For those of you who are new to my page, this is the column that I write for Imperfekshun magazine over a year ago:
"I've always tried to stay true to my authentic self. I think sometimes people project things on you, but I'm trying to handle everything that's happened to me with a certain, grace, dignity… you just can't win all the time."
-Katie Couric, American Television Journalist
I've grown a lot in the last 6 months. I just finished my music video," It's Over Now", revisited my roots as an instrumentalist/singer, and have found a new appreciation for music on the radio. To all of my Hip Hop heads who sigh in disapproval, hear me out. I love "spittin" bars of metaphoric consciousness, telling stories about life, flipping my delivery style every once in awhile, and doing shows. However, there comes a time for every artist where focusing on the art form just isn't enough. Doing free shows and selling freshly pressed cds for five bucks a pop doesn't cut it. Eventually we have to progress as artists in the business, or be happy staying in the comforts and limits of our hometown.
Lately, I've been catching a lot of flack from my supporters and fellow artists because I've decided to add songs with mass appeal to my repertoire. They think that I'm selling out. To tell you the truth, I'm getting tired of answering to these die hard, purist Hip Hop types who claim "real Hip Hop" in every single one of their rhymes. They shun new listeners, and other artists . They come at you with these tests to see how much research you have done on the art form. Who was the artist that said blah, blah, blah circa 1996? They gage your dedication and realness to Hip Hop based on how much you know about Kool Herc, and how much vinyl you carry in your closet regardless of whether or not you spin on turntables. They forget that the true beauty of any art form is being able to connect with the audience, surrender a part of themselves, and have fun. Afrika Bambataa wanted kids to unite and get off the street. Now, inner city youth get discouraged by these back packer know it alls who want to preserve the art form, it's ridiculous.
I write songs from the heart. I try and incorporate a message in every one of my songs, but I don't always like to pack all of these complicated lyrics in a song, Sometimes I'm in the mood to write something simple and light at heart . Some days I like to wade my feet in the shallow, and other days I'd prefer to swim in the deep end. Does it make me less of an artist? All I am saying is that I don't quite understand how broadening my horizons and making music that is digestable to the masses constitutes as selling out. You got Common doing Gap commercials, Mos Def doing movies, and RZA out of the Wu Tang Clan doing scores for Quentin Tarantino. A lot of our favorite artists move on and expand. Do we dare question Tribe Called Quest's artistic integrity for getting "Find a Way" played on the radio? Rakim did a pop song with singer, Truth Hurts, Jay-Z with Beyonce, and Farrell with Robin Thicke. I'm not saying that I am as dope as any of these artists, but you can't knock me for growing. I am being myself.
At the end of the day, the music business is still a business. In order to stay afloat, you have got to be willing to accept all the rules and terms behind real business. You have got to research your listeners, find out what they like, and rediscover the things you have in common with them. There is a reason why Mc Donald's surpasses all of these one of a kind gourmet restaurants. They give their customers what they want. Consumers invest millions of dollars year after year in fast food, and every once in awhile crave something gourmet. This machine that we call the music industry works the same way. In order to make it, you got to serve your listeners up some burgers before you introduce them to the Filet Mignon that you got tucked away in the archives......
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