Series: Hip Hop

Searching For The Pulse Of A Dying Culture #4: Marcus D Harmon

This post has been sitting in my OneNote file just waiting to get posted. And while I'm not sure what the hold up has been, I'm happy to finally get it up. If you have been following, you know that the way this works is that a questions goes out into the twitter sphere that shows potential for interesting dialogue specific to the music industry. This twitterview centers around the struggle many artists face in trying to get signed, and asks the question 'are labels running out of ink?'. Keep reading to find out why fellow micro blogger Marcus D Harmon feels it is increasingly hard for new artists to get signed.

@MsBlckSummer: Why do you think it is so hard for a new artist to catch a break?

@MARCUSDH: Well I think there are many reasons why its harder for artists to get signed, the obvious reason is lack of funds. Labels are less likely to take risk on artists, they would rather sign a copycat of what's already popular. But artists don't need big labels as much as they did in the past. Technology has closed doors but has also opened doors.

@MsBlckSummer: Artists are more equip to self promote, and labels seem to be less important, but can you reach the same magnitude of consumers without them?

@MARCUSDH: The same magnitude? I don't think so honestly. I think to reach a bigger demographic you will eventually need a big label.

@MsBlckSummer: So where do the two meet? When does the label see a new artist as viable if they aren't simply a copycat? Albums don't sell the way they used to no matter who the artist; so where do the funds to support new acts come from?

@MARCUSDH: I think the artist has to be amazing, an original or just another copycat. I don't think there is any room for mediocrity.

@MsBlckSummer: As an artist is the goal to appeal to the masses, or be true to the art? Consumers constantly change their minds, how do you keep up?

@MARCUSDH: True to art, originality, honesty, love and knowledge of music matched with perserverence is unstoppable, people can't ignore it.


Why is it so hard for the "real" artist to catch a break? To that I don't have the answer. Like I always say this is not my industry, though I love it just the same. The funny thing is, As I put this together, I am listening in on an interesting conversation with a unique point of view rarely heard. The industry needs all aspects to survive. It needs the one hit wonders to keep the club goers dancing, the hard core rappers to tell the street stories, and the real deal to give hope of another way out. They work together while opposing each other at the same time in some mystical harmonious melody.

Many thanks to MARCUSDH for his participation in this discussion. To get in on the action follow ME and lets chat.
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Resort 2010

Looking Over Your Shoulder

From over the top floral details to interesting pleating, the Resort 2010 runways called attention to the shoulder. Some of my favorites included, printed one shoulder dress with flower detail from Isaac Mizrahi, Nicole Miller's dressed up tee with city shorts, sea foam pencil dress with rouched shoulder from Douglas Hannant, asymmetrical black and white print dress by Nicole Miller, and Alexander Wangs off the shoulder maxi dress.

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Series: SOML

Story Of My Life

So my children are on vacation. Tucson, Arizona to visit my grandparents. Two weeks away from home. It's weird. Quiet. Not until your kids are gone, do you realize how much you really need them. Not to say that I am complaining about getting a break to just be a grown up. Listen to music with out skipping through explicit lyrics. Watching movies and not having to tell anyone to go upstairs. Not worrying about bath time or bed time, or brushing hair, or making breakfast etc. etc. etc. I do miss them though, they are a huge part of who I am.

Anyway, it's Friday. I have the day off, and I got no kids. I'm sleeping in right? Syke! Someone is calling us at 8:30 in the morning. Not having caller i.d. and knowing that no one ever calls the house phone for me, I pretend to not hear it, like I am still sleep. Did you just say selfish? Luckily for me -- I can deal with that. He got up of course, went downstairs, and answered the phone with such irritation I was sure that the person on the other end would have hung up; from the length of waiting if not from the tone in his voice. Once again, I was wrong. The ice in his voice instantly melted away, "Hi baby!" Oh, I thought, the girls have not forgotten that it is time to wake us up...not even if they were miles away, in another state! He came up stairs and I felt bad when he told Simone that I was sleep, so I rolled over. How sweet was the sound of their voices. Well I was up at the point. So I washed dishes, straightened up around the house, checked email -- OK I checked twitter and before I knew it it was 10:30 in the morning. Larry was up ready to go for a walk. So we went.

The weather was beautiful, and the walk was nice. But why did I not realize that I had neglected to eat breakfast? It was nearly noon and I hadn't even had a cup of coffee. If you sat anywhere near the coffee machine at my job, you know that this kind of anomaly does not happen to me. And then it hit me. My girls remind me to eat. They are walking alarm clocks. Time to wake up, time to eat, time for snack, time to nap, time for baths, time for bed and so on and so on. Needless to say the whole I forgot to eat thing happened for the rest of the day. The burger I ate for lunch was the only meal I had all day. What about dinner you ask? A crumb cake and coffee. How did I survive without my kids? I guess that was what my mother was (is?) for.

They left reminders behind as well that they would be back. Or maybe that this was there house. Or maybe so that we wouldn't forget them? I don't know really but when I made the bed, I noticed a set of jammies under the pillows. And then as if a reminder to eat something, I noticed the little plastic dinosaur that Simone and Noelle might one day rip each others hair out over, was just kickin it in the fridge behind the sugar. I couldn't help but to chuckle.

Had they been here today, the nothing filled day would have felt like a day wasted. But instead it was relaxing. I sat by the pool for two hours (and yes went up a shade on the brown scale). I didn't do my hair, I would post a picture as proof but its kinda scary I cant lie. And I am currently on a painting break as I write this. Oh and last night I got in two blogs! No bed time. It's insane! I must admit though, I miss my divas. The bickering, the tears, the love, all of it. My home is empty without them. It will be a long two weeks. I'm definitely going to have to write myself away from the edge of insanity caused by not knowing what to do with my time. Stay tuned to see how well I do.

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Resort 2010

Color Me Beautiful

Resort 2010, hints to color for spring. It's nice to see that the recession has not taken the life out of the runway. Fashion is still just as inspired as ever, and full of energy. Choose sophisticated silhouettes and smart pairings to avoid looking too loud. Some of my favorite looks include Nicole Miller's belted tie dye dress, monocromatic hot pink shell and long short by Marc by Marc Jacobs, printed 3/4 sleeve knee length v - neck dress from Isaac Mizrahi, Marc Jacobs' tangerenish ankle pant with tweed jacket, orange cropped moto jacket with turq bell skirt by Matthew Williamson, and printed short with pink jacket from Roberto Cavalli.

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Summer Sounds

Like More Mix Tapes
I am fully aware that I am no authority on what is and isn't good music. But I do know that when something I listen to strikes a chord within me, it's a good thing. See the two mix tapes recently added to my play list.


Wale - Back to the Feature

I first discovered Wale a couple of weeks ago by way of a tweet. I can't deny the fact that I fear I am really late on him. None the less I have since caught up to speed & if you haven't downloaded Back to the Feature with 9th Wonder, then not only are you late, but you must be in hibernation. The title is foretelling as it is chock full of features from some of my favorite artists such as Talib Kweli, Skyzoo, Feeway, Beanie Sigel, Peter, Bjorn & John among other talents. But it's not just the features that caught my attention the first time I listened to it. There is a certain authenticity about Wale's delivery. Several times he comments about concerns that he may be too pop. But I felt that there was a complimentary balance between alternative (I guess that's what you would call it) and that very organic something that can only be found in hip hop. So which tracks are among my top rated?
New Soul, Rhyme N Reason, Goodbye (absolute favorite), Nothin to Worry About (I am a fan of the original as well), and Wonder Why.


Dj BuddaBlaze Cycle: 1Planting Season

Another new addition to my iTunes rotation comes courtesy of DJ BuddaBlaze. Again discovered on twitter (which I am sure will soon be considered a reference source), I have had this one for a little under a week I think. But I find that I keep going back to it. This mix tape has an interesting mix of beats, achieving more of a street feel to it. Features here include, Deams, Eminem, Blaq Poet, NORE, and Drake. I know its a DJ thing, but I have to say the one annoying part of this mix tape was the constant "DJ BUDDABLAZE" intros.
Favorite tracks here would include Don't Be Mad with Pete Rock, Hate with Blaq Poet & NORE, Smile from Alcimest & Twista and Reality Check from Black Thought.






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Resort 2010

Jump into Resort

Call it a one piece, call it a romper, a jumpsuit...it doesn't matter. It's a trend that came in like a fad, but remains on the runway for yet another season. These were a few of my favorites. Button front bat wing jumpsuit with tie sash by Matthew Williamson, printed romper by Derek Lam, knit surplus one piece by Yigal Azrouel, drawstring shortall & denim tube jumper by Costume National, & long sleeve cropped button front one piece by Thakoon.


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A Mourning VIBE

Last week was tough. I think we can all agree with that. From the loss of Farah Fawcett to the completely unexpected death of Michael Jackson just hours later, for which I had to interrupt a meeting in order to confirm all the tweets I started to receive. The fact that Michael Jackson is no longer with us, will no longer make music, will never perform again, is a strange reality to accept. And just as it was all starting to settle in, again first heard/read on twitter, I discovered that my favorite social studies resource from high school, VIBE Magazine, had closed its doors.

*Deep Breath in, exhale, I'm okay.* I instantly got chills, and a turning knot in my stomach. You see, I may be no journalist, but I love to write. I am not a musician, but I am passionate about music. I am not a politician, or community organizer, but matters of society and volunteer work are things I am enthusiastic about. I am not a designer but fashion is what I know, it's the business I am in. VIBE encompassed all of these things for me in my teenage years. VIBE was the fuel that helped develop those passions that molded me into who I am. The glossy covers were the source of my adoration in it's early days. Always sparking some sort of emotion. Always thought provoking; at least for a girl in her teens. In the beginning VIBE covers were statement making. Like Tupac's straight jacket cover, or BIG and Faiths backseat embrace. I subscribed religiously. Waiting for the newest issue to hit stands was torturous for me. I needed to have it first. And so I did, each month. I remember one year I even gifted a subscription for my best friend.

When VIBE was a substantially well written, and edited book(in my non-professional opinion), it was my source for what was going on in the world of black culture. Not just music, but entertainment as a whole, fashion, and society. It made me aspire to be an entertainment journalist. Not really as a career, and not for real, but somewhere inside me I always secretly wanted to work for them. Enough to make my major Journalism after going back to school. Creative Director, Fashion Editor, Contributing Freelancer, any of these titles would have been acceptable to me. I didn't know how, I didn't know when, I just knew it would be. Some day when I no longer required the security of a bi-weekly paycheck, and benefits. Even after the magazine ceased to inspire me, moving in line with the era of bling, and I discontinued my subscriptions purchasing only impressive and inspired issues like the I AM LEGEND 15 year anniversary issue with Jay-Z on the cover, or the Obama issues, it still remained (in my mind) the stepping stone that would eventually launch my career as a writer. I am not idealistic about many things, but this, being a contributor to VIBE, was something I daydreamed about endlessly.

Now that it is gone, there is a certain reality that my ambition was really nothing more than a castle in the sky. Is it possible that I will write one day for a real publication? Possibly. Will I ever write for the monthly publication that inspired me? I think it's safe to say, that will never be. Seasons always have defining events that burn imprints of time, emotion and setting into your reminiscence. So as I say good bye to the many hands that sculpted my ambitions during my adolescence, it saddens me dearly to know that I will remember this summer as one with a mourning VIBE.

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