Blackhacker

I caught this from Avery

I dig the track and REALLY dig the video.

If you look to the right you’ll see I have links to Amazon for books I’m reading and music I listening to right now. Among them you will find one for Chrisette Michele’s debut CD “I AM”. I heard about this young lady from a Hony Soul(A streaming “radio” show and podcast that features interviews with soul artists and a great music show), and Soul Sanctuary(which I’ve talked about before). Anyway I heard some tracks from those podcasts and saw the the CD in Target for only $10.00. THE BEST TEN BUCKS I SPENT ON MUSIC IN A LONG WHILE.

Favorite track is “Be OK.” Gosh Darnit when you hear that song you really think it all gonna be OK. Not to mention the fact you can’t help but bob that head when you hear it. Besides I’m partial to song that use horns.

I can’t believe it!!! REAL music, about REAL STUFF, from people that can REALLY SING is back. I’m tempted to turn the radio back on …. almost

Apparently, the Recording Industry Association of America, does not understand the industry the represent. This is apparent in the arrest of DJ Drama, a prominent mixtape artist.

On Tuesday night he was arrested with Don Cannon, a protégé. The police, working with the Recording Industry Association of America, raided his office, at 147 Walker Street in Atlanta. The association makes no distinction between counterfeit CDs and unlicensed compilations like those that DJ Drama is known for. So the police confiscated 81,000 discs, four vehicles, recording gear, and “other assets that are proceeds of a pattern of illegal activity,” said Chief Jeffrey C. Baker, from the Morrow, Ga., police department, which participated in the raid.

The point of this post is not about the legality of Drama’s trade. It is probably illegal. Especially when he uses copyrighted content, or signed artists without permission. But lets face it, mixtapes ARE a firm part of the Hip-Hop culture, and if you are going to trade in Hip-Hop culture you should understand all of its aspects. Not only that but Drama was doing what the Industry should have been doing, which is identifying and cultivating new talent, and providing publicity, and more importantly credibility to artists. Recording companies benefited from what Drama was doing.

I must admit DJ Drama could have avoided jail altogether. The moment he received a C&D letter he should have closed shop, hired a GREAT IP lawyer, and started negotiating profit sharing with the industry.

The most interesting comment is below:

There have been mixtape busts before: in 2005, five employees of Mondo Kim’s, in the East Village in New York, were jailed after the store was found to be selling unlicensed mixtapes. But the arrest of a figure as prominent as DJ Drama is unprecedented. Record companies usually portray the fight against piracy as a fight for artists’ rights, but this case complicates that argument: most of DJ Drama’s mixtapes begin with enthusiastic endorsements from the artists themselves.

The Cat’s out of the bag. The RIAA anti-piracy campaign is about protecting the income of record companies, not artists. Moral of the story: don’t use signed artists for your mixedtape.

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | R&B star Gerald Levert dies at 40
Grammy-nominated R&B star Gerald Levert has died aged 40, his record company has confirmed.

What? They are Back
When? 6/27.
Who?

Dap: Lynn D Johnson

I was looking in the basement for something and found this. My reaction was OH SNAP !!!! Immediately I imported this into the iTunes. I suppose this is both a testament to my age as well as my taste. I seem to have an bent towards obscure and under-appreciated Hip-Hop. favorite cut on this is "Wordplay"

I am still looking for a copy of her debut cut (the name of which escapes me) that does not appear on this disc.