Tag: what is hip hop

0

So You Think You Can DJ

There's lots of people out there pretending to be DJs, but what is it that really separates the pros, I mean the really intuitive cats that understand all of the elements, from the guys just reppin' tables to look smooth and rugged? For starters, a DJ for any style of music must have the ability to balance rhythm and timing, while understanding the importance and responsibilities of musical taste. Read more

8

Hip Hop Culture

The Current State of Hip-Hop Culture

The road of foundation in Hip-Hop culture has been paved by legendary artists like A Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr, Eric B. & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and the likes of many others. These individuals did much more than just compose music. They set the standard for what Hip-Hop music should consist of. Detailed lyrics, heavy beats, and creative genius. These types of lyrical minds believed in the philosophy that Hip-Hop is not just a title for the music you listen to, but rather a culture and a community all in itself. What used to be, is now gone and replaced with over-produced borderline techno beats with UN-interesting lyrics consisting of the same boring patterns and no real creativeness whatsoever. Can Hip-Hop culture be saved from this new era of so called "Hip-Hop" artists who are creating a toxic wave destroying the credibility, dignity, and most of all the soul of Hip-Hop culture?

Thinking back to when it started, Hip-Hop has grown tremendously with each and every phase. In the 80's, kids were walking down the street with fresh new Adidas and no laces in them. Many of them were wielding boom boxes and freestyling in the park. You still see stuff like that now and again in a handful of places, but it's pretty much a thing of the past. I mean, the 80's and early 90's to me were the high points in Hip-Hop history. Back then if you saw a guy doing a crooked handstand on top of a boom box bumping "Peter Piper" by Run DMC wearing a shiny Adidas jump suit, who wouldn't want to talk to that guy for a second. People said Hip-Hop was just a "fad" back then. They said Hip-Hop would die off just like disco. We all know that's not what happened. It continued to grow into the 90's. With talented up and coming artists like NWA, LL Cool J, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, and so many more, Hip-Hop was here to stay. We've had our ups and downs through the years no question, but I think we've hit an all-time low in recent years.

    Nowadays, when I look at the current state of Hip-Hop culture, I scratch my head and say, huh? There are still underground Emcees and DJs doing their thing, and doing what they can to keep this great culture alive. To me they are pioneers. However, for every true Hip-Hop crew that's out there now, there are sadly 10, maybe 20 mainstream crews taking their place on peoples iPods. This didn't used to be a problem, as the underground back in the day wasn't so underground. What I mean is that nowadays, in the modern era there is so much more mainstream "Hip-Hop" out there than there used to be, and back then there were more underground artists. What is happening now is, the mainstream is in a way, pushing the really creative stuff aside because it's not "club" material. To the majority, real Hip-Hop is too complex. We live in a world where in all honesty, the vast majority of the music industry is less creative than it was 10-15 years ago.

    "We only want what we can play in the club, and what people will dance to". This is an actual statement from a club owner who's name I will leave anonymous. I have come up with too many different theories trying to figure out why somebody would want to listen to Lil Wayne over a crew like Ugly Duckling. One theory is that our society has developed a strong degree of apathy. It could partly be due to the advanced technology our generation possesses, but I see it manifesting everywhere. People don't explore as much anymore. They keep a routine and stick to it. This happens with music just like anything else. You go to the club, you hear David Guetta or maybe Young Jeezy. You don't hear any "real" Hip-Hop. To me that's a problem. Take into account the increase in mainstream, the fact that real Hip-Hop was already underground, add in the fact that people tend to be a bit lethargic anyways, and they are having #1 hit after #1 hit shoved down their throat, means less and less interest in good Hip-Hop. It's not that people don't want to hear real Hip-Hop, they just don't want to abandon their routine to go find some. As a result of all of this, people are by default developing a misconception of what Hip-Hop actually is. This could also be because the media and record companies label artists as Hip-Hop when they clearly are not. Would you consider Nicki Minaj Hip-Hop? I wouldn't dare. It's one thing to shove us aside, but when you steal our title too? That's a whole different ballgame. This new era of Hip-Hop music has no real meaning except $$$.

    Just remember what KRS-One said, "Rap is something you do, Hip-Hop is something you live". These are strong words that kind of describe what Hip-Hop is all about in a single yet riviting phrase. Rap is something you do. This means you are lyrically creating rhymes. Hip-Hop is something you live. This means you are manifesting something. You are a part of something bigger than yourself. Sort of like a religion. Think of the emcee as the church choir, and the DJ is the organ player. You get my point. Hip-Hop is a foundation. It is an entire community of emcee's, DJ's, B-Boys(break-dancers), producers, independent radio shows, promoters, all manifesting Hip-Hop. So when you say the word Hip-Hop, just think about what it means, then ask yourself, "Is what I'm listening to really Hip-Hop"?

    I hate to say it but, I believe due to the stoicism I see in every day life, the demand for "good" Hip-Hop music will continue to decrease, until producers and artists such as myself find a more effective way of innovating. However, I don't think Hip-Hop will ever become obsolete, because there are always going to be a handful of intellectual people who demand more out of their music, rather than just what they hear at the club. We all have to work together to make sure Hip-Hop stays alive. We're in it until the end.

    Austin Clinch Allison  DJ Clinch Facebook page

   

0

Mindy McCready

Custody battles are not easy.  This is a fact that country singer Mindy McCready http://www.mindymccready.com/site/ has learned the hard way.  It’s a story we hear often:  A mother or father feels they are not getting treated fairly by the courts or the other parent and decide to take matters in their own hands.  After suicide attempts, drug overdoses, jail time and probation violations, rehab, affairs with baseball stars, sex tape releases, and domestic assaults, Mindy McCready can now be added to the statistics.  Lucky for her the end result may be a positive in her favor whether it’s deserved or not. Mindy McCready wanted to begin her career early so she got her GED so she could leave school.  She moved to Nashville at the age of 18 and signed to BNA Records and started recording.  In 1996 she released her debut album, Ten Thousand Angels, and sold two million copies.  Following up in 1997, McCready released her second album, If I Don’t Stay the Night, which sold 825,000 copies.  Then in 1999, McCready’s third album, I’m Not So Tough, met with less success only selling 144,000 copies.  With this commercial failure it was no wonder her label dropped her soon after.  McCready tried her luck again by signing with Capitol Records and putting out a fourth album.  This 2002 self titled work was another sales disaster which caused her to be dropped from Capital Records http://www.capitolrecords.com/.  In June of 2009, McCready signed on to appear on the reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew and in March 2010 McCready released her fifth album, I’m Still Here. It’s possible that the problems with McCready’s failing record sales would run hand in hand with her personal life.  She had an abusive relationship with ex-boyfriend, Billy McKnight, which followed with numerous suicide attempts, drug problems and constant arrests.   In March 2006, McCready gave birth to her and McKnight’s son, Zander Ryan McCready. Now you would think that having a child would slow her down and keep her out of trouble.  In 2007, after more legal trouble, McCready finally saw jail time. She was released in December after serving four months only to be sentenced again for another probation violation in June 2008.  This time she served 30 days.   This would be around the time she lost custody of her son, Zander, to her mother and with McCready’s history this is not surprising. After bouts with drugs and rehabs, McCready has been fighting her mother for custody of Zander since early 2010.  She has gone through the motions of proving her fitness to be a competent mother by passing various exams, tests and evaluations.  Sometimes, whether it’s right or wrong, a parent can wait but so long for the courts to see things their way; especially when they suspect abuse by the party that has custody.  McCready’s parents are divorced and because of the estranged relationship with her mother, McCready sees Zander while she visits with her father in Florida.  During a late November visit, McCready took the opportunity to liberate her son from her mother’s alleged abuse.  After almost more than a week being “missing”, McCready and Zander were found, safe and sound, in Arkansas Friday evening, December 2.  Now, after all that, a juvenile court judge in Arkansas ruled in McCready’s favor on Monday, December 5.  Leaving the courthouse she said, “I can’t talk about it, but I can tell you all I’m a happy girl.  I’m a happy girl right now.  I love Judge Harrod, I’ll tell you that.  I love that man.  He’s a good man.” To add to the custody drama that is the soap opera of Mindy McCready’s life she announced last week that she is pregnant with twins. God help these kids.  I would like to hope she puts the drugs, suicide attempts, and other drama behind her and focus on these children. Don’t fight a custody battle if you are not prepared to win at life and life for the child.  McCready’s history would give me pause in any decision if I were a judge.  I would like to direct you to her website http://www.mindymccreadyfans.com for more information, however, there’s not much there except pictures from when she was making hits. http://www.vyzionradio.com/request-line/  Kenny Walker Jr -- Spin Live Weekly Vyzion Internet Radio spins worldwide and national Dj mixes 24/7. So the party never stops! From the car, the office, the gym, or your home, you can listen to Vyzion radio anywhere. Vyzion Internet Radio is comprised of an international team that is delivering the best of entertainment, music, and news. We offer free IPhone and Droid Apps Contact us at 1-800-957-9650. Need content for your website? Contact us    

7

10 Ways People Think

#1: Successful people are Cause people and unsuccessful people are Effect people.

Successful people believe that they create their lives.  Unsuccessful people believe that life just happens to them.  What side of the Cause and Effect equation are you on?  Do you believe that you create your destiny and that you are in control of your life or do you believe that your destiny is controlled by others and what happens to you is because of what someone else is doing or has done? Cause (Successful) people invest the majority of their time and energy accepting what happens, looking at the situation, learning from it and making different and better decisions the next time.  Effect (Unsuccessful) people invest the majority of their time and energy complaining about what is going on in their lives and blaming everything and everyone else for their problems instead of learning the valuable lessons and making better decisions. #2: Successful people focus on opportunities; unsuccessful people focus on obstacles. Do you self-talk yourself out of the things you truly desire?  Do you find yourself focusing on all the reasons why something will not work instead of concentrating and focusing on all the reasons why it will?  This is a major difference between the thinking of successful people and unsuccessful people.  If there is something in your life you truly desire to accomplish, find all the reasons why you will be successful at it and if necessary, find someone who is doing or has done what you desire to do successfully and model what they are doing or what they did.  You don't have to recreate the wheel to be successful.  You just have to find and follow the blueprint of a successful wheel. #3: Successful people play to win; unsuccessful people play not to lose. There is a tremendous difference between playing to win and playing not lose.  When one plays to win, losing is not a variable in the equation; therefore, the focus is totally on the outcome desired which is accomplishing the objective successfully.   When one plays not to lose, “What if” becomes a variable in the equation and instead of completely focusing on a successful outcome, the mind begins to wonder and doubt finds an opening to creep in.  Once there, doubt can quickly and easily transform into worry and worry into fear; and, as we know, fear when not addressed properly can be crippling. #4: Successful people act in spite of fear; unsuccessful people allow fear to stop them. It is not necessary to attempt to completely rid yourself of fear to become successful.  Instead, be willing to come outside of your comfort zone and do what is necessary to accomplish what you desire.  Fear is a part of life and when managed and dealt with properly, it does not have to be an obstacle that is difficult to alleviate, or that blocks you from accomplishing your goals. #5: Successful people are committed to a dream or goal; unsuccessful people want a dream or goal. There are three levels of desiring something (Level 1: Want; Level 2: Choose; Level 3: Commit).  Let's use wealth for an example. Level 1: I want to be wealthy Level 2: I choose to be wealthy; and Level 3: I commit to being wealthy. As you can see, there’s a tremendous difference between Level 1 and Level 3.  Wanting something and committing to something are two different levels of desire.   When you commit to something, you set into motion a shift in energy that will begin to attract what it is you’re committing to.  Commitment along with working right, then working smart, then working hard is a powerful combination that will propel you towards the lifestyle you truly desire to live. #6: Successful people think both; unsuccessful people think either or.  When opportunities present themselves, you do not always have to choose between which one to accept.  You can be wealthy and happy.  You can be God-Fearing and rich.  You can be direct and considerate.  You can say, "No" and still be nice.  Successful people understand and embrace being a model of success.  They display how one can be happy, wealthy, nice, kind, God-Fearing, spiritual, considerate, rich, giving, etc. all together.  #7: Successful people constantly learn and grow; unsuccessful people think they already know. In too many cases, it’s difficult to get unsuccessful people to do things differently because they believe they already know what to do.  The fact of the matter is, if an individual is not as successful as they desire to be, there is something they don’t know. Successful people are constantly taking action when it comes to increasing their learning.  They embrace the understanding that if someone is doing something successful they desire to do, they need to find out exactly what that individual is doing and do it.   #8: Successful people associate with positive successful people; unsuccessful people associate with negative unsuccessful people. Successful people are constantly associating themselves with people who are more successful than they are so that they can learn what these individuals have done or are doing to obtain their level successful. Your environment is absolutely critical to your success.  The individuals you associate with are a huge part of that environment.  I’m not stating you have to completely separate yourself from everyone in your life who is not going in the same direction of success you desire; however, I am stating you have to be in control of who and what influences you. #9:  Successful people are flexible in their thinking and behavior; unsuccessful people are not. Successful people quickly adapt to change.  Being flexible in one’s behavior and understanding that change is a necessity is an extremely important variable in the equation of success.  Those who find it difficult or impossible to change with changing times will quickly find themselves becoming the victim instead of the victor. Understanding what changes are necessary is just as important as the ability to accept change.  There are newer trends occurring around us constantly from moment to moment especially with technology and society evolving as quickly as they are.   #10:  Successful people model themselves after other successful people; unsuccessful people model themselves after other unsuccessful people. Whoever has your ear has your destiny.  This is a simple statement but it’s oh so powerful.  Who are you listening to?  Who are you striving to be like?  If you desire wealth, a better relationship, more influence, a better job, or a more fulfilling life, who are you learning from? Successful people understand that they do not have to recreate the wheel.  They understand that all they have to do is find someone who is doing or who has done successfully what they desire to do and model their behavior.  Unsuccessful people, all too often, listen to people who are in worse shape then they are.  How can an individual who has never accomplished what you desire to accomplish assist you with accomplishing it? Does this mean you should limit your interactions with the individuals in your life; you are close to, those who are not going and growing in the same direction as you?  It doesn't mean that at all.  However, it does mean you have to be extremely selective in reference to what you allow to soak into your subconscious mind.   K. L. Alston, MA Best Selling Author, Certified Master Peak Performance Coach, Certified NLP Practitioner and Master Trainer   Vyzion Internet Radio spins worldwide and national Dj mixes 24/7. So the party never stops! From the car, the office, the gym, or your home, you can listen to Vyzion radio anywhere. Vyzion Internet Radio is comprised of an international team that is delivering the best of entertainment, music, and news. We offer free IPhone and Droid Apps Contact us at 1-800-957-9650. Need content for your website? Contact us    

1

Vision

“The ability to see things yet unseen…. Every great achievement begins with a vision, a dream of something exciting or different, a feeling that inspires and motivates you to aim higher and beyond anything that you have ever achieved before. What is your vision for your life? Imagine for a moment that you have no limitations on what you can be or do. Imagine that you have all the time and all the money, all the knowledge and experience, all the skills and resources, all the friends and contacts. If you could have anything in your life, what would it be? Project forward five years and imagine that your life is now perfect in every way. What does it look like? What are you doing? Who is there with you? Who is no longer there? Describe your ideal future as if it was perfect in every respect. Take a breath. Gave you something to think about, didn't I? Now, onto the key to success... After years of searching, I met a wise and wealthy man who sat me down and told me the key to success. He also explained the reasons for failure and under-achievement in life. As he spoke, I immediately recognized the truth in what he said. And his discovery about success was quite simple, as all great truths seem to be. What he told me was this: “The key to success is for you to set one big, challenging goal and then to pay any price, overcome any obstacle, and persist through any difficulty until you finally achieve it.” By achieving one important goal, you create a pattern, a template for success in your subconscious mind. Forever after you will be automatically directed and driven toward repeating that success in other things that you attempt. By overcoming adversity and achieving one great goal in any area, you will program yourself for success in other areas as well. In other words, you learn to succeed by succeeding. The more you achieve, the more you can achieve. Each success, especially the first one, builds your confidence and belief that you will be successful next time. The fact is that you can accomplish almost any goal that you set for yourself if you persist long enough and work hard enough. The only one who can stop you is yourself. And you learn to persist by persisting in the face of great adversity when everyone around you is quitting and every fiber of your being screams at you to quit as well. For example... When you subject certain chemicals to intense heat, the chemicals will crystallize and form a completely new substance, a new composition in which the crystallization process is irreversible. A lump of coal, for example, becomes a diamond under intense prolonged heat and pressure. In the same way, you become a person of great strength by persevering in the crucible of intense difficulty until you finally succeed. Each time you force yourself to persevere, rather than giving up; your character “crystallizes” at a new, higher level. Eventually, you reach the point where you become unstoppable... ... but no one starts out as a diamond. It's the early process of motivating yourself to set and achieve that FIRST goal that moves you one step closer to becoming a diamond and one step further from a lump of coal. Brian Tracy CEO Brian Tracy International Vyzion Internet Radio spins worldwide and national Dj mixes 24/7. So the party never stops! From the car, the office, the gym, or your home, you can listen to Vyzion radio anywhere. Vyzion Internet Radio is comprised of an international team that is delivering the best of entertainment, music, and news. We offer free IPhone and Droid Apps Contact us at 1-800-957-9650. Need content for your website? Contact us      

0

Herman Cain

So it has come down to this.  Herman Cain, http://hermancain.com, is reassessing his GOP candidacy for president.  This decision should come in the next few days after almost two months of accusations of past sexual harassments and a more recent story of a 13 year adulterous affair.  In a conference call Tuesday morning, November 29, Cain announced to his staff that he is reassessing his presidential campaign. Most people dismiss Herman Cain a presidential hopeful based on his former employment as CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, however, he has quite an interesting and experienced background.  Cain’s education consists of a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Morehouse College in 1967.  He then attended Perdue University for his graduate studies and received a Master of Science in computer science in 1971. During that time Cain worked full-time as a ballistics analyst for the US Department of the Navy.  Since this time, Cain has accumulated an impressive resume.  He has been a business executive, syndicated columnist, and a radio host in Atlanta, Georgia.  From 1986 to 1996, Cain served as chairman and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza, for which he is well known.  Cain also worked with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, serving as deputy chairman of the board of directors from 1992 to 1994 and as chairman from 1995 to 1996.  Cain was then president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association from 1996 to 1999.  He has served on the board of directors of several companies, including Aquila Inc., Nabisco, Whirlpool, Reader’s Digest, and AGCO, Inc. Herman Cain’s 9-9-9 plan has been one of the driving forces behind his campaign.  This is a plan that would replace the current tax code with a 9-percent business transactions tax, a 9-percent personal income tax, and a 9-percent federal sales tax.  This plan has been criticized for shifting the tax burden from the rich to the poor.  Since then, Cain has adjusted the plan to be 9-0-9 for the poor saying that “if you are at or below the poverty levels …then you don’t pay that middle 9 on your income.” As of late, the Herman Cain campaign has been tarnished with accusations of sexual harassment by at least four women.  Two of which, Sharon Bialek and Karen Kraushaar, have come forward publically.  The latest nail on the coffin has been from Georgia businesswoman Ginger White claiming to have had an extramarital affair with Cain for the last 13 years.  All of these accusations have been denied by Cain and his camp.  Cain has confirmed that White is a friend and that he did assist her financially.  Cain has, however, canceled a private dinner with some media heavyweights scheduled for Saturday, December 3.  The who’s who of broadcasting guest list included Matt Lauer, Barbara Walters, Bill O’Reilly, Greta Van Susteren and more. If Cain does decide to drop out of the presidential race this would shift votes towards the other hopefuls.  Presently, Gingrich is ahead in the polls with 23.9%, Romney in second with 21.3%, Cain follows with 15.5%; Perry and Paul tie next at 8%, Bachmann at 4.8%, and Huntsman and Santorum with 2.3%.  More than likely, Cain dropping out will shift his votes to the two front runners giving Gingrich and Romney a broader lead over the others. Watch for more news from Herman Cain’s campaign over the next few days and check his website for updates at http://hermancain.com . Kenny Walker Jr Spin Live Weekly Vyzion Internet Radio spins worldwide and national Dj mixes 24/7. So the party never stops! From the car, the office, the gym, or your home, you can listen to Vyzion radio anywhere. Vyzion Internet Radio is comprised of an international team that is delivering the best of entertainment, music, and news. We offer free IPhone and Droid Apps Contact us at 1-800-957-9650. Need content for your website? Contact us      

1

DJ Base

Dewayne McKinnon known to his fans as The Magnificent DJ Base was born and raised in North Carolina where he started his career in music at the tender age of fifteen. DJ Base made a name for himself by winning countless battles and DJ competitions throughout the local areas. His first big break came when he was sought after in 1995 to participate in a local college and university tour. The exposure of this tour was the springboard for his radio career in Charlotte, NC at WPEG Power 98. As his career progressed, DJ Base worked with other radio stations such as Hot 92.7 in Charlotte, NC and Hot 97.1 in Macon, GA. His radio popularity and performances earned him his first major tour in 2001, which featured Bow Wow and Lil’ Zane. In 2003 DJ Base was granted an opportunity to become a member of Cee-Lo Green’s Monopoly Management, a Production Company based in Atlanta, GA.

This opened the door for many exciting and adventurous times for DJ Base’s blossoming career. This tour served as a gateway for the 2004 Seagram’s Gin tour, which featured other artist from Atlanta’s own Goodie Mob, Tweet, and Tidrea Mosis. He has also been the opening act for artist Uncle Luke of 2 Live Crew, OutKast, Jay-Z, Doug E. Fresh, KRS One, The Roots, Black Eyed Peas, Pharcyde, and The Youngbloodz. All of which contributed to his exposure. He also collaborated with and produced songs for Lil’ Zane, Killer Mike, Slim Calhoun, Big Floaty from The Attic Crew, and Cee-Lo Green on the album The Soul Machine. His inspirations include DJ’s such as Jazzy Jeff, the late Jam Master Jay, Red Alert, Pete Rock, Kid Capri, and DJ Premier. DJ Base has showcased his DJ skills in many cities throughout the United States as well as international cities in Europe. His professionalism has been the catalyst for others to seek after his performances for some of the biggest industry parties, world renowned clubs, private parties, and exclusive events. He has been featured in TV programs like The Chappelle Show, The Colin O'Brien Show, The Carson Daly Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Craig Kilborn Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Showtime at the Apollo.

The hottest Hip Hop magazine “The Source” has awarded him for being one of the top DJ’s in the southeast area. Currently, DJ Base resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is responsible for the creation of Dap on it Entertainment a small production company for up and coming artist, producers, and DJ’s. He is the creative mind behind Charlotte’s first hottest DJ team, Coalition 1. Expect to see more groundbreaking projects from the Magnificent DJ Base, Dap on it Entertainment, Coalition 1 and Vyzion Internet Radio.

Vyzion is proud to announce the addition of DJ Base. This collaboration is set to take internet radio to Charlotte NC by storm. Things to do in Charlotte will greatly increase along with touching the whole eastern sea board. DJ Base, DJ Frankie C from NYC, DJ LO from LA California, DJ Triple M from Atlanta and The Redi Knights / DJ Mark Breen from the UK are all aligned to bring you international radio like the world has never seen before. This strategic alliance is on a crash course to compete on the same level as Pandora. Vyzion Radio is geared to help the independent artists and DJ's across the globe to assist them in getting heard and discovered. Advertisers and Sponsors now have a no brainer of a winner with Vyzion Radio which spans its reach in 84 countries and 1100 cities across the planet. DJ Base is set for super stardom along with the Vyzion Elite DJ's.

Vyzion Internet Radio spins worldwide Dj mixes 24/7. So the party never stops! From the car the office the gym or your home you can listen to vyzion radio anywhere. Vyzion Internet Radio delivers online radio that fulfills entertainment worldwide . Vyzion Internet Radio is comprised of an international team that is delivering the best of live radio and Internet Radio. We offer free IPhone and Droid Apps Contact us at 1-800-957-9650. http://www.vyzionradio.com/

Book DJ Base