Rss

  • youtube

Give Me My Props

Posted by :Peauxetic Expressions On : August 27, 2012
0

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Gone are the days where artists can depend on selling millions of records to fill their pockets.  The 1990s saw several artists exceed diamond status- 10 million plus records sold-(Alanis Morisette, Garth Brooks, Boyz II Men, TLC), but now artists are lucky if their CD goes double platinum. But is it that the music is just not quite as influential, inspiring or exciting? Although that could very well be, the real culprit is the dominance of the digital age. In a previous post, I talked about how physical CDs are becoming extinct due to the overshadowing of digital downloads. Many music fans of today would rather the convenience of downloading a CD and transferring it straight to their iPod, phone, or mp3 players than buying a CD in the store.  What about the people who wrote, arranged and produced these songs? That is exactly the petition that  Grammy is hosting to bring more awareness to credits for writers, producers and instrumentalists.

When we purchase digital downloads, we only are able to see the artists and the song/album title (unless it’s an enhanced edition that includes CD liner notes). But that may be changing very soon. Ambassadors of the “Give Fans The Credit” petition are Sheila E (the fiery female drummer from Prince’s hey day), Jimmy Jam (One half of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis production due. Think any major Janet Jackson song), and Skylar Grey (instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and producer) are just a few who think fans should get to view extended credits.

I personally think this is a great idea, but I also think I’m in the minority on this one. I think most of today’s music fans don’t feel slighted by only receiving artist credits. The rationale from the Ambassadors and supporters of this petition is that including the extended credits will produce heightened music awareness and increased fan demand for certain musicians, songwriters and producers. I signed up for the petition and I’m curious to see how the results turn out. If you’d like to support this effort, go to http://www.grammy.com/credits.

What do you think about this petition? Will it get an overwhelming number of signers or will fans just overlook it?

In other digital music news, you’ll probably never guess which Hip Hop artists has the most digital downloads ever. Is it LL Cool? Lil Wayne? T.I.? Ludacris? Kanye West? Jay Z? Well think again because it’s….

FLO-RIDA. Yep you may be scratching your head now just like I was, but here’s the reason why he received this prestigious (um, at least I think so) honor.

  • His new single “Whistle” is at the top of the iTunes and Billboard Hot 100 Chart…with sales already past the 4 million mark.
  • He broke his own record previously set by his hit song “Low”, with “Right Round” which had over 635,000 downloads in its first week alone.
  • His breakout hit “Low” has sold just a few hundred thousand units past the 6 million mark.

Just goes to show that quantity doesn’t always equal quality. No disrespect to Flo-Rida, but there are plenty other talented Hip Hop artists I think are much more deserving of this crown.

Busta Rhymes Plays With Google

Posted by :Peauxetic Expressions On : August 20, 2012
0

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

As one of the most celebrated hip hop artists in history, Busta Rhymes is back and he wants us all to put our hands where his eyes can see. Well, not exactly but he does want us to put our hands on Google Play tomorrow to download his free (yes, I said free) new CD, Year of the Dragon. Say what you will about Busta Rhymes, but he has had an extremely long string of hits throughout his career (Put Your Hand Where My Eyes Can See, Woo Hah! Got You All In Check, Dangerous, Gimme Some More, Touch It, etc). When I first heard he was signed to YMCMB (Cash Money) last November, I honestly thought it may be a wrong move. But considering the hype surrounding his new Google Play alum (released tomorrow), it may have been a better move than some of us thought. True, artists like Trey Songz, Lecrae, Rick Ross and Frank Ocean have all released free mixtapes through sites like www.datpiff.com. But Busta Rhymes is planning on making an even bigger splash with Google Play. I wonder how he will recoup the money spent from the project though. With all of the guest appearances and detailed cover art, I’m sure this CD wasn’t cheap to complete.

Has Busta Rhymes already reached his peak or is he still one of rap’s relevant artists? Will you be downloading The Year of the Dragon  tomorrow? Check out the throwback song of the week, “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See”. This is one of the greatest Hip Hop songs and videos ever made in my opinion.

God Forgives, Pop Music Doesn’t

Posted by :Peauxetic Expressions On : August 13, 2012
5

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

God Forgives, I Don’t. This is not a personal opinion or character trait of mine.  But this is the title of Rick Ross’s new CD. I’ve never been a big fan of his, but I must admit, I like a lot the music he’s done in the past couple years. I even downloaded his free mix tape, Rich Forever. But something about the title of his new CD just makes me not be able to go out and purchase it. I like a few of the songs on it, but does he really believe the mantra of the CD’s title? Don’t get me wrong. I probably couldn’t put my iPod on random in any setting and please everyone in the room. I like all types of music, and some isn’t as clean as it could or should be, but where is the line drawn?

During the first week of its release, God Forgives, I Don’t sold over 100,000 copies and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. Could this be partly attributed to pure talent, or pushing the envelope. But even take Madonna and Lady Gaga. Both artists (Lady Gaga more than likely following in the footsteps of Madonna) have pushed the image, interview, performance and sexual envelopes way past the normal acceptance mark. But has the element of shock value become the new norm? Rappers like Eminem were treading on somewhat unfamiliar territory with explicitly violent and disturbing lyrics that had everyone in a frenzy in the late 1990s. But now, would it have the same effect? Have we really just become desensitized over time. Even Nicki Minaj can probably feel less of the heat being directed at her, from not having to pave the way like artists before her did. When Lil Kim exploded on the music scene in 1996, she took music to a place it had never quite been before. But now we want more and more…..and thus artists like Nicki Minaj are created.

By no means is any of this a cut or slight at any current day artists that I have mentioned here. But it is facing the reality that many of the concepts artists are putting out are not necessarily new, they’re just multiplied to the next level. What people think is so taboo now fits for the time, but when will we see that we’re pushing things a little too far? The main goal I see in current popular music is to get you (the consumer) to buy it. No matter what it takes to get there, if we purchase it, the artist’s job is done. Even some of today’s gospel artists like Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin and Lecrae have somewhat capitalized on what the younger generations are listening to. “The God In Me” sounds just like Jamie Foxx’s massive hit “Blame It”, so the general public is already predisposed to liking it. It’s all about what will sell and what won’t.

What are your thoughts? Do you think popular music is unforgiving of certain morals, standards and values? Or are we too uptight and it’s just all in the name of good fun and entertainment? Does real artistry still exist and what percentage of it is the artist’s personal expression or a ploy for sales?

Lecrae Puts On His Mainstream Church Clothes

Posted by :Peauxetic Expressions On : July 9, 2012
4

Category: Uncategorized

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

While Gospel rapper Lecrae may not be the first rapper in his genre to ever release a mixtape, Church Clothes may be causing the biggest buzz than any of its predecessors. I was first introduced to Lecrae by a coworker a couple of years ago. Since then, I have purchased his Rehab and Rehab: The Overdose CDs and downloaded his new mixtape, Church Clothes. All 3 CDs are in heavy rotation on my iPod now. I downloaded his new mixtape on www.datpiff.com and if you haven’t heard it, you should check it out. And the best part…it’s free! Maybe it’s just me, but when I hear the word mixtape, I don’t generally think of gospel music. The extent of artists I would expect to release mixtapes would be Nicki Minaj or even Raheem Devaughn. But has gospel music gone too far when it can be found in the same bucket so to speak as hard-core secular music?

Some call it blasphemy, but I call it genius. Many people who aren’t even avid listeners of gospel music have tuned in to Lecrae and what he has to say on Church Clothes. The mixtape’s title track is probably the most controversial song with lyrics like “They telling me I’m gon reap a mil/If I sow into these low crooks…I lack words for these actors called Pastors”. He is basically speaking from the point of view of someone who believes the church is nothing but a place that’s full of hypocrites. Is he saying he is that person? No. But, the production and delivery of his rap here can easily be poured into the mold of current secular rap music. So was this done on purpose to catch people’s attention (and save souls) or just by happenstance? But one thing is for sure, you can’t deny his talent.

A native of Houston, TX (my hometown), he has the down south appeal of mainstream secular artists like UGK and T.I. But if you listen closely to his lyrics, he’s delivering a positive message. On the song “Black Rose”, he raps over a track that could be well suited for reggae rapper Sean Paul and delivers a concept reminiscent of Tupac (The Rose That Grew From Concrete). Despite any secular artists that he may remind you of, Lecrae proves he has carved out his own lane. In my opinion, the concept of Church Clothes embodies the “come as you are” concept, with great production and meaningful lyrics. Some people may still believe that this type of music is too radical for gospel music. Church Clothes even features an appearance from No Malice (formerly named “Malice” of the duo The Clipse…remember their hit song “Grinding”?). True, the approach may be unconventional, but you can’t deny the reach it’s gaining in the process.

I may have been a little late finding out about Lecrae (and the group he’s a member of, 116 Clique), but from everything I’ve heard from him thus far, he’s definitely gained a fan. Lecrae boldly states that his style is not gospel, and can sit comfortably next to any hip hop artist. Truth is, he’s exactly right. With almost 300,000 downloads in just 3 months of its release, Church Clothes is impacting many people. Have you heard Lecrae’s music? What do you think of it or Christian/gospel rap period?