Represent!

I'm making a new record soon. Collecting vibes and ideas. I already started(with the myspace ladies) to hear their thoughts and ideas. They've been sending a lot of much appreciated honest energy through their words. Some of you cats chimed in with your comments and opinions already. Cool. Thanks for that.

I want to open the forum for music makers to come to the table with your ideas now. I get a bunch of requests to 'collab' everyday. So send your mp3's or links to duplaix215@gmail.com. I'll reply to you once I get to listen. If 500 tracks pop up, it might take a minute to process. Only send what you KNOW is your best. I'm not promising anything to anyone. I'm not a thief. If you're worried about your rights, find out how to protect yourself before you submit anything.

I also have some compilations to put together in the coming months. You can send me your own finish songs to be in that mix. These comps will give you global exposure.

So be creative. Push yourselves to the limits of your imagination.

Let's experiment.

v.

I'm writing a new album now. Tell me what you want to hear a man say to you in a song. Don't be afraid to be open and honest.

(If you like girls, tell me what she should say. I can role play.)

v.

I posted this as a bulletin originally. I'm still reading all of the fantasic replies. You girls go deep.

Thanks to everyone giving up props for the nomination. It's crazy how the love is pouring in from all directions. Most of my fellow indie artists are asking...'how the f--- did you do that???' Most importantly, I made music true to my soul. But HUSTLE is a big part of the answer. Been Non-stop since i started living music. I found a lane and stayed in it as much as possible. I'm nowhere near finished traveling. But... I'm getting closer to open road. Outside of that, I joined NARAS which made me eligible to enter myself. It's the association that is behind the Grammy event. Less than a year ago, I got a call to attend a 'recruiting' meeting for young creatively valid talent at the NARAS headquarters in LA. I was hesitant. Like many other artists and fans, I became jaded by the wacky winners the the Grammy's produced in the last few years. It started to seem like a fancy version of the AMA awards. It felt like only the top sellers and artists of yesteryear ever got any true love. But curiosity got the best of me and i went to check it out.

Surprisingly, the meeting was packed with relevant artists, execs, and other influential minds. Jimmy Jam, Omarion, Marques Houston, and Bryce Wilson were a few names you might be familiar with. The mood was weird. The agenda wasn't clear. The first thing we did was sit through a video montage of 'special' Grammy photo ops involving random superstar x at random high school y in random town z. It was irritating to me. I thought, 'Did they really call me down her to show me this nonsense? i could've watched this online at the crib.' The after effect was about an hour of emotional outbursts from a group of people primarily fed up with the 'old man's grammy network'. I waited to hear everyone's perspective before i spoke. Then I sounded off. I was clear about my frustration with major label politics and NARAS hook ups. A career's worth of aggravation kicked the meeting into overdrive. Before I blasted my soundbites like an uzi, the meeting was very respectful and tame. I wasn't having it. The Southwest Philly in me poured out like wine. Nothing disrespectful. just raw as hell. brutally honest. But What the NARAS execs basically told me and the rest of us moody complainers was...if you want change, make change. it's here for you to that. if it means so much to you then sign up, participate, share ideas, or do whatever is needed to make a difference. I did just that. Not knowing whether or not I offended the brass overseeing the meeting (or caring). I renewed my dues and made a mental note to get involved. Apparently, my emotional/borderline aggressive commentary raised eyebrows and showed the room just how important music is to my life. They recognized my outbursts were out of love for something i've dedicated my young life to. A real eye-opener for me was when Jimmy Jam, the new Chairman of NARAS came over to me and said ' i love your spirit. i need your voice. Just tone it down a little....' I knew something i said in the heat of the moment had weight.

In the coming months, I made myself available more and more. Eventually I was called in to help sort through the initial group of artists on the pre-nomination ballot. It was a two day process consisting of hours of conversation regarding who should or should not fit into which category. I found out that the majority of people involved with NARAS are truly fighting to find ways to keep the GRAMMY as the most respected award in the music biz. The mission is to modify the rules and system to match a quickly changing business without doing so prematurely or without just cause. it's a process. Slow, indeed. But the majority of those involved spend day after day trying to get it right. I respect the process now. It's not a small thing.

I could go on. It's a journey for sure. If you are an independent artist/producer/writer/remixer/dj/engineer/graphic designer...you can be a big part of the evolutionary Grammy process. I suggest you go to Grammy.com to research the process of being a member and the benefits it can have on your life. Hit me if you need more details.

Lastly, being recognized by your peers as being important to the world's creative community is a powerful sensation.

v.

For Your Consideration...

Dear Friends, Fellow Music Lovers, and NARAS Members,

I'd like to thank you wholeheartedly for nominating me in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance Category with my song 'Make A Baby'. Congrats are also due to the other nominees in this and every other category this year. This is truly an honor that will remain special to me forever. I think being acknowledged in this manner is proof that the academy and it's members are once again dedicated to pushing quality music makers to the forefront of the industry. Getting to this point has been a wonderful journey full of ups, downs, and in betweens. Hopefully, with your help, the story will continue with a Grammy win. Please click to the links below to get familiar with me and my constant pursuit of bringing beautiful people together through music. Hopefully, I can persuade you to vote my way:)

Thanks Again and Best Wishes throughout the new year.

v.

Party people. This blog is written while I'm in dj Duplaix mode. Been rockin' parties since I was 12 so I've seen all types. It seems like the world waits to go to Miami each spring to have a great time. I say...why wait? Maybe I'm spoiled. Philly was thick with solid dj's. From Jazzy, to Cash Money, to King, to Wink, to Cosmo Baker, to a long ass list. We had fun every single night. One problem we never had was lack of wax players. We also had a good time. Us philly bred cats have a way of playing to make the party hot. Some people judge dj's on technical skill. Some judge on newest selection. Some judge on hot remixes or trackes produced. Regardless of that, we always judge ourselves by the 'hands in the air' factor. If the vibe is wack in the crowd than what good are we? I've seen flawless mixers get blown out of the club by cats who can't mix but had the right selection and flow. My squad makes mistakes sound great. But cocky ego chatter isn't my point. We truly loved making people happy. Every night. I think that 's why heads hit WMC every year. They're seeking that good feeling. Feenin'. The truth is that we should spend more time giving the energy at home. I think it's much more satifying than flying 10.000 miles and spending 8g's for 4 or 5 average parties. Honeys in bikini's are always worth seeing but I'm finding that if you rock a local party hard enuff at home, the bikini's will come out. Heat is heat. Bring Miami to your peeps. Wherever you may be. That's how I roll. Can I get a witness? Follow me to the sweeter life...