STOP, COLLABORATE and LISTEN: Email Tips for Rappers

Dear Rappers,

So, you want to be featured on someone's blog? That's cool. I know I can speak for others who have opened their inboxes and websites to your music ... you need a bit of guidance before hitting send.

Are the tips below the end all, be all to sending an email? Probably not. But you know what, it's a great start and some of you NEED this type of start because the emails you're sending out right now are hurting your chances of being heard and featured (well, at least at The Mad Bloggers). You want to be taken a bit more seriously and have a chance of being heard and featured? Here are five things to keep it mind:


1) Be humble - No one and I mean NO ONE wants to receive an email with, "Dis dat shit you been waiting for right here" or "Da realest and most anticipated n*gga in music" or "Da best shit you'll hear dis year" (especially if you're writing the email and it's your music). Why? Well, first of all, that shit is lame. Secondly, you've set one hell of an expectation for your music. I mean, how do you know what I've been waiting for and are you kidding by saying this is "da best shit" I'll hear this year? What happens when you say that, we'll listen to 3.5 seconds of your track and if it doesn't hit, we delete. Be confident but remember humility will take you much further. Let the listener decide if you are "the most anticipated" in music. Otherwise, you just look like a douchebag.

2) Mailing List - Rapper meet BCC, BCC meet Rapper. Yeah, I DONT want to see the 10,000 other emails addresses that you are sending this email to *scroll, scroll, scroll, scroll, still scrolling* oh, there's the music. Listen, do one of two things, BCC (blind carbon copy for those just joining us from the back of the room) or set up a mailing list with those email addresses. Both are pretty basic and simple. Please note, because my email address is on my website doesn't mean I want to broadcast it in a mass email through you, nor do I want to scroll for 45 minutes to get to the body of the email. It looks messy, so just don't do that.

3) Short and Sweet - Keep it simple, ya dig? I don't need to read five paragraphs in the body of the email about who are and what you bring to the game. If a blogger wants to know more, we'll reach out to you or read the "about me section" on your website (oh, you better have an online presence). I'll be honest, if it's more than a paragraph most of us aren't reading it (truth be told, most of us aren't even reading the paragraph). Honestly, we just want to hear the music. So, make it simple -- "I'm blah blah blah out of blankedy blank and I'd appreciate if you give my music a listen. Find tracks attached and a link to my site. Peace" (NOTE: Rappers, feel free to copy/paste). It's simple, all you need is : Brief intro, photograph and playable attached music (NOTE: We don't want HUGE audio files either. If you can't figure this out, send a link to a download). BOOM, simplicity!

4) Don't abbrv. - Yeah, no need to abbreviate champ, okay? This isn't a text message or a tweet. PLEASE SPELL IT OUT. "U gon luv it" --- actually, I'm going to delete it. Don't assume that because you are submitting your music to a hip-hop or urban website, that there isn't an educated person on the other end of the computer who is mumbling, "this n*gga saving characters for what?" I know it's a recession but the other two letters in "you" don't need to be left out for "u" because they don't cost a dime (Sidebar: It's not at all creative to make up new spellings of words either, i.e. dis, waz, dat; so cut that out too).

5) Online Presence - You need to have a myspace, bandcamp, reverbnation or your own website or something. Send the links and make sure they actually work. It's 2009, almost 2010 and you're trying to push music without an online presence? I hope you're kidding. You need to have something, so I hope you do.


I'm not trying to be an asshole, I'm just trying to help. We get a lot of emails each day and it's frustrating to sift through bullshit. You can read these tips and say, "dat n*gga is a hater" (don't even get me started on this statement). If you feel that way, fine by me. Or you can read and say, "oh, thanks, I appreciate it. I'm just saying.

Good luck with your music.

Sincerely,

-Q of the Mad Bloggers

PS: If you're a music artists in general, these tips can apply to you too.


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When She Speaks, You Listen: Tha Lady Blogga "Let it Go Already"

This is the first, only and last time that I’m going to speak on this. And I didn’t really even want to give it time but, enough is enough.

I was not in the car with Chris Brown and Rihanna on the night of their incident. But I do know that there are 3 sides to every story. His, hers and the truth. A man should not beat a woman but at the same time, a woman should not put her hands on a man. I am not saying that Chris Brown didn’t beat her but we don’t know how they go to that point.

These two foolio’s had a lot of time to discuss this incident. It seems quite the coincidence that the two of them want to spill their guts now, around the release dates of their albums. And the media is playing right into their hands. They shouldn’t even be paying them any attention.

Because of their power amongst the young community, RiRi and CB should have come out a long time ago to discuss their situation. There are a lot of young people in abusive relationships and need to recognize that. Abusive relationships are hard for young people to identify so perhaps they should have done some PSA’s or motivational panels to help with that. Instead, they ran around ducking and hiding, jet-skiing with Diddy and making a mockery out of themselves. I mean really, what is coming out now going to do. People are still pointing fingers and placing the blame. Good Morning America and 20/20 are squeezing blood from a stone having that heifer on TV for 2 days talking about this thing. She’s the victim, he’s the victimizer. Okay, we get it.

The media is really doing a job on Chris Brown as they are doing all they can to discredit and damage his image. I don’t see Roman Polanski’s name all over the place. And that dirty bastard did something way more disgusting than beat a woman. There are pedophiles, adulterers and drug addicts walking amongst the likes of Hollywood’s finest so why the hell are we focused on Chris Brown and Rihanna? Why aren’t their movies and TV shows being downplayed? Why do they still have millions of fans?

This whole situation is being blown out of proportion. He did wrong. He knows he did wrong. The public knows he did wrong. If I see or hear another Chris Brown apology, I am going to scream!!! That is all.


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Check It ... S-Preme "V.I.P." feat. Roisan Murphy

S-Preme's The Sicktape: Volume 2 was recently pushed back to fine-tune some of the music. His camp released "V.I.P." featuring Roisan Murphy to help fans weather the storm in the meantime. The Sicktape: Volume 2 will be out no later than November 10. Check out the track ...




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Priscilla Renea Covers "I Can Transform Ya" and "Fireflies"

It's no secret that I think Priscilla Renea is dope. She's definitely been featured on the blog a few times. I've actually liked her stuff for a while, dating back to when she was just doing covers on YouTube and before the record deal. She's VERY talented and I'm excited for her project dropping in December. Check out this video as Priscilla covers "I Can Transform Ya" and "Fireflies".




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What I'm Listening To....Born Jamericans - Boom Shak A-Tack

Had to take it back. Just in that mood! Ya remember this?



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Tha Lady Blogga: I Voted. Did You?

Last years, Election Day was one to remember. People turned out in record numbers to elect Barack Obama into the White House. It was great to see people out in full force to exercise their right to vote.

This year, I am sad to say, people climbed back under the rocks from which they came. I went to the polls today to vote for a Mayor of NYC and I was met with bored poll workers. There was no line around the corner, no 30 minute wait. As usual, a lot of people in my neighborhood did not come out to vote.

Even though this wasn’t a Presidential election, it was important just the same. Mayor Bloomberg was running for a third term, which he created. As Mayor, he could only run for two terms back to back. He felt so strongly about the “good job” he was doing that he petitioned to change the law and won. Hence, giving himself the right to run again and serve if he won. The public was very clear about him NOT seeking permission to run a third term but he did it anyway. And he won. A double-digit landslide was predicted between Thompson and Bloomberg, however that is not what happened. He only defeated Bill Thompson by 5% of the votes. So perhaps if people came out in drones like they did for President Obama, Bloomberg would have lost.

I mean, I am not a Bloomberg stan but he is doing a fairly decent job. I just don’t like the idea that after asking the public if he should petition for a third term, even though they said no, he ran anyway. That just means he is not thinking about the people. Which means he is not the “people’s Mayor” and he will probably not do much for the people. That bothers me a little bit because then one would have to question his motives.

I personally think it was time for him to step down and let another administration run this city. Just because he did a good job, doesn’t mean he could put himself in the race for Mayor for another year in NYC.

New Yorkers, what do you think?


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#MusicMonday ... Ryan Leslie - "Never Gonna Break Up"

This weekend I caught an early listen of Ryan Leslie's "Transition". Boy oh boy, Ryan is talented and sooooo underrated. This album is packed with great tracks. Ryan Leslie is a BEAST! "Transition" is in stores tomorrow and you should GET THAT! It's Music Monday, so I thought I would offer up a track from the album. This is "Never Gonna Break Up". Happy Monday and enjoy!

Ryan Leslie - "Never Gonna Break Up"


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Check It ... G.o.D. Jewels

The homie G.o.D. Jewels delivers a raw and yet soulful sound on his "Glory or Death" mixtape. I caught this project in the email over the weekend too. I had to share. "I'm Sayin" is dope and is an interesting concept. Go ahead and check that. Also, "Ain't No Way" is real dope too! "Glory or Death" is definitely a project worth checking. Enjoy.


I'm Sayin (Prod By The Baron Boys)


Ain't No Way ft. Ambrosia (Prod. By E&J)







Glory or Death (Click to Download)
WWW.GODJEWELS.COM


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Check It ... The Boy Illinois

Yeah, I caught this in the email over the weekend. Check out these joints from The Boy Illinois' "Inhale Pt. 2: Loyalty Before The Love" mixtape. Overall the project is dope. Give it a listen. "James Dean" is my joint and the "Coldplay (More Love)" is dope too. Check it

James Dean (Prod. Half Amazin)


Coldplay (More Love)





Inhale Pt. 2: Loyalty Before The Love (Click to Download)
www.myspace.com/theboyillinois


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Boot Camp Clik, M.O.P. and Termanology

Hip Hop was definitely in the building at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT. I was hyped during this whole night. Check it out!

R. Kelly - "The Ladies Make Some Noise Tour"

R. Kelly stopped by Connecticut for his Ladies Make Some Noise tour and put on a great show. Check out the pics and vids!


















(My apologies for the few drunk folks having a separate conversation in the back at a concert. SMH!)

Jay Electronica - Exhibit C

The internet is going nuts. I can't stop hearing the positive opinions about this amazingly dope track by Jay Electronica. This dude dropped Exhibit C and everyone is raving about it. I remember seeing him perform at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT when Nas was the headliner. He got on stage in front of a restless crowd that already waited 2 hours plus for the main man Nas to get on stage. Many people must've not known much about Mr. Electronica himself. I knew some. Won't front and act like I know dude's history. I don't. Just know enough to know he an MC to keep one ear on heavily until he drops an album so I can have both ears on his music. Notice how I said MC and not rapper. This dude lyrically spits Sistine Chapels. He got on stage, did 2 songs, didn't get a great response. Guessing his lyrics were going way over the heads of the alcohol indulging patrons. Perhaps it was just not familiar enough. Then he had the music off and went a cappella. Worse response. Some booing. A bottle thrown. Threats from Jay himself. And this is a dude that Nas cosigns. Too lyrical? Too deep? But isn't Nas that also? Didn't understand it. The crowd was filled with morons who wouldn't know a gem if the speaker was infused in the ear canal. Anyways, here's the track that thanks to the internet, blogs, tweets, emails, etc., I've been abusing. Check it out!

Jay Electronica - Exhibit C (Prod. Just Blaze)

Lyrics:
When I was sleeping on the train
Sleeping on Meserole Ave out in the rain
Without even a single slice of pizza to my name
Too proud to beg for change mastering the pain
When NY niggas was calling southern rappers lame
But then jackin' our slang
I used to get dizzy spells, hear a little ring
The voice of a angel telling me my name
Telling me that one day Imma be a great man
Transforming with the MegatronDon spittin' out flames
Eatin' wack rappers alive shittin' out chains
I ain't believe it then, nigga I was homeless
Fightin', shootin' dice, smoking weed on the corners
Tryna find the meaning of life in a corona
Till the 5%ers rolled up on a nigga and informed him.

"You either build or destroy, where you come from?"
"The Magnolia projects in the 3rd ward slum"
"Hmm, its quite amazing that you rhyme how you do
And how you shine like you grew up in a shrine in Peru."

Question 14 Muslim lesson 2: Dip diver, civilize a 85er
I make the devil hit his knees and say the our father
Abracadabra! You rockin' with the true and living
Shout out to Light Out, Joseph I, Chewy Bivens,
Shout out to Baltimore, Baton Rouge, my crew in Richmond
While ya'll debated who's the truth like Jews and Christians
I was in Cecil B, Broad St, Master, North Philly, South Philly, 23rd, Tasker
6 Mile, 7 Mile, Hartwell, Gratiot
Where niggas really would pack a UHaul truck up
Put the high beams on
Drive up on the curb at a barbecue and hop out the back like "whats up"
"Kill a nigga, rob a nigga, take a nigga, buss up"
That's why when you talk that tough talk I never feel ya
You sound real good and you play the part well
But the energy you givin' off is so unfamiliar
I don't feel ya.

Nas hit me up on the phone said "what you waitin' on"
Tip hit me up on a twit said "what you waitin' on"
Diddy send a text every hour on the dot sayin' "when you gon drop that verse nigga you takin long"
So now I'm back spittin' that He could pass a polygraph
That Rev Run rockin' Adidas out on Hollis Ave
That FOI, Marcus Garvey, Nikki Tesla
I shock you like a eel, electric feel, Jay Electra.

They call me Jay Electronica
Fuck that, call me Jay ElecHannukah
Jay ElecYarmulke
Jay ElecTramadaan Muhammad Asalaamica RasoulAllah Supana Watallah thought your monitor
My Uzi still weigh a ton, check the barometer
I'm hotter then the mothafuckin' sun, check the thermometer
I'm bringing ancient mathematics back to modern man
My momma told me "never throw a stone and hide your hand"
I got a lot of family, you got a lot of fans
That's why the people got my back like the Verizon man
I play the back and fade to black and then devise a plan
Out in London, smoking, vibin while I ride the tram.

(If lyrics not 100% accurate, feel free to correct.)

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