DRWN Beats RMXS Project (On the Grind)

It's been a while since I've posted an entry on here. It's something that I've been away from for a while. The twitter has stayed active, and as I've gotten back into it recently, it only seems fair that I put down some thoughts that go beyond 140 characters. This is a combination of a regular post and an On the Grind post, if you think about it. 

So for my first post back, let me send you to another site, so you can support a great artist. It's a project of remixes, and the beats are on point. As someone who has some history of music and melody (11 years of Piano), it definitely gets a cosign from me. Check it out when you get a chance, and support if you can: 

 @drawnbeats 

 www.blvntrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rmxs 

 Until the next time, Shade

On the Grind: Who is Bizness?

Follow Bizness: @Bizness516 http://www.bizness516.com/

Follow Idoitforhiphop: @Idoitforhiphop

Who is Bizness? It's a good question. He's an up and coming MC out of Westbury, Long Island, New York. A talented artist who is also multifaceted, Bizness dropped a new mixtape entitled The Suburban Dream on January 18th. The 17 track mixtape, excluding bonus tracks, gives listeners a view into Bizness' vision. In order to fully understand that vision, I met up with him during the mixtape release party at First Class Clothing in Westbury and spoke to him for a little while.

In the short time that we talked, I was impressed not just by his talent, but by his outlook on a number of things.

Bizness is both an MC and a producer. Rapping since around 11 and making beats since the age of 15, he has an insight into at least two of the many sides of the creative process. This isn't his first mixtape, but its the first to really go into the "Suburban Dream". As he put it, a lot of people are afraid to be from Long Island, because it doesn't fit in with the stereotypes. But he's trying to show people that there's a struggle there too, and that there's talent as well that deserves a chance to shine and be heard.

The tape features all original production from Bizness, with samples used on "Jealous", "Suave", and 100 Ft. Casso. Originally the mixtape was going to be titled Suburban Revenue, before the title was changed to the Suburban Dream to focus people's attention on how he's trying to touch the history of the suburbs and the life that people live there, through the history of Westbury, nicknamed Westmoney. It was done to be just another way to show people that artists coming from the suburbs are worthy of the same amount of time and attention as those from anywhere else. We talked about the tape for a while, before we moved on to other topics.

When I asked him who his favorite MCs were, he heavily favored fellow NY emcees such as Jay-Z, Fabolous, Jadakiss and late NY greats the Notorious B.I.G. and Big L. He also named people like Drake, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross. Because of his love for NY and NY emcees, I asked him how he felt about the current state of NY Hip hop. Its a question that you might not consider apt because he's from Long Island, but that's just another reason why Bizness made The Suburban Life and started the Westmoney movement. He spoke on how there isn't any unity in NY Hip hop and how it seems as though some of the artists in the NYC area have a problem with others making it.

He noted that in the South, when there is beef and there are problems, they're worked out relatively quickly. He said that was something that doesn't happen that much in NY Hip hop.

I didn't have a large amount of time to talk with him, but from what time I did have, I got a good picture of the artist, and I think I can answer the question of who is Bizness?

Bizness is a MC with skills from Westbury, Long Island. He's someone with rhyming skills that surpass the average and someone with something that a lot of MCs lack: Vision. He's the kind of artist that needs a deal and now.

Make sure you check out his mixtape, the Suburban Life and check him out on twitter and on his website. I was able to get a copy of the tape and there'll be an official review coming soon.

On the Grind: The Kid Ceez

This here is Part 2 of the last On the Grind article. This one is with The Kid Ceez, an affiliate of Mr. Dope Flow. Check out the interview and tell me what you think about it.

Follow the Kid Ceez: @TheKidCeez

IdoitforHipHop (IDIFHH): When did you first start rapping?

Ceez: Basically since the 7th Grade. It all came slowly, but that's when I decided to take it seriously.

IDIFHH: Who would you consider to be your biggest influences, music wise?

Ceez: My biggest influences would have to be Jay-Z and Fabolous. Hov has done so much for the game since Day 1. He has definitely set the bar really high. Loso has been my favorite rapper for a while because lyrically, the dude is sick. Punchline after punchline which is what catches my attention in songs and the fact that he can spit about anything and make it hot. He's dope.

IDIFHH: So you like the BK, got it. If you could pick anyone to guest on the hook for a track of yours who would it be?

Ceez: At the moment, I would have to say Drake, hands down. The kid is talented and very creative with hooks. Not to mention he's on fire right now.

IDIFHH: Speaking of Drake, he's signed to Cash Money and Young Money. What do you think about that movement?

Ceez: It's crazy. Wayne pulled an all star line up. That's a label I wouldn't mind signing to.

IDIFHH: I don't think that there are many that wouldn't.

Ceez: True.

IDIFHH: Label wise, you run your own. I have to ask, how do you balance being an artist and running a label?

Ceez: I think it helps that I have a great team that don't give me trouble when ti comes to decision making and they help as well, so I never really feel as though I'm on my own with things.

IDIFHH: I guess being an artist helps you see things from their perspective too. What are your views on the whole downloading issue that has been plaguing the industry? I mean, it really hurt 50 Cent and his Before I Self Destruct project. How do you think the labels should respond?

Ceez: Downloading is a major issue as far as sales go, but I think its to a point where it's too much for the labels to handle. The internet is damaging album sales too much. Labels can work harder, and not letting tracks leak as easily, so you have to go and get the album to listen to it, but other than that, there's not much that they can do.

IDIFHH: Do you think that maybe the days fo the CD are over? Take T-Pain and his Nappy Boyz label. It's all digital.

Ceez: Not so much as being over, just that its harder to be successful with it. I think it'll get better in time though.

IDIFHH: If anything, the downloading should increase. What makes you sure that it'll get better?

Ceez: The fact that labels are going to get to a point where they're going to have to resolve the situation.

IDIFHH: True. I don't think that its going to end well for the artists.

Ceez: We just have to say positive and hope for the best.

IDIFHH: With the forefront of the game being in the south, what do you think NY needs to do to maybe bring it back?

Ceez: Unite. One reason the south is in control is because they're putting differences aside and making collabs on a daily basis. Our egos are stopping us from doing the same. We need to stop all this beef shit.

IDIFHH: With Jada and Fif putting their shit behind them, do you think that its something that could happen in the near future?

Ceez: Its a start. Its a great move by them. That might be the beginning of the east making a comeback.

IDIFHH: Before I let you go, are theyre any shoutouts you'd like to make?

Ceez: Shoutout to my TNE Squad. DollarSIgn T, Spoda, and Tone! 2010 is OURS. Shout outs to the homies JayCro, Young Fame. HBF and GPS, Da Connect lives on. My bro Code Red and everybody else I fucks with. Shout outs to my twitter fam, and all the fans out there, they make it all possible.

IDIFHH: Alright, take it easy.

Ceez: You too.

On the Grind: Mr. Dope Flow

For the next On the Grind post, we've got a two part post. The first part is with Spoda aka Mr. Dope Flow. One of the first people who followed me on twitter and showed me love, I had to chop it up with him and see just what was going on in his world. Maybe after this interview, you'll feel like I feel, that he's on his grind.

Follow him: @mrdopeflow
Check out his blogsite: http://www.spodamusic101.blogspot.com/

IdoitforHipHop(IDIFHH): So when did you start rapping?

Spoda: I started rapping around 1997/1998.

IDIFHH: Who would you consider to be your biggest influences, music wise?

Spoda: Jay-Z, Nas, Jadakiss, Gangstarr, Biggie, Das Efx, Heltah Skeltha, and AZ

IDIFHH: Speaking of Gangstarr, Premo is one of the best producers out. If you could work with any producer for a whole album, who would it be?

Spoda: Well, I actually got a few. Premo, Kanye, 9th Wonder, and Just Blaze

IDIFHH: Nice. Alright, with so many artists using the internet these days, how do you feel it has affected the music industry? Do you feel as though the pros outweigh the cons?

Spoda: I think the internet is a great tool as well as a bad tool for music. Mainly for two reasons, first off the record sales. It's definitely making a huge decline for the simple fact that people can download an album, a single, or whatever. Meaning that not to many people buy the actual album when it drops. But on the flipside its a great tool for promotions and networking. Everyone is on the net, whether its for doing promotion for social networks, A&Rs, and labels who look for talent on the net for the simple fact that its where everyone is at.

IDIFHH: That being said, with so many trying to get on, what do you feel makes you different from the rest?

Spoda: Personally, I don't feel as if I sound like anyone else. When I write, I try to distinguish myself from the rest. There's so much new talent, but you always hear "He/She sounds like so and so." That's now how I want to be categorized. So I write so that I'm labeled as my own breed and so that I stand out instead of fitting in.

IDIFHH: Yeah, I think being labeled is something that a lot of artists need to avoid. A good example recently is Asher Roth being compared to Eminem. So what are you doing in 2010, and what, if anything, are you doing differently from 2009?

Spoda: Well for starters, my sophomore mixtape, "The Arrival" hosted by DJ J-Prince is dropping 2/23/10. I have a few other projects I'm working on, mainly staying more consistent and hungry. I'm definitely building up my fanbase, which is growing daily. Just trying to stay relevant.

IDIFHH: My next question is what's your creative process? Do you need the beat first or do you write and then change accordingly?

Spoda: It really all depends on how I'm feeling. I'm constantly brainstorming so sometimes I creat verses without a beat. Then there are times when I want to write to a beat to make sure my flow and delivery is on point. The majority of the time when I get a beat, I listen to it on repeat, turn it off, and the beat is stuck in my head. So I also rain like that. In one of my verses, I summed it up. I said, "I don't write/I brainstorm it till the page is filled/"

IDIFHH: Gotcha. If you could collab with anyone living, who would it be?

Spoda: Good question. The LOX, Jay-Z, Fabolous, Young Chis, Joe Budden, Nas, Juelz Santana.

IDIFHH: You're heavy with the New York people.

Spoda: Yeah. West Coast, Nipsey Hussle, Game, Snoop Dogg. South: Scarface, Andre 3000, T.I., and Ludacris.


Be on the lookout for his mixtape, "The Arrival" dropping 2/23/10. Part 2 with The Kid Ceez coming soon.

On the Grind: Sonny Black

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present as the first artist spotlighted in the On The Grind section: Sonny Black.



Follow Sonny Black on Twitter at: @OfficialSonny
Follow Me on Twitter at: @idoitforhiphop

Sonny Black is an up and coming independent artist from St. Louis, Missouri. When you think of St. Louis and music, you probably first think of Nelly or Murphy Lee. Maybe even Jibbs. Not me. The first thing that I really think of is Miles Davis and Chuck Berry. It's telling then that on Sonny Black's Myspace, you see, under the section of influences, pictures of Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, amongst others. These are the kind of people who have influenced him. Don't get me wrong, he can make music that gives you the feel of the club like a Nelly or a Chingy or a Huey. You can hear that in one of his songs Party Girl. But he's a great deal more than just the club. Frankie and them did the songs that won the ladies, but more importantly than just that, they had great lyrics and a potent message. Sonny Black possess those same qualities.

Take this new song of his, Still Water, that's been climbing internet radio stations charts for a minute and is bubbling, just waiting for a chance to jump into the iPods and airwaves of mainstream America. It's a great track that has an equally great message. The song is built around the premise that one shouldn't judge a book by its cover. It’s a good motto to hold when looking at Sonny Black. With lyrics like: "But I understand the lives of those that share my pain only want the same, Heaven on Earth so sweet the name, But rappers get sold like Valerie Plame" or "Rap dudes talk about how they body bag dudes, we all got the tools to clap fools, but the fact is y'all just some starving actors with musty armpits and rusty ratchets.", one can see that he's talented.

But looking beyond just him, the lyrics are telling you to open your eyes and see that everything isn't exactly what it appears to be. So don't get it twisted. Listen to Party Girl and you'll see that he can get people on the dance floor the same way that he can be introspective on Still Water and tell you how things are in St. Louis.

People need to listen to Sonny Black. He's got bars and something tells me that he's going to be coming up soon.

Download Still Water here:

http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/q8vupq

Check out his myspace here where you can see videos of freestyles he's done over beats such as Maybach Music 1, Jokes on you, and a scorcher over Dead Presidents.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/OfficialSonny

New Section: On the Grind

Periodically, I'm going to write articles about artists who are on the grind and artists who I feel deserve a good look and a helping hand. These are artists who are putting in the time and the effort to make it to the top and more importantly, are making good music while they're doing it. These are the underground artists, the indie people who need support to get to the next level and are doing their best to bring their story and their struggle to the rest of the world. I do it for Hip Hop and these artists do too.

Stay tuned as the first artist in this new section will have his or her article up soon.