Series: Hip Hop

Searching For A Dying Cultures Pulse #2 : TiJean

As I continued my journey these last couple of weeks through the history of Hip-Hop, going so far back as The Last Poets, and Gil Scott-Heron (I'm hoping to actually meet the Watts Phrophets soon) to my highscool days of Outkast's Atliens and Aquemini, Lauryn Hill's Miseducation, Common's Like Water For Chocolate, Jay-Z's Hard Knock Life, and many others, I think about the days when albums were something to look forward to. These days an artist can drop singles for months before a compilation of them is released, and if there is an album every song is still just a single. Go to any social networking site and just about every unsigned artist has some version of a mix tape available for free downloading.

I have downloaded several in the last couple of weeks. So again, on a Saturday evening I posted a question to twitterville : "Are albums going out of style? Is it all about the mixtape and single?" Find out what @TiJeanOnline had to say to that.

@MsBlckSummer: Are Albums going out of style? Is it all about the mix tapes/singles?

@TiJeanOnline: Probably...every artist needs mix tape these days! LOL. Mine is droppin on Monday! iAmHipRock.com

@MsBlckSummer: What is it that a mix tape does for an artist that an album doesn't?

@TiJeanOnline: Extra work, promo, Free, more material -- it's a true test of talent for labels and consumers before they buy. It gets them interested.

@MsBlckSummer: Do you think a mix tape risks the integrity of your music by not being a collective body of work? How many mix tapes are too many?

@TiJeanOnline: Well if you approach a mix tape as a creative collective body of work you should never be worried.

@MsBlckSummer: Very True. I feel like mix tapes have such a different vibe compared to an album. Do you think artists are their realist or faker when putting together a mix tape?

@TiJeanOnline: Now I think most of them are gonna be real and all out if they're great artists. It's our time to be creative and do whatever. But if they are true artists they will be even more original and creative on their REAL albums.

@MsBlckSummer: What will your mix tape say about you as an artist?

@TiJeanOnline: My mix tape will say that I'm extremely passionate about music, creative, and unafraid to show the world my heart and soul.

Times are changing when it comes to the music industry. I know mix tapes have always been a part of the industry, but it's hard not to feel like with the number of unsigned artists out there, the circulation of mix tapes has also increased. It's also now much easier to push a mix tape when you can do it from behind a computer screen. The mix tape is a necessary marketing tool for many artists tryna break out on the scene, now more than ever. However, true artistry can be compromised when one drops mix tape after mix tape. The test is whether or not the album ever follows, or even has to follow.

Many thanks to Ti'Jean for his participation. To find out more about him go to IAMHIPROCK.COM.