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

The Art of the Album

Where were you the day the art of the album died? Kweli put it in a different way but the question still holds weight. What really happened to the 10-12 songs that explained who an artist really is? When did the ringtones, singles, and downloads take over the money machine that was record label sales. I could go on as far as these questions til i'm blue in the face but "The Album" is no longer sought after like it used to be.

I remember listening to records that my grandparents used to listen to as a young child. Just watching their face light up and their overall reaction made me pay attention to music that I couldn't fully understand. Playing the 45's over and over I found myself liking all the songs on all the records that I listened to. Later I found that the records I was listening to was compiled of songs that were already hits and just placed to a track list. So in essence I was already listening to the "best of" collections (so I don't waste money on these so called greatest hits albums). Though that was just a formula to create a great album for a decade or two, it set the environment for a future. The foreground was based on these principles of solid sound that would lead to an experimental future.

It was around this time (about the 60's and 70's) that artists and bands were driven to create experimental sounds that would make the album a piece of artwork. Many new styles of music that were once considered conventional were abandoned to explore new territories. Though these experiments created the natural rift in generations that happens. By abandoning the rules and venturing into an uncharted territory there were new discoveries that opened new ideas to people and re-shaped the limits of music. Songs became a part of a big picture that took listeners imagination to another reality (with the help of Haight and Ashbury).

Fast fowarding through the 80's and redefining sound of pop and the 90's upgrading hip hop to black card status we are left with the 2000's. Technology that reigns supreme threatened the money machine that is the music BUSINESS (ask yourself why thats in all caps...hhmmm) downloads and other sorts of free music was available. At this point who cares about a phenomenal album (people are trying to fix their hemorraging bank accounts). So Labels found a way to pimp the artists (for lack of a better word...naww, thats what I meant), by signing people for pennies and putting their singles out and giving them a small piece of the pie. When that got stale they went the gimmick route whether it be dances, voice effects, as well as shock value.

Somewhere along the lines people stopped caring about "The Album". Whether they felt only a few songs were good or they just don't feel they have to pay for what they want the masses don't pay attention to detail. Why have we as fans lost interest in what artists do anymore (really, I want to know). Catchy names don't give an album a concept a theme or a sound scape. Being a fan I have been let down by the music I love. But I believe that if history repeats itself we need to take that leap of faith and experiment. Lets abandon the rules once more and make art, devoid of what the right now sound is. Lets make history again people!!!!


This Blog is also featured on AkapelaJonz.com

Recording Artist vs. Performing Artists Vol. 1

Many people don't understand the difference between a recording artist and a performing artist, let alone recognize that the two are not correlated. There is a difference between being a recording artist and being a performing artist; title says it all. Very few have mastered both realms, and those who have are legends.

What young artist need to understand, and I stress this to my artists all the time, they need to have something that isn't on the CD or the album. They need to have something that is going to keep fans wanting to see them live in concert over and over again. If a fan goes to see an artist live and their concert sounds exactly like what they heard on album...what’s the point of going to the concert when there is nothing special about the show. You’re just paying to hear the album extra loud.