BLOG: How to Setup Your Home Studio on a Budget (Ten Steps)
In this post, Scotty Banx gives artists advice on how to setup a home studio without breaking the bank. Click here to read the full post.
Rook: FLEXIN on You
Rook is a young MC striving to be the first big name to come out of the 870—the area code of the long-overlooked region of Northeast Arkansas where he was raised. Now living in LA, Rook works to support a family; however, the real work comes in his home studio, where Rook records and mixes nearly every track he releases. Rook has fleshed out a steady stream of free records via Soundcloud and self-packaged hard copies of his mixtapes. "Orange is the New Black" is the title of his latest free-of-charge project, which was released to rave reviews.
Rook has been writing raps for a decade and recording them for half of that time, drawing inspiration from such greats as NWA, Eminem, Lil Wayne, Drake, 50 Cent and Kanye West. To keep up with his most recent projects, look for Rook performing with his partner-in-rhyme Smoo in venues throughout the LA area, or you can download his new single “Black Mamba” on iTunes, Spotify and Google Play. Some even say he plans to drop another tape in November. The 23 year old has no plans of slowing down any time soon.
Connect with Rook: Twitter Instagram Soundcloud Facebook
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Who is Stayc Johnson?
Marcus Foggle Jr. (born September 19, 1991) better known by his stage name Stayc Johnson is an American Hip-Hop artist, producer and videographer from Fort Worth, TX, by way of Atlanta, GA. He is one of the four co-founders of the Hip-Hop collective #DrettiPosse, with whom he has released two mixtapes.
Leaving #DrettiPosse late 2013 Stayc set out to push The Most High Brand, his music collective and production team. Stayc released his debut album Avenue L in October 2014 to follow it up with the release of his EP Fo’ set to release late October 2015.
Connect with Stayc Johnson: Soundcloud Facebook YouTube Twitter Instagram
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Suicide Notes: Stranger than Fiction
Suicide Notes is a fictional Hip-Hop group from Austin, TX. DJ/Producer LROY (Legitimate Rhythms Own You) & Producer/Emcee HADES (Hungry Artists Don't Ever Stop) got together one day at dark times in each others lives. Feeling like they'd almost accomplished all they wanted out of life, it became a running joke to end it all or leave soon from natural causes.
When reflecting on the music catalog that would be left behind, it became clear that there was more to say. Something that could sum it all up.
Boo G. Ratchet & Frankie Donatello came after the failed suicide attempts to help LROY & HADES leave a proper suicide note behind in the form of an album. Boo G. Ratchet is a wannabe aristocrat and barely functioning sex addict & Frankie Donatello is a sleazy, desperate low-rent con artist who lives with his mamma.
The Gold Standard: Bateau
Bateau is an Austin, Texas based Trip-Hop/RnB/Hip-Hop singer-songwriter who at the age of 19 decided to pursue a music career after The John Lennon Tour Bus made a stop in San Antonio, Texas and gave her an opportunity to professionally film, produce, and record a music video for her original song “Runaway” in March of 2013. Early the next year, in January 2014, she released the single “Put Down The Bottle” on YouTube which quickly attracted a following. Although she initially started to generate a buzz in the Texas indie folk scene singing under the stage name Melina Evalyn, she felt restricted by the genre and increasingly uncomfortable with the squeaky clean image that she felt pressured to maintain for her career.
Melina took a break from everything in 2015 and for three months took up a job waitressing to save money for a move to California. Even though she felt emotionally drained and hadn’t performed for months she couldn’t help but wonder if her fans would accept the underground Hip-Hop sound that inspired her to write to music in the first place as a teenager in Houston, Texas. Unable to leave music behind for good, Melina quietly recorded and released the single “Gold“ as Bateau and officially retired her old stage name Melina Evalyn on Facebook.
On September 20th Bateau released her self-titled debut album "Bateau" and it's FIRE. We had the opportunity to connect with her and ask a few questions about her sound, the album, and more.
How would you describe your musical style and sound? B: My musical style is Trip Hop with Hip Hop undertones. My style of singing is atmospheric and light in contrast to the dark and ominous beats. My lyrical style honest and direct, as well as heavily influenced by pop and indie-folk writing traits.
Do you have a favorite song on your recently released debut album "Bateau"? B: My favorite song on the album would have to be Money Honey. The song is honest and harsh, while touching on dark matters that most people don’t like talking about it. It is also one of the most energetic songs on the album.
Would you say that the various places you have lived have contributed to who you are as an artist lyrically and concept wise? B: Most definitely. I have lived in three different cities in the past five years, as well as traveled very frequently. The things I have learned from other states and countries influence my style by giving me a wide range of perspective. The album has a sense of wanderlust due to my travels, and most of my songs are influenced by my longing to go back to California.
I'm really feeling your song/video for 'Gold', especially the utilization of the Active Child sample. How did they come about? B: Thank you! Gold was the very beginning of Bateau. At the time, I was doing my singer-songwriter bubblegum pop. A friend of mine made beats, and had a bunch of discarded ones he was not using. I asked him for one just so I could try out singing over it, since I have always been a huge fan of soul and hip hop. I was not even aware it was an Active Child sample until much later. I was basically driving to Houston when he sent it, and I wrote the hook over the three-hour drive. I just listened over and over again until I had the hook. I never even wrote the lyrics down, and it all happened really fast. After that, I sent it to my friend Walter in San Antonio, who laid down some verses. It was mostly for a fun experiment, but took off more than I anticipated.
"Bateau" by Bateau (stream below)
Connect with Bateau: Website YouTube Facebook Soundcloud Instagram
Free The Optimus (FTO): 1234 and More
Free The Optimus (FTO) is a North Carolina Hip-Hop collective comprised of C.Shreve the Professor, DJ Jet, Mike L!VE, Phil Dangerous, Ill Will, She Carretta, Good Shepard, James Millen, and other affiliated collaborators including Pragmaddix, Phlo Deli, C.Pitt, ILe Flottante, Tha Last Boss, Soulful Chemistry, Jerrel Moore, P.U.R.P. and Beek the Sneak. Sub-sets of the collective include Mind Ninjas, and PRO-Dangerous as well as everyone's solo work. The focus is on raw food for thought packed full of phytochemicals.
The “1234” video below finds FTO in higher education mode at Cypher University where they thoroughly demonstrate each element of the Hip-Hop culture that has so thoroughly shaped their lives. The lyrical aggression comes from witnessing “the wackness that y’all perpetuate, that’s insidious” and their response to “rap for dope North Carolinians” – bottom line, dispensing with sucka MCs will always be an issue, and we’ve had a knack for handling business lately.
Filmed in Boone & Asheville, NC, and in Knoxville, TN, this is the follow up to the Summer Ransom series of videos that helped propel FTO to win Best Hip Hop Group at the 2015 Carolina Music Awards. The production comes from Dylan Guye (Greensboro, NC), who has several songs on FTO's upcoming album FTOLive. FTOLive will be released later this fall and will star C.Shreve the Professor, Mike L!VE, and DJ Jet along with features from Jrusalam, Tuscon, Hunter, Pragmaddix, and Chachillie with production from P.U.R.P., Dylan Guye, Flue, Millie Vaughn and more.
Please believe that DOPECAUSEWESAID will keep you posted as to when the FTOLive album drops; in the meantime, scroll below to stream/download Summer Ransom.
Connect with Free The Optimus: Website Soundcloud Facebook Twitter (FTO) Twitter (seeshreve) Twitter (JetMusake) Twitter (LongLiveLive)
1234 Video
The Cypher Documentary
Summer Ransom by C.Shreve The Professor
Hindu V: Vancouver Stand Up
Vicky Chand born (January 28th, 1990), also known by his stage name Hindu V, is a South Asian rapper. He was born and raised in Surrey BC (Canada) and has amassed a large internet following while striving to achieve major success. Originally known as Vicky Chand, under the moniker “VC”, Hindu V first rose to national prominence after the release of his debut single featuring none other than West Coast legend WC (Westside Connection) with a song titled “Still Westsidin”. The single received high praise by fans, bloggers and radio stations world wide who were infactuated by the West Coast movement. WC gave V an early CO-Sign in his career saying V would be "the next to blow!"
V is becoming one of the few rappers to put Canada on the map. Well known and respected in his city of Vancouver, Hindu V has worked with WC, Young Buck, Gorilla Zoe, Euroz & has performed with artists like Warren G, DJ Quik, Jadakiss, Fabolous & Rich Homie Quan. V's Highly Anticipated Debut Album "Guilty By Association (GBA)" will be released late fall 2015 with full digital distribution through Universal Canada. Hindu V seemingly moves confidently through his career in hopes to not only carry the weight of an overlooked country, but also give the South Asian community across the world the chance to hear their voice in the Rap industry.
QUICK Three Interview:
What's the Hip-Hop music scene like in Vancouver? It is really competitive and cutthroat or are the other artists on the rise supportive of each other? H: It's kind of every man for themselves out here. There hasn't really been that one guy that's broken through and received mainstream success in the states, so everyone is trying to be that guy. There's a few groups of rappers/singers creating local movements a there's definately a lot of talented artists in the city, but I feel like there's just not enough infrastructure or outlets that help push local music.
How hard is it for you, specifically, and generally as a Canadian rapper, to be yourself as an artist and not try to emulate Drake and his sound since it has proven successful with American listeners? H: Personally it hasn't been difficult for me at all. Drakes a huge artist and has definitely open a lot of doors for different rappers that have a similar sound or flow, but my style has never really sounded like Drake and I don't think anyone is looking for the "next" Drake so trying to emulating his sound has never been my approach. If anything like all great hip hop artists have done in the past, I try to see what's worked for Drake and put my own flavor on it to make it something unique.
When someone listens to a Hindu V track or your upcoming debut album "Guilty by Association (GBA)" or sees you perform live for the first time, what do you want them to take away from the experience? : I want them to feel my passion and my commitment to my craft. I want them to know that every time I get in the booth and every time I get on stage I'm getting better. I want people to know that I speak for them and I speak from a genuine place inside myself. Most importantly I want people to know that I'm a real artist and and a real person that won't ever lie to my fans or glorify the negative. Keeping that in mind my music will never be censored and will always give you the good the bad and the ugly, just like in life.
Connect with Hindu V: Website Instagram Facebook Twitter Youtube Soundcloud
Video: Money on My Mind feat. The Kid
Mixtape: #GBAcomingsoon
Who is John Wells?
John Wells is an American rapper, producer, and songwriter from East Baltimore, Maryland. John began writing raps at the age of 11, writing his first rap over the beat to Nuthin' But A G Thang. He began releasing music at 15 with friends from school, and eventually began working with Scotty Banx, whom he'd known of since middle school, but never actually got to talk to until 10th grade. In February 2015, John released his debut project, The KEILANI, produced by himself and mixed and mastered by Scotty Banx. Inspired by everyone from Chance the Rapper to Lil Boosie, he always wrote in order to illustrate the essence of what his life is, whether it be a story of waiting for his father to pick him up on his birthday, or an allegory of love and lust alluding to the dope game in Baltimore City, or a satire of the kids in Baltimore County who love to act like they live in the hood. Lately, John has been working quietly, occasionaly dropping things like "Beat Up Little Seagull," a song he wrote and produced during the uprising that went on in Baltimore, and more recently, the video to his song "Grass," the fifth track from The KEILANI. John is currently working on upcoming projects and plotting his next move, so clearly, there is much more to come.
The Keilani
What's Good with Skuzi?
Skuzi is a rapper on the come up from Hampton, VA who released an EP entitled "The Musing" earlier this year. We caught up with Skuzi to see what's next for him and to drop his new 'Now I'm Mad' freestyle.
What's been up with you since you dropped 'The Musing'? S: Since I have dropped The Musing a big focus of mine has been what I need to do next musically and business wise. I will be re-releasing The Musing on iTunes, Spotify, etc. along with some new songs before the end of the year, along with some videos. Additionally, I am working on my next project, and an all Caribbean EP with Unique Nation of Bermuda. So, lots of work coming lol. I am also looking for any and every place to perform, so if anybody needs performers let me know!
How different is your upcoming release from 'The Musing' in terms of the production and would you say that you have grown lyrically since its release? S: I would say after this re release my next project will probably be the Caribbean project. Which will be WAAAAY different because I have to connect more to my original culture more aesthetically and focus more on the feeling of the music as opposed to focusing so heavily on the writing, which gets me out of my comfort zone. Normally I produce all my own work, and all of this production will be handled by another person. Fun fact: this is the same guy who co-produced "Raunchy" on The Musing. However, I do have a lot of singles dropping in the near future that will be full of quality lyrics.
Being that you are from the Hampton, are you influenced by music from Pharrell, Pusha T, his group the Clipse, or any other local artists in the Hampton Roads area? S: I wouldn't say inspiration comes from the artists, but more so the vibe of the area. The 757 is a blend of many different cultures since it's a mostly military area. On top of the fact that it's right in the middle of the South, the DMV, and Northern areas like Jersey and New York. So we get a mix of Go-Go, trap music, Jersey and Baltimore club, the list goes on. So rhythmically that mix and feel gives me a bounce in my aesthetic background and a little more to work with. I will say Pharell is very inspiring as a producer, plus we were both in Marching Band in high school I've actually been to competitions at his alma mater. Pusha T as well is a pivotal figure especially as an emcee.
Will your next release feature any of the artists who appeared on 'The Musing'? S: My next project will definitely include some of the artists that were heard on The Musing. Right now I am trying to grow more as a musician and network with as many people as possible before releasing a whole body, so I'm open and excited to work with any and everybody.
Connect with Skuzi: Twitter Tumblr YouTube ReverbNation
SaRap Fresh is living the FRESH LIFE
SaRap Fresh is an up-and-coming Michigan artist, currently working out of Los Angeles, whose rhymes are very much influenced by the stylish world he creates around him. SaRap Fresh is an 80’s baby who discovered the Hip-Hop genre in the mid-90’s and has been hooked ever since. He is who he is and preaches self-discovery and the courage to find/be yourself.
SaRap Fresh has a throwback wardrobe style and is a big believer in lyrics and melody. He's influenced by all types of artists from early Lil Wayne, Ma$e, 50 Cent, Kid Cudi, Big Sean, Obie Trice, Action Bronson, Big Krit, to Drake and King Louie and says that if it’s good he'll probably listen to it.
SaRap Fresh has released 4 projects thus far, including: 1. ) ACID WASH – Side A (June 2014); 2.) Mike Lowrey Freestyle Sessions (December 2014); 3.) B Side – ACID WASH (February 2015); and his latest 4) FRESH LIFE vol. 1. These projects are available to stream/download on his Soundcloud page.
Connect with SaRap Fresh: Facebook Instagram Soundcloud Twitter
