WHO`S THE KING AND WHO`S NOT IN THIS GAME



Picture above:Jay Z,Rick Ross and Dre
www.sparksforyourlife.com



Rick Ross`s new album God Forgives, I Don`t which features Nas, Dr Dre, Jay Z, Andre 3000 and John Legend is so interesting because it has led to some debates by the fans. Some say Ross wasn`t thinking straight when he was doing this album,they say he unintentionally caused a conflict between artists. This will also open some debates amongst many hip hop artists. If you haven`t listened to the album,take your time and listen to it attentively and also look at the artists that have been featured and their relationships at each other. I can see what these fans are talking about now although I`m not Rick Ross`s fan but I have listened to the album and also checked the artists that have been featured in that album. Most of us know that Rick Ross and Lil Wayne are friends but then on the other hand Lil Wayne and Jay Z don`t get along,okey fine think about this. Dr Dre and Eminem are always together,you can`t break thair friendship but it happened that Rick Ross featured Eminem`s best friend. Remember I once wrote a blog about Eminem and Rick Ross beef (fight).



Picture above:Nas who`s always been known as a king
www.nahright.com



 ``Eminem you`re a monkey and everyone knows that you`re a f*ckin` monkey,if you want a beef I`m ready for that,I aint scared of ya''. Those were Rick Ross`s words that started a fight.

Moving on right along,in this Rick Ross`s album there`s a track entitled ``Three kings'' which features Dr Dre and Jay Z which means they say they are the kings of this game. What about Lil Weezy who always claim to be the king? that`s my question for now. Remember that 2Pac,B.I.G and Nas were known as the three kings of hip hop,but two of them dead,2Pac and B.I.G so Nas is the only guy who`s still alive,why isn`t he included in the track? Don`t you think this Rick Ross`s album will cause a conflict between these artists? Does this say ``A friend of my enemy is my enemy'' apply here,because Ross has collaborated with artists that do not get along with his friends. Some say Rick Ross claims to be a king but he will never be,so what`s your say on this? 

IS THE LANGUAGE A PROBLEM IN THE HIP HOP MUSIC?



Picture above: American artist,Nas and SA artist HHP



First of all let me define what hip hop is. Hip hop is the subculture originated by African Americans in New York City, specifically in Bronx. This culture was established in 1970s. In its broader sense HIP HOP is characterized by four elements, rapping, DJ`ing, dancing and graffiti, but then now I would like to focus on the music element which is rapping. The word rap is an abreviation for Rhythm And Poetry. I think the word describes itself, it`s clear to everyone that this is the mix of Rhythm either a drum or a beat box with a poem. Now let me go back to the fray. Many people think that the language you use when rapping matters, truely speaking hip hop music can`t be based on on the language you`re rapping in, that doesn`t matter at all what only matters is what you`re saying behind the microphone. Does it make a sense or you`re just rapping because your friend said ``man let`s do this''. As long as you expess what you feel inside, you can use whatever language you want to use to communicate your views. Remember what is important is the message content, but at times it depends on which audience you want to focus on. Just because the language that was used when this was started is English, it doesn`t necessarily mean you should use English even if the content of your music fosuses mostly on illiterate people.



Above:Vernacular rapper,Prokid on the mic



There`s a lot of artists out there who use their language to convey messages through hip hop music, I`m talking of artists like Immortal Technique,Jin and many more (NB these are American artists). In South Africa I can mention the likes of:

•  Prokid, from Soweto
•  Red Button, from Soweto
•  Hip Hop Pantsula from North West

Fortunately I remembered and mentioned HHP as a HIP HOP artist that is using his language in his rap. Remmber HHP is the first hip hop artist to collaborate with an American Hip Hop artist, Nasir Jones better known as Nas. You know what? I`m proud of HHP,ask me why. Just because  he collaborated with an American RAP legend, he never abandoned his Tswana. Even the title of the track is called keledimo which means I`m a legend in Tswana. Can anyone tell me that`s nothing but a lie when I say a language is not a problem in Hip Hop Music? 

DOES THE MUSIC CONTENT HAVE TO DO WITH AN ARTIST`S SELLING?

Picture above: Rapper, Nas who has just released his album

Let me start this by first looking at this other guy`s music. We have seen hip hop stars coming and going. I`m talking of 50 cent, Puff Daddy, Mos Def and many more but there is this hiphop legend who has been in the game since the early 90`s,who could it be without Nasir Jones better known as Nas. Nas released another album last month Life is good which features Rick Ross,Marry J Blidge and Anthony Hamilton. This was his last album under Def Jam. I think this guy is here to change the game like it`s 80s again. You will never here Nas talking about having money,girls and all staffs like that,he overthinks his lyrics that is why people will never forget his music. He is talking about things that are happening daily and he is motivational in his lyrics.

I always tell these up coming artists that they must pay more attention in their music content. This is South Africa not America, thus you can`t expect to sell many copies if you have this swagger thing. It is so sad because they are killing hip hop,their music doesn`t make sense at all but they are the first people to go to complain to SABC about their music not played. How could you expect SABC to play music that contains vulgar language. SABC is not just a community broadcaster but a national broadcaster. Nas is a very good example when it comes to looking at the content of music, as a result many people love his music,but even here in South Africa I`ve got a list of some conscious artists:



Above: One of SA`s most spitting lyricists,Proverb



• Proverb
• Kabomo
• Mawethu
• Tumi and The Volume

These are the artists whom you can listen to. They do not just write but they know their target audience. When you are doing music you have to know who`s going to listen to your songs,will the majority enjoy my songs? These are the questions that you have to ask yourself. Now from a public relations perspective,this is the reason why music industries have public relations practitioners. Public relations practitioners are responsible for generating publicity for an artist so how will a PRP generate publicity while you as an artist don`t even know your target audience,that is people whom your music is targeted to. You may be against me when I say music content has a lot to do with an artist`s selling but then I want your view on this.                               

DO THE MUSIC COMPANIES HAVE TO HIRE PUBLIC RELATIONS PRACTITIONERS?



Above:Picture that shows love for PR



Nowadays almost every organisation has got a PUBLIC RELATIONS department so why can`t we have it in the music industry? Is it necessary for a record label to have a Public Relations Practitioner? that`s your question, now here is the answer for your question. Absolutely yes, I guess you are expecting a reason for my answer now because what`s on your mind by now is this say ``everything happens for a reason''. But then before we go any further let me first start with the definition of PUBLIC RELATIONS. Public Relations is a practice of managing the flow of information between an individual or an organisation and the public. So now from the definition I have given you I think you get the point of why do we need Public Relations Practitioners in our record labels because it`s there, but now let me go further so that I will leave you with no question mark on your head.

Thus the main purpose of Public Relations in this case is to create, build and sustain favourable reputation or public image of an artist and to enhance the growth of his or her career. The image promoted actually projects an artist`s personality. A public relations practitioner draws attention to the artist.



Above:DIY logo,a PR and Music company



The following are some of the activities that a Public Relations Practitioner does:

• WRITING SERVICES

           Press kits

           press releases

           Websites

• ORGANISING CD RELEASE PARTIES

          Booking vanues

          Sending out media invites

          Securing press placements

• MEDIA OUTREACH

         Radio

         Online and print publication

• DESIGN SERVICES

          CD inserts

          Websites

           Blogs and Logos

So now it is clear that we really need Public Relations Practitioners in music and we can see how these two fields relate. Artists need to be with Public Relations Practitioners wherever thyey go because these people are the only publicists in organisations.