March – What I See

Grandmaster Flash

Republished from D2Nott monthly column What I See on NottHeads.com

March madness, with the NCAA tournament coming and going and album releases from some familiar names as well as some new faces in the game. Becoming somewhat disinterested in an industry that is now based on gimmicks and album sales more than the actual music. Feeling something like Common, “I used to Love Her“. Amongst all the rumors and speculations there are many artists still making good music and making business decisions to put them in a class all their own, moving past the stereotypes and category of just being rappers and poets. Its to the point that everyone wants to rap now, even Tony Parker is taking a shot at it.

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious 5

On a more serious note, this month had its share of surprises and great moments in and out of the booth. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5 being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the first rap group to be honored, is a major stepping stone and helps lead the way for many of the rappers we look up to today.
Grandmaster Rocks the Hall for more information and background on this historic group. What other Hip Hop (Rap) groups are worthy of such an honor?

With rappers getting arrested or in the news every other day for one thing or another, the game itself might be in trouble. Major names such as T.I., Ludacris, Jay-Z and others showing up in commercials; now the object of the game is to make money. That’s good as long as the integrity of the music is not compromised to make a quick dollar. Transitioning the game from street level hustles to money making machines.
Putting yourself in position for a move is better than being caught off guard. I’ve even heard a statement saying that “Hip Hop is the new Disco.” Not that I agree but a valid point still. Everyone has a story, what makes yours worth hearing, more than someone else’s?

Whatever the case may be, the game provides an outlet for expression. The privileged few that get their message out should not only use it to make money and to gain fame but to educate and even put people up on game. Everyone seems to be a thug now. Like Jay-Z said, “Now you got these young cats acting like they slung cats. All in they dumb raps talking about how they funds stack“. Ludacris provides the template for making money in the track “Tell It Like It Is” from Release Therapy; get your pencil out time for some quick schoolin: entertainment lawyer, own company, trademark, bank account, sign yourself, record, mix and master music, press, sell in your own hood and out your trunk; show all those non-believers what you destine for!! Go buy the album if you want the lesson with sound effects. For anyone who wants to be in the music business, some educate will help you keep a few more dollars, and that makes sense Road To Rap Game Riches.

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~ by notthead on August 11, 2007.