Beats, Rhymes and Life is What You Make It

Okay don’t get excited by the title, this has nothing to do with Drake or Li’l Wayne. The video above is from Forbes and it gives you a look at some of the world’s billionaires under 40. That’s right. Actually most of these guys are in their mid 30s and a few of them, namely the Facebook crew, are actually not quite 30 yet!

This is pure inspiration to anyone under 40 (most of you reading this probably are). Whether you rap, sing, make rap beats (or any genre), write software, write books/articles/poetry or you’re just a good salesman and an all around hustler, recognize that these guys all had ideas and dreams and through whatever means (foul or otherwise) did not give up until those dreams were reality.

So if you are a rapper or singer, don’t hesitate to invest in yourself. Save some cash , buy some beats online (they are quite affordable), pay for studio time and get serious with your career. If you have any other type of skill, the time is now to stop relying on handouts, charity or a paycheck. Get up and get yours!

Being a music producer is very fulfilling. I get to work with many artists and guide their musical directions, as well as getting to make rap beats, rnb beats or pop beats all day. This site is more than just a place to buy beats online. I will be featuring hot new artists on here all the time, both from my hometown and internationally.

As I mentioned, I do a lot more that just a make and sell rap beats online. I recently started my own indie label and I’ve got a good crop of artists from my home country Barbados that I work with. This is the first video handled by the label. It’s a track called “Centrefold” by 4 members of a crew called RLG: Jonny K, Chuck Larry, Trizzy and Jay-Tremaine. The beat is produced by yours truly and the videography and editing was done by Scenes Entourage (also from right here in Barbados). This is just a testament to the way my movement is moving.

To all the artists out there, this is an example of the kind of hip hop instrumentals you can get here at StratCarter.com. So if you are looking to buy beats online or you need rap beats custom built, check out my beats page or drop me a line at strat@stratcarter.com

Throughout the years, I have been privy to many a debate on this topic. I have been a connoisseur of fine hip hop since the late 80s and many of my peers respect me as an authority on the subject. That aside, I’ve noticed that peoples’ opinions of what an MC supposed to be, within a Hip Hop context, tend to differ somewhat. On the day when we remember the late, great Christopher Wallace aka The Notorious B.I.G, I thought I would deal with this issue a bit.

So I recently saw some of my peoples in a facebook group arguing (kinda) over whether a certain rap artist can be considered an MC (Nicki Minaj -__-). Some people said that she’s not a good lyricist and therefore she should never hold that title. Well is this really true? Does being lyrical equate to being a real MC? It’s all about perspective really. At the beginning of Hip Hop, the term MC implied “one who moved the crowd”. It was actually closer akin in definition to the dictionary meaning “Master of Ceremonies”. The earliest Hip Hop showcases were not so much about the rapper, as it was about the entire culture. The MC in those days basically hyped up the crowd with simple party styled lyrics (“throw ya hands in the air, and wave ‘em like you just don’t care”) while the DJ did his thing on the wheels. Even the early songs by Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Flash and The Sugar Hill Gang were not lyrical by today’s standards but they did in fact move the crowd. We could even argue about what “lyrical” means, as many people may say that the Furious Five’s “The Message” was a lyrical song simply because of how they brought across the subject matter.

Fast forward to now. It’s 2012 and the game has been significantly changed, time and time again. Now the most revered MCs are the lyricists (I use MC and not rapper. A rapper can be anyone who raps. Many rappers exist and are chart toppers not because of skill but because of marketing). As time progressed, MCs such as Big L, Kool G Rap, Biggie, Pac, Nas, Jay-Z, Common, yasiin bey (Mos Def) and others have made music that redefined how we judge an MC. Nowadays, if you’re not lyrical, your “MC” status is dubious at best (except in the eyes of MTV). The use of metaphor, double entendre and punchlines is now a vital part of being an MC.

Even now in a time where success as a rap artist seems to be dependent on your marketing and your beats, real hip hoppers understand what it takes to be an MC. The real reason why I would say that being and MC now requires lyricism is because in many circles, that is how you ‘move the crowd’. Even some of the most popular mainstream artists, such as L’il Wayne and Drake, are top notch MCs because of what they say and how they say it.

To any rappers or MCs reading this, aspiring or established, I hope it helps in some way. To the indie artists longing to claim your place among the greats like B.I.G, study your craft and do worry about hot beats. The beats are everywhere now and you don’t need to have a Timberland sized budget to get them. Simply grab your debit/credit card and buy beats online. Respect the art. Peace

R.I.P

Christopher George Latore Wallace

May 21, 1972 - March 9, 1997

It’s 2012 and the music industry is in its most interesting state ever, in my opinion. On the one hand, we have artists who are purely about musicianship and raw talent i.e. Adele and on the other we have gimmick artists like Nicki Minaj. Both successful but from two totally different perspectives. One is crafted solely by the engine of the industry and panders to whatever trends are hot while the other has brought back that feel of true artistry.

I want to encourage artists, producers and beatmakers to think. Think not just about what sells currently or what is the next shock value gimmick that can be employed for the sake of remaining relevant, but instead try to craft your songs, beats and videos with a kind of cutting edge creativity. Here are some examples of what I mean, little things that may make a difference:

• Song structure. The usual intro, verse, chorus, verse chorus blah blah blah is cool but maybe try switching it up a bit. Try a simpler hook or maybe even verses where the hook line of the song is at the end of each line of the verse. Bridges are cool but try using them in an unorthodox spot in the song, or maybe have the bridge come at 2 points in the song.

• Rap groups should try being more integrated on tracks, e.g. in the case of a 3 man crew, instead of 3 verses and a couple hooks, have 2 verses and have each member play parts in both. This creates a real crew vibe and is very interesting to the listener.

• Try weird things in your beats. Sample household implements or things that you wouldn’t normally associate with music. For producers who compose more often than they sample (like me), avoid monotonous loops throughout the song. Use your chops to create different movements and mini bridges within your beats. It makes them more appealing to artists who are looking to buy beats online or otherwise.

Look at the success of Odd Future (OFWGKTA). Even though a lot of their music is filled with what I like to call shock value content, which in itself may be seen as a gimmick, they certainly get an A for effort. They are unique and as such have garnered a cult following.

Think outside the proverbial box. Boxes are stifling….and square.

So everyone’s talking about Astro’s little meltdown on X-Factor the other night. First up let me acknowledge that for all his lyrical skills, he is still a child. Not only that but up to this point he’s pretty much stolen the show with his performances. One can clearly see that he got complacent and was totally taken by surprise when he found himself in the bottom two. At 14 years old, a kid like Astro is bound to have slip ups like that being under that level of pressure. One cannot really expect him to be able to handle disappointment like an adult, who will undoubtedly have experienced many similar situations. 

All I have to say about it is: Get off the kid’s back. He’s a child. Most kid’s will act out a bit when face with that situation. I mean think. He’s been killing it throughout the contest, the praise is clearly going to his head, he was obvious embarassed and disappointed. Last but not least he is under a whole heap of pressure. He is, as far as I can recall, the first serious MC who has made it this far in a talent show of this nature. I guess he feels like he has Hip Hop on his shoulders too. Many artists feel the pressure to be the best. Everyday is a quest to be better and get more exposure. There are always questions like: “how do I get signed” and “how do I write the next big hit”. People who haven’t lived it or known someone who has don’t understand that that life is not all glitz and glamour. 

All I can do is try to help independent artists get to that next level, especially those seeking to buy beats online. I am an artist myself so I understand the pressure to be the best in a highly competitive arena. Astro is gonna grow and shine because no matter what happens on X-Factor that kid has a future in Hip Hop. If anyone out there knows him tell him about me, Strat Carter. Tell him give me a holla if he need some beats

Meanwhile, check out astro’s performance to save his skin:(video taken from youtube)

(Source: youtu.be)

Ok so I’ve got like 3 blog sites. I’m just now getting into the blogging phenomenon so bear with me lol:

The Soundest Theory: Alternatives to Top Beat Selling Sites: Shadowville.Com http://bit.ly/u40Fwp