Authenticity?

First all you music readers and listeners need to go see the movie, Pirate Radio. It is the true story of rock and pop radio stations moving to the seas to broadcast music like the Beatles to the people of the United Kingdom. Most of the music in the 1960’s was seen as unbroadcastible to the U.K.’s government. So they music lovers moved to seas to broadcast until later shut down all music took over. Now on too the blog….

The music scene is filled with an array of musical artists trying to become the top recording artist not only in their respected genre. Most artists entirely write all their songs and some artists have their record labels assist the writing/creative process. The creative process starts and ends with the artist whether its a band or only a singer.  When our entire world and knowledge is based on creativity then can we justify what is authentic? The art of music is the best known free way of expression. Without creativity then music would never structure itself and evolve into what it is today.

The reason I am asking myself this question is that with the music world today there so many genres to say “that’s music what music is supposed to sound like”.  We could sound like our parents or our parent’s parents say that music lost its edge in the 60’s-70’s.  In the summer of 2008, Lil Wayne sold 1 million records within his first week with two songs “Lollipop” and “A Milli”. These two songs when looked back on were great yet not looked upon as the best songs even by Lil Wayne. “Lollipop” was an autotune success but is that authentic or just creative. We all know Weezy does not sound that good when he sings as goes for Britney Spears. But we all as fans come to accept it. So is Britney Spears authentic with most songs written for her and her voice is doubled and autotuned most of the time? Or do we look the other way? No music supporter cannot say she is “not” being creative but she brought a new sound to the female pop world. If this makes entire sense  to the music world, then all boy bands are as creative as the Jonas Brothers. The Jonas Brothers at least play their music and are very heavy handed when it comes to producing and writing their songs. So are they the same as some new pop star with all his music and writing is given to him.

During last night’s broadcast of the European Music Awards, Jay-Z was voted as the “Best Urban Artist” of 2009. When he accepted his award and thanked the fans but told everyone that he wishes that he could see the day when all music can be known as one because artists like himself and Green Day plus the other artists on the stage as U2 and the Jonas Brothers. Jay-Z told the crowd that we all go into the recording studio the same way and record and write songs for you. Well if Jay-Z understands it then music is music. And we can all go on since Mr. Sean Carter said so. So respect and support music no matter what.

D.O.A.

About two months ago, the icon, Jay-Z, released his first single off  his upcoming album, the Blueprint 3. The song is entitled “D.O.A. (Death of Autotune)”. Jay-Z is the first come out and put a stranglehold on the artificial use of the autotoner on almost every song currently especially in the game of Hip-Hop. It was not a direct cut on a particular artist but most new artists are using the autotuner to gain exposure. the use autotuner is so mainstream that is has almost taken control of the top music charts. Why is music that is changing upon a recording mechanism held in such high regard?

The artist T-Pain has become the involuntarily leader or first mainstream user of the autotuner with his style of music. Now almost every new song that becomes popular has all lyrics being autotuned or the hook is on autotuner. Pop music’s new trend is autotune. 4 out of the top 10 songs use autotuner in the recorded songs.  It is not the fact that autotuner is this evil empire, it simply talks away the creativity of music. This style allows potential artists to have hit songs because their songs fit in the new trend and makes their voice and music sound better than it is.

The song “D.O.A.” is a musician and hip-hop icon trying to save the integrity of what music is. The music scene follows more trends than women do fashion but especially in hip-hop. About 6 or 7 years ago crunk music was the latest scene. Then snap music followed that scene. Now we have artists who primarily survive on autotune because without it they do not have hit songs.  These primarily autotune artists cannot even perform live very well without. I’m sure even Lil Wayne would not want to hear himself sing “Lollipop” without autoner. Jay-Z is right he can come out with an album and totally be at the top of the rap game without it. The question is “Do you think Lil Wayne would have sold all those albums if “lollipop” was not an autotune hit, allowing all mainstream to become recognizable?” Lil Wayne is in the top 2 0r 3 best rap artists easily right now but autone did help him a little bit. So cheers to Mr. Hova from New York please state your mind on any song anytime.

Weezy for wordplay, Jeezy for birdplay, Kanye for adversity and T.I for controversy

This is my first post for hip-hop listeners. Although I in fact listen to hip-hop everyday, there hasn’t been something that has hit me so excitiingly until now. Though this is old news mixed in with the new I feel I need to get this out there. This has to do with the control of the rap game. A few years ago, 50 Cent, Eminem/Dr. Dre, and the Game looked to have the game on lock.

Now even Lil Wayne has said the Kanye West, my hometown great,  is the best in the game. That is too much to debate. But no one has swagger in the game right now like Weezy, Jay-Z, Kanye, and T.I. So the people’s Champ, T.I, got all the greats on a remix track named appropriately, “Swagger Like Us”. It has a hook from M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” but its a hard song that is hot. This seals T.I’s way back to the top of the rap game with the rest of these artists.

On the flip side, Kany West still looks like the hardest working man in the bizz. He helps produce a hot joint for Jay-Z. “Jocking Jay-Z” ( I love the hook being a huge Run DMC fan)for the future album the Blueprint 3. He destroys a paparazzi’s camera and heads to jail, And still has enough time to debut a hot track “Love Lockdown” (at the VMAs. Thats how to do work. These 4 are now the front runners of the rap game and to be honest its about time.