Talking Major Keys with T Major

T. Major is a super producer and award winner from Toronto, ON who's got it going on. He’s been in the game for a minute and has learned a lot along the way. Starting off as a producer he has also picked up the titles of DJ and recently Vice-President of Motive Music Canada, an independent label here in the six where our friend Gee Wunder is president. T. Major recently put out a new and exciting project that showcases his talent, but also gives back to the community. “Dirty South Drum Loops” is a FREE DOWNLOAD available on tmajor.ca that allows producers to experiment with samples, loops and really get their creativity in motion. I wanted to talk to T. Majot about his many accomplishments and what’s next.

You’ve been around the Toronto music scene for a while, when did it all begin for you?

It all started for me in 2004, I had some trouble and mishaps and found myself on house arrest. I love movies, but that couldn’t be all I was going to do and I don't play video games like that. I knew of an old friend that was making beats on the computer so I thought I give it a try and got hooked instantly. With nothing else to do but watch movies, making beats became my reason to rush home from work, shortly after in 2006 I attended school for engineering and recording, the course was actually called "Sound Tech".

Do you feel that school really helped you? Should producers invest in a musical education?

Well yes I believe that going to school for music recording helped me, it helped a lot in terms of music knowledge and learning the the rules of music and/or sound in general, and equipment knowledge when it comes to signal routing, wires, connections, meter reading and acoustic design. But at the same time it isn't needed to become a successful producer at all, it might take a bit longer for you to learn and it always helps to surround yourself with good knowledgeable people that know about music as well as the music industry.

How did you get into DJ-ing? Was it easy for you to learn, given your background?

The very first time I even touched a turntable set was when I was 12 years old, my dad was and still is a reggae DJ with a "Big Sound" as they call it, the name of his sound is "Love Shack" he had a turntable setup with huge speakers and a lot of racks, he would let me fool around on it when he brought it home from time to time because he was always playing out. It's was so much equipment, I was young so I didn't know where he stored it but I know when he brought it home it took at the least an hour bringing it in and setting it up and that's with help from his homies,  he even let me spin for a bit at one of his functions but I really thought nothing of it. Years later I'm a music producer doing a lot of shows with my team/ label mates and I see the need for one of us to control our performances from the DJ aspect. We would always have some "technical malfunction" as the DJ would say or get rushed by the DJ in-between our songs, not giving us time to have a drink, receive the applause from the crowd much less intro the next song, so I decided I'm going to control our performances from the DJ aspect, after all I have a head start being a producer; I know time signature, how to count bars, and I know all the terms on a mixer and what they mean so it wasn't hard to pick it up. I just got familiar with my new piece of equipment and this was like in 2014. So it went from that to other DJs I know asking me to play the intermissions at the performances so they can have a break and back in theses days I only came to DJ for Gee Wunder, just play his song for his performance that was it. I became Gee Wunder’s official DJ I didn't even have a lot of songs for a party but I never said no, I just made it work, to DJing other artists’ performances, to doing the whole night of performances, to full promoters asking how much do I change for a night at their club, because when I'm DJing a performance I treat the intermissions like a party and you never know who's in the crowd.

What’s your role as Vice-President of Motive Music?

My role as Vice President of motive Music is a mixture of things A&R, signing new talent, taking responsibility in the day to day operations as in emails, social media phone calls etc.

How did it feel to win “Beat Producer of the Year” from the CUT Hip Hop Awards?

To win “Beat Producer of the Year" 2016 at the CUT Hip Hop Awards in Edmonton was truly amazing, I did a big campaign on it with a huge push and the whole time I was just happy to be nominated and recognized for my instrumental album, Listening Session. I was good with that alone, so for me to win was so far from my mind it was unexpected which made it truly humbling, that's one of the memories and experiences I will always cherish, to make a project and across the country someone recognizes your efforts, and you get to travel and actually win an award? I think that is in every kind of artist’s dream, even if it was just a minor thought they thought about it I'm sure.

What exactly is Dirty South Drum Loops? And why did you decide to make it available for free?

The T Major's"Dirty South South" Drum Loop Kits is for free and it consists of 5 different drum loop grooves. With each loop you have a kick, snare, hi hat, open hi hat and sometimes cymbals. That makes up one loop (groove) you can use the sounds all together playing as one MP3/Wave, or separate the individual MP3/Wave and arrange the them as you please, then all you have to do to make a complete beat is ad your instruments/plug-in on top of the desired drum loop and your beat is complete. I called it "Dirty South" Drum Loop Kit because the way the pattern of the loop is sequenced, it's with a more Southern groove. This is great for beginner beat makers with as little knowledge as to what a correct 4 bar drum loop is, this will also help them to know the root of each sound in a drum kit and where it is suppose to be placed and this is all subconsciously getting them familiar with the names of the sounds within a drum kit and what they sound like. Now for a professional producer this is a great tool if they have road blocks on ideas, want a different idea than what they would normally come up with, if they want to make a beat real fast or just straight chop the single sound out of each loop to build their drum library. I give it for free because I get a lot of emails and messages from up and coming as well as professional beat makers/producers asking questions about sounds in general, bottom line I see the hunger and I know how it is when you can't find new drums or drum loops  or sounds in general,  I figure this is something that I CAN do to help the community and culture of hip hop producers or any music producer for that matter,  if you can use it and it works for you go right ahead, music and sounds are here for all of us.

Do you feel that enough artists/creatives give back in Toronto? Why/Why not?

I do feel that a lot of artist/creative give back to Toronto,  not necessarily physically but people are way more proud to be from Toronto and to be Canadian,  the day has come when people are more patriotic to their country and city. Toronto is recognized around the world and our people are embracing it, but we are from the "screwface capital" so there's always going to be that group of people that are from Toronto or Canada that don't like the fact that you're an artist/creative from Toronto or Canada actually doing your thing no matter what level you're on, you're doing your thing and THEY look to America for a Co-sign or a stamp of approval to let THEM know what is hot or fresh,  and you can't help, that all you can do is keep doing you because those people are not part of the masses so they don't matter plus you need haters because if you don't have haters then you're not popping. People usually hate on what’s good or poppin so you need that, use it for motivation.

What is coming up next for T Major in the new year?

So what's next for me is I just released a Drum Loop Kit titled T Major's "Dirty South Drum Loops" and is free via my website www.tmajor.ca,  I'm working on a project with Frankie Payne for 2017,  another Instrumental Album but it's a double CD called The Formula/Chemistry, this album will be unique in the way it's released one CD for free and one CD for sale,  I'm always working on new beats, and I'll be at a club near you DJing, just book me or look out for my name on your favorite party flyer.

Connect with T Major: Website   Facebook   Instagram

From The Ground Up With DT: A Show For Artist Development And Great Music

Carib101Radio in Brampton, Ontario houses a new type of show on their usually Caribbean themed program. The show, From the Ground Up with DT (Ground Up), is hosted by DT the Artist, who has been featured on DOPECAUSEWESAID.com before, along with Taesia, the booking manager and myself, Ekelle, the music director. The show is a mixture of advice for upcoming artists as well as seasoned artists, personal anecdotes from the hosts and fun and games, of course. The show airs on Wednesdays and Fridays on Carib101Radio from 6-8pm.

Our goals are to provide helpful information to artists trying to make it in the maze that is the music industry, to shed some light on new talent, inform of helpful events/activities for artists to take part in and play great music from all over the world! Yes, that’s right; anyone who makes urban music (Hip-Hop, RnB, Soca, Dancehall, Afrobeats, Soul, etc.) can submit MP3s to us and as long as the songs are clean and the quality is there, we will definitely play it. The show is also registered with a performing rights organization which means that qualified artists can get paid! So far we have played music from artists in North Carolina, Atlanta, New York, St. Martín and Nigeria in addition to Toronto, of course. Ground Up also features a creative as a guest each episode. Creative has a wide definition to us so the audience can expect anyone from artists, dancers, entertainment managers, fashion designers, talent scouts, models or even pro athletes. So from 6-8pm anyone who tunes in online via Carib101.com directly, from Apple Music or using the Tune In app can hear the show and share it with their fans, family and friends. So far the show has been great and so many interesting guests have come through. We are currently working on our phone in feature so that creatives from around the world and listeners can call in with their thoughts and make requests.

For any artists wishing for airplay or anyone who knows an artist whose music they would like to submit please contact us at fromthegroundupwithdt@gmail.com, for anyone looking to be considered as a guest please contact our booking manager Taesia at taesiafromthegroundup@gmail.com.

Connect with Carib101Radio: Website   Instagram   Twitter   Soundcloud   YouTube 

Asha Mullings aka Ekelle is a Toronto based artist, model, and writer. You can connect with her on Twitter and IG at #officialekelle. 

Ekelle's Exclusive Interview With Trip-Hop Artist Cassia Crawl

I’m excited to be interviewing the living mermaid, Cassia Crawl today. When I say she’s a mermaid I’m not joking, she has the long turquoise/green hair, the tail and the mysticism that come with the title. I first became acquainted with Cassia as a classmate at York University where we both shared a couple of English lit classes. There was something about her that made me want to befriend her; the big blue bouffant hair, the bright pink Doc Martens and the cool clothes she wore to class week after week. I later found out that the unique beauty is actually a pretty successful model. Her Facebook like page boasts over 87K likes and continues to grow; she is also a makeup artist has recently ventured into music and I thought now would be a good time to chat with her about her journey thus far.

So Cassia, I think the first thing I want to know is, why are you a mermaid? What about the mythical creatures appeals to you? 

Pretty much everything, their beautiful long hair, their captivating voices and their shiny mermaid tails and clam bras! Being a mermaid is pretty awesome.

I did my research on you and you’re literally everywhere when I Google search your name; how did you get to be so well known as a model, where did it all begin?

Well the first shoot I ever did, I was approached by a designer, she saw a future in me and I
kept doing it ever since. It’s so important that people believe and support you, since most
creatives I’ve done were for trade/creative exchange.

I checked out your Soundcloud and your songs have a kind of dreamscape sound to me
which I like, my favorite one is “Die Beautifully”; where do get your inspiration for your sound
and lyrics? Also, how do you describe your sound?

Die Beautifully was inspired by a dream I had, where I was floating above the world. I felt at
ease and everything in that moment seemed to make perfect sense so I felt compelled to write
about it! It’s hard for me to describe my genre but many have told me it’s experimental.

What do you find is the most challenging thing about navigating the alternative music scene? Do you have a manager and booking team or are you working alone?

Nope, I do it all on my own! It can be a little bit overwhelming at times, but well worth it in
the end! When I’m awake I try to submit my songs, work on new material and talk to my fans.

What do you think are the key elements for an artist to succeed these days?

Be true to yourself, people will appreciate you more that way.

What are your goals as an artist for 2016?

Playing more shows definitely and releasing a new album!

Connect with Cassia Crawl: YouTube   Facebook   Tumblr   Soundcloud

Asha Mullings aka Ekelle is a Toronto based artist, model, and writer. You can connect with her on Twitter and IG at #officialekelle. 

OVO Summit Gives Hope!

This year I had the pleasure and luck of being one of a select group chosen to be a part of the 3rd annual OVO Summit. When I first heard about the event I was absolutely stoked; would the 6ix God bless us at the door? Would there be a red carpet? Would there be celebrities? Some of these things happened and some of them did not. The summit took place on Thursday, July 28th from 12-5pm at an undisclosed location in downtown Toronto. Beforehand all invitees received emails letting us know that we couldn’t bring guests or take photos and that there would be tight security. According to Ricki Bekzadeh of the Remix Project, the aim of the summit is to “Provide youth from Toronto with an exclusive behind the scenes look at the music industry. Attendees will leave feeling more knowledgeable and connected to the music industry”.

Personally I took away a few new things from the summit so I would say that they remain true to their intent. As each invitee entered the building (the address was given out the night before) they had to check in with security. Once cleared, everyone received an OVO swag bag containing an owl branded notebook and pen to take notes. I saw many familiar faces in the crowd and even met some new ones which makes me think that I’m on the right track at the beginnings of my musical career. When I say familiar faces though, I mean people who are known party hosts in the city, artists with tens of thousands of YouTube views and even award winning producers. 

The way to be invited to the event it seems is to have previously participated in a city program such as the Remix Project, a master class with Urban Arts or ArtScape Toronto, be a part of a recording program at a community center, have started your own movement like a magazine or art gallery or maybe you just know someone on the inside. No matter how you got there, it was definitely a good day to participate in.

The summit took the form of a talk show where the host interviewed 3 people from different parts of the entertainment industry. At the end of the interviews a few of the invitees got to ask questions. The line-up included Derek “Drex” Jancar who is the co-founder of the Remix Project, Director of OVO Fest and manager to newly signed OVO artists Majid Jordan. We then had Nicole George who is Senior Vice President of Membership at ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) and finally… super prouder Metro Boomin! Drex guided us through the process of starting up the Remix Project and then moving into talent management. Nicole spoke on performing rights organizations such as ASCAP and how they help artists get paid, and then Metro Boomin told us about his journey to the top and the 10 hour drives he’d take to Atlanta to get work done.

The underlying theme of the day was definitely to work hard and even when you think you’ve worked hard enough to work some more. The speakers wanted us all to know that if you stay on track and keep working on your craft, your hard work will show and the rest will come. Personally I believe them because the group Majid Jordan was actually discovered on Soundcloud by Noah “40” Shebib. Anything is possible, but you will definitely have more luck if you seize the opportunities given to you. Of course some opportunities will pass you by but that’s when you have to be brave enough to create your own!

My only criticism of the event is that I was really hoping Majid Jordan themselves or Roy Wood$ would have come out to speak to us. It was great to hear from people who have so much experience in the industry but I would have loved to hear from these newly signed artists who seemed to literally be plucked off the streets and overnight successes. Also, it would have been nice to have a musical performance during the break. Other than those things, the summit was a good investment of time; maybe the 6ix God did bless us after all.

Asha Mullings aka Ekelle is a Toronto based artist, model, and writer. You can connect with her on Twitter and IG at #officialekelle. 

The 411 on 4DH, the St. Maartenese rap trio on the come up

4DH is a rap trio from the beautiful island of St. Maarten. I recently got to meet them through a personal mentor of mine, DT the Artist, who is their manager. The 4DH name is actually an acronym that stands for “4 Da Haters”. When I asked the group if they actually had haters, they replied that they do, in fact everyone does! “Having Anger Towards Everyone Reaching Success… Even Jesus had haters” - 4DH. Even though the word hate is in their name, the group preaches nothing but love and positivity. They like to surround themselves with positive people and believe that haters can be transformed into supporters; in fact, to them haters are participators because it takes time and energy to dislike someone or something. The group tells me that people often hate or harbour anger towards things they don’t understand, but when they connect to the message, they can become a part of the movement.

The trio consists of Steel DC, who picked his name for the strong quality of steel, Hitter, who is loud and attacks their songs with fierceness and Mr. 4DH, who I like to call the smooth talker. 4DH was actually in Toronto for an entire month to tour, promote and make connections here in Canada. From what I understand they were hard at work since they landed, all the way up until they had to leave. 

I would say that their trip to Toronto paid off big and was extremely successful; they performed at several venues in the city- including the Hershey Center which houses 7000 spectators, had a few meetings with major labels, did photo shoots, radio interviews, TV shows, newspaper articles, ate like kings and basically lived like rock stars. It seems to me that 4DH will be ready when the labels come running with the contracts.

It may look like 4DH is living easy breezy now, but all of this would have never come to them without hard work, making mistakes and lots of practice. Hitter has been doing music for over 10 years; he actually comes from a church background and got his start in the choir. Mr. 4DH has been doing music just as long and was part of a group before; the group found local success on the island and became comfortable, but Mr. 4DH saw more for himself. Steel DC was a part of a church choir as well but was not able to concentrate on music when he left for Guadeloupe to join the army. Steel DC worked on music when his service was complete and was doing well on the French-Creole music scene, but soon returned to St. Maarten to work on English rap music. 

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All members of 4DH have a musical background but had to take a break at some point because of the ups and downs of life. They all managed to get back together because of their love of the arts and their desire for success. Not only are they a group, but Hitter, Steel DC and Mr. 4DH are also solo artists in their own right. Because they are a true team, they understand when it’s one’s time to shine; the best way to help them is to take a back seat and help to promote because that’s what will happen the next time around when it’s their turn. This reminds me of the olden days of Nelly and the St. Lunatics. Murphy Lee has a net worth of over 7 million dollars today and that’s because he played his role in the group. Of course, Murphy Lee has successes as a solo artist but it’s his work with Nelly that really pushed him to the top. I think if every artist out there could be as supportive of their team as they are with their own music, more artists would be winning. The 4DH team consists of not only the group members, but their production company 37 Films, their manager DT the Artist and their sponsors, Honky Tonk Bar and Oops, owned by Pierre Haitie and Nunes Development.

Although 4DH is back in St. Maarten, now they plan to return to Canada soon and hope to go over to America as well. Currently, the group is working on a website, merchandise and promoting their latest release "G.M." (Gold Medal). After interviewing these guys I can see that there is so much more to come!

Connect with 4DH: Facebook   

Asha Mullings aka Ekelle is a Toronto based artist, model, and writer. You can connect with her on Twitter and IG at #officialekelle. 

Ekelle's review of Drake's latest album "Views"

I’m so glad that I got to listen to Views on April 29th when it became available to the listening public. After hearing big hits like “One Dance” on the radio and “Controlla” which leaked online, I was so excited to hear this hugely anticipated album. I had to listen to it a few times to actually form an opinion because it was not at all what I was expecting. Based on “Controlla” and “One Dance” I was expecting an upbeat mix full of club bangers and summer jams for good times in the 6ix. I was totally wrong and did not expect to hear 19 songs full of intense narration and feels from the 6 God. Because of this shock I wasn’t actually sure if I liked the album right away, I had to listen to it again the next day and see how I felt.

According to a pre-release interview Drake says that the album is based on the change of the seasons in Toronto. The album starts in the cold Canadian Winter, goes through to Spring, Summer, Fall and then Winter again. So for those of you who think that the album seemed a little jumbled, there was a method to Drake’s madness. Once I knew about the seasonal concept for the album I quickly decided that my personal favorite parts were the Spring to Fall portion, which would be somewhere around the middle of the album. Summer is a huge deal in Toronto and is the best time full of parties, festivals, good times with friends and tourists, overall exiting, so Drake really came in strong with that part. My favorite song was definitely “Controlla”; when it leaked I had it on repeat for days. I was a little disappointed to find that Dancehall artist Popcaan wasn’t featured on the album version. I like what Drake came up with on his own, but I think the Popcaan verse gave it something special. I was also surprised to see that Jay Z and Kanye West aren’t on the album either! They were featured on the single version of “Popstyle” but Drake stays poppin’ on his own with the album version. 

The album is something to listen to if you are a true Drake fan. I don’t think that this album was made for the radio stations or the clubs; it was definitely made, for the city of Toronto, from the way Drake shouts out local rapper Top 5 in the song “Hype”, with tracks names like “Weston Road Flows”, and the way Toronto slang is thrown throughout each and every song. Drake mostly maintains his signature flow as he takes listeners inside of his head. Instead of hard tracks, the album had a mellow vibe where Drake does a lot of singing. He is definitely at a place where he is comfortable and wants to bring the audience back into his personal story instead of media drama and celebrity beefs. Despite the chill demeanor of this album, there is definitely some hype up tracks for those who were looking for that Drake such as “Grammys” featuring Future and “9” and obviously “Hype”. Views is not an album to take in over a day; this is one where you actually need to take time out and hear what the guy is saying because it’s relatable. On an album with 19 songs (technically 20, but “Hotline Bling” is the bonus track), it’s almost impossible not to find something that you like. Drake has hinted that he has more up his sleeve this Summer Sixteen and it should be very exciting.

Fun Fact: The cover art for the album is actually photo-shopped; according to actual proportions Drake would actually appear much smaller on the CN-Tower, the way this image is edited is obviously super appealing, but he would have to actually have to be 12 feet tall to appear that large!

Ekelle

Download "Views" by Drake

Q&A with Gee Wunder, Founder of Motive Music Canada

At this point, Gee Wunder has had a great career in the Toronto Hip-Hop scene; one might even say that he’s officially reached that coveted “OG” status alongside others such as Kardinal Offishall, Choclair, Saukrates and Maestro Fresh Wes. I was excited to talk to Gee Wunder because of the extent that he has been involved in the music industry and for how long as well. The titles of rapper, producer, record label owner, and many more are some that can be listed under his extensive resume. Gee Wunder recently released a joint LP with fellow rapper Set2 called Livication which is now available for purchase at his website geewunder.com.

Asha Mullings

So I think I named all of your job titles in the music industry, did I leave any out? Also, how did you first get started in the music business?

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Haha. Yah I have many jobs in the industry. One of the MAIN ones you left out is my job as Senior Music Video Programmer at Bell Media. I am the programmer for Much, M3, MuchVibe, MuchLoud, PunchMuch and MuchRetro television and digital channels.  I’ve also been known to do voice-over work as well.

You’ve put out a lot of projects over the years, what made you decide to go with a joint LP?

Yes I have put out many full length albums. “Livication” LP would be my 17th full-length project since 2008 to be exact.  This is not the first collaborative album that I’ve done because collaborating is one of my favourite things to do in the industry.  I’ve also done joint-albums with Cory Lee as the group The City (“Disco Nights: Vol. 1” LP  (2011)), Abaddon (“Culture Rap” LP (2010)) and two CDs with Motive Music producer/DJ T. Major (“Original Heads” LP (2010) and “The Way We Live” LP (2014).

How has your sound changed from your very first project to now, if at all? And what has contributed to that?

Well I’ve been self-produced since my first CD “Street Knowledge” in 2008.  My sound has progressed and evolved with collaborations with upcoming and established artists and producers.

You’re an artist with your own label, is it hard to start up something like that on your own? What components do you need?

It’s not really difficult for a business-minded artist to start his/her own label.  Luckily I started out on URBNET Records in 2008 so I had a mentor in Darryl Rodway, the label’s owner.  He put me on to information here and there that I needed to know…but it was mostly trial and error.  I was inspired by label owners south of the border like Master P, Cash Money Records, Gucci Mane, Puff Daddy and other label moguls.

Your label is small but a powerful, well-oiled machine. Are you looking to expand in the future with more artists? What kind of artist would catch your eyes and ears?

Thanks for the compliment! Yes I am always looking to sign new artist and producers.  Our latest signee is Mezziah, an artist from Mississauga.  I’m looking to sign Artists & Labels (to sub distribution deals) that are self-contained, consistent and have lots of product already being released.

Click to download album

Who’s your top artist in the game right now and why?

My top artist and CEO in this game right now would be Gucci Mane.  I say this because he is super consistent with his releases, which is highly motivational, has SOOOO many releases and is always responsible for breaking/introducing new talent out of Atlanta.  In the past four years or so I’ve patterned my label structure completely after what he’s done.  Except for the ice cream face tattoo and the stints in jail of course. Haha.

You’ve done a lot of collaboration throughout your career with some other notable Canadian artists such as JD Era, Cory Lee and Rochester, who have been your favorite artist to work with so far? 

My favourite artist to collaborate with would be Cory Lee and my signed artist Set2.  I find that creating records with those two is very enjoyable, organic and always a learning experience for me.

You have quite a legacy in the Toronto Hip-Hop scene; what type of advice would you give to any upcoming young rappers and RnB singers who want to do the same?

Thank you for the compliment.  I would say the most important piece of advice would be to learn the music business and have your own recording set-up to keep a consistent pace of records coming out. Also make use of social media and keep it professional if you are representing yourself as an artist or a business.

Finally, what else is in store for you and your label in 2016?

My label Motive Music Canada (ig: motivemusiccanada) has LOTS in store for 2016 and beyond.  So far this year we’ve released “Livication” LP – Gee Wunder x Set2, Gee Wunder Produced “2016 Future Beats Industry CD” and new producer CY On The Beats “2016 Industry CD”.  Upcoming releases for the year are; “Jesus Christ Superstar” Instrumental Mixtape by Producer Notestradamus, “10,000 Hours” LP by Set2, “TBA” EP by Mezziah, “Trap Prince” Instrumental LP by CY On The Beat, “Diversity” LP by Gee Wunder, “High Volume” LP by Gee Wunder, “Future Beats: Vol. 1” Instrumental LP by Gee Wunder.  Also in 2017 look out for my first published book “Industry Tips”.  Check us out at Motive Music Canada on FB and @MotiveCanada on Twitter to keep up with our latest releases.

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Well there you have it folks. It seems that the key to success isn’t any fancy magic trick or gimmick; it’s all about hard work and consistency! As you see, Gee Wunder has done a tremendous amount of work and knows the ins and outs of the game; personally, I cannot wait for “Industry Tips” to come out so I can rise to the top like he has! I’m very glad that Gee Wunder took the time out to talk to us. 

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Connect with Gee Wunder: Website   Facebook   Twitter   YouTube

BLOG: Are You Ready for the Fast Life?

Hey everybody, my name is Asha Mullings. You may remember me from some articles I’ve written for this fantastic site. What some of you may not know is that I’m also an aspiring female rapper who knows by the name Ekelle. I know that it’s not an easy industry to crack into, but I feel like I have as decent a shot as anybody else. The following is what I have experienced and learned thus far since my small beginnings on this journey. Although I’ve only started to seriously pursue my musical goals this past January, I’ve learned a lot in that short time. Hopefully this short list of advice will help you or anyone else you know who is also on a journey to pursue fame and fortune.

1. Get Your Money Up
You’re going to hear me mention this a lot, but that’s because money is so important.  Of course the game is about who you know more than what you know but money always talks real loud! I’m not sure where some of y’all are in your journey but you should start saving towards your next project and then some because you never know when unexpected expenses might come up. So if that means you need to work those night shifts at McDonald's to record your mixtape, just do it with no shame because you know where you really belong.

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2. Network, Network, Network!
I’ve always had creative ambitions, but like most I was never really encouraged to pursue them so I went to school first. Yes, I have a full 4-year program degree and the student debt to prove it. At school they would always preach the power of networking for your career, but I was never that interested. In regards to music though, I’m always excited to meet new people and shake hands. Midsummer I performed at an open mic at a popular restaurant in my city’s downtown. A month later I had an artist from Chicago message me on Facebook to tell me that he and his crew were coming up to do a showcase and wanted me to perform in it. Fast forward, I did end up performing, met with another entertainer from my city and so much more. The entertainer was someone I saw at a different open mic and she gave me all sorts of information on opportunities I could get my hands on next summer. I ended up also getting an interview for an up and coming Hip Hop magazine called Urban Color and when I went after-partying with the Chicagoans, I ended up meeting Tasha the Amazon! You all may not be totally familiar with her yet, but I tell you she’s the next big thing out of Toronto. 

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3. Stay Open
Stay open to all the possibilities that you can. We all want that fame and fortune but at the beginning of your musical journey you’re gonna have to work for free for a little bit. I’m not sure how long, but that is just the reality until you start to generate some buzz for yourself. With that being said, be open to anything that can give you good exposure. Since the industry is more about just music these days, see if you can start modeling, try out for some TV shows and music videos, or be in the audience of a talk show. Basically you need to start getting into the practice of doing things you’ll be doing when you get on top such as talk show interviews, photo shoots, music videos, magazine interviews, etc. You need to start preparing yourself for the life you wanna live!

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4. Market Yourself!
The good thing about being at the beginning stages of your career is that you’re the boss. No one can make you do anything you don’t wanna do. If you don’t see the value in certain things or people then you can just walk away. With that being said though, I think the biggest mistake a lot of new artists make is their marketing approach. You can put all the songs you want on Soundcloud, but if no one’s clicking on it then it doesn’t matter. I’m not saying that you should spend an obscene amount of money on marketing but maybe something like $100 dollars towards promotion of a new project is decent. Keep in mind that having Instagram, YouTube, Tumblr, Bandcamp, Facebook, etc are free methods of support but there are millions of people on them so you need to stand out. Don’t be afraid to make your friends and family promote your stuff because that’s what they should be doing in the first place if they want to see you be successful. Try and get yourself in as many online publications as possible and any local public access TV shows too because someone is always watching. 

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5. Stay Busy!
I do think that there are a lot of good opportunities out there when you go looking for them, so don’t stop looking! No one is going to hand you anything at first so keep finding work for yourself to do. Try not to have a huge gap between productions and videos by keeping yourself busy with the shoots, open mics and other things you’re doing. When you’re meeting new people and making your connections just be aware of who these people are and what their intentions with their careers are too. For example if you meet someone who proudly says they’ve been in the game for 13 years but they’re still at street level, really consider whether you need to have them in your posse. The other day through my adventures with my Chicago peeps I met another female artist who has some of her material on The Source which is pretty cool. We exchanged info and hopefully something great will come out of that connection. I’m not saying you should go around like a snob and only talk to some people but just be mindful of how their presence will affect you.  Surround yourself with other likeminded individuals but don’t be afraid to cut people off who aren’t supporting the hustle. If you’ve asked certain people 10 times to share your link or come to your show then you need to cut them off! All you need is to keep believing in yourself, find yourself a go to team for production, photos, videos and even duets and you’re good to go.

I hope that was helpful! - Asha Mullings

Dope Rappers Taking A Stand: Response to Police Brutality Across Black Communities

We’re living in an interesting age; there is more acceptance towards different types of looks in the entertainment industry, i.e. Fetty Wap’s eye and the beautiful Chantelle Winnie with her vitiligo. There was mainly a welcoming acceptance of Laverne Cox and now Caitlyn Jenner and the United States of America finally legalized marriage for everyone. These things are amazing considering the fact that only about 50 years ago there was some serious open hate in the world. Although things are going well for certain groups, police brutality affects black and brown people at a disproportionate rate.  

I think that after witnessing the horrors of Ferguson, MO where Michael Brown was murdered by a police officer who got to walk off scot free, remembering the ridiculous media frenzy created with the Trayvon Martin story, Aiyana Stanley-Jones who was shot dead in a police raid at just the age of 7 and many more; people are just getting fed up. There are tons of viral videos taken by bystanders who witness these things and offer proof; did you see the one where the officer beats up a pregnant woman? These things are not coincidental and show that there is definitely more work and training to be done with officers across North America. Slowly, but surely things are happening so I just wanted to give a big salute to rappers who are using their fame for good and speaking up for Black communities affected by racism.

First we have Big KRIT. I was so excited when I saw this good-looking dude proudly rocking a black t-shirt that read, “Across cultures, darker people suffer most. Why?” on the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as the musical guest. That was a great way to show sensitivity to what is going on in the world today and to show some support towards the movement. He really did some thinking there!

Next on the list we have one of the realest rappers today, J. Cole! Who doesn’t love the Colester? Not only does he spit some relatable stuff on his tracks, but also he’s not afraid to show people what’s going on through video. In J. Cole’s video for “Crooked Smile” feat. TLC we see him going about his daily activities at home with his family. We see him brushing his teeth, doing chores and preparing for a family barbecue. At the same time we follow a man who we learn is a SWAT team officer going through his day with his daughter before he and his team raid J. Cole’s house and shoot his little girl in the cross fire. This video is based on the very true story of the Aiyana Stanley-Jones. Once again the bad guy got away with murder, but because of J. Cole’s video and great song, we won’t forget what happened.

Third we have a very smooth secret from hip hop’s Bonnie and Clyde -- Bey and Jay! Rumour has it that the star-studded couple gave tens of thousands to help bail out protestors who were arrested in the Ferguson and Baltimore as part of the “Black Lives Matter” movement currently underway. This could be true as the sources were a few tweets from activist/director Dream Hampton who worked with Jay-Z on his 2010 biography, Decoded. In an attempt to stop the uprising, some protesters’ bail was set as high as $500,000 (The Guardian, 2015). Hampton’s tweets were later deleted. I don’t know about y’all but I think the rumours are true. I choose to believe that Jay-Z and Beyoncé want to help uplift Black communities.

Next on the list is another music video; this one is from Run The Jewels feat. Zack de la Rocha. “Close Your Eyes (And Count To F**k)” depicts an unarmed Black man being chased by a White gun-totting police officer. It’s clear that these men have been fighting for days and are at the point of exhaustion. The fight clumsily carries on through the streets and eventually the Black man’s house. Sadly at the end of the video the Black man has nowhere else to run and he and the officer wind up exhausted in his room sitting back to back on his bed.  The video really makes you think and will probably cause those who are not affected to see the damage that is really being done. The video is definitely watch worthy and the track is amazing; the director really managed to capture the “futility of violence” (Rojas, 2015). 

Lastly, I want to give a shout out to Canadian rapper John River. Although he is still new to the industry, he was not afraid to take a stance on the racial violence that is so prevalent today. River wore a “Black Lives Matter” t-shirt this past June at the Much Music Video Awards and was happily photographed in it on the red carpet before the national airing show.

I do understand the fact that some artists don’t want any backlash from their participation, but shouldn’t they be concerned as the Hip-Hop genre was born in Black communities and still mostly serves them today. Some artists probably don’t want to be seen as troublemakers or lose sales and some probably just don’t even feel affected anymore because they’re rich and famous.  All in all it is their decision to make, depending on how they choose to get involved, there doesn’t have to be any negativity. Let’s be honest and say that most people get into the entertainment industry to make money and we know they sacrificed a lot to get there, but that doesn’t mean that they have to forget where they came from. Big Ups to the artists out there who care! - Asha Mullings

How to Survive On a Music Video Set

Hey you! Yeah, you! Do you want to be a world famous music video personality? Well don’t we all? Slow your role and I’ll tell you how to survive on set. A lot of our favorite artists like to put out behind the scenes or BTS videos about what’s happening behind the camera at their music video shoot. Yes, you do see some fun things going on like the star pranking their team members, maybe some celebrity appearances and some old friends that the star grew up with. Other than that the only thing really going on is a bunch of waiting. The point of the behind the BTS video is to make an ordinary day look super exciting; think about it: The BTS has a director so you already know that the material is not organic, then there’s always some person you’ve never heard of with a featured twitter handle talking about absolute nonsense. It’s basically a short commercial designed to make your favourite artist look human but still super cool. Did you see the BTS for BBHMM? All Rihanna did was semi-sing the song and just groove to how good she thought it was with some random people we don’t know. The only person really having that much of a great time is the artist and probably their manager. I’m not saying that being on set isn’t fun because it is; you get to meet cool new people, free snacks, the artist will usually come and meet/greet the extras and you’ll actually get to see yourself on TV when it’s all done. It’s definitely not a picnic though, being an extra isn’t for everyone, but it is a necessary step to take if you want to move up in the music video business.

You’ll arrive to set about 2 hours early just so they can collect all of you. The stylist on the set will want to see if the outfits you brought work for the video so that time also goes to changing/dressing and make up. There will be a makeup artist on set, but trust me it’s not for you. If the artist is a decent person they’ll spring for some actual food for all of you hungry youngsters, if not then expect to be munching on chips, apples and drinking bottled water. As an extra you are a part of the background so no one really feels that they have to tell you the plan for the day. If you are the main chick/guy however you get to be tended to by a makeup artist, some decent pay and you most likely get to go home first which is actually a great thing. There are some music videos that will pay you as an extra/background talent, but most are non-paying (especially if you are first starting out). So here are the basic things you need to know about your survival as a video hopeful.

1. It’s not a party: Everybody getting drunk is just “doing it for the vine” AKA they’re pretending. In all actuality a music video costs lots of money to make so they don’t want a bunch of drunkies wobbling around, arguing and breaking expensive equipment. So when you see music videos on TV where everyone is getting “turnt up” just know that it’s not actually happening. I was once on set for a video where people were being sent home for bringing alcohol.

2. Expect to be there all day: Most video shoots will start after that 2 hour wait/prep time, but sometimes production still runs late. The director also has to figure out the blocking (where they want you to stand) for each scene which can take a long time. Then with each scene they’ll want to film it again and again and again from different angles. They might redo the scene too if the artist makes a mistake or if the extras don’t look like they’re having a good time.

3. Bring an activity that isn’t your phone: Most likely the location will be remote and there will be no free charging outlets because of all the equipment. In these situations you’re better off making friends or bringing a book because they don’t tell you how long the shoot will last and you may have to call a ride. ***Also you’re not allowed to take any pictures of the set, you’re sworn to secrecy until the video drops. ***

4. You won’t know the song: Most times they won’t tell you what song it is due to a whole marketing plan they already have drawn up. This is why you can’t take any pictures or snapchats of the set that let people know what video you’re at and what artist it’s for. They’ve worked hard so they don’t want any social media leaks. Also it’s awkward at first to dance when you haven’t heard the song, but by the end of the day it’ll be stuck in your head.

5. Bring supplies: Unless you have an agent you have to fend for yourself so bring anything you think you might need: Flashlights, sweaters, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, extra juice, lotion, etc. You’d really be surprised at the things they won’t provide for you even though you’re probably working for free.

6. Networking isn’t that easy: Sets are great places to meet other video/acting hopefuls, artists and even friends; just don’t go thinking that you’re gonna wiggle your way into the artist's entourage. I’ve been on a few sets where people were acting all extra because they were trying to show everyone else how cool they were and talk about all the other videos they’ve been in… those people annoy me. Don’t be that person. At the end of the day you’re all still at the same place: You’re not famous (yet).  Networking is still possible, as corny as it sounds though just be yourself and the right people will find you.

7. Take it for what it is: It’s an easy opportunity for exposure so just try to make the most of it and have a good time. - Asha Mullings

Video Vixens Are OK With Me

When I was doing my research for this article, a lot of it was very negative. Authors described these beautiful women as “a female model who appears in hip hop-oriented music videos. Her only purpose is to show off her body, which is seen as her worth, inevitably becomes a commodity or prop to be used for the viewer’s viewing pleasure” (Ride or Die Chicks, 2015) Sometimes people call these women “video hoes” which I think is wrong. Just because a woman agrees to be in a Hip-Hop video and show her skin does not make her a ho; we don’t know what she does in her personal life and that is none of our business. Some people have issues with video models, as they should be called, because they believe it takes us back to the Hottentot Venus or Saartjie “Sarah” Baartman as she was actually named. Venus was a woman from the Khoisan people who were the original inhabitants of South Africa. To sum it all up, a white scientist was amazed (not in a good way) by her obscure body consisting or large buttocks, hips and hanging labia. The scientist decided to buy her and send her off to be exhibited to multiple freak shows across Europe in the 1800s. She was of course treated as less than a person as patrons came to ogle her and would even pay extra to poke her with sticks. She was original comparison of the wild, savage black woman compared to the docile and normal white woman. Venus was exhibited until her death in 1815, her genitalia, brain and bones put on display in the Paris Museum of Man until feminist groups complained about the degrading display in the 1970s.

As we can see here, it’s not a nice story; we have a normal black woman who was considered to abnormal by a white scientist and put display to be seen in a negative light. I understand people’s concern, but I don’t think of video vixens/models in that way. Venus was essentially stolen, lied to and mistreated; women in music videos consciously choose to be there and are happy to display the body and the image that they have worked hard to create. In the early days when models like Karrine “Superhead” Steffans started out, maybe sexual activity between sets was expected. The way I see it, these days, there’s a choice; you can go to all these shoots and mess around with whomever or you can establish yourself another way. I would say that models should go to shoots where the artist has a good reputation or make their start with female artists first so that these scenarios are less likely. Once established, models can start going to more shoots with any artist they want, difference being that the desperation/thirst to be seen won’t be there. If rapper X tells you to do something you don’t want to do for more camera time, you can do it, but you can also leave with your integrity intact and know that you’re not starving for money because you spent the time building yourself up.

I see video vixens as an alternative to what video models were before. Pre Hip-Hop movement, it was Rock, Pop, Blues and Soul on the TVs. There were video models of course, but there was the tall and thin and mostly white standard to live up to. Hip-Hop really opened the door so that all women of every shape, colour and size could be appreciated and have a chance to show off. Video models are the ultimate “suck it” to mainstream media expectations and beauty standers because anyone can be a star; we got bald head and tatted up Amber Rose and girl next door Lauren London. Some have braces, some have glasses; some are thick, some are thin.  There is still the issue of women dancing to lyrics that can be misogynistic, but at the end of the day it’s just a job and I think it’s empowering to take those jerks’ money anyway and give them no play! Most video models are smart enough to make a better career out of it anyway; Melyssa Ford went into real estate, Blac Chyna has an online boutique and a beauty bar, and Keyshia Dior has a cosmetics line. My only issue with music video models these days is the trend that less black women are being used than before. The original Hip-Hop movement was all about uplifting the minority population and getting the message out there so minority women are in the videos. However, due to the recent “Kardashian-ing” of the world, we’re seeing more and more white women being idolized for their “exotic features” and praised in rap lyrics. I believe this is due to the many unfortunate stereotypes that exist against black women today. Sure, its okay by everyone if white and Hispanic women wanna give their man problems, but when it’s a black woman who has a bone to pick, it somehow becomes a big headache… I blame reality TV, I blame world star and I blame everyone who wants to “do it for the gram/vine”. I’m not telling any woman to go pick up a pencil skirt and become a “positive influence” but I am saying to be mindful of stereotypes out there and try not to get engulfed by them. Professionalism and positivity are always appreciated on set and it’ll get you somewhere; perhaps a J.Cole video, he appreciates all shades! - Asha Mullings

Hip-Hop Style

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The Hip-Hop scene has always been known for the outrageous style choices of rappers, video girls, the entourage and producers. From chains that hang low to dyed green cornrows, if you wanna make it in the Hip-Hop scene, you gotta come correct with your style.  Let’s take it back to the late 70’s when the Hip-Hop movement started to get mainstream popularity and explore how fashion and style has evolved. Back in those Brooklyn days cats were looking fly in their bright tracksuits and bomber jackets. Sneakers such as high tops and trainers were also popular due to the aerobics craze of the decade. My least favorite part of the 80’s was the bucket hat, but it was definitely a must have for anyone on the Hip-Hop scene. Working out was THE thing to do so anyone spotted wearing any kind of sporty item looked like a hot ticket. Rappers rocking this style included LL Cool J and Fresh Prince AKA Will Smith. In 1984, the first Air Jordan sneaker came out which would forever change the shoe game, making athletic shoes a premium high priced fashion item. At the same time a man by the name of Dapper Dan was taking high fashion items like Luis V and Chanel and bringing them to the streets. When those bourgie fashion houses wouldn’t sell to him, he would learn their logo and remix it onto items like bomber jackets, jeans and shoes. This was a style that anyone could be a part of from the alpha thug male to the average Joe. Dapper Dan sold his remixed masterpieces out of his own little boutique in Harlem and outfitted big names such as Eric B & Rakim, Mike Tyson, Heavy D and the Fat Boys. A mixture of these trends continued into the mid 80’s until a new trend came into town -- Black Nationalism.

Rap group Public Enemy had began to put out conscious rap that spoke to the plight of the African American community and offered social commentary. Public Enemy and NWA channeled Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five which got people to seriously start thinking again. Many African Americans were feeling the need to get in touch with their roots so African influence began to be the accent to topping off many street styles. African touches were seen on acts such as Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa and others. This brings us to the early 90’s where females were on the rise. Most notable were Aaliyah and TLC who popularized that baggy tom-boy style. These Hip-Hop honeys would wear their ultra baggy pants with tiny sports bra tops and large fitting flannel shirts to show that there were other ways to be sexy; back then it was okay to leave some things to the imagination. R&B began to collaborate with Hip-Hop; thus the grown and sexy look was born. For obvious reasons, the movie Scarface really became popular among the Hip-Hop community; suddenly everyone had to have bowler hats, silk shirts, suits and a snazzy pimp cane. There were still the OGs who preferred their gangsta street style, but for everyone else it was smooth sounds and even smoother clothing. Towards the latter half of the 90’s is when super models started to gain popularity and women in Hip-Hop responded by showing some skin themselves. Femcees like Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown began to sex things up with designer labels, fancy fur coats, short skirts and lots of cleavage. Trends for women and men continued to have a strange mixture from past and present that drifted into the new millennium. 

In the early 2000s everybody and their mamma came out with a clothing line! Nelly, Russell and Kimora Simmons, P. Diddy, Eminem, 50 Cent, Jay-Z… the list goes on. This is probably due to the strange relationship that Hip-Hop has had with the major European fashion houses. We see everyday how rappers and the general Hip-Hop community’s style is appropriated to the run way, and then disappears for a season or two. They’ll stick a rapper on the stage for some ratings, but you don’t see Donatella Versace out for lunch with Missy Elliot now do you? I speculate that rappers and other urban entertainers were tired and wanted to do it for themselves, FUBU! With all these new Hip-Hop fashion houses coming out, style took an interesting turn that P. Diddy calls “Ghetto Fabulous”. The millennium saw the reoccurrence of oversized clothing, heavy chains, heavily logoed clothing and for some reason cowboy hats.  It’s as if everyone finally got the chance to put something out there, so half of the people were putting a spin on what they knew and some were just reaching out of their imagination. Unfortunately all of these brands did not stand the test of fashion. 

These days Hip-Hop has taken on a more contemporary view of fashion. Successful urban brands live in the here and now and produce clothing accordingly. As for the artists? We’re now living in a time where everything goes. We have Nicki Minaj changing her hair color every week, Jay-Z wearing suits, Kanye wearing women’s clothes and rappers in skinny jeans riding skateboards. Overall, the Hip-Hop world has become more eclectic like the music and there’s room for anyone. - Asha Mullings