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Industry Payback

Funk Volume presents the newly mastered collaboration track, “Industry Payback.” After the success of the “Don’t Fu$k Up Our Beats,” rap contest the minds of the FV crew felt it necessary to feature some of the worthy competing artists on a track together. Furnished with an absolute gem of a beat, Seth Rock, SwizZz, Abyss, Cryptic Wisdom, Nayme Brand, Omega of 35^th Regiment, and Hopsin, offer us a glimpse of the potential of genuine and uninhibited music.  

This collection of artists makes easy work of such a topic and everyone goes in with a fury. The track flows effortlessly from one vocal to the next, each rapper showcasing lyrical talent (and straight Funk Volume!) that does not rely on the conforming sound of today’s commercially driven hip hop. Refreshing for an audience plagued with recurring waves of tactless beats and unimpressionable lyrics. The rappers are dope, no doubt about it, it is easy to see why they were chosen for this song.

This song is welcomed and exhibited proudly by Funk Volume, and serves as a reminder of what music production can sound like when barriers are non-existent and incentives to make good music are pure and creatively fueled. These artists will surely be heard again. Check out their MySpace pages for more music. The Volume hath been Funked Up!

Turn it up,
Myke
myke@myfunkvolume.com

Because we have gotten such a positive response from other artists in regards to our beats, we have decided to feature hot songs that have been submitted to us using our tracks. So if you have created a dope song using one of our beats, then email it to us so that we can put a spotlight on your work. With so much garbage out these days, good songs need to be rewarded!

The first song that we wanted to highlight comes from a team based in Arizona called Fresh Produce.  The song is titled “Introductions” and presents a collective of individuals working together to attain a higher purpose – All organics no preservatives!  The track features three dope MCs, Nayme Brand, Jeary Sylves, and Sam I Am.  It was actually the song they submitted during the “The Don’t Fu$k Up Our Beats” Rap Contest. You can follow them on Twitter – www.twitter.com/freshproduceent.

Check them out because their “Funk Volume is louder than yours”….haha.

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

I am not sure if I understand KRS One’s argument completely, but I definitely agree that the major labels have dealt a crushing blow to hip hop.  How did we get to a point where you only hear 5 different songs on the radio?  How did we get to a point where you can only rap about money, drugs, and sex in order to get attention from a major record label? Well if we only look to how incentives are currently aligned, we can answer SOME of these questions.

As a record label (or any company for that matter) grows, more often than not they raise equity capital (money) to finance growth.  When that happens there is a 3^rd party (the shareholder) that has “equity” or an ownership stake in the company.  From that moment on, the companies’ obligation is to the shareholders, not hip hop, or anything else.  Investors want the highest return possible so they expect management to make decisions based on maximizing the money that they put back into their pocket.

Unfortunately, maximizing profit and preserving the creativity & diversity of mainstream hip hop has not proven to be completely correlated (yet).  Record executives don’t feel they have a responsibility to hip hop. Their responsibility is to their shareholders and to the new Mercedes they want to buy.

How can we change this?  Support independent companies that are dedicated to making good music (i.e. Funk Volume…haha).  There are a lot of companies that are designing new business models that strive to preserve the creativity and originality of hip hop, and be profitable as well.  At the same time the owners of these smaller companies need to be mindful of how they align incentives as they grow and do business with third parties.

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

 
Funk Volume in the Community has done it again. For our September event the Funk Volume team offered our volunteer services to the Venice Music Festival hosted by the Venice Community Housing Corporation. Although Funk Volume is a musically oriented organization, we are always happy to offer volunteer support to other worthy and noble associations which may or may not be involved with the instrumental and lyrically charged world.

The Venice Community Housing Corporation (VCHC) is one such worthy non-profit organization. The goal of the VCHC is to encourage the economic, social and racial diversity of the Venice community by maximizing affordable housing opportunities and offering other support programs and services to assist the low income population of Venice. It is nice to read and hear about the optimistic goals of non-profit organizations, however it was a pleasure to see that the VCHC really backs up their mission statement with effective programs and tangible results. Over the course of the day a number of former homeless families were courageous enough to get on the microphone and share their stories of struggle and perseverance, and how the VCHC was a vital part of their personal success in finding homes, jobs, and educational opportunities.

The Funk Volume team really exemplified the volunteer spirit at this event, showing that in the name of helping those less fortunate no task remains too much identified with the proletariat, as most of our work was done behind the scenes and out of the limelight. So thank you to everyone who came out and helped a worthy cause and thank you to the VCHC for their hard work and righteous ambitions. Remember, Funk Volume has a community service event every month so there is ample opportunity if anyone ever feels like giving back, and it’s always fun with us because there is always some funk with it.

Turn It Up!
Myke
myke@myfunkvolume.com

I want to believe that what Common is saying is true.  And to a certain extent, I can see what he is talking about.  I have noticed that there are more artists trying to create songs that have a hopeful message.  I think it is a combination of Obama, the recession, and just the fact that rappers have finally run out of metaphors for how many diamonds are in their chains. But we have a looooonnnnggg way to go. 

Where I see the biggest challenge is on the radio.  As I am writing this blog, I am trying to think of a positive, uplifting song on the radio, and I really can’t come up with one.  I guess you have Drake’s “Successful”, but even that record is a stretch because he defines “success” as having “money, cars, clothes, & hoes”.  If you can find a positive song on the radio please email me. But it is probably going to be extremely difficult given that Gucci Mane seems to be the hottest artist on the radio right now (smh!).

Will the corporations that control the airwaves give the green light to more positive songs?  Will artists create, and push for more positive songs on the radio, even if it means a fewer number of spins and a little less money in their pocket?  Will listeners boycott the radio in order to demand a change?

I know it may seem pessimistic, but I have to admit that I am a bit skeptical.  Change requires sacrifice, persistence, and resilience.  I want to believe that our communities still have these qualities.  I hope that there are artists and fans that are willing to take the necessary actions to create change.  Obama can communicate the importance for change, but ultimately it is up to us to deliver.

What are you willing to sacrifice in order to make this happen?

Why is there so much hatin’ in hip hop? Are rappers threatened by the success of another rapper?  Do rappers believe the success of one rapper takes away opportunity for their own success?  Does the hate stem from something deeper in the black community?  

Katt Williams says to embrace haters, and I agree, but why does hip hop have to be the only genre of music in which artists try to tear each other down?  We very rarely see new rock bands step on the scene and take shots at Aerosmith or Guns N Roses. As a matter of fact, it is the complete opposite. New bands have the utmost respect for the older bands, and the older bands show the same respect and support for the newer bands.

I understand that hip hop has always been about competition. Furthermore, most rap feeds off of ego, with everyone claiming that they are the best, or talking about what they have. But let’s just be real, most artists are living in a fantasy world when they talk about being the best. There are over 5 million hip hop artists on MySpace, and everyone claims they are the “best”. 

Funk Volume supports and respects good music.  If you are making good music, then we are behind you 100%.  We will never try to tear down another artist just because we envy their success. We are going to celebrate the success of others, and continue to make and support others in making good music.  We don’t have the time or energy to hate. On top of that, it just creates better relationships, and is better for business.

So if you do catch us hatin’, then it’s just because your music really isn’t that good…haha…J/K.

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

The Funk Volume team helped in creating a positive hip hop atmosphere where B-Boys and Girls of all ages and cultural backgrounds felt free to express themselves through break dancing, music, and the art graffiti. The actual Danger Room was blown up by a number of break dancers that were in full effect and ready to show of their skills in the Bonnie and Clyde competition, which pitted couples against each other in a battle of break dancing creativity. Also in attendance were a number of DJs who provided ample beats and music ensuring a continuous stream of B-Boy classics.

Outside the building, there was an area set up for the sole purpose of graffiti. J.U.I.C.E is nice enough to provide a sizeable canvas (a couple walls) and even a number of spray cans to hand out to the would be and up and coming graffiti artists, who outside the walls of the program are vilified for their art, but inside the J.U.I.C.E walls are embraced and encouraged. Funk Volume was proud and happy to be able to offer their volunteer services to such a program and is looking forward to the next community service event.

If you would like to join FV in a day of community service, join our Facebook group.

Turn it up,
Myke
myke@myfunkvolume.com

 

We have recently sent out an open call to all hip hop artists looking to win $500. The best part: it’s free to enter.  Funk Volume is starting to create a small buzz in the hip hop world, and now we want to share the experience with other rappers.  Along with the launch of our remodeled website, we are now promoting our “Don’t Fu%k Up Our Beats” Rap Contest.

Anybody wanting to show off their talent and get paid for it is asked to participate. This is a great opportunity for aspiring artists and hip hop enthusiasts. There are only 5 steps:

1) Download one of four original beats from the contest homepage

2) Record a video of yourself rapping to the beat

3) Post your video to YouTube

4) Submit the entry form on the FV website

5) Reach out to your fans, friends, and family to vote on your video

Funk Volume encourages the creativity and authentic self expression through music.  Feeling that music has lost its originality, FV wishes to restore innovation.  Through the contest, we hope to get artists’ voices heard as well as creating a forum for new talent.  So grab your mic, and enter the “Don’t Fu%k Up Our Beats” Rap Contest.

We will also be using the contest as an opportunity to find artists to feature on our next mixtape! 

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

Joe Budden is pure comedy.  Who gets punched in the eye and then challenges there adversary to a “square dance”?  Obviously a “square dance” is not going to happen.  It is just Budden’s ego that tells him that he needs to respond like a man so that he is not considered a “punk”.  [Our ego gets us into a lot of trouble…haha.]

Even though it sometimes costs Joe a lump on the side of his face, I give him credit for figuring out how to keep himself relevant in a new era of marketing hip hop music.  Joe Budden now has thousands of people following his blogs, tweets, video, and finally, his music.

My personal opinion is that Joe is a better blogger than he is a rapper.  Sometimes he is just keeping it real, other times he says things that are way out of pocket, or exploits his girlfriend’s big butt just to get attention.  In any case he is successful in keeping his name in streets, barbershops, and on the minds of other rappers.  I never thought I would actually hear a Slaughterhouse song on the radio in LA, but “The One” has been playing quite frequently.

Congratulations Joe, you didn’t get your “square dance”, but you have figured out a way to get your music a lot of play. Just goes to show that this game is marketing, more than ANYTHING else!

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

Everybody seems to be taking a shot at Soulja Boy these days.  And although I think it is perfectly fine to call artists out when you think they are suspect (provided you do it on a track), the fact of the matter is that if Soulja Boy existed 15 years ago, then he would not be catching the flack that he is getting today.

Dancing and gumball pop rap has always been a part of hip hop. I grew up doing the Running Man, Cabbage Patch, Roger Rabbit, Robocop and everything else.  No one ever said that those dances weren’t hip hop.

The problem is that we have lost the diversity in hip hop. So when younger cats are dancing around, it is foreign to what a lot of people call “real hip hop”.  But let me remind you that MC Hammer was hip hop, Heavy D was hip hop, Kid N Play was hip hop, Salt N Peppa was hip hop, and so on and so on. The only difference is that back then we had so many artists representing a different style that no one got called out for dancing on a track.

Soulja Boy created a lane and for the most part he stays in it. He may not be a lyricist, but you have to respect his grind and his talent for creating some catchy beats and hooks. And I’m not sure if it is him or his camp, but he is a marketing genius. 

Personally, I don’t think he can rap at all. I tune out all of his songs until the hook comes in. But instead of hatin’, why don’t you create your own lane and help bring back what hip hop used to be about…being different.

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

In the United States it seems like we have forgotten how powerful hip hop can be.  There was a time when hip hop was used for more than a platform to talk about what you have, or how nice you are on the mic.  Don’t get me wrong, there is room to boast and entertain as well, but in not having more of a balance we are not maximizing the potential of the art form.

There are many to blame for the lack of balance, but all around the world there are MCs that have carried the torch, using hip hop to challenge the status quo and speak out against social injustice.  Salome, the young female MC featured in the video above, wrote this song after an attack in Gaza.

As violent as some of our neighborhoods are, none of us have it as bad as Salome. You might have witnessed a drive-by or seen a couple of people get shot, but we don’t have bombs exploding across the street from our homes. However, in spite of her difficult situation and at the risk of being jailed for speaking out through music, Salome uses hip hop to tell her story.

We seem to have lost this element in the US, but it is encouraging to know that hip hop is still being used to provide a voice to the voiceless all around the world.

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

On one hand an artist might say that you need a big ego to be successful in hip hop.  There are over 5 million hip hop and rap artists on MySpace.  If you don’t think you are the best, then why even try to compete?  On the other hand, however, your ego has the potential to create a fantasy land that will trap your mind in a false sense of reality.

In the clip above Mos Def says that our fiercest enemy is our self.   What he is saying is that we often tend to make decisions that we know are harmful, but we let our egos get the best of us because of how we think others will look at us.  When artists are rapping about things they do not really have or situations they have not been in, they are only doing it because they want to portray a certain image.  I would imagine that it probably gets to a point where they are so used to telling lies, that they get trapped in their fantasy and actually start to believe it.

There is a difference between having confidence, and having a big ego that creates a fantasy world to boast about in your raps.  We are getting demos sent to us all the time.  Many of the artists are talking about their “stacks” or how they have “money to burn”.  Let’s just be real, if that really was the case, then why are they even submitting demos to us asking for a deal? 

It’s time to put our egos aside so we can stop perpetuating fantasies, and focus on the truth so we can move forward in hip hop.  

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

 

When we listen to a lot of rappers today we like to take what the artist is saying literally.  We want to believe that their words are also their realities.  While some artists may very well live the life they rap, many (if not most) do not.  They simply want to portray that image to their listeners or to other artists.

Many times as fans of music we don’t distinguish the real from the fake.  We want to believe in the elaborate lives that the artists put forth through their music.  As fans we should learn to listen to an artist and be able to decipher whether or not they are speaking fictitiously or genuinely.           

It seems to me that we become so involved in the lives portrayed by celebrities that we believe everything thing they say no matter how out there it may seem.  Even those of us who take the time to see through the words don’t seem to care much beyond making a mental note because we all have a love for the “foolishness” in our entertainment.  We just have to remember that we never really know the celebrities that we idolize so much.

 Like most things there are two sides of the spectrum.  There are thousands of artists who are thoroughly genuine through their art, but you also have artists who slang hypocrisy.  We as fans need to wise up and recognize the true artists who choose to be thoroughly genuine. 

Turn it up,
BR
brenton@myfunkvolume.com

I’m not happy that everyone now expects good music to be free, but I do understand both ends of the argument.  I know it doesn’t seem like it, but most artists spend a lot of time creating their music. We don’t expect other types of artists to hand over their paintings or sculptures for free.  So why should musicians have to give up their art for nothing? 

But the key words in last paragraph were “good music”.  As you can see from the video above, it is hard to find “good music”. So people download the crap.  I know I’m not paying $10.99 for an entire CD that really only has one banger.  Artists kept releasing crappy CDs, the technology was available, and most people will do shady things when they think no one is looking. Put those variables together, and now music is free.

Now that the expectation of free music has been set, it will be impossible for us to ever go back to paying for music. So get creative, explore other ways to monetize your music. There is more music out there, but “good music” is still hard to find.

In any case, let’s start producing music that is worthy of a price tag, whether it is being paid for directly or not!

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

I can’t really say that I am an Asher Roth fan, but I do respect that almost every time I have seen him in a cypher, his rhymes are off the top.  Because nowadays it seems like there is some confusion between a freestyle, and a written rhyme.  If you have written down a rhyme it cannot be considered a freestlye! If your boy is standing behind you while you are battling, finishing off your lines because he heard it before, then that is not a freestyle! Don’t pass written rhymes off as freestylin’ because you don’t really know how to come off the top. Stop disrespecting cats that really can spit!

When did freestlyin’ become a written art? It is cool if you can’t freestyle. There are very few people that can think fast enough to put together hot rhymes [that makes sense] on the spot. If you are an artist and you were not blessed with the gift to come off the top or not willing to invest the time to work at it, just stick to writing. But when you write, call it a written. Do no fake like you are freestylin’.  If you are giving an interview and the interviewer wants you to freestyle, but you don’t have that skill, then just step up and say, “freestylin’ is not really my thing, but I definitely got a hot 16 that you have never heard”.

I understand that a lot of cats don’t want to look stupid or mess up. But hip hop is not supposed to be a culture of fake artists trying to hide their weaknesses. Hip hop is [or should be] about self expression and giving a voice to folks that have never really had one. Artists should boast and brag about actual talent.  If you are a fake, then you will be exposed. Hip hop has always had a way of exposing fake artists.

So if you can’t come off the top, just stick to writing your raps.  Perfect your song writing and make hot songs.  Hip hop needs more artists that actually put some thought into what they are saying. But if freestylin’ is a part of what you do, don’t disrespect the art form and the artists that really do freestyle.  Call a written a written, and a freestyle a freestyle. 

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

 

 

We all know that there are not many men that can take being disrespected on the chin and keep it moving.  So a few days later they submit a response making threats back at their counterpart.  And then they go back and forth for weeks without releasing any music!

The reality is that beef has always been a part of hip hop.  In my opinion it is one of the best aspects of the culture.  But beef in hip hop is supposed to be about the music and who is the best artist. If you think a cat is suspect, then you call him out in a song and wait for the response.  When both sides have been heard, the fans decide who wins.  At the end of the day it is usually healthy for both sides.

My personal opinion is that hip hop needs to get back to the music. All that woofin' in the camera just makes cats look bad. I recognize that there are some that will follow through on the threats that they make, but why would you put it on camera if you really are going to start something outside of music?

If you don't have any beats to get at cats that you think are suspect, then just holla at Funk Volume.  We will help you start some ish....haha.

Let's get back to the music!

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

If you looked at the diversity of hip hop on a spectrum in the 80s and 90s I would say we had DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince on one end, and NWA on the other.  But then you had everything else in between. Young MC, Third Bass, Too Short, De La Soul, MC Lyte, Vanilla Ice, LL Cool J, Wu Tang Clan, Del tha Funky Homosapien, The Pharcyde, Nas, Tribe Called Quest,  2 Live Crew, Arrested Development, The Fugees, JJ Fad, Salt N' Pepa, just to name a few.  Now out of the artists that I mentioned try to compare any two. You can't! They are all different. And each group was cool because they served a particular niche; some bigger than others, but still cool.

Nowadays I would say you have Soulja Boy on one end of the spectrum and 50 cent on the other.  I'm not going to start any beef by listing rappers that are out right now, but make your own list and then compare them against the list in the previous paragraph. Do you think there is the same variety? I think my point is clear.  You have a few well recognized artists (i.e. Kanye, Andre 3000) that don't mind stepping out of the box but those examples are definitely exceptions.

Both major record labels and artists are to blame.  The good news, however, is that things are about to change.  Because we have access to new technology that can help get our music exposure, we do not have to wait for the major labels to take a chance on something that is different or unproven. Artists don't have to feel like they can't be true to themselves.

So no more excuses. Let's make being different cool again...haha.

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

 

Is this bad for hip hop? I'm not sure. I understand that, as with any art form, it has to evolve and change.  But the extinction of the MC would be a crucial blow to hip hop.  There are still some older artists that came into the game as real MCs, and continue to hold it down. But they cannot carry the torch forever.  Who is going to fill the shoes of artists that appreciate the art form of the MC like Jay-Z, Eminem, Nas, Meth or Redman?

I know a lot of people are probably going to say, "What about Lil Wayne?"  And even though I would personally be willing to argue that one, I'll give you Lil Wayne. But name some other young MCs that you can compare to a Scarface, Chuck D, Cool G Rap, 2 Pac, Notorious, Big Daddy Cane, or MC Lyte.  The list of MCs from the 80s & 90s is quite extensive.  The list over the past couple of years is almost nonexistent.

I'm no MC or rapper, just a fan of the music and culture. I do recognize, however, that the MC is on life support. I urge all rappers and potential MCs to couple the new school swag with a passion and appreciation for the art form. Will some real MCs please stand up? 

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

 

What do I mean by reality checkpoints?  Let me explain by comparing basketball to hip hop. If you played basketball growing up and you dreamed of playing in the NBA, there were many reality checkpoints that gave you insight into the odds of whether or not your dream would ever be fulfilled. If you did not make your AAU, junior high, or high school teams, then you probably started to realize that the NBA was not going to be in your future. Tryouts are a reality checkpoint that let you know whether or not professional sports are in the cards that you were dealt.

Hip hop doesn't really have any reality checkpoints. There are no team tryouts or physical requirements. Before the X Factor, Steven could just keep on believing that he was going to be the next Eminem and there was no one that would tell him any different. As a matter of fact, the folks in Steven's inner circle were probably hyping him up, making him believe his music is hot.  Steven could have been 35+ before he finally realized that he is not going to be selling out Madison Square Garden any time soon.

This is not a message to everyone.  I think hip hop is for everybody and should be enjoyed and performed by any and every person that respects the culture. This message is for the artists that aspire to make a career out of music. It is not meant to be discouraging, but enlightening.  Make sure every aspect of your music is on point, from the lyrics to the production, and then create your own reality checkpoints so that you know you are not wasting your time. 

Turn it up,
Dame
dame@myfunkvolume.com

 

 To download the entire mixtape for FREE, click here.