The blueprint for an MC to "blow"

[The Elijah]

1.Well promoted mixtapes
2. Proffessional Stageshow
3. Interaction with fans via Myspace/Youtube/Blogger
4. A strong single pushed independantly.
5. A presence on pirate/internet/legal radio
6. Quality vinyl releases.
7. Merchandise so people that dont pay for your music, will at least buy something else.
8. Making GRIME.
9. One catchy phrase, hook or something that makes them stands out.


Anything I have missed?

[Hij]

Good little thread actually. I'd agree with that.

Slightly irrelevant though, I'd say the guys on Myspace who reply to as many comments/messages as they can will eventually have a more loyal fanbase, it goes under interaction, but real interaction proper.

[Top Lad]

Nope , pretty much spot on imo.

[The Elijah]

Good little thread actually. I'd agree with that.

Slightly irrelevant though, I'd say the guys on Myspace who reply to as many comments/messages as they can will eventually have a more loyal fanbase, it goes under interaction, but real interaction proper.

having a few sunjays will help spread the word trust.

[The Elijah]

Nope , pretty much spot on imo.

Ok. Now who is doing this. Only JME in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

I totally agree, although the merchandise I hate imo.
I also feel you need a few people supporting you as in some sort of team maybe, not necessarily a crew, but someone who is knowledgable to a certain extent in the music buisness/industry etc.
For example BBK has that Sam guy who is experienced in distribution or something.

[Hij]

having a few sunjays will help spread the word trust.
LMAO. Very true though.


I also feel you need a few people supporting you as in some sort of team maybe, not necessarily a crew, but someone who is knowledgable to a certain extent in the music buisness/industry etc.
For example BBK has that Sam guy who is experienced in distribution or something.
I've found, weirdly enough because it contradicts everything I had learnt about the scene, that if people are good at something and see potential in your product they are willing to help and support, its how what we've done here has grown so fast, from a knocked up Wikipedia, to a whole internet franchise (not saying its big yet, but its on its way and I couldn't have done it myself).

So long as MC's are approachable, with a bit of common sense and not stuck in dreamland, it shouldn't be hard to network in the current scene and find people to help you out and later on become business partners with.

[The Elijah]

LMAO. Very true though.

I've found, weirdly enough because it contradicts everything I had learnt about the scene, that if people are good at something and see potential in your product they are willing to help and support, its how what we've done here has grown so fast, from a knocked up Wikipedia, to a whole internet franchise (not saying its big yet, but its on its way and I couldn't have done it myself).

So long as MC's are approachable, with a bit of common sense and not stuck in dreamland, it shouldn't be hard to network in the current scene and find people to help you out and later on become business partners with.

notice u changed ur name 2 manager. whys that Vinnie!

[Nine Bar]

Ok. Now who is doing this. Only JME in my opinion.

him n wiley is all i can think off........thats pretty sad when u think about it

[Danny Trejo]

OGs are a perfect example of what a crew should be doing right now, I think.

[Hij]

notice u changed ur name 2 manager. whys that Vinnie!
Felt like becoming the Rafa Benitez of the Forum.

See the new avatar! Im gonna start rotating you guys.

[whats_the_score?]

OGs are a perfect example of what a crew should be doing right now, I think.

I totally agree.

[Hij]

OGs are a perfect example of what a crew should be doing right now, I think.
Agree.

Their mixtape was sick (All the CD's I ordered only came through yesteday)

[MedellinManDem]

Blow? Blow where lol...

Doesn't make sense. Why is every grime groupie's objective for their favourite emcee to get into the charts? Farkinader...

[The Elijah]

Blow? Blow where lol...

Doesn't make sense. Why is every grime groupie's objective for their favourite emcee to get into the charts? Farkinader...

who was talking about charts? Charts right now dont mean shit. It just an indicuation of how much your label has spent on you more time.

Im against mcs going major really. Single deals are cool, but albums should try do it indie man.

[MedellinManDem]

who was talking about charts? Charts right now dont mean shit. It just an indicuation of how much your label has spent on you more time.

Im against mcs going major really. Single deals are cool, but albums should try do it indie man.

But blow where then? Grime mcs are never going to be bigger than they are now. It's niche music (not niche as in bassline, I mean serves a purpose). The scene might as well contain itself and make a bigger monster like DnB has done. Also, when its main fanbase (like 75%) are guys like the ones that duppied your rave, then it ain't ever gonna change. If the fanbase changes, it's not grime anymore imo. Grime is sposed to represent the ghetto, the black working class of London, once it stops aiming to do that, it's not grime in my opinion.

[The Elijah]

But blow where then? Grime mcs are never going to be bigger than they are now. It's niche music (not niche as in bassline, I mean serves a purpose). The scene might as well contain itself and make a bigger monster like DnB has done. Also, when its main fanbase (like 75%) are guys like the ones that duppied your rave, then it ain't ever gonna change. If the fanbase changes, it's not grime anymore imo. Grime is sposed to represent the ghetto, the black working class of London, once it stops aiming to do that, it's not grime in my opinion.

So a Wiley beat listened to by a blode 31 year old woman in Germany aint grime?

[Hij]

But blow where then? Grime mcs are never going to be bigger than they are now. It's niche music (not niche as in bassline, I mean serves a purpose). The scene might as well contain itself and make a bigger monster like DnB has done. Also, when its main fanbase (like 75%) are guys like the ones that duppied your rave, then it ain't ever gonna change. If the fanbase changes, it's not grime anymore imo. Grime is sposed to represent the ghetto, the black working class of London, once it stops aiming to do that, it's not grime in my opinion.

Of course its still grime. If it expands, you can have more commercial style of grime for all people and then still have underground stuff for artists who do harder stuff.

[The Elijah]

Of course its still grime. If it expands, you can have more commercial style of grime for all people and then still have underground stuff for artists who do harder stuff.

wouldnt even agree.

The same music we got now, pushed to a wider audience would sell more.

[Carter]

One 1 thing to make to you blow........MAKE SONGS LIKE DYLAN and not like Lethal B

[MedellinManDem]

Who would Tempa T appeal to outside of the mandem?

[Hij]

wouldnt even agree.

The same music we got now, pushed to a wider audience would sell more.

Perhaps.

[Hij]

Who would Tempa T appeal to outside of the mandem?

Exactly.

[MedellinManDem]

Exactly exactly...

The majority of music fans and buyers in this country are not mandem...Grime is powered by one big logical fallacy running down the middle...

[Hij]

Exactly exactly...

The majority of music fans and buyers in this country are not mandem...Grime is powered by one big logical fallacy running down the middle...

My point was that while Grime may diversify and change slightly, it will do so in different ways- Your going for the most hardcore of grime and saying 'Will this appeal' its a flawed argument.

[Retrofreak]

10. Pick good beats and learn how to write good songs...Just cause you can spray radio 16's don't mean you can write a great song.

11. Have a good team around you so you can achieve all of the above.

12. Don't believe the hype, listen, learn and be humble.

[Hij]

12. Don't believe the hype, listen, learn and be humble.
.

[The Elijah]

Who would Tempa T appeal to outside of the mandem?

I know girls that enjoy Tempz. In a rave at least. But right now they arent even given the option.

No tunes + No Raves = No reason to like him.

If Tempz was in NG or BBK he would be much bigger

[MedellinManDem]

My point was that while Grime may diversify and change slightly, it will do so in different ways- Your going for the most hardcore of grime and saying 'Will this appeal' its a flawed argument.

See this is where we have a conceptual difference. In my opinion, grime is the hardcore. There's no in between. All there are, are failed attempts to make good "music".

[Nine Bar]

so what about tinchy, he put out a grime album and got a good response.

people are making serious money because of grime, and will continue to do so grime just isnt a typical ghetto 16 involving guns, shanks, drugs n shit.

the scene has come a long way since 01/02 days so to say progress hasnt been made or never will is ludacris imo

[MedellinManDem]

so what about tinchy, he put out a grime album and got a good response.

people are making serious money because of grime, and will continue to do so grime just isnt a typical ghetto 16 involving guns, shanks, drugs n shit.

the scene has come a long way since 01/02 days so to say progress hasnt been made or never will is ludacris imo

1) A good response from who? Selling 10,000 records (if he sold that much) isn't great is it?

2) Serious money? Depends, I bet they're making no more than the average Londoner's salary, if even that. I wouldn't say that's serious money at all.

3) Where did I say progress hasn't been made? What I said (or intimated) was I can't see them ever being household names aside from the actual listeners.

[Hij]

See this is where we have a conceptual difference. In my opinion, grime is the hardcore. There's no in between. All there are, are failed attempts to make good "music".

Fair enough then. I believe that as the music grows it will be able to satisfy everyones musical needs. I like hardcore grime as much as the next person, but I also like more tuneful stuff that still falls under the umbrella of grime.

Your severely limiting the music and the potential it has, if you believe its only suitable for young black males from London.

Fortunately, its not you that decides, no offence.

[MedellinManDem]

Fair enough then. I believe that as the music grows it will be able to satisfy everyones musical needs. I like hardcore grime as much as the next person, but I also like more tuneful stuff that still falls under the umbrella of grime.

Your severely limiting the music and the potential it has, if you believe its only suitable for young black males from London.

What genre of music satisfies everyone's needs?

Also, how can it satisfy all needs, if the music is grimey, the actual beat...satisfying other needs basically means branching out and doing HH/RNB. What I'm saying is it will never go mainstream and be known as grime.

[Hij]

What genre of music satisfies everyone's needs?

Also, how can it satisfy all needs, if the music is grimey, the actual beat...satisfying other needs basically means branching out and doing HH/RNB. What I'm saying is it will never go mainstream and be known as grime.

I swear sometimes your difficult just for the sake of it. The death of Garage, which seems to have totally disappeared barring movements up north leaves a gap. Therefore I think stuff like 'If Your Going Out', 'This Is Real Life Not A Show', 'We're OG's' and other vocal stuff can still be grime but a different type of it - as the examples listed are still a different type of grime IMO without being Hip Hop/RnB.

['nuum general]

one more point to add to the list:

Get a Manager!!!

[MedellinManDem]

I swear sometimes your difficult just for the sake of it. The death of Garage, which seems to have totally disappeared barring movements up north leaves a gap. Therefore I think stuff like 'If Your Going Out', 'This Is Real Life Not A Show', 'We're OG's' and other vocal stuff can still be grime but a different type of it - as the examples listed are still a different type of grime IMO without being Hip Hop/RnB.

Ok.

It's *you're* by the way.

[Hij]

Ok.

It's *you're* by the way.

Your a cunt.

See what I did there? ;)

[Nine Bar]

What I'm saying is it will never go mainstream and be known as grime.

what......just because it wont have a swear word in every 2 bars and some sort of gun isnt mentioned dont mean dat ent grime

of course the darker grime tunes wont get mainstream but tunes like for instance......wiley - if your going out, JME - serious......dont u class dat as grime

[MedellinManDem]

Your a cunt.

See what I did there? ;)

Say that to me at DC or Chockablock...I will officially done your dance.

[Quality Control]

no homo@thread title

[Hij]

Say that to me at DC or Chockablock...I will officially done your dance.

I was jesting you bell end. Did you not spot the same error that you pedanticly pointed out in that sentence?

[MedellinManDem]

I was jesting you bell end. Did you not spot the same error that you pedanticly pointed out in that sentence?

Lol...too easy you cock end.

[Hij]

Lol...too easy you cock end.

But I've not claimed to be a genius in this thread have I?

Ironically, you were pedantic again, not got an argument anymore?

[MedellinManDem]

But I've not claimed to be a genius in this thread have I?

Ironically, you were pedantic again, not got an argument anymore?

Our argument stopped when I said we had conceptual differences mate. If we disagree on the manner and form of grime, there's no point in arguing...alie?

[Hij]

Our argument stopped when I said we had conceptual differences mate. If we disagree on the manner and form of grime, there's no point in arguing...alie?

Fair enough then mate. We'll call it quits then.

[Retrofreak]

Versatility is the key to Grime's survival...

Without it Grime will just be a style or even worse a brief moment in time.

[Druggy]

True

[Ohhhkay]

but wen people go on radio too much people start gettin bored of dem

e.g little dee

he basically did everything u sed dere

[The Elijah]

but wen people go on radio too much people start gettin bored of dem

e.g little dee

he basically did everything u sed dere

i dont think going on radio 2much is a problem, as long as it entertaining. Ive been listning 2 wiley on radio for about 8 years

[General Savimbi]

1. Stay indie for as long as possible.

2. Do your own thing until the majors take notice.

3. Don't go chasing deals.

[4737]

1. Stay indie for as long as possible.

2. Do your own thing until the majors take notice.

3. Don't go chasing deals.

I agree on points one and three. Point two is a sketchy one as involvement from majors means there is probably an exploitative business agenda behind it, with the potential to leave both artists and the scene less well off for it. However, if the artist is savvy enough to get some good representation and ignore the nonsense that the A&R yes-men will try and fill their heads with, it could work. I'd probably just add "tread with caution" in brackets next to point two.

Although, that said, there have been some very big labels sniffin round certain artists. 08 will be interesting.

t.

[U.M.P]

1.Well promoted mixtapes
2. Proffessional Stageshow
3. Interaction with fans via Myspace/Youtube/Blogger
4. A strong single pushed independantly.
5. A presence on pirate/internet/legal radio
6. Quality vinyl releases.
7. Merchandise so people that dont pay for your music, will at least buy something else.
8. Making GRIME.
9. One catchy phrase, hook or something that makes them stands out.


Anything I have missed?

agreed

[Wiz]

Who are you basing these blueprints on?

[The Elijah]

Who are you basing these blueprints on?

JME i guess.

[Danny Trejo]

Who would Tempa T appeal to outside of the mandem?

Tempa T has more crossover appeal than half the scene. Catchy hooks, clear flow, sense of humour. One of my favourite MCs, don't give a shit.

[RIP Jakey]

Do you think that BBK is mostly JME's ideas and Skepta has kinda taken a ride on his coat tails? It seems to me that JME is the brains and Skepta is the worker if you know what I mean.

Imo JME is the MC most likely to be comercially successful he seems to have a business plan and goes about it in a professional way. I personally prefer Skepta to JME (I do like JME tho) but without JME I very much doubt that Skepta would have the indie following he has. (In my experience JME fans are generally aware of Skepta not all of them tho)

[MedellinManDem]

Do you think that BBK is mostly JME's ideas and Skepta has kinda taken a ride on his coat tails? It seems to me that JME is the brains and Skepta is the worker if you know what I mean.

Imo JME is the MC most likely to be comercially successful he seems to have a business plan and goes about it in a professional way. I personally prefer Skepta to JME (I do like JME tho) but without JME I very much doubt that Skepta would have the indie following he has. (In my experience JME fans are generally aware of Skepta not all of them tho)

LOL, taking them for any George and Lenny...

And Slackk: Yeah Temps is my favourite MC by a mile. He embodies what I think grime is.

[quality]

Can't remember what blog it was, but there was a video of Tempz and Jammer going over some bassline. Tempz sounded big on it, he has appeal.

[MedellinManDem]

Can't remember what blog it was, but there was a video of Tempz and Jammer going over some bassline. Tempz sounded big on it, he has appeal.

I swear JP had it on his...I've seen it though, was sick.

Tempz is a top guy in the scene. His appearance at DC set the bar too high in my opinion cos everyone since that night has been boog.

[quality]

I googled it:

http://smugpolice.blogspot.com/2007/12/jammer-tempz-jammin-over-t2s-dumpvalve.html

Deep.

[MedellinManDem]

I googled it:

http://smugpolice.blogspot.com/2007/12/jammer-tempz-jammin-over-t2s-dumpvalve.html

Deep.

I saw it on JP's I think, was a Tim and Barry ting.

[Grimes]

you mug

where you fucked up is the fact that no1 who's stuck to that list has "blown". Wiley stucked to that list for years and got air

[The Elijah]

you mug

where you fucked up is the fact that no1 who's stuck to that list has "blown". Wiley stucked to that list for years and got air

wiley has dry mixtapes and a dry stageshow.

[Equilibrium]

tru-he doesnt spend enough time on them he just goes for- put as many out as possible and dat brings down the quality

[Mister Lacey]

Damn :(