Cakewalk Sonar

It's all getting a little boring...

Sorry for the lack of general information on my blog. Too be honest,
minor random things about Grime doesn't really float my boat anymore.
Too many real issues are appearing through the surface and it's
becoming clear that Grime needs a good old kick up the bum.
I think 2007 is make it or break it time for the scene, Fans and
'supporters' can either download the music that they seem to love
so much or go out their way to contribute. The thing is people
seem to think that the minor act of downloading Grime artists
work is innocent. Although it's not the one off occasion that people
do this, I understand it moves the scene into further fields and new
people get to listen to the sound, BUT! downloading & sending mixtape
after mixtape is not exactly doing anything for Grime, only improving
their forum/intenet credibility. Without good investment, the people that
make good music that you download but don't invest in,won't be making
it anymore. OPEN YOUR POCKETS.

This isn't obviously the only issue with 'fans', most girls who go to
grime raves are only there to conquest anyone who has a mixtape
out and this seems to scare of other females who want to show love
to the music they adore. It's got so bad when I give an artist a lift
home rumours creep about that im some sort of begging groupie.
Think about it like this, if I didn't give them a lift home then
they would of most definitely never of turned up.

This leads on to another subject, punctuality which seems to be
some issue that even the biggest signed Grime artists can't tackle.
With there only being 3 to 4 regular grime nights in the whole of
London, you would think that 'artists' would jump at the chance
to showcase their talent. I'm not moaning for you to turn up
hours before a rave or night starts but come on, if you want
your fans to buy your mixtape then at least take a little
pride in turning up. While some artists actually turn up and
don't flop the events, theres the issue with an artists/crews
performance. Standard skills like holding the mic at the right
distance and remembering your bars. Even having enough
lyrics to take on a full on performance, it's not fun to watch
someone jump about spitting the same bars over and over.
A full on performance being around an hour, obviously
most don't get booked for this amount but its good to
carry through having a lorry load of bars to spit.
I do argue though that Quality is better than Quantity.
So having 1000 of bars with no meaning is a waste of your
and our time. I've been to a handful of performances of
Ruff Squad's and most of the time without Fuda Guy
(who has an amazing energy) and Tinchy (Who has the
energy and bars) they just stand there with hands in their
pockets like they are waiting in a queue. I do rate them
though, they turn up everywhere and on time,
although sometimes i do wish they wouldn't.


Pockets at the ready.

If people are coming to see you at least give them something to hype about.
True say Guns and Roses Vol2 is sick.

So with this issue brings money, some artists charge dumb amounts for
the big opportunity to show their talent. I recently asked Nu Brand Flex
well Boya and Saskilla how much it would be for a P.A of Gash by the Hour
Boya replied with £200. I might aswell just play their track instead of waste
£200 on a couple of any guys. People are going on like they are Pharell Williams or Jay Z.
I understand you have to survive but out of the Grime scene you are ANY GUYS.
Especially if the odds of you turning up are 1 in 10,000.
It's not a big look to think you can rip off people who will pay you
for you to perform, in London, around the UK or Out of the country,
just because they don't have much knowledgable about Grime.
Charging ridiculous amounts, when just putting your music out there
to different crowds will prove a lot in the long run. Especially as this is
one of the main reasons for many club owners to not book Grime emcees.
Particularly when most of you can't even perform.

Mixtapes. Now none of you can sell as much as JME just by having them
on the shelfs. When you are an unknown its not impossible to do alot,
Random Impulse who is more of an unknown in the scene sold 8000
mixtapes to date, by hustling them himself, people up westend selling
them... when he performs he sells them, its in record shops. Its about
will power, you don't have to be Snoop Dogg to sell and not being lazy.
Promoting it everywhere you go, putting it out to every media source
not just stalking Chantelle Fiddy and begging her for a review.
( I tried that before and it didn't work) Also if you're a not well known
still get out there to every grime night/ rave possible its a good
opportunity to talk with established artists and get advice.


The whole scene, artists and supporters need to take a good hard look at
themselves. Artists take your music to new levels and have a professional
attitude. Get yourself on radio, to Club nights, raves regularly and be
consistent. Don't think dropping one track/mixtape a year ago will sort
you out for life, it won't. ... If someone says your swag... Don't shoot/stab
them, take it on board and improve yourself.
Also note if you are a swag Producer/MC/DJ/Singer or anything else, please
stop, give up and hand yourself in to your local police station, its murdering
the scene. Just because you know talented artists in the scene or you're
related to one of them doesn't mean you are a big artist.

BE AN INDIVIDUAL.

Violence is a bait issue but the one that has merked off most of the
media/venue/police love (if there was any). I do realise that alot of
Artists bring 'weapons' / fight at raves as it is most likely a moment when
people will take you for a mug. Although alot of the violence is because of
pure hype... Settle! Take your business some where else, if you don't
people will learn and won't book you AGAIN!


I would bore you with all the great albums and mixtapes that are going to
be dropped in 2007, but like 2006 alot was promised and most of the
levels were average.

One more thing, theres no need to be so rude... having a radio show,
having a couple groupies tell you you're their god or having a video
6months ago on Channel U doesn't give you the right to think you're
anything more than the people that listen to your music. If they weren't
there you would be Air. Not every that approaches you wants to be your
best friend/have sex with you/ beg you to be on their track.