Beats, Rhymes and Life is What You Make It
I am Strat Carter and I have been making music as long as I can remember. I was born into a family of singers and musicians. Hip hop music and culture lives wherever I am. I have been described as a gifted Hip Hop and R&B producer in my home country of Barbados and my beats are now gaining international exposure. This blog is about the inner workings or my mind, the adventures that I stumble upon day to day and my musings on life, humanity and the ever turbulent music industry. It is also a great spot to buy some of the hottest hip hop Beats anywhere at my beats page here, as well as catch up on current hip hop and urban trends worldwide. Visit also my official website http://www.stratcarter.com. Come chill with me!
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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
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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.
