INDUSTRY TALK: One of the Realest Songs in Hip Hop....In a Long, Long Time

MY INSPIRATION TO MAKE RAP BEATS

Nasir Jones: one of my favourite hip hop artists and arguably on the list of the top 5 MCs of all time. April 19, 1994 was Illmatic's release date and also the date that changed hip hop music for me forever. It was my first time hearing an MC say the things Nas was saying in the way they were being said. Blew my mind. That album influenced my writing and rapping to step up exponentially. Then of course, the beats. Blew my mind again. From "New York State of Mind" to the Q-Tip produced "One Love", It felt as though the culture itself pour its energy into and possessed Nas and his producers during the time this album was being created. I had no choice but to make beats and try to make them as sick as what I was hearing. Of course back then there was no one to buy beats online and as a matter of fact I didn't even know too much about the internet then, or computers for that matter. Music like that is why I am a producer to this day. Some call it "real hip hop" but I'd rather not suggest that newer hip hop is any less real since most young artists who are presently in the game, some of you even buy beats online at my site, are in this present era and honestly you're doing your ting well. I'd prefer to say that songs which define the overall feeling of the culture are the songs that continue to inspire me to make rap beats.

INSPIRATION: THIS IS WHY YOU BUY BEATS

Scroll up and watch the video if you haven't already. It's Nas' latest release from the forthcoming album "Life Is Good", his first solo project in about 5 years. "Daughters" is simply Nas showing us his life as a father and the trials and joys of raising a girl, not only in this society, but raising a girl as a single black man with his own skeletons, and raising a girl as,  Nas, the superstar MC. This song is pure inspiration on a number of levels. To those of you who have daughters it is bound to make you contemplate your own relationships with them. To the artists reading this, just listening to the beat, Nas' flow and lyrics are sure to send you runnig for your rhyme book (or tablet, laptop, Blackberry, iPhone or Android), or to tho studio to empty out all the creative juices that come bubbling to the rim. To you guys, this is why you need original rap beats. This is why you've always yearned to be the best MC ever. This is why you buy beats online, and thus, this is why I do what I do. Thank you and thank Nas and every other artist that continues to inspire the engine of hip hop.

INDUSTRY TALK: Rihanna Gets Fast & Furious!

Fresh off her debut acting gig in the blockbuster flim, "Battleship", it seems Rihanna has been cast in the role as a villain in the upcoming "Fast & Furious 6". Apparently, our Bajan princess is unstoppable: She's been on top of the music world with hit after hit since 2005, she is a constantly a trendsetter in the fashion world and now, a movie star. If I was her, I would have taken the "red pill" too!

As a fellow Barbadian I just want to send nothing but blessings and support to Rihanna. Though some of us Bajans cry foul and openly disapprove of what some call raunchy behaviour, me I'm open minded and think she should just keep doing her. Not to mention the fact that since her music has taken on a much harder edge, I'm hoping I can get her to check out the rap beats I'm slingin' LOL!

MONEY TALK: The REAL Young Money

Okay don't get excited by the title, this has nothing to do with Drake or Li'l Wayne. The video above is from Forbes and it gives you a look at some of the world's billionaires under 40. That's right. Actually most of these guys are in their mid 30s and a few of them, namely the Facebook crew, are actually not quite 30 yet!

This is pure inspiration to anyone under 40 (most of you reading this probably are). Whether you rap, sing, make rap beats (or any genre), write software, write books/articles/poetry or you're just a good salesman and an all around hustler, recognize that these guys all had ideas and dreams and through whatever means (foul or otherwise) did not give up until those dreams were reality.

So if you are a rapper or singer, don't hesitate to invest in yourself. Save some cash , buy some beats online (they are quite affordable), pay for studio time and get serious with your career. If you have any other type of skill, the time is now to stop relying on handouts, charity or a paycheck. Get up and get yours!

INDUSTRY TALK: For All the WU TANG Heads!!

Hip Hop as a genre owes a lot of its development to these guys. The Wu Tang Clan exploded in the early to mid 90s and redefined hip hop as a genre and the way hip hop artists made deals with labels. I was totally inspired and enthralled by the Wu Tang juggernaut in those days. It influenced my writing (yea I write rhymes) and my beatmaking. To this day, RZA's work is an indelible part of my foundation and of the foundations of other producers today who make beats for artists to buy online or in their hometowns.

Check out the video above. It had me literally glued for the whole performance. The impact of the Clan is undoubted when a whole generation, regardless of race or ethnicity, can sing along word for word with all their songs. This put me in the Delorean and sent me back to when Hip Hop had an infectious energy and your worries seemed small if you just happened to get your hands on the newest releases. I mean come on I'm sure we have all felt that bubbling anticipation when removing the plastic from that new tape (remember those?) or CD.

I continue to love the older Hip Hop because it always inspires me to write rhymes and make rap beats. If any of you out there feel inspired to write rhymes, whether by the stars of today such as Odd Future, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole or by legends like Wu Tang, Blackstar and A Tribe Called Quest, one thing you have in your favour now is how easy it is to  buy hot rap beats online, make a great song and start promoting via social media (technology huh?). Never waste a single opportunity. Make those who paved the way proud by carrying on the legacy of real hip hop. Do it how it should be done.

INDUSTRY TALK: "Beez In the Trap" Nicki Minaj ft 2 Chainz

Sigh. I was sitting here wondering what would be the topic of my next blog post and then I came across this track and video from Nicki Minaj ft 2 Chainz called "Beez in the Trap". Admittedly, when I first saw the title I was actually hoping it was an ode to bee-keepers (LMFAO!) but alas, it's just Nicki being...well Nicki, or maybe I should say the Nicki she recently morphed into.

Ok so I understand where she's coming from. The song is more for those who can relate as it celebrates, promotes and sends respect to a whole lot of cities and states in the US, particular those in the South which are associated with the term 'Trap'. Of course, the feature from the man of the moment 2 Chainz clearly helps the credibility of the song. However, nothing about the song says 'real' or 'original' to me. I can just imagine Nicki's management sitting around in the studio deciding that in order for her remain relevant and try to comeback from that horrible mistake (i.e. Stupid Hoe) she HAS to do a trap song, since trap music is king in hip hop right now.

Unfortunately the song's only saving grace, apart from the street laced flow of 2 Chainz, is the video, and that's only because Nicki's body is smoking hot and she's pretty much half naked through all of it. Oh and did I mention there are a few hints of quasi-lesbian behaviour with similarly hot women? In addition, as a producer I have to comment on the beat. Even though it has trap earmarks all over it, it's not just a carbon copy of a Lex Luger or Drumma Boy beat. This is a lesson for unsigned acts looking to buy beats online: look for an original sound that still has elements which make it current.

Ok so to sum it up: New Nicki Minaj track; following the 'trap' band wagon (face it, she's no T.I....hell she ain't even Flocka); Nice beat; decent bars from 2 Chainz; Nicki showing some skin (damn she would get it!!!). Check the video out for yourself as this is just my humble opinion. It still makes for a cool listen if you happen to be in that mood for some trap influenced vibes. If you are an indie artist and this track inspires you (either to do something similar or try to blow it out the water) check me out at my site and listen to some of the beats we have online. You may just find the perfect one to buy.

INDUSTRY TALK: Need to Make a Hit Record? Read This

CAN'T FIND BEATS ONLINE? MAKE THEM YOURSELF....WITH A LITTLE HELP

Are you a true independent music artist? Do you search online to buy the right beats or even seek out local producers to no avail? If you're like me then you fancy yourself a true "do-it-yourself-er" when it comes to music. These days, the indie artist is not just an artist. He or she is also the recording engineer/producer/beatmaker/mix engineer/chief cook and bottle washer. It seems as though this is an evolution which came hand in hand with the advent of new and more affordable software and hardware for making music. Additionally, rates at large commercial studios and prices charged by big name producers are usually too hot for the average indie artist.

In steps producers like me. Guys who are familiar with the situation simply because well...we are artists too and we face the same problems. I started making rap beats and learning how to record and mix because I was in a rap group and we need access to those things but could not afford the professionals. Because I am in such a position to empathize, I am able to do two important things:

• Provide industry standard rap beats/hip hop instrumentals for artists to buy (lease) online at very affordable rates.
• Create and offer loops and sample packs in most major urban/pop genres.

While the latter may be more suitable for producers, recall that we just established that many indie artists are also the producers of their own material. Thus, loop pack such as the dubstep samples in the player above are perfect for artists as well as dedicated producers. Sometimes this may even be a better option than buying beats online, for the following reasons:

• The high quality (WAV, ACID, APPLE) loops can be mixed and matched, added to other instruments or manipulated in many ways and therefore are more flexible than just beat in mp3 format.
• The loops are sold royalty free so it is very similar to leasing a beat
• The price is very affordable and the value is great because a loop pack will contain 5 or more beat kits.

DON'T JUST BUY BEATS, BUY TOOLS FOR YOUR CREATIVITY

Just to sum it all up, I must say that there is NOTHING wrong with buying beats online. Many artists are simply just vocalists and prefer to keep things simple. However, for those who like to get hands on and show a different level of creativity, loops and sample packs are a viable option. You get a substantial number of royalty free loops in each pack that can be combined and manipulated in countless ways or simply looped up and used as is! Take a listen to the demo above and check out others like it here.

MIXTAPE REVIEW: Wilson Wright "Victory Laps"

Once again from your ultimate source for indie hip hop culture, hot rap beats online and more, we bring you another mixtape review. Not only are we about providing hip hop instrumentals and rap beats for artists to buy online, we also continue to be an active member of the hip hop community and assist in giving artists the exposure they deserve.

Hot off the press and straight out of the DMV and Black Pilots League comes "Victory Laps" from Wilson Wright (@Wrighteouslife). This tape is 12 tracks of what I call easy listening hip hop. The beats are all original and this is highly commendable. Most of the beats are mid to slow tempo and have that really "chill" vibe. That being said, as a producer myself, my only constructive criticism would be that the beats are a sometimes a little too simple and the mixes lack that extra bump. That aside, the tape is still a very good listen.

Wright's wordplay is sprinkled with gems such as "I create the greatest discs somewhat like Krillin's hands" ( a reference to the classic anime Dragon Ball Z). The standout tracks on this tape, based on the impact of the beats and how they blend with the flows and the lyrics, are the title track "Victory Laps", "The Arrival", "Goodbye" (Ill soul sample!) and "CliffTops". The latter almost has an old Outkast vibe, which is a serious compliment to Wright and his production partner @Official_BigCAT. 

All in all Wright's laidback style and braggadocio wordplay are worth the listen and you can check it out here. Out of a possible 5 star rating, "Victory Laps" gets about a 3.8 mostly because the beats didn't bump as hard as one would like and the track "Goodbye" which has arguably the best vibe on the tape, was too short. Give it a download for the simple reason that Wright is a true MC.

INDUSTRY TALK: Headliner.fm: A Good Way to Get Heard

In keeping with our mandate to be so much more than a site with offers rap beats/hip hop instrumentals for artists to buy online, we've found a number of cool online tools for musicians and artists and we will be reviewing them here from time to time. If you are an indie artist and you haven't yet checked out Headliner.fm, you ought to be kicking yourself right now. Headliner.fm, in my opinion is one of the most effective ways to get word of your music out. It seemlessly connects to twitter, facebook, soundcloud and even myspace, allowing you to potentially reach millions of fans. The way it works is, users get "band bucks" by connecting their various social media accounts, referring friends and most importantly, promoting other users on the site. You can then use these "band bucks" to launch your own promotions and reach potential fans/customers that you would not normally have access to. 

Let's say for example, you're an indie hip hop artist who's looking to buy rap beats online or attract interest from A&Rs. With the band bucks you've built up, you could target other artists who use the service by basically offering up band bucks for them to tweet/post a message from you about whatever you need to promote. That way, you can have the message sent out to the fan bases and followers of many other artists. This can clearly be of great benefit to you. The trick is to word your messages so that it seems as though the artist who does the tweeting is simply telling his/her followers to check you out. In a world where image means a lot, having an artist seem to give you an endorsement like that is very valuable. 

With tools like this available, there is no longer a reason to worry about how to get signed. Indie artists, especially in the world of hip hop, can now easily buy rap beats online, create their mixtapes/albums and promote, promote, promote.

INDUSTRY TALK: New Single from Nas "The Don" LIVE @ SXSW

In an age in hip hop where superstars are based more on the quality of rap beats than on the quality of the MC-ing, it is great to see that veterans like Nas are still out there making good songs and still rocking the crowd! The super MC is still one to look up to for up and comers.

We aim to help the up and comers as well by providing inspiration in the form of advice, and the best hip hop instrumentals for those who buy beats online. The time is now. If you want to be on the SXSW stage next time around, get your hands on top quality hip hop instrumentals and check out some of the posts on Stratcarter.com that are geared towards helping indie artists get ahead. We are more than just a spot to buy rap beats online!

INDUSTRY TALK: Why Soundclick is Great for Artists

If you buy beats online or promote your music online and you haven't heard of Soundclick.com, either you're a new born, a Martian or just plain clueless. It is one of the most popular and enduring artist/producer communities on the web and has ushered in the cult-like popularity of some of the best young beatmakers/producers in urban music such as Johnny Juliano, Vybe Beats, SuperStar O and Beats Planet. However, even though the producers tend to dominate, Soundclick is always bubbling with activity from recording artists as well. If you're going to have a presence on Soundcloud, Bandcamp, Reverbnation or even MySpace (is that still there?), then you HAVE to add Soundclick to your list. 

Here is why I believe Soundclick is great for artists:

• It is a tried and tested site, which has been around for years. You will be sure that you have a large potential audience for your music, since the Soundclick community is huge. 

• The beats. Soundclick producers offer amazing, industry standard beats for non-exclusive license at prices ranging from $15 to $25. Soundclick beats are usually high quality and it is better to spend a little for a license to use a beat rather than illegally use a copyrighted "industry" beat.

• Soundclick offers html ready widgets and players that you can post on you own website, other community sites, or forums. Again a great way to maximize your exposure.

• Facebook and Twitter integration. Every time you post a new song to your page, you can share it with just one click.

The few drawbacks I've found with Soundclick are that the on site promotional tools are somewhat expensive if you're on a limited budget (as a lot of indie artists and up coming producers are), and that many of the producers just tend to copy the prevailing trend in terms of the style of rap beats they offer. In other words, if trap beats are hot then you will find the majority of producers pushing trap beats. Though this may be annoying for an artist looking to buy beats online, it's an obstacle which can be overcome either by searching deeper within the site or seeking an alternative for hot rap beats, as there are many. 

Soundclick is definitely a great online tool both for producers and recording artists. If you take your music career seriously, get online and get active in the communities that can give you the exposure you need.

INDUSTRY TALK: How To Be a Better Rapper/Singer

I run a small recording studio and therefore I come into contact with a lot of artists of all different types. Because the major genres I deal with are Hip Hop and R&B, I interact with a whole lot of rappers and singers. I myself started rapping at an early age went on to win competitions and awards in my home country, on my way to becoming a producer and audio engineer. Over the years I've gained some insight into what it takes to become a better rapper (or singer for that matter), and I want to share a few points here:

1. Read more. Sounds basic but it's important. The more you read, the more you get familiar with words and the nuances of language, enunciation and cadence. These are essential tools for any vocalist.
2. This is related to point 1. Expand your vocabulary. Learn more words and what they mean. Especially for rappers, this helps you to have a bigger arsenal when writing or freestyling.
3. Stay up on current affairs. Again it's about feeding the mind so that you will have sources of inspiration and knowledge to draw from. Some of the best lyricists in rap are also some of the most socially aware and intelligent members of the community.
4. Don't practice in isolation. This is why having a circle of like minded individuals around you is very important. Your crew should be able to keep you sharp via friendly competition and constructive criticism. Don't stay alone in your corner and not expose yourself to other opinions and stimuli.
5. Practice a lot and try new things. Don't settle for doing the same thing over and over again. Challenge your abilities. It's a good way to grow.
6. Vocal training (yes rappers need this too). Not only should you have a vocal coach teach you correct breathing techniques and such like, but you should also take good care of your voice since it's your instrument of choice.
7. Search for and use beats that suit the type of artist you want to be. There are almost infinite resources to choose from, especially when buying beats online, so listen through your options and choose what sounds and feels right.

I know that was a mouthful but I felt as though it needed to be said. Here's to better music and better music careers for all of us!

INDUSTRY TALK: Make Music Outside the Box

It's 2012 and the music industry is in its most interesting state ever, in my opinion. On the one hand, we have artists who are purely about musicianship and raw talent i.e. Adele and on the other we have gimmick artists like Nicki Minaj. Both successful but from two totally different perspectives. One is crafted solely by the engine of the industry and panders to whatever trends are hot while the other has brought back that feel of true artistry.

 I want to encourage artists, producers and beatmakers to think. Think not just about what sells currently or what is the next shock value gimmick that can be employed for the sake of remaining relevant, but instead try to craft your songs, beats and videos with a kind of cutting edge creativity. Here are some examples of what I mean, little things that may make a difference:

• Song structure. The usual intro, verse, chorus, verse chorus blah blah blah is cool but maybe try switching it up a bit. Try a simpler hook or maybe even verses where the hook line of the song is at the end of each line of the verse. Bridges are cool but try using them in an unorthodox spot in the song, or maybe have the bridge come at 2 points in the song.

• Rap groups should try being more integrated on tracks, e.g. in the case of a 3 man crew, instead of 3 verses and a couple hooks, have 2 verses and have each member play parts in both. This creates a real crew vibe and is very interesting to the listener.

• Try weird things in your beats. Sample household implements or things that you wouldn't normally associate with music. For producers who compose more often than they sample (like me), avoid monotonous loops throughout the song. Use your chops to create different movements and mini bridges within your beats. It makes them more appealing to artists who are looking to buy beats online or otherwise.

Look at the success of Odd Future (OFWGKTA). Even though a lot of their music is filled with what I like to call shock value content, which in itself may be seen as a gimmick, they certainly get an A for effort. They are unique and as such have garnered a cult following.

Think outside the proverbial box. Boxes are stifling....and square.