Whats up blog world... Its 5:03a.m. in the morning... While riding home to finally lay it down, I was listening to 105.7 (Dallas) and of course they were jammin old school R&B. I rode home thinking...... "Mannnnnn I wonder why MIXTAPES SUCK right now.... Well I came to this conclusion. Let me explain
Coming up as a youngster, I would listen to whatever my grandparents were jammin, as well as my parents and their friends. I know my music.. Anything from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, I know my ish... Some DJs would make mixtapes to showcase their music knowledge as well as DJing skills. Today, their are alot of hustlers who have turned to cramming as many new songs on a cd as they can, and calling it a mixtape. I think more work is spent, and paid to put these projects together. Here in Dallas alone, you have about 8 or 9 different "mixed music cd" manufacturers putting these items together. You see all kinds of somewhat creative imagery on the cover... For example, the concept of "Whataburger" is now "WhataHustler", "TEXACO" has become "Talk'n To Texas", ummmm what else... "Monster Energy Drink", has become "Monster Club Hits". Creative right? Well thats just the artwork. As you listen to the "mixed music cd", you hear a bunch of tracks. No mixing, scratching, blending, or any creative form. Its now big business, to the "everyday hustler". As an aspiring DJ with a vast knowledge of what a mixtape should be, this is disappointing. There are some crative Djs out here who still make REAL MIXTAPES.....
Shouts out to DJ Hella Yella, DJ Dontizl, DJ Neil Armstrong, DJ Drop, DJ Du2ce, DJ AM & Travis Barker, DJ Kid Capri, DJ Jelly, DJ Mr. Rogers, DJ Energizer, DJ Jamad, DJ Vinroc, DJ Mel, Dj Shadow, and a few others who make creative mixtapes. Not just a bunch of tracks. The music should either showcase your Dj skills and/or knowlegd of music, or tell some sort of story. The DJs I have just named still get down outside of rockin clubs, and breaking new music.
I would like to send a special shout out to DJ Somethin Fresh, DJ Neil Armstrong, DJ Hella Yella, Dj Southpaw, and Dj Dontizl for continuously doing their due dillegence to the music world. I follow these Djs and appreciate their work. Their work has inspired me to showcase my love and knowledge for music. Im still learning the skills part LOL.
Back to this mixtape issue. DJs... First of all, tooooo many people have DJ in front of their name. I think their should be a law that NEW DJs must learn how to use old technology before getting onto Virtual DJ, buying Serato, and calling themselves DJ "such and such". Its not fair for newbies to come in and just take credit for DJs who have toted crates and crates of records. Its not fair to DJs who win the ears of music lovers by making their music come to life. For a newbie to come in, press a few buttons on the laptop, throw in a few songs, match BPMs by pressing the SYNC button, to have the title of DJ. Lets be honest here... Thats almost like cheating. And quit screaming on mixtapes!!! Go listen to an old school Dj Kid Capri mixTAPE (cassette) and see a DJ WORK.
These are my thoughts an opinions. if I stepped on your toes, or pissed you off, STEP your DJ game UP, or do something worth speaking about...
