This time last year I wasn't making music. No, that is not to say that I hopped aboard the MCing by numbers bandwagon in 2006, but I had (at least in my mind at the time) rather unceremoniously concluded my pursuit of happiness as an artist in the rabid world of music. This time last year I was in the throes of being a writer. I had traded counting bars for counting paragraphs and I no longer worked with producers and engineers, I instead worked with editors and journalists. While my medium of expression did change, my passion for language did not and, as a freelance writer, I had to hustle my prose like a demo to clients who were none too excited with the prospect of hiring the kid in the Timberland Boots and the Carhartt suit to compose expositions that would accurately and appropriately communicate their desired agendas and enhance their presentations. Oh yeah, the fact that I hadn't graduated college didn't help much either.
Since 2003 I had taken to drafting company proposals and crafting bios for new artists, thanks in large part to the many strong connections that I had built within the music industry over the years. My clients gave me a chance and I gave them my best. The irony of me being an artist that was now promoting and playing a major part in the "spin" machine for other artists was never lost on me. Many times I wanted to record again, but I didn't see the point in it. I've never been content with simply being the best on my block or merely being my circle of friend's favorite rapper; I deserved more and, sadly, I didn't see much promise for an MC like me in such a watered down and uninspired market place. This time last year I had gone straight.
So, how did I end up here, today, with a fresh new music page (WWW.MYSPACE.COM/CHRISLIVEMUSIC) and blessed to have an amazing audience that is growing by the day? Well, I basically started creeping with my ex love named Hip Hop music and moonlighting as an MC once again. Ultimately, I had to stop looking for validation from people whom I would never associate with in the streets and stick to my honor code and my way of life. Later for the suckers.
Rapping had never stopped feeling good, however, it had stopped feeling right. An old friend of mine who had never stopped recording would ask me to help him with his project and, in the process, I began writing rhymes again. I always thought as an MC. Random lyrics begging to be made whole, pleading to be made song, would pop into my head, but, for the better part of 2 years, I had all but ignored those inclinations. My talent with words had found a new outlet and I was happy. The problem though was that I could be so much happier still. So, what at it's inception started as me naturally helping a friend, gradually turned into us forming a group and me getting back to doing what I do best … making great (Your words, not just mine.) music for the masses.
I was the proverbial prodigal son and many of my peers were eager to welcome me back. I was sure that I had returned right on time, the signs were all there. Almost immediately I was simultaneously recording a group project with my former partner and working on a compilation album with my Heatmakerz family. All was right with the world; well, almost. Unbeknownst to me, somewhere along the line while practicing journalism steadily for 2 years, I had grown up. LOL. Yeah, my expectations of my art, of myself and, consequently, of anybody else that I worked with had been raised and, if I was truly going to continue recording again, my music had to have a definitive direction and serve a purpose. Could I make my best art within the confines of a group? Were niggas even ready to ride and make fearless music like I do? This was a concept that I wrestled with for months. I knew what I wanted out of my art, but I was not quite sure of what exactly my art required of me and whether or not being paired up with another person even made any sense.
My decision was made for me this past fall when, after 6 months of recording and grinding, doing not sold out show after not sold out show, my partner in crhyme and I severed all ties. Basically, that whole experience was like a burrito fart. It stunk to high hell for a minute, but then it faded and now it's like it never happened … thankfully none of us caught E.Coli … yuck! LOL. That instance was at once the most liberating and awkward moment in my career. I had gotten my walking papers, but I didn't have anywhere to go. Enter D. Gates.
Contrary to popular belief, Myspace AKA Spyspace (patent pending) is not all internet thugs and cyber hoes. I've actually found long lost friends and made quite a few new friends on here and I look forward to making more.
This past September I met an extremely talented young songwriter by the name of Tiffany Fred. Our correspondence was typical aspiring artist banter, with us each espousing our dreams and our goals and lamenting the downfall of music as we know it. LOL. Tiffany's fresh faced enthusiasm helped to dull my jaded edges and, I would like to think, that a little bit of my cynicism fanned away some of the smoke and sprayed Windex on the entertainment industry's beautiful mirrors for her. In our conversations, she would regale me with stories of a man, from a nearby land, whom was a wizard on the engineering boards and had mastered several instruments. That man was D. Gates and he changed my life … no bullshit.
Tiffany introduced us and D. Gates and I have been recording ever since. Coming fresh off of an incomplete project, I wasn't even in a rush to begin recording for an album again, I just wanted to be creative and to try new things and, to his credit, D. Gates not only understood, he also facilitated my rapid advances in the studio. 1 Song became 2 and 2 songs became 3 and, organically, the ensuing rush of inspiration became my PRESS REWIND project.
I honestly believe that the Lord blessed me and has surrounded me with not only Tiffany and D. Gates, but also a host of other brilliant young minds in order to allow me to realize my artistic potential. Ummmmmmm, yeah, I don't have my Golden Globe (No Homo. LOL. It's funny you should say that.) speech prepared, so I will undoubtedly forget a few names, (Feel free to add your name and address in the comment section. Your prize is in the mail.) but I've gotta thank people like Paul Parris, Keith White, Kyle Judge, King James II, Sickamore, Wynter Gordon, Young Froggy, Stash Tha Butcher, Mark AKA Mr. Gettback, Mandalay Jay, Mark & Tanya (Rae & Ghost), Mike AKA Uncle Myrtle, Lemon and my blood brother Jay & R for simply giving a fuck. Yeah, believe it or not, that's all that it takes. Don't let my expensive and expansive tastes fool you, I'm just a simple guy who loves to make music and PRESS REWIND is proof of that … it's only exhibit A though, there's a lot more on the way. A recent super eloquent bulletin of mine, posted below in it's entirety should explain it all.
"The music page is up and running and PRESS REWIND IS AVAILABLE NOW!!! In other news, the "Haters", (Represented by the firm of Crybabystein and Pussy) are currently in litigation to settle their class action lawsuit against me and my Brooklyn Co-op team. As usual, the haters will have to settle out of court ... what the fukk you thought? I am the face of your aspirations or, at least, I should be nigga. New pictures, new songs and a new entry of my award winning blog series will all be up this week! Read 'em and weep bitches! Holla at ya boy in BK!"
Now you know.