Jonze (also a feature filmmaker)
What’s so remarkable about the video is there is no ending. The song isn’t even finished when the video ends. It’s brilliant. Let your imagination give you the ending. Although there have been many stories as to why the video ends like that, or if it can be even considered the official music video. What’s also so great is the use of slow motion, most will say there are 2 cuts in it, but I count three. One cleverly put seamless cut. What the video also boils down to is, does it even matter that there is no ending or the song wasn’t entirely used? The video works either way. That is something that I have loved about music videos, it doesn’t even have to make sense to be good. It’s really about the visuals, although having a narrative that supports the song can push it farther.
MTV bring back music videos, please. Don’t force me to watch them on my laptop with the crappy speakers and small screen. We have LCD and Plasma Televisions now. Some that go as tall a 72″. We have Surround Sound entertainment setups. There is no reason why we should not be watching music videos in that type of environment. I can’t change the world but I sure can attempt to. Wait until you see my music videos.
Here is another video that I saw recently that I kind of fell in love with. I am in love with the song so that already give it a front seat to my attention.
Usher featuring will.i.am OMG
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
GIVE RESPECT TO MUSIC VIDEOS! A LOT OF WORK GOES INTO MAKING THEM.
I am very proud of my history and my heritage – the culture that raised me with what I call, a unique perspective of the world. By being of a Jamaican nationality brought up in the American society, not only has it been a blessing but it has been somewhat of a difficult adjustment. I was first generation born in the United States but I was raised as if I was living in Jamaica. I love my heritage so much that it is an undertone in every thing that pursue. It is the very fabric that I clothe my life in. There is a greater good in the morals that I live by, and it’s affects not only on me but the people I surround myself with.
The art that comes from the island is of the only country that I can think of where it is recognized worldwide. A very small country at that. Mostly it is the music. But Jamaica is more than music, more than Bob Marley (Uncle Bob as we call him), it is the spirit of people who believe that everything in life is a blessing. I swear, growing up, I heard so many proverbs on feeling blessed for what you currently have versus what you want to obatin to consider blessing. That is the true nature of what Jamaicans exude. The art is the voice of that.
Give Praise
Luciano
Give Thanks
Artist: Homer Brown
Give Thanks
Assassin
Artist: Stephen Spath
“So Much Going On” Oil on Canvas
“Emily – Sexy Lady, Crazy Thing” Oil on Canvas
These two pieces reminds me to give thanks for all of the strong beautiful women that come from Jamaica. Unmatched.
You have the right to: reserve a spot be a in the spotlight and find out what to do in it.
I’m sitting here in my bed, partially paralyzed from a really bad cold that has been kicking my ass since last week. It’s a reason for the lack of posts in the last few days as well. I apologize to the 10 people who check it on a regular basis. “Get some rest, Troy!” “You need to take better care of yourself” I know, believe me, I know. Somehow in my sickly state, I cannot help but want to work. It’s like, I don’t feel right If a day goes by whereas I don’t do something productive. I live off of the mentality that when I’m asleep the other guy is working. I can’t allow him to get on before me. I’ve worked to hard just to even stay alive long enough to get where I presently am. Where am I presently? So close. When I get there, you can best believe that I will be there for a long time, moving forward and upward. It’s the only way.
Some people, well most people, tell me to be patient and that my time will come when it’s supposed to. I understand that more everyday, but before it was like you couldn’t tell me to relax and take a break from working. I try to, but then I just slip away and do something constructive. Now sitting back and taking it easy, reflecting on life, that too can be constructive. What happens if I make it too young, I don’t know how to handle it, and it all slips away, and so do I along with it? Did I do something unrealized to make it before my time? Or, was it really my time?
I wonder about child stars all the time. I wonder are many of them ever meant to be “it” all of their lives or are they only meant to be that shinning star when they actually are? I think about Corey Haim, who’s recent death comes as a huge shock to the entertainment community but given the lifestyle that we have seen him lead in the public eye since the days post being the teen heartthrob that he was, did we really not see it coming? When you see a tree fall, you instinctively have no question about what it will do – I will fall and land somewhere. The place of it’s final rest many can never predict. It’s very sad to see people go through that. Not to mention someone being viewed by everyone via the media. That’s even more depressing. I remember seeing him in some of my favorite movies growing up. When I grew up and he disappeared from the screen, I just assumed he quit acting. Naive.
For child stars when I see then become so huge so early one of two feelings comes over me, “How did they get it so early? What am I doing wrong?” Or I will usually say, “Let’s see where they go.” Only with young rap artists will I say the prior. That’s because for rap/hip hop, the impression is given many of times, if you haven’t made it by this age, you probably never will. Or no one wants to see some old guy rapping. Tell that to Jay-Z. Not to say that he’s old but he’s a 40 year old rapper, who is still relevant. I don’t think we’ve seen that before. I’m still young and I’m trying to make it, not in rap but in music (I consider rap music. Sorry critics). I have seen a huge number of the new generation of rappers all just blowing up one after the other and they are taking the music in a very different direction from what most hip hoppers have seen and known, and it’s very interesting. The other interesting thing is all of these rappers are in they’re early 20′s. I’m not going to disclose my age, but I will say that I am older than many of them. It’s a little unsettling to say the least becuase that mindset of making it as a rapper, being young is still very much a factor. There is only a certain age bracket that is say, marketable to a rap audience. I ask myself, “Why should that matter? I’m not them.” Then I wonder, well, will I be one of the next rappers to dispel that myth? We shall see. Until my time comes, I will just continue to do what I know: work. Work as hard as I can to make it all worth obtaining. I work like I want it more than my own health. Hell, I do it so until I end up getting sick, which is not the best way to live. I’m learning from mistakes. I’m taking more time to enjoy my life and the journey of making it. I can honestly say it’s wonderful. The way the last few years have been playing out. It’s been great. I didn’t realize it at the time but in retrospect, gosh, it’s been a blessing.
Then, I see young Drake. Hip hop’s newest young “icon.” I say “icon” because he has yet to release a first album and he was instantly being called the next best thing. Thee future, Jay-Z. The next Will Smith. A lot of pressure for a newbie. He’s only 23, I believe. He’s also a child star. An actor in his teen years on the show, Degrassi: The Next Generation which aired on Nickelodeon in the early 2000′s. He’s also had an explosive and meteoric rise as a celebrity amongst the younger audience not in just hip hop but in general, which I think has been unseen in sometime. When I first drew my attention to Drake, I didn’t just ask myself one of those questions that come to mind. I asked myself both. I also really liked his music but I hated what the media was doing to him, and I didn’t feel he deserved all of this credit so soon. Which might be selfish of me. I cannot hate on another man’s success. I really hope that for him, he does not become victim to what happens to so many young stars. For some insane reason, people think that when the day is over they go to their home on Mt. Olympus or something. It’s a fact. Most young stars are viewed as a deity. For me, I just hope when I make it, I’m around long enough to make a name for myself, and put food on my family’s table. As a young guy, everything is tempting. If you know half of Drake’s story, you would find the mood and lyrics to the first single on his album a wonder. For me I had to, or tried to read between the lines to understand where he was coming from. But, I also found some disappointment because in a year later, from departure in the one that saw his “boom,” I am seeing some downgrading in the quality of his music. I hope it’s not he forces getting to him. Hold tight Drake, you ain’t felt nothing yet. I’ve seen many rappers come a go. I’ve studied the industry and what it does to artists. This rap game will eat people up and spit them out. It’s so much about competition, and testing the human psyche more so than it is about making music. But what do I know? People tell me I read into things too much. The video seems kind of lonely to me.
There is something special about J Cole, the rapper. I really believe that he is next to change the game, and take it into a positive direction not only musically, but on a image forefront as well.
If you remember my, A Rapper’s Delight post a few weeks back where I first introduced him as one of my favorite current rappers in the game, and the one rapper that ignited me even more to keep going. That rarely happens for me. That feeling to come from a peer, instead of an elder. Normally it’s the established artists that I look up to that keep me on my toes, but when I heard J Cole for the first time, that all changed.
I was surfing the internet last night and I came across a 3 part interview of J Cole conducted by Vibe.com and posted via 2dopeboyz. It was the kind of interview that exemplified why J Cole is out of the ordinary among any rapper to emerge in quite some time. He’s a very educated young man, a St. John’s graduate, and rapper who shows that his intelligence need not be neglected from his musical art. I wish more emcees would realize that as well. His interviews magnify this. He sounds very candid in his speech and the common sense that he shows when speaking on certain subjects almost knocks you to floor. He just puts things in a way that no other rapper I can recall has decided to choose words and lay them in a structure I have never heard before. The structure of understanding and learned.
I felt that it was important to post this interview because I want to try and dispel as much as I can that rappers are more aware than the are portrayed to be. Hip Hop is one the youngest genres in music and it still receives the most criticism, especially to be still be looked at as not real music. Which I think is the most unfair argument of them all. I believe the fault can be put on the record labels, the media, and most of the artists themselves…and also the black community. We’ve allowed the one genre in music which has allowed us a voice to speak the kind of honesty never seen before in entertainment and we have taken it for granted many of times. J Cole is one of the rappers who is belongs to a small club of emcees to show that it is in fact not the case. His songs can be proof and I really hope that he obtains some commercial success because the masses deserve to hear what he has to say. It’s a rarity that these type of rappers gain that commercial spot and still manage to hold onto that level of integrity that they began with. I think that he may be the exception.
Losing My Balance from, The Warm Up
Please click on the cover art of J Cole’s first mixtape, The Come Up to view the Vibe.com interview. Also, if you have not heard that mixtape and you liked The Warm Up, I highly recommend that you track a copy of it down and listen to it.
Some tweeted words from one of my 6 influences in life, Diddy. Some know him as Puffy, Puff Daddy, P. Diddy (which was actually a name Biggie used to call him), or the guy who keeps changing his name. This time I think Diddy is the one. I don’t think he’ll change it after that. I kind of have to laugh at that. It’s really funny to me because I think of all the names I went through for my rap name before I just decided to go with my government. Seriously though, you can’t just pick any rap name. It’s delicate. For me, Troy Buchanan was recommended by my god brother as a, “just go with that” type of conclusion. I thought about it for a second and it made sense. If I can’t come up with a name that sticks maybe I’m not meant to have some cool superhero rap name like Method Man or Redman or Lupe Fiasco. Those are cool names. My name I think states exactly what kind of rapper I am. It’s me, being myself. I mean, I have other monikers that sort of stuck, were for play, and were derived from my full name like: TroyB, Troy Buck and Troy Cannon. The last one doesn’t really sound right, so I kept the first two. Troy Buck is my favorite. I named the blog with TroyB because it’s like the median between Troy Buchanan and Troy Buck. You’ll understand the difference between those two alter egos as time goes and you’re exposed to more of my music.
So you’re probably saying, “Why in the hell is he going on about names? Well a name is a very important thing. It’s literally your reputation. It’s how everyone perceives you, and how they identify your actions and vernacular.
Now back to Diddy. A great business mind. Some one who is relentless. He loves music. He’s an elaborate entertainer. He was the man who brought us The Notorious B.I.G. He’s got great charisma. He’s more successful than any other black executive in music I can think of since Berry Gordy, and Russell Simmons. Only now can I add Jay-Z to that list. He’s someone that I feel gets more flack than credit for his accomplishments. He throws the best parties. Although, that’s a statement I’ve read and heard more than once throughout his career. I’ve never actually been to a Diddy party. Although I want to go to one before I die… Those are all assessments that I derived from his name. It describes the man, Diddy, Sean Combs. I hope that you can understand and appreciate this message: Grow in this world with your name meaning everything to you. Your name is how people remember you. Someone speaks your name and they get a mental image of what you look like, how they remember you (situation or action), your personal traits, and your accolades. That is why I believe to not take your name lightly. Make it mean something to the world. If you are going to be a doctor. Make sure the name that proceeds the prefix rings bells of one of the best damn doctors people know. That’s how serious it should be. That will reflect what kind of doctor you want to be. Your name is how they remember you. Make them want to remember you. Everybody knows who Diddy is. The man is on billboards, television, the internet, everywhere. No matter what he does in the future, he’ll be remembered for how he got to Diddy, what he did as Puff Daddy to what he has done to get to: the D, the I, the D, the D, the Y, it’s DIDDY!
D.I.D.D.Y
P. Diddy feat. Pharrell
Directed by: Brett Ratner and Sean Combs
I am Troy Buchanan. I am a rapper/entrepreneur. I want to be one of greatest rappers to grace the genre. I want to be a remembered entrepreneur to music and film. I am an artist. I love to create. I love business. I am an artist with a business mind. I try to say the utmost honest words possible in my everyday speech and my blog. I love music. I love art. I love film. Those are my passions. I am passionate. Sometimes emotional. But I’m an artist, artists are emotional. I love to be ambitious. I support those who want to live out their dreams and pursue their passions. I believe in standing up for what you believe in. I believe in speaking from the heart. I believe in never backing down. I believe in living, and surviving by an means necessary. That’s what my name says to me. I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me if I want you to actually believe me on all of that. I’m ready. Thanks for being so inspiring Diddy. Check out my attributed post to him a few months back, here.
I do not know why but I really like this video. It is not really whether I have mixed feelings on it, it more that I cannot find the words to explain why I like it. It’s just wildly vivid and the moment I saw it, it reminded me of an edition of photographs for D Mode Magazine that I saw not too long ago on Kanye West’s blog by Herring and Herring. The video was directed also by fashion photographers going on the same theme, Rankin and Chris Cottam.
Kelis’ voice is beautiful. I’ve always been a fan of the different types of music she releases. None of her albums sound the same. She really tries to explore new sounds with everything she does. I highly respect that in any artist – always evolving. The song was produced by David Guetta and it is about her son, Knight. Enjoy
Acapella
Kelis
Directed by: Rankin and Chris Cottam
It sounds strong when you repeat it back to yourself. That’s because it is. I believe in supporting anyone who is chasing their dreams. My peers hold no execption.
Cloud 9 has been making a really great name for themselves in the past year as not only as a management company but a movement. The “305 Renaissance” as they call it – 305 being the area code fo Miami, FL where the gentelmen hail from. I would hope you all know of them by now, but in case it slipped your memory or you never saw the previous posts, I will reintroduce them to you:
J Nic$
Sean Buck
Fresh N3rd
Phresh James
Lil’ Champ
Those five young musicians are titling themselves as the future of Miami’s music scene. I believe them. In about roughly a year they have all made a name for themselves and with the release of J Nic$ Dirty Sneakers, Phresh James’ and Lil Champ’s recently released, M.I.Aliens, they are creating an buzz not seen in Miami’s music front for sometime now. With Sean Buck’s debut mixtape on the way and a group compilation album, there is no stopping them. Strength in numbers and that is exactly what they are standing for in this family they have formed. They are also my family. Sean Buck is my brother and group mastermind Fresh N3rd is my god-brother. The other gentlemen are friends and extended family to the troybArthouse gallery. Most importantly from young black man to other young black men, they are my Brothers. Get that?
Recently they shot a video introducing themselves to the world. They all had an opportunity to show the world what skills they posses. Click the group photo to see how they get down.
Don’t be what THEY want you to be, be who YOU want to be. Breakout and show them who you are.
This is by far one of the coolest and most brave videos that I have seen in some time. There is also an important message in the video. It is self explanatory, I just ask that you watch it, if you haven’t seen it already. If you have, watch it again.
Thank you Ms. Erykah Badu for coming back once again and delivering the soul that the game has been missing.
Window Seat
Erykah Badu
Directed by: Coodie
This video was world premiered three days ago and has since caused a stir and actual charges may be brought up on Erykah Badu. Either way, I feel it’s important to get ones message across. You cannot stop art. You cannot confine artists. No matter what, we will break free.
I absolutely love discovering new artists. The music is always so refreshing. By the time you get to an artist signed by a major label there is so much money behind them, the manufactured sound begins to creep through and it almost feels like that real artistry is lost. In some cases, not all. The biggest example is when you actually are a fan of a band form their unsigned days to the ink on a recording contract. The sound of their music can shift dramatically. It can either mature and become better or it can fall victim to a commercial appeal with only structure and no soul. This happens across all genres. The reason I feel that may be is because when you sign to a major label there are millions of dollars put into you as an artist. You are seen like a project. You are also an investment so you better be an earner. There is little room for error so it probably feels like everything has to be calculated much like the numbers “ching-chinging” around you. There are some artists who easily able to look past that and just create good music no matter what. Great art. Great sounds. Classics. That is the mark of a talented musician.
On an indie label, it it’s much more free range. More organic. Cage free. The artist doesn’t need to feel the pressure from first week sales or how many spins their single will get. Those are important things but the beauty of being on an indie label, it’s become more about how can we get the artist’s name out there? The music may be awesome and the label will need to feel like, “The world needs to hear this, this is just amazing.” I may be skimming through it but, you can get the general understanding and that’s only my interpretation of it.
I came across this band a couple of nights ago, Phantogram, via a friend who has been helping me mix tracks for my EPK and new mixtape, You Heard A Classic (*cough* shameless plug), and when I heard the track he sent me I got that feeling I love when I hear a new artist or band and the music is so good. The band is an electronic rock duo hailing from Saratoga Springs, NY. It consists of guitarist Josh Carter and keyboardist Sarah Barthel. That’s it. It think it’s simply amazing that two people can create the sound of what seems like 4 or 5 (you’ll hear below). Their music is simply structured but feels layered. I would owe that to the change up of melodies throughout and the prominent plucks from the Josh Carter.
The track that I heard was “Mouth Full of Diamonds.” A very electronic and dark song, but the grove is enough to have you nodding your head to the beat. He later let me hear a few more tracks last night off the album they released this past February entitled, Eyelid Movies, and I got that “face scrunched” expression. You know, that expression you give when you hear a music or a sound that is so pleasing in it’s foreignness that it makes you look ugly. That’s when you know you heard something good. Most rappers do it when they hear the beat of their dreams. It’s an undeniable expression. Here, I’ll show you:
Watch Jay’s face on the last two beats.
That’s almost exactly what happened to me when my friend played me this song from Phantogram:
Hear the song on good speakers.
Though the videos pose two different types of music, but as a musician, the effect works. Though, it may not work for everyone.
For me, I love the experiences of hearing new music. Especially when it’s good music. It keeps me inspired. I stay fighting. People do want to hear music that is expression of the artist and not the commercial mouth. No matter what anyone tells you, the people do not always want to hear club music. That music can only be played in the club. On the other six days of the week when a majority of people don’t go out, when they are at work, or driving, or in their house on a Saturday morning cleaning, they want to hear music that will in some way touch their heart and grab their soul and fly it away to a place where they feel at ease with life or a moment where they feel all the built up pain or strife is being released in the music sharing the same mood. That is how I think music is interpreted by people. I wish the radio would understand that people don’t need to hear top 40 every single day. Top 40 is usually the music playing in the clubs or lounges. There is other music out there. Play it. I don’t need to hear the same song every two hours.
So, I ask that you do yourself a favor, if you like the song above, please give Phantogram a chance. Explore some of their music a little more. Not everyone will like their music. I just happened to really enjoy it and I felt it was important to share them with you all and my thoughts on new artists and the wonderful experience of being exposed to new music, of any kind.
To explore Phantogram further, please visit thier MySpace.
Mr. Hype Williams. Music Video Director extraordinaire. Pioneer. Color fiend. Hip Hop’s visual saving grace and also the one person who many said contributed to it’s “death”.
You know, growing up as a hip hop fan I was in love with all aspects of the culture. From the conscious to the hardcore. Many artists (rappers) have pioneered the sound in their own way, but when it came time for hip hop to have a visual representation, it was Hype Williams who is probably the only director to influence all areas of art form on visual plateau. Even as far as influencing the artists themselves with their style and persona.
When hip hop presented herself to the years of the new millennium she walked the streets more flamboyantly than ever. She was loud, shining, dripping in a new set of jewels. She had graduated from rope gold chains to VVS princess cut inlaid diamonds in watches and necklesses. She and her friends wore less clothing. She went from Afrocentric to the shapely shorty down the block with curvature unmatched. Breasts and a behind that made any average women jealous. She increasingly had a role in the videos of many rappers and soon enough the cringe worth name “video hoe” was bestowed upon to her. Many said that it was Hype Williams who first introduced the staple of vivacious young women into the video where artists soon carried on with misogynistic actions and supposedly gave the genre a bad name. I think that’s unfair to Hype. He did include that element to his video but it was much smaller than what it is made out to be and shadows the greater things that he offered as a filmmaker to the genre. From a pure film aesthetics he continuously created a style all his own and presented a new take on music video artistry all his own. He never told blatent narratives in his videos but gave more abstract creations with the use of techniques such as the fish eye lens, colored light, and wide shots, and his most famous the widescreen effect. In watching any of his videos there was always something new to point out that he may be experimenting with along with his notable signtures that return from previous videos. He is the only music video director that I can think of that has given one music genre a voice of it’s own and increased popularity. That is something that can never be taken away from him. He is one of the main reasons that hip hop is as popular as it is now. For a young genre that is extremely impressive.
He is by far my favorite music video director of all time, with Bryan Barber following in second. I followed his career quite close throughout the years and when I had decided that I wanted to become a filmmaker, which I still do just later on in my career, music is first, it was he that would be my biggest influence in finding a style. He was fortunate enough to film his first feature film in the late 90′s, Belly, which became a cult classic is an an exceptionally made film with brilliant cinematography provided via Malik Sayeed. I really wish that he would return to the feature length form because that film really showed that beyond what many music video directors get the opportunity to do, he did it and put the stamp that showed he is competent in telling a long form narrative. It is often said of music video directors by film elites that they will never be good feature film directors because all they understand is visual style and are unable to tell a story. I totally disagree and feel it’s outright disrespectful. I was ecstatic when Hype came through and dispelled that argument with Belly.
Below are some of my favorite music videos done by Hype Williams in chronological order (starting in the early 90′s to the present), just to show his advancement as a filmmaker and the type of art that he brought to the table of hip hop. Eat up. These videos are definitely food for thought and show you that music video directors belong in the film community.
Wu-Tang Clan
Can It All Be So Simple
Craig Mack feat. Notorious B.I.G, Rampage, LL Cool J, and Busta Rhymes Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)
Busta Rhymes Woo-Hah! (Got You All In Check)
Mob Deep feat. Lil’ Kim Quiet Storm (Remix)
Nas feat. Puff Daddy
Hate Me Now
Slim Thug feat. Bun B and Pharrell
I Ain’t Heard of That
Kanye West
Stronger
Kanye West
Can’t Tell Me Nothing
Coldplay
Viva La Vida
There are just way too many great videos that Hype has directed and the ones above are just a few personal selections and don’t even make a dent into his catalog. That’s why in my opinion he is easily one of the greatest to ever do it. Not only for hip hop for other genres as well. The man has directed a Coldplay video for crying out loud! That’s just insane. Please, give yourself the pleasure of going onto YouTube right now and look up some of Hype’s videos.
Jay-Z is showing rappers how it is supposed to be done. He’s the epitome of longevity and an icon who has remained true to himself and what he represents. He is my biggest influence in anything that I do, way beyond rap. It’s about who you want to be in this world. I’m not saying I want to be Jay-Z. I cannot be Jay-Z. I can only be Troy. I want to be the first and last Troy Buchanan. What it is Troy Buchanan wants to be? Well, just wait and see. I think you’ll be surprised. Hell, I think I myself will be surprised. At this point, I already am and I’m excited as hell for the rest of my life. I’m ready to savor it. In the same respect, please savor this mini-documentary on a man named Shawn Carter but known as Jay-Z, and his love with New York City and how it has influenced him as a music artist and a person.
The documentary was directed by Danny Clinch in support by Absolut Vodka.
I almost forgot about this band. I discovered them through a friend back in 2008 when he was introducing me to some of his favorite Electronica and Alternative bands. This is really an incredible song. It’s very relaxing. In fact even so relaxing that it comes across as a bit of a lonely song even though it poses the opposite. Providing a little background on Air, they are a duo from Versailles, France. The name Air is a backronym for Amour, Imagination, Rêve which translates to Love, Imagination, Dream. Pretty cool, huh? The song is featured on their 1998 album Moon Safari. In 2009, they released their most recent album entitled, Love 2.
The video to the song (below) was directed by: Mike Mills. In a statement he made about the video after it’s release expresses his surprise to the final product and it’s reactions from fans, “…that video definitely was a big turning point for me as I discovered something in myself. You know when you do something and the piece is far bigger than you are. Just by luck or unconscious something pops out and you’re like “whoa, what was that?” And with that piece it was a willingness to be totally sincere and borderline maudlin but hopefully not. Emotional without being maudlin. I had always been sort of afraid of that and hidden before behind maybe a little irony or a just little distance. But that piece kinda showed me that I can get really emotional, I can get really sincere and actually I really loved the way the audience really reacted to it. I was like I want more of that! I want more people’s interior lives and how complicated that is and how sort of endless that is..”
I won’t tell you what the video is about. I just feel that it is important to watch. Tonight, while writing another post I watched this video, and when it was over I felt that this was the right blog post for the day. It made me feel a little melancholy. For two reasons, one which I chose to not express but the other being: it made me really miss the 90′s. I sort of wish that I had the opportunity to live through them again. There was so much that I missed out on.
Here is a little intro to the post that I was writing before I decided to go with this one. It’s also very fitting.
Keep your head up Chris. Your personal life is separate from your artisty. I’m still a fan.
Jordan Sparks…Damn you fine.
When I first heard J Cole rap I was sucked in to a hole. Literally. It was one song that did it: Heartache. I was so entranced. The next thing I listened to was his entire mixtape, “The Warm Up”, in the same sitting that I heard the song mentioned, which is also featured on the mixtape. On that particular day, I was HipHopDX catching up on some news in the genre when I saw the headline about the first artist Jay-Z signed to Roc Nation. I was intrigued. I was curious to see who the self proclaimed and proven “God MC” was co-signing. That was a big deal. After the Roc-A-Fella breakup Jay-Z had not stood behind an artist since Kanye West for his own label. That was only with Dame Dash giving the push of signing him. When I clicked on the link, it was J. Cole who was featured. That’s when I listened to “Heartache”, and that’s when I became so captivated by his music. It made sense. I clung onto his music like a leech. He’s quality. I really mean, quality. The kind that only comes around every few years. That one artist, when you hear them, you know that they will have a long career.
As I listened to the mixtape at work, ignoring any other work that I had to do, and pausing to only do the most important (that’s exactly how important music is to me), I was feeling like I was listening to myself. I related to him so much. Every word spoken felt like I wish I was writing it. Down to his story. I won’t get into details but, It was insane to me how every rapper that is getting on has had the same direct experience that I have had which has contributed to their success as an artist or ability to land that deal after of a long road of fighting to win. I don’t know what that means for me but…I hope it doesn’t adversely affect me. Like when I get my shot, they compare me to everyone of those rappers. I want to be my myself. What’s even more curiously odd, is that my cousin went to school with him. She was among some of the the people who doubted him as a rapper when he was trying to do his thing. She admits to swallowing her words now.
If you listen to J Cole you can hear his story. The details of his background are not always direct but you have to really listen to him. You can understand him, he’s not talking in code, but it pays to invest into an artists lyrics. I know it’s hard. For me it’s not. I gravitate to lyrics first, but for most of the people I speak to about music, most tell me the only care for the beat at first. You can’t really blame them. The quality of content in music has degraded so much over the years I’m sure most got fed up and stopped caring.
I really wish J Cole the most success in his career. Even though rap is so competitive and I probably should be promoting myself instead of another rapper being that I am on the come up myself, that’s what not it’s about…I will get on as I am supposed to. If I can at least spend a 15 minutes out of my morning giving another rapper his props because he kept me pushing when I was trying to finish my mixtape, showing me that I can make it, just as he did, then I will do so. Either way, I am a fan of J Cole and I really respect his work. Same as Kanye, when I was telling everyone to listen to him and give him a chance no one listened. My brother did, and he saw exactly what I was talking about. Now, those same people who didn’t listen when I urged to, are now fans of J Cole. Your music works homie. Please keep delivering.
…other than, he’s a talented young producer/engineer/mixer/recording artist.
This is the first single off of his very first mixtape featuring fellow Miami rapper Marino Marli. The mixtape will be arriving very soon. In the meantime click the link below to download the track.
It’s really wonderful to experience the discovery of a new recording artist or band. You can discover them halfway through their career or when they are underground. To everyone else they may be old, but to you, they are the best thing ever to happen to your ears. Or you may be the one to put people onto them, and then they blow up. You almost feel like you were the one who discovered them and boosted them to stardom.
The Blackroc album was released on November 27, 2009. Black Friday to be precise. This is the hip/hop/blues/rock mash up album spearheaded by Dame Dash with production by The Black Keys. I had known about this album prior to it’s release but it seemed to slip my mind and was then reintroduced by my colleague and friend when he was able to get an advance copy of it. I’m glad he did. It’s very rare that I play an album to death. This is one of those albums. Truly good work. This made me take more notice in The Black Keys. Their sound is so soulful. Yet, grungy. Mos Def, Jim Jones, Pharoe Monch, Nicole Wray, Q-Tip, RZA, Raekwon, Ludacris, Pharoahe Monch, NOE, Billy Danze and the late Ol’ Dirty Bastard all contributed to the project.. An incredible roster, and they all really gave something heartfelt to the album. To me the standout artist on the project was Jim Jones. He’s the guy famous for that “Ballin” tune that even got a move to go with the song. I say it that way because that was the song that brought him some commercial success. What people overlook is that Jimmy is really good rapper. He says some incredible stuff in his music. I’ve been following him since The Diplomats album when he was apart of the Roc-a-fella roster. Before the breakup. He’s constantly surprised me lyrically and his delivery. I already know that most hip hop heads will disagree with me but this is what happens when as a rapper your forced to put out a “mediocre commercial smash” in order to get recognition. Your true artistry is always overlooked.
Below, I would like to introduce you all, if you haven’t heard them already, to The Black Keys. I can’t quite put my finger on who I would compare them to but, on the Blackroc album, it sounded like they rose Jimi Hendrix from the dead to collaborate. I would also pay strong attention to background vocals on Hoochie Coo. That is the vocalist/guitarist Dan Auerbach. What a man that can sing so soulful. Just incredible. The Black Keys are now my new favorite rock band. Excuse me while I go find another fix. Enjoy the freeze that I left.
Sometimes you never understand your purpose in life until that purpose needs you to prove it to yourself and others. Follow me.
A friend of my cousin is a boxer and she needed some entrance music. She had an idea of what she wanted but needed to execute it. She also needed this music the day before she decided to ask me if I can do it for her. It was last minute yes, but I agreed to help her out. She wanted to have Jadakiss’ The Champ Is Here track play along with T.I’s Bring ‘Em Out with a glass breaking sound effect to break them up as intro and the actual move out music. Simple as stated. Yes and no. The execution of it is simple but finding the tracks that work is the tricky part. That was with the Jadakiss track. You see that song is on a mixtape that he put out with Big Mike and DJ Green Lantern. If any of you know a hip hop mixtape, the DJ’s love to talk all over the track. So I was presented with the challenge of chopping up the record so that you don’t here the DJ talking. She didn’t want this and it just doesn’t work if your coming out before a match and this is supposed to be your introduction music. Boy, did I chop it up. I was really surprised with myself in achieving the end result.
The track came out pretty hot. If anyone knows me, I really don’t end up doing anything simple. Not because I don’t want to, my mind and work ethic just doesn’t gear that way. I actually tried to give the track a concept as if trying to picture how she would come out and tailor the track to that vision. I ended up doing two versions for her. Originally I thought she wanted to have the Jadakiss track go first and with T.I. to follow. That version came out pretty good and is my favorite of the two but she really wanted it the other way around. I had to make a few changes so the transition would work a little better.
I really love music and I think this shows more how strong my passion for it is. Shouts to my brother Sean. He always does things like this too. We both could so be DJ’s, rappers, producers, engineers, what have you. We have the skills. The passion is there. Someone needs to give a shot! We work hard for it. We never get the break we deserve nor fair pay. There’s no reason to have a college degree and still be barely making rent. Uncalled for. I did this for free. This was for a friend. I was helping someone out, but I know a few DJ’s and I can only imagine what they would have charged for something like this. The best thing though, when she, my cousin, and her friends heard the track, they loved it. She called me and thanked me and sounded so excited. I know I can do this. I love when my art effects someone in a good way. That’s what I hope to do when I get on in the game and become a successful musician. I’m going to be amongst the elite in the game. My brother will be right there with me. Highly respected for our talents. I can feel it.
So if you are an A&R for one of the labels, or someone that works at one of the labels, or is someone connected, get at me! Please! Go to my music page right now. I’ve got the talent! You won’t be sorry.
Jay-Z feat. Swizz Beatz On To The Next One Directed by: Sam Brown
This video has been out for over a month now but I just had to write a post. It is the epitome of art. It’s genius in many ways. I was really disappointed by the criticism that it started to get shortly after it’s release associating Jay-Z with satanism and also the accusations of being a Freemason – which in no way interests me. I really don’t like when people try to tarnish the images of celebrities and feel the need to put them under a microscope. The are people just like you and me. No different.
This video is just a thrill to watch. It has such edgy visuals. The follow-up to the play on 3′s which is present in the logo for the Blueprint 3 album is cleverly used throughout the video. There are still symbolizms and meanings that I am still trying to make out. That’s why I appreciate Jay-Z’s work so much. He’s very intricate and puts much thought into the work he showcases. Over 10 years later I can listen to his first album, Reasonable Doubt, and pick up gems in his rhymes that went over my head years back. He was so ahead of his time, and still is. The video is like watching that old Maxell commercial from back in the day. You know the one…
I have been waiting so long for this video to arrive and it’s finally here! This is by far my favorite song off of his last album 808s and Heartbreaks.
The video is directed by Nabil Elderkin. A really talented director and one of my personal favorites. He’s done many of Kanye’s videos including the really cool Welcome To Heartbreak. You can view “Coldest Winter” here.
I move onward/only direction/Can’t be scared to fail/search your perfection… y’all should be afraid of what I’m gon’ do next… Jay-Z from On To The Next One
I did my thing! I shut it down. When I came off of the stage everyone was congratulating me and saying how good I was. What a humbling and wonderful thing that was to hear. A former colleague even urged me to find a manager and a label connection. Everyone said that I need to do more shows, and asked when my next one was.
Last night was just my second career performance as a recording artist. I have waited 10 years to get on stage. To me, this is my first real performance. The first one was rather short and felt like training ground for what’s to come. Also it was a way for me to find my stage presence. It was a really good thing that I recorded the last performance because I was able to study that and see what things I wanted to correct. I am my worst critic but I believe that in being tough on myself, I leave no room to slack. In my eyes I did good. But, I also feel I have some work to do. I know that I can be great at this and for someone who has only done 2 performances ever, and get this much good feedback? I know that if I keep practicing and getting the opportunity to do more shows who knows what I could become. I feel like all these little shows are trial runs for that one Grammy performance that I dream of. Or that one international concert tour that I hope to go on. These are the stuff dreams are made of. The passion is there and the drive will never run out of fuel. I love what I do. The arts really saved my life. This is only the beginning. I am having fun.
I had a great time last night but I also took the time to watch a few of the other performances. Particularly the rappers who went after me. There were like 5 rappers on stage for that set. Sometime through the set it was all of them at once or just two or three. By default they had more energy. Their beats were knocking hard too. But my brother’s beats have that soul no one can match. I couldn’t really hear what they were saying either. It was a good performance don’t get me wrong. They did their thing and I congratulate them. These guys were professionals too – one of them was the son of Temptations singer David Ruffin. They have deals, they do shows on the regular and they have the entire package. I also studied them…What I realized is that in my set I was the only person on stage and I managed to command the crowd. Not everyone, but I had mostly everyone’s attention from what I could remember. I was trying to go as hard as I could. I had the energy, but it led me back to what I remember DMX saying one time after battling Jay-Z is that he learned a valuable lesson about that. You can have have energy but it must be controlled. Chaos within that is never good. I don’t know if that makes any sense versus how I think of it in my head…
Here is the video of the first four minutes of the performance. I was really hoping to get the entire set but my camera bummed out after a full memory card which is disappointing because I made sure that I cleared a lot of things off of the card beforehand. I guess I should have taken off more. Luckily a friend was able to get the entire set on his camera so once he sends me that video I will most definitely post it for you all.
It is only so often that great musicians bless the world with sultry sounds, a unique voice, and lyrics that give chills. As a young boy I remember hearing Sade’s music on the radio, most familiar is Smooth Operator. It was a song that sounded so classic, I never felt as if the tune would ever leave my mind. Actually, I can hear it playing in my head as I type this. As a recording artist and songwriter, I believe in making the music that comes from the heart. The kind of music that you, yourself would want to hear and with hope, others can connect. Sade is the best example of this. She has never been a direct inspiration for me musically but she is a great reminder of what it means to make good meaningful music.
Today is the release of her long awaited album, Solider of Love – after 10 years! So fitting. I hope many of you do yourselves the pleasure and get the album. Don’t question whether it will be good or not, or worth your money. Just get it. Buy it in stores, download it on iTunes, or find a torrent. Just listen to it. Just as I have requested many of you Listen To My Tape and give honest music a chance. If music is really my calling then I will never let it leave my life. It’s clear to me that I must have some sort of involvement in it. I have been rapping and pursuing a music career for 10 years. That says a lot. I probably have outlasted the rappers who said they wanted it so bad when we all started around the same time. You never give up. That’s the cardinal rule. I will not lose. That’s my motto.
Valentine’s Day is about five days away. Find your love and claim it as your Valentine. It doesn’t have to be a person. It can be anything that you love or makes you feel loved. I have two this year. Music is one of them. Enjoy Sade, and happiness with your love. Bless.
Rhythm and Hues Band Night
Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
February 18th, 2010
8:00pm
Thanks to the wonderful people that I worked with at Rhythm and Hues, they have asked me to come back and perform once again for this year’s band night at The Good Hurt here in Los Angeles. I am very excited and I have been working on my performance and visualizing how I want this all pan out. I will be performing some music from my just released mixtape, “Listen To My Tape!” which you can download from the music page here on the site. Click The Good Hurt banner for club information.
I also would like to announce the vicious return of Sean Buck and J Nic$ this coming April. This summer, J Nic$ will release “Clouded Thoughts,” his second mixtape after the critically acclaimed release “Dirty Sneakers.” The first mixtape was praised by Miami’s biggest culture website, The305.com. You can see the “Dirty Sneakers” feature and download the mixtapehere.
Lastly, I would like to mention: Sean Buck – mixtape coming soon…very proud of you, dude. That’s my brother!
It was sad to not see Kanye West at this year’s Grammy’s. What’s even more unfortunate is how hip hop get’s little to no respect as a musical genre at award shows, especially the Grammy’s. Best Rap Album was not even televised this year. As one of my favorite artists, I feel Kanye West will continue to inspire and create amazing art no matter his mistakes. I defended you ‘Ye. I tried. In your honor, here is your 2008 performance at the Grammy’s and probably the one performances that will forever stay with me.
I was working at CBS News during that year and for 40 years the Grammy’s have been televised on CBS. You can bet that I went to work that night (I was working nights) and dubbed the performance from the master tape to my hard drive as a souviner. I would like to share it with you all. Enjoy. This is what true artists do.
This is what it’s all about…right here. It’s looks like heaven.
I have worked very hard to bring this mixtape to everyone and I owe many thanks to my brother Sean for his help in the engineering, mixing, and mastering of the music. This was a collaborative effort between the two of us over a few years and recently, a distance of 3,500 miles away. I myself started work on this officially around 2003. I have stated before that it took me ten years to make this, which is true, I have envisioned making a collection of music every since I started rapping. It’s the road blocks along the way that prevented the actual start of the project back when I was in high school. So, I took the time to invest in strengthening my skills. I can remember everyday when school was out I sat at the picnic tables outside the lunchroom at Suncoast High writing as if every rhyme was for my first album. I filled 2 spiral note books by the time I graduated. Then I added a third by the time college unlocked it’s chains.
Since those picnic table days, I had thought about the sound, the content of the tape, and how I was going to actually get it out to the world. It wasn’t until 3 years later, in 2003 that I built up the courage, and the skills, and found ways to record whereas I felt like I could actually get going on this. The concepts keep changing. My style keep changing. My lyrical content kept – no, everything kept evolving. Everything kept maturing. As an artist I kept getting better. There were just circumstances that led it to be in fact a 10 year project. I was lucky enough to get some people to record me and work with me a little in becoming more comfortable with actually recording (that is a skill in itself). Those guys were Gary, Kamathi, and Adrien. Then, when he actually got his mic, my brother Sean. It was with my brother that I would find a great chemistry and someone who was patient to put up with my nervous issues, wanting to record the entire verse over if I messed up and refuse punching in. I always believed that to be fake shit. I look at recording as a live performance – one shot to make it good. I will not lie to you though, I did have to punch in quite a bit on this tape. I fell to that in order to: 1) finish the song. Sometimes it took me two hours to finish. 2)Obtain a better flow, and 3) learn that it is a technique that can actually help the quality of the song. I’m stubborn and my brother knows this. The self torture which I call seeking perfection can really hinder me at times.
The unfortunate and almost regretful part about this mixtape is that, the concept and vision I spoke on earlier really fell apart as the years went by. The result of what you listened to was me trying to piece the puzzle back together at the last minute. I do feel, it comes off a little sloppy at times. I wish that wasn’t the case because I worked so hard much of the time to perfect my skills as a rapper, this tape doesn’t really exploit that the way I had hoped. Maybe some of you feel different. I am my own worst critic but I just wanted to really be finished with this tape too. Trying to make something perfect can only live for so long. I had so much to say and I couldn’t wait any longer for people to hear what I had to say about certain situations and people. It’s a very personal mixtape if you listen to the lyrics. I really put myself out there. I say a lot of things I probably shouldn’t have, but it’s how I felt. I do apologize to Shakera and Fabiola for not editing their names out of certain songs. I did want to, but I no longer had access to the vocals and cutting out a section and leaving dead air would have disrupted the song and hurt the integrity of the music. I hope you two understand. I consider you very close friends and I hope that past feelings expressed in lyrics will not offend and hurt the relationship.
With all the above stated, if your looking for some kind of concept or story within this mixtape, you will not find one. By this point, I put the tape out as just music. Music from the heart. Music of my early years as a rapper to this present time and feelings and thoughts that I wanted to share with people – whether they care or not does not matter to me. I did what I wanted to do, and that’s what matters. You will actually hear variations in my voice as it started to change. The lyrical content is of Troy – “rap facade” NOT included. There are many emotions expressed and situations discussed. That’s why I called it “Listen To My Tape!” I just want people to listen to my music and hear what I have to say. I just wanted a shot. I know I am a talented rapper. No one ever took me serious as a rapper. Many people still don’t – it hurts. Especially when many know that hip hop and music means so much to me. It is truly what helped me get my life together… In a way, it almost felt as if some people didn’t care when I put it out. Those who had expressed great interest or hyped me up about it hadn’t even listened to it when I asked them days after I posted it. Many of those people I consider close friends. I try not to have negative thoughts like that though. I always tell myself, “Well maybe they are busy.” I can’t make excuses for those people.
I do appreciate those who listened to the tape very first day. That means so much to me. It can feel like the world doesn’t want to hear me out or give me a break when I constantly work hard to obtain what I want for myself, but I also feel that it’s important to stay humble and keep working. Things will happen soon enough. It’s not like I’m some sloth that expects everything to come his way. Look at my resume. Look at my catalog. You see the blog. You see the art. I’ve been working hard at these many talents for a long time. Matter of fact, I haven’t gotten to put up everything on here yet. I’ve put in the hours while others have partied or kicked on the metaphorical hammock. I never, ever, asked to be some overnight success. Those types of careers end in disaster and it’s plain selfish. I just want the opportunity to not be looked at as some lowly rookie in a entry-level position making peanuts to throw back at the gallery in my frustration. I’m tired of that. I am no rookie. I may be new to the majors but I have the experience. I’ve proven that I can run with the majors. Ask anyone that I have worked with. Most notably the major companies that I have worked for. I do have a lot more to learn but that’s why you move up to new heights and gain more experience. I don’t ask for much. I just want put my art out to the world. Of course the important factors remain: I want to prove my talents, change the game, make a good living, and spend the rest of my career rising to the top. I could tell you what my dreams are in life. I’ve tried to explain myself before. No offense, but my dreams are too complicated for most to understand. I’d rather show you.
Thank you all for being patient and supportive. This collection of music means a lot to me – my heart and soul went into making this. The entire project was:
Engineered/Mixed/Mastered by: Troy and Sean Buchanan
Production on “The Crown” and “How You Like Me Now?” by: Sean Buchanan
Many thanks to my brother Sean for working around his night shifts at The Hit Factory to help me finish this. Love you, dude!
A little over a month ago I made a post speaking on my younger brother Sean Buck and a new rap artist out of Miami, J Nic$ and his debut mixtape entitled Dirty Sneakers. Well ladies and gentlemen, that release has finally arrived. At 12am tonight December 25th, the mixtape will be available for official download on www.blaqsheepblog.com.
I am very proud of these two young men. Especially my younger brother. He is strong off the heels of Cash Money Records Birdman’s recent album serving as Assistant Engineer. This is his first project serving fully as Engineer/Mixer/Producer. He was fortunate to produce two songs and be featured on one. J Nic$ has been rapping since his mid teens. He is a very talented individual and displays a unique style of charismatic rhymes with wit and sensibility. They have been working very hard on this mixtape for sometime now and I proud to announce it to the faithful blog readers out there.
Kid Cudi is one of my favorite artists right now. I don’t see the resemblance, but I’ve been told a number of times that I look like him.
After all of the loose tracks that I heard prior to his album release I was kind of skeptical but then I said to myself, “I wonder if he’s trying to craft an album and not worry whether the tracks can stand on their own.” Sure enough I was right. Man On The Moon. A masterpiece of a hip hop album. Please listen to it if you haven’t already.
Here is the video to his third single, “Pursuit of Happiness” feat.MGMT
I really like the concept. It’s also nice to see he’s supporting his rap peers. RE: Drake as supporting actor. Despite all of the people surrounding him, I like the fact that they chose to have him in real time and everyone else in slow motion. It adds a nice subtle loneliness factor. The moment looks extremely joyful and yet, all the people around, he could still feel a little lonely. That’s just my interpretation…but maybe just because I can relate to that…
