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How to Be a Rap God

September 29, 2018
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The media often portrays a career in rap, as a career that is easy to achieve. These days it may be easy to think that all you need to succeed is a microphone and a passion for hip-hop. What a lot of passionate young rappers fail to see is all the work that goes behind the scenes. The truth of the matter is that overwhelming passion by itself is not enough to head straight to the top. The Hip Hop industry is a harsh and unforgiving workspace that has a history of spitting out even the most passionate aspiring rap gods to be.

Don’t be Discouraged
Pursuing a career in rap like many other dreams comes at a cost. A job in Hip Hop demands early experiences that many aspiring stars can find discouraging. Be open to every opportunity that comes your way and be realistic about your initial expectations. Being an “overnight success” is extremely rare. Don’t obsess over the idea where you believe your career should shoot you straight to the top. Success simplify does not work that way no matter how skilled you are in your profession.

Recognize the Details
You must prove that you are skilled in the entertainment agency to be rewarded. Many rookie artists jump the gun by feeling entitled, because of the praise they receive. This is a dangerous feeling that stunts career growth. Even the very best rap stars have others helping them to stay relevant. Concert promoters, production teams, and business managers all have a hand in raps star’s success. Becoming big in the rap industry is a group effort, so you have to ultimately always be trying to prove to others you are worth the investment of their time.

Don’t Be Afraid to Get A Helping Hand
Yes, you should be eager to invest time in your projects yourself, but you should look to others to cover your weak spots. Every rap artist has areas they are weak in, whether or not they admit it to themselves. The most successful artists listen to their team and take in all feedback from critics to stay relevant with the completion. Rookie artists tend to make the mistake of being very narrow side of what their idea of what close success is.

The best way to avoid this mindset is to reprioritize your goals for the industry. Instead of having goals that focus on the short-term aspects of success in the career, make a goal that remains ongoing at all times. For example, instead of thinking “How can I be a rap star?” focus on a goal that continues to be relevant over a long period of time. Goals that remains relevant over time encourage improvement, and as a result, you will stay hungry for success.

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Press

DJ Ready’s Legacy

September 11, 2018
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Collins Leysath better known as “DJ Ready” died Friday, leaving only his musical legacy and influence to his admirers. Leysath was only 53 years old when he faced a fatal heart attack. Willie Dennis shared the news of the longtime producer, and DJ’s death on Instagram. “He single-handedly established a style,” Willie says, as he reflects on Collins life.

Collins had infused his Trademark Rap-A-Lot style into Geto Boys. Collins is accredited for pioneering the southern style hip-hop sound. Brad Jordan also known as “Scarface” states that Collins influenced most of Rap-A-Lot’s sound and style. Collins would often use reference of classic pop culture in his music. For example, he once sampled music from the classic “Spider-Man” television series.

Much of Collins’ influence came from his love of comics, Kung-fu movies, and television. Common snit-bits of Collins’ passions, whether it was TV themes, or sound effects often found its way into his music. Dennis also mentions that Collins had a unique forward-thinking view of Hip Hop as a mainstream genre, as it wasn’t viewed that way at the time.

Even though Willie died in his New Jersey home, he still managed to leave the long-lasting impression on the coast. In 1979, Willie moved and threw himself into the club nightlife and eventually impressed producers. Collins subsequently picked-up-the title of “DJ Ready Red” where he joined the Geto Boys. They then released “Car Freak,” one of the earliest rap singles to be recorded in Houston.

The group’s name would eventually change after the release of the 1988 album “Making Trouble” which began to pull a consistent regional audience. The group grew in popularity with the release of “Grip It.” The vocal performances often expressed stories base around Houston and its streets.

Dennis remembers Collins as a perfectionist. He states that much of the Geto Boys hits could not have been as influential as they were if he hadn’t put as much effort into them. In Jordan’s novel, he reminisces the cross-country journey the Geto Boys took. They traveled and only made a few bucks, but they did what they loved. Eventually, Collins moved on due to his frustrations with the group’s finances but still managed to leave a lasting legacy for his fans and the Hip Hop community.

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Press

Who is Slim Thug?

August 15, 2018
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Stayve Jerome Thomas, better known by his street name, Slim Thug grew up in the Houston area where his brother TayDay introduced him to rapping at the age of 12 years old. His nickname was coined in his teenage years because he was very tall, standing at 6”6′ and lanky. The thug part of his alias stemmed from the fact that due to his corn rolls and sunglasses people would immediately assume he was a thug.

His most notable works, like his debut album and his material with Interscope Records, were associated with Star Trak Entertainment, where he begins to develop the reputation of being Houston’s pride and joy. He would eventually release three highly successful albums through his own independent record company, Boss Hog Outlaw.

To create his first freestyle, Slim used a recording of the instrumental “Player’s Ball” by Outcast, and he eventually turned towards the Hip Hop Industry to make a career for himself. His Rap career started with Swishahouse in the late 1990s and then formed his independent label.

His first performance was at a club called “Club All-Star” in 1998. Slim later challenged Lil Mario in a style competition, and they were invited by DJ Mike to submit their raps for the Swisha House – Final Chapter 98 mixtape.

After 20 years of success in the Rap Industry, Slim is still making a mark in the Hip Hop Industry through Boss Life Construction, where he is giving one lucky family a home after the lost theirs in Hurricane Harvey. Now, even 20 years in the game a retired Slim Thug continues to work on projects and states that he will continue to rap even at the age of 50.

Though Slim’s long-running and successful Rap career, he has been able not only to influence the Swishahouse and freestyle community, he has also devoted his time and energy to make an enormous impact towards the community due to his efforts through Boss Life Construction. To Celebrate 20 years in the music industry, Slim held a concert at the White Oak Music Hall and continues to influence all listens of the genre now, and for many years to come.

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