San Fran update

what up yall, things are going well out here. I finished 2 joints for the new Canibus album. Joints came out bangin! I got video of the sessions so I’m sure that will be available at one point. I also got things poppin with Zumbi of Zion I. The Burnerz project is underway. Zumbi and I Got our photo shoot done, and interview at Last fm and got a video shot for the BURNERZ joint “Get Free”.

I miss Touring Europe

Me and my group K-otix did 2 European tours in early 2000. Here’s a clip from Poland. Poland was probably the weirdest place I had been to at the time. Very dark and gloomy but the crowds were very hype and loved music very much. Thank you Poland!

The Things you find on youtube.

Thank you Pika. This made me smile cause it was just so random. Crip Walking to My song from 2000? One day I’m gonna gather all this stuff up for a video. lol

Holy shit I just found another one! I guess my music’s made for crip walking.

“Can I crip walk?? Yess ya can”!

Trying Band Camp out

I’m trying out the site Band Camp. First up is “Dem Damb Jacksons” w/2 bonus tracks. As most of you may know, most of my projects are FREE but for those that want to pay something, you can pay what you wanna pay here:

Quick Update

what up yall, sometimes I find myself trying to tackle too many things at one time. I was learning how to design my own site, finishing The Burnerz album, starting my album, building crates in serato and more! I gotta get back to the program, nt that I can’t handle all of those things at one but I start to loose focus. So here’s a few of the things first. The BURNERZ record is just about done. we will be doing a free EP first for everyone and then a full release of the album throughout most of the normal digital platforms. I’m flying out to oakland on on sept 11 to work on some things nd while I’m out there, me and Zumbi will have a chance to do a photo shoot and video for the upcoming release. After that, I think I should have my album close to being finished. I hope to have it ready by X-mas. Still getting the features ready, I’ll update yall on that soon. Until then, Keep grinding, follow me on twitter – TheARE and I’ll have some music for yall real soon!

Did anyone ever get this record I did called “Together Brothers” 2004 or 05′

What about this one? My first group, K-otix. Spontaniety EP 1996

Add-2 “Tale Of Two’s City Vol3″ Production from The ARE and more!Revised with links!

What up yall, my man Add-2 from Chicago drops his 3rd installment of the “Tale of Two’s City” which features production by me and others. Be sure to check that out here! Also check 2dopeboys for more and you can do a search on Okayplayer to hear his other stuff.

Chip-Fu & The ARE – Ridiculous

What up yall, here’s a joint me and Chip did. It’s Ridiculous! Big up to Chip for doing his thing and the video looks great!

IRAN official release soon

What up yall, first and foremost I would like to thank everyone that has gotten involved with promoting the Iran project. It really shows that Indy projects can go a long way when the people are behind it. Please continue to spread the word and talk about it. At this point, I’m gonna be releasing it digitally and I might even add a few bonus tracks to it. All the proceeds will be going to a non profit Iranian organization to be announced soon. Stay tuned for more info!

The ARE “IRAN”

I was very moved by the people of Iran and their protest for democracy.  This album is dedicated to them and their fight for a better future.  I used all Iranian music in the making of this album. Hope you enjoy and spread it around.

Download the full project at Rappersiknow

Identification Please

 

As I sit and analyze the industry, there’s one thing that strikes me most. The producer’s position in the game. I come from an era where running to the record store to get that new album was a top priority. I remember going into the vinyl section and looking for all the new releases and 1 thing was a must. READING credits. I wanted to know who produced what, who remixed what and who the artist was down with. I used to buy some records based on who the artist gave thanks to. If he thanked Diamond D, Biz Markee, Marley Marl or anybody that I looked up to, then it had to be dope and was bought. I remember buying cassettes and sitting in front of the stereo as I listened to the tape and going over each song credit as the song played to get an understanding of who produced it and to make the connection of why it sounded that way. This was big to me and alot of other people as well. It was our own study of music in a sense. For most, those days are gone. With less and less vinyl being pressed and overall less print involved in the releases of today, the producer no longer has that platform to build himself on. In the 80’s and 90’s producer’s could make their names from print. Aside from their own projects, remember when you might have seen “Pete Rock Remix” or “Dj Premier Remix”?? It was a guaranteed buy. I was fortunate enough to get alittle bit of this type of promotion from print as I was putting out records in the 90’s but it was nowhere near the recognition of a pete rock or premier. In this era of music, the producer has no identity. Most blogs don’t take the time out to write who produced the song being posted. Itunes relies on the label to submit all of that and prints it a small percentage of the time only. Artist are recording songs these days and they don’t even know who did the track nor do they care. It may have been in a pile of beats and just got recorded cause it was somewhat of a banger, then leaked and nobody knows jack shit about the producer. The only time an artist seems to care about sharing light with the producer is if the producer already has a name and the artist can use that to his/her advantage aka Sales/views. The fact of the matter is the producer these days has to market themselves like an artist. Beat projects, rmx projects etc. but even more important, Blogs and online platforms have to start paying more attention to who produced what. Not just “New 50 Cent” but credits as well. To all music platforms/blogs, Please take the time to research the producer give him his identity back and let the new producers grow. You are the new “Insert”, you are now the backside of the 12 inch.