I wrote this in 2006 at http://hiphopbizness.blogspot.com/2006/11/how-to-promote-your-single-les...
and
http://hiphopbizness.blogspot.com/2006/12/how-to-promote-your-singleless...

I'm just gauging my progression what do you think, Have I improved or digressed?

How to Promote your single... Lesson 1

This will be an on going article using many independent artists and techniques...

First thing that counts is your SOUND!!! Don't push crap. Make sure it's the best mix you have and don't assume only "music" producers will here it and see your vision. To be successful, you must put your best unhurried foot first at all times...Most of the demos i receive are of good quality. For instance, CASHFLOW, an artist from Harlem has a great sound along with his rhymes. The singles are clear and EQ'd properly so you can go from the emailed attachment to your ride and still sound good. No fumbles or retakes, just an excellent mastered single. Even if it was done with a tape recorder and mike, do the best you can to get the levels right. Execs won't waste their time with product they can't sell 2moro. You have to be ready today...

I'm not sweatin or working for this dude... I'm just proud of how he's using the Internet and Myspace and Youtube and emails to promote hisself. Of course it's his management team that's pushing him. About once a month I receive emails with a new single, links and current Cashflow events... I didn't sign up for this but I'm not annoyed either b/c he really sounds good! I don't usually rep Harlem(except Cam b4 the Jayz diss...), but this young lion is really making waves... So what's the point in today's lesson? Network, get a mailing list of influential people and keep them in the loop with new singles and current events. Once this dude gets on MTV, money & fame will be next, that's why we doing this right???

Just did a mix/blend job for one of my amateur radio sources. Here he is in his heyday.-->

Been thinking about my former production techniques and how I should proceed in the future. Clearly there is a difference between the "cookie cut" beatmaker and the "Producer" who gives an Artist an outline to work with but adds and removes in the studio. I've been told my style of poems, lyrics and apparently music making is too deep or complicated. I'm left-handed so I leave room for adjustments in a recording. If I'm given a pre-made beat, after and during vocal recording I chop, add samples and play in between the track I was given. That's how I work. I've been known to give artists just a bare bone drum track so I can build everything around the vocals. That's me. I've made beats with just a looped sample to give to artists. Now I know that in the studio the finished product won't sound like what I gave them, but I don't tell them that. Why would I? Shouldn't they make the beat their own so I can tailor it to them? Maybe thats my problem. I expect a vision from the artist. I like music. The way it flows, stops, changes directions and come back to it's beginning. I'm a circular guy. Maybe I should give each artist I decide to work with a speech about my Studio intentions. I can't expect a stranger to "trust" me. Who am I? There's no awards on my wall...

Been heavy into the Ipod lately. I won't tell you what I'm listening too, but it's giving me the production itch again. It's been at least two years since I made a beat and I think it's almost time to start again(Click here to listen). I won't tell you why I stopped but I'm not as mad as I was before, sour grapes make good wine.