Taking it to the next level

WEll, This post is sort of a ramble and question all in one....i wanted to hear some other peoples opinions/idea and goals.

WEll, day after day i work on my "music shit" Pumping out tracks. I half-ass record the beat, preview it for my MCs and friends.....usually i give the cd to the mc, they right something....maybe well record.

Problem is, i always feel like im in a rut or something....like i cant take it to the next level.....like all im doing is building my skills, and thats it. I know im good, good enough to really do something. Every where i go i talk to people, meet new mcs. I get good responses and people like my shit...but thats it. I have problems finding the right people, like it turns into "im not your dad, i cant tell you what to do" type ish. No one gets shit done, and i feel like they using me for my skills but i get nothing in return. Like im more of a MC sitter than actually a producer.

WELL im starting a plan, a business plan. To take it to the next level.
I really want to start my own production company....simaltaneously working with some specific mcs towards maybe a label/ or group.

QUESTION: WHAT are some of your Goals with your music? How do you plan to take it to the next level......

I guess my frustration is, on where to focus, whether it should be a group, or just production-selling my beats. I want to be professional and get it where i can set dates on goals, and work that needs to get done (like actually puttin something down) I wanna start a group, cause That has always been in my goals, but i also would like to seel my shit for $$$$.

Im fitting to get some knock for my trunk so I can rattle the block with my Emualtor II basslines and MPC60 kicks and snares, thats about it. If one of my folks kicks some raps, thats cool, everytime I go to a show or lounge, I bring CDs and business cards, beyond that I dont really care much, its all fun.

for me its like this i really think all the emcees round me really suck so i am tryin to get outta this area. I think location has alot to do with it. I think peeps that really are tryin to do it are by the cities and they have more of a pro attitude and work ethic. kids round me are all thinkin large and got these "ill" ideas and dont want any direction, but they aint got the talent or the ethics. like comin over and not knowin ur verses when we in the lab. Like cmon yo, if u really tryin to do this and talkin large then u gotta apply yourself. i cant **** with that shit no more. Im tryin to get to nyc or philly to try to get my career off, but for know im just tryin to mess with talent from the net. but i think when i move to a bigger city theres more of a scene with real talent and competiton so it would be more accesible to network an all that jazz. Im out in the middle of bumblefuc* just gettin my skills up now. where u at?

cyrus wrote:WEll, This post is sort of a ramble and question all in one....i wanted to hear some other peoples opinions/idea and goals.

WEll, day after day i work on my "music ****" Pumping out tracks. I half-**** record the beat, preview it for my MCs and friends.....usually i give the cd to the mc, they right something....maybe well record.

Problem is, i always feel like im in a rut or something....like i cant take it to the next level.....like all im doing is building my skills, and thats it. I know im good, good enough to really do something. Every where i go i talk to people, meet new mcs. I get good responses and people like my ****...but thats it. I have problems finding the right people, like it turns into "im not your dad, i cant tell you what to do" type ish. No one gets **** done, and i feel like they using me for my skills but i get nothing in return. Like im more of a MC sitter than actually a producer.

WELL im starting a plan, a business plan. To take it to the next level.
I really want to start my own production company....simaltaneously working with some specific mcs towards maybe a label/ or group.

QUESTION: WHAT are some of your Goals with your music? How do you plan to take it to the next level......

I guess my frustration is, on where to focus, whether it should be a group, or just production-selling my beats. I want to be professional and get it where i can set dates on goals, and work that needs to get done (like actually puttin something down) I wanna start a group, cause That has always been in my goals, but i also would like to seel my **** for $$$$.

yea Cyrus, I feel you, trust me. I also want to start a production company .
A lot of MC's got some skill, but rarely do any have the motivation. They
all think "somebody will discover me cuz I'm tight", they don't got the go
get em attitude. Me, I'm trying to get in good with a few record labels, do what I gotta do, show em some of my work, hopefully they'll feel it, probably gon have to give away a few beats, after that, start dealin with
contracts like points, and cash up front. So basically to take to the next
level, I'm strictly focused on my production and engineering skills, and getting my contacts to hear some stuff. My goal is to have cats call me beggin for beats. One day be able to pick and choose who I want to work
with.

yeah, im in milwaukee....right now im in between apartments, so im stayin at my girlfriends parents house.....ive sort of post poned my music, for a few weeks. Right now im just planning and figuring out what i want to do.

My new apartment has a nice room where i can dedicate it to all music. And Ive got some sound walls.

But i agree with you bingero, i think location has alot to do with it. Right now i wish i could move to NYC or even nashville, Chicago, or California or something.......I have some friends going towards Atlanta. WEll, My problem is that ive got alot of credits invested into School-UWM so if I move, alot of my credits wont transfer and ill have to retake classes. Im a year from graduation. Otherwise i would instantly move.

Milwaukee isnt that great of a city for hiphop. Its wierd...because the overall music scene around here is great. For getting gigs, meeting people who are into music, there are tons of local bands, enthusists....but nobody really puts anything down hiphop wise....and if they do, its like a gang who doesnt want anything to do with you. Its like everybody has an attitude, and is out for themselves. Like they are gonna get "discovered" like on american idle or something. At the college, i know there are lots of dudes who are into hiphop....but, no one with work ethic so far.

I dont want to have the attitude of, you call me....but ive discovered if i dont, ill end up doing thier laaundry and driving there ass around.

I guess my plan is not to sleep on the resources around me......like just because i havent met someone right yet to put shit down, im not gonna give up.....Ive got the resources to fully produce and record a good album and thats what i wanna work on. IM makin business cards....i plan on putting together a short demo i can pass out with the cards....ANd im posting up flyers around campus, and the bars, and local shops where the scene is at. I also wanted to organize like a monthly event for freestyle battles....or start like some kind of organization for music talent and poetry or something. Hopefully network that way.

I also was thinking of doing the internet way......

Thanks for the replies. its good to see im not the only one. Peace

Sorry to ramble some more, but i couldnt finish my last post.


I want to also start a business plan of some sorts....for a production company. Ive got a few contracts for selling beats. I also know several producers in my area. I was thinking of renting a small studio space, there are several down town milwaukee. I wanted to advertise, then sort of treat customers on an individual basis....like Sell them beats....ive they wanted to we can record them, charge them for both.....If they submit a demo, and they sound good, we can write up an agreement, and fully produce a Record for them...under our name/label, and promote them through our production company and also as an artist.

I was also thinking of putting together just an instrmental cd of my beats. ANd promoting that on vinyl, around some dj shops here. Getting my name out, plus selling cds for cheap, with some information on the cover, about if they submit a demo, they might get chosen for a full album, or collaboration.

I figured these ways i can sort of play on the "im gonna get discovered" attitude, but also pick who i want......also get my name out and make $$$.

What do you all think of that?

Thought i was th eonly on eliving in a world where it seems im the only one willing to put in the work...First off think about it. Im not charging for beats , becasue i want to develop a artist as well and if anything work with them towards a ideal goal. These assholes act as if record companies are going to knock on thier damn door. What i do to past time and it actually keeps my morale going is to put acapellas of JAy-Z, Pac and even R& B joints over my tracks to remind myself , you are hot listen to what you just did...For th emost part i enjoy making music without the lazy ass emcee around the corner

dehromie wrote:Thought i was th eonly on eliving in a world where it seems im the only one willing to put in the work...First off think about it. Im not charging for beats , becasue i want to develop a artist as well and if anything work with them towards a ideal goal. These assholes act as if record companies are going to knock on thier damn door. What i do to past time and it actually keeps my morale going is to put acapellas of JAy-Z, Pac and even R& B joints over my tracks to remind myself , you are hot listen to what you just did...For th emost part i enjoy making music without the lazy **** emcee around the corner

for sure...it keeps me goin too. Plus if i preview it to a friend (non emcee) they can properly critique it, or give an educated opinion. Any other time, their opinion isnt straight becuase they dont have the vision of "what it will sound like with an mc" ya know? to them its just a beat and they dont get it. Same with emcees sometimes too. Im like, this is a hot beat, but they cant hear it...until i humm the melody or something, then they are like, ohh. Kind of like the "milkshake effect", the milk shake beat is so simple, and you wouldnt think its a banger, until the emcee hits it.

I feel ya.
The folks you are surrounded by determine a lot.
Not being from a major city can be a problem, but right now it looks like all of the energy is coming from all over the place. 10 years ago, who would have thought that St Louis, Philly and New Orleans would be this much impact.
But, to tell the truth, if those cats that you are dealing with were already put on, it would be other drama. Drama, but some cheez.

All that aside, maybe you wanna try to do some Hiphop based jingles for the local readio and tv stations. Some public service announcement music for non-profits and so on. That may keep you busy, inspired and introduce you to some folks besides knuckleheads.

Peace.

good idea man, ill try that.....im gonna check the university radio too, maybe get some local djs to mix my beats too.

peace

hello all i think this is the first time i have posted on this forum and i decided to jump in on this topic...
when is started out i saw no future in music but since then i had a life changeing experience when i went to berlin last winter... it amde me realize that there was a whole wide world out there and a culture that wasnt totally closed off to new music...
now in the future i plan to move from lonely colorado in the next year and jump the puddle over to berlin... ultimately i would like to start a label or join a label, above all i want to do what i want to do... no restrictions... i would like to become a resident dj in berlin and make music... i think that is all for right now but if i haveany other thoughts i will post them...

binger0 wrote:for me its like this i really think all the emcees round me really suck so i am tryin to get outta this area. I think location has alot to do with it. I think peeps that really are tryin to do it are by the cities and they have more of a pro attitude and work ethic. kids round me are all thinkin large and got these "ill" ideas and dont want any direction, but they aint got the talent or the ethics. like comin over and not knowin ur verses when we in the lab. Like cmon yo, if u really tryin to do this and talkin large then u gotta apply yourself. i cant **** with that **** no more. Im tryin to get to nyc or philly to try to get my career off, but for know im just tryin to mess with talent from the net. but i think when i move to a bigger city theres more of a scene with real talent and competiton so it would be more accesible to network an all that jazz. Im out in the middle of bumblefuc* just gettin my skills up now. where u at?

Brah, I'm feelin' you tough as hell on this one. The situation I HATE is when you do find a cat with some serious, mind-altering FIYAH...and he/she is lazy as hell! Or, you realize that this cat has been taking in one too many compliments and gets all complacent and sloppy. The flip side of that are the completely garbage MCs with all the work ethics of a P.Diddy/Steve Rifkind/Kevin Liles hybrid clone---they come on time, stay til its done, PAY ME...and it's all wack music! But these are the cats that get signed...albeit they bend over pretty quick and may not last past the first single, but you know what I mean.

DaFunkDocta2004 Said IT RIGHT ! Thats exactly how it is !

My peoples at MCA here in NYC tell me that CATS come in EVERY DAY with some HOT Joints . . . But it dont matter . . . Labels only looking for people that are selling already.

My boys job is to check Soundscan & Mom and Pop stores for Local talent across the country. So if you in OMAHA and sold 5000 copies IN Omaha, you can get a deal . No Matter How Wack !

Check the History: They All had Records out Before they got a deal

Lil Flip , Master P , Nelly , Luda , Cash Money , Ja Rule , Jay Z, T.I ,etc

So whats MY plan to get out of the RUT ?

1. Im gonna finally finish this album im working on
2. Make a Beat CD
3. Sell ALL MY Equipment & Use the money to market my album

If I dont TRY . . . . I'll continue to Sit here complacent

tell me what u think

I feel you man... I'm in the same exact boat as you... I wanna follow a business plan and take this sh*t more seriously... But no MCs are down to work as hard as I do... I can't find anyone as dedicated...

Right now I'm focusing on school... I start in the Fall... I'm taking a Music Industry course... It's a Music Production course and a Business course all wrapped in one... It's a co-op program so I get real experience in a studio and make some business connections before I graduate... And every year my school offers grants to young entrepreneurs trying to start up a small business... I'd love to start my own label or production company...

It's all down the line, but I think if you really love something it's worth waitin for... Ya feel me

ive been writing down ideas, figuring out what i need to do, for my self: to be successful, and a step in the direction i want. So far ive learned that hardwork, networking, and writing shit down are whats working.

Ive been reading "music business." Ive also been developing my business plan.

When i get it completely written, maybe ill post it. Thanks everybody for the inspiration. keep posting, its nice to see differant aspects of this shit!

So far the first thing on my agenda is:

finish demo
-get mastered
-packaged nicely
-copyright
-send out, hand pass, network, etc.
-coverletter to labels/radio station
-try to meet people who know people

make business cards
develop website
-to sell beats, offer recording services
-market to local mcs and djs

FInish business plan
-how im actually gonna run things: more detailed agenda
-take altered contracts to a music buziness lawyer to get things straight