Saturday, June 14, 2008
something to ponder
Whussgood!!
Over the last week, i've come to seriously think about what improvements our music has made here in Singapore. My first thought was that most will say it is little to none. But then again, it is those people who dont really come out to the gigs, come on to this page, or any of the other active writers and practitioners of hiphop. But that's another story altogether.
What are the improvements? Well, the fact that we have regular monthly showcases provided by clubs like Butter Factory, Zouk, MOS, Home Club, etc, and indie promoters like 65&Hope, Beats Society and Pushin On to name a few. But how many really puts the local guys in the tangle with the international acts. very few do. now. i wonder really if we can move forward past this stage in our progress.
As an artform, i certainly think all the people who's taken a proactive approach, at one point or another, has helped HipHop and its related artforms to the foreground. We are included in street festivals, we have grafitti for art installations, dance crews are popping up every where, and we get to see this happening before us. Its nice to be frank.
And alot of it is also because of the push by the mainstream market - HipHop is now officially Popular. therefore, i will have to say that we are now considered pop music. dont go boo. its true. but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Micheal Jackson is the King of Pop and i do recall him making R&B.
So what is our next step? Why cant we move forward? Sure for the love of the music we can do something greater. But herein lies the problem - sort of.
Many feel that by doing it for the love, most prefer not to tarnish that motive by staying broke - whether by choice or bad decision, thats left to them. Yet, that is where we need to move forward. We have to keep funding our music. And if you're apart of the music, that means funding yourself! Or in other words...GET PAID!
So fuck exposure, i say we get paid for being exposed. Im tired of promoters/labels/agents/ and all others saying its for exposure. Even if you're performing to the president - get paid, then donate that money to charity if you really dont want to keep it. That's what i'll do. Perform for free for a charitable cause - not for exposure. I dont need to tell you the benefits of money. you can figure that bit out yourself.
I love making my music. I hate starving.
Who wants to do something about this?
Syaheed
www.bedstymusic.com
www.1asiahiphop.com
ps. some of the most talented cats i know, stopped making music because when you're out of school, and free from National Service, you have things like responsibility to your home, family, and bills. just a thought.
Over the last week, i've come to seriously think about what improvements our music has made here in Singapore. My first thought was that most will say it is little to none. But then again, it is those people who dont really come out to the gigs, come on to this page, or any of the other active writers and practitioners of hiphop. But that's another story altogether.
What are the improvements? Well, the fact that we have regular monthly showcases provided by clubs like Butter Factory, Zouk, MOS, Home Club, etc, and indie promoters like 65&Hope, Beats Society and Pushin On to name a few. But how many really puts the local guys in the tangle with the international acts. very few do. now. i wonder really if we can move forward past this stage in our progress.
As an artform, i certainly think all the people who's taken a proactive approach, at one point or another, has helped HipHop and its related artforms to the foreground. We are included in street festivals, we have grafitti for art installations, dance crews are popping up every where, and we get to see this happening before us. Its nice to be frank.
And alot of it is also because of the push by the mainstream market - HipHop is now officially Popular. therefore, i will have to say that we are now considered pop music. dont go boo. its true. but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Micheal Jackson is the King of Pop and i do recall him making R&B.
So what is our next step? Why cant we move forward? Sure for the love of the music we can do something greater. But herein lies the problem - sort of.
Many feel that by doing it for the love, most prefer not to tarnish that motive by staying broke - whether by choice or bad decision, thats left to them. Yet, that is where we need to move forward. We have to keep funding our music. And if you're apart of the music, that means funding yourself! Or in other words...GET PAID!
So fuck exposure, i say we get paid for being exposed. Im tired of promoters/labels/agents/ and all others saying its for exposure. Even if you're performing to the president - get paid, then donate that money to charity if you really dont want to keep it. That's what i'll do. Perform for free for a charitable cause - not for exposure. I dont need to tell you the benefits of money. you can figure that bit out yourself.
I love making my music. I hate starving.
Who wants to do something about this?
Syaheed
www.bedstymusic.com
www.1asiahiphop.com
ps. some of the most talented cats i know, stopped making music because when you're out of school, and free from National Service, you have things like responsibility to your home, family, and bills. just a thought.
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