HR848- Black radio stations are LYING to us!

I'm late on getting into the nuts and bolts of this issue, but I'm on it now, and I have to say my piece real quick.


I don't actually listen to the radio, but the buzz that came around recently was this whole thing about how personalities were making a big fuss on "urban" radio stations, hollerin about how "they are trying to destroy Black radio stations". It was presented as some ol "fight for your rights" scenario, and me being in the music industry,and well, being Black, I decided to look more into it, wondering how it would effect me as an artist.

Well, lo and behold, it's a total lie. There IS a bill out there, proposed by Rep John Conyers, that proposes that broadcasters pay a performance royalty to artists and labels. Different personalities in many cities, got on the air and pushed it to the public as a "tax", which is a total lie.

A tax goes to a government entity of some sort. This royalty goes to artists and record companies. Let me explain:

You ever wonder if Luther, or his family get paid, every time "Superstar" gets played on the radio? Well, NO. That song was written by the Carpenters back in the day. It was a minor hit for them, but because of how Luther arranged it and sang it, it was a huge hit for him. It plays all the time, and the only people who get paid for it are the publisher and the writer. Luther's voice made the difference, and people tune into the "classic soul" station, in whatever city to hear Luther sing it. This bill proposes that he gets some change for that. Many artists are not writers, but if they are the "performers" of a classic, they should be compensated, maybe not as much, but somewhat like the writers are. This has been on the table since at least 1979, and America is the only industrialized nation to not support this-- well, China, North Korea, and the CONGO agree with America, so that counts for something huh?

What makes it worse is that in countries like, Canada, UK, and Japan, where our music is played-- American artists don't get paid performance royalites from them, because they refuse to pay if the US won't reciprocate, so American artists get cheated Worldwide.

We all know that many artists who performed classic songs, may not be fortunate enough to have lasting careers. Not many do. It's good that writers, like myself, can continue to make money, for as long as we control our copyrights. It would also be nice to know that the singer of an epic tune, is seeing SOMETHING for their work.


That's what this bill proposes. The only reason it hasn't passed in all this time is because of the power that lobbyists for the Broadcasting companies have been exerting.


The broadcasters would have you believe that the evil record company's came up with this idea yesterday, just because they aren't selling many records any more. A total untruth. Again, it's been issue since well before the boom they all enjoyed in the 80' and 90's. I have issues with labels, no question, but that aint one of em.


What I find even more despicable about their message is this whole thing about how it's really for the small independent stations, like that's who they are really fighting for.

Check this out. I need to mention that there is actually a segment of radio that DOES have to pay this performance right already. A segment who isn't covered by the lobbyists so they had to pay outright. Satellite, Internet, and digital radio- the real independents, who are the enemy of the am/fm stations. Funny how that bill passed a few years ago, yet no one shouted about it on the radio- yet they claim to be fighting for the "little man".Really?

Look, it probably looks like I may be cutting my own throat by bringing this up, because afterall, I'm supposed to get played on the radio for you to hear my song, know who I am, and maybe buy my music right? Well, I'm not the only artist who agrees with this proposal, matter of fact, I'm extremely late in getting hip to it, and more than likely the smallest fish to fry in this. The seeds for this HR were sown by artists much more famous than me, including the Dixie Chicks, Brian Wilson, Aimee Mann, Los Lonely Boys, Judy Collins, Don Henley, Tony Bennett, and John Legend.

With this blog, I'm just announcing my support for such a cause, and I have the radio stations to thank for bringing the matter to my attention. Whaddyaknow? They are useful in disseminating information.

I don't even wanna get into what I like or dislike about radio. That aint even important, and like I said, I've found so many other ways to get new music and info, I'm not even mad about that anymore- I just don't like the lie they are telling folk, and the racial spin, which is irrelevant in my opinion. If you wanna know more about the bill and what it actually is, I suggest a quick google search on HR848 or the term "performance royalties".

I wish all radio stations, whatever the genre, the best of luck in surviving when they have to start paying performance royalties.






Here are a few links to articles that I enjoyed reading on the topic

SHOULD WE SAVE BLACK RADIO?
http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=5711ed2dbf22abc8fd19e884ca4a77e1

PERFORMANCE ROYALTIES

http://www.musicbizacademy.com/articles/kh_royalties.htm

HOW DAVID BEATS GOLIATH

http://www.musicbizacademy.com/articles/kh_royalties.htm

4EVERMORE-An introduction to the new album

Howdy! Just figured since I've seen this on so many other blogsites (which I love!!) I might as well add it to my own. This is a little jernt I did with the homie Algebra, and Phonte, who I haven't actually met in person, but I've been a huge fan of for quite a while. I will even go on record as saying he's in my top 10,and could possibly be the illest MC out right now! And he's sick with the singing as well, evidenced by what he's accomplished via FOREIGN EXCHANGE. I give you 4EVERMORE!!



and oh yeah, you can have it free right here: www.zshare.net/audio/602842340a594fdc/
Might as well give you some background on how this came together. My good friend, and favorite DJ, KEMIT, dropped me some tracks, as we've been planning to do something forever. He knows more of the hiphop side of me, cuz we've been hanging out for years now. Somehow this hasn't come out in many of my records, but I'm a hiphop HEAD, so one thing I want to accomplish with this new album, is to get that side out. I got into Soul Music because I wanted to know what many of the records that were being sampled were. Of course I grew up with it, but that's how I went deeper. But I've always been a closet rapper, and that's where most of my flow comes from as a singer. I even have some verses scattered around the internet, if ya care to look, and even more when I was with El Pus-- google em.

Anyway, this sample spoke to me right off, and he even titled the track as "4evermore". I assumed that that's how it spoke to him, but as it turns out, the original song is called 4evermore from what he tells me. I haven't heard it yet. Many people think it's a sample from the song I had previously covered from Level 42, "Something about you". Nah, it aint, that's just a fairly common progression in music, so hey-- it works out like that sometimes. I figured those less informed would accuse me of being limited in my writing vocab, but uh-- I didn't write the first song at all, and this one, I didn't write the music. They just have that one thing in common. Familiarity is a good thing in my opinion anyway, as long as it ain't corny, which I don't feel like this is. At the end of the day, the hook just came out of my mouth and on to tape, and I felt like it was pretty damn anthemic, and a testament to real love, which is to be aware of how hard it can be to stay together, but be willing to give it a shot. I think that's an aspect that gets left out of lovey dovey dreamy songs, and people can get disappointed when the day dream wears off. Not many songs speak to the work involved.

Another friend of mine, Jeff B(shout out Mama's mustache!!} came through to work on another tune with me ("Ghetto Tango", sick one in my opinion) and I played him this one to get his opinion, cuz I had just laid my part. He said it sounded like it could be a duet, and that Algebra should be the one. Her and I had already tried a few times, just hadn't gotten the chemistry that we wanted, but I really respect her as an artist, plus we have good chemistry in regular life, so I was determined to get that on tape. I agreed, and I hit her up- BAM- she killed it!! Her voice matched mine perfectly, and her sense of harmony came in just like I thought. Plus she wrote it in like 30 mins, laid it like a G, and bounced. I view Algebra as a Young Whitney Houston with a more hiphop Swag. I think that came out on here, especially with her ill runs.

Next up- I thought Phonte as soon as I heard the track, because some of Little Brothers stuff has this feel. I heard his whole flow, and at first I was just gonna channel him, and do the verse myself LOL. Then I decided not to play myself, and since I had been following him on twitter, I gave it a shot at hollering at him.

Syke, that shit sounds hella sensational, but in truth, I got my manager to hit his manager up, and talked some damn business LOL. That nigga don't know me like that LMAO!

He did however let me know via twitter that he got the tune and liked it, so he put his thing down on it. What I have to say about that is- we did not talk about what I thought he should say-- he just knew. And he NAILED IT. What I like about dude is, he does the rhyme style, where you think he's leaving a phrase, then he comes back and smacks you with another one. Plus he gave it the grown folk perspective that I was tryin to get at, but needed just that extra something to bring it home. Between him and Algebra, the concept came complete, and I'm grateful for that. Kemit flipped the sample for the bridge just to give the track a little variety, and it was signed, sealed, and delivered.

So that's that, and now you have it. This is sort of the direction I wanna take for the new album, in some places. I like to make each project somewhat different, and this is where I'm at now. I've always loved samples, so I wanna play with a few on this one. Of course, I will be employing the guitar, some of you have heard the title track "as above, so below" , so you know that's on deck.

Oh yeah the title- As Above, so Below-- the surface, surface, SURFACE meaning of it is - the fact that my music will have the same integrity and intention on a major, as it did on an independent-- that's a question many people seem to have. I've always had the theory that it aint about the title of "major" or "indy", but the individuals you deal with, and my experience thus far has verified it. So-- As Above, So Below.

Theres more to it in my personal chambers, but I'd rather leave it open to interpretation, cuz that rabbit hole goes DEEEEP. It's a pretty classic phrase- look it up. Wherever it takes you, there you are.

Cheers. Hope you like the tune, look forward to more!

NYC, HOUSTON, & AUSTIN THIS WEEK? YUP!!

Special shout out to Nicole Adams, photographer extraordinaire for this pic, and Ovation guitars, for this beeeyoootiful, and crisp sounding VXT!! It's my road warrior now!!

shout out Detroit and Ceveland for awesome shows with Erro and ANgela Johnson this past weekend, we need to do more of those!


Hot week for the Acer Duecer- yes indeed! Good work, when you can get it!

First up, NYC with Melanie Fiona, check it!



This oughtta be fun! See you at the bar!

And next, we will be hitting up Houston, opening up for India, as she tours to promote her new album Testimonial Vol. 2/ Love and Politics. DOn't need a flyer for that one, you already know! It's gonna be a SOulbird/Universal/Republic celebration!


So we get a day off, then we make it out to Austin to rock out with her majesty,Carmen Rodgers!



As for the rest of the country- take a look here, and see if we'll see each other soon...

And oh yeah, I'm about to drop some new tunes real soon- mixing a few now, and I'll have some stuff for you to bump this summer- love and respect!

my BMF connection?

So, years ago, I had a neighbor named Jabari. Really cool dude, him and a guy named Tracy. Two cool cats, both struggling to start businesses of their own. I was on the road with India heavy, but I had yet to record an album yet, so we all had similiar dreams of making bigger things happen for ourselves. Jabari's deal was a valet service, and private transportation. He had his own town car and everything. I noticed that he knew A LOT about cars, which I really don't, but he had an infectious passion for them, so I would ask him about them a lot. Unfortunately, the two of them ended up having to bounce, and Jabari lived further out, so we kinda lost touch. I kept abreast of his whereabouts through Tracy, and our other neighbor, a girl named Sha Sha, who's one of the most awesome people ever- miss you Sha.

Anyway, I did noticed that when I DID see Jabari from time to time, that his dreams of owning fly rides had come to life. He would come by in really expensive shit, and it was pretty obvious that he had struck it rich somehow. We all know where fast money comes from around these parts, so my only advice to him one day was, "uummmmm, try to be a little less obvious homey." I didn't ask, he didn't tell, but we both knew.

One day I had heard, Jabari got caught. caught big time.


I've never had much dealings with the drug dealing world, never had to do it, never was an option. I didn't even realize that some folks get caught up in it so early, and as children, get consumed into the lifestyle so early that it seems normal to them. I have grown to know that that can be the case- not necessarily an excuse, just something that I eventually realized exists for some. For many others, it's just some glamorous shit to do,a way to live out rap lyrics, and who knows really just which case any one person is. For me, it's just that I didn't know that it was like that for anyone, thanks to my parents, I was sheltered from that. As crazy as the 80's were, I had NO clue how deep it was til later.

I don't know Jabari well enough to know which one he is, but I found out months later that he was in Waaay bigger than I thought. Creative loafing did a piece on BMF- the Black Mafia Family, which is a group of dudes, who had a ridiculously large operation that ran country wide. I don't know much about them, except what I hear, and it amounts to them being some badasses. They even used to have a billboard off the highway coming from the airport. What drug dealers do that? Oh yeah, they also had a "label", so I guess that was promo. I'll say as lit



SO, I'm reading the story on their rise and fall, and what part of the story talks about this one character named Jabari who was arrested with goo gobs of either drugs or money, I forget which. I chuckled to myself and said, "I know a guy named Jabari, but the Jabari I knew couldn't be this one". Turns out it was. I'll be damned, I actually knew a big timer in the flesh- whodathunkit?

Or maybe he wasn't? fast forward to a couple of days ago, as I'm thumbing through mail
..A letter from who? How the hell? Jabari?! He let me know that someone who actually sang backup for me was in there with him (Dayum!), and let him know where I was. The letter was mostly just a quick inquiry to see if I knew where Sha Sha was these days, but at the end there was a link to a website:

www.forlifepublishing.com

Of course I went STRAIGHT to my computer to check the link, and maybe you should too. Turns out, he wrote a book telling his side, and I'll be honest- I haven't read it yet, but the summary sounds interesting, given the effect these cats have had, and the unique perspective he may have. I can say that I've always thought of Jabari as a pretty good dude, aside from all that other stuff, but we weren't around each other during that episode, so it's hard to say that I even know that side of him. Honestly, from what I knew, I would not have believed it, aside from the fact that you just never really know anybody, do you?

I'm interested to find out that part, and maybe you will be. Hold your head Jab. Maybe there's redemption for you somewhere.

A few new dates-- LOOKOUT

MAY 9 SAVANNAH - CHARLES MORRIS CENTER
MAY 16 CLEVELAND,OH BEACHLAND BALLROOM W/ ERRO
MAY 17 DETROIT CHARLES WRIGHT MUSEUM W/ERRO
MAY 22 HOUSTON,TX ARENA THEATRE w/ India.Arie
MAY 24 AUSTIN, TX PARISH ROOM
MAY 31 DALLAS,TX W/ PICK UP BAND
JUNE 4 AND 5 ATL,GA ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER
JUNE 7 WASHINGTON, DC CAPITAL JAZZ FEST w/ Mike Philly
JUNE 19 ATLANTA,GA TABERNACLE w/ LEDISI
JUNE 25 ATLANTA Mc Cafe
JULY 10 PHILADELPHIA KESWICK THEATRE W/ LEELA JAMES AND DWELE
JULY 16 BAM FEST(Day Show) and SOBs (night show)
AUGUST 6 SAN JOSE, CA
AUGUST 8 SAN FRANCISCO, CA W/ DWELE
AUGUST 10 SACRAMENTO,CA W/DWELE

Concert Review: Drake The Loft- ATL

So, I just got hip to this kid Drake a month or two ago, in the barber shop, I admit. I try my best to keep up with the new hot shit, especially rap, so when I hadn't heard of dude, and he was popular already, I wanted to hate. I couldn't. He's got it.

So when I get word that he's performing at Center stage- where I can get in free (YES!!) -- I'm there.

Good to see the new new scene poppin off, and not be whack. Drake brought in badass youngins by the truckload, showing he's the first rapper I've heard in a while who can spit, and keep the ladies entertained. The singing don't hurt. Everybody wins! Thanks Drizzee!

But before we got to the homey Drake, we had to go through what I fear the most in standing room venues- openers. Not always a bad thing, it's just that when there's one, many promoters go crazy, and have like. . . twenty of em. This night it would be the mighty mighty Jazspects ( not mad at that), some guy named Danny Swain, and a little person, who may be Lil Wayne's child, not sure.

Up first was Danny Swain who gave a lesson in "how not to rock a show 101". Firstly, the announcer for the night didn't even prep the crowd for dude at all, as far as I can recall. The last thing I heard him say was "Drake is in the building!". Not necessarily a good setup for an unknown to come on stage, who clearly isn't Drake. Well, Danny doesn't help matters much, because I don't remember him saying his name either. I honestly think he thought that everyone there already knew him. Big mistake. I was assuming at first that the crowd was maybe giving him a hard time because they wanted to see Drake so bad, but after he shit on everybody for "not knowing I'm the illest" or some shit like that, I had less to feel sorry about for him . For some reason he chose to have his band play "The Truth" by Beanie Sigel, so he could show his lyrical skill. That is not one of Beans' hottest tracks, and Danny just wasn't that type of rapper that you would know for being a lyricist. I swear, at one point, I heard him say "splish splash, I was takin a bath"-- you be the judge. I got the idea that maybe the tracks were his strong suit, as I understand he's a producer as well, but they weren't turned up so loud, so it wasn't ALL his fault. When he told the crowd some shit about how he made $200 bucks for the show, all was lost- sandman, come get dude NOW. He had a girl come up and sing one of his hooks, and her voice was so nice and pretty, the crowd actually warmed up a little, but he destroyed that glimmer of hope when he said "yeah, give it up for her, since you won't give it up for me!" Classic. All he needed to do was speak a little louder and clearer, be nicer, and it wouldn't have gone so bad. Soon after, the ref had to throw in the towel on him, and he didn't get to finish his show. I hope he learned something from it, and doesn't think that they just don't "get it".

Next up, Jazspects. They are basically master showmen, all the way around. From the minute they touched the mic, they came with authority, and let the crowd know they were in good hands. The crowd responded accordingly, plus some of em, really has heard of them, and they murdered it as they always do. Playing, dancing, rhyming, all that. Not much to say except I think they could've done oooone less song. Again, when there is a headliner that is in such demand, I'm of the belief that leaving the crowd wanting more is a good thing. I got to track #4 of their new album "polka dotted stripes" on the way home, and it sounds pretty dope. It's in stores now so cop it.

Finally, Drake came up. I was worried that he wouldn't have a show format really, just run off songs one by one, but I was wrong. He had a crazy intro, and he has a really good presence. He's really a good combination of Kanye, and Wayne, cept he's more of a lady killer than both. I hate to use this word, but fuck it-- dude got swag. I just got his mixtapes a couple days ago, so I wasn't that familiar with his songs, but I'm sure that I was the ONLY ONE. Everybody in the room knew his lyrics, top to bottom- he could've just stood there if he wanted. I like the way him and the DJ ran through joints at a nice pace, sometimes going from an extremely slow song to an uptempo banger in a heartbeat. It's always a good thing when you have songs that everyone knows, definitely makes it easier, but I found his intros and banter in between to be cool as well. Trey Songs came out to rock their apparent hit, "Successful", but he really didn't need to sing much at all. Easy job, good money. Goes to show you what a hit song really means- who doesn't wanna be successful? The other ace Drake has up his sleeve is his ability to go across so many genres, from the coldplay intro, to some chopped and screwed shit, to some seemingly backpack, straight lyrical joints. Oh yeah, did I mention the lil dude can sing? He slayed the chicks with his voice, and right when he had em feeling sentimental, he cranked it back up with what looks to be a smash, "best I ever had". He's got a knack for saying things that women like, and men wanna say to women- again, everyone wins. I'm also glad he kept the set short, I'm a fan of that, especially when I don't know all the songs yet, but I'm sure he coulda done another hour and no one would have been mad. I'ma cop his album and claim it's for my sister, LOL.


biggup Janee Bolden for the footage. check more out @ http://ifuxwitit.blogspot.com/

The closing-- and expansion of SugarHill

About a year or two ago, my manager, Richard Dunn, came to me and asked my opinion on a business decision he was about to make. he was planning to collab with some partners to create the club, SUGARHILL. He told me the risks associated with forming this place in the ATL underground, with it's past history and the success that eludes that place. He also asked my advice from the perspective of an artist of what makes a great atmosphere for the performers, and the audience.What I described, fit that venue to a tee. A stage with great views from many angles, and a sound system to match, as well as just an overall sexy atmosphere, not too bougie, not too juke joint. A place where people could enjoy the artist, and be a part of the experience.


When I saw the room, it was a no brainer. Atlanta, with the great live music scene it has, didn't have a place quite like this. All props due to some of my favorites such as the World famous Apache, Smith's Olde Bar, Sambuca, and Vinyl , all great rooms who are welcoming to what we do, among many others. Those are all great spots to get started, and eventually an artist can get to play something as big as The LOFT or even the main room in Center Stage, The Tabernacle, and so on. The problem was, the first rooms I mentioned are 200 or so capacity, and the large rooms are 600-2,000 seaters. An indy artist on the grind who can maybe sell out Apache, gets thrown into a huge room, and it suddenly looks . . . empty (echoechoecho LOL).

What's the in between? Where would an artist like myself play as I continue to grow my audience? Eric Roberson, Dwele, Bilal, Janelle Monet? Sugarhill was the perfect size for what we had to offer and it had an intimate feel that brought out the best of a live performance. On top of that, from what I understood, the underground was giving incentives for new nightlife spots, and perks, like closings at 4AM-- the true A town way.

We looked at those pros, weighed against the cons of what we are all familiar with about the underground. It's kinda in the hood, a lot of the bars down there are cool with that, and it could be a bit grimy. Well, Richard and I are both GA boys, him from Atlanta, me from Savannah. Honestly, part of what makes Georgia folks so fresh, is that we can take a little hood with our classy shit- we actually PREFER it-- so knowing the risks that some folks may be scared away by the underground tag- plus wanting to be a part of the big change that can happen organically, instead of a complete gentrification overhaul, I said to Richard-- "the risk is what makes the reward worth it-- GO FOR IT!"

Richard, J Carter, Freddy Luster, Tom Cook, Josh Antenucci-- all major promoters with a real history of involvement in the scene, put their necks on the line to bring ATL something we all needed; the next level in live entertainment. J brought his legendary event, Sol Fusion there and set it off. Harmony N Life found a home there. In no time, every serious artist graced that stage, and classic performances happened. Even the uber stellar drummer, Little John Roberts felt compelled to "get the band back together" and make Tuesday a reminder of what the Yin Yang was for us all in the 90's with DJ Kemit, and now Salah. I remember walking in and hearing a woman on stage who I thought sounded like Jill Scott-- turns out, it WAS Jill Scott. I saw Raphael Saadiq,John Legend, India, Algebra, Donnie, Omar, Tweet,J Davey PJ Morton -uh, dude from Blackstreet who wasn't Chauncey (LOL),Big Boi,PK,Keisha Jackson, and of course the Underground Queen, JOI--- all putting their sweat equity into the building, cuz we all knew what it meant. Shout out to the bringers of that NEW energy----Hollyweerd,Jazspects, Chante Kahn, Brittany Bosco, Eva Kennedy, Dawn Mclain, Stephanie, Rahbi, of course Janelle, Foreign Exchange, Muffy, Dane Harris, Mikhel and Sepsenahki-- all bringing it the way it's supposed to be brought!

But -- and yes, there's a BUT-- not ERRBODY can take the grime I suppose. No hate, but some people really are scared of their own people, and just couldn't make the trip down to support. As much of a draw as many of these artists are, I have actually had conversations where I'm hyping up a show, and when I mentioned where it was, I get the "uh-uuuuh, I don't go down there!"

I'm not making this up, and I'm not saying it to offend, it's just what it is. I suppose you guys have a right to have it all the way as you like it, but sometimes, you have to be a part of creating it as well. That's what brings it around the whole 360.

So, Sugarhill -- in that location. . . is closing DOWN. Keep your eyes and ears peeled, because it will rise again. I remember when the Yin Yang closed before it. It encouraged us all to spread our wings, and make something bigger happen. That would be India's albums, my albums, Donnie's albums, Joi's albums, and on the venue side-- Sugarhill was born. It will only come back bigger and better. That's how serious the spirit of it is. It's a part of an ongoing evolution that we are all a part of. So we roll with the punches.

I give my personal thanks to everybody who is down for good music, period. My personal most meaningful night in there was the night dedicated in memory of Ms Peach, who left us with this spirit to keep it moving- if some of you only knew.. .I hope we show the influence she left.


There's so much to say in this blog about that place. A lot of people may not understand the convergence of things that were happening there. Atlanta, we know, is a city overflowing with transplants these days. This was a place where newcomers could mix with a little bit of the Westsiders , Eastsiders, Southsiders, who BEEN HAD the flavor that people came to recognize about this city. I know, I know, It's NOT NY, it's NOT LA- and this is how you can dip your toe in it, and get your first lil taste of what it IS. Sugarhill, as a concept, represents that to me, and I can't wait to see what happens next.

The last night in that location is this Tuesday. Bring some money, and bring your ass, cuz it will be historic, and a foreshadowing of what's to come. You'll prolly still catch me down there in Motions from time to time, that is if you aint too scary LMAO!



I was gonna post some youtubes, but there are too many- thank God for that-- just enter Sugarhill ATL, and you can see gigabytes of hotness. Be lazy today, surf.


P.S. can't forget my dude, Dres Da Beatnik and The World Famous Mic Club!!