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. 

Get to know DT The Artist, Toronto's Renaissance Man

In the cut throat world of the music industry every artist needs some direction. Despite what it may look like, no one really makes it on their own. Any artist will tell you about the team they had behind them or that one key person who put them onto a show or event that helped them reach a new level. For myself, one of those key people is DT The Artist, who is based in Toronto, Canada. DT has been in the musical game for 18 years now, performing various roles such as artist developer, manager and event organizer to name a few. 

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For DT, his artistic journey begins back in his high school days; he earned his name DT (Deep Thoughts) when he unexpectedly dropped a dope freestyle at a talent show which left everyone surprised. From that moment he started to work on and off towards becoming an MC. DT got his first taste of the industry when he met dancehall singer, Spice, through connections and started to intern for her. It was through that work opportunity that DT was able to see the bigger picture and what he could actually get done for people behind the scenes. Shortly after this he decided to enroll in the Music Business Administration program at George Brown College where he learned artist management and music industry arts. This was a defining moment for him because this is where he learned how to set proper pricing for performances and what to look for in an artist to take on as a client to manage. 

I would say that things really began to pick up for DT when he moved to New York City in 2003. Although he just went to visit some family, he ended up staying for a whole year because of the way he was being embraced as an artist. DT expressed to me that things move very quickly in America for artists because of a few key differences. Here in Canada there are a lot of opportunities for artists to be funded for their projects i.e. music videos, demos, marketing campaigns, etc. However, those opportunities don’t come by so easily in the states so artists really have to be on a serious grind.

Here’s a little list describing the difference between Toronto and New York artists as told to me by DT:

Toronto:

• Acts as an individual
• More dependent on grants
• Slower to react to opportunities
• Aren’t investing properly in themselves (photos, quality production, press kit)
• Artists still in development act like celebrities

New York:

• Acts as a team 
• Friends actively take on roles to help artists succeed
• Have their branding ready/packaged to go
• Invests in self and each other
• Artists will invest their own finances since there aren’t grant opportunities 
• Will put themselves on through various events

After a great year in New York filled with paid shows in the city, Philadelphia, Connecticut and other places, DT decided to move back to Toronto to get his own business off the ground. After several successes in the city with developing artists and providing publicist services, DT was invited to St. Maarten to perform at Style Diva in 2008. Style Diva was a conference and fashion show organized by Shereen Ashman, and DT headlined the culminating All White Party. Since then he has been traveling back and forth to the island and is currently managing a group called 4DH. Through his connection with Mr. 4DH (a member of the group), DT has access to all of the music industry in St. Maarten. This access has allowed him to perform alongside big names such as Chris Martin and Kes the Band. DT was even set to open for Migos until they got into some legal drama. Currently he is working as an artist developer for the City of Toronto at the Ground Up program. This program houses a studio and offers a curriculum that teaches artist development, support on writing grants and key music industry tips. Between DT and the engineer/producer who run the program, participants have the chance to meet key players in the Canadian music industry, but that’s only if they’ve been working hard enough on their goals. If you complete the program and manage to impress with not only your performance skills, but also your program knowledge and attitude, a call could be made that will change your life.

Speaking of goals, DT has been hitting the mark left, right and center with his; he’s releasing 2 albums and a mixtape this year and has a ton of upcoming performances. DT’s album “Stadium Music”, produced by 220 on the Beat will be released in June; he will release his second album of the year, “Raise Your Glass” with producer No Long Talking in August and will release his mixtape “No Days Off” with producer Church Boy Beatz sometime after. It’s definitely a lot for one year, but each project has a different purpose and feel. “Stadium Music” is more anthemic and has a more TV/commercial vibe; “Raise Your Glass” is about the party life; and “No Days Of” is all about the hustle. DT has a lot more planned for this year, such as headlining carnival events in the Caribbean, a European tour and is still on the lookout for new talent to mold. This definitely goes to show that hard work will pay off, so keep on hustling artists! 

Connect with DT The Artist: Website   Facebook   Instagram   YouTube   Twitter

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

The Toronto Black Film Festival: Showcasing Black Excellence in Film

Black History Month is a time for all of us to gather and remember the great contributions that black people of African descent have made to the world in the past and the contributions that they continue to make today. Since 2013 the Toronto Black Film Festival (TBFF) has been a much needed staple in my city’s black history month celebration (Torontoblackfilm.com). The festival is a celebration of Black/African cultures through films that recount historical events, folklore, and perspectives from regions of the world/countries by black filmmakers of African descent. TBFF is actually a type of sister festival to the Montreal International Film Festival (MIFF) which was started in 2005 by the Fabienne Colas Foundation.  Upon the disappointment and shock that no Montreal festival would show the film for which she had won best actress for in her native Haiti, Ms. Colas and two friends, Real Barnabe and Emile Castonguay started the foundation as a way to give a platform to those who aren’t being seen or heard in the world of the arts. Since its inception the Fabienne Colas Foundation has been showcase to over 2,000 artists and has tens of thousands of participants each year in its initiatives, festivals and activities. 

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This year’s TBFF takes place from February 10th-14th, 2016. The festival has many ways to participate other than watching films; one can also attend panel discussions, special interviews, and many parties. I am quite happy to say that this year I will be participating in the TBFF by way of presenting a film! The film I will be presenting at TBFF is called White Water, directed by Rusty Cundieff, the synopsis is as follows: “White Water, based on a true story, follows the adventures of Michael, a black youth in segregated 1963 Opelika, Alabama. He becomes obsessed with his desire to taste the water from the “white’s only” drinking fountain and sets out on a quest to do the unthinkable: drink from it.”- See more at: http://torontoblackfilm.com/festival/#/film/38 (follow the link to see the exciting trailer). It also happens that Mr. Rusty Cundieff will be present for a brief Q&A after the showing of the film! As a Black Canadian I feel that it’s very important to share stories of the Black diaspora, especially since it wasn’t heavily focused on in the school curriculum when I grew up. 

Although Toronto is the most diverse city in the world, there are still moments of discrimination and prejudice due to lack of understanding between cultures. Film is definitely a way to educate and allow for healing and empathy amongst people. There may be some out there like Stacey Dash, who recently shared that she sees no need for a Black History Month or a BET Network as they encourage “segregation”.  Her comments were hypocritical and just plain unintelligent as she has benefitted from appearing on networks such as BET and appearing in “Black” movies and music videos. I think what Ms. Dash fails to see is that positive ethnic focused spaces actually allow individuals a place of belonging and relation. If it weren’t for TV programs such as The Cosby Show and Fresh Prince of Bel Air, no one would have even heard of her; perhaps she wouldn’t even have gone as far as to star in Clueless, which is easily the role she is most known for.  Just like the Black film festivals started by Fabienne Colas, these spaces let the stories of those who’ve been overlooked and oppressed shine though. The 2012 MIFF represented 40 countries; there are black people of African descent all over the
world and we all do things differently. For example, the Black film festivals in Canada are bi-lingual because our country has two official languages -- English and French. Many Africans are drawn to living in Canada because they speak the French language due to the French colonies that were established in parts of Africa and the Caribbean. 

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Whether you think along the lines of Stacey Dash or are on Team Jada Pinkett-Smith with the #OscarsSoWhite boycott, you have to agree that Black/African culture is rich and diverse. Diversity isn’t just about placing one token “Black” person in a film and calling that representation; it’s about allowing many Black/African artists to contribute in their own way (and win awards if the performance is moving), not based on stereotypes that poorly and inaccurately reflect the different cultures. I’m glad that the Toronto Black Film festival has made its debut in my city and gives a place to the unique and vibrant voices of Black/African cultures to be seen, heard and most of all, enjoyed by everyone! - Asha Mullings

For more about the Toronto Black Film Festival and to purchase tickets, click here.

BLOG: Can She Really Make It On Her Own?

As everyone knows, the entertainment business is a strange place. Often times artists say that they have to “sell their soul” to get anywhere. Of course anyone with a brain knows they aren’t actually writing a contract with evil spirits, rather they’re stepping outside of themselves to do things they normally would never do to get closer to the top. Anyone who’s made that remark seems to have made commercial success in the industry, but how far should one actually go? Would you go as far as let’s say, marriage? Well these ladies did (some of them got really close to it) and it got them where they wanted to be, which begs the question -- can women in the music and entertainment industry really make it on their own without a dirty deal? The following female celebrities have had amazing careers, but it looks like they all got their starts by shacking up. Let’s start from way back in the Motown days with Diana Ross. 

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Diana Ross is best known for being the front woman of the 1960’s girl group The Supremes who had many number one hits and paved the way for the Pop and RnB artists we know today. They are considered to be the most successful girl group ever. The Supremes were initially called the Primettes and had small successes on their own, but it wasn’t until Berry Gordy, CEO of Motown Records signed them in 1961 under the condition that they change their name to ‘The Supremes’ that they really started to take off. Under his guidance they were able to create their first hit “When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes”. Berry had decided that Diana would now be the lead singer. The group continued to gain success and just 4 years later in 1965 Diana Ross and Berry Gordy started dating. Well that’s only what the internet says; I can imagine that they were involved long before. Diana and Berry’s romance lasted a while, all the way into 1971 and they got pregnant, strangely though only two months into the pregnancy, Diana married music executive Robert Ellis Silberstein. Are we seeing a pattern here? Diana had two more children for Robert before their divorce in 1977. Diana then moved on to Gene Simmons for a couple of years… Are we seeing the pattern now? As everyone knows, Ms. Ross has continued to have a very successful and multifaceted career, ask your parents and they’ll tell you she’s a legend.

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Next on our list is everyone’s favourite diva, Mariah Carey! We all know how big a star she is and have heard of her demanding diva ways, but how did it all happen? She met the right man of course. Mariah knew she wanted to be a singer at a very young age. Through high school she met a writing partner and together she compiled a four song demo tape. Once graduated, Mariah moved to Manhattan and shared a one bedroom apartment with four other girls. She worked hard as a waitress but would always get fired after two weeks on the job. She kept on trying to get her demo through to the record labels, but they just weren’t having it. Mariah somehow met pop singer Brenda K. Starr who took her to a music executive’s gala. Brenda gave Mariah’s demo tape to Tommy Mottola who was the head of Columbia records. The story goes that Tommy was so impressed with her voice that he came back to the party looking for her, but she was nowhere to be found. He searched for her for two weeks, found her and immediately signed her. Her two studio albums won her two Grammys and had her all over the billboard charts in the span of less than two years. And then of course in 1993 she and Tommy Mottola got married… Interesting, I suppose he just fell in love with her voice. But like any stepping stone, Tommy served his purpose and Mariah moved on. 

Some of these ladies figured their situation out and got the most of it while they could; however this next one is still trying to get things set up. Remember Nick Cannon’s leading lady in ‘Love Don’t Cost a Thing?’ It was Christina Milian! Before Nick Cannon shacked up with Mariah he was romantically involved with his then co-star Christina. Christina Milian has always hopped between acting and recording music with generally positive results in both, but nothing major has occurred in both arts. Supposedly her lackluster success is due to music labels not allowing her to make the music she really wants to. Perhaps in an effort to get more control over her music Christina tried to pull moves like the ladies who came before her: She dated Andre Lyon from producer Group Cool & Dre who she was working with on a new album. In 2009 she started dating producer and artist, The Dream while they were working on some songs. The two ended up marrying and having a child. The relationship didn’t work out so Christina decided to claw her way back to stardom with that reality show of hers. In 2012 Christina joined Young Money and… Yes, she also started dating Lil Wayne. The two put out a song together called “Start a Fire” last year and then the flame of their romance ran out. Ay Caramba! Who will Christina saddle up to next?

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Before I wrap this up I just wanted to give a shout out to the OG of marrying her way up -- Anna Nicole Smith! Anna was a simple girl from a small town who is most known for her career as a model, discovered by Hugh Heffner. Anna married an 89 year old billionaire at the age of 26 and was living that high life. Unfortunately when her husband died the next year, she got none of his money!

I’m still not sure if a woman can just make it on her own in entertainment anymore, but when I see stars like Adele and Nicki Minaj, I like to think that it’s still possible. I’d say the moral of the story here is to at least have some talent if you’re gonna go the bride route, if not get everything in writing! - Asha Mullings

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

Who Were Your Favourite Rappers Before They Hit It Big?

With the ways celebrities make their own rules and fully opt out of society sometimes it’s hard to remember that they were once normal people like you and I. Between all the Twitter beef, self entitlement and outlandish behaviour, it’s a struggle to picture them doing normal things like the rest of us do. For those reasons I want to take a look back at what these super stars did before they hit it big in the music industry.

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Nicki Minaj, better known as Onika Miraj, had a slew of random jobs before she signed to Young Money and blew up. Nicki was reported to have worked as a waitress at Red Lobster, an administrative assistant, an office manager and finally a customer service rep before she hit it big. She even questioned her decision to quit her last 9-5 as her music wasn’t heading in a steady direction, “I went home and looked in my refrigerator and cabinets, and there was nothing there. My bank account was empty. For a slight moment, I was like, 'They're right. I need to go back home to my mother” (Fuse.TV). Well luckily Ms. Minaj kept on pushing herself and released 3 mixtapes between 2007 and 2009 before Lil Wayne and co. discovered the ravishing rhymer. 

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Yazz the Greatest Aka Bryshere Gray plays Hakeem Lyon on Empire. I think we’ve all probably tuned into and loved the show’s first dramatic and addictive season. Yazz plays very spoiled Hakeem who wants to make his play for the family’s empire with his rap skills. Our boy Yazz is the complete opposite of this character in real life and actually had to work hard at his craft to get where he is today. The 21 year old first started rapping at 16 after a football injury and decided to take it further. He took rapping so seriously that he would write song lyrics at his Pizza Hut job which eventually got him fired. It was actually Pizza Hut money that helped him to pay for his first music video, 'Homework'. After that, little Yazz kept performing his heart out all over the place, the streets, festivals and wherever else until he was discovered by Charlie Mack, a friend of Will Smith, who got him to audition for Empire. 

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Tyler the Creator is definitely an interesting dude with his raunchy rhymes and obscure concepts; would you believe that before hitting it big that he worked at Starbucks? Yes, that’s right, Tyler Okonma was a pleasant customer service employee for two and a half years before he made his breakthrough album Bastard. Like many of our musical heroes, he was also fired. Maybe the manager didn’t like him as he speculates, but it also could have been that he was stealing cheese danishes on the daily.  He then later released his second album Goblin which got him his deal with XL records. 

The last rapper I want to bring some attention to is our main man Kanye West. Like many others, Kanye also had a crappy job before he made it big; he worked at the Gap. Kanye didn’t seem to like the Gap very much and raps about them in his song Spaceship off his College Dropout album, “Let's go back, back to the Gap / Look at my check, wasn't no scratch / So if I stole, wasn't my fault / Yeah I stole, never got caught / They take me to the back and pat me / Askin' me about some khakis / But let some black people walk in / I bet they show off their token blackie / Oh now they love Kanye, let's put him all in the front of the store / Saw him on break next to the 'No Smoking' sign with a blunt and a Mall' / Takin' my hits, writin' my hits / Writin' my rhymes, playin' my mind / This f***in job can't help him / So I quit, y'all welcome.” Let’s hope that they didn’t actually treat him that badly. On the plus side, that stressful job gave him excellent fuel for that powerful album. He had to sweat it out selling sweaters for a bit and look at him now. 

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As we can see, fame doesn’t come overnight for everyone. There are those rare cases I mentioned in a previous article, but that’s just not the way it goes for everyone. Some people are able to build connections while others have to put their blood, sweat and tears into their careers before it finally takes off. Either way there is no shame in how you get to the top as long you’re okay with everything you’re doing and what you have to sacrifice for it. Although all of these celebrities started off with crappy jobs, it’s that crappy money that helped support them until they made it. My advice to anyone who wants to pursue music full time is to go hard on your production and practice, but please don’t quit your day job until you have a reason; y’all need to eat too! - 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

All You Need is One!

I’m from a strange place, a land far away where cell phones were black and white, there was no Instagram, there were entire shows dedicated to showing new music videos and people wore a lot of bandanas; the 90’s! In this far off land musical artists, whether they were rap, pop or rock had to actually gain fans by doing heavy tours and producing mass amounts of music and videos to go along with it. Artists did interviews that mostly focused on the music they were making and what inspired it instead of who was beefing with who. You didn’t really need much of a personality back then since it was mostly about the music, but just like today’s days, a good scandal never hurt anybody. Advertising and marketing fell more heavily on magazines, newspapers and other old things that are basically considered ancient these days. What I’m getting at with my little tirade here is that artists had to work a lot harder 20-30 years ago to make a name for themselves. Now a days it’s so easy for a band, an emcee, or even a producer to get their name out there and start shining and that’s all because of one thing: Social Media. From Facebook, to Instagram, various blogs/personal websites, Soundcloud, Twitter and let’s not forget YouTube, anyone interested in pursuing fame and praise can do so instantly! 

Back in the day your whole album had to be fire and all your performances had to be on point. These days though all you need is one hit with an interesting look and the public will be eating out of your hands. Take for instance someone like Dej Loaf, girl came outta nowhere with that song “Try Me” and now all of a sudden she’s on tour with Nicki Minaj! I have to admit that it is a great song though; the lyrics are easy to follow along, the beat is fantastic and when you look at Dej you kind of think to yourself…WTF?! Dej is a pretty lady, but I think for the most part when she first burst onto the scene with that hit we were all confused about her androgynous look. Of course I have nothing against it, I actually think it’s kind of cool, but of course it made people out there talk. Is Dej gay? is she straight? Is she bi? Who’s allowed to try her? People were so concerned that an interview had to be released to clear the air. The interview is on YouTube and somehow garnered over 1 million views. 1 million views to find out whether or not someone is straight? If you ask me that’s crazy! Of course that interview helped to propel her into stardom; unfortunately, that star money couldn’t buy her a personality because the interview is actually mad boring.

A viral hit is always a requirement these days to make it, but sometimes you have to forge connections on your own. As a 90’s kid I was shocked to see that MySpace was still in existence and that people were still making gains off of it. Cue in ILOVEMAKONNEN. It seems that Makonnen had an average upbringing and a dream to make it in music like many people do. He must be great at networking because it’s through MySpace that he was able to connect himself with artists Adele and Mike Will Made It. It was Mike who brought him into the studio last year to record a few tracks. Other producers were impressed with him and gave him a hand with his mix tape. Next thing you know Miley Cyrus is sharing his music on Instagram and Drake decides to remix “Tuesday”. All ILOVEMAKONNEN had under his belt is a few mix tapes and now he’s on his Loudest of the Loud tour all thanks to MySpace.

The next best example of the social media spike in career creation is Fetty Wap. I’m sure we’ve all heard his certified platinum his “Trap Queen” by now. When you actually look the guy up, his Wikipedia page is mad short! That’s due to the fact that all he has is his single “Trap Queen” and two others where he is the lead artist. He has mostly done a lot of features, but now that everyone is singing along to him baking pies with his baby, I’m sure that will change in no time. Fetty’s claim to fame all started with SoundCloud; he got a sick beat by Tony Fadd and wrote some dope lyrics and the rest is history.

To any aspiring artists out there I want you to know that this whole stardom thing is possible. If you look at the artists I mentioned in this article you can see that the beats are banging but the lyrics aren’t complicated. Not to insult these artists, but I’m pretty much saying that anyone can make it these days; you only need one hit and an interesting look! The focus has shifted from the old days where it was all about the music to an age where we’re more interested in who the artist is as a person. Back in the early millennium troubled starlets like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan would tell the press to leave them alone and even each made a song about it. Today, artists are inviting the press into their private space a la the Kardashians, which is a great way for fans to connect with them more and relate to them. So if you’re an artist you better get to writing that hit single and planning out your reality show! - Asha Mullings

It's a Beef Thing: Drake & Meek Mill

So there’s a new beef going on in the rap community that started last week. No surprise there! This one is between Meek Mill and Drake. Meek suddenly lashed out on Twitter claiming that the Toronto rapper doesn’t write his own lyrics and has a ghost writer! I must admit that this isn’t the first time I heard rumors about Drake having a ghost writer; the first was actually last summer. As we know, the music industry is very tricky to navigate if you don’t have any connections and only the persistent, smart and lucky people make it to the top. There are countless artists, writers and producers out there trying to get that big break but nothing is guaranteed. Most people get their start helping out someone else. In the previous situation with Drake it was alleged that female Toronto artist Shi Wisdom wrote many of his songs and was not being credited. Most of the kafuffle with that was just media sensationalizing as Shi Wisdom has written with Drake before and has been paid her due diligence. I’m not surprised that Drake and basically every major artist has a team that helps them put everything together. Take a second and think about the rate that Drake puts out his music; there is no way he’s the only one behind the machine and there’s nothing wrong with that. Between TV appearances, shooting music videos, tours, a daily schedule and actually having a life, who would actually have the time to be constantly writing music? Anyone at the mega star level like Drake is too busy to write all of their music 24-7. Meek Mill isn’t at that point yet so I strongly believe that he’s just jealous of the seemingly effortless success that Drake has been having. If Meek actually writes all of his material as he says, that’s because he’s still in the early stages of his career and has the spare time on his hands. Let’s think about the reasons why Meek Mill would want to lash out at the boy, huh?

1. Drake and Nicki Minaj are real close: I think we’ve all heard of the suspected secret relationship that Nicki and Drake supposedly had at some point. We’ve heard Drake say he’d marry her in his song lyrics and let’s not forget about that nice lap dance he got in the infamous “Anaconda” video. Now that Mr. Mill is dating Ms. Minaj, he’s been taking shots as her ex, Safaree Samuel and now Drake.

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2. Drake didn’t promote Meek’s Album on Twitter: This is probably where the initial shock for Meek came from. He has admitted to being angry that Drake didn’t promote the album which spawned this tweet: "Stop comparing drake to me too.... He don't write his own raps! That's why he ain't tweet my album because we found out," Yes Drake is on a verse, but he’s not a marketing team… Is it really his job to promote for another artist for free?

3.Who the chuck is Meek Mill anyway? Meek Mill is new to the game in my opinion and I can’t really think of that one big track he has. Personally I had to listen to a few of his tracks before I actually recognized one as something I heard before. The one I finally recognized was “Amen”. Drake is more relatable as an artist and has really earned what he has. I’m not saying that Meek can’t get up there one day, but I really think this beef situation is purely for publicity. 

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So what if Drake doesn’t write all of his music? Does Beyonce? Does Lady Gaga? Does Rick Ross? Who cares? What matters is that Drake and his team produce great music that a lot people can understand. It’s not about who writes the music; it’s about how it makes the fans feel. Meek Mill has some catchy stuff, but it doesn’t appeal to the masses like Team Drake does. And no, I’m not on Team Drake just because I’m from Toronto. I actually wasn’t really impressed with Drake’s diss track “Charged Up”. There was no reason for that song to be almost 6 minutes long. I found it a little repetitive and it was probably rushed out in the heat of the moment. One day Meek Mill will get to that mega star level too and I seriously doubt that he’ll be writing all of his own music like he supposedly does now. Personally if someone came up to me and said, “Hey babygirl, I wrote you this bomb ass song!” I’d be thrilled and I would share that information with everyone to show that I was thankful. I only wonder when this starts to happen for Meek Mill if he’s still going to play that “sole songwriter” card or will he be honest to his fans, because apparently he doesn’t like to lie to them.  - 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