For a while now I have written blogs about honesty in music. This week I got a shock when a review I did on an rapper's CD led to his quitting. Yes you read that right, I made him quit. The CD was good as far as recording quality but it lacked substance, originality, and passion. Since I started reviewing CD's for Faygoluvers.net I have prided myself on giving brutally honest reviews. I have done a few negative reviews in the past and had artists take my criticism to heart and change the way they do things. I have also had artists disregard my opinion totally. But never have I had someone quit. I have said in the past that any artist in any genre needs to surround themselves with people who will tell them the truth. People who will tell them when what they are doing is not good or needs improvement. So many rappers surround themselves with yes men. People who refuse to tell them what they are doing might need work for fear of losing their friendship. So it came as little suprise that this review was so hurtful the guy quit. I hope he takes it in stride, modifies what he is doing, and comes back to prove me wrong.
I do not review albums this way to be cruel or force people to stop being creative. I do it because without that brutal honesty the whole genre suffers and gets a bad name. I am trying to make the overall acceptance of the music more common. There are a ton of talented artists in Horror Core that are often overlooked or lumped in with the unimaginative and uncreative masses in the genre. I have reviewed so many artists who deserve to "make it" but are not even given a glance because they are Horror Core. I will never back down from the standards I have set for music. I will always be as honest as I can in my opinions. But at the same time they are just that, my opinions. I do not expect everyone to agree with me, heck I expect at least 90% of people to have a different opinion. I always welcome comment, opinions, and feedback.
Scottie D over at Faygoluvers appreciates my honesty as do many big name artists in the Underground. That is why I will never comprimise that position. If we as fans, reviewers, and artists set a higher standard for our craft we can make positive changes. We can make our genre more accepted. If no one speaks up nothing changes. Sure 1 man can't changes the world but no man speaking up cannot change anything.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Evolution
So it became official today with Violent J's interview that Blaze is no longer with Psychopathic. Honestly it came as no suprise. I said in my blog about Twiztid leaving it was going to happen. So I have spent much of the day today reading forum posts, watching videos, and just feeling out the Family and how things are currently. Now I took a lot of hate and criticism because of my thoughts about Twiztid leaving. So let me say as plain as I can, I am and always will be a Juggalo. I will always support the music ICP makes, like it or not, I have nothing but respect for the Dons of Psychopathic. I will always support Blaze and Twiztid no matter where they go and what they do. Nothing can take any of my memories or feelings away that I have developed over the last 16 years. I will always support music I like and speak out if I don't like something. That is what makes the Family unique, our ability to be individuals while still being a Family.
All that being said I wanted to share my feelings on the state of Twiztid, Blaze and Psychopathic. Psychopathic will be fine and move on without Twiztid and Blaze. As long as ICP is making music the label will continue. My feelings on the current management of the label have been made clear throughout this blog. For two years I have opened myself up and told you all exactly how I felt things were going. I do not think the label will be as successful now that Twiztid is gone. The talent just isnt there. Twiztid will forge their own path and so will Blaze. I see nothing but bright things in their futures. One video I watched was a review of Abominationz. In the video the guy speaks exactly how I have been feeling. He says at one point he can't tell if Twiztid is speaking directly to ICP a majority of the time. He also feels like the album is Twiztid's stance against the current movement of the label, and I agree. It was Twiztid's renewal of their devotion to the Family and movement that ICP built. I feel like they have not agreed with the current shift in policy and product. That is why when I hear lines like:
"Your looking for acceptance in places your never gonna get it accept it
Our painted face is rejected
An abomination infected
With so much hatred collected
How can you say you didn't expected to go this way
Like bad directions
They're looking at me like a weapon
We got the world's attention
Were like this great invention
There all to afraid to mention
Shun me like bad intentions
But we'll see who really had agendas
A misconception I don't wanna be in your fucked up life or interventions"
I can't help but feel like they are speaking directly to ICP. Like I have said I will support the music ICP, Twiztid and Blaze make for life. on the business side of things I think things need to change. I do not agree with business decisions being made. Period.
We have been told recently that the Gathering this year will be a celebration of the Underground. When I heard that my first thought was "Huh?" I like the idea of people like Kung Fu Vampire, Bukshot, Liquid Assassin, Mars, Molly Gruesome, and others getting a chance to hit the mainstage and bring the house down. My biggest fear is this move is being made to save money because of the lost profit with Twiztid leaving. Do I think Twiztid will be at the Gathering?, yes. Do I think in 5 years they will be at the Gathering?, not sure. No one can disagree it is much cheaper for the label to have these underground artists on the main stage for $500-800 per set than to bring guys like Ice Cube, Ice T, and others out for $10,000 or more for a set. I am not sure at this point how I feel about the Gathering this year. I am hoping to get a chance to go out there as press and do an actual honest review of the Gathering. We shall see.
Now back to the point of the post, evolution. As a long time Juggalo I have seen shifts in the movement. I have seen band wagon fans come and go. I have seen the music succeed (Melinko, AJB, Mostasteless, Abominationz) and I have seen it fail (The Calm, Tempest, Mutant) but the one thing that has remained constant is the fans. We support the music more rabidly than any other fanbase out there. We get hated on for it and it makes us ban together and put a middle finger in the air at the mainstream. The video review of Abominationz the guy makes a great point and that is this "BPB and MDP were great albums but they do not deserve to be called Jokers Cards. There is something missing that was in all six of the origional cards." They are well done, great as far as production, and have many tracks I can relate to. But the magic is missing. The story is a faint reminder of what we have been told for decades.
The one thing nobody can avoid is evolution. I will never be 100% behind every project that Psychopathic, Twiztid, or Blaze puts out but I can tell you I will give each and every release it's fair shake. I will listen to what is being put out and support the ones I enjoy while allowing the others to collect dust in my collection. I have nothing but love for each and every Juggalo and Juggalette in the world. The real los and lettes not the band wagoners that we seem to be gathering recently. Being a Juggalo isn't about a set of rules, a pledge, if you do drugs or not, or even the music. Being a Juggalo is a state of being. When you find the Family you know you belong no matter where you come from, how much money you have, or what your recreational activities are. Being a Juggalo is about being an individual. Liking what you like and standing firm on your beliefs. We are a Family. Evolution doesn't change that. J said it best in the interview posted today "But if one day you get to college and start hangin’ with a new group of friends and you start to like other kinds of music, just don’t be one of those bitches that’s like, “Can you believe I used to be a Juggalette? I was so young and stupid, I guess.” Never talk that shit about us. Never sell us out because the you at 14 is just as important to your legacy as the you at 34. Yes, it’s OK to be a 14 year old Juggalette. It’s even OK if you grow out of being a Juggalette one day, but do us a favor. Never sell us out. Always remember the good times you had as a Juggalette and cherish them. Don’t look back on them with regret, look back on these days as great days. Never bad mouth the family. Better yet, stay down with the family forever!" Thats it right there. Evolution is going to happen. People will outgrow the need for the music and the Family and that is ok. And if you leave the music behind for a while and find in the future you need that connection again, we will be here.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
All that being said I wanted to share my feelings on the state of Twiztid, Blaze and Psychopathic. Psychopathic will be fine and move on without Twiztid and Blaze. As long as ICP is making music the label will continue. My feelings on the current management of the label have been made clear throughout this blog. For two years I have opened myself up and told you all exactly how I felt things were going. I do not think the label will be as successful now that Twiztid is gone. The talent just isnt there. Twiztid will forge their own path and so will Blaze. I see nothing but bright things in their futures. One video I watched was a review of Abominationz. In the video the guy speaks exactly how I have been feeling. He says at one point he can't tell if Twiztid is speaking directly to ICP a majority of the time. He also feels like the album is Twiztid's stance against the current movement of the label, and I agree. It was Twiztid's renewal of their devotion to the Family and movement that ICP built. I feel like they have not agreed with the current shift in policy and product. That is why when I hear lines like:
"Your looking for acceptance in places your never gonna get it accept it
Our painted face is rejected
An abomination infected
With so much hatred collected
How can you say you didn't expected to go this way
Like bad directions
They're looking at me like a weapon
We got the world's attention
Were like this great invention
There all to afraid to mention
Shun me like bad intentions
But we'll see who really had agendas
A misconception I don't wanna be in your fucked up life or interventions"
I can't help but feel like they are speaking directly to ICP. Like I have said I will support the music ICP, Twiztid and Blaze make for life. on the business side of things I think things need to change. I do not agree with business decisions being made. Period.
We have been told recently that the Gathering this year will be a celebration of the Underground. When I heard that my first thought was "Huh?" I like the idea of people like Kung Fu Vampire, Bukshot, Liquid Assassin, Mars, Molly Gruesome, and others getting a chance to hit the mainstage and bring the house down. My biggest fear is this move is being made to save money because of the lost profit with Twiztid leaving. Do I think Twiztid will be at the Gathering?, yes. Do I think in 5 years they will be at the Gathering?, not sure. No one can disagree it is much cheaper for the label to have these underground artists on the main stage for $500-800 per set than to bring guys like Ice Cube, Ice T, and others out for $10,000 or more for a set. I am not sure at this point how I feel about the Gathering this year. I am hoping to get a chance to go out there as press and do an actual honest review of the Gathering. We shall see.
Now back to the point of the post, evolution. As a long time Juggalo I have seen shifts in the movement. I have seen band wagon fans come and go. I have seen the music succeed (Melinko, AJB, Mostasteless, Abominationz) and I have seen it fail (The Calm, Tempest, Mutant) but the one thing that has remained constant is the fans. We support the music more rabidly than any other fanbase out there. We get hated on for it and it makes us ban together and put a middle finger in the air at the mainstream. The video review of Abominationz the guy makes a great point and that is this "BPB and MDP were great albums but they do not deserve to be called Jokers Cards. There is something missing that was in all six of the origional cards." They are well done, great as far as production, and have many tracks I can relate to. But the magic is missing. The story is a faint reminder of what we have been told for decades.
The one thing nobody can avoid is evolution. I will never be 100% behind every project that Psychopathic, Twiztid, or Blaze puts out but I can tell you I will give each and every release it's fair shake. I will listen to what is being put out and support the ones I enjoy while allowing the others to collect dust in my collection. I have nothing but love for each and every Juggalo and Juggalette in the world. The real los and lettes not the band wagoners that we seem to be gathering recently. Being a Juggalo isn't about a set of rules, a pledge, if you do drugs or not, or even the music. Being a Juggalo is a state of being. When you find the Family you know you belong no matter where you come from, how much money you have, or what your recreational activities are. Being a Juggalo is about being an individual. Liking what you like and standing firm on your beliefs. We are a Family. Evolution doesn't change that. J said it best in the interview posted today "But if one day you get to college and start hangin’ with a new group of friends and you start to like other kinds of music, just don’t be one of those bitches that’s like, “Can you believe I used to be a Juggalette? I was so young and stupid, I guess.” Never talk that shit about us. Never sell us out because the you at 14 is just as important to your legacy as the you at 34. Yes, it’s OK to be a 14 year old Juggalette. It’s even OK if you grow out of being a Juggalette one day, but do us a favor. Never sell us out. Always remember the good times you had as a Juggalette and cherish them. Don’t look back on them with regret, look back on these days as great days. Never bad mouth the family. Better yet, stay down with the family forever!" Thats it right there. Evolution is going to happen. People will outgrow the need for the music and the Family and that is ok. And if you leave the music behind for a while and find in the future you need that connection again, we will be here.
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Can't believe it's been 2 years!
In looking at my blog stats I was very happy to see it finally passed 9300 page views! I never thought it would get that many. Then I was looking back at all my posts and realized an even bigger achievement, this blog has been going strong for 2 years yesterday!
The evolution of the blog is funny to look at because it started as a way for me to show support to Juggalos/Juggalettes and help promote the Family in a positive light. Since that time things in my life have changed and evolved. I now manage Black Project in their music, write reviews of CD's for Faygoluvers.net, am doing freelance reporting for American Media Distribution (Hopefully they will send me to the Gathering to write a positive story and get rid of more stigma associated with us), have booked and promoted a concert, and have worked with a lot of Underground artists and gotten to know them which I never expected. It is so funny to me that my life went for 31 years and then the last 2 have gone by so fast it makes my head spin.
The current theme in my blog is giving advice to artists, promoters, bookers, and managers. I am no expert but I do business honestly. I truely think we need more honesty in this business. Now I have had my share of haters and that is ok with me. I respect everyone's opinion and welcome any comments all the time on this blog. I take an active role to respond to everyone in some way and show my appreciation for the time they give to read my ramblings. I have started a new non-rap blog this year which has yet to get it's legs but hopefully soon.
I am very intersted to see where we go from here. If you are a regular reader know that I appreciate you taking the time to read this. If you are new welcome! Feel free to comment or hit me up on email. I am looking forward to more years to come!
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
The evolution of the blog is funny to look at because it started as a way for me to show support to Juggalos/Juggalettes and help promote the Family in a positive light. Since that time things in my life have changed and evolved. I now manage Black Project in their music, write reviews of CD's for Faygoluvers.net, am doing freelance reporting for American Media Distribution (Hopefully they will send me to the Gathering to write a positive story and get rid of more stigma associated with us), have booked and promoted a concert, and have worked with a lot of Underground artists and gotten to know them which I never expected. It is so funny to me that my life went for 31 years and then the last 2 have gone by so fast it makes my head spin.
The current theme in my blog is giving advice to artists, promoters, bookers, and managers. I am no expert but I do business honestly. I truely think we need more honesty in this business. Now I have had my share of haters and that is ok with me. I respect everyone's opinion and welcome any comments all the time on this blog. I take an active role to respond to everyone in some way and show my appreciation for the time they give to read my ramblings. I have started a new non-rap blog this year which has yet to get it's legs but hopefully soon.
I am very intersted to see where we go from here. If you are a regular reader know that I appreciate you taking the time to read this. If you are new welcome! Feel free to comment or hit me up on email. I am looking forward to more years to come!
MMFWFL,
Juggalotus
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