Monday, September 3, 2018
They Say?!?!
They talk about me at their dinner tables... they discuss me in their minds... But never have
they met me.. They just choose to hate my kind... I've come up in their discussions nearly
every single day, but not one of them would let me know this.. so I guess it's safe to say... The
fly on the wall disclosed this... The birds sang your plans... I listened to the wind, and I read
the palm of my hands... If they took the time to suffer for their boisterous beliefs... then
maybe they would know that my ultimate end is peace... Peace Family
Making a HIT Song!!!
How to make a hit song 101
You’ve listened to them on the radio, watched the videos, and even played them in your car. You know what I’m talking about. That’s right, the hit songs. A hit song is a song that, after the first time you hear it, stimulates emotion and excitement. These songs are few and far between, and are easily recognized when heard. If you’re anything like me, you love music and wonder if you could ever make a hit yourself. Well thank your lucky star (me) because you’re going to learn how. With the following steps, you have the greatest potential to make that hit song you’ve always dreamed of.
Things you’ll need:
Pen
Paper
Computer
Creative mind
Producer, optional
Recording equipment (microphone, music in the background)
Recording Studio
Steps to take:
First, find a place that inspires you and helps you think fluently. Some people may want to be in a quiet environment, while others use sights and sounds for motivation. I, personally, like to be in quiet places while I write so that I can think clearly. Ex. Some places that may suit you are: in a quiet room, in an active public place (mall), on a balcony, etc…
Now think of a life-changing experience that you had, an important person in your life or simply something that intrigues you. This will be what your song is about. All hit songs play off of the audiences’ emotions.
3. Next, you must think of words that best describes your experience or current emotions. In this step you can use clever words or phrases that are easily recognizable. These words should directly correlate to what your song is about. Ex. If you were writing about a significant other, you can use phrases like: “you and only you,” or “be mine forever” (something to this affect).
Once you come up with these words, your creativity must now come in to play. You need to come up with a catchy Hook/Chorus that is easy to follow and gets the crowd singing along. According to Greg Simms Jr., in the music industry it doesn’t matter if you’re a good singer, rapper, or writer, you are just obligated to come up with catchy hooks/choruses that are ready to be made into singles. Simms refers to these money-making songs as “HOT URBAN SONGS.”(Simms) Ex. In Dem Franchise Boys’ hit single “Lean Wit it, Rock Wit it,” they were able to create a hook that was easy to follow and made you dance. This hook, lean wit it, rock wit it, was repeated over and over to captivate their audience. It is sometimes beneficial to use repetitiveness in your to guide your audience through the song (“Lean wit it, Rock wit it”).
Once you have a catchy hook, you can now build your lyrics around your chorus. This is often the hardest, and most time-consuming, part of the process. It’s best to use words that rhyme and make sense at the same time. Ex. In rapper Kanye West’s song “Through the Wire,” the chorus reads,
Through the fire, to the limit, to the wall
For a chance to be with you, I’d gladly risk it all
Through the fire, through whatever come what may
For a chance at loving you, I’d take it all away
Right down through the wire, even through the fire
(Through the Wire).
A portion of his lyrics reads,
How do you console my mom or give her life support
When you telling her your sons’ on life support
And just imagine how my girl feel
On the plane scared as hell that her look Emitt Till
She was with me before the deal she been trying to be mine
She a delta so she been throwing them Dynasty signs (West).
In Kanye West’s lyrics, he is referring to his tragic accident that left him in critical condition. He recorded this song with his wired shut after the accident. In this song, he does a great job of rallying his lyrics around his chorus. He also uses a good rhyme scheme that makes reference to his hook. If you notice, not only does his lyrics rhyme, but they explain his situation at the same time. He does a great job of playing off of the audiences’ emotions, which all hit songs do to some degree. And guess what? It was huge hit.
The next step in the process is to think of a song title that is catchy and captivating. This should be something that interests you or says something about your experience. The key is to make your title connect with your chorus and lyrics. Ex. In the above example of Kanye West’s song “Through the Wire,” his title clearly pertains to his lyrics. While having his mouth wired shut as result of his accident, he was still able to triumph over his circumstance and rap Through the Wire (through his trying time). Hence, the title of his song.
Once you have your hook and your lyrics, you must now come up with a tune that suits the mood of the song and brings the music full circle. Most people usually go to a producer for this part, but if you love the convenience of making music from home, you can do it yourself (with any version of Steinberg production software). If you don’t know a producer, you can look up studios in your local area and they can connect you to a producer. The beat is also a deciding factor of whether your song can be successful, so you may want an expert to be involved.
Once your music is added to your lyrics, you must now “smooth out the rugged edges.” The T & T record label suggests that you wait until you’re at your calmest state to listen to your song. This gives you a better opportunity to master the music and clean up any vague spots (“Making a Hit Song”).
Next, you can take your music to a close friend or, if possible, someone in the industry. If you don’t already know someone in the industry, you may need an agent to properly connect yourself with a credible person in the industry. Close friends will also suffice. Usually close friends tend to listen to the same music. Close friends are also the most honest in what they think, which eliminates any biases. Therefore, if someone outside of yourself thinks it’s a hit, then you’re on your way mi amigo. Get this person, whomever it may be, to listen to your music and give you some feedback on what you can do to make your song better.
And finally, you can now add the necessary changes that you think will make your song “pop.” Songwriter Tracy Lawerence said it best. Labels mainly allocate their resources to entertainers who have “hit song potential (Lawerence).”
If you’ve followed these steps, you now hold the potential for a hit song. If you decide to move some of the steps around, that’s fine as long as complete all of the steps. One way to ensure that you adequately execute all of the steps is to make a checklist of all the tasks that will propel you to your hit song. Even with these steps, there is a chance that your song doesn’t become a hit (maybe due to the market that you target). BUT, if music is your middle name and succeeding is your game, continue to work at it and things will eventually come around. Trust Me.
Works Cited
Dem Franchize Boyz. “Lean wit it, Rock wit it.” Dem Franchize Boyz. Virgin Records, 2005.
Lawerence, Tracy. “In Pictures: How To Make Your Own Hit Record.” Forbes.com. 8 June, 2007. 19 Nov., 2007. .
“Making a hit song.” T & T Music Records. 2000-2007. 18 Nov. 2007 . .
Simms, Greg. “How to make a hit urban song.” Getsigned.com. 3 June, 2002 . 19 Nov, 2007 . .
West, Kanye. “Through the Wire.” College Dropout. Rockefeller Records, 2004
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Story of the Oppressors and the Crawlers
There once were six men who had all decided within themselves that they would go up a steep mountain to meet the LORD: because he waited for them there. Now three of the six men could walk, but the other three could only but crawl. It came to pass that the three walkers had decided amongst themselves that they would tread upon the backs of those who crawled in order to oppress them. *So that they would never have the strength to walk*
Now the first crawler was a valiant man, so he said within himself, “There is a heavy burden upon my back, perhaps if I should attempt to stand, this weight may be lifted. Then I will be able to walk up this mountain in full strength.” So, at once, he festered all of his available strength, and exerted a great force upward *So that he was able to stand to his feet.* Then he proclaimed, “Behold, I can now walk whereas I could only crawl before.”
As the first crawler stood, the oppressor (which stood upon his back) fell to the ground. Afterwards, the first oppressor said, “by treading upon THIS man’s back, I have made him but stronger than before. For he once crawled, but now he walks as I do.” *So that oppressor had become afraid because one of the crawlers endured the spirit of oppression.*
Now the second crawler acknowledged that there was an oppressor upon his back: and the second crawler said to himself, “THIS man was once a crawler like me, but now he is able to walk. He has managed to overtake that oppressor that once stood upon his back.” So the second crawler was motivated to stand also. *since he saw that it was possible* So, like the first man, he girded up his available energy and pushed upward with a great force until he, too, stood to his feet. Now, because of this, the second crawler had begun to mock at the oppressor that he threw from his back *because, in enduring the spirit of oppression, he was now stronger than he.*
The two oppressors which had fallen from the first two crawlers decided to walk for the time being. *For they were now afraid of the two crawlers that now walked.*
Now, soon after these things, the second crawler saw that the first crawler (now walker) was some ways ahead of him. For he said, “This man is, perhaps, the strongest of us all; for he is far ahead of me.” With this thought, the second crawler had purposed to throw stones at the back of the first crawler in hopes that he would slow him down, afflict him, and overtake him also.
So the second crawler hurled stones one after another at the back of the first crawler until he, himself, had grown weary. *He had exerted all of his energy throwing stones as opposed to walking.* Therefore, he became very weak, and he fell to the ground into a crawling position (once again).
The third crawler saw that the other men walked, but he was overwhelmed by the spirit of oppression. (For there was an oppressor upon his back weighing down on him) Therefore, he griped and complained for the affliction that he was experiencing. During this time, he had grown so weak that he could go no further, for he said, “This is as far as I can crawl.” So he died there in the middle of his journey. Now as the third crawler gave up the ghost, the third oppressor (who had once treaded upon him) saw that he was dead, and he became exceedingly remorseful. For he said, “what have I done, I have oppressed this gentleman, and now he is dead. I did not intend for his death, but only that he would never walk as I do. I have done a foolish thing. Let me warn the others so that they do not oppress another. *So from that moment, the third oppressor was no longer an oppressor.
Meanwhile, the other two oppressors said to one another, “this crawler (the second) once walked, but is now weak again. Perhaps we should tread upon him together so that he can not recover. While they were yet contemplating this act, the third once-oppressor approached them and said, “Men do not oppress this man any longer: lest you murder him as I have done to that crawler some ways ago.” The second oppressor, then, said to him, “I want none of THAT spirit you have. Leave me be, this crawler is not a man deserving of mercy. We have watched him throw stones at his own, therefore we are justified in what we do.” In like manner, the first oppressor said, “Leave us be, this is the last man who crawls, if he should walk, we will be the weakest of all. Therefore, we will do as we please for our pride’s sake.” Then the once-oppressor responded by saying, “Do as you please, but just know that as much as you oppress this gentleman, you oppress yourselves also.” The other two disregarded his reproof and did as they pleased. *So they, both, stood upon the second crawler to oppress him once again.*
After the once-oppressor spoke to the other men, he looked ahead of him and saw that the first crawler (now walker) was valiantly enduring his journey. Therefore he made acquaintance with him, and they strengthened, and encouraged, one another as the walked up the mountain.
Meanwhile, the second crawler had now descended back to the crawling position. *For he grew weak from throwing stones* (The other two oppressors had decided to oppress him once again to keep him from walking) It came to pass that the second crawler was exceedingly contrite for what he had done to his brother. For he said, “It was very foolish to throw stones at my brother. For my error, I have been brought low again. I must reconcile again to my brother. But it is even more difficult now seeing as I now have two oppressors and not one.” Nonetheless, the second crawler had festered up every ounce of his strength to overthrow the oppressors. As he did this, he threw himself upward with an exceedingly great force. (Even greater than before – for he now had a righteous motive) As he rose upward, the two oppressors were thrown from his back. But THIS time, there ‘happened’ to be a gaping hole in the ground where they had fallen *So they were both swallowed up by the mouth of the pit, and they were seen no more.*
As the second crawler now stood he said aloud, “I am forever grateful for this mercy: I have the ability to walk again. But let me not walk in vain, let me reconcile with my brother, and thereby will I reconcile with my LORD also.
So he finally caught up with the other two men and he said to the one whom he had wronged, “Brother please forgive me, for I have done foolishly against you. For it was I who threw those stones at you some ways ago. It was not the oppressor, but it was I. Please forgive me.” The once-crawler said, “what oppressors, and what stones? I was not aware of any opposition all this time. For I was focused on my goal – meeting the LORD at the top of the mountain. I tell you, whatever you have done, it is forgiven you.”
When he said that, the second crawler, now walker, said in astonishment, “ surely you are a righteous man.” After he had spoken to his brother, he turned to the other man and said, “ was it not you who bid those oppressors not to tread upon me when I was yet at my weakest?” The once-oppressor said to him, “Yes, it was me. Like you, I have, also, reconciled with the LORD. For I was once an oppressor, and now I am a messenger.” The second walker said to him, “surely you are strong, for you, too, have endured the spirit of oppression. Let us go up this mountain and forget what was behind.”
And it came to pass as they were close to the top of the mountain, the LORD looked down on the three and smiled. He, then, said, “Of the six men that I have invited, I knew that you three would return to me. Come now and rest from your journey.”
Now the first crawler was a valiant man, so he said within himself, “There is a heavy burden upon my back, perhaps if I should attempt to stand, this weight may be lifted. Then I will be able to walk up this mountain in full strength.” So, at once, he festered all of his available strength, and exerted a great force upward *So that he was able to stand to his feet.* Then he proclaimed, “Behold, I can now walk whereas I could only crawl before.”
As the first crawler stood, the oppressor (which stood upon his back) fell to the ground. Afterwards, the first oppressor said, “by treading upon THIS man’s back, I have made him but stronger than before. For he once crawled, but now he walks as I do.” *So that oppressor had become afraid because one of the crawlers endured the spirit of oppression.*
Now the second crawler acknowledged that there was an oppressor upon his back: and the second crawler said to himself, “THIS man was once a crawler like me, but now he is able to walk. He has managed to overtake that oppressor that once stood upon his back.” So the second crawler was motivated to stand also. *since he saw that it was possible* So, like the first man, he girded up his available energy and pushed upward with a great force until he, too, stood to his feet. Now, because of this, the second crawler had begun to mock at the oppressor that he threw from his back *because, in enduring the spirit of oppression, he was now stronger than he.*
The two oppressors which had fallen from the first two crawlers decided to walk for the time being. *For they were now afraid of the two crawlers that now walked.*
Now, soon after these things, the second crawler saw that the first crawler (now walker) was some ways ahead of him. For he said, “This man is, perhaps, the strongest of us all; for he is far ahead of me.” With this thought, the second crawler had purposed to throw stones at the back of the first crawler in hopes that he would slow him down, afflict him, and overtake him also.
So the second crawler hurled stones one after another at the back of the first crawler until he, himself, had grown weary. *He had exerted all of his energy throwing stones as opposed to walking.* Therefore, he became very weak, and he fell to the ground into a crawling position (once again).
The third crawler saw that the other men walked, but he was overwhelmed by the spirit of oppression. (For there was an oppressor upon his back weighing down on him) Therefore, he griped and complained for the affliction that he was experiencing. During this time, he had grown so weak that he could go no further, for he said, “This is as far as I can crawl.” So he died there in the middle of his journey. Now as the third crawler gave up the ghost, the third oppressor (who had once treaded upon him) saw that he was dead, and he became exceedingly remorseful. For he said, “what have I done, I have oppressed this gentleman, and now he is dead. I did not intend for his death, but only that he would never walk as I do. I have done a foolish thing. Let me warn the others so that they do not oppress another. *So from that moment, the third oppressor was no longer an oppressor.
Meanwhile, the other two oppressors said to one another, “this crawler (the second) once walked, but is now weak again. Perhaps we should tread upon him together so that he can not recover. While they were yet contemplating this act, the third once-oppressor approached them and said, “Men do not oppress this man any longer: lest you murder him as I have done to that crawler some ways ago.” The second oppressor, then, said to him, “I want none of THAT spirit you have. Leave me be, this crawler is not a man deserving of mercy. We have watched him throw stones at his own, therefore we are justified in what we do.” In like manner, the first oppressor said, “Leave us be, this is the last man who crawls, if he should walk, we will be the weakest of all. Therefore, we will do as we please for our pride’s sake.” Then the once-oppressor responded by saying, “Do as you please, but just know that as much as you oppress this gentleman, you oppress yourselves also.” The other two disregarded his reproof and did as they pleased. *So they, both, stood upon the second crawler to oppress him once again.*
After the once-oppressor spoke to the other men, he looked ahead of him and saw that the first crawler (now walker) was valiantly enduring his journey. Therefore he made acquaintance with him, and they strengthened, and encouraged, one another as the walked up the mountain.
Meanwhile, the second crawler had now descended back to the crawling position. *For he grew weak from throwing stones* (The other two oppressors had decided to oppress him once again to keep him from walking) It came to pass that the second crawler was exceedingly contrite for what he had done to his brother. For he said, “It was very foolish to throw stones at my brother. For my error, I have been brought low again. I must reconcile again to my brother. But it is even more difficult now seeing as I now have two oppressors and not one.” Nonetheless, the second crawler had festered up every ounce of his strength to overthrow the oppressors. As he did this, he threw himself upward with an exceedingly great force. (Even greater than before – for he now had a righteous motive) As he rose upward, the two oppressors were thrown from his back. But THIS time, there ‘happened’ to be a gaping hole in the ground where they had fallen *So they were both swallowed up by the mouth of the pit, and they were seen no more.*
As the second crawler now stood he said aloud, “I am forever grateful for this mercy: I have the ability to walk again. But let me not walk in vain, let me reconcile with my brother, and thereby will I reconcile with my LORD also.
So he finally caught up with the other two men and he said to the one whom he had wronged, “Brother please forgive me, for I have done foolishly against you. For it was I who threw those stones at you some ways ago. It was not the oppressor, but it was I. Please forgive me.” The once-crawler said, “what oppressors, and what stones? I was not aware of any opposition all this time. For I was focused on my goal – meeting the LORD at the top of the mountain. I tell you, whatever you have done, it is forgiven you.”
When he said that, the second crawler, now walker, said in astonishment, “ surely you are a righteous man.” After he had spoken to his brother, he turned to the other man and said, “ was it not you who bid those oppressors not to tread upon me when I was yet at my weakest?” The once-oppressor said to him, “Yes, it was me. Like you, I have, also, reconciled with the LORD. For I was once an oppressor, and now I am a messenger.” The second walker said to him, “surely you are strong, for you, too, have endured the spirit of oppression. Let us go up this mountain and forget what was behind.”
And it came to pass as they were close to the top of the mountain, the LORD looked down on the three and smiled. He, then, said, “Of the six men that I have invited, I knew that you three would return to me. Come now and rest from your journey.”
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Why Most People won't be "Doing Well..."
Admit it…
You care about what people say and think about you…
You don’t have the courage to think for yourself…
You’d rather do what’s “hot” and “acceptable” in order to be accepted, even if you don’t really agreed with it…
You know that you should be doing better for yourself, “but that would be smart, and we don’t want that…lol”
You say “you’re just living your life”…I’d elect to call it “Losing your life…”
You’d rather not find out how something REALLY works because that’s too much work…
You do just enough to get by…And you don’t do more than what’s asked of you…
Everyone wants to be better-off…but no one is really willing to do what it takes..
It is this VERY mentality that contributes to all of the foolishness that goes on now-a-days. All of the “squabbling and bickering” about NOTHING AT ALL…
People living for NOTHING AT ALL…
People dying for NOTHING AT ALL…
People fighting for NOTHING AT ALL…
People hating each other for NOTHING AT ALL…
Musical “Artists” talking about NOTHING AT ALL…
Politicians talking about NOTHING AT ALL…
Children building their hopes and dreams of NOTHING AT ALL…
Parents teaching their children NOTHING AT ALL…
Fools talking amongst themselves about NOTHING AT ALL…
Marriages Commencing for NOTHING AT ALL…
Marriages ending for NOTHING AT ALL…
People pretending for NOTHING AT ALL…
Society rewarding people for NOTHING AT ALL…
Teachers talking about NOTHING AT ALL…
Fools celebrating for what?!?!?!
NOTHING AT ALL…
A huge problem is people feeling that they “deserve” something, or are “entitled” to “this” or “that”…
But the truth is…NONE of us deserve ANYTHING…It’s by the grace of GOD that you have the little that you do…
Also thank him for his mercy…which falls on the JUST as well as the UNJUST…
I just want people to have more regard, and responsibility, for the things that they do and say…If this happens, EVERYONE will be better off until the end of the world…
“Can one blind man lead another…lest they both fall into a ditch?” think about it…
You care about what people say and think about you…
You don’t have the courage to think for yourself…
You’d rather do what’s “hot” and “acceptable” in order to be accepted, even if you don’t really agreed with it…
You know that you should be doing better for yourself, “but that would be smart, and we don’t want that…lol”
You say “you’re just living your life”…I’d elect to call it “Losing your life…”
You’d rather not find out how something REALLY works because that’s too much work…
You do just enough to get by…And you don’t do more than what’s asked of you…
Everyone wants to be better-off…but no one is really willing to do what it takes..
It is this VERY mentality that contributes to all of the foolishness that goes on now-a-days. All of the “squabbling and bickering” about NOTHING AT ALL…
People living for NOTHING AT ALL…
People dying for NOTHING AT ALL…
People fighting for NOTHING AT ALL…
People hating each other for NOTHING AT ALL…
Musical “Artists” talking about NOTHING AT ALL…
Politicians talking about NOTHING AT ALL…
Children building their hopes and dreams of NOTHING AT ALL…
Parents teaching their children NOTHING AT ALL…
Fools talking amongst themselves about NOTHING AT ALL…
Marriages Commencing for NOTHING AT ALL…
Marriages ending for NOTHING AT ALL…
People pretending for NOTHING AT ALL…
Society rewarding people for NOTHING AT ALL…
Teachers talking about NOTHING AT ALL…
Fools celebrating for what?!?!?!
NOTHING AT ALL…
A huge problem is people feeling that they “deserve” something, or are “entitled” to “this” or “that”…
But the truth is…NONE of us deserve ANYTHING…It’s by the grace of GOD that you have the little that you do…
Also thank him for his mercy…which falls on the JUST as well as the UNJUST…
I just want people to have more regard, and responsibility, for the things that they do and say…If this happens, EVERYONE will be better off until the end of the world…
“Can one blind man lead another…lest they both fall into a ditch?” think about it…
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, January 8, 2010
Black Suede Album(EP) Update!
How Are You all?
I've been working extremely hard trying to bring a great first album to a starving world. This album will be an album that will help the world move forward as a whole.
One of my main goals is to ensure that my listeners are increasing in every aspect of life. Therefore, this album will be very dynamic and one that you'll never get tired of.
So I'm sure you're wondering, "What is the Title?"
It's been re-titled.....A Wise Man's Dissertation...
This will definitely be a project to remember...Coming from a 21-year old who has experienced more than his years let on...It is sure to be an album that will evoke thought and reform.
It will also be priced very low. Since I fund my own projects from my own pockets, I am able to price it at an efficient price without any regard for profits. I just want everyone to have the opportunity to listen to it.
Guaranteed to make you laugh, dance, sing, reflect, love, and elevate...
You're sure to get more that you've bargained for with this one...
Thanks for your time, and be on the lookout for this extremely anticipated project coming soon...
Suede
I've been working extremely hard trying to bring a great first album to a starving world. This album will be an album that will help the world move forward as a whole.
One of my main goals is to ensure that my listeners are increasing in every aspect of life. Therefore, this album will be very dynamic and one that you'll never get tired of.
So I'm sure you're wondering, "What is the Title?"
It's been re-titled.....A Wise Man's Dissertation...
This will definitely be a project to remember...Coming from a 21-year old who has experienced more than his years let on...It is sure to be an album that will evoke thought and reform.
It will also be priced very low. Since I fund my own projects from my own pockets, I am able to price it at an efficient price without any regard for profits. I just want everyone to have the opportunity to listen to it.
Guaranteed to make you laugh, dance, sing, reflect, love, and elevate...
You're sure to get more that you've bargained for with this one...
Thanks for your time, and be on the lookout for this extremely anticipated project coming soon...
Suede
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