ant_7000

The Kim track is disturbing but it is creative. Stan is genius IMO.

Nineties megastar rapper Mase has had a career changing epiphany - again. The rapper-turned-pastor, who left music to preach as Dr. Mason Betha, is planning a hip-hop comeback. Betha retired from rap in 1999 to minister to the 1,500-strong S.A.N.E. Church International in Atlanta. In his heyday, Mase was featured on hits by his mentor, Sean (P. Diddy) Combs, as well as Notorious B.I.G., Mariah Carey and Brian McKnight. But he went on to sharply criticize the music industry from his pulpit. A source tells us that although he is still contracted to P. Diddy's Bad Boy Entertainment, Betha is trying to work out a comeback deal with Nelly's label, Fo' Real Records. "Yes it is true," Fo' Real President Ed Holmes told us. "But we're in the process of trying to structure something with Bad Boy to allow Mase to do this project." When asked whether Mase would be recording Christian rap, Holmes replied, "No! It's definitely hip hop. There's no profanity, though. He's still talking about relevant issues." Betha did not return calls.

UWR are you a member of ahh.com? Because I saw the same thread in there.

Devil's night was ok, wasn't all that and it didn't have no replay value. Bizzare ruined a couple of songs, although he's funny at times. I don't know if Bizzare raps that way on purpose or he really does rap like that.

^Royce and D12 are cool now. Royce and Proof got into fight and ended up getting arrested. They made up while they was in jail. I actually took the chance and bought Royce's album, I haven't heard all of it yet but its ok so far. Royce is trying prove that he doesn't need Eminem's help to get himself exposure.

I listen to the sample (which was good) they have in the music stores. Im kinda skeptic on buying this album, I have the Rock City album and I thought it was bit of a disappointment. On Rock City kinda expose Royce as just battle rapper and nothing else. Im willing to give him another chance thou, anybody heard his new album? Thoughts?

Stacy Dash= Sexy as fuck She's related to Dame, they're cousins. Dame should convince her to do some videos more often.

I agree with you, some artists lived fucked up lives growing up, and its just them being themselves and giving you their outlook. Well the piano playing cute chicks created a market. Honestly, I couldn't tell difference from any of them except Alecia Keys. Hell, before Alecia Keys became a piano playing 6 time grammy winner she just a generic R&B hook singer.

This is from an entertainment lawyer::: You are an artist, you have to consider your marketability, which I will delineate below, as well as providing some links that fall exactly in line with what I am saying. There are trends to what acts tend to get signed, and what just doesn't fit in today's synergistic world of media. I also want it to be clear that I am discussing strictly major labels and mainstream acts that normally populate the likes of MTV. THE NEW ERA OF MARKETING Before, it didn't really matter unless you had a good song to sell. How times have changed! In the mid-nineties, media companies, along with MTV (as well as several colluded mega-majors like Universal, and Time Warner) made qualitative analyses of the lives of youths usually between the ages of 12-17, or the "teen" generation if you will. They went into kid's houses, asked kids about what they liked, didn't like, trends in clothing and consumption of goods, and came back to the table with two distinct psychological profiles of female and male teens that would be a cookie cutter methodology to which female and male teens could be marketed to by record companies in collusion with major brand giants like Procter and Gamble, shoe companies, etc. What came out of the research was a change in MTV as well as the signing of acts by record companies. Record companies and MTV sought talent that appealed to either one of the following: 1. A disassociated, angry teen male. (known as a "MOOK") 2. A hypersexualised, pierced, "belly showing," sophisticated, teen female. (known as a "MIDRIFF.") Know, the recalculation of programming at MTV was changed to fit such predicates, as well as programming for a more brand friendly a promotional program approach. That's why they don't just "show music videos" on MTV. They have 1/2 hr. to 1 hr "shows" that are meant to appeal to either the MOOK or the MIDRIFF. "Jackass" was meant for teh MOOK, and the MIDRIFF had other shows as well. Furthermore, advertisers could do pertinent brand placement and MTV which would make MTV have higher advertising rates than before, because they are appealing to the consumption habits that teens make during their "brand formation" years. That's basically where teens get brand identification that they will hold on to later in life, like using Guess? jeans, Ralph Lauren or even Phat Farm, and having an affinity for it. How does this all fit in to getting signed? MARKETING AND GETTING SIGNED TO A MAJOR Korn, Staind, Eminem, Metallica, 50 Cent, most gangsta rap, Linkin Park, appeal to the MOOK. Most acts signed have to fit into this generic category that promotes anger, depression and violence, because that is what the MOOK has been psychologically profiled as by researchers. Haven't you ever accused a band or act for getting "soft" if he/they come out with a "love song?" Why would Ja Rule switch from his harder image on Venni Vetti Vinci to the "Thug Love" he croons now? The midriff! Female teens are the largest consumers of music in Western Europe, the United States and Australia. That's why N'Sync was so successful. So is Britney Spears and Hillary Duff. That's why Fabolous raps love songs, B2K sings, or Ja Rule sells 6 million love raps, and you hate him, but your girlfriend loves him. They are all appealing to the midriff demographic, and love songs about relationships, etc., are all appealing to the female teen demographic, and if they like the image of the artist, then you're even a bigger star. An group I think treads finely between the MOOK and MIDRIFF is Nickelback, who tended to make sappier love songs, and now is trying to get "harder" a little bit with their last single. ("I Know Who You Are") SO GOD, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME? This means that YOU as an artist, if you want a higher probability of getting signed, and I mean this... have to throw away your "artistic" idealism and indeed think if you want to "sell out" and actually make some money by formatting your music to sell to a MOOK or to the MIDRIFF Usually an exec won't let you do both, it's increasing the probability of failure if they try to market you to both, plus it's cheaper to promote you in one way than both. Remember, you're selling your image, and that image has to be consistent. Either your appealing to angry kids who can identify you, or to females that identify with your love lyrics. Rarely is there middle ground. You have signing potential if you appeal to one and only one of these demographics. Also, it gives you the ability to cross-promote, like signing with a clothing company for men, if you're a MOOK artist, or sell make-up, like Mandy Moore. Also, your image can make you able to be a movie action star (something 50 Cent should do, and DMX tried). The thing is that if you cater to a MOOK or the MIDRIFF, you more options to make money for your record company, management, agents, and self. GOD WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THIS? I'M MY OWN ARTIST F*** EVERYBODY Hmm, is that what you really want to do? If I want to sign you, and you're a hardcore rapper appealing to the MOOK, I can immediately put you on tour with other harder rappers like 50 Cent/Jay-Z/Xzibit, or if you're a band, I can get you on that Korn/Limp Bizkit tour, which gives you instant exposure for your band, which equates to more money and more sales. It's about making music that SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIES with a target audience, like angry 12-17 yr. old males. If I represent you, and you appeal to the midriff, I'd have you doing all the cheesy photo shoots, Tiger Beat, your face would be on make-up, backpacks, all the things you hate about "selling out" and going "soft." But guess what, YOU WOULD BE PAID MASSIVELY. If you do your own thing... great, just don't come looking for a massive deal unless you are so different that it's worth to sign you. That doesn't happen often. That's saying a lot considering most people that do get signed beat dramatic odds over other people. CONCLUSION What you should get out of this is that MTV won't play unless your image appeals to the MOOK or MIDRIFF demographic. Your video has to have a certain format, and record companies know that their artists should appeal to such standards because they have a better chance at being promoted and paid by advertisers, etc. It is the whole "sell out dilemma." But think about it. You're not just an artist, you're an image, you're somebody that a kid should look up to. You're not really yourself, you're somebody else pretending to appeal to a demographic. Dre knows this, look at his artists, they all pretty much cater to the MOOK. Boy bands were great money makers appealing to the MIDRIFFS. A lot of successful "industry" people know this, in radio, television, and music. THAT'S PREDOMINANTLY HOW MAJORS SIGN THEIR ACTS. Or at least, good A&R. __________________

DYNOMITE!!!!!!!!!!

^ Afroman called Jay and Nas wack? Whats up with no names or failed rappers taking the 50 Cent approach of beefing/fueding? Nobodies dissing big name rappers and hoping someone will respond, everybody sees right through that shit. Benzino is stupid as fuck and have nothing to lose now, for him to diss Outkast (been on the Source front cover many times) and The Roots who were willing to appear on The Source and do interviews with the staff. Benzino is single handedly killed the Source.

He's very underrated and is under radar. I liked his first album with the Jazz fusion production, i've heard Cee lo's new album is pretty good, and is the best rap album out currently. Have anybody heard the album yet? Thoughts?

Yeah, I do hate those sped up soul samples sometimes because he does it so often. I like the "workout plan" for groupies.

I going to cop Kanye's album tommorrow, from the songs i've heard i'll enjoy the album. I agree that Kanye is arrogant as fuck, he needs to be careful before he gets beat up again.

I thought it was KC and Sunshine band, whatever. I know Vanilla Ice made a remake to the song as well, wasn't Vanilla Ice popular to you guys. (Joking)

Fixed. Huh?

I thought KC and the Sunshine band broke it down with play that "funky music" so I know some guys know what funky is. But then again it is a wrasslin board. Maybe if the Interview was in the kligon language some you guys would understand it. Its funny I've seen so much stuff from this board from what does OD'ed mean to how do people who wear braids wash their hair. You lame nerds crack me up.

This so stupid, but since scholarships can be privately funded for whatever reason they're entitled to have a "white schalorships." Jason is just a hypocrite, give back your scholarship. AA also benefits whites, and the handicap NOT just minorities. Our president benefitted from a form of AA.

Outside of "I get high" song, dude himself is dripping of wack juice.

^ Um, I can answer that for you Stockings or Skullies/Skull cap is for hair care, You don't want Sporting Waves hair grease messing up your fitted cap/hat getting it all dirty.

Martin Lawerance is ok to me, "You so Crazy" is classic, I didn't care for Runteldat, Martin show was a classic, I remember when him, Tommy, and Cole tried help deliver this womans baby and baby popped out and Martin caught it like it was football: Tommy: Where's the unbillical (sp) cord? we need to cut it. Martin: DAMNIT!!! Tommy this is TV there aint no cord. As far as wack comedians are concern: Leno, Chris Rock, Chase, Seinfield, and Drew Carey.

^ Well sex can get funky, with all the sweating and stuff, especially when your having wake up morning sex.

@ so called experts predicting Murray St over Illinois. That ETSU-Cincy was pretty entertaining especially Tim Smith, he went into Iverson mode on Cincy, but Bobbit's 3pt shot gave Cincy the win.

Oh lord, somebody doesn't know what funky means. Seriously, some you guys need to get out more often and get laid too.

Depaul squeaked it out, Andre Brown choked at the line, he missed all of his 10 free throws. It'll be an intresting matchup against UConn since Depaul head coach use to be a assistant at UConn.