A New Radio Station in Greensboro?

     If you live in the Greensboro, North Carolina or nearby surrounding area, then you are very aware there is only one hip hop radio station to listen to, which is 102 Jamz. Lately though, I have been hearing more and more people either complaining about the types of songs that get played on the local station or saying that they’ve just stopped listening to the station all together. What I find most peculiar about our radio station is that it doesn’t really seem to support local artists. Now I’m not just talking about playing any person with a single or mixtape in the local area, I’m talking about artists who have established themselves in the music industry as well as new upcoming artists with good music. 

Tigo B (left)            Blac Boi (right)
photo taken from still of "Back to the Money" Video

Of course there are the couple of exceptions—and I do mean couple. J Cole, who went by way of New York to make it mainstream, is an artist from Fayetteville, NC who gets regular spins on 102. Also, anyone who’s been tuned in lately has definitely heard the new single from Greensboro native and Raleigh raised, Blac Boi and Tigo B titled Back to the Money, in heavy rotation. I don’t know how or what these guys had to do to pull off being in heavy rotation on  102 Jamz, but kudos to them and I appreciate that Tigo B. brought 102 Jamz's attention back to another local and well liked artist, Ricco Barrino, by featuring him on his single titled Ooh Wee (aka 69) . Again, these are the couple of exceptions; what about Ricco's sister, Fantasia Barrino, who won American Idol and is from High Point, just a short drive from the radio station? If you’ve been listening to 102 Jamz for just the past year you may have noticed by now that, other than the Tré Songz style of singing,  there is no R&B in the playlist; that may explain why Fantasia doesn’t get any spins on the local station. I still find the lack of support to artists from the very same state the station is located in to be somewhat embarrassing, as well as an unnecessary barrier for talented local artists. I’ve traveled all over the East Coast, my favorite place to visit being my hometown of Miami, Florida, and every single time I visit there I hear Trick Daddy and Trina getting regular spins although neither of them has put out a new album in years.  I know a few of the dj’s at 102 Jamz and I know the line up and regimen of the station does not fall on their shoulders, but I have been listening to the station for over 20 years and it had much more variety and content back in it’s earlier days; so my question is, what happened?!

I know several other listeners in Greensboro, NC probably have the same question. Other listeners, or maybe now former listeners, just want a change? So I want to hear from the people. How would Greensboro feel about a new radio station or for the current one to go back to the way it was, with the added bonus of playing more music from talented local artists? How would you listeners in Greensboro like a station that plays hip hop, R&B, and more reggae than just the one hour a week of “classic” reggae we currently hear? How would you like to have a radio station that really supports artists from its own state and plays “throw back” music regularly instead of just 20 minutes per day and on holidays? Basically, you out there are the listeners, what do you want to hear and what kind of radio station do you want? The listeners are the most valuable part of any radio station, so it’s time that you let you be heard. 

YMCMB: Fall of an Empire

Well it appears some bad business practices of Cash Money Records' CEO Brian “Birdman”  Williams has lead to the dissolve of Young Money Cash Money Records. By now it’s no secret that the former Hot Boyz member and CEO of the Young Money division of Young Money Cash Money Records, Lil Wayne, has been beefing with his mentor Birdman since the hold up of his “The Carter V” album back in December of last year. It was rumored earlier this year that Lil Wayne had dropped the lawsuit he filed against his long time father figure, but we later found that rumor to be untrue.

Lil Wayne (left)          Birdman (right)

So with all the drama and controversy surrounding the label beef, what is true and what will happen to the artists of YMCMB which includes two of the most successful and popular artists in hip hop to date, Drake and Nicki Minaj?

From the stir up between Birdman aka “Baby” and Lil Wayne, it’s been revealed that Birdman has a long history of practicing bad business habits. In an interview on the Breakfast Club, fellow former Hot Boyz member Turk tells of how he has still not been paid for royalties from the Cash Money label. In a separate interview, Wendy Day, who helped to negotiate the historical hip hop distribution deal between Cash Money Records and Universal Music Group, also shed light on Birdman’s long history of not paying more than just his artists. 

"The Carter VI" album cover (L)     Lil Wayne (R)

With tales of Birdman’s questionable payment methods, one may wonder who would want to work with what sounds like a rip-off artist? By now the world should know of the newest addition  to the Cash Money roster, rapper Young Thug aka Thugger. While the beef between “Baby” and the rapper he supposedly loves like a son, Lil Wayne, started from the delay of “The Carter V” release, the beef has been perpetuated by the announcement that not only would Young Thug be making “The Carter” 6-10 albums, but also that his “The Carter VI” will be released before Lil Wayne’s “The Carter V”. Lil Wayne made no quarrels about making his ill feelings behind Thuggers announcement and album cover release clear. What may be confusing, however, is the contradiction between Young Thug’s expression of admiration for Lil Wayne and the words that can be heard in a more recent Instagram video he posted. 

So what will Lil Wayne’s biggest protégés Drake and Nicki Minaj do in lieu of what seems to be going in the direction of the fall of the YMCMB empire? According to a Business Insider article, Drake’s most recent “mixtape” release was a strategic maneuver on his part to complete his contractual duties to Cash Money Records. It appears Drake may be attempting to tie any loose ends to avoid his career being negatively affected by the beef between his two mentors. Nicki, on the other hand, has only expressed hopes of Lil Wayne and Birdman mending their father-son relationship. Birdman hasn’t had much to say about the feud, but based on his Instagram post of the label name change from YMCMB to CMBRG (Cash Money Billionaire Rich Gang), the queen of YMCMB, Nicki Minaj, may want to start considering her next career move instead of just hoping for the best. 

Many artists in the music industry have shared their opinions on the the whole feud, but the most wise advise may have come from rapper 50 Cent in the video below. One thing is for certain, this beef is great publicity for both Young Thug and Lil Wayne's albums regardless of what the end results will be. 

Best Female Rapper: Nicki or Lauryn?

So our reigning rap queen, Nicki Minaj, has recently dropped another hot album for us. Her majesty’s single, Want Some More, off her latest Pink Print album is ripping the airwaves with its raw sound of hunger; Nicki clearly showing she knows her position in the game and still her thirst for it isn’t quenched quite yet.  A little more than a month after Nicki’s new release, the YMCMB artist was featured in the MTV documentary ‘Nicki Minaj: It’s My Time Again’. In which, Nicki shares with viewers and her “barbs” a peek at some of her most recent journey in her three year rap career. From behind the scenes clips of her VMA Awards performance to her favorite nail salon in her New York hometown of Jamaica Queens to the childhood home where Nicki tells of love and misfortunes, the documentary, much like her latest album, shows a real and more intimate side of Nicki Minaj. 

Although we are seeing the evolution of who many would say is one of the greatest rappers, female or male, of this generation, is Nicki really the greatest female rapper of all time? And if so, what is this based on? After listening to a few of the songs off of Pink Print and watching the MTV documentary, I can admit that the girl has grown and she is definitely good at her craft. I, for one, enjoy seeing her in the more natural-tone hair and make up in comparison to some of the much more colorful and wild looks we know Nicki can pull off like no other; the natural looks just make her even more tangible and relatable. And even though she is giving us a little more mature, sophisticated, and emotional record, I am still awaiting and craving the conscious, deep level of lyricism that Lauryn Hill blessed the music game with. 

Perhaps one of the more deep and revealing songs from Nicki’s new album, All Things Go, is only her thirteenth most popular song. Some of the insightful lyrics read: 

“Even the ones that hurt me the most, I still show forgiveness

I'm love my mother more than life itself, and that's a fact

I'd give it all, if somehow I could just rekindle that

She never understands, why I'm so overprotective

The more I work, the more I feel like, somehow they're neglected”. 

Even though it’s been over fifteen years since the release of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,  those that were around to remember that fresh melodic grit of hip-hop soul still miss and crave that depth of lyricism. Although Nicki Minaj does have a way with her words, they still don’t quite hit as hard as those of Lauryn. Lauryn had a way of putting words and ideas together that could make a person sit and think for long periods of time and cause hours of conversation. Lauryn Hill twisted words and phrases in a manner reminiscent of the late great Biggie Smalls; recall the first verse to Final Hour:

“I treat this like my thesis
Well-written topic, broken down into pieces
I introduce then produce, words so profuse
It's abuse how I juice up this beat, like I'm deuce
Two people both equal like I'm Gemini, rather Simeon

If I Jimmy on this lock I could pop it, you can't stop it

Drop it, your whole crew's microscopic
Like particles while I make international articles, and on the cover

 I been in this third LP you can't tell me, I witness
First handed I'm candid Don't discuss the baby mother
Business,

You can't stand it, respect demanded

And get flown around the planet

Rock Hard like granite or steel

People feel Lauryn Hill from New-Ark to Israel

And this is real, so I keep makin' the street's ballads

While you lookin' for dressin' to go with your tossed salad”.

I contest that, although Nicki Minaj has the potential, the rap game is still missing that element of consciousness that Lauryn Hill left void many years ago. Her reigning royal highness is still growing in the game so it is possible that Nicki can fill that gap with time and experience, but for now I say the honorary Marley, Lauryn Hill’s imprint is still a factor impressed on the game.

Whitney Movie Review: Telling the Hard Truth

     The social media networks went ablaze with personal reviews and opinions after the original airing of the Lifetime movie Whitney on January 17th of this year. Renowned actress and co-star of the late Whitney Houston in Waiting to Exhale, Angela Bassett, debuted her directing skills in the Lifetime Network movie that depicts the upside and downward spiral of Whitney Houston’s music career and relationship with R&B singer and songwriter Bobby Brown. As the director of the film, Angela received a great deal of criticism and backlash for the portrayal of Whitney Houston, including some choice words from the late singer’s sister-in-law, Pat Houston.  Whitney’s sister by marriage posted a full comment expressing her opinion about the film on whitneyhouston.com, but in her statement she questions as to why she, her husband, Whitney’s mother or daughter were not contacted and calls the film and the timing of its release “a disappointment” and “creative pursuit at the expense of the integrity of such an iconic woman”. From the posts on social media websites that I read, there are many others who shared in Pat Houston’s sentiments. 

      I, like many others, was a fan of the late Whitney Houston and lover of her angelic voice, but as much as I adored the singer I am an even bigger fan and advocate for the unadulterated truth. So with no offense intended, the full on truth is what I plan to give in this article. Warning: if cold hard truth is something you cannot handle, you should probably stop reading at this point but I thank you for viewing up to now. 

Pat Houston (L), Bobby Kristina Houston-Brown (R)

Photo:Christopher Polk/Billboards 2012/Getty Images for ABC

First, I want to start by destroying Pat Houston’s comments. It is not unknown that the Houston family did not participate in the making of Angela Bassett’s film by choice, so I’m confused as to why Pat thinks the family (not including widower Bobby Brown coincidentally) would be contacted, especially her who is just an in-law. I also noticed that Pat did not include Whitney’s older brother, Michael, in the list of family who she believes should have received a courtesy call. Could this possibly be intentional due to the fact that he was the one who admittedly introduced the star to drug use. Second, I saw nothing in the film that portrayed Whitney in a manner that the public did not already know about prior to her death, other than the widely opinionated idea that the singer’s husband was the one who started her on drugs. I can completely understand that when a loved one is lost most only want to remember the good about the person, but a person’s passing does not change the truth so I see no need to criticize Angela Bassett’s work just because some can’t handle that fact. Third, it is not uncommon for films and documentaries about a deceased celebrity to be made and/or aired around the anniversary of the death as a remembrance of or to pay homage to the person; what time would be better or make more sense? Every family has its issues and secrets, but from Pat Houston’s comments I can only devise that she is either seeking her 15 minutes of fame (cause who is she or who really cares about her opinion as an in-law whose only claim to fame is marrying a non-famous Houston) or is still very much in denial about the singer/actress’s drug addiction. 

Yaya DaCosta and Arlen Escarpeta

As for the movie, I first want to point out the excellent job Yaya DaCosta, America’s Next Top Model season 3 runner-up, and Arlen Escarpeta, Into the Storm co-star, did playing the roles of their respective characters. Although I initially criticized the casting choices due to the actors not resembling their characters enough, as I continued to watch the film I soon was able to understand why these two actors where chosen for the roles. Yaya, who plays Whitney Houston, did and excellent job capturing Whitney’s essence: the way Whitney would throw her head back when she laughed sometimes, her hand gestures, dance movements, and facial expressions; and when I would look away from the screen, I could hear the same sweet and husky tone in Yaya’s voice that Whitney had in hers. Arlen, much like Bobby Brown, also did justice to his character supporting his Whitney Houston counterpart. It wasn’t long into the movie that the acting skills mixed with the shared physical features of the actors to their characters made me forget that I was not seeing the actual Whitney and Bobby, which is exactly what the job of an actor is, so kudos to them both. 

This last portion may be a hard pill to swallow for many, but if the truth is to be told it should be the whole truth and as fans we owe it to Whitney to own up to our role in her demise. As the public, we knew Whitney Houston the artist; Whitney Houston the artist was created and molded for two years by her record label before being introduced to us. Many were unsure of the singer after the initial release of her self-titled debut album in February of 1985 (I was only four years  old and I can still vaguely remember seeing comedy skits picking at the young singer), but her undeniable voice won us over and we quickly made her our R&B/Pop princess. We put Whitney Houston the artist on a pedestal because of her immaculate voice before we even knew Whitney the person. As fans, we held Whitney in a high regard and held her to high expectations which can be stressful for any person, but probably even more so for a young woman whose life is constantly in the spotlight and under a microscope. Whitney met and fell in love with a man who came to know her and love her for more than just the artist that we knew her to be and I doubt she would have fallen in love with someone she had absolutely nothing in common with. We stereotyped both Whitney and Bobby Brown and we, much like Whitney’s family, decided he was not good enough for her, they should not be together, and blamed Bobby for Whitney’s drug use. Whitney Houston was not only a grown woman who knew what she was doing, but she was also six years Bobby’s senior and had been around the music industry much longer than Bobby, so to blame him for Whitney’s choices is somewhat ridiculous and possibly an effort to transfer our own guilt as her fans. We were the ones who badmouthed her marriage, which any person who is married can testify that being married is hard enough without the added stress of being famous or having the marriage scrutinized by loved ones as well as strangers. We were the ones who would not accept and support Whitney as long as she was married to Bobby. And we, her fans, were the ones who only loved her for her voice instead of for the woman she actually was. We, her so-called fans, put an added stress on Whitney that she could not bare and so she turned to her vice of choice to cope with the pain of being one of the most adored yet unaccepted and unloved singers of our time. We expected Whitney to be as perfect as her voice was and, in my own opinion, she knew she wasn’t and her feelings surrounding that is what ultimately perpetuated her drug addiction. 

So in conclusion I say only this: I pray you rest in peace Whitney and receive all the love in heaven that you didn’t get here on Earth.  

Old Issues Create New Cases in Music Industry

Most of us are used to seeing or hearing about major cases in the music world, like the frequent law run-ins of Chris Brown or imprisonment of rappers such as T.I. and Lil Wayne, but there are other legalities within the music industry that cause common legal issues—publishing, royalties, and money. Within just the week of September 28th through October 4th of this year, three cases dealing with publishing and money appropriation were filed.  The common thread between these cases is their aged issues. The cases, although filed this year, stem from issues three to five decades old. 

 The first case is against Pandora filed in California in the beginning of October. This  particular case is very similar to an pending case filed against Pandora in New York just two months prior. The class action complaint against Pandora was filed by founding members of Rock group The Turtles, Flo and Eddie.  Flo and Eddie were a well-known duo in the 1970’s who now want increased pay from streaming stations such as Pandora for music recorded prior to 1972. The basis of this case, and a similar case recently won against SiriusXM, surrounds copyright laws derived from the Copyright Act.

Cases such as this can have a direct impact to the subscribers of the digital streaming station; I recently received a notice from SiriusXM about a 1.4% point increase for the U.S. Music Royalty Fee going into effect January 5, 2015. In lieu of the recent case against SiriusXM, I can’t help but to suspect that this increase is due to the win against SiriusXM.

The same week the SiriusXM case was filed, a case about royalties was filed against London’s major music publishing company, EMI Music Publishing. Composer of The Monkee’s hit song “Daydream Believer”, John Stewart’s widow, filed a lawsuit against EMI Music Publishing for missing royalty payments. The company is alleged to owe a minimum of $450,000 to John Stewart based on an agreement made back in 1967 with Screen Gems-Columbia Music for half of the publisher’s overseas profits. The funds are claimed to be owed due to an accounting error. 

Unfortunately, accounting errors seem to be common place in the music industry, as was said to be the case against former Universal Music Group executive Duncan Schwier. Today, you can’t search the name Duncan Schwier without getting pages of results related to his recent arrest for stealing the equivalent of one million U.S. dollars from Universal over a 10 year period. Schwier was given a three year sentence after pleading guilty to stealing from the major music company. He blames his actions on a medical condition that caused him to act out erratic behaviors. Unlike most thieves, however, Schwier did not benefit from the moneys he stole; instead, he claims to have given the funds to charity and friends. As there was no evident changes in Schwier’s lifestyle to suggest he had acquired more income, Schwier may very well be telling the truth and, thus, be deemed the Robin Hood of the music industry. 

Keys to Negotiating (Interview with C.C. Council)

      Over this past weekend I had the pleasure of of interviewing my mentor Mr. Carl Council, best known to most as just C.C. I asked C.C. to be my business mentor during the summer of this year because of his success in multiple entrepreneurial business ventures. C.C. is the owner of C.C. Smokehouse Grilling services, has created his own

barbecue sauce selling in Walmarts and Sam’s Clubs, is an A&R scout for Sony’s Blackberry division, and managed several gospel artists. C.C. was kind enough to not only grant me an interview on the topic of negotiation, but advise me on managing music artists.  

     When asked the first question of this interview, how do you separate the people from the problem when you are negotiating, C.C. provided a profound answer that actually spans broader than just tactics of negotiating. C.C.’s response for separating the people from the problem was a simultaneously simple and not so simple, “learn to discern people” (Council, C. (2014, October 4). Personal interview).  This is a simple answer, but the skill of discernment can take many years to develop unless one is being lead by God. This answer is also one that provokes thought; some may wonder ‘how does being able to discern people impact negotiation and allow one to separate the person from the problem?’ I understood C.C.’s meaning to be, discernment is a secret weapon when negotiating; having that ability will allow a person to sense the motives, mindset, and heart of the opposing party and apply a humanistic perspective to the negotiations, thus allowing one to separate any problems from the people involved.  C.C.’s advice for new negotiators in the music industry was again simple yet profound, “believe in your artist whole-heartedly because your artist is your product” and “don’t gamble, don’t put in any more than what you are able to give away”(Council, C. (2014, October 4). Personal interview). 

      C.C. offered many great pieces of advice in response to my second question, how do you handle positional bargaining tactics.  The first of his answers focuses on the preparation for negotiation, “build your product” to give yourself leverage. Second, “don’t try to compete,” because competing with others will cause you to lose focus. Third, in negotiations “start high” so you have room to give. Fourth, but  an answer C.C. noted as most important, “use networking and build relationships within the industry”. C.C. shared with me in elaboration of this point that even negotiations can be impacted by the relationships you develop. Lastly, C.C. provided an example of how knowing your interests (or bottom line) and the interest of the opposing party can help in negotiating to a mutual benefit; he shared that if a major label offers the artist any amount less than $3 per album sold will not allow the artists or manager any revenue (Council, C. (2014, October 4). Personal interview). 

      I am so grateful to C.C. for sparing the time for this interview and all of the information he provided. I am especially appreciative to have him as my mentor. I hope with his guidance and insight I am able to make him, as well as many others, proud and make a positive difference in the lives of those who are also pursuing their dreams within the music industry. 

Brand Audit Presentation