How about some hardcore, yeah we like it raw for sure
Broads on the floor, wall to wall
There's more at the door, players ball to score
'Cause this right here is for all of y'all
Rakim and Primo, yo I got what you need bro
You go see a show, smoke an L, mean yo
And deejays play hits with hard bass kicks
And then they display tricks like The Matrix
Make the record fly undetected by the naked eye
So just feel the vibe 'cause your ears never lie
Nowadays deejays bags of tricks, graphic
On some behind the back shit, catch it and scratch it
Classic, this kid got his
Rakim
When I be On the Mic
There has been so much chatter over the state of Hip Hop and the direction of the music, its as if people think we actually have a choice in the matter. When an oligopolist industry like the music biz, closes in on an art form you can best believe shits heading south, no doubt. I remember when the music was a fad and you couldnt catch a glimpse of a hip hop video on mtv or friday night videos. We had to fight for years (hip hops best) just to get to mainstream status. A status which has allowed hip hop to become what it is today, an ATM for the industry. A quick buck off of an organic ghetto-fied Kultcha created from our peoples uncanny abilty to make anything funky. Whats really hood is this is just another notch in our never ending quest for affiliation/assimilation. The momemnt you stop crying about grammy's and what ever else "they" want to give you is the same moment you'll start making better tunes. I mean seriously what possible good could come out of a business meeting with Wal Mart where they tell you what tracks they like (Want you to put on your album). We are constantly rating current hip hop like its our job as a people to validate which portions will be added to the hyper capitalistic mainstream media flow. People the decision has never been in our hands and thats why we have what we have...
The companies:Broads on the floor, wall to wall
There's more at the door, players ball to score
'Cause this right here is for all of y'all
Rakim and Primo, yo I got what you need bro
You go see a show, smoke an L, mean yo
And deejays play hits with hard bass kicks
And then they display tricks like The Matrix
Make the record fly undetected by the naked eye
So just feel the vibe 'cause your ears never lie
Nowadays deejays bags of tricks, graphic
On some behind the back shit, catch it and scratch it
Classic, this kid got his
Rakim
When I be On the Mic
There has been so much chatter over the state of Hip Hop and the direction of the music, its as if people think we actually have a choice in the matter. When an oligopolist industry like the music biz, closes in on an art form you can best believe shits heading south, no doubt. I remember when the music was a fad and you couldnt catch a glimpse of a hip hop video on mtv or friday night videos. We had to fight for years (hip hops best) just to get to mainstream status. A status which has allowed hip hop to become what it is today, an ATM for the industry. A quick buck off of an organic ghetto-fied Kultcha created from our peoples uncanny abilty to make anything funky. Whats really hood is this is just another notch in our never ending quest for affiliation/assimilation. The momemnt you stop crying about grammy's and what ever else "they" want to give you is the same moment you'll start making better tunes. I mean seriously what possible good could come out of a business meeting with Wal Mart where they tell you what tracks they like (Want you to put on your album). We are constantly rating current hip hop like its our job as a people to validate which portions will be added to the hyper capitalistic mainstream media flow. People the decision has never been in our hands and thats why we have what we have...
EMI Music
EMI Music is the world's largest independent record company, operating in 50 countries around the world. Its record labels include Angel, Astralwerks, Blue Note, Capitol, EMI, EMI Classics, Manhattan, Mute, Parlophone and Virgin.
Sony BMG Music Entertaiment
Sony BMG Music Entertainment is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. Sony BMG Music Entertainment is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group, with its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, is the world's largest privately held independent music company. The company is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Atlantic, Elektra, Lava, Maverick, Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word. Warner Music International, a leading company in national and international repertoire operates through 37 affiliates and numerous licensees in more than 50 countries. Warner Music Group also includes Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music publishers, with a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide.
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is the world's largest music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 71 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry's largest global music publishing operations.
Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca Record Company, Deutsche Grammophon, DreamWorks Records, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Philips, Polydor, Universal Music Latino, Universal Motown Records Group, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalog of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Strategic Marketing & Commercial Affairs (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, a new media and technologies division.
5.1 Entertainment Group/Silverline Records
The 5.1 Entertainment Group owns the immergent, Silverline and Myutopia record labels, 5.1 Production Services and 5.1 Music Publishing. The company is a recognized leader in the audio/visual production, release and marketing of music in the DVD format. In addition to having released the largest catalog of DVD music worldwide, 5.1 Entertainment Group has mixed and produced projects for Norah Jones, Usher, Britney Spears, Eminem, R. Kelly, Janet Jackson, Fleetwood Mac, Sting, Eminem, Herbie Hancock, Dishwalla, Alice Cooper, Everclear, Hanson, Robbie Williams, Queen, Yanni and Aaron Neville to name a few.
The Retailer:
Wal Mart
Wal-Mart has become the largest music seller in the US, selling one out of every five albums. Wal-Mart is now doing everything in its power to drive the costs of CDs down - much to the labels' dismay.The latest example of Wal-Mart's "direct procurement" approach continues the company's practice of upending the traditional relationship between the makers of goods and those who sell them.
So with a crew like this you think the music is gonna change for the better? These fools cant even work together (They so damn greedy) so how on earth are they gonna do anything positive for Hip Hop. Nobody wants to hear the good stuff any ways... And yet we still blame the artist (loose utilization of the term), come on people DONT SLEEP. Hip Hop went from a voice, to the bastion of loose bootys and bad bruthas and if you think we can change it, well lets just ask your favorite rapper to say "Fuck wal mart" on his next CD and we will see real quick how much the "BLING" quotion drops. The industry is a system, a mechanism, an apparatus, for the advanced distribution of distorted socio/cultural norms. This system is so deliberate that it can absorb any cultural anomaly and redirect its intent in a manner that is detrimental to its constituents and profitable to its operators.
How far must I go to gain respect? Um.
Well, it`s kind of simple, just remain your own
Or you`ll be crazy sad and alone.
Industry rule number four thousand and eighty,
record company people are shady.
Qtip
Check the Rhyme
Well, it`s kind of simple, just remain your own
Or you`ll be crazy sad and alone.
Industry rule number four thousand and eighty,
record company people are shady.
Qtip
Check the Rhyme
"Rap is not pop if you call it that then stop!"
NARO%
