Yesterday evening, I had the opportunity to listen to some of the most successful radio, club and mixtape dj's of our time. The likes of DJ Jelly (Atlanta), DJ Pharris (Chicago), DJ Irie (Miami), Nick V (Los Angeles), DJ Supa Mike (Baton Rouge), DJ AJ (St. Louis), DJ E Rock (San Francisco) were all on the call. Typically when I am on these industry type calls, I like to keep a pen and pad handy so that I can write down contact information, new ideas that may pop into my head and nuggets of information that people spit while they talk. Before I share some of the things that I picked up, I want to give a big congratulations and shout out to DJ Wrekk 1 and The Hitbreakers.com for all of the hard work that they do to further hip hop music and the networking and information sharing that they foster.
I just want to drop a few points that were brought up.
1. Your success is contingent on your location, city, market, credibility and your mouth-piece. However, you can become a success right where you are if you have a vision and can follow through on it.
2. Tell Record Promoters the truth about their records and they will ultimately respect you and come to you again. Sometimes, good promoters have to try to push weak songs. It's not their fault, but it is their job. Just give a simple yes or no.
3. Street DJ's are the strongest right now, do to their ability to play records and break them in the club. Additionally, some street dj's are great marketers who can do more for an artists' music than maybe radio can sometimes.
4. Not all dj's can do everything. Some dj's have different strengths. One dj might be good at keeping the program director happy. Another might be good at going from the radio to the club and grinding, turning the party out with every record they play. Another may be stronger at creating mixtapes.
5. Dj's know what works in their market and what doesn't. (But if you believe in your song, keep pushing on!)
6. Dj's are people to. They want to know that you care not just about them playing your record, but that you care how they are doing. Build real and sincere relationships with dj's if you can and you may get that love back when you need it.
These are just a few of the jewels that I picked up. When I get on a hitbreaker.com conference call, I am always impressed with the caliber of people on the call and the information and candidness with which the artists speak. Until the next call, stay in the studio.
Hip-Hopfully Yours,
Beno-other, M.B.A.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Hip Hop in Albuquerque on Thursday Night. What did I find?
As I wrote in my first blog, I was headed downtown to represent and watch some up and coming local artists do their thing and meet some more music people. What I found, was a group of young people that have a dream to make it big in music and a group of haters who do not want them to make anything out of their dreams. These haters, happened to be security guards. Man that is a tough one. How are you supposed to rock at a club when you know security wants to beef with you?
With almost every club in Albuquerque being free, the place wasn't packed like it could have been. Especially to support the local artists. But the groups performed and the night looked like it would end on a positive note. However, here come the guards trying to goad a young emcee to fight. Man, I can't stand a hater like that. Why can't you just let that man be? Cause' he got an athletic jersey on? Pick anything!
My message to those young aspiring emcees and just to people with a dream period is to stay focused and undeterred. Don't let nobody, family, friends and especially strangers keep you from working your hardest to make something happen for yourself. People will ignore Jay-Z's decree, and try to knock your hustle. Maybe they are knocking it, because they just don't feel your style. That's okay. Maybe they are jealous. That's okay. But you have a responsibility to pursue your dreams and goals until you cannot breathe anymore. At the end of the day, you will look back and have a good laugh at the obstacles that dared to stop you but could only serve as stairs to get you to the top.
Until I go in search of Hip-Hop again in Albuquerque, you all stay focused, dedicated, and prayed up.
Hip-Hopfully Yours,
Beno-other M.B.A.
With almost every club in Albuquerque being free, the place wasn't packed like it could have been. Especially to support the local artists. But the groups performed and the night looked like it would end on a positive note. However, here come the guards trying to goad a young emcee to fight. Man, I can't stand a hater like that. Why can't you just let that man be? Cause' he got an athletic jersey on? Pick anything!
My message to those young aspiring emcees and just to people with a dream period is to stay focused and undeterred. Don't let nobody, family, friends and especially strangers keep you from working your hardest to make something happen for yourself. People will ignore Jay-Z's decree, and try to knock your hustle. Maybe they are knocking it, because they just don't feel your style. That's okay. Maybe they are jealous. That's okay. But you have a responsibility to pursue your dreams and goals until you cannot breathe anymore. At the end of the day, you will look back and have a good laugh at the obstacles that dared to stop you but could only serve as stairs to get you to the top.
Until I go in search of Hip-Hop again in Albuquerque, you all stay focused, dedicated, and prayed up.
Hip-Hopfully Yours,
Beno-other M.B.A.
What is Beno's Basslines and Bylines?
Beno's Basslines and Bylines is a blog that will ultimately include photos, video, artwork, interviews, commentaries and random musings from me. Although I like to write, I am struggling with what to write and publish in this blog. Some stuff is easy to decide on. Interviews, no problems. Comments on things that I think are good, not an issue. But there are some topics that for me are sensitive and people may not necessarily see it how I see it. However, I feel more comfortable tackling some of these same subjects in a rap. You see, this whole blogging and website and any other entertainment vehicle I use, all comes from the artist side of me. And being an artist we have the ability to reach a broader audience faster than many other people would dare to dream.
Although, I have had my share of victory in the music industry, I still am not where I want to be. My ultimate goal is to become a philanthropist. I want to be able to fund educations, buildings, programs and anything else that I feel will help the community. I know that it is possible for me to reach this stage, because I believe in the blessings of God. I know that he can take my life and bless it in an instant that I cannot even fathom. Admittedly so, I am already blessed. I have a beautiful wife who is successful, I have my own equipment that I can record music on, I have a great career ahead of me, and I can still play baseball on the weekends, (as of this writing, Beno's baseball team won the championship for the Mexicana/Americana baseball league in Albuquerque, New Mexico). And I have the desire and knowledge to help other people and that is where I know I am most valuable.
In the future I hope to use my writing to pursue other goals. I would like to write a book about the music industry and how to do it yourself. I also have a mean idea for a movie that I hope to make a reality one day. Until then, I keep on writing my own raps and recording them and writing for OZONE Magazine’s Rap Quest Section (Big Up to JB and OZONE Mag, for giving me that chance).
May God continue to bless you and keep you as you strive to make your dreams a reality. If you need help dreaming, holla at me, cause I dream all day, every day!
Hip-Hopfully Yours,
Beno
Although, I have had my share of victory in the music industry, I still am not where I want to be. My ultimate goal is to become a philanthropist. I want to be able to fund educations, buildings, programs and anything else that I feel will help the community. I know that it is possible for me to reach this stage, because I believe in the blessings of God. I know that he can take my life and bless it in an instant that I cannot even fathom. Admittedly so, I am already blessed. I have a beautiful wife who is successful, I have my own equipment that I can record music on, I have a great career ahead of me, and I can still play baseball on the weekends, (as of this writing, Beno's baseball team won the championship for the Mexicana/Americana baseball league in Albuquerque, New Mexico). And I have the desire and knowledge to help other people and that is where I know I am most valuable.
In the future I hope to use my writing to pursue other goals. I would like to write a book about the music industry and how to do it yourself. I also have a mean idea for a movie that I hope to make a reality one day. Until then, I keep on writing my own raps and recording them and writing for OZONE Magazine’s Rap Quest Section (Big Up to JB and OZONE Mag, for giving me that chance).
May God continue to bless you and keep you as you strive to make your dreams a reality. If you need help dreaming, holla at me, cause I dream all day, every day!
Hip-Hopfully Yours,
Beno
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