Filling the void

I grew up with the mind set that if I want to see change, I must be the change I see. So with that ingrained in my mind, I initially started off my quest to leave my positive impression on the world through education, but that is a blog for another time. I don't know if many people know about my business ventures and/or my involvement in music...more specifically music business rather than being just an artist.

I created a "record label" called AG One Entertainment, and as I reflect back on that now I'm not sure if the goal for AG One is consistent with the definition, or the role labels are currently playing in an artists career. On some levels I feel like we are a management company because we focus on artist development, branding and helping artist establish stability and sustainability. Labels today are no longer investing the time to mold quality artist, and in my opinion they have turned into distribution companies rather than a record label. That in turn has left the music industry overflowing with one hit wonders that labels invest money into to turn a quick buck off of a trendy hook rather than investing the time to develop an artist that will have the potential to grow and maintain in an industry that is starving for someone with talent to come along and contribute to the revolution that music industry so desperately needs.

I created AG One Entertainment over a three years ago with three main goals in mind. First and foremost we want to re-establish artist development. Its one thing to create a dope record, but when it comes time to perform live you have to be able to outshine what you have recorded because if you don't then there is no point for people to come to a show when they can just listen to the CD on extra loud and get the same experience. What ever happened to artist like Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, etc....people forget that having talent is a gift, but without the work and dedication; the talent is nothing.

Second, I wanted to provide a home for artists. A collective network in the sense where creative people work with each other to create music. No limitation of genre or types of music, but where people who are passionate about music can get together and create dope music for people to listen to. For people who have something to say through their music, help provide them with an outlet to get their music heard. The industry is a cold business...and I've learned the greatest gift we can give to one another is encouragement, so with that being said I would like to see AG One be a stepping stone for young, hungry, up and coming artists, or even staff members to build upon and become complete artist or well rounded music business individuals...ultimately helping them reach their desired goals.

Finally, and probably most importantly I want to provide the people with quality music. Timeless art. I want to contribute to people falling in love with music all over again.

One day at a time, we'll make it through.

To everyone that has supported me, my music, and AG One Entertainment, I want to take this time to say thank you for your love and support. I would not have made the progress I have without you...its your belief in me that keeps me going and challenges me to strive for bigger and better.


peace and love.

This blog was also featured on The Beacon

I'm only the greatest rapper in your apartment complex!

Another great question that was asked on my formspring: "What all does artist development entail at AG One Entertainment? How do I know that I will be where In short, its developing your sound, image, and preparing you to move onto a major OR prepare you for a release through our label and our publishing."

If you're only in one session then that is typically only a consultation, where we would talk about services offered through us and our partners. Since a consultation occurs after we've either seen you perform live or have heard some of your recorded material, we would give a basic outline as to what market we could see you in and what direction to take your initial/demo project.

There are also instances when we simply just service an artists tracks for a set cost and royalty rate, and that is usually a one time visit type of deal.

As far as knowing you'll be where you need to be is dependent on your career goals, artistry aspirations, work ethic, etc. We have the administrative and creative personnel to provide you with coaching, strategic planning, development, creation, and distribution.

However, to be brutally honest..I can take a horse to water but I can't make it drink. So to answer your question of how will you know are where you need to be is solely contingent on your dedication and personal investment in yourself, your artistry, your development and growth. Just like anything in life, the results you end up with is directly correlated to the to the effort you put in.

Artist Integrity Vol. 2

Prov 28:6 better is the poor who walks in integrity than he who is crooked and rich.

What's good young world? So I'm watching the Mo'Nique show the other night, bored out of my brain, and this cat Roscoe Dash is one of her guests. He's the cat that sings the "All the way turnt up" song. Anyhow, I'm listening to him answer the questions Mo'Nique is feeding him and this cat can barely put together an entire sentence (BUT HE'S GOT A RECORD DEAL!? lol).

He gets up to perform and you can't understand what he's saying... aaaaaaaand what little you can catch is either about some skeet skeet, swag or weed; but it gets worse. Souljaboy tell'em runs out on stage -- pants on super sag and a long red fox tail hanging from his belt (he really had a fox tail, watch the video lol).

Now don't get me wrong I would never dis what Soulja Boy and his team are trying to do and say it's not music -- because it is. But at what point do you stop and remember your integrity? At what point do you say, "My following is strong, my production is sick -- let me spit something influential, let me spit some truth about life; About my mistakes and how I learned from them" ...so that the kid that's looking up to me instead of his mom or dad doesn't have to re-invent the wheel. At the end of the day would I like to have some extra dough, a nice house and a walk-in humidor(lol)? ..sure. But not at the expense of losing my respect, my integrity and everything I've worked so hard for. I love this game, but on the real its time to start cultivating what we do. I coone for no man -- never have and never will.

So as we perfect our crafts as artist remember this -- a record deal and a large cash advance does not define you. Your fans and your haters don't define you. It's what you accomplish through your love for the people, your self-respect and your integrity for your craft.

What good does it a man/woman to gain the world but loose their soul?

Peace and love.

Artist Integrity Vol. 1

At what point is making a sacrifice considered selling out?

It seems that a majority of the recording artists, writers, musicians and producers that I’ve worked with in the music industry all have their own project that they are trying to get off the ground. While that is in the works, they all seem to be working behind the scenes on other artists projects just to fund their own… myself included.

I find myself to be very picky with whom I work with; reluctant even. Some really dope opportunities have presented themselves, but I didn’t necessarily choose to pursue them. My hesitation might have been with the image that particular artist was trying to portray or even the content/context of their music in general.

As I’ve gotten older and more business savvy in the game, I find myself picking up jobs that I might not have necessarily picked up a few years ago. However, these jobs are career moves. They are gigs that have the potential to further my networking on a major scale or even catapult me into different genres. More importantly, these gigs are providing me with a steady stream of income and sustainability so I may continue to pursue my own career as a writer/performing artist. As it stands now, I long for the day that I can finish my own project and be on the performing artist circuit once again.

Anyway, keeping with career moves vs. passion moves…I think the most notable artist to “sellout” in recent years would have to be Common. Now, don’t get it twisted…Common is one of my idols and biggest influences in my writing. But the Common who wrote, “I Used To Love H.E.R.” would not have done a “Peace, Love and Gap” campaign nor would he have been on a record with the Jonas Brothers.

Obviously, we all know Commons biggest passion project (musically speaking that is) was “Electric Circus,” which I feel was some of his dopest work. It might have over shot his target audience, but his fans still appreciated it regardless. Even his past three albums, which brought him to super stardom, would not have been possible if he hadn’t done the Gap placement. That brought him into a whole new genre and put him in front of a larger demographic other than hip hop heads. It brought sustainability into his career as an artist. His music isn’t as raw and gritty, and he doesn’t come off as that hungry emcee but he still has quality music; he still has a message, a theme, and substance.

Now, without Common making career moves and taking the Gap placement, would he have had the number one album in the country? Would the same amount of people who listened to the music or bought the album, heard what he had to say? Taking it a step deeper, would a quarter of the people who had never heard of Common until “Be” or “Finding Forever” researched his career and have their world opened to a higher quality of hip hop music?

A big fear I have is being viewed as a “sellout,” despite what I do I’m pretty sure there will be those who think I am a “sellout”. There are things I am very unhappy with in the music industry and I feel I can be part of a catalyst for change. However, in order to move up in ranks and obtain a sustainable career there will be gigs or jobs I take in order to put me in better position to initiate the change I want to see
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