How do we fix it?

[Plastic]

This topic is inspired by...

Why I've Considered Quitting...... and Beef in HHH

Many of us are aware of problems and things not quite right in our scene. How do we fix it? Maybe it's even too "pie in the sky" to "fix" or is it? What are you going to do about?

Something that has been on my heart lately is how leadership is in short supply. Where are the willing servants? Where are those willing to give without expecting to receive back? Where are the students willing to seek out and learn from those who have experience to share? Where is humility? When is it simply not enough to say "the right things" on record but to also live everything you rhyme about? Are we/you ready to be okay with working your tail off, using your God given ability, without realizing any sort of worldly "success" (money, big album sales, accolades etc)?

Are you ready to set aside your assumptions about "them"? Them being the other folks on the other side of our scene, depending upon where you are. Last night I had a 2 hour conversation with a young man in the thick of this. He explained to me about how he had built up a wall based upon "what he had heard" about a part of our scene. Once he made an attempt to set those assumptions and misconceptions aside, he learned things weren't as what he "had heard".

I feel like it begins with individuals. Then a small group of people. Then more. Then more. Without a solid foundation, there doesn't seem to be much to build from. Nothing that wouldn't easily crumble. I'm not too worried anymore about the other guy. If I can see that person earnestly seeking to follow the Word, that's good enough for me. I expect missteps, failure and so on. It's then easy to love, respect and encourage. "We" (our scene) are never going to agree on everything. Most of it is pretty unimportant anyways. I just hope that when those differences are set aside, some understanding and respect will come along. It really feels like most of what people think of each other is based upon "what they have hear" or "read on a forum from some random person" or a rumor or whatever. It's happened to me and I've done it. Most of the time I was terribly wrong and felt rotten for it. What a waste! No more for me and I'd challenge everyone else to strive for the same.

I know one thing... I'm here to serve, blessed to be a blessing. If I can help you out, please let me know. Right now I am trying to really get my junk together, be better with my time and more available to help. Over the last few years I've done a poor job in certain areas and want to be a better follower of Jesus. Let's use this website as a tool for change.

This topic isn't meant for ideas. It's meant to build ideas and actions. For those of you in the trenches doing music, ministry etc... be encouraged! You guys are heroes to many people... myself included.

[reSEARCH]

It's tough, because we all imagine how much more effective we could be if we did music 'full-time' as a legitimate career. But as was mentioned in the 'reasons for quitting' topic, I think we need to reevaluate what 'success' truly is within our capabilities. We (ShadowFacts Records) would rather make a difference in people's lives, rather than 'blow up,' which is why we began giving away digital copies of our ShadowFacts Records releases, with the "Summer Of ShadowFacts" promotion. If we have a more defined definition and goal of success, aside from simple record sales, then I think we could truly make impact while striving for that goal.

-reSEARCH

[Plastic]

Apparently complaining is the best we can collectively do. That's been my main beef with all these sorts of things (summits, conferences, meetings, articles etc) that provoke all these emotions and responses... nothing ever really happens. Hopefully that statement stings who it needs to.

Either way... I'm going to do my part.

[EO Incorp. Elements]

I agree-I'm with you Josh. If there is anything you need from me-please hit me up anytime. I'd love to do whatever I can, and serve however I can. I love what both 'sides' are doing, and would love to see continued growth and unity under our Lord.

[reSEARCH]

Me too. Thanks for doing what you do Plastic. You are one of the few solutions we have around here.

[EliasG]

I have no idea how to "fix it." I'm not sure you can "fix it" because the it is too situational. Then again, I don't know the ins and outs and day to days of the music business when you are doing it for aliving. I know that I wasn't terribly interested in the financial insecurity I observed there. Lots of "you guys are amazing!" followed by this is terrible. Inflated expectations, flirtatious promises and unrealistic goals on both sides perhaps. Sometimes the music "business" looks like a bad codependent relationship with both sides expecting more from the other than the other can realistically deliver.

maybe the best solution is to tour the heck out of this country, build a strong fanbase and then make a mutually benefitting deal with a company that reaps financial benefits for both parties in a realistic fashion.

The whole make a lot of money out the gate thing is kind of like trying to write the great american novel onyour first try.

[Plastic]

EO & reSearch - thanks guys for the kind words.

Elias - I'm with you there. The frustration for me is that most folks who beat this issue into the ground and seemingly all "talk". That bugs me. I don't worry about it anymore because it's nothing I could ever control. I'm just here to do what I do and try to help people.

[FabdaEclectic]

I still like the idea of an artists "union", but not so much as a union anymore after hearing everyone's thoughts. Maybe now just an advisors board so to speak...but definitely something that the artists can use to come together and bring unity to the movement.

I am definitely against something where the label politico's run things...some of the label/distributor/radio shot callers are good...most are not.

[sameoldjake]

First step, Fix
Second Step, It

FIX IT!

[reSEARCH]

First step, Fix
Second Step, It

FIX IT!

[kenshinda5th]

First step, Fix
Second Step, It

FIX IT!

i was going to post that, love that

[EliasG]

hahaha. I LOVE that too. Good post.

[Rhino]

yeah...good one.

[Spoken Nerd]

You know after reading this and thinking about it I'm not really sure which side I'm on. Why do there even have to be sides? Maybe we should stop trying to catagorize everything and just be Christians that are making hip hop music for Jesus. The first step is to simply stop compartmentalizing everything. Then maybe we should take the promotion and distribution of this music more seriously. Maybe we should stop taking our own personas so seriously. Maybe even this year at GMA we can all have a big campfire and roast marshmellows at my house. I think now is an exciting time and a time for encouragement. Artists are begining to wake up. Some of us are just getting older and more mature. SOme of us are young and new to the scene and haven't been hurt yet (let's keep it that way). I think when we focus our eyes on the prize, suddenly petty arguments and harsh words won't deter us like they used to. At the end of the day it's our hearts that are going to reap what they sow in this music.

[EngLebuRt]

Man, I 'm going to have to write a big ol' lengthy post at a later date as I feel the fire to do so. But in the mean time I just have to say, first off, I am 30 years old, I was there to witness the birth of Christian Hip-Hop (D-Boy, PID, Michael Peace) and I've seen alot of changes.

I feel bad because in my younger, more immature years I was part of the beef (to all parties involved, I apologize, I was lil' jerk), but now I realize I was in the wrong and all I want now is unity.

That's the first step, we need to come together. We all need to strive to be part of the solution instead of continuing to fuel the fire of dissent. We need to encourage one another, we need to lift each other up in prayer, we need to build.

This website is a cental meeting point for Christian Hip-Hop artists, thanks to the redonkulously hard-work and efforts of Plastic. I say the United Front begins hear. Let us not only network for business connections, but focus on the spiritual as well.

United we stand United we fall
United we plan as a United front-Arrested Development

[FabdaEclectic]

Right now, it seems we're still scattered...we have our "coasts" just like mainstream. I'd like to see us come together as one group...sorta have one centralized location...not necessarily another "website", but perhaps a centralized forum?

To name a few, we have (correct me if I have this wrong)

DaSouth.com - Dirty South/Top 40 Mainstream
Sphere - Midwest/Underground
The Yuinon/Holy Culture - East Coast
Syntax - West Coast/Underground

Perhaps the heads of states there can form some sort of partnership between them all and create a centralized location where all coasts can come together?

[BillyBo]

DaSouth.com - Dirty South/Top 40 Mainstream
Sphere - Midwest/Underground
The Yuinon/Holy Culture - East Coast
Syntax - West Coast/Underground

looking at this, i'd like to know (if possible) the mindsets of these owners. i wonder where they stand on cross-promoting each other. do they feel "it's a business, i gotta bring my own customers, i can't be sending them to other sites" or are they willing to place banners or links somewhere? how about even saying "if we don't have it, they will!" or because of some other reasons they feel they can't promote other sites?

[Plastic]

DaSouth.com - Dirty South/Top 40 Mainstream
Sphere - Midwest/Underground
The Yuinon/Holy Culture - East Coast
Syntax - West Coast/Underground

looking at this, i'd like to know (if possible) the mindsets of these owners. i wonder where they stand on cross-promoting each other. do they feel "it's a business, i gotta bring my own customers, i can't be sending them to other sites" or are they willing to place banners or links somewhere? how about even saying "if we don't have it, they will!" or because of some other reasons they feel they can't promote other sites?

Everyone is welcome here at Sphere.

Sphere promotes everyone or at least we try. Some artists who are absent simply do not provide information nor are they submitting albums for review/airplay. For example... when I started the radio show on XM Satellite Radio, I spent a YEAR asking for music. A full 12 months. Most labels and artists had to be reminded two, three and sometimes ten times to mail me stuff. Then after the fact (once the show was airing) I heard "complaints" that we only played certain types of music. I can't really put specific cats on blast can I? No. In a few cases I spent $10-11 to BUY a copy of an album to use to support someone who couldn't find the 3 minutes to drop one in the mail to me. Unfortunately this type of situation keeps a lot of things off the website. I cannot afford to buy someones record so I can support it and sell you records. In the real world it doesn't work as such

We had links to all those spots in our link section and have sent lots of clicks elsewhere. We don't always get it in return. No big deal.

The tough part for Sphere is that we need every single cent to even keep this train moving along. It's quite frustrating and handcuffs my ability to do many things I'd like to... not to mention how I would like to spend my time. If we didn't have such funding issues (we need a very minimal amount to just break even) I'd love to do more.

[The Czar]

I think a BIG PLACE to start for heads who have been doing this for a while is OPEN DIALOGUE and FORGIVENESS. I'll give you a real life example.

In 2000 and 2001 my crew - United Souls - headed up a unified front of all of the local hip-hop crews in Tulsa, OK. That crew included United Souls, Mass Reality, Resistance, Reaction (RXN), Cash Hollistah, Fedel and some other solo emcees. Me and my dude King Ray worked overtime at our jobs to pay - out of our own pockets - to record a mixtape project that included all of these other crews and emcees. Noone else paid a PENNY and we didn't ask them to. We did it because we wanted the unity amongst the crews and to show a unified front to our entire subculture.

The project did marginally well locally and we made enough to lose about $200-$250 of our own money on the project. All was going well until people started complaining that they weren't making any money on the mixtape (Noone promised them any money to begin with). My immediate question was "who was 'making' money when we took a loss on the project?" Then people were complaining about their own "shine" on the project - the same people who chose not to write for certain songs and thus were cut from the songs - and more complaining about money came up. This caused a HUGE wedge in the Movement (that was the name of the crew) and eventually due to a lack of trust and communication - it fell apart. To this day, people won't talk to certain members of the Movement and hold a grudge.

Some of the people, I've had the chance to talk to personally and clear the air. Once the air was clear all was good. Other people involved were BURNED and now initiate the beefs or even quit the whole thing because of the types of issues they've encountered after the beefs.

In no way am I suggesting that this is the type of thing everyone has experienced. What I am saying is SOMETHING has created a certain amount of distrust and disgruntled feelings about others in our circuit. What worked for me was to address some of those people to have an open dialogue and engaged in forgiveness. They felt like we wronged them; I felt like they wronged us. Either way I needed to forgive. So that's what I did.

So that was my part - I forgave and continue to have open dialogue. Others didn't and fell by the wayside. To me, there is a connection between between distrust and disgruntled feelings and the desire to quit and beef. For me, the way to overcome those feelings was to forgive and openly discuss the situation with the individuals and not just broad stroke the whole scene with the paint brush that colored everyone the same color.

[Plastic]

Word up Czar!

To all...
What if the olive branch is continually offered and it continually is ignored or dismissed? I really hope that this is all a personal call to getting you stuff together. Then I think something collectively noticeable might happen. Ya think?