It's not me...it's YOU!

The thing that annoys me the most about mixtapes in 2008 is the lack of respect. The lack of respect in regards to the art form that is a "mixtape" and the business side as well. The art has in its entirety been replaced by "promo" aka "homo". What used to be a DJ mixing your favorite mainstream/party/underground tracks into a cohesive project that could be listened to over and over is now just a sendspace link and pretty cover in an email or blog that is forgotten by the next day. I miss those days of being in NY in the summer studying the mixtape book at Harlem Music Hut and spending $100 bucks on mixtapes that would last almost 6 months or at least until the next re-up. Like Dimez told me the other day..."Chew we can never go back to those days." He's right and no, I'm not a bitter old man who pays for blow jobs from middle age cleaning ladies...yet, but I am frustrated with the state of mixtapes.

How did it get it like this? Technology? The quality of music? Lack of skills? Over exposure? Somebody let me know but if I had to guess its all of the above. Not to mention the fact the "art" was infiltrated by money hungry get rich quick people who never heard a Ron G tape or Kid Capri's "52 Beats" for that matter. DJs with a general lack of business sense as well. Do remember myself and Dimez have been in the mixtape business since 1996. It used to be a time when the DJ would call you up and say "I got a new project dropping called ......" and you then haggle the price of the master. No looking at the track list, it was the DJ who you're were buying...not just the music. You think cats questioned a Clue track list in 1997. You'd have to be smoking crack and while we're talking about smoking crack. The young DJs aren't paying attention. If you don't have a name yet and fan base you have to pay attention to what's out there. Just dropping tired "concepts" whenever doesn't cut it now and stop using the "politic" crutch to validate your existence. Stores and websites work on the bottom line...period. If you're name doesn't sell then it's the music on the mixtape and if that shit is played out or over exposed it's your own fault...not politics. Remove head from ass and start paying attention.

On the business end of this shit cats don't cop projects so they can sit on a shelf..dig on that. Creatively speaking the previous sentence sucks...but it's the truth. If you don't like it DJs either quite or adapt. It's all about creating a demand for your product and then serving your fans the best way you can...that's how you stay on top. Also, If you think the physically CD product is dead you're a fool. You need a balance between "that free shit" you give away in a link and that actual CD you push to the people. Start paying attention to the business side and adjust your schedules accordingly. Not everyone is Mick Boogie or Big Mike or DJ Teknikz. What works for them will not work the same for you, the key is to pay attention to it, experiment with it and find your own way. Understand the value of your project, it's not disposable but by posting it on message boards and GIVING it away on blogs it's not going to work for you. If you truly don't care, then fuck it but if you do care and you do have a plan...keep reading. This is a severe microwave culture right now. There are ways to build a buzz and get your project simmering and building momentum without giving it away for nothing. I've seen three projects in the last month that could have been so much more than what they were and due to bad advice they aren't going anywhere. If you're project is truly hot the "FANS" will leak it for you and that's really when the virus spreads.

I don't know if you read Kaos' latest Diary of a Mad Artist but he said something that is very key in this mixtape culture: " You're supposed to use it in a way to promote yourself till you get to your next level then bounce." Use this "thing of ours" to promote yourself, your artist, your movement to get to the next level. However, "promotional use only" doesn't always mean "FREE". Can you dig it? I don't think you can.

On the store front/website front cats still need to take a chance on a DJ. You can't expect a DJ to build a fan base without some support. It should be educated support, not some blind support cause we're cool; but some support none the less. Good business will always beget good business and the same for bad business. Pay the DJs if they are owed because without them you got nothing but cracked up pieces of soap...not that crack you claim you sell.

You know the old saying when you break up with a person.."It's not you...it's me". Well guess what? There is no breaking up to be done because... It's not me...ITS YOU! This murder is dedicated to you...the DJ, the fan, the store/site owner, the person reading this. I just murdered you...enjoy and welcome back to the murder of the month. Shalom. And show this "thing of ours" the respect it deserves.