WHERE’S THE LUV?
MONDAY NIGHT I WAS NET SURFING LOOKING AROUND AND I WENT TO BRIAN GAFFEYS BLOG, A INTERESTING FOR THE DJ IN YOU SITE. SO I PUT ON MY PROMOTION HAT AND SENT HIM A EMAIL ASKING IF HE WOULD POST THE OCEANS 7 MIXTAPE . NOW ON THE SONG (WHERES THE LOVE ) I SAY (I GOT DJS SHITTIN ON ME ) RIGHT? WELL TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT HE SENT BACK A REPLY BASICALLY, YOU KNOW WHAT UMA LETCHU READ IT FOR YOUR SELF, THIS IS WHAT HE POSTED KEEP IN MIND I’VE NEVER MET HIM .
JD: YO THIS JERMAINE DUPRI I NEED YOU TO PUT THE OCEAN 7 MIXTAPE ON YOUR BLOG
Me: Mars, I got love for ya. But I can’t do JD. I just got no respect for dude anymore.
JD: What did i do to you ? this JD
Me: Personally, nothing. You gave me great music for most of my life. You were the ultimate music innovator throughout my teens. Hell, u brought back mariah when everybody thought she was a wrap.
Lately though, I seen something from you I never thought I’d see. Your jumping the cool electro/dance bandwagon, but your late. Your on records that are a year old. It feels forced. It seems like ur trying to stay relevant when u were the dude that used to MAKE what was relevant.
As a dj I feel like its my job to be ahead of the game. I live in williamsburg, brooklyn where I got to see people like Diplo, M.I.A., Santogold, and MGMT two years ago. My life is music. My life is looking for that next cool sound. Right now? Its “disco funk” but u won’t know that till next year.
I helped discover LMFAO and knew they were the shit when they were just getting $75 a show. I helped break I”m in Miami Bitch. You jumped on it a year later. You jumped on MGMT 2 years late and didn’t even do the Justice remix that is the best version. JD? How was JD this late?
I just think that your out of touch. Its only natural though. U can’t be in the spots that I’m in genuinely trying to discover the next cool thing.
And let me apologize. I shouldn’t say I don’t have respect for you because you’ve done so much in this industry. But right now, june 9th, 2009, I feel like you lost your touch.
My email was followed up by him asking for my number and then giving me a call. It was a good conversation. Lots of back and forth. His point was that he wasn’t trying to make himself look cool by jumping on these type of records, he was trying to use his star power to break them to a new audience. Which I respect.
My only point was that if he was going to jump on these records, please try to be early on them. It makes him look bad to be so late on things. Which he understood as well.
All in all, we ended the call with an solid understanding of where each of us were coming from. I think a lot of times with blogs, you make statements and pass judgments without necessarily knowing the other side of things. I’m glad I had a chance to talk to the man himself and clear up my own issues with him. He’s a stand up dude. He didn’t have to take the time out of his day to talk to me and I really appreciate it.
I think that comments like the one this guy gave you only help people stay grounded and keep going hard to make sure they say with the now while looking toward the future. I know you (JD) don’t have anything to prove but I like that you don’t let yourself get too comfortable.
It is what it is…you can’t please everyone and everybody don’t get everything.
This is pretty crazy and I want to say JD big props for showing us Lifers that you still get criticized every once in awhile… but that still doesn’t stop you from pushing your music forward. I took something different from this argument than most people on here. I want to say that I read your book and it spoke about how you would take a artist and develop him from the ground up; image, rapping skills, what to say etc… You can not catch every act that’s coming up and sometimes even that act may not get you excited, but the thing that trips me out is the fact that this guy hasn’t realized that he hasn’t caught all of the up and coming acts either. You know what this reminds me of, a scene from the Godfather. The DJ is Virgil Sollozzo (the drug dealer that Michael killed along with the cop) and JD you are the Godfather, Sollozzo was coming to offer the Godfather a business prop which was to be in the drug business… Now there was alot of money in that white powder but the Godfather did not want any part of it. Just because you do not want to be apart of the new disco funk doesn’t mean that you need to compromise the way you go about making that next artist into a great one ( we are ready for you Johnta) . Disco Funk or whatever he called it will be around a short while and you build lasting careers… I know you remember how you got to where you are. Dont compromise. I love the book by the way.
Props to dude for keepin it one hun’ned
JD, you do NOT need this dudes approval. He’s entitled to his opinion and you respectly acknowledged his opinion, but WHO CARES?! Do you REALLY have the time to be tryin’ to break records, when you’re producing for MAJOR artist, doing party promotion, traveling and put on show’s w/ the Ocean’s, not including the other miscellaneous things the lifers don’t know about. Ironicly you were just talking about practicing the on your DJ’ing last episode. But let him have his opinion, cuz “opinions are like asshole’s, EVERYBODY has one”.
By the way cop that LV book you had up…DOPE ART illustrations, etc., etc.
JD, the more i read your blogs and watch living the life..u a real nigga. what people dont understand is u are JD u have 1.1 million things to do. its hard keeping up with all this gotdamn music. I feel both of yall points. He did sound like you did him something LOL Peace
I just can’t agree with him on this JD. You do your thing always, and I feel as if you are in full effect right now. I didn’t use to be a big fan… well, as a younging I DID use to be a big fan of yours but after all the groups you had fell off I just fell back. Of course, I was just a kid then. I’m 4 months older than Bow, so you know how old I am and around what time I’m talking about but NOW… all that love for JD and So So Def has come back. I respect everything you do fam! Much love, fuck them other DJs.
JD I am just glad you kept it real with the LIFERS and posted the topic. You could of never mentioned it and denied the convo happened had he. I respect his statement because its the truth. At the same time its hard for those who break in to main stream success to still be in the underground hip hop world. Its like ur surroundings and circles have changed, so you dont have the access like you use to. You aint chilln in the studio with the starving artist, you in the studio with Mariah, Janet, B. Cox etc. I cant remember if I read this on here or twitter about your comments about going to the Drake show, not really knowing much about dude. The college kids been on Drake strong for at least 3 years.
I compare this situation to me moving from Brooklyn NY to Atlanta. When I go back, I feel like damn I am missing out on all the latest flavor from clothes, music, and overall culture of the NY Swagg. Atlanta while stylish in their own way aint got shit on NY. We just getting Arab scarfs, when my grandmother been wearing it around her jacket since I was 6 lol.
This is DOPE!! Point blank CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM at it’s best and you being the HUMBLE person you are took it the right way, This is why I’m a LIFER cuz anyone who can stay humble for all these years and still practice his craft.. $hit well do I have to say anymore??
i got mad props for u JD! I grew up listening to your music from Kriss Kross to Bow to Jagged Edge to Usher to Janet to Mariah…you are always the trendsetter fo sho! i guess people dont realise that it takes years for the “hit music” to blow…considering the amount of time spend on songwriting, production and recording and marketing n so by the time the record hit the streets it’ll def be around a year or more…so the FUTURE HITS ARE BEEN WRITTEN N PRODUCED RITE NOW before it blows in the next year!
Mad love,
Moe from Singapore
p.s. GET THE FREE DOWNLOAD OF MY REMIXTAPE..HOLAAAAAAAA
http://sharebee.com/8e750e98
I AM A Lifer.. JD i love you shit old new and even if CATS think it late. music is music…. ITs your ears. I also think conversation where two people can talk about the situation like audlts ans have positive outcome is good. Challenge to JD… Show these CATS how we do it in the SOUTH,,, Oceans MXTAPE.. i rock it on the IPOD… I got most of the naval base in VA rocking on you … JD do you cause you area lifer.
JD,
I agree with you 100% your resume is long he should be thanking you for even viewing his blogs!!! And being a down to earth dude… But I really don’t understand this dudes logic behind him trying to call you out. I know we are not comparing Apples to Apples but what has he done?? Who has he signed? I know he’s a DJ but it goes deeper than that. So at the end of the day JD and this is my personal quote ” Haters comes in all shapes and sizes, get rid of one and pick up two more” Keep doing your thing man and let people keep talking b/c to be honest that guy would love to be in your position..
DIPLOMATIC APPROACH NOT TAKEN
Dear JD,
This dude’s email pisses me off a lot!!! I think you are doing a great job of maintaining a level head with this guy, but dude is a dumbass!!! He has the fkn nerve to write you a bogus email about how he isn’t going to play your mixtape because you’ve lost touch. On top of that, he tries to make it sound respectable at the same time. And what’s his reasoning??? Well, apparently he discovered LFMAO. Listen to this sh*t head…..he discovered a group that has the musical legitimacy of two circus clowns. If he had an ounce of smart juice in his head, he’d do a little homework to discover that the Ocean’s movement is one of the freshest things going on in the industry right now.
Your rap sheet speaks for itself JD. This idiot should call you back with a formal apology and beg you for the permission to play the mixtape.
You say where’s the luv, I ask where’s the respect?
Sincerely,
Flow Fleezy the Undiplomat
I understand what he is saying, but it is hard with a lack of promotion from not only record labels but tv and radio as well. The only way to find new artist is just by word of mouth
IT’S FUNNY BECUZ IF DUDE WOULD HAVE DID A LIL RESEARCH OR SOMETHING HE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT JD HAS ASKED ON GLOBAL14 ((((((((“WHAT’S HOT IN YOUR HOOD?”)))))) …THATS AN ATTEMPT TO STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME… I DON’T DISAGREE THAT AS A DJ, JD SHOULD TRY TO STAY UP ON EVERYTHING. HOWEVER AS A MAN OF MANY HATS …HE HAS TO STAY RELEVANT IN EVERY ONE OF THOSE HATS NOT JUST DJING. IF JD WANTS MORE THAN JUST PPL IN ATL TO HEAR HIS ARTISTS HE DOESN’T SAY OH WELL ILL JUST PUT IT OUT IN ATL AND HOPE THEY LIKE IT EVERYWHERE. HE RELIES ON EVERY MEDIUM POSSIBLE… TO ME HE IS RELEVANT. I WATCH EVERY LIVING THE LIFE VIDEO AND I HIT UP GLOBAL 14 EVERYDAY. SO IF PPL WANTED THEIR MUSIC PLAYED BY JD OR ANYWHERE OTHER THAN THEIR OWN HOOD I FEEL THE INTERNET IN ITSELF IS MAKING THEM HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH ACCESS TO PEOPLE THAT CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN BUT ITS UP TO THEM TO GET IT HEARD… HE’S ONE MAN AND IT’S MILLIONS OF ARTISTS.
I guess everybody is entitled to thier opinion. That’s why Hip Hop is so colorful. You can do anything you want with it, It’s just some styles have more fans than others. You tried to get his help and he didn’t really go your route so YOU just have to move on to the ones who DIGS what you’re doing right now. I mean that dude ain’t no hip hop commissioner. We don’t have no commitee of sorts. With that said, I know you got other moves to make than chase him. This is a crazy game to be in. You take the bad with the good. I remember a good old boy (white guy from the rural areas) told me that some these rappers sound like chainsaws and lawn mowers. That was funny! Even heard a man say that all rappers talk too damn much. whoa! So everybody sees it differently but Hip Hop has been around long enough that it has great value and most respect through out the world no matter what you’re doing.
HIP HOP!
well u do have a piont there too as well but do not worry about u have put out alot of good music out there u are never too later for anything men just go to name few ppl that u help out over the year usher nelly an alot more but anyway do not let anyone bring u down he not pay u to do anything need to get his own life
opps my bad
i miss up on some words so i had to fix it
well u do have a piont there too as well but do not worry about it u have put out alot of good music out there u are never too later for anything men just gonna to name few ppl that u help out over the year usher nelly an alot more but anyway do not let anyone bring u down he not pay u to do anything need to get his own life
The dude has his opinion true but what jd is saying is, he is breaking records and looking for new acts. ! person cant discover and break 100 percent of the acts! network and help each other and stop sucking your own d!ck! jd is breaking fashion now he is a busy man! haha. good blog good video cant wait for part 2. we’ll see how far that disco funk goes when he aint doing his job sending jd the records. hahaha the irony.
Its good to see that there are still some stand up people out there in the industry that are not in it strictly for the bread and more so for the music
Hey JD I am an up and coming promoter out here in Atlanta and I would love to do a mixtape party with you man if youd be open to new venues and promoters. I may not be one of those flashy guys doing their thing in downtown atlanta but I mean i have a genuine love for the dj craft and art so thats what my party is focused around, get at me if this interests u at all
If JD would have remixed that kid cudi – day n nite i might have never heard it so i thank you. thats how i find new music is when someone spit over the beat. cause geting hundreds of mixtapes and going through them is a pain.
This dude must be nutz! He taun bout ppl hopping on ol stuff? what does he think a mixtape is? That dude is an idiot. Plus to disrespect JD like that… a nigga that’s been paying his dues in the game for years beefo that other cat was even a thought to society. All I’m saying is sometimes its better for niggas to just hold there tongue. You think if Dr. Dre or Timbo or JD orTeddy Riley or Neptunes would holla at me, I would start trippin? H-NAH!!! I would just be honored that them cats respected me and my work enough to even get at me. For real a chance to chat with a Hall of Famer in the Music game is priceless! Even if you don’t walk away with a deal.. You still walk away with knowledge. And if it was Suge Knight even if you don’t walk away with a deal….. At least you Walk away!! lol
So do u think u r out of touch ?
JD it seems like this is just another example of NY arrogance gone awry. I just had another debate on youtube about this ridiculous behavior of New York residents who think they’re the “supreme authority” on music. On there, they were talking about how the music really sucks and they don’t understand why “real hip hop” isn’t selling. This was my response:
As long as the reality remains that any artist not from New York isn’t “real hip hop” and is getting disrespected because he doesn’t say “son” and claim some borough or island throughout his music or use really low-key beats with no funk, soul, gospel, or rock feel to it,the people are going to continue to ride with other artists. Have you realized that people want a variety and hate monopolies? That’s what New York was trying to do for so long…hold a monopoly on the game. They’ve had something to say about every rap/hip hop movementoutside of New York.
They made comments about the west coast taking their share. They were dissing 2Pac on the comments section I was on although that man had some serious content before he got into the gangsta madness – go back and listen to 2pacalypse Now (the album), Changes, and Me Against the World (album). They took issue with or simply ignored the artists from the South – Outkast, Goodie Mob, and Geto Boyz.
They did the same thing to the Chicago/Midwest movement. Bone: Thugs-N-Harmony, Do or Die, Twista…got no love. Just like Nas, Jadakiss, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharoah Monche, some of Wu-Tang, Immortal Technique, etc have something to say, so do others from different regions. The New York DJs forgot that their job is to bring hot music to the radio/masses and tried to block Nelly from bringing the St. Louis style of rap to the music world. But he found a way and sold 9 million albums. This isn’t the only time the people showed that they were ready for something different. It wasn’t even the first time.
NWA, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Missy Elliot and Timbaland, just about anything outside of NY…time and time again, the audience showed they wanted to hear good music that had motley sounds. They wanted something fresh. Of the limited list of rappers that have diamond albums, the only New York rapper is B.I.G. and the album is “Life After Death”. Outkast, Left Eye (through TLC), and Eminem are all on there – two acts from the south and one from the Midwest.
Even after these artists prove their lyrical ability & veracity and impeccable sense of rhythm, they’re still held to a different standard than the artists from New York.
As talented as T.I. is, how much props does he really get from them? They love Jay-Z because he memorizes his rhymes. I like Jay as well. The Black Album was that ish! But, what about T.I.’s Trap Muzik? That album was classic – not to mention his displayed prowess on King, Urban Legend, TI vs. TIP, and the recently colossal Paper Trail. He’s shown a versatility that would NEVER be ignored if he was from Brooklyn or the Bronx or Staten Island or whatever.
I have albums from every rapper I’ve listed here. People from different parts of the country can enjoy music that isn’t just from where they’re from. NewYork residents just have no clue how to do that. It trips me out because they’ll complain about T-Pain, but listen to Ron Brownz. They love Cam’ron/Jim Jones rap but clown the work of Lil Wayne. They can rock with the darkness of DMX but can’t understand why people like Scarface. Lil Wayne recycles one line and he’s a biter; Jay-Z recites damn near a whole verse and he’s just paying respect. They hate “crank that” but love “the chicken noodle soup”…such hypocrisy! I can’t stand Soulja Boy because he sucks(but I understand he has his place) not because he’s from the south…or (even more pathetic), just not from New York.
Do muthafuckaz mouths get numb from bumpin they gumz. I guess when you one of the best who EVA did it everybodys a critic.
Hey JD,
Just saw the LTL “Message to the industry” episode. And I have to say that I was actually suprised to hear what they play in clubs out in ATL… Call me small minded or what not but seriously… I thought that there were just hiphop/rnb clubs and electric/techno clubs seperatly.
I live in Rotterdam, Holland and I’m so happy that the DJs over here play different genres all mixed up (at times f*ucked up, but hey…). When we go out to clubs we hear songs from M.I.A, JUSTICE to Jay-Z, Kanye, Soulja Boy, R KELLY, Montel Jordan and all the way to (latin)house music. That’s why I gotsta give it op to Dutch DJs like Chuckie and Superior for holding it down for us.
Seriously JD, u have to come to Rotterdam or Amsterdam!! Either way.. it’s goin down.
Much luv,
Angie
Christel is the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Damn Chistel…..you said that! JD thanks for posting this, it was one of the maturist (sp) things I’ve seen from the industry in a while. Also, I think you needed it! And just my opinion, you kinda came at him wrong in your initial question…you dropped your name and then told the dude you needed him to put the mixtape on his blog, maybe you could’ve said, “yo, do mind putting my mixtape or Will you please support me and put my mixtape…” Now, with that said, I have met you several times and you’ve always been down to earth and cool. I think it all ended well and we all learned something from the interaction. Communication is mutha….it works!
PROPS TO CHRISTEL….. POST THAT ON YOUR BLOG (LOL) DJ.BRI-G!!!!!
Sounds like musical elitism to me. But, how can you be elitist towards one of music’s elite? I don’t get it. Great illustration of the song “Where is the Love” . This is why I took issue with a post that you had stating that the youth are the future and they should be able to dictate the future of music. That’s true to a great extent, but they MUST remember to pay homage to the greats that came before them. Especially those who have done it and are still doing the way that you have. I know that I follow your progression because it is consist, quality work. Dosen’t really matter whether the it’s the newest thing are not. As long as it stands the test of time. And you’ve shown and proved time and again. Dude is entitled to his opinion, though. And it’s good that y’all got y’all points across to one another. But damn, lilke you said “Where is the Love”!!!
LMAO @ Christel. As a New Yorker I get what you are saying, but hip-hop is a competitive sport. New Yorker’s don’t only have something to say about music outside of the region. There’s competition within boroughs as well. Respect is given where it is due, as is shown by record sales and longevity. Good music dosen’t need a NY stamp of approval.
I know that I like quality music, and I’m picky about the Hip-hop that I listen to. It just so happens that alot of good Hip-hop comes from NY. It began here so it only right. But I also love Outkast, UGK, TI, Goodie Mob all kinds of Hip-hop outside of the region. And for the record Ron Brownz is WACK Jim Jones and Cam’ron are kind of wack too. Chicken Noodle soup? No comment, lol! Just because you see it on 106 & Park and Youtube dosen’t mean NY is loving it. Most of the time those are the youngin’s that don’t know better anyway.
Oh, and Williamsburg, Brooklyn is a whole ‘nother level of elitism when it comes to Hip-Hop music. There are alot of Hip-Hop scholars that listen to and study the music but haven’t lived it. Well, they think they do because of their proximity to Bed-stuy, Fort Greene, etc. (in other words, the Hood).
To Minnie – I’m glad you got a chuckle out of intelligent and valid discussion. My questions to you are: 1) What constitutes “good Hip-hop”? and 2) Who generates and approves this criteria? Is it the global fans? Record sales? Your very intimation that since the music we refer to as hip-hop has its most recent origins in New York that “[sic] it only right” that “[sic] alot of good Hip-hop comes from NY” is the basis for my argument.
It comes from there… so your artists are better because it sounds they way you all like it? That’s like saying that best computers have all come from one company since the developement of the first electric computer back in the mid 20th century (1940-1945). It’s like saying that because Alpha Phi Alphi is the first recognized black fraternity (1906) that no other fraternity has helped to build the credibility, reputation, solidarity among brothers, and distinguished nature of the educated black man. You’re making it sound as if a plethora of good hip-hop hasn’t come from other regions as well. Most of it people would never get to here if it were up to NY DJs.
You say there’s competition within the boroughs as well. Besides KRS-One going at MC Shan for saying the hip-hop started in Queensbridge, I’ve never heard an NY artist saying “hip-hop belongs to Brooklyn/Staten Island/The Bronx/Queens/Manhattan”; it’s always been the bs of “hip-hop belongs to NY”. That’s the point of my entire post.
“Respect is given where it is due, as is shown by record sales and longevity.” Okay, I can respect that. But, are we accounting for the increase in illegal file-sharing and buying from the guy on the corner? Otherwise, it’s giving an unfair advantage to those who didn’t have to deal with this nearly as much. Moreover, how much weight is given to each factor? Is it half and half? 25% sales and 75% longevity? 60% sales and 40% longevity? What is it?
Let’s see…Ludacris has been famous since 2000 (9 years) and sold 15 million in the states, 20 million world-wide. Where’s his respect as a “good hip-hop” artist? Jay-Z, by comparison, 13 years, 22.8 million in the states and Nas – 15 years, 12 million with 10 albums (including the platinum Firm album). Compare again to KRS-One who sold 2 million in 22 years.
Nelly – 9 years, 22.5 million in the US. Nellyville went gold or platinum in 35 countries.
T.I. – 8 years, platinum on every album with the exception of “I’m Serious”…that’s 5 platinum albums in 8 years.
Big Boi (from OutKast) – 15 years, 25 million in the U.S. Everyone gives Andre 3K his props. But, why is Antwan ignored?
Trick Daddy – 12 years, 3 million …before you laugh at the numbers, Common has sold 3 millions in about 17 years.
you and I both think he sucks…but here he comes:
Cam’ron – 11 years, 3 million – once again, Common – 17 years, 3 million…you picked this criteria.
Ice Cube – 22 years, 11 million solo, 4 million with NWA, 2.4 million with westside connection (17.4 million total)
Lil Wayne – 10 years, 7.5 million in the US. Carter III – platinum in a week
Bow Wow – 9 years, 5 million …. Compare to Talib Kweli – 9 years, 2-3 million or Mos Def who has been out since 1998 and has released 7 albums but has only 1, count it, ONE gold album.
LL Cool J (I don’t think he gets the respect he deserves) – 24 years, 12.8 million albums
8Ball & MJG – 16 years, 5.5 million – out about the same time as Common and sold more with probably little-to-no buyers in NY
Three-6-Mafia – 15 years, 6.8 million, 6 gold or platinum albums. Same argument for them as the previous.
Lil Jon & the Eastside Boyz – 12 years, 4.5 million. (not even talking about Jon as a producer).
Is Lil Jon MY definition of hip-hop…no! but MY definition is MY definition. To each his/her own, but NY fans think they can set the definition for everyone else just because the most recent origins lie in NY.
Left Eye – TLC… 10 years prior through her death…an astounding 22 million records, a diamond album in CrazySexyCool…yet, i can’t recall ever seeing her mentioned on any MC list.
In my opinion, all of these people shouldn’t be compared because they aren’t the same type of artists. But that’s the thing about hip-hop, there has always been the party music, the political music, the underground, the mainstream, the rough, and the smooth. Who are we to try to contain an artform?
JD he is basically right. You use to break artist, create a sound, etc. Now its like you hop on what’s hot out for the moment once they’ve already created that buzz for themselves. Most of this love people have for you is b.c of what you have done in the past and your contribution to the music biz which is undeniable. But we, or at least I do, need you to get back to your roots and break shit. Control the next movement and not bandwagon the latest trend. Be a trendsetter like you’ve known to be.
Still team So So just reinstate my belief!
i guess its hard 4 me because i thought we the consumers had a bigger say in what is relevant or not. its a dj’s job 2 pump out the music so that we can be the judge. that is probably why i hear the same shit on the radio all the time cause djs r only playing what they like instead of putting all the music out there and seeing what the public thinks. it feels like we r being forced 2 only enjoy music that djs like instead of letting us get the feel 4 new, different and familiar shit thats being recorded. thats probably y i dont listen 2 the radio that much. djs have way 2 much power these days. but i guess everything has its purpose.
Christel, I got a chuckle because the tone of your post was so angry and I know that some NYer’s can opinionated when it comes to music and especially hip-hop. I said I understand where you are coming from in terms of the bias that New Yorkers have about Hip-hip. Being that Hip-hop began here of course NYer’s will be opinionated about it, as we are with everything. I gave examples of artists that I like from outside of NY and I also said that good music dosen’t need a NY stamp of approval.
“It comes from there… so your artists are better because it sounds they way you all like it?” I never said that. I said that alot of good artists are from NY, not the ONLY good artists.
I’m assuming that you are coming at me like you do when you argue with other NYer’s about music. But I’m not saying the same thing that you claim others have said. Wherever the music comes from, if your region likes it, who cares whether NY likes it or not. The artists aren’t worried about conforming to a NY sound, and they still make damn good music. So why worry about whether NYer’s are respecting it as long as they are buying it? Each region has it’s own tastes so you can’t expect everyone to like everything. Bottomline, if the music is good, NYer’s may knock it but are going to listen to it regardless of where its from.
“You say there’s competition within the boroughs as well. Besides KRS-One going at MC Shan for saying the hip-hop started in Queensbridge, I’ve never heard an NY artist saying “hip-hop belongs to Brooklyn/Staten Island/The Bronx/Queens/Manhattan”; it’s always been the bs of “hip-hop belongs to NY”. That’s the point of my entire post. ”
Well, no one says it belongs to any one borough but… everyone knows the best rappers come from Brooklyn. My SUBJECTIVE opinion.
WHERES THE LUV
wats good JD its Ya Boi Slic Yung Outta Cali I sAw Your Youtube Blog Message To Tha Industry And I Had a Very Serious Question .You Being A Person Who has Broke Many Of Artist .How Do You Get These other Industry Heads To Take THa Same Route And Listen .Me Being a Up And Coming Artist U Aint Walkin In Capital Or Interscope And Handing Them A Hot Track You Can Go To Tha Clubs and Djs Aint Spining Shit From Locals Any More .Do You Continue Wuth Tha Myspace Route .I Respect THa Whole Do it Yourself Route But It Comes a Time where Tha Labels Heads And Dj’s have To Take a Chance .Ive Got Plenty of Shows Under my Belt But when A Persons Not even Giving U A Chance wats Next I Could See If i was Wack But Damn Im fra from That .just All In All how do U Get The Labels To Take a Chance …
I know I’m a little late commenting on this, but I tried yesterday to comment on your Youtube page and my comment was too long…LOL! So, what I want to say is that…#1 I’ll give him props for keeping it real with you even after he realized he was actually conersing with you. He could have turned punk and backed down but he didnt’. #2 Since when it is OK for a DJ to NOT play music because he has personal issues with the artist(s)??? I thought his point was that, wait a minute…how did he say it? “My life is music. My life is looking for that next cool sound.” I mean, he did say that right? I mean, that was a direct quote from the email sooo.oooo….him not playing the “next cool” thing which is the Ocean’s Mixtape is a direct contradiction of everything he wrote.
Now, I don’t know much about the life of a DJ so I won’t take their job for granted in the least, but if they refused to play the music of everyone they have a personal issue with, we wouln’t hear a damn song on the radio, in the club or anywhere else.
Okay, now let me get go to your video post on Youtube…I think the music industry has a lot to do with some artists not being heard, but I strongly believe it goes a lot deeper than that. Music can be EXTREMELY inter-regional or intra-regional. I mean, I’m from the South…originally from Mississippi but moved to GA over 15 years ago. When I first moved to GA, no one really knew of the artists that came out of Jackson….like David Banner for example. His music and the music of a lot of others was locally heard…only the radio stations in Mississippi played their music. After I’d been in GA for a while, I started to hear more and more of his music and the music of artists that he’d worked with….folks that I’d heard many times when I was at home.
It’s no different than visiting the West coast and hearing an artists there, that’s not popular in the South. I’m sure you’ll say I’m naive for saying this, but I think people…like myself…play a HUGE part in why some artists are not heard. We tend to grove to the sounds of the area we’re in…I mean let’s keep it real…let’s say a DJ played a joint that is real popular from the East coast in an Atlanta club…most times the people scatter and only a few folks are still dancing…as soon as that song is over and the DJ plays a song by an artist we know…the club is jumping again! LOL…now, I’m to blame for that which is why I can say it…I’ve done it! So if you’re saying you’ve never done that, stop lying to yourself!
I don’t think we realize the effect of something like that on an artist on the music industry. What effect? Well, leaving the dance floor or turning the radio station when an “unfamiliar” artist or song is playing says to the DJ that we’re not feeling that! So what happens? Only the songs of those we KNOW are played (and I’m only putting these names out there because these are the most popular artists in the A); Usher, T.I. Jeezy, Lil’ Wayne, Kanye, F.L.Y, SouljaBoy, etc.
So, I said all of that to say….if we continue to be closed minded when we hear something that’s “not the norm for our little area of the globe” music will continue to suffer! This blog, believe it or not, was a wake up call for me because now I’ll be more conscious when I turn the dial on the “next best thing.”
WHT UP JD. I SEE U HV A LOT OF COMMENTS TO THIS TOPIC OF WHERE’S THE LUV. I HV TO COMMENT ON THIS TOO BUT I’M GONNA PUT A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE TO EXPRESS MY COMMENT (WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/ONEPHATPROD) I’M FROM EAST TEXAS AND I’M A LOCAL DJ OUT HERE. IM BEEN DJIN SINCE 1988 AND I HV SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN THE INDUSTRY SINCE THEN. SO LOOK FOR THE VIDEO TOWARD THE END OF NEXT WK AND LET NO WHT U THINK. I NO THAT’S A WHILE TO COMMENT ON A TOPIC BUT BEEN REAL BUSY . HALLA. TWITTER.COM/DJCOOK1PHATPROD.
WHAT JD, I KNOW I’M PROBABLY LATE ON THIS BUT I LIVE IN LA AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THEY DON’T BREAK RECORDS OUT HERE. THEY PLAY EVERYTHING THAT’S ON BET OR ON THE RADIO!!! WHATEVER REGION THAT IS HOT ON THE MUSIC SCENE THAT’S WHAT THEY PLAY IN THE CLUB. IT’S A NEW RAPPER OUT HERE NAME NIPSEY HUSTLE THAT IS BLOWING UP. AND FOR THE DJ THERE IS NO WAY FOR YOU TO HEAR EVERY SONG ON EVERY NEW ARTIST IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD. I THINK OLE BOY IS A LIL GRAPHICALLY CHALLENGED. GET OUT OF THE BOROUGHS DUDE
I totally agree with you Dwestcoast! That’s exactly what I was saying…people often times listen to the music that’s popular in the region they live in. That doesn’t mean we aren’t open to new things…it’s just that’s the way it is sometimes…not saying it’s right…but that’s the way it is sometimes.
JD,
Some people are just self-hood / jealous / envious , not because of your accomplishments but rather
the lack of there accomplishment’s. Your request was a reasonable one, presented to this person. So I would request, a simular request of you. Would you swing by and review, my mixtape at my site listed below: http://www.myspace.com/kazieakacali, could I also, request and audition for so so def? Here is my gmail, let a young one know something JD, will you: kaloni106@gmail.com.
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