Mixtapes & Albums

With the almost complete eradication of compact disc’s, the music stores from which their sold, and the ultimate decline of its sales, many rappers have used other outlets in getting their music heard outside the traditional creation of an album.

Mixtapes have always been around in hip hop but like many things in the genre its definition’s undergone change. My first interaction with the mixtape game was in middle school, where I was introduced to 50 cent by a classmate of mine. It featured 50 rapping over beats to the current songs that were out at the time, giving off the impression that he was showcasing he could do a better job than the artist responsible for the original. I personally believe it was these mixtapes that sparked the interest in people to want to hear an album from him.

What’s bad is that the interest shown for 50 cent is non-existent for other artists coming up through the underground circuit. Reason for that I believe is due to the oversaturation of mixtapes these days. Its evident that artists find comfort with these mixtapes because of the lack of label heads overseeing the project, giving them free range to do as they please and give back to the fans. The effect to this is that in many cases the project they usually have the most creative control over, usually their mixtape ends up being a better project then their album.

It’s hard to even differentiate between a mix tapes an album. Signed artists are making mixtapes with original beats giving the attributes of an album to a free for download mixtape. For a mixtape an established artist should not use an original beat for the entirety of the cod but maybe for a few songs. Listeners just want to see if the artist can do a better job on the track than the original artist. Only up and comers like myself should use original beats but have a mixture of unoriginal beats to show listeners originality and creative with the making of your own song and showing that you can do a better job then the signed artists beat your rapping over.

The mixtape circuit have benefitted artists who maintain relevance in the industry such as Fabulous or Jadakiss who despite their veteran status and not having the highest album sales are still sought out from other artists for a feature, and whose mixtapes are sought out for by listeners like a new album release from Jay-Z.

As I plan to take on the mixtape journey for myself with my very own mixtape which will be entitled D.O.P.E (definition of pure expression) I plan to give it my all as if it were an album, and in the future if I am given the opportunity of creating an album my plan is to make sure its better than my mixtape and not the other way around

Alano

I present to you...Fed Up

While many found difficulty in uploading the entire performance, one person, a great friend of mine by the name of Naomi Asnaku was able to capture 1 of the 4 songs in which I did on the night of December 29^th, the last Saturday of 2012. While all my songs have special meaning in their own individual way, this one hands down out of the 4 had the most. I wanted to leave an impression on the surprisingly packed crowd (That night happened to involve a snowstorm) and ultimately believe I succeeded in doing so. You be the judge

Alano

2013 and beyond!

Happy New Year people and thank you for rocking with me for the past two months i'd like to get my music going and show you all what i have to offer very soon...just wait!!!

Alano

Joey Bada$$

Nowadays in the genre of Hip Hop it’s pretty rare that I find myself impressed with any artists coming up. Although, within NYC’s most populated borough of Brooklyn inhabiting over two million residents, someone special is bound to arise. That special someone is Joey Bada$$.

My eye was caught by this young talent when watching BET’s hip hop awards 2012 cypher, where he was featured alongside fellow up and comers ASAP Rocky, Childish Gambino, female artist Angel Haze, and Driicky Graham (known for “Snapbacks & Tattoo’s song) not necessarily for his verse but for his young image and stage name I found difficult to ignore. After hearing his name come up in conversations regarding music with listeners in his age group I went on a mission to check him out. Doing so I came across an impressive live performance on YouTube he did a little over a month ago on the Jimmy Fallon late night show. I found myself repeating the video over and over to hear the beginning verse he recited from his song “Wavy” off his “1999” mixtape. He states “Since 95’, momma been working 9-5, and I know the landlord fed up with our lies, so we pray to the gods, the jah’s, and the allah’s, to keep us safe and watch our lives” Coming from anyone is amazing but it’s a little more interesting when a line like that comes from a 17 year old kid. Joey Bada$$ is truly a raw talent with growth potential.

After listening to his 1999 mixtape it’s no surprise why he’s already gotten comparisons to Nas when QB’s own dropped illmatic. Through 90’s esque beats Bada$$ gives listeners a breath of fresh air with an old school hip hop feel uncommonly heard today. You know an artist is truly new when a Wikipedia bio of them is non-existent, but with the talent in which Bada$$ encompasses it wont be long until the Pro Era (Progressive Era) representative goes from new to known. Check him out and see for yourself

Alano

Old School/New School

At 24 years of age I’ve never felt more old than I have after listening to hot97’s old school at noon on the radio.

That particular day I heard all the jams from 02' to 07' I remembered from my teens. From the Dipset Anthem to Young Dro’s shoulder lean everything that was played was great. It was only one hour but I felt like it should have been much longer. I got to thinking...What will the next generation consider as their “Old School.”

That’s a scary thought being that I hardly like any artist out currently, let alone the songs in which play in rotation on the radio. It seems like the worst songs are considered the best and the best songs go unnoticed. Hmmm every generation has their star, I just wonder who will be deserving of that title and have the ability of taking Hip Hop off of life support.

The Rapper VS The Producer

While many up and coming rappers are sitting behind the boards and playing the role of producer. It’s still many that are not, and rely on an actual producer to occupy that seat adjacent from the booth.

It’s always seemed to be an unspoken discussion regarding who is of more importance, the rapper or the producer. I mean the producer does set the tone and emotion through the sounds in which he/she incorporates in his/her beats but the rapper gives what would be just an instrumental a story, a narrative, a voice. Both are equally important but who is MORE important? I think of this situation in terms of a movie. When a sad scene is taking place, it’s always music that plays in the background creating an emotion for the viewer, and the script recited by the actors are what paints a vivid picture all together. Although what if you watched a movie with no dialogue but an incorporation of music, or a movie with dialogue but no music in scenes where it was necessary, would that be enough to captivate you?

Many producers get annoyed with putting time and effort into making a quality beat and have rappers complain about how they can’t afford the price its listed for. At this point I am one of those rappers. While I try to not be biased I believe many of these producers coming up are overpricing beats to those they know cannot afford it and are not putting themselves in the role of the artist. 100 dollars a beat (typically the price im usually offered) is not particularly expensive and in the realm of the music industry would be considered cheap, but its expensive to the up and comer who is on a tight budget. I don’t know if producers take into consideration that it doesn’t stop at purchasing a beat, from there its paying for studio time, and then getting that song mixed down, well exceeding 100 bucks. I truly believe that if you are an up and coming producer beats should not be priced at that height. Im not saying to become a charity, but as a producer blessed with a musical ear you should be able to know when someone dope comes across your presence. The greatest artists seem to be the ones who lack the funds and resources to get their voice heard, and rely on having someone show belief in them and help get the attention of listeners. I feel as if it’s only a win win to work with at least one artist and build songs, which only helps a producer, get their name out there. I have never heard of a producer who hasn’t gotten recognized without the help of a rapper blending incredible lyrics time and again to an amazing orchestrated instrumental. We all know of Timberland because of Missy and Missy because of Timberland and most recently know of Jahlil Beats because of Meek Mill and vice versa.

I understand the nature of a producer wanting to get paid…who doesn’t? But I believe that with sitting and working with a few quality artists, building their sound, and giving them background music that only enhances their lyrics is what will bring in that BIG check for you in addition to them. I believe as a producer an excessive amount for a beat should not be expected if you as a producer are still climbing the ladder right along with the rapper trying to get your name out there, and so the question I posed earlier is one of a rhetorical nature. It’s pretty obvious that unless you can play both sides of a song, a rapper is in need of a producer just as much as a producer is in need of a rapper, although what it boils down to is each of them realizing this.

Alano

How the story goes...

Showing love to BrokenLand Productions with a video from up and coming director Rich Lites Joseph @RichLites featuring song by Vido Ortaygah - How the story goes