Being around the wrong people

[JPeg]

More and more im feeling like the people I roll with are having a negative effect on my production.

I am often around some lazy emcees that aint put out nothing, that don’t do shows but are always quick to assert how good they are and how crap everyone else is and how great everything will be once their album comes out.
To give credit to these dudes they can spit but they just aint realistic due to lack of knowledge on how the game is.

As for producers in my local area I don’t chill with any on the regular, but the peeps ive seen mostly talk about the game they neva actually speak about the music, that’s how I know that dude is purely into it for the money.
Then u got the other types of producers who say they make all kinds of music and they shit just sounds bland cos they don’t have the deep appreciation for the hip hop necessary to make it.

I thinking that I would improve faster and make more moves if Im around dudes that’s making moves, but I aint on some give up shit im limiting the time I spend with lazy folks that allows me to focus and work on getting my game up.

Anyone else paying dues on the solo tip?

 

[bigdmakintrax]

You must be swimming with bigger sharks to make bigger music, also if your MC's don't see your vision and you have never shown them then your production can go nowhere....when I say production I mean the whole sense not just your instrumental music, your MC, your clique, camp or crew you work with.....I mean I do not network with people if have no goal to do it, some network to network and use all of the buzzwords.....its great on a purely social level but the main thing about production you will learn is that time is SOOOOOOO important......if you are needlessly wasting time with folks that are not GOAL oriented you need to drop them quickly, find some people that are doing things and just because they are doing some things or making moves does not always equate into they will help you....there a lot of cats that will talk like they want to help you but they are out for themselves.....I been in the street level aspect of this game, there a going to be people that have their own opinions about how you need to arrive at where you want to be too.... I have not till this point made a major move.....been around a few that have.......but a major move sometimes only happens once then they are back at your level trying to get on a project.....I seek out folks that are either on projects or making moves, that helps me to excel....I am not saying that folks that are essentially on your level or may just be slightly a little further won't help but you need to be getting feedback and constructive criticism from not only your peers but find people that have already established themselves in your craft......their feedback is going to be very valuable in moving on and moving forward.....I have worked with MC's that do not want to listen to any business aspects or have no Goals, same with producers....my advice drop them and stay focused and get with folks that are goal oriented they will help you to step up....the best thing is you already are tuned in to this that tells me you are going places man..........be smart enough to realize when you need to 1. cut ties or 2. you have more potential and you know how to take it, refine, promote your ideas and move to the next level......there are no books to teach this you must learn this and grow......take all advice, filter and absorb but bottom line you are in control of your own destiny, don't let anyone that does not have vision slow you down.

 

[Lex]

I really fucking love music.

Thats some knowledge right there, BigD and great point first of all by Jpeg.

I need some help further down than that though...there is no one, and I really do mean this, in my area apart from about 5 of my friends who listen to hip hop enough for me to talk about production with. A couple of them have Fruity Loops on their computer but thats as far as it goes. Maybe they don't have time to produce, I don't know......they share similar tastes in music to me [aside from the hiphop stuff too] and are great people to talk about music with too, but none of them are really into production [and non are Mcs either] so its kind of like I'm stuck on my own with this.

I'm down for making beats for MCs and everything, and I still look for oppurtunties to do so, although my personal preference would be to do purely instrumental hiphop [in the vein of DJ Shadow, Krush, DJ Vadim, Amon Tobin etc....I love instrumental stuff they do, and simply want to do that kind of thing but bring my own personality and other influences into it - see stuff I've posted in the 'Showcase'] both with other people and as a soloist. In fact, I'd be happy [and am relatively happy at the moment] with working on my own, but I'd like to work with other people just to gain experience etc. Another problem with doing this is that in my area and a lot of the UK, Garage and R'n'B seem to dominate in such a way that hip hop, and even more so with want I want to try and do, can't really get a proper look in.

In future I hope to collaborate with people on IllMuzik, a place which for me has become really useful for picking up techniques but also just for being able to recieve feedback from people using the same or simialr tools as you and seeing what they think of your stuff. [I apreciate all the feedback I've recieved in the Showcase section by the way - much respect]

I'm not buisiness minded nor do I think I will have to 'make it' as a producer/beatmaker to be content with my music, but once I'm at a certain skill level and have done a certain amount of material I want to get my stuff heard...and people to acknowledge what I'm doing. I've thought about doing mixtapes and stuff and handing them out in school, but it wouldn't probably mean me just spending lost of money on tapes/CDs and handing them out, lol

Any words of wisdom from the big dogs here at IllMuzik?

 

[JPeg]

wussup D u dropped science and I get what ur saying, but the issue about cutting ties is complicated by the fact that the lazy no "get up go" mc's/producers are friends that I kick it with locally.

Ive been tryna sell them the idea that we all need to do things differently to advance but they aint buying into it.

so it looks like ima gonna have to be on some madlib vibe, stay on my own make hella shit and rap in different voices, lol

Lex Im on the same vibe as u tryna develop my style before I start putting things out and hustling but there are so many uk garage artists that wanna do hip hop, so it tuff to find peeps that r on the same vibe as u.

I just try to take in as much music from the peeps I respect (dilla, madlib, alchemist) and try and analyse and see how I can incorporate some of how they approach making music in what I do.

 

[Producer_GyaL]

Man, if you can judge that your Friends "artist" are the bomb, have a serious conversation with them. If dont share the same vision, move on.
Personnally, even though i have some artists and i have a few people who would like to work with me, its cool, but i dont depend on anyone. Yeah, it is good to have an artist with who you work with and this is how your stuff is going to be heard... But im sure you're artist as a LOT to learn vocally....Everyone as their priority. Nowadays, everybody can be an artist. Just select the peeps that has something REAL to say, a different delivery.. and your set.

 

[Lex]

I didn't know a lot garage artists were interested in moving into hiphop, but I'm definately taking your word for it man. I'm not sure how seriously they'd take me and/or my stuff either...lol, basically I'm 16 and a bedroom producer.

I get what you're saying about your friends too man, I guess just keep trying to show them what you want to do and where you want to take your music and basically tell them stuff isn't working out as it is...as you said they're you friends not just people you work with or know, so cutting ties isn't really an option. Just keep explaining to your peoples how you are all going to have to develop your own styles and where you want to take things, and tell those MCs to stop being lazy, lol

And if that isn't happening go the Madlib route like you said. LOL just become a one man assault on the music industry, start your own label, do your own mixtapes, do your own covers for records, make your own website drop demos everywhere.

Peace.

 

[classic]

Its like this, everyone wants to be a rapper or a producer there days. They are a dime a dozen,but alot of times when people find out that your good, they just want to be on your coatails incase you do big things.

You have to serprate friends and buinsess, I NEVER waste beats on cats that i feel aint worth it. That why i have sold only a handfull of beats. As producers there are only so many qualtity tracks u can make in a day so why waste them.

YOu have to be honest with yourself and your friends and sepreate the two. If not you will be stuck in a cycle that wont break.


You cant be around people that dont have the same goals and vision that you do. That goes for everything in life not just beatmaking

 

[MarkN]

I don't know a lot of people locally round me that are doing the same thing and a lot of my m8s aren't interested at all in it but that doesn't effect me even if you don't know anyone at all that doesn't stop you improving your music !

 

[Lex]

I have no idea wether your post was in refernce to my previous ones, but I'd just like say that I agree with you entirely.

Just to re-iterate, all I was saying before is I'd just like to work with a few like minded individuals at some point in the future to gain experience generally, learn different techniques and approaches to different things and seeing stuff from other people's viewpoints. And most of all to share and develop ideas and create music I want to create.

Peace.

 

[JPeg]

I don't know a lot of people locally round me that are doing the same thing and a lot of my m8s aren't interested at all in it but that doesn't effect me even if you don't know anyone at all that doesn't stop you improving your music !

MarkN - Yeah u can still improve, and i am certainly improving but being around peeps with goals and that actually take steps to achieve goals will no doubt give u more fire to make moves.

Classic- The dudes im down with defo have the same vision, and the are mad talented and skilled as rappers. The problem as I see it is that dudes aint self critical enuff they let themselves off the hook rather than setting targets and looking at ways we can improve.

 

[massikrbeats]

my thoughts exactly

...what he said! I'm experiencing the exact same thing. tHe artist I'm working with claims to be with an "underground label". This may be true, but this doesn't seem like the road that I want to take my music down. I'm not a mixtape producer. Sure, I get that street credibility, but I've been throwin him beats long e-fuckin-nuff. I mean bangaz thta I know would blow up, I throw away because this artist hasn't done anything wit it.

 

[Rhythmikal]

People wanna be the star without putting the work effort in.

I gotta say i find MCs alot lazier than producers on the whole, and they aint gotta work nearly as hard as us.

sAfE.

 

[JPeg]

People wanna be the star without putting the work effort in.

I gotta say i find MCs alot lazier than producers on the whole, and they aint gotta work nearly as hard as us.

sAfE.

I kinda agree although becos of the internet and cracked software, u get dudes always talking about the new software they got or how they dont use samples. But these dudes often just collect plug-ins they neva take time to learn the software.

 

[MarkN]

MarkN - Yeah u can still improve, and i am certainly improving but being around peeps with goals and that actually take steps to achieve goals will no doubt give u more fire to make moves.

Classic- The dudes im down with defo have the same vision, and the are mad talented and skilled as rappers. The problem as I see it is that dudes aint self critical enuff they let themselves off the hook rather than setting targets and looking at ways we can improve.

Yea kinda agree with you man, but ive been working with a few people lately and they all seem to be the same the MCs they are just lazy they will set there all day and go yea make me a beat make me another beat flip this sample for me i want a bit that sounds like this but then wen its time to record oh man is that the time im late for work or sum bullshit ! its frustrating ill admit that BUT the only person who motivate you is YOU ! the fire comes from inside or at least it does with me ! You have to remember no1 will ever want you to succeed more than you !

 

[mr mello]

JPeg.
I find that you have to keep pushing yourself. You cant afford negative thought or negative people.
And I feel you on on that whole Madlib thing. Madlib is my primary inspiration, not only because of his music , but also because of his work ethic and constant expirimentation. That dude loves music man.

And thats what its about ,.. loving music.

 

[bigdmakintrax]

Mello I agree, Madlib is good enuff to do him, and say fugg what everyone else thinks,,,,,the nowadays people are pinned down by everyone elses bar on what is good music or hot....originality is sooooooo lacking nowadays.....most would not even know how to be original. that applies to MC's and producers alike......but finding people that can work with your concepts and want to create is the key........if you can't find them then you gonna have to be like Madlib and just write and perform a lot of your stuff......

 

[shadeed]

Being around the wrong people will decrease productivity in ANY pursuit that you choose.
If you're gonna be in the music business, then treat your music as a BUSINESS.
If you walked into a store and you see the owner giving away free stuff and throwing his own product away, you wouldn't deal with that owner, because you would assume his products have NO VALUE.

The same is true in the music biz. You gotta market your product and not give away beats for $25 and be professional about your work/art to reap any max benefits.
A lotta people are telling you to "dump those lazy MC's" and thnat sounds good, but
they are probably good friends of yours or something to that effect, so I'm not gonna advise that. I also think that you were probably lazy at some point too, and now you got a New Year's Resolution to get busy, otherwise your friends/MC's would see your work ethic and would take music dead serious around you instead of just talking.

For any networking with other producers, label connects you need a resume dog.
A beat CD with a couple business cards inside along with a valid phone number will give you a way to get your material heard and have people holler back if they feel your beats.

If you don't know where to start, here is a million dollar tip, that I don't mind sharing becuz I'm already successfully makin paper at what I do. The most overlooked marketing spot for producers is............the barber shop. Every rapper I know gets their haircut or braided and it's also the only spot that has music playing all day long. Give a beat CD to your barber and just go along to different spots, I got a LOT of work that way. Good luck.