The GOrilla Chronicles

Foot Fetish: adidas x 55 DSL XV Yr Anniversary

2009-10-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

This Fall have you life enhanced with the latest 55DSL collab, a limited edition sneaker with none other than adidas Originals!

A combination of 55DSLs trademark colours and angel logo, in celebration of the brands 15th anniversary, with the slick styling and technical expertise of adidas Originals iconic Nizza model, makes this sneaker the ultimate collectors item.

Can you avoid it?

The XV/55 deserves a dedicated astonishing section on http://www.55dsl.com/, where you can also win it with the Experience Enhancer Contest

Dre Marshall @ Rap Fest

2009-08-07T01:49:00.000-07:00

Congrats to the homie DRE MARSHALL who will be performing tomorrow at RAP FEST going down in the BX, NY

Other confirmed artists include:

Believin’ Stephen Blaze Torch C-Lite Direct Disciple (DI) Dre Marshall Dre Sr. Firejaws G.T.K. Hazakim Humble TIP J. Johnson J Sky Walker K Drama Katalyst muzeONE PK Prodigal Son Refuge Solomon Starr Trevor Pope Urban D W.U.N.D.A. Fam Young Joshua

DJ NuMan DJ One Love DJ Tony Tone (BKS)

Mixtape Monday's: T Haddy "Mic Check"

2009-07-27T01:46:00.000-07:00

Download Here

Track Listing
1. Mic Check Intro
2. Why You Wanna Trip on Me
3. Buzzer Beater featuring Dre Marshall
4. Break 1
5. Keep On Trying
6. Hard To Say Goodbye
7. I’ll Be There
8. Don’t Endlude

I am fan of Thor “T Haddy” Haddon. Been down since day one! I remember at Club Jubilee around New Years Day in either 05 or 06 I got a copy of Hood Gospel Vol. 1 from Theo. I WAS BLOWN AWAY!!! Not only had T Haddy remixed some of the dopest secular tracks at the time but dude was murking the beats!!! He was putting the original versions to shame. I called the number on the cd and hooked up with Theo. I told him I wanted to be apart of whatever it was they were doing. I wanted to single handedly get the word out to everyone within earshot about THOR HADDON. Dude was that next! But whaddiya know? As soon as T started getting some traction from Hood Gospel Vol. 1 & The Great Repentance (his debut album) GOD had him sit down to regroup. What the flip?

Talk about disappointment. It seemed like that sabbatical was for 10 yrs. But then I started seeing T Haddy pop up on the net again. His Myspace (www.myspace.com/thaddy ) was poppin’ again. I was getting bulletins and messages that he was releasing Hood Gospel Vol 2 soon. WHAT?! I reached out to dude personally to let him know of my heart and desire to help him this go ‘round and we been rolling since! He’s dropped Hood Gospel Vol. 2, T Haddy vs T Pain, Motivation Music & now this much anticipated “Mic Check (Michael Jackson Dedication Mixtape)”

Now let me preface my review of “MIC CHECK” with this statement:

“T HADDY IS MY MAN BUT THIS IS MY HONEST REVIEW AS A FAN”

With that said the main problem I have with this mixtape is that it’s TOO short! Dude went in on this jawn. From beginning to end T Haddy rocked this mixtape. (Is it even a mixtape or a mixed mp3 download lol!) I’m sure some critics will find fault with the structure of the mixtape, the absence of a dj or the breaks and interludes but you will not find one fault with the music here. T Haddy puts some dirty south stank on this project as he provides bass pounding backdrops for the remixes. He interweaves MJ’s original vocals on songs like “Why You Wanna Trip On Me”. Dre Marshall teams up with T again for “Buzzer Beater” and Dre being the native New Yorker he is eats this beat up with true lyricism. Don’t sleep on “Keep On Trying” either. The remix track kinda reminds me of a classic Dr Dre beat but true to his “Motivation Music” nature T Haddy provides yet another soundtrack for KINGDOM grind and hustle. Finally on “Hard To Say Goodbye” you can hear Thor pour his heart out in the booth as he belts out over a “Billie Jean” influenced track:

“Why’d you have to go/ Lord please make me strong
Help me carry on/ It’s so hard to say goodbye”

“I’ll Be There” is an updated version of the original to be sure but you better believe Thor put his signature on it. One thing about my man is that he does not forcefully incorporate GOD into everything he does like he has a Jesus quota to meet. GOD is the foundation and so the love, adoration & expression you hear in the music automatically extends from that. The only way to get a copy of this gem is to hurry up and get yo butt over to www.thaddyvip.net sign up for an account for free and then get access to download the mixtape for free .

www.thaddyvip.net
www.myspace.com/thaddy
www.facebook.com/thaddy www.twitter.com/thaddyvip

Read A Book "Free - The Future of a Radical Price"

2009-07-22T03:55:00.000-07:00

Chris Anderson is the EIC (editor in chief) for WIRED Magazine. I am currently reading his previous book THE LONG TAIL (review coming soon). I find his insight nothing short of brilliant. In looking for him on twitter today I found that he released a new book right underneath my nose! FREE - The Future of a Radical Price. The concept is:

"Chris Anderson demonstrated how the online marketplace creates niche markets, allowing products and consumers to connect in a way that has never been possible before. Now, in FREE he makes the compelling case that in many instances businesses can profit more from giving things away than they can by charging for them. Far more than a promotional gimmick, FREE is a business strategy that may well be essential to a company's survival."

I can't wait to get my hands on a copy and digest it. Once I do you know I'll share my review with you but in the meantime if you can't wait for my review go ahead and get your copy by clicking the link below.

http://www.thelongtail.com/

www.twitter.com/chr1sa

(or you can download the unabridged audio book for free HERE)

T Haddy Salutes Michael Jackson

2009-07-22T00:40:00.000-07:00

Today is the day T-Haddy releases this long awaited dedication mixtape to one of the greatest of our time! Michael Joseph Jackson 1958-2009

Log on to www.thaddyvip.net to download it NOW!!!

How to Connect with Fans (and Give Them a Reason to Buy)

2009-07-21T05:48:00.000-07:00

Spotted @ Music Marketing.com

"Those of you who enjoyed my post on Secrets of a 20-Year Music Career will enjoy this presentation on Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, which gives a lot of detail on exactly what he is doing to connect with fans and give them reasons to buy."

NEW VIDEO: Fedel "Walk It Like I'm Changed"

2009-07-17T04:02:00.000-07:00

Check out the music video for my single "Walk it like I'm Changed" of my new album "I LIVE". You can purchase "I LIVE" everywhere online including Itunes! HD link http://vimeo.com/4875406

For Booking and Interview inquiries contact Matt Vasquez onyxincorp@hotmail.com or call 9188304770.

www.myspace.com/fedel

www.twitter.com/FEDELILIVE

www.facebook.comfedelitymusic.com

AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE!!!

2009-07-14T00:02:00.000-07:00

If you follow me on TWITTER then you know I've been excited about this release for a minute! Featuring Canton Jones, Shonlock, T Haddy & others, It's Official: Hip Hop Remixed is available everywhere good music is soldright now so get your copy ASAP!

Official Track Listing:

1. Be On E - T Haddy

2. Come Follow Me - DeLeon

3. Kingdom Business (Bawse Mix) - Canton Jones

4. Oxy Clean - GLO

5. Music Box - KGD

6. Riding Til The End (Liberty City Mix) - T Haddy

7. Fire Away - Shonlock

8. Golden - Dria

9. Living Clean (Set It Off Mix) - Canton Jones

10. I Can't Lose - Big Ran

11. Get Hot - Viktory

SHONLOCK Fires Away @ Rapzilla

2009-07-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

Salute to the homie RAPZILLA for hanging in there with SHONLOCK & MONSTA!!!

This is footage from 2009 GMA Week in NASHVILLE it was CRAZY!!!

Don't forget to cop It's Official: Hip Hop Remixed available EVERYWHERE tomorrow. Shonlock got a new joint on there called "Fire Away"

NEW VIDEO: Platinum Souls "Dey Don't Know"

2009-07-10T03:56:00.000-07:00

www.myspace.com/platinumsouls

Integrated Music Marketing Campaign

2009-07-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

Berkleemusic instructor Mike King explains the main elements of an integrated music marketing campaign.

(spotted @ Hypebot)

Study music business online with Berklee:http://www.berkleemusic.com/welcome/m...

NEW VIDEO: Braille "Skepticold"

2009-07-03T03:27:00.000-07:00

www.myspace.com/braillebrizzy

GLO @ The Saintuary

2009-07-02T00:20:00.000-07:00

The 16yr Old Phenom GLO shut it down a@ The Saintuary Artist Showcase 6.26.09 @ The Atrium on Memorial Drive.

"The Voice of the Youth is Speaking So Listen to Ya Future"

It's Official: Hip Hop REMIXED - Press Release

2009-06-30T18:27:00.001-07:00

ItÃ¢ÂÂs Official: Hip Hop REMIXED - Free-Press-Release.com

Shared via AddThis

Michael Joseph Jackson 1958-2009

2009-06-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

I can't even begin to express my feelings at this moment. Michael Jackson has left us. Allegations, tragedy, operations, public life aside; his music was a soundtrack for my young adult life. MJ was a genius. I was impacted most by THRILLER like most people my age, but then in the GOLDEN ERA of HIP HOP like most people my age I rediscovered some MJ/ Jackson 5 gems!!! No matter what you say or think Michael Jackson was one of the GREATEST entertainers to ever grace a stage, studio, camera, etc.

In loving memory I leave you a copy of DJ JAYCEE's mixtape trribute to the KING OF POP!

RIP Michael Joseph Jackson

Michael Jackson: The Soulful Years

GLO @ Xposure

2009-06-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

Much love to BIG RAN & A&A Worldwide for allowing me to host the inaugural XPOSURE Artist Showcase @ Vinyl 6.21.09. It was great! A lot of DOPE artists and a gang of family came to support! Check the video of THE VOICE OF THE YOUTH GLO! Guess who put it together?

I dO Music JUNE 2009

2009-06-14T05:16:00.000-07:00

Maaaaaaan June's installment of PatchWerk's I dO Music panel was off the chain. Spotted in the building was DJ Greg Street of V-103 & Desiree of Sound Shop @ West End Mall. That was in addition to the power packed panel of Fadia Kader (Broke N Boujee), Hannah Kang (Grand Hustle) & the LEGENDARY Wendy Day (Rap Coalition)!!! Shout to my man 100 Grand Oh Zee Banga, Kervins, Miss Juice and DJ Teknology for hard work and dedication to "empowering musicians worldwide"

(via www.idomusiconline.com)

Video: Viktory & Canton Jones in the Studio

2009-06-12T01:28:00.000-07:00

http://vimeo.com/5103910 from Viktory on Vimeo.

Check out the big homie Viktory and CJ record @ Arrow Records Recording Studios in College Park, Ga. CJ tells the story of how he gave away $20k!!! WOW!!!

New Video: CANTON JONES "Kingdom Business"

2009-06-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

New video from CANTON JONES from his top selling album of the same name. There is a BOSS MIX of this song also featured on It's Official: Hip Hop Remixed in stores 7.14.09

THE SHOW in Nashville

2009-06-02T01:14:00.000-07:00

Nashville Access Granted Part 2 from J.Robinson on Vimeo.

Da South.com captured the madness during GMA Week @ The Show. I forget the location of the event but I had no more room left on Flip video camera. I had been up since 6am and was ready to get back to my hotel room. I missed Rhema Soul's performance. We were @ Urban Soul Cafe and missed most of Mr Del's performance too. Check out Canton Jones @ 5:44 in the vid though

Monday's Marketing Moment: MattMason @ Trend Tag

2009-06-01T01:32:00.000-07:00

14. Deutscher Trendtag: Social Wealth / Matt Mason: The Pirate’s Dilemma: How Youth Culture Is Reinventing Capitalism from Trendbuero on Vimeo.

Spotted @ The Pirate's Dilemma.com

"Two weeks ago I was invited to speak at Trendtag, an incredible event that takes place every year in Hamburg. Here’s the speech I gave. If you’ve seen me speak before you know all this already. There’s some new stuff here on The Pirate Bay Trial, Wolverine and creating virtuous circles, but the core argument of the talk remains the same. Check out the full Trendtag line up of speeches here."

Flashback Friday's: The Clark Sisters

2009-05-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

The Clark Sisters - You Brought The Sunshine

I'm not big on traditional gospel but what I like I like. I remember hearing this at house parties back in the GO before I realized it was a gospel song. Respect the architects.

Dre Marshall talks with DaSouth.com about "Before Self-Destruction"

2009-05-26T15:17:00.000-07:00

Dre Marshall and Mahogany Jones will be droppin' a bangin' mixtape June 2nd right here on DaSouth.com called Before Self-Destruction hosted by mixtape king DJ Sean Blu. And guess what? It'll be absolutely free for download. Zee caught up with Dre Marshall to talk about the mixtape and what you can expect. You can click here to listen the first single called "Shake the World." Let's get into the interview!

Zee: How long have you and Mo known each other?

Dre Marshall: No doubt, Ok so let's see. Me & Mahogany have been working together in upstate NY for the past two years or so, maybe three. We do two annual events together. One, being Kingdombound, which is every August in Upstate N.Y., and also Cityfest which is in November in Upstate N.Y. Also, my mentor Michael Peace has adopted Mahogany as a daughter, so we always talk and vibe, she's a real sister!

Zee: That's what's up. How did the idea of this mixtape come together though and ultimately end up with Sean Blu? Dude is the Christian Hip Hop mixtape king!

DM: This whole thing actually started with DJ Links who just goes by "Links" now (laughs)

Zee: I'mma put his government out there! Whaddup Kevin! (laughs)

DM: He heard the album before most, and really has been a good brother and friend. So he passed the album off to Sean Blu and Derrick Woods. Derrick woods aka Chicagorilla is a grassroots marketing guru, and really good friend now, [he] suggested...well insisted, that I link up with Sean Blu and do a mixtape! Well I linked with Blu and he's a workhorse!

Zee: What was it like work with Mr. Sean Blu?

DM: He's amazing and really makes it a "mixtape." Most Christians don't do "mixtapes," they do compilations!

Zee: Is the mixtape all original production or what?

DM: The beats have some original stuff, but also alot of familiar stuff, yep....we Jackin beats!

Zee: Well, good thing it's free then! (laughs)

DM: Mahogany goes in on some old school stuff as well as some new stuff. She remixed 9 to 5, and I remixed her "Hate this Life."

Zee: Word? Can't wait to hear that. 9 to 5 is my joint! You and Canton ripped that! I know you said you did shows together, but what was it like working with each other? You and Mahogany, that is.

DM: In doing this album, there is a mutual respect for our styles and abilities. We wanted to collab anyways, but thought this would be a great way to cross promote our albums, seeing as though the name is different, represent the same thing, which is being transformed! So you will be "Morphed" in "Room819"

Zee: "Before Self-Destruction" Who came up with that album title?

DM: The name is all Blu! He came up with it after he heard the material, and like I said, he's a genius, so you trust what he does!

Zee: Amen. Finally, when does the album come out and where can people get it?

DM: June 2nd for free download! Exclusively at DaSouth.com

Zee: Oh word? Well, thanks! We appreciate the love! Hey, we didn't ask them to do that y'all! (laughs) That's what's up.

You can check out a leak called "Shake the World" with Dre Marshall, Mahogany Jones featuring Breyan Isaac. Click here to listen now.

Learn More
www.myspace.com/dremarshall

www.myspace.com/mahoganyjonz

www.myspace.com/djseanblu

Video: Rick Ross on Lift Every Voice

2009-05-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

Rick Ross on Lift Every Voice
by yardie4lifever2

Say what you want about me. Call me a heathen. Talk about how I'm not a real believer and that I'm straddling the fence & I'll tell you to your face I'm not that saved back up off me (LOLOLOLOL!) But real talk, I like how CoCo doing his thing to bring that "Spirit of Hip Hop" flavor to "Lift Every Voice" CoCo Brother feat Rick Ross on a mixtape that only Atlantans got a chance to cop a couple of years ago and Ross' interview piece was insightful. Truth of the matter is if we don't reach out to hurting people where they are how will they ever be comfortable enough to receive the truth of the WORD that they may come into the knowledge of KINGDOM living? Don't judge. Take notes.

Foot Fetish: adidas x Ronnie Fieg Overcast Metro Attitude Hi

2009-05-26T09:36:00.001-07:00

adidas linked up with independent artist Ronnie Fieg to recreate the Metro Attitude Hi for NYC boutique, David.Z. Entitled the “OVERCAST”, the high top is draped in navy blue/grey/white premium suede and nubuck, that inevitably, mimics an overcast day. The shoe is ushered in with three sets of laces: lime green, grey, and blue/grey fade. The Metro’s insole reads R4D (Ronnie 4 David.Z). The adidas x Ronnie Fieg “OVERCAST” Metro Attitude Hi is limited to 250 pairs and will be releasing online and in-store at David.Z in Soho this Friday, May, 29 at 9:00 for $110 (Sneaker Files)

Seth Godin: Why tribes, not money or factories, will change the world

2009-05-12T11:54:00.000-07:00

Seth Godin is the master! Seth Godin argues the Internet has ended mass marketing and revived a human social unit from the distant past: tribes. Founded on shared ideas and values, tribes give ordinary people the power to lead and make big change. He urges us to do so.

About Seth Godin
Seth Godin is an entrepreneur and blogger who thinks about the marketing of ideas in the digital age. His newest interest: the tribes we lead. Full bio and more links

Viktory - "On Fire" (Official Video)

2009-05-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

After much anticipation the Chi-Town homie Viktory finally releases the video for "On Fire"

His album "Son of the King" drops on iTunes 6.16.09

Keep up with the homie on www.viktorylive.com

Heart of God "Exalt"

2009-04-19T23:02:00.000-07:00

Heart of God "Exalt".

From the album: Creflo Dollar presents: CHANGE.

Arrow Records. http://www.arrow-records.com/

Motivation Music Release

2009-04-06T16:00:00.001-07:00

Canton Jones on Centerstage w/ Kevin Bond

2009-03-23T01:27:00.000-07:00

Name Canton Jones' Next Album

2009-03-16T13:52:00.001-07:00

We need your help. Canton is in the process of finishing his next album due out in the Fall. Help us name the album and your suggestion could be used on the next release!

email your suggestions to contest@arrow-records.com

For more info log on to www.myspace.com/officialarrowrecords

Canton Jones: "My Day"

2009-03-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Rhythm & Praise

2009-03-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

Hip hop has become a culture of crime, money, sex, and hate. There are some who bring a radically different message to the inner city. A message of peace, hope, and love. This message comes in a style similar to the Secular Rap that endorses the indulgence of vices. For this reason many reject the effectiveness of Christian Rap. This documentary explores this idea. You will hear from Christian Rap artists, a college music professor, and a psychologist as they discuss the issues of the inner city, secular rap music, the power of music on a persons mind, and the effectiveness of Christian Rap.

Visit the official Rhythm & Praise site at http://www.romans1014.net/rp

Festival Updates:

10/18/07 - Rhythm & Praise was screened at the Christian WYSIWYG Film Festival and received the Jury's Award.

http://www.wysiwygfilmworks.com/filmf...

11/3/07 - Rhythm & Praise was screened at the Redemptive Film Festival and received the Redemptive Storyteller Award.

http://www.redemptivefilms.com/

Get Vik 6.16.09

2009-03-09T15:29:00.000-07:00

Girls Rock Too Remix

2009-03-03T13:26:00.001-08:00

Señor Kaos - Girls Rock Too REMIX Video from Señor Kaos on Vimeo.

Video: Matt Mason "The Pirate's Dilemma"

2009-03-02T10:56:00.000-08:00

Matt Mason's keynote on The Pirate's Dilemma, his book on how to compete with piracy, filmed at The Medici Summit, March 3rd 2008, Scottsdale, Arizona. Mason discusses why piracy can be an opportunity as well as a threat, how pirates innovate outside of the marketplace and how legitimate businesses can respond. Using examples from music, fashion, software and the video game industry (to name just a few of the topics covered), Mason makes the case that it is possible to beat pirates offering the same products for free, and that when pirates are adding value to society in some way, society will get behind them, at which point the only way companies can beat them is by compete with them in the marketplace.

JAMES FORTUNE & FIYA "I TRUST YOU"

2009-02-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

"I Trust You" Music Video http://www.myspace.com/jame... from the album:

"The Transformation"

In Stores Now Worldwide

The Making of "On Fire"

2009-02-19T09:10:00.000-08:00

Check out behind the scenes footage of the homie Viktory ("What down Joe?") on the set of his video shoot for "On Fire"
The Making of "On Fire" by Viktory from Viktory on Vimeo.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2009-02-14T09:36:00.000-08:00

Transformers: The Movie Part 4

Happy Hump Day

2009-02-11T05:54:00.000-08:00

Holy Ghost Wedding

Groom gets filled with the holy ghost & shows it. I kinda felt the same way on my wedding day! LOL!

Messenja on the JoniShow

2009-02-10T05:38:00.000-08:00

Interview

Performance

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2009-02-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

Transformers: The Movie Part 3

Flashback Friday's: The Winans

2009-02-06T05:56:00.000-08:00

Question Is

Exclusive T Haddy!

2009-02-06T05:36:00.000-08:00

T Haddy Remixes T.I.'s "Live Your Life"

Video: Lil Prophet ft. Pettidee "I Go Hard/Hulk Hogan"

2009-02-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

Lil Prophet ft. Pettidee

http://www.realwordrecords.com

HubSpot TV - Inbound Marketing Explosion with C.C. Chapman

2009-02-04T03:41:00.000-08:00

Episode #25-January 30th, 2009(Show Length: 29 minutes 7 seconds)

Intro

How to interact on Twitter - @karenrubin @mvolpe @cc_chapman
Remember to subscribe in iTunes - http://itunes.hubspot.tv
HubSpot 1K Customers Party! Febuary 19th! http://hubspot1k.eventbrite.com/
Today Gov. Deval Patrick visited HubSpot because we tweeted so much! http://www.hubspot.com/blog/bid/4549/HubSpot-Twitterers-Land-a-Visit-From-the-Governor

C.C. Chapman

How do you find the time to create so much content?
How long have you been blogging? podcasting? How did you get started?
Blog vs. Podcasting what's more fun? Whats more effective?
Tell us how social media is like fishing.
The Advanced Guard

State of Inbound Marketing

http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/4546/Survey-Shows-Inbound-Marketing-Sales-Leads-Are-Cheaper-Than-Outbound.aspx
Inbound marketing means lower cost per lead - almost 3 times lower
Small businesses are the most aggressive inbound marketers - allocating bigger % of budget to blogging, seo and social media
Within social media, blogging is viewed as the most effective technique
Myspace finished dead last - least useful for business
About the same spending on inbound and outbound marketing
Marketing Takeaway: Yes another reason why you should be doing more inbound marketing and less outbound marketing.

Vatican 2.0

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2009/01/pope_warns_agai.html
http://blog.clickz.com/090123-120332.html
Marketing Takeaway: If the pope can be on YouTube, your old established company with lots of history and tradition can too.

USPS delivering mail 5 days per week

http://www.btobonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090129/FREE/901299995/1078
http://blog.clickz.com/090123-120332.html
Marketing Takeaway - Fewer people are sending snail-mail which calls into question the long term viability of direct mail and the postal system.

23000% increase in DVD sales since YouTube Channel launch!!!

http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/01/23/free-monty-python-videos-on-youtube-lead-to-23000-dvd-sale-increase/
Marketing Takeaway: Giving away free content does not decrease sales!
Bacon Explosion
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/dining/28bacon.html
Marketing Takeaway: Create delicious salty smokey content.

Marketing Tip of the Week: Cut your lead costs by 3x by using inbound marketing.

Closing

Inbound Marketing Kit

Learn more about inbound marketing and how to combine blogging, SEO and social media for results.

Download HUBSPOT's inbound marketing kit.

Read A Book

2009-02-03T09:23:00.000-08:00

Check MATT MASON online HERE

Legally download a copy of this book at whatever price you want to pay HERE

Buy the hardcover copy below

Obama's Take on Hip Hop

2009-02-03T06:44:00.000-08:00

This is an interview with Jeff Johnson of BET.

I like it. When we understand Hip Hop as a social force that engages the younger generation maybe we can use it to make more progression for a great RIGHT NOW and a better tomorrow...

Music Business Marketing 2009 - Bundling Products with your Music

2009-02-03T04:31:00.000-08:00

http://www.talkmusicbiz.com/

Today's music marketing tip is you have to use every marketing approach you can to get your fan to buy music and support you. With today's economy you have to give the most value when you're selling anything, including music.

Before Music Dies documentary

2009-02-02T06:17:00.000-08:00

Narrated by Forest Whitaker, BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES is an unsettling and inspiring look at today’s popular music industry featuring interviews and performances by Erykah Badu, Eric Clapton, Dave Matthews, Branford Marsalis and a wide variety of others. The documentary film has built a passionate following as “the most important film a music fan will ever see” (XM Radio) by providing “a balanced overview of the state of the rock scene of America” (WSJ) and adding “passion to the eternal debate about the industry” (NYTimes).

Since its release in November 2006, the film has screened over 200 times in over 130 North American markets with hundreds of additional events anticipated worldwide during 2007. (I wonder how many times this is going to be watched now?)

Use this site to learn more about the film, where you can see it, ways you can own it, and - most importantly - how you can get involved in sharing it with others.

Mixtape Mondays:

2009-02-02T01:23:00.000-08:00

Beat Lab 7 Productionz presents its third installment of the compilation album that took the industry by surprise in 2007 when releasing “Music Meets the Truth”, an entire full length album made totally FREE FOR DOWNLOAD! Artists from all over have come together to contribute their mic-rippin’ skillz, delivering the TRUTH over some of the tightest music out there, brought to you by BEAT LAB 7 producers “Crucial” and “s.a.i.n.t. jon” of Charlotte, NC. So start downloading! Take as many as you want!! Burn more copies for your friends and family!!! TELL EVERYONE! And get ready for one of the most flavor-filled music productions of all time. Enjoy!

1. Addressing The Nation (Crucial & s.a.i.n.t. jon)

2. YES WE CAN (Tre9)

3. The Truth (Lunie 3:80l)

4. Headz Up (Yung Semaj feat. s.a.i.n.t. jon)

5. My Everything (Zee)

6. Freeze (D-MAUB)

7. We're In (Divenomous)

8. Better Than Before (Sir-Viva)

9. Face This ( The Luminary feat. Crucial)

10. Down Time (Wilchild feat. Sir-viva)

11. Beat Lab 7 Presents

12. Step Back (E. Quipped)

13. I'm Good (KamB.I.N.O.)

14. Gentrified (K-Drama)

15. Ain't No God Like Mines! (J. Flue)

16. Made To Worship (J.A.Z.)

17. Waiting On Us (Braille feat. s.a.i.n.t. jon)

18. Outro

For more information on the featured artists, click below:
D-MAUB
www.onerouteentertainment.com
Divenomous
www.divenomous.net
E. Quipped
www.myspace.com/equippedmusic
J.A.Z
www.myspace.com/justifiedandzealous
J. Flue
www.myspace.com/jflue
KamB.I.N.O.
www.myspace.com/kambino79
Lunie 3:80
www.lunie380.com
The Luminary
www.myspace.com/theluminary
Wilchild
www.myspace.com/savechild
Yung Semaj
www.yungsemaj.com
Sir-viva
www.myspace.com/sirviva1
Braille
www.myspace.com/braillebrizzy
K-Drama
www.myspace.com/kdrama
Tre9
www.myspace.com/tre_9
Zee
www.myspace.com/zeemyspace
CRUCIAL
www.myspace.com/crucialrhymes
s.a.i.n.t. jon
www.myspace.com/saintjonmusic

Sunday Morning Service

2009-02-01T04:47:00.000-08:00

Good morning.

I was reading a book about a successful businessman yesterday who was challenged and experiencing unfortunate circumstances...

The question was posed to him about how he arrived at this point, and he said "I lost my momentum."

The one thing you must do to win and keep winning IS NEVER, EVER lose your momentum...

Keep the flame lit! (Remember this!) The people who do things that count, usually don't stop to count them... :-)

God is Love

Rev Run

Zig Ziglar teaches people all over the world the fundamentals of sales and success.

Here he tells a story of a woman with a negative attitude who hated her job, shifted her attitude and changed her life.

This video is from his Ziglar Inspire Podcast which I highly recommend you visit.

Go here for more info.

http://zigziglar.libsyn.com/

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2009-01-31T09:30:00.000-08:00

Transformers: The Movie Part 2

Flashback Fridays: Cross Movement

2009-01-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

Huh What?

Bob Baker On Internet Marketing & The Future of Music

2009-01-29T06:03:00.000-08:00

We Cross in gesprek met Bob Baker from We Cross on Vimeo.

J Drew Sheard - "Stronger"

2009-01-26T08:39:00.000-08:00

This is Kiki Sheard's lil' brother JDS. Dude a monster on production!

Check him out online

J. Drew (JDS) Album Preview

Mixtape Monday's DERT "Talk Strange"

2009-01-26T06:38:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of DERT from the jump with TUNNEL RATS. Dude is mad talented and it never ceases to amaze me how he continues to bang out beats for the entire team and doesn't burn out or run out of creativity. He's been dropping beat tapes for a minute now from "The Fledgling" to "TheShort List". Well he's back with another beat tape inspired by Bjork "Talk Strange"

Download HERE

Chck DERT online HERE

Sunday Morning Service

2009-01-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

Good Morning.

With courage you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate, and the wisdom to be humble.

Courage is the foundation of integrity. --K. Nair

God is Love

Rev Run

Divine Checkup

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2009-01-24T09:26:00.001-08:00

Transformers: The Movie Part 1

Flashback Friday's: The Procussions "What's My Name"

2009-01-23T01:22:00.000-08:00

Kevin Powell Shares The Blueprint

2009-01-22T06:50:00.000-08:00

(spotted @ Black Voices)

'The Black Male Handbook: A Blueprint for Life,' written by Kevin Powell, who recently ran for a Congressional seat in Brooklyn (which he lost in a tough battle against 13-time incumbent Edolphus Towns), is not just empowering black males, he is also giving them hope and a prescription for living a successful life through highlighting the stories and experiences of other black males who have made it.

"I've been carrying this book around in my head for several years," he said. "In my work with black males, I often get asked, 'What should we be reading?' and 'What music should we be listening to?' and 'How should we be preparing ourselves for job interviews?' I mean, I would get hit with all kinds of questions from pre-teens to men in their seventies. And I realized that there was this huge void for black males. This book is an attempt to fill that void."

Braille is on Cloud Nineteen

2009-01-22T04:38:00.000-08:00

Drops MARCH 3rd!!

OFFICIAL TRACKLIST

1. Sky Dive (intro)

2. It's Nineteen featuring Ragen Fykes (vocals) and Rob Swift (cuts)

3. For Life

4. Broken Heart featuring Strange Fruit Project (vocals), Ragen Fykes (vocals) and Thesis (vocals)

5. That's My Word featuring Theory Hazit (vocals) and Rob Swift (cuts)

6. Fill It In featuring Dj Idull (cuts)

7. Skepticold

8. Heart of God

9. Found Her featuring Shawn Lee (piano and strings)

10. From The Pulpit

11. Megaphone Phonics featuring Vursatyl of the Lifesavas (vocals), Rob Swift (cuts) and Tony Cook from the JBs and James Brown band (drums)

12. Work That Way

13. HardRock featuring Lightheaded (vocals), Rob Swift (cuts) and Pataphysics (trupets)

14. Stay Together featuring Ragen Fykes

15. Parachutes and Ladders (outro)

BONUS - "Frankenstein"

Donate to the cause by email or Paypal Braille @ braillehiphop@hotmail.com

Check Braille online HERE or HERE

Messenja "Take The City"

2009-01-21T19:44:00.000-08:00

Canton Jones "G.O.D."

2009-01-21T19:13:00.000-08:00

Daz Dillinger Goes Gospel?

2009-01-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

(spotted @ Rap Godfathers.com)

Daz Dillinger is set to make a surprising foray into gospel alongside his mother, Dr. Allean Varnado Lang. Dr. Lang is an evangelist who signed last year with Empty Vessel Music, an independent Atlanta-based label.

The video is for the song "I'm Good," which Dr. Lang conceptualized around the premise of children who are neglected and written off as lost causes.

"I want them to know that God made them good, they are valued, and they can overcome their circumstances," Dr. Lang said.

The video shoot with Daz kicks off the pilot EV Music Matters Program.

The community outreach program will focus on free music education for children in underserviced inner-city locations.

The first destination area has been confirmed as Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward.

According Scott Free, a pastor who services the Fourth Ward through the Adopt a Block program of the Atlanta Dream Center, skeptics should look past Daz's gangsta rap persona and commend him on his participation.

"To some it may seem controversial and contradictory but I'm all for it," Pastor Free explained. "Who am I to say? I just know I am in this community everyday to be a different voice on the street and encourage the kids and love the community.

"Daz Dillinger's last album was 2008's Only On the Left Side, his 11th solo album.

The video shoot for "I'm Good" commences on January 31.

DJ Lace Talks to Independent Christian Artists

2009-01-21T07:56:00.000-08:00

(One of my favorite people in the world, DJ Lace, wrote some guidelines for aspiring and established independent Christian artists looking to improve their brand and make impact this year. This is a great starting point. I'd refine it a tad bit but this is great advice)

Marketing Opportunities:
@ each performance these should be minimum requirements

1. 8 ft table to sell product: (Table should be filled with the items below)

2. Table cloth (preferably w/ logo) http://www.promo-force.com/ ,http://www.camelbackdisplays.com/ , www.discountdisplays.com/covers/

3. eMail (a laptop will be better) & Cell Phone (text “join” to 123456) sign up. (iContact.com, ConstantContact.com, Mozes.com, scriggleit.com, Broadtexter.com, Redoxygen.com) Give fans a FREE single (on Download card, itunes, Podcast, Website) to join your Fan database!! Put samples on Myspace, make fans come to your website to get the free single, so you can capture their info.

4. CD's & Download Cards for sale: (http://www.e3accesscard.com/, http://www.soundloadmusic.com/ ) I can match their prices!! CALL ME!!! These cards are good for singles (FREE & 99c)!!

5. POP material (flyers, 2x2 flats or posters, side files, FREE mixtapes, Download Cards)
There should always be one-person delegated for this task

Minimum online efforts:

1. Dedicated website (myname.com) Get website up & running, An artists should have his on pages away from the label. (ex. www.xistrecords.com/Sean)

Needed pages on site: Home (Big artwork links to join email & mobile text list), Community (points to my space or blog), Videos, Photos, Bio, News, Tour/Booking, Albums, Store, Bonus (giveaways). Use blogs to talk to your fans, daily, weekly!!

2. Myspace.com (Facebook if you can find someone willing to deal w/ it) Points back to website (Mywebsite.com)

3. Youtube channel - Points back to website (Mywebsite.com)

4. My_Blog/ Podcast(?) (Links from website, Bonus page)

5. Monthly Newsletter (a detail summery from blob & Podcast)

Minimum offline efforts: (start ATL first, then Region)

1. Cultivate support at church home (performance opportunities)

2. Cultivate support at churches where you has already ministered (performance opportunities)

3. Cultivate support at NEW churches (performance opportunities)

4. Distribute POP Material & FREE singles (download cards) to all independent retailers, churches & Christian bookstores.

5. Identify performance opportunities @ alternative venues outside the church

Note: You should be busy doing Promo Performances at least 5 per week up to release date.

Contact DJ Lace @ djlace@djlace-online.com

http://www.djlace-online.com/

Going Mobile – The Future Of Marketing For Musicians

2009-01-20T15:41:00.000-08:00

(repost from Ariel Hyatt January 19, 2009)

Many experts say that the #1 way we will all communicate within the next 3-4 years will be thorough our mobile devices. It is no secret that the United States is far behind Europe and Asia in ease of use and advance technologies in the mobile realm but it is never too early to begin looking at a mobile strategy.

With that said I will be exploring how musicians can fully utilize using mobile technologies throughout 2009 but here is a primer. I saw Helen Keegan present in Reykjavik at the You Are In Control conference at Iceland Airwaves 2008 and I was wowed by her presentation.
Helen is a mobile marketing, advertising and media specialist working with a range of clients from media owners to brands and agencies to mobile technology companies. She has been working in mobile marketing for more than 8 years.

I asked her a few questions via email and she was generous enough to answer them for us here
How Can Musicians Effectively Use Mobile For Marketing?7 Questions For Helen Keegan of Beep MarketingUsing mobile phones is now integral to our lives. Artists should be thinking about who their audience is and how to build it—whatever ways are relevant. And that has to include mobile today. Young audiences in particular are technology agnostic and want instant gratification and will use the nearest device or service available to them whether that’s their phone, their laptop, the TV, their iPod, their PSP, whatever.

1. Where is a good place to start for artists just beginning to think about a mobile strategy?

The artist should probably start by using their mobile phone to create and capture content themselves—short video footage, podcasts, moblogging, photographs, Twittering etc. All this can be done instantly and cheaply from a mobile phone and helps the audience get to the real essence of the artist—they feel they’re getting beyond the branding and the manufactured image. Music is about soul after all isn’t it so being able to share what you’re really thinking and doing would seem to make sense to me.

2. How often should artists communicate via mobile platforms once they have one set up?There is no fixed answer to this. It’s about building a community and having a conversation with members of your community and allowing your community to chat to each other. What I would say is that if you’re using SMS, then make sure you have permission, make it easy to opt out at any time, make sure it’s free (or very cheap or sponsored) and don’t overdo it. Think about how much you might tolerate. Also think about what messages those individuals might be getting at that time—Friday night at 6 PM is probably not a good time to promote stuff when a lot of people are organizing their weekend. Similarly, if you have a teen audience then waking them up with a text message at 7 AM on a Sunday morning might not always go down well. We’re talking about real people here and real conversations not just push alerts about gigs and releases.

3. What’s the easiest way for an artist to build a mobile list?

It’s not about building a list; that’s too simplistic. It’s about building a fanbase and community and allowing those people access to you via mobile and vice versa. Permission is a given when using a communication method. Spam is in the eye of the beholder and even if it’s legal, people won’t tolerate it - fans or not. Personal information can be collected in a variety of ways - text in promotions at gigs, fill in leaflets with your information, capture it on websites or mobile websites - all the usual methods. But make sure you have the tick box to opt in and make it easy to opt-out (by replying STOP to a text message for example).

4. What’s the easiest way for artists to deliver MP3s to fans via mobile?

Helen suggested we ask Steve Lawson who coincidentally also writes for Music Think Tank and he generously provided the answer:The MP3s to fans thing is an interesting one - the easiest way if you don't want to make your audience pay for them would be to do an MP3 blog with wordpress, add the Mippin plug-in, and just post the links in blog posts - most mobile phones will just ask where you want to save the file when clicked on...If you want to charge for it, life gets a little more difficult. I had a conversation recently with the former head of Paypal mobile - there's a joke name for a division. He left after paypal failed to do anything sensible for mobile at all, despite him organising meetings with the top dogs at Nokia for them... He did say there is some code that can be used, so I'm going to get onto him, find out what it is, and as soon as I do, I'll post it on music think tank! But at the moment, it's pretty tough to do.The big problem is that most of the online sales apps is that the front end is flash driven, and virtually no mobile handsets can handle flash... iPhone users can obviously use iTunes... I've no idea what the deal is with getting ones music onto the Nokia music store. I've had emails from the head of Nokia music, so will ask him as soon as I can!

This is an answer that seems it will unfold as time goes on….

Helen also comments:

Research tells us that young people are sideloading more tracks than their downloading from their phones. That means they’re downloading tracks to their laptops and transferring the files across to their iPods, phones, whatever. So what I would say is that DRM is a no-no otherwise you’re not able to share the track between devices.

5. I know ringtones have experienced a decline in popularity. Should artists still make their music available as ringtones? If so, what’s the easiest way for them to do that?

Yes, ringtones are still important—short snippets of a track available in the various mobile formats would make sense. There’s plenty software available on the Internet to allow for you to do that cheaply or free.

6. I know you are a twitter evangelist, just like me. Are there any tips on how musicians can use Twitter to create group mobile communication?

I love twitter and for me the most important things are authenticity and joining in. Be yourself and engage with other Twitterers. If Stephen Fry and Richard Branson can do it, then so can an artist!7. Do you have any parting mobile advice you’d like to give a band or an artist looking to learn more?
Yes, check out Paul Brindley’s MusicAlly and read David Jennings’ book Net, Blogs ’n Rock ’n Roll. And get yourself into blogs and google alerts to keep track of what’s happening in mobile and music.

http://www.beepmarketing.com/

/http://technokitten.blogspot.com/

New Vide from J.A.Z. "A.O.C."

2009-01-20T10:02:00.000-08:00

Who is the real Agent of Change?

BARACK OBAMA or YOU?

T Haddy in Da Ham

2009-01-19T15:11:00.000-08:00

The T Haddy 95.7 Gospel Jamz Interview

Da Truth @ BB Kings "Urban Soul Cafe"

2009-01-19T09:10:00.000-08:00

Urban Cafe KirkDaTruth - The most popular videos are a click away

Mixtape Mondays

2009-01-19T08:10:00.000-08:00

"Enjoy this one-click free download of the Kaboose "Bits & Pieces" mixtape. Feel free to share it with everyone.We've had a great year w/ Kaboose from appearing in The Source twice, to being featured on the Nike.com website, and many other wonderful things! So here is a free mixtape to help us celebrate that success!"

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?dml4izdz4dz

Sunday Morning Service

2009-01-18T05:15:00.000-08:00

Good morning.

What's at the top of the list for you this year? Better financial practices? Saving? Spending more time with family? Better relationships with those who work with you?

What ever it is...

Self- discipline is necessary...

John Maxwell said in his book The 21 indispensable QUALITIES OF A LEADER...

"If you can determine what's REALLY a priority and release yourself from EVERYTHING ELSE, its a lot easier to follow through on WHAT'S IMPORTANT. And that's the essence of self-discipline."

God is Love

Rev Run

Kevin Eikenberry on Clear Goals

Foot Fetish: New Arrivals @ adidas Originals Lenox Mall

2009-01-17T09:24:00.000-08:00

Had to make this post before heading to work. I'll be in from 2p-8p today and then I'm @ CENTERSTAGE for the HOLY HIP HOP AWARDS & ARTIST SHOWCASE. So Thursday when I wored we were busy prcessing BOXES of new heat that's starting to come in for Q1. Check it out and then come see me...

Ask for the GOrilla

ZX Series $75-$90

Samba $60- $65

Nizza Hi NBA (yeah I'll be getting it in Slateboard P style this spring with the Bulls joints on the left) $65

Ecstacy Mid Blk $90

NBA Superstar Track Jacket $85

Attitude Hoodie $75

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2009-01-17T07:35:00.000-08:00

G.I Joe the Movie- part 2

A 40,000-year-old race of snake people resurface, and with help of Serpentor, Desto, Baroness and Dr. Mindbender, plan to eliminate all of mankind and rebuild Cobrala. Once rulers of Earth, the Snake people were driven underground by ice-age temperatures. While in exile, they developed a plant whose spores turn ordinary men into mindless, weak animals. The key to their plan is G.I. Joe's secret project--the Broadcast Energy Emitter. Only this device generates enough heat so that the spores can mature. Humankind's very existance depends on G.I. Joe, but are they strong enough, smart enough, cunning enough to fight a warrior race with 40,000 years of experience?

We Are Actively Dismantling Your Trusted Marketing Strategies

2009-01-16T13:44:00.000-08:00

(Repost from Brian Massey's Blog)

The discussions and conversations offered here and elsewhere seem to focus largely on convincing you that "something is coming." The sentiment is that you need to be aware of some subtle change in preference out there; a slow changing of the tide.

I think we owe it to you to be a bit more clear. The culture, the strategies, and the beliefs that your business has relied on for the past 20 years are being actively dismantled. We have identified the load-bearing walls of your ideology. We know which screws anchor your most contrived messaging, and we are now loosening them.

The Internet is not causing this change in culture. We are changing culture. The Internet is just our weapon of choice, an interconnected wrecking ball being wielded with one purpose: to bring down the false, calculated, posing communication that assaults our sensibilities and clutters our world.

Your skill at communicating powerfully will fail you. Say something powerful, or shut up. Create your logos, but we will decide what they mean. Tell us you're the leader, the innovator and we will make you a liar no matter how good you are.

If you think Barack Obama raised $650 million because he understood the Internet, then you are in danger of making the same mistakes online that you're making in print, radio and TV. If you think he won the election because he raised $650 million, then you will over-pay for your mistakes.

Madison Avenue began its rise about 40 years ago and peaked about the same time that Michael Jackson did. We aren't making that kind of music any more and we certainly aren't buying it. Like Jackson, Madison Avenue will continue to exist in some grotesque form. They will take your money and will continue to paint your face while we knock your legs out from under you.

The tragedy is that you already know how to speak to us. You know how to carry on a conversation, to have a polite discussion about what you believe, and to even be passionate and persuasive.

Once you realize that your message has nothing to do with you, you will understand that it his everything to do with you. If you don't understand this statement, don't worry. We'll explain it to you in no uncertain terms. Here are some clues that will help you along.

TV is not an effective way to communicate, video is.

Radio is not an effective way to communicate, the human voice is.

Print is not an effective way to communicate, words and images are.

Web sites are not an effective way to communicate, solving problems is.

We now have the tools to create messages in each of these media. We will use them for you, and we will use them against you. You only get a vote in the matter if you have something powerful to say. Inform us. Entertain us. Inspire us. We'll listen.

"We" are your prospects, your customers and your competitors. Start the painful process of joining us, or wait for the more painful process of being dragged into the conversation.

The people on this site will translate for you. Tune in.

Flashback Fridays

2009-01-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister - In The Ghetto

Holy Hip Hop Awards Is Here!!!

2009-01-16T06:16:00.000-08:00

"2009 Holy Hip Hop Awards Streaming Live On Internet at 7 P.M. (Eastern Daylight Time) on Friday, January 16, 2009; and also beginning at 6 P.M. on Saturday, January 17, 2009 (Eastern Daylight Time)"

9th Annual Holy Hip Hop Awards will take place January 16-17, 2009 at Center Stage Arena (formerly known as Earthlink Live Arena) in downtown Atlanta, GA. 137 Live Performances will take place, with Supporters, Ministers of the Gospel (Emcees), Pastors, Churches and Labels arriving from over 146 cities and 40 different states, plus international countries: England, Canada, Japan, Bahamas, Sweden and Australia. Tickets available via Ticketmaster (key words: holy hip hop). Hosted by: Minister eDDie Velez and Erica Cumbo. For more information, go to: http://www.holyhiphopweek.com/

Live Internet Streaming/WebCast of 2009 Holy Hip Hop Awards (Friday, Jan. 16 and Saturday, Jan. 17th): 2009 Holy Hip Hop Awards, taking place at Center Stage Arena (Downtown ATL), located at: 1374 West Peachtree Street, NW, Atlanta, GA (404-885-1365) on Friday, January 16, 2009, will be able to be viewed via web-cast Starting at 7 P.M. (Eastern Daylight Time) and on Saturday, January 17, 2009 starting at 8 P.M. by clicking here on the following weblink: 2009 Holy Hip Hop Awards Live Broadcast (or by clicking on any of the Holy Hip Hop Awards Artwork below or by copying and pasting the following weblink below into your web-browser): http://www.ustream.tv/channel/holy-hip-hop

Doors Open (General Public): Friday, January 16, 2009: 5:30 P.M. Holy Hip Hop Artist Showcase January 16, 2009 7 P.M.-2 A.M.(Center Stage Arena (formerly known as Center Stage Arena (formerly known as Earthlink Live))): Artist Showcase featuring Ministers of the Gospel through Holy Hip Hop, representing North, South, East and West.

2009 Holy Hip Hop Awards Honorees:

* LG Wise * Young Prayzr * IROCC * S.O.M. * D-M.A.U.B. * Gospel Gangstaz * The Great Commission * Danny "D-Boy" Rodriguez (posthumous) * Legacy * XROSS * Dice Gamble * Christafari.

Ambassador Award: Kurtis Blow Walker and Josh Niemyjski

Saturday, January 17, 2009: 6 P.M.-2 A.M. (Center Stage Arena (formerly known as Earthlink Live)) Holy Hip Hop Honorees presentation, music and ministry, immediately followed by After Praise Party at Center Stage Arena (formerly known as Center Stage Arena (formerly known as Earthlink Live)), kicked off by Tampa, Florida's - Flavor.Alliance - Live DJ, Breakin', Graffiti.

TONY STONE BEAT MAKING 101

2009-01-15T11:36:00.000-08:00

Tony Stone is an absolute MONSTER

All artists seeking heat check him out here

New Video - R Swift ft Iz-Real "Lifetime"

2009-01-15T09:25:00.000-08:00

R-Swift ft. Iz-Real - "Lifetime" Music Video (Cross Movement Records) from Cross Movement Records on Vimeo.

PART 1: 50 Youth Marketing Trends for 2009 by Graham Brown mobileYouth.org

2009-01-14T15:29:00.001-08:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

PART 1: 50 Youth Marketing Trends for 2009 by Graham Brown mobileYouth.org

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: teens kids)

My Kind of Marketing...

2009-01-14T14:17:00.000-08:00

(spotted @ Direct Daily)

Remember when BMW did THE HIRE? It was a series of short films made together with some of the worlds best actors and directors. I got a DVD with all 8 films on them! GRAND IDEA!

Well...

"With the luxury car market facing declining sales, it has become more important than ever to attract new buyers rather than just up-selling existing drivers. Unfortunately, BMW's competitors in this price bracket like Porsche tend to have fiercely loyal customers. Previous attempts to contact these conquest prospects had achieved dismal response rates. Subvert the traditional car launch process and ask prospects to review the car ahead of journalists. They sent Porsche drivers a mysterious package containing an mp3 player. There was no branding on the pack - the only clue was the German postmark.

The mp3 message (in authentic German accent) spoke to people individually by name and invited them on a top-secret sneak preview test drive. Respondents were chauffeured one by one to a private airport, where they unveiled the new BMW X6 and recorded their comments on camera. They filmed each person with a dashboard camera as they put the X6 through its paces on the runway, and then edited the footage so that each driver had their own personal review on DVD. The most satisfying result was capturing Porsche drivers on camera raving about BMW.

But the results also stacked up from a numbers point of view. A staggering 72% of these completely cold prospects said YES to a test drive. This was the most overwhelming response BMW has ever had in New Zealand. So overwhelming, in fact, that they had to stop mailing when they were only halfway through the list.

Agency: DraftFCB Auckland, New Zealand."

T Haddy Motivation Mail Episode 1

2009-01-13T06:01:00.000-08:00

Message In The Music will be checking with T Haddy weekly as he gives us a behind the scenes look at his process and progress as an artist stay tuned...

Check T Haddy @ www.thaddy.net

Mixtape Mondays

2009-01-12T09:21:00.000-08:00

Download HERE

Can't Wait For This Book!!!

2009-01-12T05:05:00.000-08:00

Greg Stielstra is abck at it. After penning PYROMARKETING Greg is back this time teaming up with Bob Hutchins of BUZZPLANT to deliver what is sure to be power packed insight into the world of FAITH BASED MARKETING...

"Most businesses don’t have a good understanding of the faith community and how to market to this huge audience in effective, culturally sensitive ways. Many attempts to market to Christians have backfired, because the marketers had little understanding of Christians’ values, taboos, and "hot buttons". Yet the size of the opportunity is enormous. Faith-Based Marketing provides everything business leaders need to understand 140 million Christian consumers and effectively reach them. It explains who Christians are, what they want, and provides traditional, new media, and word-of-mouth strategies to communicate with and engage them and their churches. The book also includes a valuable directory of top Christian organizations, churches, and events, to help marketers and business leaders find out whom to contact and how."

Urban Soul Cafe

2009-01-12T00:19:00.000-08:00

Sunday Morning Service

2009-01-11T00:23:00.000-08:00

Good morning..

Here's the partner principle...

Working TOGETHER increases the odds of WINNING together. Win/Win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions... ( Remember this!) One person's success is not achieved at the expense or exclusion of the success of others...

God is Love

Rev Run

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2009-01-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

G.I Joe the Movie- part 2

"A 40,000-year-old race of snake people resurface, and with help of Serpentor, Desto, Baroness and Dr. Mindbender, plan to eliminate all of mankind and rebuild Cobrala. Once rulers of Earth, the Snake people were driven underground by ice-age temperatures. While in exile, they developed a plant whose spores turn ordinary men into mindless, weak animals. The key to their plan is G.I. Joe's secret project--the Broadcast Energy Emitter. Only this device generates enough heat so that the spores can mature. Humankind's very existance depends on G.I. Joe, but are they strong enough, smart enough, cunning enough to fight a warrior race with 40,000 years of experience?"

Not Esily Broken

2009-01-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

After years of disagreeing on what true happiness, success, and love really are, Dave and Clarice Johnson have finally reached a breaking point in their marriage. When Clarice is hurt in a car accident, the obvious truth that more than just her injuries need immediate attention is exposed. Their odds of making it worsen as Clarice begins to see a physical therapist, and Dave develops a friendship with Julie and her teenage son Bryson. The acceptance and comfort he finds in them stirs his longing for a family and a passionate partner. As temptation tugs at Dave and Clarice pulls farther away, they must confront whether their vows are or are NOT EASILY BROKEN.

Go to the Official Movie Site.

Kaboose - "Goin' Outta Control" (feat. Royce Da 5'9")

2009-01-05T06:46:00.001-08:00

The first single from the new album "Excuse Me" in stores now

Clearing the Air: Behind the DJ D-Lite / Holy Culture Split

2009-01-05T06:23:00.000-08:00

(spotted @ Ill Spot)

Breakups suck.

Whether it’s The Hulkster & Macho Man, EPMD, or Shaq & Kobe, inevitably half the fan base aligns with one side while the other 50 percent takes the contrary position.On December 17, 2008 the Internet Christian rap community, never immune to disagreement, learned of a shocking breakup within their own ranks. DJ D-Lite was leaving Holy Culture Radio (and eventually the entire network) – an online hub where he previously held the titles of “Owner” and “President.”This wasn’t a nicey-nice mutual agreement split and, on occasion, things did get ugly. But dust has settled since then and both of the primary players are now back to working together – just not in the fashion and under the same brands as before.In an effort to clear the air and squash gossip, both Damon “DJ D-Lite” O’Brien and Victor “DJ MVP” Padilla agreed to share their stories and help fans and friends understand what truly went down and where things currently stand.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To start, one needs a bit of background information.Although birthed with passion roughly five years ago, the day-to-day managing of the entire Holy Culture brand (the radio network, message board, download store, and record pool) eventually became a burden to Victor Padilla. It was an understandably hefty workload packaged with stress that was starting to impact his health. So, in the first part of 2008, Vic made a decision to turn over his creation to a trusted friend and loyal worker – Damon O’Brien.Although nothing was ever detailed on paper, D rightfully assumed the roles of owner and president and took over operations for every piece of the HCR universe except for the download store. At the time, it was a move that seemed both wise and mutually beneficial.“The whole idea was to give him a jump start for something of his own,” Vic said. “But I have admitted to Damon that it wasn’t very well thought out.”Then, in June of 2008, it was announced that both Holy Culture Radio and Holy Culture Download had forged a cross marketing partnership with ILLSPOT.net.The press release stated that ILLSPOT would be the premier Christian hip hop content and information social networking community “exclusively promoted” by HCR and Holy Culture Radio.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Everything seemed to be cool until Election Day when another gospel rap megasite (DaSouth.com) relaunched to the Internet-loving Christian hip hop masses. Aside from news and reviews, the portal also featured an online streaming radio station with several different shows and DJs. And although the respective owners have always been friendly and share a common goal, it was in many ways a direct competitor to ILLSPOT.Behind the scenes, DJ D-Lite helped the DaSouth.com better organize and load programs into the site’s radio utility. And the November 4 launch day, on the front page was a link to download a free “DaSouth.com The Election” mixtape hosted by DJ D-Lite.Viewing such moves in conflict with Holy Culture’s formal partnership with ILLSPOT, Vic decided he would ask to reclaim ownership of the Holy Culture Brand name and offer the opportunity for D-Lite to continue to operate the sites and services under a different identity.“I expressed to him that I made a mistake and that I should have thought about handing everything over,” Vic said. “I knew this was going to be a difficult decision and a hard pill for Damon to swallow. But I had to at least ask.”D-Lite initially declined the request.Vic recalled, “At that point I said ‘Okay.’ There were no hard feelings. I later called Trig [Vic’s other HCR brand partner] and said ‘I blew it.’ I said I should have thought about how [my decision] would impact things I wanted to do later down the road.”But after a few Instant Messenger conversations later that day, D-Lite decided to give in and return the name to Vic despite his reservations.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Even when making peace, feelings can still get hurt. D-Lite resigned himself to renaming and relocating his radio network.“Maybe I took it more personal than I should have, but I felt like I deserved that name,” D-Lite said. “Vic may have founded it, but I worked just as hard and spent my time and money over the last three and half years to build and restore the HCR brand to what it is today.“But I really felt God saying that if [the HCR name] is going to be given with that kind of heart [to give and then ask for it back] then I should let it go. Like ‘Just give it up and know that I have something better for you.’”Shortly after this online exchange, Vic posted a thread about the switch on the HCR message board. It did not include D-Lite’s official joint input and he was not aware of its content until after it was offered online.Such news was obviously of great surprise and interest to the message board regulars. Soon speculation and opinions grew like wildfire.Some sided with D, others with Vic, and some who had past run-ins with Vic joined in the conversation. Instead of a personal matter between business partners, the issue had escalated to full-on message board fodder. Thankfully, the thread was removed from the board and closed to outsiders later that day.And it was then that D-Lite decided to give it all – control of the HCR message board, the radio network, the titles – back to MVP. It wasn’t the response Vic expected.“In my view, he could have still had the platform and we would have assisted with the transition,” Vic said. “And it would have given him an opportunity to start something for himself and not have to ever worry about anyone else questioning his moves or asking why he did certain things. He could partner up with who he wanted, when he wanted, how he wanted and this would be his thing.”
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Both men now realize part of the problem lies in their different personalities. Vic is a visionary, one who sees big pictures and launches new ventures. D-Lite is a team player, a get-the-details-done type of guy, who is more inclined to jump aboard a train that’s already running than to try and lay his own tracks.Vic believed his original gift of the HCR brand and the subsequent request for it back were ways for Damon to start something of his own. D-Lite doesn’t see it the same.“I know God has called me to be a leader,” D-Lite said. “But to me, my leadership is not to build my name, it’s to build His name.“And it’s scary because a lot of times we want to think business minded but we don’t think Kingdom Business minded. And at the end of the day, if we’re building the Kingdom of God then our agenda should be last – period.”The situation has also taught Vic and D-Lite the value of getting an agreement on paper.“Definitely, I should have gotten an understanding [of the initial handover of the brand] in writing,” D-Lite said. “That way, without any confusion, I could have easily gone back and said ‘Look, this is what we agreed on.’”Vic says the same.“Yeah, I’ve had lots of people remind me of that now. But it really wouldn’t have made a difference in this case. I’ve never argued with the fact that he had what he had,” Vic said.“Even if we wrote a contract I would have still would have had to make a decision and say ‘Hey, will you let me out of this contract? Will you understand my angle and my thinking? Will you show me grace in this area and let us write a new agreement?’”
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Where things stand now is that Vic and Trig will consolidate their various HCR properties for maximum effectiveness and management. They’re also looking to possibly expand their brand to apparel or other areas where there appears to be a need.Meanwhile, DJ D-Lite has already launched DaSouth Radio Network and established a podcasting link for it via iTunes and other popular RSS feeds.They even worked together on renaming and rebranding the record pool they co-founded.Formerly known as the Holy Culture Record Pool, the venture now carries the name Kingdom Affiliates and sports a logo designed by Vic. The old URL, holyculturerecordpool.com, even re-directs to the new name due to behind-the-scenes work from both parties.“At the end of the day, I love Damon. And if this is what he’s chosen to do then I support him and all power to him,” Vic said.“I’m the same way. There’s no love lost between me and Vic,” D-Lite said. “I wish it hadn’t have ended the way it did but obviously God had a purpose for it and time will tell if it was the right or wrong decision for both of us.”

Sunday Mornign Service

2009-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

Good morning. People are set up to fail if they envision what they want to do, before they figure out what kind of person they should be... A true champion is KIND and CONSIDERATE... Practice being nice over the holidays... Smile, Be polite, Eat well, Sleep well... (And remember this) There is no pillow as soft as a clear conscience. --John Wooden

God is Love

Rev Run

Exodus

What Is The Spirit of Hip Hop?

New Music Strategies Manifesto

2009-01-02T11:55:00.000-08:00

Repost from Andrew Dubber

01. The music industry has not changed. It is changing.One of the biggest mistakes music businesses make when trying to adapt to the online environment is to acknowledge the changes that have happened online and then set about adapting to accommodate those changes. In fact, those changes are still underway, and it is a process of navigation, not a process of conversion from an old model to a new one. By the time you have adapted you will be obsolete again. Develop a strategy for keeping up.

02. There is no music industry. There are music industries.The music business is an overlapping collection of distinct forms that range from music production to promotion, manufacture to PA hire, publishing to management, retail to education. When you read of a technology 'killing' the music industry, your bullshit detectors should go off and alarms should sound.

03. The word 'unsigned' should be banned.'Unsigned' has long been used by the record business as a derogatory term to describe artists that are not good enough to be offered a record contract. It suggests that there are successes (those who are 'signed') and failures (those who are not). These days, we realise there are significant benefits to be had in independence — and that it is possible to be a successful independent artist. It is still usually necessary to engage professional services, but it is not necessary to be indentured to a major label in order to enjoy a sustainable career in music. Understanding of new technologies is typically a key factor in this independence.

04. It is better to ask forgiveness than permission.Innovation often requires risk — and yet we live in the most risk-averse of times. Major corporate organisations lock down culture by having an automatic default refusal of any request to appropriate works and reinterpret, recast or reinvent them in new ways — and yet this is the single most natural way for human beings to create. Despite what these large institutions would prefer to have you believe, most often it is better to keep a sense of scale about these things and press ahead. While you may get hit with a multimillion dollar lawsuit, you might also get hit by a falling satellite whilst holding a couple of winning lottery tickets. If someone rightly asks you to stop infringing on their works, then do so politely. But it is more important that you create culture, than it is that they restrict it.

05. Convergence is a myth.'Convergence' is an example of a way of discussing new online technologies by reducing them to a single idea without understanding them in any depth at all. In fact, convergence is the least common effect of digital technologies. A moment's reflection will come up with examples of new technologies that are neither interoperable nor the equal meeting of several older technologies. Video broadcasts on mobile devices are not similar experiences to watching television, and nor are they in any way connected with what we understand as the social practice of telephone use. Take a step back and consider new technologies for what they really are — and then you'll be able to have useful and applicable insights.

06. Innovation requires open systems.The open source software community has it right: innovation comes from encouraging people to take things apart and put them back together in new ways. America's Digital Millennium Copyright Act is profoundly anti-creative, as is any national intellectual property legislation that specifically prohibits reverse engineering. So is DRM for that matter. Leave aside for a moment the fact that these laws make criminals of half of the otherwise law-abiding population, closed systems only benefit the short term financial security of multinational corporations — and not the short or long term interests of human beings and their societies.

07. Copyright is important — and broken.Music industries are, in large part, organised around the exploitation of creative works that are the private assets of the creators of those works — and rightly so. However, the laws that govern how those assets are administered were originally created for the sole purpose of incentivising and rewarding creativity for the benefit and advancement of society. They are not a natural right — they are a property right. As the media environment shifts, the laws need to be amended to reflect the practices and requirements of a healthy and creative society. This has not happened in the Internet age, and the existing copyright laws need to be entirely scrapped and redrafted in the light of those first principles.

08. The internet is like electricity.The World Wide Web is not the internet. It is merely one appliance that plugs into the internet — like email clients, instant messaging platforms and Voice-over-IP software. Not all of the appliances we could plug into the internet have yet been invented, and this is a fertile area for innovation that will benefit the music industries. At present many music businesses are attempting to dry their hair with a toaster, which kind of works — but it's not ideal. What they really should be doing is collaborating with technologists to invent the hairdryer.

09. What's good for consumers is good for business.This is just true of business, fullstop. You want capitalism? Then play by its rules. Nobody ever made money by stopping people from doing what they want to do. You make money by helping people do what they want to do — and by adding value to that process.

10. Technologies are opportunities, not causes.Technological determinism is the idea that we are at the mercy of our technologies. We shape them, and they, in turn, shape us (to borrow from McLuhan). But technologies are not things that happen to us. Media are environments — and we can adapt to those environments in deliberate ways. When the mother bird kicks you out of the nest, there's no point in trying to walk more furiously, cursing the ground for its rapid approach. You have wings — it's time to start flapping them.

Flashback Fridays

2009-01-02T10:45:00.000-08:00

Sivion - I Still Love H.E.R. Live

Free Download from TONIC

2008-12-31T06:06:00.000-08:00

Download HERE

2008-12-29T08:38:00.000-08:00

Download HERE

Check Uno Mas & Cokbook ONLINE HERE

Mixtape Mondays

2008-12-29T07:32:00.000-08:00

Download HERE

adidas Originals Film - Superstar Magic with Dynamo

2008-12-29T04:44:00.000-08:00

adidas Originals Film - Superstar Magic with Dynamo from Freshnessmag.com on Vimeo.

Sunday Morning Service

2008-12-28T07:08:00.000-08:00

Good morning. I often hear people say "God is good"... Well so is electricity... BUT if you don't turn the lights on you'll stay in the dark. (Remember) Prayer works if you work it...

God is Love

Rev Run

Les Brown

Saturday Morning Cartoons

2008-12-27T06:52:00.000-08:00

M.A.S.K. - The Death Stone

Flashback Fridays

2008-12-25T23:47:00.000-08:00

BeBe & CeCe Winans - The First Noel (1993 TV Special)