The Bishop is Crossing aka Another one of them "State Of the Game" Blogs

Okay its dark out here. With the state of the economy, enlight of Jay-z's new Blueprint 3 being released (well I happen to get one early) and of course with the Underground Music Awards behind me just by a week. I'm reflecting on the state of the music industry

All of these underground gatherings is fastly becoming a support group for people with there tractors stuck in the Mud like the Johnny Cash Movie. If you remember in "Walk the line" Johnny was drunk and his tractor was stuck in the mud and couldn't get it out cause he was going about it all wrong and eventually fell in the lake just like most of these artist.

Its been nearly 8 years since I decided to embark on a career in the music industry and I feel I'm on path to get my one shot. But folks you only get 1 !! You only get one chance, so when the light is on your face you better dance. (Its just so much work to get to the stage to get the light on ya.) Sometimes I wonder if I have the hunger to even dance.

Currently I'm in the best space in my career. My blackberry addy book is worth a million dollars with some of the connects I have . I'm working for an independent label that actually has a chance to win. Amazes me that I became an A&R before my first deal.

The music me and Fate are coming out with can compete with anything on the radio right now but yet I'm not there yet much like
So many other underground artist in the game. The difference between them and me is I'm not underground I'm so overground.

These artist are so busy hating the game and the radio and what's hot right now that they forget there job as a musician. My job as a songwriter is to make music that the mainstream can enjoy and can relate to.

A lot of you rappers are making music for each other to get respect and love at these showcases. Then you have the "on cusp artists" could get a deal or have a deal and will ultimately loses their deal cause they "wanna keep it real" .

Unless you like me and you turned down a deal because you refused to be an industry gimmick and glamorize drug and gangster lifestyle when I wasn't built nor ever will be built for that . I'm the godfather to gangsters children I understand and respect the true gangsters too much to pretend. And I'm not getting caught out like Pac. 2pac was an acting student with Jada pinkett. Didn't have so much as a traffic ticket til Rap.

*I'm ranting hold on*

But these Artist are trying so hard to be different or to keep it real to what they think is real which is stuff that we was bumping in jr high. And the old heads was saying that stuff was trash.

Your have these on the cusps rappers refusing to make "that" record that 1 or 2 record that the label can push or the deejay can play. And like I told 1 person if you can't write it let me do it . Let me and Fate craft your single. They said nah its not me its commercial then why put out a product you wish to sell ? Commerce supply and demand.

Granted there is to much supply of music and not enough demand for all of it. But you gotta at least make something that makes a person feel like wiggling too.

Ugfff

Death of auto tune and all tha is a marketing ploy 808 and Heartbreaks made Hov a ton of money. Folks Autotune does not make a hit Its the way its written how catchy. Roger Troutman, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Riley been making vocal coder music before yall was born..

However I agree with Jay-z if all you can do is Autotune and when u don't got that effect and no one wants to hear you then you suck!

I'm tired of taking meetings with Artists that think they are gonna be the different one! They can break in the game and be the Next Drake with no money and no investment. Drake stayed behind the scene for years helped so many people hot that now he cashing in his favors. Drake's value is more then rap. What's your Value?

Keep it 100 what's your value to me?

**rant again**

I was talking to a young Rnb singer who I'm considering working with going back and fourth on why what she want to do won't be accepted by the masses from her at her age. Well we back and fourth finally she got it and understood. (I hope)
People say I'm negative and cynical nah I'm a realest. Look @ the game there is rules .

You don't go to the baseball game and tell the umpire yo I think I should get 5 strikes . If you don't like the rules don't play the game . Like Lionel Richie Said in an interview "Get off the field and let the real players play"

Don't complain bout radio when you need radio you complain bout the clubs you need the clubs. Or be a niche artist. There is a life in that.
That's not why I'm here.

So as I reflect I realize I'm so above it all how I think how I approach music. This girl told me I'm very industry and I denied it.

Me and Maddmann was listening to my early work. I was hungry he says. Nah I was stupid lol if I knew what I know now then I be rich. Its not lyrics, not beats, not even the image its the set up . You gotta be set to take your shot when you get the ball..

And folks my three pointer is water right now!

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