The recession is hitting rappers hard. No more stackin’ bank for these mofos. Sales of gold and diamond “grillz” are down 60%. Some hip hop artists are resorting to fake gold and cubic zirconia in their bling and their grillz, yo. That ain’t dope. That ghetto.
“A lot of these rappers simply don’t have the money for real stuff anymore.”
“It’s to the point where they are wearing imitation jewelry, and that’s ridiculous.”
“People think these big pieces are blindin’ but they be like D-quality diamonds, and when you try and sell them you learn they ain’t worth a thing.”
“If you admit you wear fake jewelry, it is over for you. It’s like bragging you drive a Lamborghini when you really drive a Toyota.”
“Times are hard, ain’t nobody rocking it like that anymore,” says rapper and record executive Bryan “Birdman” Williams.
…actually Mr. Williams, you’ve employed a what is called “double negative.” What you stated means that they are in fact “rocking it like that.”
The vultures opportunists are circling
Now places are popping up like SellYourGoldTeeth.com, where rappers can exchange their bling for cash. I’m sure it is pennies on the dollar…. Pardon me, “dolla” yo.
Perhaps it is time for President Obama to step in? It is time for the government to bail out and socialize the hip-hop industry. Hip-hop is just too big for us to allow it to fail.
More fun reading about is in the WALL STREET JOURNAL
mediaguru Boneheads
Got an email from a client today.
“Hey we recorded in your studio back in 1991. Do you still have our master tapes?”
Wow. And I can’t even find my car keys.
mediaguru Boneheads, Musicians, Recording
I listen to Pandora every day. Lately though I think their algorithm has gone haywire.
While listening to the Peter Gabriel channel, Pandora played The Used and The Osmond Boys. Uh, no.
mediaguru Boneheads, Random
Client: “What is the turnaround time on your five business day package?”
Me: “Five business days.”
Client: “Great thanks.”
mediaguru Boneheads
Got a nice note from the client who I did some drum tracks for last week.
“I was thinking I’d leave my Groove Agent drums, but your accents of stuff really increased the vibe, great job! I appreciate your talent.”
mediaguru Musicians, Recording
Until last night I hadn’t picked up a drum stick for at least eight months. Truly sad, but the lame gig situation in this town and my personal and business life have gotten in the way of bashing the skins.
Last night we had one opening band and they sucked. They really sucked. By the time they finished their overly long set, they’d chased half of the mediocre crowd away.
I was worried about my chops so I played pretty straight for the first few tunes. I still have some speed and abilities, but I definitely ran into situations where my brain would send commands to my limbs to do certain complex licks and my limbs would simply misfire or just plain gag and not do anything at all.
I ran into an endurance problem toward the end of the set as well. It was a good thing we only played one set, because in the last song my forearms started feeling like they were Popeye-ing. They were seizing up!
Despite being a fairly lame crowd I still had a really great time bashing the shit out of the drums.
No Smoking!
Perhaps the best thing about last night’s gig was the fact that I didn’t have to take a shower and discard my clothes in the laundry room when I got home. For years of playing in smoky bars I’ve gotten home completely covered with a smoky stench. Now that laws have changed and no smoking is allowed in clubs, I don’t have that disgusting smoke film on my body after the gig. I wish that law would have been enacted 25 years ago.
Studio Drumming Today
I’m off to the studio to play drums for some guitar player’s solo album, then another gig tonight.
mediaguru Gigs, Musicians
No gigs for months, then two in 48 hours
I haven’t played the drums since last year. I’d sort of retired from my rock band since my bass player and very good friend moved to Portland. It just hasn’t been worth playing since he left. He’s back this weekend, and I’m playing TWO shows.
My hands will be hamburger and my body clock is in for a shock. I’ve gotten used to going to be early, like 11pm. This weekend it will be back to the 3am bed time.
Studio drums
Just after I confirmed my availability for the 2nd gig this Saturday night, I got an email from a studio who needs me to do drum tracks during the day Saturday. I’m gigging Friday night, studio drums Saturday afternoon, and gigging Saturday night.
mediaguru Gigs, Recording
Am I having a nightmare? Somebody wake me up.
A couple of posts back I said I’d be reflecting on the hell project of 2008, since it was done.
It isn’t.
Unfortunately my new vendor who was doing the replication (two of my old ones went out of business in this economy) screwed the pooch. I’m now waiting for the client to supply me with some samples of the screwed up discs to verify what happened so I can get it fixed.
I can’t write the closing chapter on “Hell Project ‘08″ since “Hell Project ‘08″ is now alive and well in ‘09.
mediaguru Random, Rants
Man what a cool web site for women called Don’t Date Him Girl @ www.dontdatehimgirl.com.
It is a site for women to write about and rate the bad men they’ve dated. If you want some pure entertainment read some of the posts these women have written about their men. I’m not sure what is more pathetic, these lousy men, or the fact that these women stay with them for years.
Quote:
“dated him for 5 years. He was nothing but drugged out the whole time. When I was sleeping he would steal my cell phone, my car and my money and go god knows where and wake up at some whores house. He lied and lied to me about having to work late but he was really sleeping with one of his managers. He also slept with 1 of my best friends and 4 other friends. He is nothing but a compulsive liar who will manipulate you to no end. Then when I broke up with him he stalked me and would break into my car and follow me when ever I went anywhere. STAY AWAY FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!”
How pathetic or desperate is this person to stay with a guy for 5 years who was “drugged out all the time” and slept with all of her friends…
mediaguru Boneheads
Now that it is officially over I’ve been reflecting on the big hell project of 2008. There were many “come to Jesus” moments during that period and I learned a lot about myself.
I’ll have my closing reflections soon…
mediaguru Boneheads, Musicians, Random, Recording