ABL's own Oplex Releases Single from upcoming Indie Release

                                                        

Mixtape Friday: Cocaine Muzik 5: White Friday

Reviewed by Tee-Mack

This week I'm bring you the southern sounds of Yo Gotti and his latest mixtape entitled Cocaine Muzik 5: White Friday. Hosted by Bigga Rankin, this mixtape features artists such as Waka Flocka and Ciara. Although Yo Gotti isnt as lyrically endowed as some of my favorite rappers, the beats in this mixtape fill that void and emmit  a 8Ball and MJG flava.

Two of my favorite songs featured on the mixtape are "It's On" and "We Can Get It On" which features Ciara. Yo Gotti is signed to J Records and is working on his 5th LP entitled: "Live from the Kitchen". 

There is no release date set, but the LP should be refreshing for the rapper who hasn't released a studio album in six in six years.

                                                             

So ok, he's on the back burner at the label but  I'm still going to

            give this mixtape one thumb up because overall it sucked and the lyrical content

           WAS SUBPAR!!!!

  But don't take my word for it, you be the judge! Click here to listen.

New Leak- Common ft. Nas (Produced by No ID)

Sources are stating that this song will be on Common's new album. Never the less, it is new and in our eyes is considered a leak. Plus, if you're on your hip-hop, you know that Common and Nas on the same track just sounds good!

Alter Ego Music

Blogged By Julian Williams

 Music is a global production of sounds that are soothing and moving to the soul. Many people take interest in this industry, but do they have what it takes to rise, or at least bring in some steady cash? Many men will try and fail. The question one must ask is: what makes the difference in those who succeed?

There are numerous differences that can be established, but ambition, or putting your dreams in action has to be one of the mindsets of a successful musician. Alter Ego Music possesses the type of ambition necessary to achieve the unimaginable. They have dropped 3 mixtapes in less than half a year, and are racking up fans along the way. Being that they are fairly new to the hip-hop musical world, they adhere to the process of growth. Taking pride in musical creation is a must because pouring your mind, heart and soul through music is what captures the hearts of listeners. Alter Ego Music has developed a recipe of hustle to make it in the hip hop business. Check them out at http://www/alteregomusic.tk/ 

           

In the reality we live, everything is a process, from learning to ride a bike to building a multi-million dollar company. We all must crawl before we walk. Alter Ego Music utilizes an identical concept, by applying the method of success to the music they create. Learning as they go, they speak their minds through lyrics and upbeat personality. Alter Ego Music is powered by individuality and building their own philosophy of life through personal perspectives and external experiences. Their eyes are set on the prize, and tend to have a huge impact on the world, bringing about new ideas, innovations and theories into the hip hop world of theory and truth.

Mixtape Fridays: Mac Miller- Best Day Ever

Reviewed by Tee-Mack

For those who haven't heard of Mac Miller, Let me drop some knowledge on the 19 year old Jewish Hip Hopper from Pittsburg.

Miller is a small guy making big waves in the hip-hop community with his latest mixtape entitled "Best Day Ever". Listening to this mixtape you will find Miller's flow to be similar to that of Wiz Khalifa's (Pre-Rolling Papers of course). This should come as no surpise because not only are Khalifa and Miller Pittsburg natives, they are also label mates on Rostrum Records.

With witty lyrics about money, parties, and of course "everyone's favorite recreational drug", this mixtape, in essence, out shines  Khalifa's "Rolling Papers."  One of my personal favorites is "Donald Trump" where Miller exclaims in the hook "We go take over the world while these haters get mad!" Needless to say, I give this mixtape my stamp of approval. Not bad at all for the up and coming Hip-Hopper from Pittsburg. So you know what time it is- click here to get your listen on.

LiL B's "I'm Gay" Album Receives Death Threats and Praise from Lupe

Lupe Fiasco was spotted on Twitter giving praise to LiL B's "I'm Gay" album. Meanwhile, The Young Turks Network reported that upon announcing the title of the new album, he received death threats from his fans!

Here's the deal- Lupe stated in a tweet (today), "I actually think callin his album "I'm Gay" is GENIUS & Revolutionary, the cover is Genius, some brave sh@t...AND he spittin REAL sh@t...I actually think callin his album "I'm Gay" is GENIUS & Revolutionary, the cover is Genius, some brave sh@t...AND he spittin REAL sh@t."

Well, to put it all in perspective, the California native might just be expressing his liberal views on life and hip-hop. And what has it done? Yup, you guessed it: controversy to 3rd degree.


MTV reports that the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defemation criticized LiL B's album title. Maybe, just maybe they did that because- you guessed it- he's not gay! Via MTV, LiL B clears the record:
 "I'm very gay but I love women. I'm not attracted to men in anyway. I've never been attracted to a man in my life. But yes, I am gay. I'm so happy. I'm a gay heterosexual male."

This has to be our most eyebrow raising blog of the month! Okay, the death threats were inappropriate, but it's reasonable to see why gays would find this offensive.  In other words, it's easy to perceive that LiL B is simply using a alternative sexual orientation as a means to bring attention to himself.  So if you hate Kanye because of his class clown tactics, you probably won't like LiL B- same thing, different approach.

If you want to say it's revolutionary, I would have to say in what way, especially considering that gays leading defamation organization opposed this expression. Oh, don't forget Lupe has a new album out too and just recently made the national press for calling Obama a terrorist. With that said, the only sense I can make out of any of this is: controversy sells.

Jill Scott Tops the Billboard Charts

 What can we say here at ABL- Jill Scott is simply on fire and we're not ashamed to do three blogs on her in one month!

 Jill Scott's fourth studio LP has placed her in what was previously uncharted territory: The Light of the Sun is number one on the Billboard charts. In her first week, consumers purchased 135,000 copies. Without question, Scott is deserving of this kind of reward- after all, she's a hard worker and nothing short of a trend setter.

While we're speaking of accomplishments, the single So in Love made Time Magazine's 2011 best of summer music list. So in Love also has the number one spot on Urban Adult Radio. Is this what it takes to finally have a performance at the BET Awards (Pun intended BET)? At anyrate, it's good to see Jilly from Philly shine and throw another award next to the three Grammys she has.

Mixtape Friday: Rapsody- Thank H.E.R. Now

North Carolina's brightest female emcee, Rapsody is back with a new street album.With production from 9th Wonder and Khrysis, you'd be a fool not to download this one.

Then again, if you feel Nicki Menaj is the best female emcee out, this one may not be for you.  You know the deal-click on the album cover to listen or download.

DMX: The Dog is Back?

Here's the deal- DMX, according to several sources, will be released from incarceration on July 13th. Moreover, he's already discussing a new reality show named "X-tended Family." The 40 year old emcee, hopefully, will stay out of trouble this time around- after all, he has 10 children to feed. Meanwhile his Ex is about to cash in on a upcoming "tell all" book.

Did I mention he doesn't like Drake or Jay-Z?

As you can imagine, many are wondering will his new album, "Redemption of the Beast," (release date TBA) resurrect X back to the days where he was considered one of the greatest emcees of his era. Only time will tell. In the jail house interview with Vibe Magazine, X was asked about the state of hip-hop. Here was his answer and I think he hit the bulls eye:

The name of the game is ‘Get In Where You Fit In, BUT Fit In.’ And for some people fitting in is blending in and doing what everyone else’s doing. For others, fitting in is just knocking niggas out the way. And that’s me. That’s how I’m going be at it. I’ve got my fanbase. -Vibe Magazine

Jill Scott & Anthony Hamilton land the 10 Spot on Billboard's R&B Charts

 Jill Scott & Anthony Hamilton slid into Billboard's Hip-Hop and R&B's top ten (landing at number 10, up one from last week) with her new single, So in Love.  This is a good sign for Scott- her album was just released two days ago. And don't forget  Scott is the headliner at the Budweiser Superfest.  Who's opening up for her? How about Anthony Hamilton, Mint Condition, Doug E. Fresh, and Jazzy Jeff on the turntables.  The tour kicks off July 26th and all you have to do is click here to check the locations.

LoKey Throwback: X Clan- Return From Mecca

With one Google search of the keyword "X Clan," one can discover a revelation: X Clan dropped an album in 2007.  Return from Mecca dropped on the independent label, Suburban Noize Records. Do we have to explain why it got no publicity? Of course not. But let it be known that so called "conscious" rap music is still being manufactured.

The hard cold facts is that major labels are very reluctant, at best, to financially support these types of emcees. Thus, many of these acts are forced to go independent. The unfortunate kick back is it limits the number of  people that will hear what they have to offer to the hip-hop genre. Thats why this blog is here- to shine light not only on hip-hop in general, but to give respect and admiration for artists who strive to be different and communicate a well rounded message as opposed to what is "popular" in today's hip-hop market. Enjoy the track Voodoo from X Clan and reminisce on the Golden Age of hip-hop where groups like X Clan could be heard on radio stations all across America.

New Leak: KooL Keith's Single for New Album

 

Kool Keith is back with a new single entitled "The Game is Free." We've always loved Kool Keith- after all he's independent and original.  But he clearly lost us on this single for his upcoming "Love and Danger" album featuring Keith Murray, Mr. Sche, Megabone, The I.M.O & more. We hope this isn't an indicator of what the album will be like.

Planet Zoron: Episode 2

New Leak: Kanye West's "Momas Boyfriend" from New Album

This new leak from Kanye is rumored to be on his new album dropping November 16th. No pop artists on the hook, no overkill synths- just a dope sample, dope drums and a smooth flow.

Jill Scott's New LP: The Light of the Sun

Jill Scott's new album, The Light of the Sun, is set for a June 21st release. After a divorce and a short relationship which made her a single parent, this album is loaded with rich, emotionally driven music. Yet in still, songs like "Another Time" still possesses the spoken word/ hip-hop flavor that lured many of her fans to her throne.

 Scott's words aren't wasteful, and she doesn't sound like the type to cry in public. She's honest and heartfelt, but she also comes off as a better version of a regular woman. -NPR Music

Features include Anthony Hamilton, Paul Waul, Doug E. Fresh, Eve and the A Group. For a limited time, you can listen to the entire album on NPR Music. Click here to check it out.

Elzhi's Second Video From Elmatic: It Ain't Hard to Tell

Indie Hip Hop Meets The Cartoon World: Planet Zoron

Planet Zoron is a  hip-hop based cartoon featuring independent artists, Leaf Qwembi, Oplex, MNTLPLX, Dei Major, and Yelseaux. You can only find it exclusively here and at Planet Zoron. 

Mixtape Fridays: White Man Can Jump

DJ BChenk presents "White Man Can Jump." You know what this means: you will be listening to white emcees on this one.  Can white men really jump on this project? Listen to find out.

Download Mixtape Free | LiveMixtapes.com Mixtape Player

Tech N9NE: It Pays to Buy the Clean Version

If our goal is to be the heart and soul of indie Hip-Hop, we have to keep our ear to the streets.  Moreover, we have to show you independent artists who are sucessful- who created their own fan base- and now reap the benefits of not having big brother in their pocket.

Well, I was checking out Tech N9NE's new album "All 6's and 7's," and noticed that Hip-Hop's most successful independent artist has an incentive for you to purchase the clean copy at Wal-Mart: By it at Wal-Mart and you get $10 worth of credit at Tech N9NE's label Strange Music's store. Point being is this is the first time I've scene this kind of deal in the industry (at least with Wal-Mart) and one thing to keep in mind is Tech has a lot of young fans. Thus, purchasing the clean copy keeps him "cool" with the parents. Simply put- he's paying you to buy his new LP.

Meanwhile, Tech shows the importance of being able to brand your style and immediately recognize and market to the people who fit that brand.  His cult like following has allowed him to drop 13 LPs all by himself. His fans are super loyal and of course, he's super paid! If you like Tech, his new album dropped today.  Like we always say, support independent Hip-Hop. Check out the single, "He's a Mental Giant below."

Mobb Deep Gearing up for New LP

It's rather cool to see the resurgence of the old-school hip-hop acts and Mobb Deep's Prodigy says that "it's time to feed the streets." Meanwhile, he confirmed that they have a collab with Rick Ross on their soon to be released LP. In addition, their is a talk of a Mobb Deep and Nas Album. According to HipHopDX.com, the two entities felt the energy that was shared in the Dog Shit single. Hip-Hop fans will definitely be waiting for that one. Anyway, here's Prodigy speaking on the subject.

Tags: MTV Shows

Mixtape Friday: Killer Mike- Bang x 3

Killer Mike's transition from the Outkast click has been smooth thanks to TI.  So without further due, click on the mixtape cover and check out his lastest mixtape.

Bahamadia Announces New Album

Fresh off the press, Bahamadia has announced she will be releasing her fourth album entitled "Here." This would be her first release since 2006. We should also add that their are rumors of her collaborating with DJ Premier on this project- how sweet would that be! In addition, the soul lady of rap has confirmed that their will be collaborations with Foreign Exchange and UK producers Ty and Drew according to DJPremierBlog.com. She also admits that she's considering a tribute to Guru on this project.  Either way, it all goes down independent on her B-Girls label.

Detroit Strikes Back: Elzhi presents Elmatic

If one has listened to Slum Village, one must know about the rapid firing, lyrical word play master, Elzhi. With all the Detroit swagger one emcee could have, Elzhi stood out as the most thorough emcee of the click.  But what is Elzhi to do after legal biz goes sour and the group folds? With a chip on his shoulder, Elzhi decided to link up with one of Detroit's best bands, Will Sessions.  The two entities embarked  on one of the most difficult task to date in hip-hop: Recreating Nas' Illmatic album in the package of a mixtape.

As soon as you click play on the first track on Elmatic, it's clear that Elzhi studied and prepared himself to take on the responsibility of adding on to the Illmatic legacy; at the same time, he shocked the world by mimicking Nas flow, but inserting his own lyrics- the lyrics, ironically, match Nas- often pound for pound.  Released on May 10th and approved by Nas himself, this indi release is creating a stir.  It is Hip-Hop DX's most discussed mixtape and weighs in at 4.92 out of their 5 star weighting and is ranked number 4 on their hottest mixtape list. Meanwhile, Def Sounds Hip-Hop and News gave the project a 8.1 with a 9 in the lyrics category!  Now it is certain that Elzhi is back, and we can't wait to see what's in store for the future for one of Detroit's hottest emcee.

Del the Funky Homosapien: More Product, Same Price

One cool and innovative way for an artist to gain the attention of his fans who already has a following but hasn't had mainstream success in quite sometime is to do something that is rarely done in the Hip-Hop industry: Drop a triple disc.

Indeed, the California native and Hieroglyphics pioneer, Del the Funky Homosapien is back with a new album, The Golden Era, that dropped last April.  Even more interesting, the triple disc is loaded with a whooping 34 tracks-and it's only $12.33 for the album (amazon mp3)! Let's face it- that's hard to turn down if you know how talented Del is. The album includes The Golden Error, a brand new album as well as Automatik Statik and Funk Man. The latter two, according to his label The Council, are available "physically" for the first time. If you ask us at ABL, that is to cool- but what else is Ice Cube's cousin supposed to do!

Lastly, we honor Del because Del and his crew found out that the indi route has better perks and benefits. He built his name by dropping independent albums with the Hiero crew. The rest was history. It's good to see you shining Del. Props from ABL.

Pusha T Set for Nov. 25th Release

Hip-Hop sources have discovered that Pusha-T has announced he will be dropping his first LP on Kanye's G.O.O.D Music label on November 25th, 2011, Black Friday. Of course, his Fear of God mixtape was a huge success and he is releasing it as a retail E.P on June 21st. Even better, new songs will be added including collaborations with Odd future and Kanye West. In addition, rumors of a new mixtape with his crew, The Reup Gang, appropriately titled "Long Live the Cain" should be out soon too.

Dougie Rapper Killed in Inglewood

M-Bone, rapper from the Cali Swag District, was killed in what was called  a drive by style shooting. In his hometown of Inglewood, California, a car pulled up next to his and fired two rounds at his head on May 14. M-Bone, whose real name is Montae Talbert, died soon after. The groups representative is calling this a "random act of violence." However, XXL mag via TMZ World relinquished some more details: 

Initially reported as a random act of violence, reports later surfaced that the rapper may have been shot over a woman, according to TMZ. Word is M-Bone’s friends have been in contact with authorities and are telling investigators the rapper met a girl when he returned to LA from touring recently. Per M’s friends,
officials are still investigating, but as of now, it appears the shooting was a male tenant who lives in the young woman’s apartment building didn’t approve of the relationship and started threatening the rapper on Twitter. A Twitter feud ensued.  -XXL Mag.com

Unlike the murderers of Pac and Biggie, We'd like to think they will find the thug who abbreviated M-Bone's life to a short 22 years.  ABL will keep you posted on any news that develops concerning the investigation. In the words of Boogie Down Production, "stop the violence!"

Master P Orchestrates his Comeback: The New No Limit Records

After selling 75 million records, Master P has put together a new label; he elevated his son, Romeo, to CEO, his younger son Valentino to VP, kept Silk the Shocker and added a slew of new artists. Indeed this time around, it is "Family Business." Will P have the business swagger to put The New No Limit at the top of the charts?

Here at ABL, we are not sure. First, it's important to realize that No Limit pioneered a certain brand of New Orleans hip-hop which eventually affected the entire South. Perhaps the younger generation missed their rise to fame, but the old school heads know whats up. And, that might be the significant factor in whether P can become a top record executive again. Does P have the business swagger to tap into today's new generation of hip-hop consumers? Let me rephrase the question: In today's saturated market of Dirty South Rappers, will No-Limit be able to "shine" or will they camouflage into the existing scene?

Major obstacles stand in their way but all in all, we think it's to early to call.  No Limit still carries a brand from their last run in hip-hop where deep drum kicks, speedy high hats, funky synths and a host of other relatively simple rhythms mixed with anthem type hooks made everybody said "Uhhhh, NaNaNa, Naaaa."

But hip-hop has transformed and to compete in the south, individuality is key- that is, if you want to have longevity. Indeed, P will have to prove himself a Master to rise to fame again. Perhaps a good intro to the new generation of hip-hop is P's "Get Money" film starring himself and Gucci Mane set for an August  release.  Either way it goes, it will be interesting to see P navigate in today's increasingly competitive market of hip-hop artists.

Mixtape Fridays: Gilbere Forte

Hailing from Philly, Gilbere Forte definitely is worthy of mixtape fridays. First, there is some very creative production on this project, and his style adapts to production changes as he spits over dirty south and east coast tracks. But more importantly, Forte has the swag of a heavy weighter and he has the potential to put Philly on his back (excluding The Roots). Ace McClowd did a great job hosting and overall, this is a grade A Mixtapte. You know the drill- click here to listen

Big Sean is "Finally Famous"

At the young age of 23, Big Sean is one of hip-hop's brightest new stars. He signed to Kanye's West's G.O.O.D Music label in 2007, dropped  several "Finally Famous" mixtapes that flooded the streets, and now has his first mainstream single with his hit single "My Last featuring Chris Brown." If all thats not enough, the main producer on his upcoming album is NO I.D who mentored Kanye West's brilliant production style. Indeed, it seems Big Sean is Finally Famous.

But more importantly, Big Sean is a classic model of how significant it is for artists to promote themselves, regardless of whether they are signed or not.  Think about it- he was signed since 2007.  Sean admits in a Hip-Hop DX interview that he sat watching other artists like Rick Ross, and Rihanna shine while he stayed on the back burner. In contrast, fifteen years ago, once you were signed to a major, you could finally focus on your music because the label would take care of your promotion. Those were the days.  As Big Sean, found out, the ability to network and create your own buzz is invaluable in the music industry.

Now, with a June 21st release date on his album, Big Sean aims to rise in the ranks on the charts and permanently brand his name in hip-hop. Time will tell if he matches his aim.



Download Mixtape Free | LiveMixtapes.com Mixtape Player

The Problem With Free Downloads

In my experience as an independent record label owner, I have come across many independent artists that give away free music.  I have mixed thoughts about today's era that encourages upcoming talent to give their music away.  However, giving your music away can be a useful tool, but it's a slippery slope and with that comes some "slippery" problems.

Here's my take on it: If you can't send me a link where I can directly download your album, don't send it at all. This, as most musicians know, is difficult to accomplish.  The problem is artists are using software on the net that manages the download.  These programs often install tool bars and other tidbits on your PC or Mac. Couple that with the many different download managers that exist on the web and you could find your self piling these programs in your computer. With competition like Kazaa and other shareware sites, it makes one wonder: why should I have to jump through loops to get a free disc?

One solution, especially if you have a website, is to ask your host can you add a download category to your site. Many host already have this feature built in your site. For instance, my host's template has a download link which is setup for direct downloads for fans of your music. In this format, you will not need a download manager.

Here is the main point: Don't create stumbling blocks that will prohibit your music from being heard.  Try to find download managers that won't hassle your potential customers or fans to sign up for this or that or unexpectedly put a new tool bar on your computer. It's quite annoying and you can lose a fan that you might not be able to gain back again.

But enough with all the talking. Check out how simple it is to download Orie's album from DJ Booth.net. You will notice that it only takes three clicks for the download to start including the link on  this blog. Anything else is uncivilized.

Mixtape Fridays

I started not to listen to this one.  But I was curious to see how Mr. Bentley was spending the "Diddy" money he earned; furthermore, this was his original album that was supposed to drop in 2008.  You can argue about his level of rhyme skills (he's better than I thought) but the beats on this one are banging, many sounding as if they were produced by Organized Noize (they're all in ATL- possible). With features from Cool Breeze,Slim Cutta Calhoun, Andre 3000, and Kanye West and the title track featuring UGK and Lil Wayne- this turned out to be a solid project. In the words of Mr. West:

"When everyone's rapping one way, he comes with an original style all the way from his patterns-on-beats to his fashion sensibility. What's known need not be said, but Bentley is a motherf**** star!" 

                                                        ABL Picks: 4 ,6, 8, 9,12, 16

                                                               Click Here to Listen

What to do When Someone has Poached Your Music on the Web

 So, you're surfing on the internet, run across a hip-hop site, and guess whose song they're playing: yours.  The problem is that you have rights but you haven't researched what they are. Here are some clear and concise methods to resolve the problem.

1. Contact the Poacher- let them know that it is your music.

2.Give them options: remove music, purchase music or get credit for music.

3. Try to cut a deal. You might be able to make a new fan if they are really digging your music. This can be beneficial if your music is being distributed on the net and the poacher lives in a different demographic. You could possibly have a new promoter who can assist you in upcoming gigs or selling your project.

4. If you can't get in contact with them, research the terms of service of the host site. They will have a clause on the illegal use of copyrighted material. Follow the instructions and keep pressing through your career. If you making enough noise this is bound to happen!

This information was interpreted from Vanessa Kaster, Esq. If you are serious about your music, click here to check out her blog.

The Wonderful World of DAWs (Part 1- The Basics)

As Hip-Hop production and recordings becomes more and more competitive each day, it places more emphasis on producer's and engineer's choice of equipment. As you know, every DAW manufacturer will assert that they have the best product- welcome to the free market.

However, the trick is to simply observe what niche each DAW has. I do this in various ways, but I mainly take the knowledge straight from the manufacturer, the user(s), and the vendors (Musicians Friend, Guitar Center, etc). Vendors often give invaluable information. For instance, you might hear: "Lots of people have been buying it but not a lot of rants and raves about it." These are warning signs that the program may simply be subpar. Moreover, sales representatives are trained on what the program actually does, and how it can work for you- they can assess what you need and what program will probably work the best for you.

The choices are robust and since my company specializes in assisting aspiring indie artists, we must explore the wonderful world of DAWs.  As you know, Pro-Tools is the industry standard, but let's face it: not everybody uses Pro-Tools. Some people don't like to be bound by proprietor hardware (ie M-Audio, Digidesign). Moreover, Pro-Tools real time bounce can make burning a project to disc a very lengthy process.

PropellorHead  recently unveiled Record.  This is a relatively new DAW and purports to be an all in one package (it does not take outside plug-ins just as Reason doesn't). Of course there is Cubase, Sonar, Logic, Ableton, Audition...the list goes on and on.

In part 2 we will dive deeper into the wonderful world of DAWs. Indeed, this will be a recurring theme. Finally, I advise young engineers to find the program that works the best for them- do not compromise. You want a program that allows you to record swiftly without stifling ideas that are often popping out the woodworks during a session. In post-production, common tools such as eq's, effects, creating busses and panning should be very simple, as this is the "bread and butter" of mixing. Before you purchase your next DAW, ask yourself what will enable me to become a better engineer? What features allows me to expand my creativity? Write these factors down, and go shopping looking for those traits. And by gosh, don't be afraid to ask for a demonstration! At the end of the night, switching to a new DAW after years in is like teaching a baby how to walk again! Make the initial choice be your best one!