THE POWER OF COLLABORATION

As an artist I approach this this topic very carefully, simply because I have witnessed the power of collaboration first hand. From heightening a track to levels unattainable by a solo artist, to destroying reputation and dramatically lowering the potential of what could have been a hit single!
    when determining collaboration with a fellow artist, you must first ask yourself 3 questions; Is this artist of equal or greater talent? Do/Can our sounds  mesh? and How can this artist benefit the track and you as an artist? Depending on how these questions are answered will depict whether or not collaboration should be done.
    There are many artist that are purely monetarily driven, and answer such questions with that state of mind, but let me tell you why they shouldn't. "Selling Out"..no one likes those type of people, willing to change their everything for the right Price, although many artist operate solely by "selling out" (Being paid for a feature on a track that goes against all of their beliefs) and make a decent income doing so. They hold no value for long-term branding/imaging, which can/will benefit them financially by the support of true fans (a true fan is one that holds on to your image, regardless of propaganda and trend swifts), true fans are those that will consistently buys albums, singles, t-shirts, tickets to your shows in boonville No man's land, anything that represents you and your brand. By "selling out", you throw those fans to the wolves, and this image that you sold them will lose its value tremendously and eventually die. This is a major reason you should strongly consider when collaborating, that the fellow artist be as similar to your in nature as possible.
   Lets use myself as example; As an artist, I represent Freedom, Non-conformity, Difference and most importantly Realism in my lyrics. I was recently offered a substantial amount money, to feature on XYZ's album, I cannot lie I was ecstatic and more then willing. Before I totally accepted I asked to hear this artist's work, the name of the album and concept?  His manager sent me all info requested; Artist work = He was pretty good, but sounded like a number of rap artist I've hear before, Album name = Diamonds On My Wrist, Concept = How we get endless money in the hood and turn it into expensive material we own. Whaaaaa....this went against everything I believed in as an artist, person and especially brand, there was no way I could have tied my brand to such opposing views, yeah I would have made a significant amount of money in that deal, but after the fact I would have lost all my true fans who consistently support me. That collaboration would have destroy my career as an artist!!
    Now after we have answered all 3 questions appropriately and decide its a GO!! Then lets see the potential benefits of this collab; My number one favorite, the quality and overall sound of the track, as an "Artist First" the actual sound of the production makes me get all tingly and stuff ;), but truly to have that collab be an awesome song would be enough for me. But there is more, way more....such as expanded marketing, for instance if you are a mail courier traveling across country with a message that needs spread among as many people as possible, wouldn't it help you out to share that message? and in turn that person you have shared that message with will in turn share that message, next thing you know you have created a network, which is what the music biz is all about! I often commit to features with amazing artists simply for the marketing, I know that we will create a hit and that artist will be just as enthused as me in wanting to share it with the world, in essence doubling promotional efforts...you can't beat that!! And if that's no enough to give you an idea of the power of collaboration, then maybe solo acts are the only fitting acts for you.

Devoted to creating music & sound that will elevate your project from the Rest.

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"COS IM ONE OF A KIND, AND ILL SHOCK YA MIND"

    I know I know why in the hell am I using a quote from The Sugarhill Gangs 'Rapper's Delight', well one is because it was one of my fathers favorite sayings, in which he would say it literally every single day! lol And two, which is the reason for writing this.... this quote is the MAKER or the BREAKER of anything dealing with creative products.
    How many have you decided to go buy an artist's album for the reasons that the artists sounds exactly like an artist that you adore? I'll wait............exactly, none of you would even consider doing such a monstrous activity, and Ill explain why. The reason why we as fans, consumers and supporters fall in love with an artist, is simply because they are their own,  unlike any other and that difference intrigues us, and if anyone mimics the sound, lyrics or personality of our favorite artist, at that precise moment they become just that less intriguing. And for that copy cat artist, we shall bid you farewell, with hopes of you having a terrible death in your career, all because that artist ruined our "One of a kind" artist that you called your own.
    As a creative artist you must always keep in mind the differences that sets you apart from the rest. What specific things are you doing that makes you special to your fans/listeners, and how will you continue this? There are those people that will attempt to share your light or even steal your glory, and when that happens how will you still consider yourself "One of a kind"? When your fans began to see you as less intriguing, and you slowly fade away into a fad that you mistakenly thought was all yours. This is bound to happen as an artist, there is no way around it!
    Lets take one of my favorite artist Justin Timberlake for example, this artist is the epitome of the phrase "one of a kind, and ill shock ya mind", from his beginnings with the 'Bye Bye Byes' and 'Girlfriends' with N Sync during the elaborate soda pop boy band era, to the
R&B/Pop scene in which JT was a fierce competitor, putting an alternative soulful spin on Dre's pounding beats. And 14yrs later, Justin Timberlake is still going strong, with implementing a very comedic style in acting in skits, and serious roles in films. And we don't even have to talk about his music 'Suit and tie' feat. JayZ, this artist is the king of setting himself apart...consistently!
    From what I have observed during my few short years of life, is that everyone loves Fresh, New and Different (within limit of course..we are not talking about stripping naked and going tribal). And in order to keep your brand/image "One of a Kind", you must know when to bring something New, Fresh and Different to the table......consistently!
   


   

TO SET TRENDS OR TO FOLLOW THEM...THAT IS THE ?

    If you have listened to my lyrical sounds, you would know my stance when it comes to following the TREND, and you will know that my style is unlike any other artist that you've heard!
    The epitome of me being an Artist & Producer is the ability to set myself apart, and truly express ME..the ME that you may hate, love or find very strange, and whether you hate it or love it, that is ME! I will not lie, there has been many of days when I seriously considered following the trend, and the outcome of that would have definitely brought me more placements, more sales and a bigger target market, but I chose the dignified route. haha J/K No offense to those that are following the trend and making a living off the proceeds..but this blog is not for those business oriented type artists, rather Artists first, then Business. We are in an age, where the actual artistry in music is being overlooked by the all mighty dollar, true respectable amazingly passionate artist that are selling out to make shallow mindless tunes for that giant check and the millions of screaming fans that only know 5 words from their latest radio hit..that sounds like every other commercialized radio hit out there.
    I like to look at any act I decide to partake in as an investment, and whether I want it to be long-term or short-term. In music and as an artist, you must understand the extreme dangers of following the trend, the likelihood that you may always be one step behind becomes an almost certainty. Trends tend to change with the season, and with the unpredictability with seasons, trends follow in suite.
    Here today, Gone tomorrow! Speaking of the thousands of artists considered "One Hit Wonders", but who are we to judge, maybe it was that artist's investment plan...strictly short-term...Go Big, then Go Home, which is exactly what they did! And with that I cannot emphasize anymore to have an investment plan in order, and follow that plan. Those artist that started with that short-term investment plan and got greedy, those are the artists that will eventually become an embarrassment begging for a comeback, and NO, I repeat NO artist wants that legacy.

So lets start with 3 questions and determine where to go from there:

1. Am I in it for the long haul, through the ups and downs, twists and turns, and passion of the art...OR... Do I prefer to be a "One hit Wonder", with the Go Big and Go Home mentality, quit when I'm ahead?

2.  Am I in it strictly for the $$, point blank period?   If that's a NO proceed to ? 3

3. What will I do to consistently set my self apart?

Always keep in mind that it is those that SET TRENDS that become legends!

THE POWER OF ARRANGEMENT

Intro, Verse, Hook, Verse, Hook, Bridge, Verse, Hook, Outro....This is your basic structure of a song, specially those of HipHop persuasion.
   TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT! Maybe start with a bridge that will never be heard again through out the song, maybe 3 different hooks for those listeners who follow the motto of expecting the unexpected! Or my personal favorite....extended verses, instead of your typical 16 bar beasts, you come with 24-32 bar MONSTERS!! And if you have something good to say, your listeners are going to be happy with more verse then hook, trust me. And if the beat/instrumental you are blessed to be rocking on is an exceptional work of art, how about lowering the amount of vocals and letting that shine, maybe lyrical 8 bar spurts with occasional bridges and some vocal effects to spread things out a bit and let the instrumental breath.
    I have been hearing/seeing arrangements being taken to an insane level with your new style of beats, such as; Dubstep, Triphop, electroPop, DubHop, Trap and all of your other combinations of multiple genres. And with this awesomely crazy mesh, comes freedom, freedom to potentially make an entire song filled with more music then lyrics, for example; We Found Love by Rihanna..which I must admit is an amazing song. I believe if this song was saturated with lyrics and vocals in your structured arrangement it would have definitely taken away everything that makes this song great!
    Artists, your challenge, if you choose to accept it, will be to create something unlike you have ever created, going against your typical arrangements and thinking outside of the box, because as with life the tunes change as well. If you are in need of different styles of beats to help challenge your arrangement styles, please take a gander at my selection of unique Music & Sounds @ www.66notes.com    

Happy Music Making,

66notes