MUSIC FEATURES
Marc Anthony Figueras is On the Rise
/Marc Anthony Figueras is an artist on the rise. Born and raised in Miami, FL, Marc Anthony Figueras started playing music as early as five years old. He's always enjoyed playing music as well as songwriting and says "I've been writing songs for a very long time, even though most of the early songs I've written were intentionally forgotten. I'm heavily influenced by jazz, R&B/soul, classical music, and blues. Overall, I really strive for creativity and originality in my writing, because that's what I enjoy the most in music I hear, or artists I look up to."
Marc Anthony Figueras currently resides in Clayton, NC and his first release "Love, Insanity, Conflict, Entropy" was dropped in March of this year. His latest release, the "Blue EP", featuring our Song of the Week 'Hold Your Breath', is a five song collection of mellow and soulful RnB/Jazz music that will be on display this Saturday, September 19th at Schoolkids Records in Raleigh, NC at 7 pm. This free in-store performance by Marc Anthony Figueras and his band is sponsored by DOPECAUSEWESAID. For more information, click here.
Connect with Marc Anthony Figueras: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Soundcloud Bandcamp
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Scene & Heard: Support Your Local Record Shop (Schoolkids Records)
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Based in Raleigh-Durham, NC, Schoolkids Records is the Triangle’s first home of the legendary mom & pop indie store chain. Founded in 1973, Schoolkids Records is one of the longest running record stores in the entire country. There are two locations of Schoolkids:
RALEIGH (Mission Valley Shp Ctr):
2237 Avent Ferry Rd., Suite 101
Raleigh, NC 27606
Ph: 919-821-7766
DURHAM (Bright Leaf Square):
905 W Main St
Durham, NC 27701
Ph: 919-688-7022
In April 2014, the Raleigh location opened a full bar and now serve over a dozen local and craft beers, with six taps, bar stools and stage for instores. In March 2015, a second location was opened at Bright Leaf Square in Durham, NC and both locations participate in Record Store Day.
Schoolkids is a founding member of the CIMS Coalition, the first national Coalition of Independent Music Stores and has also been named by both Time Magazine and The Grammy's as one of the "top ten" record stores in the United States.
DOPECAUSEWESAID currently places the music of our featured artists on a table in Schoolkids for patrons to pick up and take for their listening pleasure for free as well as sell on consignment. If you are interested in your music being available at Schoolkids, email us at dopecausewesaid@gmail.com.
Who is Romolo?
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Romolo is a 23 year old music producer a part of the collective, Castello Roundtable, based out of Vancouver, Canada. The young producer, who recently graduated out of Nimbus School of Recording and Media's Beats and Urban Music Production program, has quickly started to build his catalog producing beats varying from Hip-Hop to Soul. Romolo also takes pride in his ability as an engineer, songwriter and co-founder of CRT. Some of Romolo’s prime influences revolve around collectives founded on artistic integrity and abstract creation, such as Outkast or TDE, though Romolo has always been heavily inspired by multiple generations of music. Lux, part 1 of Castello Roundtable’s ‘Iridescence’ was produced in full by Romolo, as well as part 2, Nox, expected this upcoming Fall. Romolo & Castello Roundtable are just getting started with 3 releases so far in 2015.
Click the Lux (Iridescence pt. 1) cover below to stream/download
Who is Stephan Marcellus?
/Music is food for the soul, and new artist Stephan Marcellus is an up and coming Master Chef. Born in Brooklyn New York in 1990, the singer songwriter grew up during the neo-soul movement listening to greats from Maxwell to Erykah Badu to D’Angelo. The likes of these artists as well as legends such as Nat King Cole and Bob Marley inspired him to keep those imaginary studio headphones to his ears and sing at school assemblies and programs, allowing him to flow into the evolutionary pool of alternative soul. That’s not to say that Marcellus’s musical inspirations didn’t vary across the genres. “Anything that makes me ‘feel’ is also Soul.”
The year 2014 saw the release of the rising star’s EP Puppeteer. “[Puppeteer] talks about acknowledging that you've been hurt but allowing yourself to let someone else teach you how to trust again and ultimately how to love". Marcellus is currently working on new music to be released in the fall of 2015, drawing from a desire to be honest with his listeners. “In writing and recording my music I found that although being vulnerable can be embarrassing or terrifying it can also be liberating and empowering.”
Raised in Englewood, New Jersey by Guyanese parents, they always stressed the importance of education but were very supportive of their creative son. After joining his high school choir, Marcellus quickly caught the attention of his peers, coming out of the shadows to shine on
stage. After graduating from Bowie State University in 2012 with a degree in child and adolescent studies, Stephan Marcellus continued to broaden the scope on his music career.
He is currently flourishing under the management of Shavree Washington and Steven Muhammad, who has worked with talents such as Kelly Price, Big Boy, Q from Day 26, and Janelle Monae. After taking a Master class with Ledisi, Marcellus had the honor of singing for the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan and the president of Bowie State University. His incredible voice has been showcased at the Fillmore for the DMV Brand Experience, and in 2014 he had the opportunity to open for Baltimore artist Mahogany Fame and Brave Williams. He’s also performed at the 2014 New York Oktober Fest and was the winner of the 2015 Gifted and Talented showcase in New York City.
Stephan Marcellus hopes to spread hope with his music. “The common theme in my work is hope…[My songs] start form a place of the realization of brokenness but each have a tint of hope, which I believe inspires the choice to believe that things can and will be better.” - Courtesy of SM/SW Management.
How to Survive On a Music Video Set
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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
SMS brings the heat with "Malice & Mario Sweet Present SMS" EP
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Coming off the popularity and acclaim of their debut project entitled Happy 2 Year, as well as their first full length project, Enjoy:Like:Love, real-life married Seattle duo Malice and Mario Sweet have released an EP, aptly dubbed SMS.
SMS is an R&B Soul Funk trio comprised of real-life married duo, Malice & Mario Sweet, with the addition of vocalist Shelby Poole.
Influenced by classic Soul/Disco-Funk acts of the early '80s like The Gap Band and Zapp, the production is handled by Tall Black Guy, Vitamin D and Jake One.
Neo Soul to '90s Hip Hop-Soul/R&B fill the rest of the EP's landscape with sultry grooves about infatuation, feisty conflict, and just letting loose. Click the cover pic to download this incredible EP.
Connect with SMS: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Soundcloud
Who is Bambino?
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Bambino is an up-and-coming, refreshing, soul and hip hop artist. At 20 years old, he is the youngest member, and a co-founder, of Castello Round Table, a creative music collective based out of Vancouver, BC. His passion for music has been evident since he was just a young boy, songwriting with his older cousin, FC (founder of Castello Round Table) and performing leads in his school’s choir and musicals. With a soulful delivery that is rare in today’s ‘scene’, Bambino’s strong point is his poetic lyricism. In that sense, he is a student to some of his biggest influences; Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, André 3000 and Chance the Rapper. As high school president and valedictorian in 2013, Bambino promoted creativity, collaboration, and the idea of ‘being yourself’ to hundreds of students. In June 2015, he released his debut EP, Conception, a project that he crafted for two years to positive reception. Although music is his main outlet, it is not the only thing in Bambino’s artistic pallet. He is also an aspiring filmmaker and graduate of Capilano University’s Cinematography Program. The versatility, originality and passion of Bambino are what set him aside from other artists in his genre. Hence the name ‘Bambino’ (meaning “young boy” or “baby” in Italian), he uses his creativity and culture to preserve his ‘inner child’. In the words of Picasso, “Every child is an artist.”
Dreams is the first video and second single off of Bambino’s debut project, ‘Conception’. With it’s smooth vocals, catchy beat, thought-provoking lyrics, and high quality visuals, the video for Dreams is not only refreshing, but symbolically powerful. The hook features vocals from FC, who co-wrote the song with him. The concept of the video is based entirely on both Bambino and FC’s childhood ‘dreams’, and uses real friends, family members and locations.
The video begins when a young Bambino receives a note from a young girl and runs to his nonna and nonno’s (grandparents) house. There, he is served a plate of pasta as he watches his favourite team in penalty kicks. As the camera pans in on the old fashioned TV, an older Bambino is revealed playing in a soccer game. From then on, the video interweaves through three disparate scenes. Each alternate reality is a different representation of the word ‘dreams’ (aspirational, surrealistic, and nightmarish).
In the first dream, Bambino is a shown as a soccer player, determined to make a mark on the pitch. In the second, he sips an espresso outside a local deli as he is approached and drawn in by what he thinks is the girl of his dreams. Bambino runs through a forest in the third dream, unsure of where he is and why. At the end of this dream, the message is fully revealed when the older Bambino realizes he’s been running from his younger self the whole time. In other words, ‘you are the only person in control of your dreams, don’t run from them’.
Connect with Bambino and the Castello Round Table: Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
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
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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.
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.
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
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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
DOPECAUSEWESAID connects with digital distribution platform Record Union
/DOPECAUSEWESAID has connected with digital distribution platform Record Union and is now a part of their A&R Network. If you are interested in getting your music on Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play Music, TIDAL, or one of the many other digital streaming services, sign up with Record Union at -- www.recordunion.com/Register -- and use one of our custom A&R codes (dcws1 or begreat2) and you will get 1 year of free digital distribution to any digital streaming service of your choosing that they distribute to. This applies to any type of release (be it a single, EP or album).
If you have any questions about this opportunity, feel free to email us at cboyd@dopecausewesaid.com and we'll tell you all you need to know.
Hip-Hop Style
/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
The Big Birds of Toronto Hip Hop: From Kardinal to Drake
/Being a rapper from Toronto, it’s only natural that I want to pay homage to the rappers and emcees that came before me and made it possible for our hip hop community to exist. It’s not hard to see why most Americans used to just see Toronto as the land of ice, syrup and hockey, until Drake put “The 6” on the map, but it didn’t happen overnight. Before Toronto was the 6 it was actually called the Tdot and many still refer to it as that today. Tdot and other Toronto slang words like Moretimes (usually), Gyal (women), Screwface (an angry facial expression that is either used for actual anger or just to be cool) and Still (used at the end of a sentence for emphasis) came from rapper Kardinal Offishall. When Kardinall burst onto the scene in the late 90’s, it was no easy task. There were no hip hop/rap radio stations in Canada so we all had to tune in WBLK in Buffalo, NY (if the signal was available) to find out what was hot and fresh with hip hop. That is probably why today so many Canadians really watch the American hip hop/rap scene; y’all had yours going strong from the get go while we were just trying to be heard.
Never the less, facing exclusion, what is believed to be outright racism and limited methods of actually getting signed/viewed, Kardinal Offishall was one of the originals to breakthrough and take our hip hop culture to the mainstream. After he, Checkmate, Thurst, Choclair and Rascalz recorded the song “Northern Touch”, things really began to take off. It made people know who we are and that we are here to stay. That song was the first hip hop song in Canada to make it to the top 100 in the country and actually get widespread airplay in Canada and internationally. Fast forward a few years later and we now have a multitude of websites for artists to try and put themselves on. We got HiphopCanada, Hiphop.ca, CanadianDope, MUCH and so many other ways to get noticed. On any given weekend there’s a hip hop show happening somewhere in Toronto. So how is it that the average person thinks that our boy Drizzy Drake is the only rapper from Toronto to make it?
Like most rappers, Drake didn’t have it easy growing up; although people like to debate about it, he did struggle in a single parent household. Despite the odds Drake was able to climb his way to the top and become the most successful rapper from Toronto thus far. Although he rose to fame quickly in the eyes of most people, let’s not forget about his humble beginnings as “Wheelchair Jimmy” on Degrassi High: The Next Generation, a popular Canadian teen melodrama based in Toronto. I think it’s a combination of things that made Drake so successful so quickly; For one, by the time Drake put out his first mix tape in 2006, the Canadian hip hop scene was well established; he already had visibility from being an actor and no doubt some connections in the industry. Let’s also consider the fact that Drake is also a songwriter and a producer. Because we don’t see what’s going on behind the scenes, it’s easy to assume that he just bought his way to the top, but you can’t buy talent! Drake is able to create music that appeals not only to Toronto, but the rest of the hip hop world as well. It’s clear that Drake is where he should be and it all happens for a reason. In addition to these things with Drake comes drama; no offence, but the guy is all over the news! Most Toronto rappers like the ones who came before seldom get involved in fights, baby mama drama and what not… well at least not in the public eye anyway. Mainstream Canadian media isn’t quite in tune with the hip hop world like it should be, but maybe Drake is the key to opening that door. I think it’s time we start keeping up with the Torontonians. With the creation of his OVO label, Drake and partner Noah “40” Shebib are giving back and helping to pave the way for more Canadian artists such as the Weeknd and PartyNextDoor.
My advice to anyone yearning for a spot in the hip hop hall of fame better get some new hats and no I’m not talking about Kangol! I’m talking about versatility. I say learn everything about the game you can and add to your portfolio. If you can rap, but you can’t sing, try learning to dance. If you can’t make beats, try writing songs for other artists. Pick up a skill like directing, graphic design or even try managing another artist. All in all it’s the talent that makes you unique as an artist, but in today’s market if you want success, you really gotta work! - Asha Mullings
Wu-Tang Clan Vs Boot Camp Clik: Who Ya Got? (Nostalgia)
/A few days ago as I was listening to Black Moon's first album "Enta Da Stage" I began to reminisce about a heated debate that my friends and I had back in high school over who was a better collection of emcees overall and who would win in a head to head battle -- Wu-Tang Clan or Boot Camp Clik (BCC). Having been a rap fan since the mid 80's and having heard my fair share of great rap battles up to now, whether it was LL Cool J vs Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J vs Canibus, Jay-Z vs Nas, or Boogie Down Productions vs Juice Crew or Rocafella vs D-Block, in Hip-Hop, individual emcees and crews have always been put to the lyrical test and often times, fans chose sides and picked the winner. Unfortunately, for the loser, oftentimes, their careers never recovered.
I hate hypothetical questions and 'what if' scenarios but for the sake of nostalgia, I'm going there. Back in the mid to late 90's two of the most respected rap collectives were (and still are) the Wu, who singlehandedly changed rap as a whole on so many levels and the BCC, who personified East Coast rap with members such as Black Moon, Heltah Skeltah, OGC, and Smif-n-Wessun. Both the Wu and BCC had individual members who could stand on their own as solo artists but as collectives, both crews were like Voltron formed to bring the East Coast back to prominence, along with other groups like Mobb Deep and Capone-N-Noreaga. Just listen to 'Cession At Da Doghillee', 'Sound Bwoy Bureill', 'Leflaur Leflah Eshkoshka' or 'Headz Ain't Reddee' from BCC and then listen to the Wu's 'Semi Automatic: Full Rap Metal Jacket', 'Daytona 500', 'Da Mystery of Chessboxin' and 'Protect Ya Neck' and honestly tell me that some of the best bars in rap during that time weren't spit in those tracks. Lyrically, there will never be another pair of rap collectives as strong as the Wu or BCC.
Me and my boys used to ride around Southeast Raleigh after school on the way to Crabtree Valley Mall or Bojangles listening to the latest from the Wu or BCC arguing about who was better between the two collectives and why. My favorite hypothetical battle back then was between GZA and Rock aka Rockness Monsta; my boy Bakari's favorite hypothetical battle was between Starang Wondah and Method Man. Everyone else had their favorite and least favorite emcee in the bunch but there were no real weak links in either group. Both crews have endured the many changes in the music industry over the past twenty years and still make great music but any Hip-Hop purist and fan of the two collectives will tell you that both the Wu and BBC were at their best over the sample based beats that the RZA and Beatminerz provided back in the 90's, though creatively, legally and financially, it's not realistic to expect that sound today.
We'll never know who would win if Ghostface Killah went at Sean Price or if Inspectah Deck went at Buckshot, but it would have been great to hear them go back and forth at each other, not to indulge in beef but for lyrical competitiveness and for us fans so that we'll have something to argue about at the neighborhood cookout or at the barbershop like we did with Nas and Jay-Z. - CB.