Are The Major Labels On The Verge Of Obscurity

Recently I saw two things that made me think. The first was the announcement that Borders Bookstore was filing for Bankruptcy and the second was a youtube clip where the artist mentioned that a lot of times the major labels will clamor after the indie artist has created their own buzz.

That got me thinking. The necessity for a MAJOR record label deal has honestly changed.That is if you're willing to do some of the ground work yourself. Let's take a look at Drake. The excitement Drake generated happened before a major label even took notice. He actually had a Grammy nod before he'd signed to anyone. But this was due to him creating his own buzz.  Finally with all that work, he signed with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment. Hmmm.

Dondria got on YouTube and continually "worked" for her fans, (she asked them what they wanted to hear her sing) until she got the ear and eye of Producer Jermaine Dupri. Currently she's signed to Dupri's independent SoSoDef Label.

The self proclaimed Barbie, that is Nicki Minaj, created a buzz with Playtime Is Over with Dirty Money Records. Next with Sucka Free, under the label of Be and Beam Me Up Scotty, another mixtape, in April 2009 under the label of Trapaholics Records. Finally when it came to sign on the dotted line she signed with Young Money Entertainment.





How did I bring the closing of Borders into this?  Here's the point. For the most part, Borders is a distribution point for not only books but music. With the advent of digital access, consumers no longer felt the need to go book shopping. The middle man (distribution) was cut out.

One of the reasons for wanting a major label deal is for that backing to get the brand of the artist out there. But with artist direct access to distribution, and the current ease of building your own brand as far as the releasing music and getting in touch with the fans with the social media access; one might wonder what can a major label do for me?

After all, it's my brand, my vision, why not control it all MYSELF?
Something to think about!

Now Go Forth and Make to Good Music

I SUPPORT MUSIC

Until next time ... Hit me up!

Ali Cole In Print or B.A.D. PR

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter

You know how we do...It's all about the music!

Where Are They Wednesday

I was talking to my brother this weekend and we started reminiscing about playing music on the down low at home. (Preacher's Kids) And about artist that for sure didn't get a long enough time in the spotlight. In today's "Where Are They Wednesday", I pay homage to some of the people that helped to give me a greater love of R&B.

Sam Salter - I absolutely loved this song (no I'm not old, I've just always had a dynamic appreciation for good music)

I still have this song on iTunes, that how much I loved it. The Boyz II Men was just icing on the cake for me! I think I could use some Uncle Sam in my life right now!

 

This song is just awesome for me. The second verse was a killer. I miss this kind of singing. We don't even have R&B groups like this anymore.

I think I'm gonna do a whole "Where Are They Now" edition for these guys. I absolutely loved them. I miss them greatly.

If I reminsce anymore I think I'll start to cry. So I leave you with those few. Maybe I sparked a "I remember when" in your mind.

Now Go Forth and Listen to Good Music

I SUPPORT MUSIC

Until next time ... Hit me up!

Ali Cole In Print or B.A.D. PR

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter

You know how we do...It's all about the music!

Who's Got Next - Skrill Dilly

I don't know how early New Orleans export Skrill Dilly realized that he had the entertainer bug. But his all around persona is entertaining. When I first became exposed to this talent, I had started following a hashtagged "#DillyQuotes". And after some investigation, I found the inspiration and humor was coming from Skrill Dilly .




Formally Yung Skrilla, this rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana has released a number mixtapes and recently hosted a three day weekend fan appreciation retreat for his fans. That in itself impressed me. Who does that?

He may not want this tag, but I describe Skrill Dilly's rhymes as "feel good rap". Because that's how his music makes me feel. Whether he's talking about his rims in "My Rims" or he's describing a backside like an elephant in "On My T-Pain", his references make you smile and his beats make you nod your head.

The other thing about Skrill is he's not a "flash in the pan rap artist. Honestly here is what I look for in my rap!

Realism - When he raps I believe him. I don't like bipolar music, don't be party boy rap with me one day and the next you wanna be gangsta. And if you're gonna do that I have to believe it.

Artistry - You know how I feel about showmanship in my entertainers. I've seen him Ustream, (under my alias ;-) )and I know he can put on a show.

Perseverance - Despite what you think the rap game is hard to maneuver through than any other genre, you're constantly forced to prove something. Skrill has proven that he has the BALLS (pardon the expression) to stick it out in this game!

This guy's got all three!!! He's one to look out for, FOR SURE!







Why do I think Skrill Dilly's got next?
He's a refreshing change. He's a hustler. He's actually TALENTED!!!

I gave his single Get Like Me  5 stars

Check out single and learn more about Skrill on WWW.SKRILLDILLY.COM. Or follow him on twitter if you dare Skrill-Dilly 

CountDown to D.O.C.

In exactly 8 days, an historic world exclusive event is going to happen, and I plan to be a part of it. Matter of fact, if you're a fan of West Coast rap, scratch that, if your a fan of rap period you need to need to tune in. April 5th at www.indacriblive.com for the first time in years, Tracy Curry aka D.O.C (formerly of Death Row Records) is gonna speak about what's happened since the last time we heard from him. He'll talk about the surgery to restore his vocal cords, his label and his upcoming projects.

Any West Coast rap fan should remember this line from then Dr. Dre

"Back when Cube - was rollin wit Lorenzo in a Benzo I was bangin wit a gang of instrumentals, got the pens and pencils, got down to business; but sometimes the business end of this shit can turn your friends against you - but you was a real nigga, I could sense it in you - I still remember the window of the car that you went through, that's fucked up - But I'll never forget the shit we been through, and I'ma do whatever it takes to convince you, cuz you my nigga ..."

Ten years later we'll find out if that's still true.

Be there to hear straight from one of the ill-est lyricist to pen a rhyme, what he has planned for the hip hop world as we've come to know it. I KNOW this one's gonna be good. Remember to mark your calendar!!!

Nate Dogg - The G-Funk Hook Master

I sit speechless as I compose today's writings. Shortly before 3 a.m EST I got a text that snapped me out of my sleep.

"Tha Pound just lost a dogg, R.I.P Nate!"

I stared at the phone for a minute before it actually sank in. Nathaniel Dwayne Hale aka Nate Dogg was gone. That moment was surreal. See, if you're an avid follower of music like I am. You KNOW Nate Dogg. You're not "familiar with him". You can sing Nate Dogg Hooks like you can the alphabet. I'm a Hip-Hop diva, and this one was hard.

Understand this, Nate has "GFunked" with EVERYBODY, From Mark Ronson to LudaCris to 50 Cent to Eve, If you got Nate Dogg on your track it was officially "G'd up". He wasn't a West Coast phenom. He was Bi-Coastal as far as this writer is concerned. I went through my records of songs that Nate Dogg touched as I watched the condolences roll in. And I began to feel my eyes well with tears. No I didn't cry, but I was moved.

I began to recall the first time I heard each track that his smooth tone graced. I thought about the legacy of Nate's voice on my personal favs:

Regulate

Area Codes

21 Questions

The Next Episode

Nobody Does It Better

Ballin Out Of Control

Never Leave Me Alone

Lay Low

These Days

Shake That

And by the time I was done, I was smiling. I smiled because I have Nate Dogg memories. And they're good ones.

Those are memories that I hope like Nate said "Never Leave Me Alone".

R.I.P Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011)

ALL DOGGS GO TO HEAVEN......

Music Monday - Weekend Wrap Up

A lot happened this weekend so let's get to our weekend wrap up.

THE GRAMMYS

Music's Biggest Night. Really. Maybe it's just me, but the Grammys no longer excite me. I was watching a Ricky Martin interview earlier and the interviewer asked about his performance on that now definitive moment in his musical career. And that reminded me of what I used to love about the Grammy broadcasts.

The music industry like the entertainment industry as a whole is very political. Like my mother quips, "kisses go by favor". Meaning even though an award is deserved it may not be received. I've seen it year after year, but that aside, I miss the Grammys of the 80's and the 90's. Something happened over these last few years that I can't really explain. Even the performances have begun to be lackluster. Have you even noticed that more and more artist are not even making time to attend. It used to be that you look forward to the night when the elite of music are honored. In recent years, even those who are multiple nominees, send their regards. Some don't even do that. You remember the years of the prerecorded thank you. We don't even get those anymore.

That's how much the Grammys mean now-a-days. I think especially for the veteran artists (anyone that's made hits for at least five years) I think the census is generally, I will not break my busy schedule to mess with the likes of the academy. Because the academy has screwed up and the artists no longer feel honored. So I, the artist, say F*#@ a Grammy, I do this for the love of my fans. Or as one popular artist said, "make some records, get my dough, then I'm out".

For a musician, especially one that grew up listening to records and hoping that someday they could be like those that they admire, the Grammy Awards have become a disheartening display of emptiness. As a musician, I shouldn't look forward to the NFL Superbowl halftime show more than I look forward to what is my industry's Superbowl. I even anticipate the NBA ALL STAR WEEKEND more than I do Grammy Weekend. It's a shame that the Grammys are in Los Angeles and I preferred to be at Bryant Park at Fashion Week in New York.

Something needs to happen. Music has been trying for years to shake up, but the powers that be seem to be stuck and satisfied with the status quo. They no longer encourage avant garde performances like the life changing extravaganza that turned Ricky Martin's life around in 1999. I remember that night. It made me a fan.

We're slowly losing music and music fans. And "is this mic on", it falls on the industry to make the turn around and make it quick, before the Awards become a side note in the musical world.

But then again, that's just my opinion as someone that even as I write this article is purchasing music as a fan of music.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Way Back Wednesday

I was going through my mental video player for today's WayBack Wednesday.  And one person had a triple play. Now I'm gonna use an 'ism" from a current popular artist to describe this one.......

THIS GOES OUT TO THE BEAUTIFUL GIIIIIIRRRRRRLLLLLLSSSSSSS!









I love me some "Cool" James.... Today's Way Back Wednesday pays homage to lick-able lips Cool James or LL Cool J as you mortals call him.

I SUPPORT MUSIC

Until next time ... Hit me up!

Ali Cole In Print or B.A.D. PR

Don't forget to follow me on Twitter

You know how we do...It's all about the music!