T.Threats a.k.a. The Definition Of Evolution

Header Banner Made with MyBannerMaker.com! Click here to make your own!*****Thank you in advance to those of you who have taken the time to read this. I appreciate it.***** ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ T.Threats-Artist/Producer/C.E.O. (Black Season Music.) I've gone from homemade demos to releasing independent albums into producing music and starting my own company. Those are just some of the reasons why I am The Definition Of Evolution.__________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ __________________ I was born May 15th in Detroit, Michigan. My parents played music ranging from Gospel, R&B and the Blues to Acapella, Jazz and Country. That's all we did was listen to music. Whether it was in the house or we were on a road trip, it was right there. The funny thing about it is that I'm a rapper, but there was a time when I couldn't listen to Hip Hop music. My father wasn't having it, and he sure wasn't trying to hear that I wanted to rap. I used to sneak around and listen to the tapes and watch the videos. I only got more into it the more I heard. He ended up being cool about it and grew to like some of it. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ My pops was in the Army, so moving around came with the territory. A few of the places his career has taken me have been Germany, Ohio, Kentucky, and California, among others. That's why my sound is the way it is. I had influences from all over. It wasn't easy moving so much. I was always the new kid, and I had to adjust to my new environments fast. It forced me to stand on my own two feet and get in where I fit in. Hip Hop was right there the whole time. Everything worked out and I made the best out of each situation. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ I didn't consciously discover Hip Hop until I was 9 years old. As I got older I was always checking for what was banging. It didn't matter where it came from or if it was mainstream or underground. If it was good I was listening to it. I soaked up everything from the East and West Coast to the Midwest and Down South rappers. I had many influences coming up. Once I decided that this is the path that I wanted to take, I pictured myself up there with the greats. I set out on my mission and haven't turned back since. The grind begins... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ I was always a good writer when it came to school work and things of that nature, but around the age of 12 I found the gift of writing rhymes. I would write and keep the thoughts of making it as a rapper to myself. I went through high school like a lot of people: sports, girls, parties. It wasn't until I moved to California during my senior year that I started to get more focused with it. After graduation I went from job to job or running around in the streets. The whole time I was striving to make it happen with my dreams and goals. I joined the Army National Guard Reserve for a little while but I ended my contract early because that wasn't what I wanted to do. I even passed on basketball scholarships. The love of music kept a constant hold on me, so no other profession was going to take its place. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____ ____________________________________________________________ ____ Initially, I was writing verses 24/7. I had notebooks full of my thoughts. But I wanted something more. I wanted to hear it, not just write it or say it. I came up with a way to record my vocals over industry instrumentals with my radio. I used to take the songs to school and play them to myself and a few select people. I couldn't wait to get home to write more lyrics and record them. It was fun just hearing my voice on a beat, but I wondered what I would sound like in a real studio. I never gave up trying to find out. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ I encountered many people and situations on my journey just to get where I am. Some were good, some were bad. The common factor between them is that they all played a vital role in my development as an artist and and as a person. I came in as a solo artist, but I have been a part of a few different groups over the course of time. ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ The first was Midwest Connection in '98. It was with a rapper who was from St. Louis. We were living in California, but we were repping where we were from. All we accomplished was writing and no recording. It didn't last long because the other guy ended up getting shot. By the grace of God he survived, but he moved out of town after that. I never saw or heard from him again. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________The chance that I had been looking for came in '99. (On my birthday to be exact.) That's when I met Twinz Pro. They are two twins based in Sacramento who do everything from rap to video and song production. They opened the door for me to record for the first time. We were introduced through a mutual friend and the respect was there on both sides instantly. They invited me into their studio the same night. We collaborated on a song called "Addicted" that they used on their debut album "The Time Is Now!!!". My vocals were raw and I hadn't found my "studio voice" yet, but I was finally at the point where I could record. We went on to connect and became Tha Underdogz. As time progressed we went our separate but respective ways. We still communicate and we are working on collaborations with new songs, videos and community ventures in the future. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ My next opportunity came in '01 when three other rappers and myself formed a group called MoMo Capitans. (not Captains) We networked and we met music veteran Mike Mosely in '02 through my manager at the time. He was feeling the group but he wanted to take me under his wing as a solo artist and become my manager. I gave him the position and the two of us became good friends. We took trips to meet with people he knew who were making moves in L.A. and the Bay Area. They were beginning to take interest in my music. From there I started to see how real this could be. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________My group had also managed to link with different crews, artists, producers and D.J.'s from Stockton, L.A. and the Bay Area. The collective was known as The Way Of The Wise and was produced by Audio Might Productions. We came up with "Audio Might Presents". It was a compilation cd that made it into Murder Dog Magazine as one of the best cds in Northern California's Central Valley for '02. It was my first official independent release. It gave us recognition in the area from the people and our music peers alike. We all held it down, and I was featured on 12 of the 18 songs. We received a strong buzz off the strength of that project. With our debut cd in the works the stage was set for my group to come out and build a bigger following and expand on our mission. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ Things changed in January of '03 when two of the members were locked up on homicide charges. While one had the more serious charges dropped against him, the other had his reduced to manslaughter and was sentenced to do a few years. The domino effect was already taking place. The fourth group member who had the equipment and was the main producer left the crew right after that. I guess he didn't want to be near that type of situation. Everything that we had worked for was crumbling. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ With the group down from four people to two with no songs, no beats and nowhere to record, things were looking uncertain. I took it upon myself to buy my own equipment to keep the wheels moving with the last member who had just been released. We collaborated on a couple of songs that made it onto my cd, but by the time it was finished things were just about over. Miscommunication ended the friendship that had been built over a period of time. Just like that I was back to being a solo artist. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________With the production equipment I had purchased in April of '03, it took me from July to October to record my music. I released my self-produced debut cd, "Long Time Coming" in December of 2003. (www.cdbaby.com/tthreats) I chose that name because the title explained it best. The struggles that I had been through from the moment I decided to pursue this seemed like they had been worth it. It was my first cd of just my music. Not only that, but I produced it and found a way to get it pressed up professionally when people thought I couldn't do it. I was proud of what I had accomplished, but it was a bittersweet feeling. I was going through family problems and I lost a few friends before it was over. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ My cd was well received, and people really started to pay attention. I finally felt like I was accomplishing something and moving one step closer to my goals. I sold several copies in a short period of time but decided to leave California and go back to Detroit in January of '04. It was barely a month after I released it. I needed a fresh start. The things I went through in the process of recording my cd had drained me in every aspect. I was also having conversations with my people back in Detroit about starting a record label. They saw what I was doing and wanted to get involved in music too. So with nothing but my clothes and my equipment I got on a Greyhound bus and left. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ When I got back things weren't as good as I thought they would be. I kept wondering if I made the right decision. I say that because I had a son back in California, and I didn't want to miss out on anything. But I was doing it not only for myself, but him as well. Another reason is that I was in a city where no one knew who I was musically. And it seemed as if certain people that were supposed to be on my team weren't feeling or respecting my music or the grind that I put in. It was that or they had no idea of what I had really been through. Either way, I left my son behind along with years of networking and hard work just to come home and be disrespected by those who I thought were on my side. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ I basically gave my cd away to spread the name and the music. I took the loss on that one. I had to be honest with myself. I figured if I showed love and let the people hear it for free, the next time I come around they'll be familiar with me. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ My people and I started All Around Entertainment a few months after I got back. We made a name around the city with events and performances. The company has worked Young Jeezy, Ne-Yo, Trina, Pretty Ricky and many artists in and around Detroit. In time, we gained our own studio. I met more people who were involved with music and I was able to put in work and establish myself as an artist in the city. Throwing parties and concerts helped get us noticed and make connections, but my passion and love is in the music. Everyone had different priorities and the music was taking a backseat to everything else. I decided to branch out and work on my music alone for a while. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ Things moved slow as I tried to make it happen. One thing after another just kept getting in my way to stall my progress. I hooked up with someone who I thought I could trust and things went wrong. After months of working together he disappeared with my money and my music. He left me and a few people hanging. I was heated and was ready to get at him if I ever caught him, but there was no time for me to stop. I charged to to the game and kept it moving. I was still working with All Around Entertaiment a little bit and after that happened I went back full time. Less than two months later our studio took a hit. My equipment with all of my production work that I had ever created was stolen. I was lost. I didn't know what to do. I had decisions to make. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ _______ No doubt, I have gone through various trials and tribulations over the past 5 years with trying to get my new music out here, as well as growing as a man and just living life from day to day. But even in the spells of anger, doubt, frustration, confusion and sometimes wanting to give up, God has made my faith stronger by allowing me to continue on my mission. And with that, He has brought me full circle. I was blessed with new equipment, a new chance and a new mindset. I'm not letting anyone control my situation but Him. And this time I have taken things into my own hands and started my own label, Black Season Music. I also have Black Season Productions to add to the roster now. I've become a better producer over the last few years. I'm confident that I will bring something new to the people. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ I'm in the process of recording my new cd, "Long Time Coming: Vol. 2", which I hope to release this year. It has been a long time coming once again. This cd will most definitely showcase my evolution not only as an artist and producer, but as a man. Seeing how music has changed so drastically in recent times has changed my outlook on the game. Too many rappers try to copy, emulate and imitate what they see the next person doing. I'm going to continue to do what I do and keep making the best music that I can make. I'm about making timeless music, so I focus on the realities and distinctions of my life, not anyone else's. If people can relate to it, then I've done what I was supposed to do. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________ I've made my mistakes, neglected my responsibilities, been around the wrong people and ignored my good judgement sometimes. Lessons that I have learned have shown me that I have to go hard or go home and put things and people that don't matter to the side. I'm here to let the world know that it's okay to do you. As long as you believe in what you are doing, you WILL see the light through the darkest of times. God's delay is not a denial. There's really not much more that I can say after that. I let my actions speak for me. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____ ____________________________________________________________ ____ I produced all of the songs on my page, so any artists looking to network or collaborate can contact me about potential business. To hear other tracks that I have produced, you can visit my production page at www.myspace.com/blackseasonproductions or go to the second profile on my page. New projects are coming soon from Black Season Music. Keep God first. 100. The grind continues... ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ________I get my Free MySpace Layouts at LayoutStreet.com