Real Men DON’T Cry!!! “Before You Can Date Pleasure, You Must Meet Pain”
Consequence & OnSmash.com Present…
Real Men Don’t Cry!!!
“Before You Can Date Pleasure, You Must Meet Pain”
Welcome BACK to the informative self-help guide “Real Men DON’T Cry!!!” This column is for ALL artists, signed & unsigned, who are trying to navigate their way through the Music Industry. It is my hope that anyone who reads these entries attains some sort of insight on how to move forward with promoting their TALENT.
Our entry this week is titled “Before You Can Date Pleasure, You Must Meet Pain”. This of course has both metaphorical & literal meaning. In this day & age where everything in your life is essentially “Microwavable” when things aren’t immediately in your grasp it seems as if all hope is LOST. Basically, if you don’t get a Deal right way or you don’t have a BIG 1st week then you’re NOT a STAR. There’s a developmental process with anything that is worth having, buying or observing. One reason why Hip Hop is in its current state is due to the fact that Artist Development is a lost department within the infrastructure of labels AND production deals for that matter. When you get signed it is expected of you to DELIVER viable product, which is fair, because when you get a deal that’s a bank giving you a loan based on what they think you are capable of earning. But remember they’re a LABEL and NOT a BANK or MORTGAGE COMPANY!!! They have departments & employees who are suppose to help NEW artists & mainstays hone their skills to make the kind of MUSIC that will have an IMPACT on the market place. This is NOT happening at the MAJORS anymore.
Now what’s happening because of outlets like Mix CD’s & the Internet we have an ongoing popularity contest based on the stats. I’m NOT mad at that but I compare it to wanting be the Best Player in the NBA. You can be a star at the “The Rucker” but that won’t necessarily prepare you for the rigors of being a Top Player in the League. The same can be said for this industry. You could have thousands of freestyles (Which as a new artist you should have) but there’s more to going Pro than that. You need the skill set that makes you NOT just a great rapper but a great recording artist as well. Equally important are imaging, vision, a signature sound, HUNGER and a BACK STORY.
Every artist who has catapulted to STARDOM has some sort of BACK STORY. Unfortunately many of our STARS have experienced TRAGEDY in order to take that journey to the town of TRIUMPH. 50 Cent is arguably the best example of this synopsis. The shooting incident of course was something you wish on NO man but this extreme measure was an inadvertent blessing. He took this misfortune and made it work to his advantage. I think this made him open his eyes to the fact that he had to make some adjustments and worked himself into a space where he was able to cocoon himself into a STAR. In addition, him going through the period when he was being “Blackballed” drove him to essentially create his own society with the inception of “G-Unit”. When you develop your own society you control the imaging, branding and accessibility of yourself and anything associated with your society. Smart man!!!
Another individual who was subjected to this process was Kanye. I remember when I got the call from Gee asking did I have his mom’s number (Rest In Peace Ms. West) because he had gotten into a car accident. The crazy thing was I had just pressed up my 1st Mix CD The Cons Vol.1 “All Sales Are Final” the very same day. To his credit, Kanye knew that still being alive was a blessing that he had to take full advantage of. While he was recuperating it gave an opportunity to also take the time to polish every aspect of the “College Dropout”. Nobody at Roc-A-Fella could hound him for beats since he was out of action and it paid off. By the time he fully healed he had his game plan ready and set himself up for stardom.
The “Pain” doesn’t always have to be of a physical nature. Jay-Z is a prime example. There were obstacles for him that served as “forks in the road”. When Big died the East Coast was left with a void that needed to be filled. Jay knew that he could do it but I believe there was a chain of events that lead to him being positioned to take the reigns. I remember when Puff was headlining the “No Way Out” Tour during the “Shiny Suit Era”. That shit had Mase, The Lox, Kim, Busta ,Usher and Jay-Z all on one bill. I don’t remember where his place was in the line up but I what I do remember is that half way through the tour he said,” Fuck this shit!!!” and QUIT!!! That was the BEST move he ever made. In life there are times when you have to separate yourself from the pack in order for people to see who YOU REALLY ARE.
I personally can expound on this as well. With the “DayJob” LP I endured a level of pain unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Imagine waiting 10 years for anything??? When I was attempting to get a release date I knew I was in for an uphill battle. But as crazy as it sounds I’m glad I went through it. It made me raise my game in ways I couldn’t have imagined!!! Of course every artist wants to sell millions of records but don’t you wanna know what it takes to do it. From this year forward I will be able to service my own videos, do my own publicity and create a buzz for any artist or project I believe in. That is defined as EMPOWERMENT!!!
One thing Allah has blessed me with is PATIENCE. There are predestined trials in life that are assigned to every individual. Depending on our preparation & intention that will determine our level of performance during these said trials. So don’t be afraid of “PAIN” because it may be the piece of coal you need to become a DIAMOND.
Speaking of “Diamonds”
Isn’t that the birthstone for April?
Yup
…and today is my Birthday!
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The Cons Vol.6 “King Of Queens”
Coming SOON!!!
The Natives Are RESTLESS Mix CD
June 2008
Job Training DVD “The Making of Don’t Quit Your DayJob”
Summer 2008
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Fall 2008
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September 2008
It’s The Cons Fool
WORD!!!
happy birthday cons!!
Good read Consequence, I agree with the lack of artist development & the whole “instant” approach labels have now. Two definite reasons to why hip-hop/rap are in a musical decline.
& Wudup BOWWWEEEENNNERRRRR!!!
pause.
Happy birthday Cons…keep up the blog entries, it’s inspiration!
what up ConS!! very well said my dude, true story!!
I share the same sentiment in terms of substantiating indifference with your circle of people & defying all adversity to continue branding yourself & your movement. It took all these years for me to become who I am today- from producing music as part of Da Beatminerz for Duck Down recs to producing songs for artists like Nas, AZ, FatJoe, & others- to A&R consulting for indy labels & soak in all aspects of this business that allow an artist to have a lucrative presence in the industry; marketing, radio promo, publicity-media support, retail marketing, to solicit pre-orders, digital & hardcopy distribution, etc.
had I known earlier in my career what I know today it would have made all the difference but everything happens in it’s due time, also what I call “DiVine Order”..
ya dig??
Now I move in a way that’s beneficial to me beyond producing music so it will work to my benefit on a larger scale.
For those who don’t know this business & want to get in it they need to appreciate what you’re bringing to the table,Yes sir!!
Happy B’day big homie, tty soon!!
BpZy!!
Peace to Consequence. Always loved your music since I was child. Stressed Out was my song and a half. I bumped it this morning at least 6 times in fact.
“IMPACT on the market place” – commercialise you? I personally adore artists, particularly in Hip-Hop, who remain true to themselves and not let the label caricaturise them into something even they don’t recognise. Hawthorne said it best “no man can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which may be true”. I’ll never forget the day I met The Game. This guy was the most obvious of perpetrators you could ever imagine. He was rude and obnoxious to us. I mentioned to my friend that this guy may indeed be rich but he is not happy or comfortable in his own skin. Soon he’ll want out. Hence why the suicide chit-chat by him comes as no surprise to me.
“Equally important are imaging, vision, a signature sound, HUNGER and a BACK STORY.” – I think you forgot the mandatory signature dance, buffoonery and a flawlessly unquestionable degree of ignorance. Stardom in Hip-Hop today? Definitely the keys.
I don’t recall Nas’ backstory. Or Talib Kweli’s. Or Phonte Coleman’s. Or Gangstarr’s backstory… the list goes on and on…
Nonetheless, some excellent points made! Keep em coming!
Happy birthday, Cons.
Good read. I heard 50 talk about the importance of having a backstory one time.
Realistically, though, EVERYBODY has a backstory. No two life experiences are the same. As long as you’re true to yourself and your past, people will want to hear what types of trials and tribulations you’ve been through.
Peace
http://www.myspace.com/bashwonemcee
To my man Ex Slave
I know what your saying and I agree. But in inside them labels its a different world. From me being there I’m saying that in order to get to the place you wanna go you have to arm yourself. Be clear it’s a WAR!!! Nas was a prodigy so he’s an exception. Phonte in my opinion hasn’t peaked yet(In a good way). He has the skill set to go ALL the way. Son is Nice. Kweli does have a backstory. Him & Mos carried Rawkus on there back for years. Pain isn’t always physical!!
Paul call me
It’s The Cons Fool
WORD!!
Peace Godd,
First and for most im a FAN before anything…i would like to pay my respect for your music and for your words… a side from that happy b-lated cons… My name JYO im a HIP-HOP/RAP artist from Brooklyn, Ny….You may not remember me but I got a chance to meet you in sOhO in manhattan some time back…”IT was cool because you not only kicked it with me for a second you heard me spit something then you exchanged a few bars with me..,i remember you said somthing about Dr.King shit was fire… Long Story Short though IN reference to what you said about pain….EXAMPLE i live with my moms the kidd dont really digg going to school september 18, 2005 and I was stabbed seven times coming home from the studio..because of that I finished my 2years at KingsBorough community college and moved on to Brooklyn College….the connection is it made me see my self different…(NOT COOL but Arm Leg Leg Arm Head type shyt) Long Story even Shorter though im a unsigned dude that dont care about getting signed just want people 2 listen… http://www.myspace.com/jyomusic _Peace, Thanks 4 reading this shyt
Great piece Cons. I totally agree that artist development is the missing ingredient in the recipe for success for a lot of these artists. There’s a ton of raw talent in the market, which accounts for all of the one hit wonders out there. But to truly attain longevity we need to cultivate and encourage creativity and SUPPORT those who respect the culture and craft and make music the right way. I think its on both the fans and the artists, we all need to stop looking for that quick fix. Again, great piece. Keep em comin…
Duepayer.com
It is no coincidence that Consequence is signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music. Not only does the latter appear twice on Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Kanye also hosted the Queens rapper’s mixtape Take ‘Em to the Cleaners and invited him to appear on his own album, The College Dropout. All this friendly cooperation is probably helped by the fact that both MCs share a love for clean, mellow, soul-sample-based production, have strikingly similar delivery styles — often rhyming words with themselves in a voice that’s closer to speaking than rapping — and choose to write about similar topics. But Consequence isn’t some neophyte MC who West has taken on as a protégé. He made his debut in 1996 on A Tribe Called Quest’s record Beats, Rhymes and Life, and, while his career since then has not been overly active, he has kept a hand in music the entire time. But perhaps because it took him more than a decade since that appearance, Quence chose to approach his first actual solo album from the perspective of a kid just starting out in the game. He begins Don’t Quit Your Day Job with a song/skit about being behind on bills and having to put his “pride to the side/Go get a 9 to 5″ and ends it with deciding to focus all his time and energy on music instead (having to deal with a nagging mother throughout). The rest of the record moves from tracks about trying to make it big, or at least make it (”Don’t Forget Em”) to women (”Feel This Way”) to general observations on life (”The Good, the Bad, the Ugly”). It’s all very relatable; Consequence isn’t trying to present himself as anything more than just a regular guy, in the same way Kanye has, and it’s apparent. This means that even in songs like “Pretty Little Sexy Mama,” where he uses fairy tale imagery throughout (”I make a damsel-in-distress dismantle her dress/And once you meet me past the guards I can handle the rest/I got a plan for the stress in these evil times/So I keep on body armor like it’s Medieval Times”), it seems natural and real, the MC’s slightly lisped voice ably keeping time and cadence well. In fact, it’s in pieces like “Night Night,” in which he warns he’ll fight if he needs to, that things come across a little forced. It’s as if he feels he has to prove his street cred when his talent — part old-school, part backpacker — is imposing enough, appealing in its intelligence and uniqueness; he doesn’t have to slip into stereotypes to show he’s a real rapper, he can let his rhymes speak for themselves.
allmusicguide.com 3.5/ 5
Quence speaks the truth, even if it is a bit hard to swallow (no pause intended). I don’t think backstory means gimmick. Nas had an extensive backstory - it was growing up and living in Queensbridge. If you don’t think your favorite artist has a backstory you need to start understanding their lyrics.
I just caught the video clip on Ralph McDaniels, great job my dude..
Dude is definitely a pioneer of the game from broadcasting urban music videos on NY Public Access television to directing & producing classic urban music videos.
I think an ongoing video doc of your movements in the game while showing people who aspire to be in this business what it’s like is an excellent idea.
Newcomers take notes, cornballs with no integrity or longevity get your mind right or fall back, ya dig?!!
Hopefully I’ll catch the “G.I.T.D.” Tour on 1 of the dates, best of luck on the rd. I expect to be in Atl early May looking into those property developments.
Oh yea, the magic word for today is “Disperse”-we NEED that homie,
& if possible I want IN!! Lol..
Stay up, tty soon!!
BpZy!!
This shit’s hot dude…it’s pretty magnanimous of you to write something like this, essentially performing the lost art of development out of your own pocket…coming from a different market than a lot of the cats who get put on, I’m not in a position to glean this kind of information from an artist-based support group, which is one of the reasons I’ve always gone to OnSmash…this is just another in a long list of valuable resources they’ve provided. Thanks.
-Ray