This is the blog of Shaun Cave, host and producer of uHeard Radio - an online and public access show in Chicago, that is also podcasted. We primarily play independent hip-hop and R&B, but we also interview directors, actors, actresses, dancers - entertainers, in general. Feel free to check us out at www.uheardradio.com.
I was just going through my phone, looking for a number, and it hit me: some of my friends are a big deal. I mean, really, they all are, but some are intimidating, in a way. A lot of my buddies make things happen on a regular basis, but I talk to them so often, I'm used to it (you know who you are - Kofi, Terrance, Mark etc.). With some of them, though, I try not to wear out my welcome. A couple of bogus calls, and you'll be leaving voice messages from then on - you know what I'm talking about. I figured I'd do a quick post on my current top-ten list, in Chicago (in no particular order).
Marshaun Williams - This is one well-connected dude - and talented. He always has something big going on, and is mad young. I'm impressed with his hustle.
QDotcom - In my opinion, the most under-rated rapper in Chicago - and I think he knows it. He actually turned down a free music video offer from me because the concept was too small.
Sheku Swaray and Timbucktu - Two people, but equal in respect from me. Their music and grind is incredible. Real talk, I'm a little star-struck.
Juan Diaz - Possibly the only person more connected that Marshaun XD. This guy knows everybody, and is responsible for more of my personal connections than anyone in Chicago.
B. Ford - THE BEST R&B-Rapper in Chicago - period. Not one of the best - the best. Anybody better, you gotta show me.
Marcus East - I had no idea this guy had that kind of talent. I also didn't know he does the same thing I do, for a bigger company.
Carla D - Networking at its best. She knows how to meet, and stay in contact with, the right people.
J'mme Love - He will be a big-deal one day.
Moe Money McCoy - I only met him by chance, and I still can't believe my luck (blessings). His resume smashes mine, and I could learn a lot from him.
V.I.R.U. - This guy is a low-key big deal. He turns down record offers on a regular basis. His interview on uHeard had more views in one week, than all of the other videos, from day-one of uHeard, put together. And he didn't even push it.
Hit me back and let me know what you think, or if you put together a list - especially if I'm on it XD
So, um, I learned a lesson earlier this week: get in where you fit in. I came across this video from a friend's Facebook page, and made a bit of a critical remark about it. Wrong place, wrong time. Dude's fan base is on point. I got treated quick. On the plus side, Bo Deal and another homeboy held me down, kinda toning things down.
I respect grind, though. So show some love for the homie Bo Deal. He's doing big things, and has a lot of love from his fans. Check his Facebook; you can take it from there. And I would spin it in uHeard, but I don't have the necessary permission; I don't know Waka like that, and don't need any problems.
Shout out to the girl Tanika, too. We in da building.
I did a little acting in college, but never really took it serious; I wanted to be behind the camera. This uHeard thing, however, is opening old doors - sometimes violently. Okay, so that might be a bit extreme, but I was really unprepared for this.
I expected a student production where everyone was fumbling around trying to figure out how to make it happen; actually, I thought I would be doing a lot of help behind the scenes. Not at all. The actors had years of experience, and were totally prepared. The crew knew exactly what they were doing. I was the only deer-in-the-headlights. The cast had their lines memorized. Not a big deal in a movie (the director determines how much you need memorized), but it did further the divide between them and me.
But you know your boy, I had to pull it off. Young Cutta kept it together - shooting for the show, and movie at the same time. We even got an interview with a music industry vet. Of course I'll have clips from the set in the show, but I'll also keep you posted on how to check it out, once it's finished. And your boy will continue to act!!
I wanted to include this in the show, but I'm not so sure it's for my target audience. Still, I like the video. How many times have you seen a rapper swim in the ocean, with his full get-up on? Comment on the video and let them know where you saw it. Maybe we can get them on uHeard!
I've been doing this independent media thing for a few years now, and for the most part it has been fun - meeting new people, being the first to play hits, watching artists "blow up," all of that. I've got to admit, however, I'm loosing confidence in my ladies. Where's your grind?
Aside from Ms. Cristal and Joy Tolentino, all of my other female artists have been flops. Early on, I attributed a lot of it to wisdom on the ladies part; it's dangerous to meet strange men off of the internet. It's different now, however. I'm in the game with a track record - proof of what I do. Yet still, I'm running across a lot of flops. And the thing that makes it worse is that 100% of them contact me first! Just this week, two artists agreed to interviews, and then never showed up, called, or emailed - costing me time and money.
This is a personal-experience post - a little something about what keeps me going.
If you haven't had a chance to check out the show from June with Freddy King and Marky McFly, here is a link to the Freddy King clip:
If you follow the show, then you know there are three blocks, so this is just a third of what we did that week/night. Everthing was so crazy because I was just getting back from Carolina, and we had all of this shooting scheduled. The day started off with a lot of headaches at home that put me back a couple of hours. Naturally, I wanted to bail. I was tired, it was hot, King was in Glendale Heights (a 2-hour commute for me with traffic), we were way-the-hell-behind on shooting time, and it was costing me money.
Man, am I glad I stuck with it. We ended up shooting Mark's video in like 30-minutes (and had fun doing it), we were able to get some footage in front of some Ferraris at Trump's Tower, King did a great interview, and Chicago is just the place to be on a summer night. And really, I was just holding it down with a few homies. Young Doug (my dude for a few years, now) ran the camera, Fly Boy is like a little brother, and King and I go way back - late 90's, fam. I hadn't seen him in years, and it was tight to be able to show him what I do. It just turned out to be a fantastic night.
I don't want to make this long or belabor the point, but uh. . . I must admit that I am becoming increasingly discouraged by today's hip hop generation. Thanks to the financial success of lyrical geniuses like Soulja Boy, Wocka Flocka, and Gucci Mane, claiming to be a professional rapper is now easier than ever. All you have to do is rhyme, and I use the term loosely, a few words over a beat - forget about story, purpose, message, all of that. Most of the time, it doesn't even have to be intelligible. Just talk over a beat. That's it. A little disappointing, but hey, what are you going to do?
Now there's a new thing with not holding a microphone. What is that? Is the job not easy enough, now you don't want a microphone? I've had this problem more than once in the past few months. I proceed to record an "artist", and he (no she yet, thank God) is like, "Fnck that, mic. I don't use mics." As far as I go, it's not making air, but somebody has encouraged these morons to maintain their no-mic policy. Maybe I should adopt a no-camera policy. . .
It takes money, time, and effort to win. Gotta put in, homie. Look at me - 60 stacks on education, 20 grand on equip, thousands of hours studying, hundreds of thousands hours working (on and off "the clock"), and years of continuous pursuit. Yet, I'm still not there. Do I quit. . . hell naw. That's the cost.
A lot of you want something for nothing. You come without a damn thing, and want to look a man like me eye-to-eye. Not at all. Real n!ggaz gotta see it first. It takes 20-minutes in the game to see 9 out 10 people all-talk. You gotta put in; do something to win. If you're not going to follow-through, then stop wasting time. If you don't have the money, then learn to do it. And if you don't have the time, then spend money to get it done.
And what the hell is the low-low? Think about it. We supposed to take a "L" so you can get ahead - but you'll "look out" later. (Stale Face)
I'm not a bodybuilder, nor do I smoke, but I had to post this video. It doesn't really mean much because this guy isn't a doctor, and his body is straight up weird, but still. . .
This is what all independent artists need to do - not chase that deal. Louie P is building an image that will allow him to sell DIRECTLY to his fan base. All he needs then is to collab with other artists with big fan bases.
Getting this stuff online is so much easier than a lot artists think. And if you're still having problems after trying for a good bit, holla at ya boy. Don't forget the behind the scenes clips!
I'm not the biggest R&B fan in the world, but I have decent taste - listened to a few songs. . . So I feel cool with saying this: Monica can do better. This track is horrible. It's a lyrically weak remake of a song that sounded gimmicky in the first place (although it was pretty successful). Everyone's lazy now. No one wants to take time to come up with quality work. Whatever. Play the track, if you dare.
Be for real, man. How much can one person do? What about Afghanistan? What about health care? What about foreclosures and unemployment, in general? What about sky-rocketing education costs? What about growing consumer and national debt? What about immigration reform? What about social security (remember that)? What about. . . (get the picture)
I'm actually with Al Sharpton, for once. Maybe Tavis Smiley should run for President.
Man, it has taken me forever to finally post something on Blogger. But the time has finally come. My first post is going to be about my third show. The clips are posted from YouTube. I'm bummed that my Julius Peppers joke in the third block didn't translate well. For those that hear it, it was a joke; I wasn't really apologizing for loosing it in a recording. I could have just edited that part out. . .
