Friday, December 27, 2013

End of the Year blog time

Yes we have reached the end of 2013!  With this being my last post of the year I wanted to take a minute to look back and reflect on the changes we have seen in music and then look to the future and give some predictions of what we might see in 2014.  So without further ado here we go:

In 2013 we saw turmoil and upheaval in the Underground music scene.  It has been one year since Twiztid left Psychopathic.  In that time we saw them release A New Nightmare, return to the Gathering as Guest performers, go on two tours in support of their last release on Psychopathic, Abominationz, and open a new web store.  While they have yet to release an official statement about their release the speculation behind A New Nightmare is that it tells their side without a statement being needed. 
  We also saw what many of us hope is not the future of Psychopathic Records.  In the past year the label has released the following albums: Legz Diamond 9 Pistolas, DJ Clay A World Upside Down, Big Hoodoo Crystal Skull, and Zug Izland Toxicology.  Those albums all fell way short of the expectations Juggalos had.  Legz and Hoodoo were both heavily co-written and influenced by Joe Bruce and that really hurt the albums.  Clay's album was good but nothing really outstanding.  And Zug's was not really promoted and I have yet to actually hear it.  We also saw them bounce every check they wrote for the Gathering and have yet to this day not paid those people.  I firmly believe that is why the Gathering is being moved, but I don't have any evidence of that so for now it is a theory.  We saw them let Blaze leave when his contract ended, send people on the road with limited funds and little to no promotion, and have lawsuits filed against them for sexual harassment and other charges.
  We saw the Kottonmouth Kings leave Suburban Noize Records and claim Kevin Zinger was ripping them off.  Since then we have seen hateful accusations in interviews on both sides.  We also watched Johnny Richter walk away from the Kottonmouth Kings after 18 years and go solo.  He released a solo EP called FreeKING Out on Suburban Noize Records and is preparing to release his next solo LP next year.
  The highlight of the Underground music scene this year was Strange Music.  In 2013 the label released ten albums.  Releases from Brotha Lynch Hung, Kutt Calhoun, CES Cru, Rittz, Wrekonize, Mayday, Tech N9ne, Stevie Stone, Krizz Kaliko, and Prozak.  All of those albums were expertly done and will not disappoint both mainstream and underground fans.  This label has shown themselves to be the cream of the crop.  They put out top notch music throughout the year and kept the fans eager to buy the next.  This is how it should be done.

Now lets leave the past behind us and look to the future.  I am going to break this section down per record label or group and then give you my thoughts on what I expect to happen.

  First lets look at Psychopathic Records.  The release of the Joker's Cards Box Set has been delayed from it's Dec 17, 2013 release date and there is no new date given.  The speculation is this was done due to immediate backlash when pics surfaced of the product itself.  We expect Anybody Killa "Shape Shifter", a new ICP EP, Mike E Clark, Vanilla Ice, and Axe Murder Boys "Garcia Brothers" to all be released in 2014 but no release dates have been given as of the date of this post.  We also will see the Gathering of the Juggalos change venues for the first time since 2007.  We still have no information on where it will be but there is plenty of speculation on the net. 
 Now here is what I think is going to happen with them this year:

1. The ABK, Vanilla Ice, and AMB releases will all be released and do horrible due to lack of promotion or they will not be released at all and delayed.
2.  ICP and Mike Clark will be released and hopefully live up to expectations although I am skeptical they will.
3. This will be on of the last years for the Gathering.  After the events that occurred last year I think they will have a difficult time finding groups to perform, sites for the event, and money to make it happen.
4. Finally I think we will see a large number of fans drop the hatchet.  I know I will get some hate for that prediction but we have already seen a lot of old school cats walk away.  Once Twiztid left there was a huge group of fans that lost all respect for Joe and Psychopathic Records.  I expect those trends to continue as long as mediocre albums are released and horrible business decisions are made.

Next lets see what Twiztid has in store for us.  They have announced that a new album is on the way.  It will be titled "The Moment You've All Been Waiting For." They have also announced that they would like to get more TV and movie opportunities.  So let me share what I think is going to happen with the demented Duo:

1. The new album will be released.  I think it will be the beginning of their rise in mainstream as well as cementing their legacy in the underground.
2. I think they will tour for a majority of the year again.  I also think they will make a trip out of the country if legal issues permit it (Canada and maybe Australia).
3. I think we will finally see the collab most Juggalos have been demanding, Eminem and Twiztid.  If it does happen you can count on this being the year of Twiztid.

Next lets look at KMK.  I think we will see KMK really disappear.  Once the "lawsuit" gets settled I think KMK will release a new album and possibly tour in support of the album but I do not see them climbing out of the hole that Daddy X has put them in.

Let now look at Suburban Noize Records.  I think we will see them bounce back from the lawsuit well.  Once the legal issues are cleared up we will see them sign at least 2-3 more acts.  I predict we will see Potluck release a successful album and tour in support of that album.  I think it will begin the rise of Subnoize back to a respectable label.  I do think Johnny Richter will release his next album on Subnoize and it will be a huge success.

Finally here is what I think we will see from Strange Music.  I think they will continue to put out solid releases from all of their artists.  I think they will once again hold the flame for the underground.  They will be the beacon for crossover fans.  Their label is going strong and I do not see that slowing down in 2014.

Now all of these things may or may not happen.  These are just my thoughts.  I can't tell you how much I appreciate you checking out my blog as often as you guys do.  I wish you all a a Happy New Year and want to thank you for your continued support!

MMFWFL,

Juggalotus


Friday, December 6, 2013

Turmoil and changes

  Many long term established groups and record labels in the music business have begun to break apart this year.  We have seen Twiztid and Blaze leave Psychopathic Records, we are seeing the downfall of Psychopathic Records due to horrible business decisions, Daddy X and the Kottonmouth Kings leave Subnoize Records, and Johnny Richter leave the Kottonmouth Kings and release an album on Subnoize.  So why is this in my mind right now?  Well I got an email today and will be adding another interview to my 20 Min with.. series on Youtube with none other than Johnny Richter himself when he rolls through Tempe on Dec 15.  He did give an interview to Faygoluvers where he answered questions fans had submitted online and that cleared up a lot of his side of the story.  By doing my interview I can ask expanding questions to hopefully clarify more about that situation. 

  It is sad to me that all of these situations have to do with two things, power and money.  Let me make my points here before you guys hang me.

1. While Twiztid has been unable to say anything about why they left Psychopathic these themes seem to be universal in people that left the label.  Violent J is too controlling with production and all things involved with recording and performing, they wont pay any other act on the label what they are worth, and the only group getting 100% production and promotion time is ICP.  Violent J and Billy should have done everything to make Twiztid stay.  They should have promoted them better, gave them a bigger cut of the money off their albums, and made them bigger decision makers in the label.  But the money and power that those 2 guys couldn't let go helped make that decision easy for Jaime and Paul.  I think all of these things contributed to Twiztid deciding it was better to walk away.

2. Psychopathic's business decisions are killing the label.  We have seen them allow Twiztid leave when Twiztid was in my opinion the #1 group on the label.  They have stripped everything they built away from the "Family"  Violent J and Billy have made Psychopathic into a money machine that uses it's fans.  Sure we have seen in the past 3 different covers of albums (Melinko and Riddlebox), but those were made in small numbers and made to be a collectable for the fans.  Now we get 5 different versions of albums mass produced and each one has 1 or 2 new tracks to entice people to buy them.  Then about a year or so later they re-release the same 3-4 albums in a huge box set with another "version" to get people to buy another copy of all the albums.  In the past we saw them give away things to the fans, show love without buying the VIP pass for the shows, and basically present themselves as Juggalos themselves.  Now we see that was just a ruse to gain a huge ravenous fan base to use for profit.  They have become the big record label tycoons they told all of us they never would become.  Last year's Gathering saw them cut checks to vendors, police departments, and Hogrock that all haven't cleared.  I think this is why this year's Gathering is being moved to another place.  I predict in the next 5-7 years we will see the end of the label.

3. KMK split from Subnoize Records with Daddy X claiming that they were the first of many groups we would see leave Kevin Zinger due to his "Shady business tactics."  Since the split was released we have seen no other groups leaving the label.  On top of that we now have Johnny Richter leaving KMK and making another album with Zinger on Subnoize.  The more we hear Daddy X whine and complain the more their fans turn on the group.  We still don't have all the facts but it is becoming very clear that Daddy X is falling on the losing side of the debate.  I hope to be able to get some more clarification in the next week when I get a chance to talk with Richter and review his solo tour.

So as you can see all of these situations were because of shady business practices, refusal to give up power, or greed.  I will always be a Juggalo.  I will always love music and be willing to listen and review anything people send me.  I will always speak my mind and give a 100% honest opinion on the albums, situations, and other things in the business.  No one will ever make me tone down my honesty.  I hate coming on here and talking about negative things.  In this case I am so tired of seeing these great movements and groups dismantle and disappear while nobody is willing to stand up for the fans and say enough is enough.  We deserve a little consideration and respect.

Respect is something that is earned in this community and these things make all of us wanna walk away.  Truth is I considered it myself.  But I feel like fighting for this because it means that much to me.  I have nothing but clown love for all my Juggalos and Juggalettes.  I have mad respect for Twiztid, Johnny Richter, and Subnoize Records.

MMFWFL,

Juggalotus