Thursday, January 17, 2008
Torae - Daily Conversation infomercial...
... please, PLEASE, support this cat when the album drops... for now, enjoy the video!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
ILLMIND going to...
... Europe???.. that's right!! Me, super producer Marco Polo, and supa mc Supastition (pun intended) are doing 4 shows this month... now, the reason why I am super excited about this trip is because i've never been out there, and its sort of like a paid vacation... can't beat that with a bat... here are the dates and details for each show, so if you happen to be reading this, and you can come to the shows, come through because we are going to ROCK! lol...
Jan. 19th
Where: St. Gallen, Switzerland
Venue: Kugi
Kultur am Gleis
Güterbahnhofstrasse 4
9000 St.Gallen
Jan. 23rd
Where: Linz, Austria
Venue: Kapu
Kapuzinerstrasse 36
4020 Linz
Austria
Jan 24th
Where: Munchen
Venue: Atomic Cafe
Neuturmstraße 5
80331 München
Jan. 26th
Where: Stuttgart
Venue: Altes Zollamt
Frachtstraße 25
70372 Stuttgart
... I will be taking flicks and video during the trip, so i'll have a nice update when i Getback (pun intended)... i just gotta make sure I have enough room in my luggage for some dope chocolate rain ...
Jan. 19th
Where: St. Gallen, Switzerland
Venue: Kugi
Kultur am Gleis
Güterbahnhofstrasse 4
9000 St.Gallen
Jan. 23rd
Where: Linz, Austria
Venue: Kapu
Kapuzinerstrasse 36
4020 Linz
Austria
Jan 24th
Where: Munchen
Venue: Atomic Cafe
Neuturmstraße 5
80331 München
Jan. 26th
Where: Stuttgart
Venue: Altes Zollamt
Frachtstraße 25
70372 Stuttgart
... I will be taking flicks and video during the trip, so i'll have a nice update when i Getback (pun intended)... i just gotta make sure I have enough room in my luggage for some dope chocolate rain ...
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Taken from...
... Jack Davey's blog (http://reinventingjackdavey.blogspot.com/)... 1/2 of J*Davey, one of the newest and most innovative groups doing it in today's music... this is a great read... grab a cup of Foldiers' and check it out:
"lights out !" : an open letter to the record industry & the idiots who work for the fascist regime .
read this out loud !
this is intended for all of you lowly puppets who sit in your big offices in big buildings that will soon be out of business & thus, forced to hold vacant memories of an industry that once was . this is for all of the big wigs in suits & ties who sit at the head of the conference room table with creative opinions as empty as the "music" they force down the throats of the now bored & uninspired creative consumers . this is for all the idle assistants who only work hard enough to get their names on the grammy party lists, or whose only existence remains obsolete if he/she can't get into the hot new band's hollywood show debut . this is for the borderline retarded a&r guy who should in fact abandon his dreams of changing the failing record industry to become a highly paid talent scout at a modeling agency . this is definitely for all the marketing low lives who fail to avidly push great talent because the world's fave reality slut randomly decided one day while botoxing her armpits that she wants to be a rockstar .
yes .
this open letter is for all of you .
come feast your eyes upon the truth behind your insolence for 5 minutes , if you even have your job for that much longer.
your blatant lack of respect & worship for the oldest & dearest artform has brought a once thriving & artistic industry to a grinding halt . your willingness to believe that the world wide web has killed the consumers' thirst for new & exciting talent is wildly ignorant & safe . you would like to feed into this stupidity because you are too lazy to stand behind substance ; you'd rather take the low & easy road than take the time to nurture true talent . you'd rather tirelessly feed us the same carbon copied , lip synching , sex dripping , faux punk "i got my entire outfit from hot topic" rocker , buffoonishly ghetto "are they even speaking english?" hip hop , "same old same" sound from song to song type image & force us to believe that this is all the world's artists have to offer . you'd rather watch your company stocks & yearly record sales severely plummet than take strong initiative to fix the current problem . you'd rather see hundreds of employees laid off & out of work during the holidays because you're too afraid to stand up for something new & different . you're content with creating a 1-hit wonder society , where any idiot with anything shockingly catchy can enjoy a sorry 15 minutes of fame & a future segment on vh1's "biggest 1-hit wonders of 08" extravaganza .
where is the new generation of legends ?
beyonce & alicia keys are old shoe ins . r kelly , sure , but his personal dramas easily overshadow his genius . radiohead & outkast comes to mind , & then i draw a big blank .
the latest thrill in music has been an over abundance of great dancers with mediocre voices , albums , singles , concert ticket sales , etc . thank god the internet allows every joe blow in the universe a free forum to overexpose every little thing , especially mediocre celebrities . thank god for online music forums , such as myspace . artists are able to directly connect with the people & expose themselves & their art to everyone everywhere at the click of a button . myspace proves that music can no longer fit into a box . long gone are the days of urban vs pop vs alternative radio . gwen stefani had hit songs for years on the pop & alt charts , but she records a song written by pharrell & she's instantly on top of the urban charts as well . this new r&b dance pop music crosses over to white kids & that kelly clarkson "since you've been gone" song was smeared across the lips of many a young black girl last year . m i a is all over the indie alternative stations , & lets not even get started on gnarls barkeley .
all signs point to the obvious : true music consumers right now are a ) young , & b) smart . young kids are able to point & click their way to every new trend . they arguably have short attention spans & they want to be in on what's cool & personable to them . when madonna emerged in the '80s you had tons of girls around the world imitating her every move & style down to the mole . kurt cobain turned grunge commercial when he was exposed to millions of kids who felt like society's outsiders looking in . hip-hop has been a huge influence on mainstream culture since the early '80s because of it's relativity . kids have not changed . young people are not mindless robots who like what you tell them to like with no opinions . the youth are always looking to be enthralled .
they want to be entertained . they want to feel as though they are a part of something that will be written about , studied , & revered 20 years later . they , like all of us old & young alike , want to be inspired . when i was a kid i saw prince prance around on stage & dazzle people with his art & i felt inspired to do the same thing . why are you music industry idiots attempting to tell us that we don't want to be touched ? why are you trying to rob us of new musical experiences ? will there ever be another motown 25 / michael jackson moonwalk experience ? will we never again hear a single like queen's "bohemian rhapsody" on the radio because the hook isn't catchy enough ? will we never see another band like the talking heads & joy division or parliament ? will there never be another artist to rival frank zappa ? will we be forced to hear different versions of the same dumb song on every single radio station every 5 minutes simply because the record label had enough money to pay off the station manager ? are we still supposed to care about mtv when there are hardly any videos in rotation ? do i even need to mention b e t or v h 1 ? are any of the classic record industry outlets working these days ? as of late it seems that artists are independently breaking ground with their own efforts . songs are being licensed for national commercials from artists' myspace pages & personal websites . ellen degeneres has been known to book musical guests from videos seen on youtube , & as i aforementioned , gnarls barkeley not only created a new genre , but they also won grammy awards for an album that was recorded in home studios & released through an indie label .
why should artists even seek major label deals ? they are completely outdated & obsolete . artists are sold the dream that talent can secure superstardom , but it becomes evident that labels only sign bands nowdays because of the band's existing fanbase & record sales , or because they dig the artist's look & want to cash in . they don't want to develop the art . they don't want the artist to express his/herself entirely . they just want the artist to comply with what will get the company a big monetary return . they sign you for millions , pimp you for pennies , then drop you a year later when the music they made you record & release is no longer relevant . you're left on the streets unsigned & irrelevant & ready to infect the world with the music you've always wanted to make , but no one will take a chance on you due to your previous material . meanwhile , the label has already put white out over your signature on the slave deal & replaced it with a younger version of you . cold game , ain't it ?
the age old model is failing . as an industry based on faithful consumers you have lost your connection with the people who matter most : the PEOPLE . you have yet to show them that you are with the changing times & able to adapt to something new . you are proving that you are too afraid to promote good music . you would rather let the monotonous drone of what is today's music remain unbalanced by substance . you would rather watch more legendary artists abandon you for direct deals with itunes & touring companies . you would rather allow the internet to defeat what should be your life's work . maybe you should excuse yourself from the next a&r meeting to go take a look in the bathroom mirror . stand there & ask yourself why you took this job , & when you realize it's simply because you wanted to be cool & "in the mix" then return to the conference room , take that gun out of your pocket , & shoot yourself in the head in front of your coworkers so that you are made an example of . if you can in fact leave that conference room & look in the bathroom mirror with pride & hunger to break the monotony then head back into that conference room , jump on top of the table & read this manifesto .
this is a challenge .
we're calling your bluff .
record labels are nothing but banks that give artists hi price loans in exchange for artistic control . put your money where your cocks are . go out on a limb & support real music for a change . find the line where the internet & the real world meet & infect more people with something magical . start building more legends . it's almost too late . interscope is dead . def jam is next . motown who ? mca what ? warner , you're not too far behind . the war sirens are ringing & you're content with playing deaf & dumb .
we're calling your bluff !
we're here to reprogram how you & the rest of the world listen to music .
we can do this together , or you can stick to your own devices & peril in the process .
we are the people . we are the future . we are the present .
who are you ?
"lights out !" : an open letter to the record industry & the idiots who work for the fascist regime .
read this out loud !
this is intended for all of you lowly puppets who sit in your big offices in big buildings that will soon be out of business & thus, forced to hold vacant memories of an industry that once was . this is for all of the big wigs in suits & ties who sit at the head of the conference room table with creative opinions as empty as the "music" they force down the throats of the now bored & uninspired creative consumers . this is for all the idle assistants who only work hard enough to get their names on the grammy party lists, or whose only existence remains obsolete if he/she can't get into the hot new band's hollywood show debut . this is for the borderline retarded a&r guy who should in fact abandon his dreams of changing the failing record industry to become a highly paid talent scout at a modeling agency . this is definitely for all the marketing low lives who fail to avidly push great talent because the world's fave reality slut randomly decided one day while botoxing her armpits that she wants to be a rockstar .
yes .
this open letter is for all of you .
come feast your eyes upon the truth behind your insolence for 5 minutes , if you even have your job for that much longer.
your blatant lack of respect & worship for the oldest & dearest artform has brought a once thriving & artistic industry to a grinding halt . your willingness to believe that the world wide web has killed the consumers' thirst for new & exciting talent is wildly ignorant & safe . you would like to feed into this stupidity because you are too lazy to stand behind substance ; you'd rather take the low & easy road than take the time to nurture true talent . you'd rather tirelessly feed us the same carbon copied , lip synching , sex dripping , faux punk "i got my entire outfit from hot topic" rocker , buffoonishly ghetto "are they even speaking english?" hip hop , "same old same" sound from song to song type image & force us to believe that this is all the world's artists have to offer . you'd rather watch your company stocks & yearly record sales severely plummet than take strong initiative to fix the current problem . you'd rather see hundreds of employees laid off & out of work during the holidays because you're too afraid to stand up for something new & different . you're content with creating a 1-hit wonder society , where any idiot with anything shockingly catchy can enjoy a sorry 15 minutes of fame & a future segment on vh1's "biggest 1-hit wonders of 08" extravaganza .
where is the new generation of legends ?
beyonce & alicia keys are old shoe ins . r kelly , sure , but his personal dramas easily overshadow his genius . radiohead & outkast comes to mind , & then i draw a big blank .
the latest thrill in music has been an over abundance of great dancers with mediocre voices , albums , singles , concert ticket sales , etc . thank god the internet allows every joe blow in the universe a free forum to overexpose every little thing , especially mediocre celebrities . thank god for online music forums , such as myspace . artists are able to directly connect with the people & expose themselves & their art to everyone everywhere at the click of a button . myspace proves that music can no longer fit into a box . long gone are the days of urban vs pop vs alternative radio . gwen stefani had hit songs for years on the pop & alt charts , but she records a song written by pharrell & she's instantly on top of the urban charts as well . this new r&b dance pop music crosses over to white kids & that kelly clarkson "since you've been gone" song was smeared across the lips of many a young black girl last year . m i a is all over the indie alternative stations , & lets not even get started on gnarls barkeley .
all signs point to the obvious : true music consumers right now are a ) young , & b) smart . young kids are able to point & click their way to every new trend . they arguably have short attention spans & they want to be in on what's cool & personable to them . when madonna emerged in the '80s you had tons of girls around the world imitating her every move & style down to the mole . kurt cobain turned grunge commercial when he was exposed to millions of kids who felt like society's outsiders looking in . hip-hop has been a huge influence on mainstream culture since the early '80s because of it's relativity . kids have not changed . young people are not mindless robots who like what you tell them to like with no opinions . the youth are always looking to be enthralled .
they want to be entertained . they want to feel as though they are a part of something that will be written about , studied , & revered 20 years later . they , like all of us old & young alike , want to be inspired . when i was a kid i saw prince prance around on stage & dazzle people with his art & i felt inspired to do the same thing . why are you music industry idiots attempting to tell us that we don't want to be touched ? why are you trying to rob us of new musical experiences ? will there ever be another motown 25 / michael jackson moonwalk experience ? will we never again hear a single like queen's "bohemian rhapsody" on the radio because the hook isn't catchy enough ? will we never see another band like the talking heads & joy division or parliament ? will there never be another artist to rival frank zappa ? will we be forced to hear different versions of the same dumb song on every single radio station every 5 minutes simply because the record label had enough money to pay off the station manager ? are we still supposed to care about mtv when there are hardly any videos in rotation ? do i even need to mention b e t or v h 1 ? are any of the classic record industry outlets working these days ? as of late it seems that artists are independently breaking ground with their own efforts . songs are being licensed for national commercials from artists' myspace pages & personal websites . ellen degeneres has been known to book musical guests from videos seen on youtube , & as i aforementioned , gnarls barkeley not only created a new genre , but they also won grammy awards for an album that was recorded in home studios & released through an indie label .
why should artists even seek major label deals ? they are completely outdated & obsolete . artists are sold the dream that talent can secure superstardom , but it becomes evident that labels only sign bands nowdays because of the band's existing fanbase & record sales , or because they dig the artist's look & want to cash in . they don't want to develop the art . they don't want the artist to express his/herself entirely . they just want the artist to comply with what will get the company a big monetary return . they sign you for millions , pimp you for pennies , then drop you a year later when the music they made you record & release is no longer relevant . you're left on the streets unsigned & irrelevant & ready to infect the world with the music you've always wanted to make , but no one will take a chance on you due to your previous material . meanwhile , the label has already put white out over your signature on the slave deal & replaced it with a younger version of you . cold game , ain't it ?
the age old model is failing . as an industry based on faithful consumers you have lost your connection with the people who matter most : the PEOPLE . you have yet to show them that you are with the changing times & able to adapt to something new . you are proving that you are too afraid to promote good music . you would rather let the monotonous drone of what is today's music remain unbalanced by substance . you would rather watch more legendary artists abandon you for direct deals with itunes & touring companies . you would rather allow the internet to defeat what should be your life's work . maybe you should excuse yourself from the next a&r meeting to go take a look in the bathroom mirror . stand there & ask yourself why you took this job , & when you realize it's simply because you wanted to be cool & "in the mix" then return to the conference room , take that gun out of your pocket , & shoot yourself in the head in front of your coworkers so that you are made an example of . if you can in fact leave that conference room & look in the bathroom mirror with pride & hunger to break the monotony then head back into that conference room , jump on top of the table & read this manifesto .
this is a challenge .
we're calling your bluff .
record labels are nothing but banks that give artists hi price loans in exchange for artistic control . put your money where your cocks are . go out on a limb & support real music for a change . find the line where the internet & the real world meet & infect more people with something magical . start building more legends . it's almost too late . interscope is dead . def jam is next . motown who ? mca what ? warner , you're not too far behind . the war sirens are ringing & you're content with playing deaf & dumb .
we're calling your bluff !
we're here to reprogram how you & the rest of the world listen to music .
we can do this together , or you can stick to your own devices & peril in the process .
we are the people . we are the future . we are the present .
who are you ?
New Akrobatik Album "Absolute Value" Feb. 19th
... taken from www.basementflavor.com ...
Boston’s top emcee returns with his long-awaited sophomore solo album, featuring production and guest appearances from Talib Kweli, Little Brother, J-Dilla, 9th Wonder, Chuck D, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Mr. Lif, Illmind, Da Beatminerz, Bumpy Knuckles and more…
Boston hip-hop mainstay Akrobatik and follow-up to 2003’s Balance, Absolute Value takes the listener on a journey through his diverse range, and he does not go at it alone. An impressive list of guest artists and producers that accompany Ak on Absolute Value include hip-hop legends, some of today’s most powerful contemporary names, and members of the underground elite. It all comes off as if Akrobatik is conducting an orchestra of some of the most talented and respected artists in the game.
After years of regional rap stardom and underground acclaim, Ak penetrated Hip-Hop’s greater critical consciousness as one-third of The Perceptionists with Mr. Lif and DJ Fakts One. Their 2005 Def Jux release Black Dialogue pitched some of music’s most resounding criticisms of bandwagon pop culture and the Bush regime, and become the only indie rap project to register on Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Records of the Year list.
With Absolute Value, Akro deals with issues both personal ad socio-political, but never strays too far from his fist-pumping, party-inducing formula for bangers. The effects of life on the road, enlightening misguided youth, perseverance through the toughest of times, and the continuing struggle of Black America are among the issues Akro tackles on Absolute Value. And with production from the likes of J-Dilla, Illmind, Beatminerz, 9th Wonder, Hezekiah, J-Zone, and more, Akro has the perfect backdrops to get his points across while keeping the funk totally intact.
The list of artists lending their vocal talents to Absolute Value is mind-boggling. Talib Kweli, Chuck D. of Public Enemy, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Mr. Lif, Bumpy Knuckles, and Little Brother headline a guest list that would leave any true hip-hop fan brimming with excitement.
With a whirlwind touring schedule through 2008, more singles and videos from the album to come, and a high, profile daily morning radio gig in his hometown of Boston, Akrobatik is poised to take his career to the next level and beyond with Absolute Value.
Boston’s top emcee returns with his long-awaited sophomore solo album, featuring production and guest appearances from Talib Kweli, Little Brother, J-Dilla, 9th Wonder, Chuck D, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Mr. Lif, Illmind, Da Beatminerz, Bumpy Knuckles and more…
Boston hip-hop mainstay Akrobatik and follow-up to 2003’s Balance, Absolute Value takes the listener on a journey through his diverse range, and he does not go at it alone. An impressive list of guest artists and producers that accompany Ak on Absolute Value include hip-hop legends, some of today’s most powerful contemporary names, and members of the underground elite. It all comes off as if Akrobatik is conducting an orchestra of some of the most talented and respected artists in the game.
After years of regional rap stardom and underground acclaim, Ak penetrated Hip-Hop’s greater critical consciousness as one-third of The Perceptionists with Mr. Lif and DJ Fakts One. Their 2005 Def Jux release Black Dialogue pitched some of music’s most resounding criticisms of bandwagon pop culture and the Bush regime, and become the only indie rap project to register on Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Records of the Year list.
With Absolute Value, Akro deals with issues both personal ad socio-political, but never strays too far from his fist-pumping, party-inducing formula for bangers. The effects of life on the road, enlightening misguided youth, perseverance through the toughest of times, and the continuing struggle of Black America are among the issues Akro tackles on Absolute Value. And with production from the likes of J-Dilla, Illmind, Beatminerz, 9th Wonder, Hezekiah, J-Zone, and more, Akro has the perfect backdrops to get his points across while keeping the funk totally intact.
The list of artists lending their vocal talents to Absolute Value is mind-boggling. Talib Kweli, Chuck D. of Public Enemy, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Mr. Lif, Bumpy Knuckles, and Little Brother headline a guest list that would leave any true hip-hop fan brimming with excitement.
With a whirlwind touring schedule through 2008, more singles and videos from the album to come, and a high, profile daily morning radio gig in his hometown of Boston, Akrobatik is poised to take his career to the next level and beyond with Absolute Value.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Dr Dre has been...
... hard at work, not only with DETOX, but with... HEADPHONES!? check it out...
Monster Teams Up with Dr. Dre and Interscope Chairman Jimmy Iovine to Design State-of-the-Art "Beats" Headphones Engineered to Accurately Reproduce the Best of Today's Pop Music
Legendary Music Producer/Artist Dr. Dre's First-Ever Foray Into Consumer Products
Las Vegas, NV, January 6, 2008 - Monster, well known for working with legendary musicians on countless productions recorded with Monster Cable and Monster Power products, is proud to announce the introduction of the first-ever product to be endorsed by legendary music producer and artist Dr. Dre. The new "Beats by Dr. Dre" high-performance headphones were conceived by Dr. Dre and mutually designed, with groundbreaking and inventive engineering by Monster. The headphones feature both a unique and futuristic style as well as newly developed sonic technologies for unprecedented state-of-the-art performance.
When world-class producers like Dr. Dre record their music, they utilize large high-performance studio loudspeakers and high-powered amplifiers to craft richly detailed musical soundscapes. Until now, however, consumers listening back to the music using conventional headphones have never had the opportunity to experience the full sonic palette of these recordings, with the full dynamic range, low bass, punch and clarity intended by the producers. To provide consumers with a brand new level of headphone audio performance, Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, and Monster, three of the most powerful forces in music and technology, teamed up to create "Beats by Dr. Dre." Monster's innovative sound and design engineers implemented the team's vision.
Engineered to Meet the Demanding Sonic Requirements of Today's Music
In order to re-create the rich, full sonic experience of today's best recordings, "Beats" powered isolation headphones utilize technologies never before used in headphones, including a newly developed driver technology. The result is unequalled performance, with remarkably natural sound, incredible transient response and rich, deep bass - a Dr. Dre trademark. In development for two years, "Beats by Dr. Dre" are tuned personally by Dr. Dre and The Head Monster himself.
"When I'm making a track I'm trying to capture the sound that makes me go 'now THAT's the shit! And I want that reaction from everybody who hears it," said Dr. Dre. "I spend a lot of time in the studio listening to my music through headphones...with Beats, people are finally going to hear it the way they should: the way I do."
"Dre and I have been developing these headphones for a while and in Monster we found a partner that could work with us to crystallize his vision and develop them to the quality level he expects," said Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records. "'Beats by Dr. Dre' is yet another example of Interscope's commitment to working together with its artists in developing new avenues to experience music."
Noel Lee, Head Monster, noted: "Dr. Dre is widely-known as the most critical ear in music today. This rare partnership with such an iconic artist is a testament to the both the need for high-performance headphones and the singular quality of 'Beats.' Listening to music with Beats headphones is a true 'ear opening' experience; users will enjoy not only their comfort and style, but their sonic performance that is unequalled in any other headphone."
Unique Design
"Beats by Dr. Dre" have a unique and avant-garde new look and that will revolutionize the headphone world. Everything about the sleek Beats headphones, from their glossy extra-wide headband and hip carrying case to the high-impact attention-getting packaging reflects impeccable style. The wide adjustable headband, hinged ear cups and high-quality Monster cable makes the Beats listening experience unmatched for comfort and function. A push-to-listen Mute button adds to the flexibility and convenience.
"Beats by Dr. Dre" headphones will come in a beautifully designed carrying case with anti-microbial cleaning cloths, a special Monster headphone cable, a mini-stereo to ¼-inch stereo cable adapter, as well as Monster's iSonitalk, a microphone/headphone adapter for iPhones. Beats will be available in spring 2008 for a suggested retail price of $399.95.
Monster Teams Up with Dr. Dre and Interscope Chairman Jimmy Iovine to Design State-of-the-Art "Beats" Headphones Engineered to Accurately Reproduce the Best of Today's Pop Music
Legendary Music Producer/Artist Dr. Dre's First-Ever Foray Into Consumer Products
Las Vegas, NV, January 6, 2008 - Monster, well known for working with legendary musicians on countless productions recorded with Monster Cable and Monster Power products, is proud to announce the introduction of the first-ever product to be endorsed by legendary music producer and artist Dr. Dre. The new "Beats by Dr. Dre" high-performance headphones were conceived by Dr. Dre and mutually designed, with groundbreaking and inventive engineering by Monster. The headphones feature both a unique and futuristic style as well as newly developed sonic technologies for unprecedented state-of-the-art performance.
When world-class producers like Dr. Dre record their music, they utilize large high-performance studio loudspeakers and high-powered amplifiers to craft richly detailed musical soundscapes. Until now, however, consumers listening back to the music using conventional headphones have never had the opportunity to experience the full sonic palette of these recordings, with the full dynamic range, low bass, punch and clarity intended by the producers. To provide consumers with a brand new level of headphone audio performance, Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, and Monster, three of the most powerful forces in music and technology, teamed up to create "Beats by Dr. Dre." Monster's innovative sound and design engineers implemented the team's vision.
Engineered to Meet the Demanding Sonic Requirements of Today's Music
In order to re-create the rich, full sonic experience of today's best recordings, "Beats" powered isolation headphones utilize technologies never before used in headphones, including a newly developed driver technology. The result is unequalled performance, with remarkably natural sound, incredible transient response and rich, deep bass - a Dr. Dre trademark. In development for two years, "Beats by Dr. Dre" are tuned personally by Dr. Dre and The Head Monster himself.
"When I'm making a track I'm trying to capture the sound that makes me go 'now THAT's the shit! And I want that reaction from everybody who hears it," said Dr. Dre. "I spend a lot of time in the studio listening to my music through headphones...with Beats, people are finally going to hear it the way they should: the way I do."
"Dre and I have been developing these headphones for a while and in Monster we found a partner that could work with us to crystallize his vision and develop them to the quality level he expects," said Jimmy Iovine, Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M Records. "'Beats by Dr. Dre' is yet another example of Interscope's commitment to working together with its artists in developing new avenues to experience music."
Noel Lee, Head Monster, noted: "Dr. Dre is widely-known as the most critical ear in music today. This rare partnership with such an iconic artist is a testament to the both the need for high-performance headphones and the singular quality of 'Beats.' Listening to music with Beats headphones is a true 'ear opening' experience; users will enjoy not only their comfort and style, but their sonic performance that is unequalled in any other headphone."
Unique Design
"Beats by Dr. Dre" have a unique and avant-garde new look and that will revolutionize the headphone world. Everything about the sleek Beats headphones, from their glossy extra-wide headband and hip carrying case to the high-impact attention-getting packaging reflects impeccable style. The wide adjustable headband, hinged ear cups and high-quality Monster cable makes the Beats listening experience unmatched for comfort and function. A push-to-listen Mute button adds to the flexibility and convenience.
"Beats by Dr. Dre" headphones will come in a beautifully designed carrying case with anti-microbial cleaning cloths, a special Monster headphone cable, a mini-stereo to ¼-inch stereo cable adapter, as well as Monster's iSonitalk, a microphone/headphone adapter for iPhones. Beats will be available in spring 2008 for a suggested retail price of $399.95.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Lets talk about...
... the status of the hip-hop game right now... actually, lets talk about the music industry in general... people now are debating that the music industry is dead, and this and that, but i don't think it's dead... i think it's far from dead... the music industry is SUFFERING from a business stand point... to me, music is as alive as it has ever been... there is so much GOOD music out there that we all probably have never heard yet, but it is out there... and yeah there is some garbage as well, but taking that into consideration, every year there is more and more talent on the rise...
now for a second, i want to talk about the production game... IT IS TOUGH!!!! i've been grinding this production career full time for almost 7 years now, and each year it gets harder and harder... i feel very fortunate to be at the place i am now, and also that people out there are actually catching on to my music... i am 27 years old now.. back in 2000, 2 years into college with a great internship doing Computer Networking and Cisco, i decided to pack that up, and make a sudden and drastic career change... i'd go as far as to say DILLA CHANGED MY LIFE because if it wasn't for him, i probably would've never had the inspiration to really grind and make music (you should hear my first beats... straight DILLA lol)... anyway, back to what i was saying... these 7 years went by so quickly, and i've learned so much.. made some bad choices and some good ones, but overall, i would not take it back for the world... if you really want to pursue music production as a career, just know that it is DAMN HARD! when you first start off making beats, and you feel you are ready to collaborate, the worst thing you can do is charge money.. yeah i said it... $50, $100.. that's one thing, but please by all means do not think you are going to be able to slang beats for more than that... if you do and if you can, then go for it! but you are better off getting a day job to pay the bills, and focus more on networking, doing things for free, and building up your resume... when i first started slangin' beats, i did most, if not all beats for free... i built relationships with people, and worked to build up my discography... your discography is probably the most important aspect of your production career... ANYBODY can make hot beats nowadays, but your grind and making smart moves is what sets you apart from the rest... establish a place for yourself in the market as well! and one piece of advice that i took a long time ago, and still apply to this day is to never let anybody tell you what you can and can't do... music production is a tricky business... if you want to reap the benefits of waking up in the morning to make beats all day as a realistic career, KNOW YOUR BUSINESS!... i've made some bad decisions in the past, only because my business sense and knowledge wasn't up to par... i learned a lot from the experience, and now i am wiser than ever... don't jump at the first opportunity you see, and please, DON'T hire a manager if you don't need one, or don't trust one... most of the things that managers do early on in your career, you can easily do yourself! ... so save that 15-20% income and do some research!... read ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY by Donald Passman... read books on music publishing... join ASCAP, BMI, OR SESAC... do your research early and know what you are getting into!...
and lastly, don't worry about people trying to tell you what kind of equipment to use... FRUITY LOOPS changes lives! (see: 9th Wonder)
now for a second, i want to talk about the production game... IT IS TOUGH!!!! i've been grinding this production career full time for almost 7 years now, and each year it gets harder and harder... i feel very fortunate to be at the place i am now, and also that people out there are actually catching on to my music... i am 27 years old now.. back in 2000, 2 years into college with a great internship doing Computer Networking and Cisco, i decided to pack that up, and make a sudden and drastic career change... i'd go as far as to say DILLA CHANGED MY LIFE because if it wasn't for him, i probably would've never had the inspiration to really grind and make music (you should hear my first beats... straight DILLA lol)... anyway, back to what i was saying... these 7 years went by so quickly, and i've learned so much.. made some bad choices and some good ones, but overall, i would not take it back for the world... if you really want to pursue music production as a career, just know that it is DAMN HARD! when you first start off making beats, and you feel you are ready to collaborate, the worst thing you can do is charge money.. yeah i said it... $50, $100.. that's one thing, but please by all means do not think you are going to be able to slang beats for more than that... if you do and if you can, then go for it! but you are better off getting a day job to pay the bills, and focus more on networking, doing things for free, and building up your resume... when i first started slangin' beats, i did most, if not all beats for free... i built relationships with people, and worked to build up my discography... your discography is probably the most important aspect of your production career... ANYBODY can make hot beats nowadays, but your grind and making smart moves is what sets you apart from the rest... establish a place for yourself in the market as well! and one piece of advice that i took a long time ago, and still apply to this day is to never let anybody tell you what you can and can't do... music production is a tricky business... if you want to reap the benefits of waking up in the morning to make beats all day as a realistic career, KNOW YOUR BUSINESS!... i've made some bad decisions in the past, only because my business sense and knowledge wasn't up to par... i learned a lot from the experience, and now i am wiser than ever... don't jump at the first opportunity you see, and please, DON'T hire a manager if you don't need one, or don't trust one... most of the things that managers do early on in your career, you can easily do yourself! ... so save that 15-20% income and do some research!... read ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY by Donald Passman... read books on music publishing... join ASCAP, BMI, OR SESAC... do your research early and know what you are getting into!...
and lastly, don't worry about people trying to tell you what kind of equipment to use... FRUITY LOOPS changes lives! (see: 9th Wonder)
Friday, January 4, 2008
OLD BOY!
... one of my favorite movies of all time... really i have to give credit to my man KP for putting me on to this movie (big shout to the PACIFICS!)... it's one of those movies that you just need to see... i can't even really describe it lol... just watch it and see for yourself! for now, peep the trailer...
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