IT WAS ALL A DREAM-NOTORIOUS B.I.G.

Notorious B.I.G. aka Christopher Wallace biopic was released January 16 is a must see for hip hop film goers. The anticipated film features the struggle and success of the Notorious B.I.G. (Jamal Woolard) and the people who impacted his life, Sean “P. Diddy” Combs (Derek Luke), Voletta Wallace (Angela Bassett),  Faith Evans (Antonique Smith), Lil Kim (Naturi Naughton), Lil Cease (Marc John Jefferies), and Tupac Shakur (Anthony Mackie).  

Even though B.I.G. died in 1997 at the age of 24 his life still lives on through this film. The film opens the eyes of an audience that only knew him as a rapper; it shows him as a man with an undeniable talent that started off as a dream but soon turned into reality.

Biggie’s rhymes spoke about the struggle of the streets and having a dream of making it big as one of the greatest rappers of all time.

Support Black Films

R.I.P.  Notorious B.I.G.

Last Night the DJ Saved My Life

The makings and breakings of an artist career held at the finger tip of a DJ

Artists sometimes think if they get their songs played on the radio they finally made it one step closer in the entertainment industry.  A lot of artists think that radio DJs have a major influence on their careers when it comes to selecting music.  However, it’s up to the listeners to decide if they like the music being played on the air ways.  Radio producers and music directors are responsible for deciding what music to play and preventing listeners from turning away from the station. At the end of day, it’s all about ratings, so if you’re not hot, then you must stop!

If artists are lucky enough they can sometimes hear local music being played during a “mix show” but it’s not always guaranteed.  Also, record labels send songs to radio stations to test the markets and to determine how good a song is and when to release an album. 

Coming from someone that knows the ins and outs of radio, Chris ‘ShoSmoove’ Lea, Morning Show producer for Greensboro based, hip hop radio station, 102 Jamz has some great tips for artists trying to make it on the radio.

1.    Always remain on your grind

2.    Don’t make the radio stations your main priority

3.    Create buzz about yourself everywhere else and the radio stations will come looking for you.

Chris also explained that getting your song played is not as easy as it seems.  Radio stations have to make sure that the official documents are secure for broadcasting songs. Radio stations cannot play songs that are samples because it could possibly lead to law suits. Also, every year radio stations pay fees to the BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporation) and ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) that collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers. So, the fact of the matter is radio stations pay licensing rights to broadcast music and report the music they play to the licensing organization which, in turn, distributes royalties to the artists affiliated with it based on the percentage of play their songs receive.

So now, is it sinking in that you have to be on top of your game when trying to make it into the entertainment industry? As artists, you need to seriously get your game up and start writing and producing your own songs and owning them.  Also, another takeaway is to make sure everyone you encounter knows who you are and also think your music is hot.

Don’t forget to check out the man behind the hottest morning show in Greensboro, NC, 102 Jamz “Wild Out Wake Up Show” and check out his MySpace page at myspace.com/shosmoovemusic

If you would like any additional information please contact DJ Untouchable at info@deejayuntouchable.com and (Office) 336-833-4752 or (Cell) 267-269-9709

 

 

 

Roots: Hip Hop in Philadelphia

Philadelphia for many years was the only city whose contributions to hip hop was valued as greatly as New York City’s by hip hop critics. Hip hop was popular in Philly as far back as 1976 and the New York Times newspaper coined Philly as the “Graffiti Capital of the World” in 1971, due to the influence of legendary graffiti artists, Cornbread. In 1980, the first female solo artist to record hip hop was Lady B, “To the Beat Y’All”, a Philly-area radio DJ.

In addition, Philly has produced some of the most well known rappers and DJs since the beginning of hip hop culture. DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince were one of the first to put Philly on the map as a hip hop headquarters.  They made music that crossed over to R&B and Pop radio stations. Also, an underground rapper, Steady B pushed the Philly underground sound with hard beats and rhymes which were reminiscent of early LL Cool J.

Also, The Roots, were the first proclaimed hip hop band in the area, that was followed by underground fans since the mid-1990s. Philly is also famous for early 2000’s mainstream acts such as Beanie Sigel, Eve, Freeway, State Property, Cassidy and Cyssero. The Philadelphia underground scene consists of Reef the Lost Cauze, Chief Kamachi, Hezekiah, Random, The Last Emperor, Jedi Mind Tricks, meek mill and so many more.

 

If you would like any additional information please contact DJ Untouchable at info@deejayuntouchable.com

and (Office) 336-833-4752 or (Cell) 267-269-9709

 

 

History of the Mix Tape

Mix tapes go all the way before rap records were made and hip hop was born

” Mix tapes can consist of everything from reggae, slow jams, jazz, hip hop, and R&B soul.  However, they weren’t always called “mix tapes”, back in the 1970s; they were known as “party tapes”.

Back in the day, people loved partying in the clubs so much that they would pay DJs for their party tapes to take homes or to listen to in the car.

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force, Kool Herc and the Herculoids, were among the most popular crews of the birthing of hip hop that became successful not only from their DJ gigs, but from the recordings they made.

Grandmaster Flash credits himself, Kool Herc, and Africa Bambaataa as the originators of the mix tapes.

Mix tapes are less about displaying turntable skills and more a reflection of a DJ ability to find new talent and new music.

So if you’re a DJ, who says you have to stay in the background? As long as mix tapes are still around, you can still position yourself in the spotlight and become successful.

 If you would like any additional information about DJ Untouchable’s mix tapes please contact DJ Untouchable at info@deejayuntouchable.com and (Office) 336-833-4752 or (Cell) 267-269-9709 

 

Mix Tape-Got Guap

Got Guap is a collaboration of talented, hip hop artists from the Carolinas and Philadelphia area that has a passion for hip hop music. 

Got Guap was released in Late November at DatPiff.com, a Web site for DJ’s and artists to showcase their mix tapes.

The purpose behind this particular mix tape was to get local artists recognized, with quality sounds and productions to circulate nationally.

Shout Out to the following artists

–          DJ Papers-South Jersey

–          Naps Krew-Greensboro, NC based, Hip Hop Record Label

–          Teamsters-Hip Hop Group that targets artists in Philly, Jersey, and North Carolina

–          DJ E Sudd-Greensboro based, who has a mix tapes series called on my grind

–     Q the Question-Hip Hop Writer, Street Knowledge  Entertainment-Trel Mack

DJ Untouchable Previous Mix Tapes:

–          Quiet Storm

–          Hard Rock Café

If you would like to find out any additional information about “Got Guap” contact DJ Untouchable at info@deejayuntouchable.com or (Office) (336)-833-4752, (Cell) (267)-269-9709