Awe$ome 4 $ale

The Business Side of Hip Hop

maxptah — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 20:00:46 +0000

“Everything is all good until $$$ comes into play”

This is a very true statement concerning the business of Hip Hop. I understand that people probably have responsibilities and that’s understandable, but all the equipment that producers/beatmakers/engineers aren’t gonna pay for themselves. We spend a lot of money on this stuff then when it comes time to sell a beat or do some engineer work it turns into “I don’t wanna pay for it” or “I don’t wanna pay THAT much for it”. I understand now why a lot of Hip Hop producers are gravitating towards other genres now. Beats are usually sold (or given) and then they’re not used, only for the same rapper to come back and ask for another beat. I’m getting my chops together to be done with Hip Hop from a producing level. There are so many free music programs and stuff that you can do it all yourself now. Personally I’m happy about that. I know that could mean less people come to me for beats, but that’s just more stuff for me to use for instrumental albums. To quote DOOM, Pack FM, and another producer “rappers suck”. Never understood it, but I’m beginning to now. Its time I start to branch off and look for something else to get into musically. Eventually if I could get to a point where I could be a recording engineer and have a studio setup for rock/jazz/soul bands I’d call my hobby complete. Nothing against Hip Hop though. I’ll always love it and never stop doing it, but its a world out there other than you.

Freaknik the Musical/Oscars

maxptah — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:29:06 +0000

So ever since I had heard of Freaknik The Musical I had been curious to see what it was gonna be all about. Not because many of the people lending their voice talents, but because it was originally supposed to be David Banner’s cartoon (The Crooked ‘Sip). When I first saw a preview for it I pretty much already shunned it and decided that it was something I didn’t want to see. It didn’t look appealing at all, plus it really featured artists that I didn’t really too much care for. Then the closer it got to coming on, the more I started looking forward to it. Then last Sunday when it premiered, I was blown away by it. It was a pretty good cartoon. Not much replay value, but nonetheless it was highly entertaining to me. It was pretty much what was expected knowing the people that were doing the voices. All are mainstream radio rap staples so no real surprise there for the kind of music and “foolishness” that were seen in the cartoon. I had no problem with it all, but I noticed that (black) people started getting on their high horse about it, but I’ll deal with the issue later cause I want to get to something else…

Congrats to Mo’Nique for her Oscar win for her role in Precious. Now I haven’t seen the movie so I’m not going to say that she played to part well or start to throw praise her way when I’m not in the position to because of that. From what I’ve heard other people say though is that she played the role perfectly and deserved the “Golden Naked Guy”, and since she won she obviously won over the critics for that role. Many congrats are in order for Mo’Nique.

NOW….

This is what this blog is really about here.

Let’s start with Mo’Nique. I’m in no way shape or form going disqualify her in winning the award. I’m happy for her. I’m not gonna tear her down cause of the role she played in it (as mentioned above I have not seen the movie). For the third time since Halle Berry got her Oscar for Monster’s Ball, I’m hearing this:

“We [blacks] only win when we play negative characters, and its not a good look on our culture. We’re also doctors, lawyers, and good guys. We often get overlooked when we play those kind of characters. Its only how Hollywood sees us.”

No disrespect to all my friends/colleagues that agree with this school of thought, but getthe****outtaherewitalldatbull***!!!!!! FOR REAL!!!!

Let’s look at it. Halle, Mo’Nique, Denzel, played roles that were a stretch for them. Denzel is always…ALWAYS….ALWAYS….ALWAYS a good guy (cop, teacher, lawyer) in his movies. So when he was faced with playing a role that he wasn’t accustomed to portraying and pulls it off convincingly, HIS ACTING IN THAT ROLE SHOULD GIVE HIM THE AWARD DUE TO THE FACT HE IS PLAYING THE TYPE OF CHARACTER THAT HE’S NEVER HAD TO PORTRAY.

Simple as that.

Mo’Nique is a comedian. Most of the roles in movies and television shows were geared and meant for her funny bone. Therefore she is used to playing the comedic role. The loud mouth sassy plus sized diva that she is. Those roles aren’t for her, they ARE her. Those roles aren’t that much of a stretch for her. Not much work for her to do on the set. Then here comes a role where she has to flex real acting skills. This is coming from a well known comedian that is used to making people laugh. She had to reach for emotions and words that she probably have never had to reach for even in real life. Why did she win? SHE PLAYED THE ROLE WELL. THIS IS A ROLE THAT SHE WASN’T ACCUSTOMED TO PLAYING. SHE’S USUALLY THE FUNNY ONE IN THE MOVIES AND MAKING ALL OF US LAUGH. THIS ROLE WAS A STRETCH….STRETCH….STRETCH FOR HER. SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY…SHE MADE TO MOST OF IT.

Simple as that.

Go back and see all of Halle’s movies prior to “Monster’s Ball” and apply that same logic. Now I can see if all that we played were negative characters. Quick name two other movies Denzel has played the Villain.

Ok, I’ll wait.

Ok. Now name me about two dramas that Mo’Nique has played in where she had to play something other than the comedy relief.

Ok. I’ll wait.

Done. I’m sick of it. We are never satisfied with each other’s accomplishments. There is always an asterisk by something we’ve won. The sad part about it is that its our own people doing it. Constantly. Either be genuinely happy, or at least be happy for the win and don’t gripe about us winning something.

GEEZ!!!!

Now on the Freaknik. I’m seeing were people are saying that this set us back.

lol set us back lol

Wow. Really?

So the same people that you all rock to in the club and at concerts are setting us back due to a cartoon?

C’mon…a CARTOON?

Don’t get mad now people. This “culture” has been in existence for a looong time. Now the most popular people in Urban Culture right now are:

Lil Wayne

Rick Ross

T-Pain

Niki Manaj

Gucci Mane

OJ Da Juiceman

Wokka Wakka Flame

Four of them did voices in it. You buy their music. You pay to see them in concert. You rock to their music. You sing their songs. You quote them in Facebook and Twitter updates.

YET!!!!!!

NOW YOU WANNA FINALLY SAY ITS SETTING US BACK?

And the thing about it was, I found it more like all of them were making fun of themselves. It made me gain an inkling of respect for some of’em. I saw it as them poking fun at how outlandish they can be within their music/videos and how they are seen in the public eye.

Oh well…as usual….we all seem to get real snobbish and bourgeois when it comes to entertainment for some reason.

Lighten up.

BE A MUTHA$#%^!@ FAN!!!!!

maxptah — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:27:02 +0000

Still kinda miffed over some personal stuff. I actually started to pen something about it last night, but the problem would win if I was to keep writing. Just took the advice from two close ones and decided to leave it alone cause its not worth it.

Anyway, for as long as I’ve been doing music the one thing I’ve never had to do or can never see myself doing is making someone be a fan of my music. If I have to make someone be a fan of my music then right there I’m not a good artist. If my music is dope, then people will take note. Whether they personally give me props or not doesn’t matter. A simple head nod to the beat is more than enough. Quiet respect is what I live for. I really don’t like having my name dropped. Name dropping people is pretty wack to me. That’s why I really don’t have any respect for The Game when he raps or whatever. He’s made his living off of that. That’s a sign of no skill to me. If you have to name drop for respect that’s not saying too much other then I know (insert person here).

I digress though.

I’ve been fortunate enough to garner respect. I can’t tell ya how much I got when I had my myspace page. Made so many connections and actually did some work for some overseas cats. The thing is though they came to me. I feel that if you want to be respected and have a fanbase, make them come to you. Don’t go to them and be mad if they don’t want to be a fan. That’s when you work harder and make them remember you that time around. Then again, come off to brash and cocky and rude doing that, then just remember bad news travels faster than good news. Little Brother didn’t go out and pick their fans. DOOM didn’t pick his. Rakim didn’t pick his either. Make dope music period. And the rest is history. Begging for fans or ridiculing people who aren’t one looks like a cry for help. And a sure fire way to lose respect.

Hardcore “Fandom”

maxptah — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:22:12 +0000

You know its one thing to like an artist and go back and get all of their old stuff so you can hear how they have evolved over the course of their career. But its another thing to have started keeping up with that same artist at the same time they’ve started. Although they aren’t my absolute favorite, I can honestly say I have hardcore fandom for Little Brother. There aren’t too many artists who’s entire catalog I have. Only a few come to mind: Jill Scott, Mos Def and Talib Kweli. I don’t even have all of the Wu catalog. I mean I have about 80% of it, but they became hit or miss. But for some reason I hold my Little Brother catalog close to my heart. Maybe because I was there when they started off with The Listening. There was some freshness behind the beats and rhymes. There was substance, humor, not much vulgarity, and they kept themselves grounded. Three albums. Three mixtapes. One video. That’s what Big Pooh noted. And for them to have the fanbase that they have is ridiculous. When Pooh came to Memphis to open up for De La, I talked to him and Big Dho and they were surprised and shocked to see the love they received here. Pooh was amazed when people not only know LB’s stuff, but he “Sleeper’s” stuff as well. There was a genuine-ness about Little Brother. You know how you have to question some rapper’s lyrics cause they just seem too outlandish? You don’t have to do that with LB. Its like every story told happened to them. You can feel their pain and joy. Their wins and losses. Their triumphs and tragedies. The funny moments and the sad moments. Them dudes were…no…ARE it. Now they are set to release their last album together and the first one without any production from 9th Wonder. I’ll admit, its kind of bittersweet, but I’m a fan of all three guys no matter who’s doing what. Whether its Tigallo teaming with FE. Big Pooh’s mixtapes and sports stuff. 9th collabing with Banner, Murs, Jean, or Buckshot. On Gordon Gartrell Radio episode 16, Tay puts to rest that anything with LB/9th will never…ever….happen again. I wasn’t upset. Moreso sad. Then I looked at my collection of LB music and smiled. Can’t wait for LeftBack to drop. This will be the first time in my life that I’ve witness the dawn of Hip Hop and the farewell of it. Then again as I said, as long as The Listening, The Minstrel Show, GetBack, and soon to be LeftBack are in the fold, their music will never die. My hardcore fandom lies in Durham, NC. Thanks Phonte. Thanks Pooh. Thanks 9th. Thanks Little Brother.

RIP “Mystique”

maxptah — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:23:37 +0000

Times change. Technology changes. People change. Everything changes. For some its a good thing. Evolution is a part of the living process. You aren’t the same person you were 10 years ago, right? For some its bad. People clinging on the what used to be, whether its music, movies, or just everyday life in general. The one thing I can actually say thing I’m upset about as far as change, is the “mystique” of an artist. With facebook fan pages, twitter, message boards, myspace, and personal websites, that mystique factor of someone is gone now. I used to think a long time ago that Rakim would sit in a hidden temple somewhere in the Tibet mountain range with master Buddah Monk Shin Yu Kahn and would write rhymes on dead sea scrolls with an oversized paintbrush in one hand and in the other he’s keeping the planets aligned right there in the palm of his hand.

But now?

@Rakim is chilling in house with my dog sparky*

*for the unfunny or too serious, this is a fictional tweet…laugh bitches

I think the whole “artist accessible” stuff has made music as a whole worse. Now instead of relying on talent, the artist can win with charisma. If the artist either is the “everyday” guy or girl, or is the goofball always making themselves look bad (trust me people, its intentional about 75% of the time) or just seem like they are bigger than what they are, that would generate not only *maybe* more sales, but it would definitely spark an interest from people who either never heard of them or was on the fence about them. I think this would work for an artist who isn’t mainstream…yet. Or for those who really don’t want that type of fame. Take Phonte of LB/FE fame. That’s one of the few people that when I do log in to twitter, I’m looking to see if he posted anything. Then he isn’t just posting every ten to fifteen minutes. That’s how I feel it should work.

(The Ocho is a different story, dude’s just awesome all around…hey you gonna let me like my Bengals, OK!!!!!)

But now its definitely not like how it was. I like the whole accessible thing to a point. Maybe that’s why I don’t log into twitter much. Maybe that’s why I don’t have a myspace page anymore. I mostly use facebook to keep up with family and certain friends (the ‘hide’ button kicks ass!!!). Gone are the days of eagerly awaiting to see your favorite artist pop up on Mtv unexpectedly and announcing the release date of a new album or tour. No more buying an album from one artist only to see that another one of your faves is on there, too. They tweet about it before heading to the studio. The mystique of entertainment is gone. Save for a few. The thing about the few though are the ones that are the megastars. Their everywhere anyway…

Why Mo’ Money Taxes Commercials are Marketing Geniuses

maxptah — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:06:42 +0000

Every year around Christmas time I’m always anticipating the new Mo’ Money Taxes commercials. For over a decade they have had probably the most entertaining commercials I’ve seen. They are up there with Geico and Bud Light commercials. But I’ve noticed though on my facebook page and their youtube channel people are really hating these commercials.

Why?

They are doing what commercials are supposed to do. Entertaining? Check. Memorable? Check. Give information? Check. Get their name out in the public? CHECK. Whether you go and do business with them is your own choice though. Are they ghetto commercials? Yeah, of course they are. What’s the difference between that and what’s on BET that people swear by. Plus all they are doing is capitalizing off of what’s “hot” in the streets. For a while there, wasn’t EVERYONE saying something about blaming it on the alcohol? You knew someone who put that as their status update and either you “liked” it or commented on it something like “yeah, I’m the same way!”. Then its dialect/slang from Memphis. Get over it people, that’s us. All the way. “Its about to get real ugly up in here!”, c’mon that is a Memphis th(a)ing and now you all want to overlook it like its straight ignorance? Ok, tell you what. If you all don’t like that…quit listening to Lil’ Wayne, Lil’ Jon, Lil Boosie, Weebie, Jeezy, Three Six Mafia, Wokka Flokka Flame (or whatever) or complain about them more. That’s Southern Urban “culture”. That’s where they are getting all of that from. “Show me my opponent, Show me my opponent” from another one of their commercials came from who???? I rest my case.

Also they are setting themselves apart from other business of the same magnitude. Plus I know some of you are on this “they are a Black business” trip, so there you go too. The guys behind this are freaking geniuses. They make me laugh and and they’re highly entertaining to me. And that’s all I ask for.

RIP Willie “Pops” Mitchell

maxptah — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:58:43 +0000

A true legend in soul music, and Hip Hop, has passed. Willie Mitchell is one of the roots of sampling in Hip Hop. He is often sampled, mostly by The RZA of the Wu and countless others. This is a sad day in music…mostly for me. Just being around and down the street from his studio was inspiration enough. Peace Pops.

I Wish I Was Tiger Woods’s Agent…

maxptah — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:50:43 +0000

In everyday life there are heroes and villains.

In sports there are heroes and villains.

Then in wrestling you have the quintessential good guy shocking the wrestling world by turning “heel”.*

*I’m a old school wrestling mark, so you may see terms in this blog like mark, heel,kayfabe, face, work, and shoot. Wikipedia them, I don’t feel like going into it*

Take Hulk Hogan for example. We were so used to the red and yellow. The say your prayers and eat your vitamins. The “I am a real American”. The 24 inch pythons BROTHER!!!!. We ate that up for a decade. We never got tired of it. Never. Ever. It was odd seeing him in the WCW though, but he was still draped in the red and yellow and “practiced” the same “values”. But. Then. Bash at The Beach. We saw him turn “heel”. And honestly my friends, that turn, in my opinion, is why Hogan is the greatest sports entertainer of all time. If you kept up with WCW at the time, you know what I mean.

Now. On to the point of this blog.

I wish I was Tiger Woods’s agent. I would have Tiger turn “heel” on all of sports. Here he is, this nice Stanford grad who was playing a predominately white man’s game and being the absolute best at it, making lots of money, endorsement deals out the arse, and the best part about it…he’s Black/Asian, but he doesn’t really fuck with us like that and that’s what makes him (white) media’s darling. They love him. Tiger could do NO wrong.

Then…

BOOM!!!!1

We all saw what has transpired since Thanksgiving weekend. No need to go into all of that.

Now. Enter. MaxPtah. Tiger Woods’s new agent.

I see all the endorsements beginning to waffle.

I see some of the players beginning to come out and talk about him.

I see his wife set for a divorce.

I see a few of the other players and other sports superstars come to his defense.

I see Tiger breaking down.

I see Tiger beginning to question a lot of stuff now.

I see Tiger needing…no wanting…to take time off.

(Knock on Tiger’s door)

Tiger: Oh, hey Max.

Me: What up dude?

T: Not much. Still down about all of this.

M: Yo, son. I got’chu.

T: Huh?

M: You wanna get back at all of these suckas, right?

T: Yeah, sure, of course!!!

M: Yo, you gonna have to listen to me and do all that I say…and not gripe and moan about it.

T: I don’t know Max. You know I’m a control freak.

M: The hell you are!!! You let them freaks control your life, but yo son, that’s besides the point. Check it out….

So by this time I’ll tell him the plan. He has to carry this out to the fullest. Point. By. Point. So instead of having me, his agent, have a statement ready to read to the media, I tell him he needs to have a big press conference. With all members of the AP present, his wife and kids there, all of the other PGA Tour players, all of his endorsers, and even the bitches who screwed him over. The statement that will be read out of his mouth will go like this:

(speech courtesy of Binlahab off OKS)

I’m tiger woods. I fucked up & messed over elin & for that im sorry. i love my kids & respect the hell outta her & she’ll always be well taken care of *turns to elin* baby im sorry, i hope one day you’ll understand.

*turns back to media*

now, back on my tiger shit. check it out. im winning everything. you bitches are NOT gonna take something away from me that im the best in the history of fucking mankind @. fuck that. im winning everything. & you know what else? im fucking hoes. plenty of em. better than you pencil necked assholes EVER dreamed. i fucked porn chicks & guess what? THEY LOVED IT. i put this blasian dick on their motherfucking mind.

know what else? im gonna make a SHIT load of money. a billion? fuck that im going for 2. lets summarize, im tiger. you aint. im fucking multiple hoes, in fact soon as i leave this bitch im gonna go dive headfirst into a bed fulla hoes. im gonna make a shitload of money and im going to win EVERY. FUCKING. TOURNAMENT. im gonnna stranglehold this shit. aint nobody winning shit til i retire. the end. aint no more to it now excuse me while i go have sex that you havent even imagined is possible. BITCHES.

*slams mic, leaves podium*

Me: *sheds tear*

Tiger then decides that’s its best that he takes an indefinite leave of absence from the game of golf. No contact with anyone. The endorsements start to fall. Other players get full of themselves now seeing that Tiger isn’t around to smash hopes and dreams. Elin is all over the tabloids and now has her own reality series.

Then.

(Knock on Tiger’s Door)

(Door Opens)

Me: Ahhhh SH*T!!!!!! Son…YOU.ARE.READY. THEY.AINT.READY. So the Master’s is in a month so do you want me to….

T: (interrupts) no. now is the time homie. Phil Mickelson is having his press conference at 3:45 p.m. It’s 3:43 now. Let’s Go.

to be continued…

FREE.99!!!!!! (link)

maxptah — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:22:10 +0000

as promised:

MaxPtah- Absolute Zero EP

http://www.mediafire.com/?jrkydw3gl4m

“Testimony”

Last one…(Things I Learned)

maxptah — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:00:14 +0000

Ok, I had this going for a while, and this his my last one. Mainly because I think I learned the most from this one.

- Put away the past, focus on the present, and build for the future.

I finally did that. And right now couldn’t be any happier…