For Lovers of Beats, Rhymes and Classic Hip Hop!

Jul 09, 2015 by strat - Comments Off

The A3C Festival is here and the lineup reads like the Justice League of Hip Hop especially if you’re like me and have been down with the culture basically since inception. I unfortunately won’t be there first hand to witness the plethora of mind-blowing beats and rhymes but I can surely dream! The lineup reportedly includes: De La Soul, Rakim, Pharoahe Monch, Jean Grae, Cam’rom and many more. For more check this article on OkayPlayer by ZO.

Peace

Food for Ears: Beats, Sounds, Lyrics

Jul 08, 2015 by strat - Comments Off

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Food for Ears

So one of my favourite all time emcees, Talib Kweli just dropped a surprise album of B-sides and previously unreleased content featuring the likes of Common, Yasiin Bey Kanye West and Killer Mike……wait, what?!!?!

Read the article by Scott Heins on OkayPlayer here

Latest Beats and Sounds Online

Jul 08, 2015 by strat - Comments Off

Ok so yes I’m a producer and I specialize in Hip Hop (I make other genres too btw!). However at heart I am and always will be a Hip Hop fan. Lately one of the most impressive things about Hip Hop as a genre has been the quality of the beats and instrumentals. One of my favourite young producers is Metro Boomin. Check out this new one from Young Scooter produced by Metro. The vibe is, as they say, ‘on fleek’!

Why Artists Should Focus on Hot Singles rather than Just Mixtapes

Jan 21, 2014 by strat - Comments Off

rap beats, buy beats online, hip hop, mixtapes, hot singles

The Mixtape is King…Or is it? There may be a More Efficient Use of Your Budget for Rap Beats and Promotion.

The culture of hip hop for many years now has glorified the mixtape as the standard medium for artists to get their name out on the streets. Basically the trend is, if you don’t release a mixtape you’re a nobody. This has been further reinforced in recent times by the high number of successful mixtapes released by top artists such as Meek Mill, Ace Hood and Lil Wayne. For those of you old enough to remember, the mixtape has evolved and has seen many different forms. At one point the mixtape was primarily a DJ platform where the DJ would put together a number of top releases on one project and showcase his mixing skills. Then artists began to use the mixtape to release more informal tracks where they mostly rapped or sang over popular rap beats as opposed to hiring a producer to create original instrumentals. Nowadays a mixtape can be seen as basically an informal street album with artists doing songs over original rap beats as they would on an album. While this is a great part of hip hop (as well as r&b and pop), rising artists must also understand that time, money and focus can be better spent at certain times on singles instead of a large body of work. I’m about to explain why.

Why Focusing on Singles can be Better in the Short Term.

Focusing on one song at a time gives you better focus content wise and it prevents the feeling over being overwhelmed by the thought of getting an entire body of work done right and released by a certain time. With a single you can view the project as finite and pay more attention to every detail of it from the lyrics and flows to the beat and the mix.
Potential for sales and licensing. A single is easier to market by virtue of the low price on iTunes for example, and it can also be licensed to film or TV which can potentially bring in significant royalties for a long time.
Easy collaboration. If you are a member of a good artist forum or you have a plenty followers on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram who are also artists, you can easily find like minded artists to do collaborative singles with. This is beneficial because you can each introduce each other to new sets of fans and followers.
Easier on your budget. Producing a 10 song mixtape can be expensive in terms finding the right beats, studio time, artwork and promotion. However when you focus on one single at a time, you can earmark smaller amounts of money and give yourself time to earn more income. There are plenty of sites which allow you to buy beats online inexpensively, as well as many online sources for graphics, promotion and distribution.
A single is a vehicle for a great music video and an opportunity to earn money via Youtube.
The right single can be an engine for great success. If a single creates enough buzz it can lead to amazing things such as: a position on Billboard, performances on highly rated shows, a huge following on social media and opportunities to work with top artists and producers. All these things will in turn create an environment where it begins to make sense to drop a mixtape or even an album because by this point, you would have enough fans and a big enough budget to truly give the mixtape the mileage it deserves.

Unfold Your Strategy in Stages.

I am in no way bashing or saying that a mixtape should be avoided. On the contrary I’m suggesting that artists look at their process in stages. The single and all of its merits can easily open the door for a more successful mixtape release instead of trying to rush and do the mixtape first. If you need to buy beats, go online and buy a few that you really feel and create from there. Over time as your exposure grows, fans will begin to demand a larger body of work. After all, no one can sell to an audience that does not yet exist. Take your time and think things through. Put energy and attention to detail into making a great record and do this each time you set out to make a record and eventually your body of work will take shape. Remain focused and watch your success as an artist unfold.

INDUSTRY TALK: Artist Development

Jan 08, 2014 by strat - Comments Off

Developing As a Brand

It’s 2014. The music industry is no longer the same as 10 or 15 years ago. Artists now have to understand that relying on being discovered and signed to a dream of a deal should no longer be their ultimate goal. One must see oneself as a brand, just like Coca Cola or Microsoft. The idea is to get the masses emotionally invested in you. Not just your singing, rapping and beats, but you. Your brand must become important to them so that they care about whatever the next thing is you tell them you’re doing.

I came across a very interesting article by Mattew Myers at Music Think Tank, which outlines the process of artist development from the label/indie artist perspective. It is an excellent article which gives the risks and potential return of various strategies of music marketing. In my opinion, much of the things the writer earmarks as responsibilities of the publisher/investor/label can be handled by the savvy artist who understands the value of building a sizeable and loyal movement behind him/her. This involves getting music videos done, using social media as a promotional tool, booking and funding studio time and sourcing and funding music production among other things. This latter area happens to be a specialty of mine and I can tell you for a fact that artists who buy beats online have a head start because that can seriously cut the costs of getting a mixtape, EP or album completed.

Take some time and check this article out here. It is very informative and can help you focus your energies in the right direction

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION: It’s Great to Be Indie Right Now!

Oct 08, 2013 by strat - Comments Off

Seize The Day

We currently exist, live, play, work, operate (insert relevant verb here) in an era where information and opportunities are more accessible than ever before. One needs only to have the desire, focus, vision and drive to get up and get things going. Let’s focus here on the music industry (as I usually do). Gone are the days of that wonderful major label deal where the label gives you a shitload of money to produce and market your album and recoup said money from your album sales, leaving you to enjoy the fruits of stardom, i.e. tour money & merchandising! The internet basically killed all of that and now the remaining majors are throwing around 360 deals i.e. say goodbye to a chunk of that tour money and merchandising. However, as we said before, options abound. Remaining independent is easier than it used to be due to a plethora of online marketing and distribution tools available. Let’s think about this for a sec.

Buy Some Beats, Find a Studio and Get Started!

Let’s say you’re a rapper and a good one. You either have a good in house producer, make beats yourself or you buy beats online, since that is a viable, prudent and affordable option for upcoming and independent artists. You also may hire a good but affordable graphic designer (and perhaps a photographer) to handle any artwork you may need. So you’ve got your material, good promotional graphics and pics, some of the hottest and freshest rap beats and (hopefully) you found an affordable studio or even put together your own home studio (we are assuming here that you have an alternate source of income and have been using your money wisely towards your passion). You’ve finished your first mixtape/EP and you want to get it out to your growing list of fans. Here are some steps you should take next:

If you haven’t by this point, which means you’ve got some catching up to do, set up a simple website to showcase your music and other wares if applicable, capture fan emails and post show dates.
Be active on Youtube. It doesn’t have to always be some hot HD music video like you’re single handedly trying to shut down Vevo. Simple viral vids showing your vibe, chronicling your journey as an artist or just silly shit, will engage and grow your audience and keep them interested in YOU not just what you say on your songs. In doing this you are building a brand. You are becoming a figure that your fans are feeling like they are getting to know. Someone they can relate to and this is GOLDEN.
Be active on social media. Tweet about shit you’re into, post on your Facebook page, flood your Instagram with performance pics or even update your WordPress blog. This all ties in with building your brand and keeping your audience locked in to your world.
Create an account with a reputable digital distribution medium. It is now easier than ever to upload your music and promotional material, confirm your settings and have your provider send your songs out to be sold on iTunes, Amazon MP3, Spotify and a wide range of other services.

Don’t Wait! Sell You Music Online Now!

The key is to combine your branding and promotion with the use of these digital distribution services. Make the people love you and then point them to where they can buy your music. This is what’s so great about being independent in today’s market. The mechanisms which used to be the sole realm of the major labels can now be used by pretty much anyone. One distribution service I highly recommend is SongCast. SongCast will send your music to iTunes, AmazonMP3, Google Play, Spotify, Rhapsody, Emusic, and MediaNet, give you access to access to iTunes Daily Trending Reports, free UPC and ISRC codes, a free Music Page for Facebook and the best things is you get to keep 100% of your royalties. What you pay for the service is USD$19.99 per album plus USD$5.99 monthly. Check them out for yourself here:
http://www.songcastmusic.com/affiliate/sc.php?id=7251
Go ahead and decide what type of artist you want to be. You can sit around and hope someone discovers you and signs you, controls you and exploits you or you can get your own movement moving and start making your own money. Selling out clubs every weekend and making a comfy living doing what you truly love is way better than sitting there wishing you were the next Jay-Z or Kendrick Lamar.

INDUSTRY TALK: Nikki ‘Nix’ McKnight is Blazing a Trail

Sep 30, 2013 by strat - Comments Off

Nikki ‘Nix’ McKnight: Tearing up Beats and Shining Online & Onstage

Straight out of Columbus, Georgia, Nix Mcknight (@706Nix) is a force to be reckoned with. Spitting pure, uncut hip hop on every track Nix is sure to make a fan out of you and yours. Don’t try to put her in a box because of where she’s from though. Her sound is versatile and her lyrics are mature and thoughtful. Nix shows that female emcees can go back to that hardcore spittin’ and real life subject matter without having to rely on image alone. On top of that, being perhaps the first openly gay female emcee in the game makes no difference to her passion. All she’s about is making good music. Checkout the video above. The song is called ‘Special’, produced by yours truly Strat Carter and featuring Duce Revolver & Ty Ty. Lookout for her upcoming Mixtape ‘The McKnight Files’ which is set to drop in a couple of weeks. The tape features Nix’ s smoking hot bars over beats from amazing producers, including 3 joints by yours truly.

For more info on this artist checkout www.706nix.com

For more about rap beats, r&b beats or buying beats online hit me up here at stratcarter.com

The Power of Music

Sep 03, 2013 by strat - Comments Off

Connecting Your Emotions to the Beats

This world would be a colourless and flavourless orb if music were to suddenly cease to exist. How would we even survive? I know I’m not alone when I hear a song come on and it takes me back to the emotions I had when I first heard it. Perhaps it specifically speaks to a situation you may have been in at the time or it reminds you of a loved one. In any number of ways, we relate to songs whether they are well written love songs, inspirational songs, or even just our favourite pop beats and rap beats. Take the JT song shown above as an example. If you have felt as though you were totally in love with someone, this song is gonna make you sit there and daydream. Maybe your even lucky enough to look over at that person next to you and smile while the song is playing.

Remember the Feeling you had when you First Heard certain Rap Beats?

To all the real hip hop heads who go apeshit at just the first chord of the beat to a classic hip hop track. I remember feeling the adrenaline flowing each time I’d hear the first 4 bars of T.R.O.Y (Pete Rock & C.L Smooth), Award Tour (ATCQ), C.R.E.A.M (Wu Tang), Gin & Juice (Snoop), Chief Rocka (Lords of the Underground)…..this list could go on forever so let me quit while I still have your attention. This should be an inspiration to all you songwriters and producers out there. Strive to put that emotion in your songs and your rap beats so that listeners and artists who buy beats online can feel that connection. Don’t just make tracks because you feel you have to. Allow the art and the music to flow from you via the highways of true inspiration and enthusiasm.

Make Your Rap Beats and Songs Bang!

Sep 02, 2013 by strat - Comments Off

Bigger Rap Beats!

One of the most important things in the life of any musician/producer/artist in today’s music scene is the mix quality of his or her product. We all long for the crispness, loudness and warmth of the tracks released by major label artists, especially in Pop and Hip Hop. Producers such as myself have been able to make great strides in improving the mixes of the rap beats we provide for artists who buy beats online. This provides the artist with the opportunity to make songs which already have that big major label type sound. One of the main reasons we can provide this quality is the affordability of top notch technology in today’s audio software and hardware.

There is no great secret to top quality mixes in your songs/rap beats.

There is no sure fire formula for success in anything. In terms of mixing your songs, pop beats, rap beats, reggae tracks et al, if you are an independent artist doing it all in your home studio, there are tons of resources available online to help you understand the world of mixing e.g. http://therecordingrevolution.com/. There is a wide range of information on this site, but one of the things one needs to focus on is monitoring. You need to be able to have a clear and uncoloured output of your raw music so that you can make accurate mixing decisions i.e. being able to accurately determine whether your bass level is either too low or too high. Good studio monitors are practically everywhere but here I want to show you a new entry from KRK Systems. This company has fast become one of the most popular and reliable providers of affordable, high quality studio monitors and you can check out their latest product here.

Buy Beats with Quality Mixes and Make More Accessible songs

To those of you who buy beats online, the equation is simple: Better mixed beats can equal better mixed songs and better mixed songs are more easily accepted in today’s music industry. In an era where lyrical content is no longer much of a focus, one must recognize that the public is now focused on the ‘bigness’ of your sound and the emotion and power in your music. Be sure to buy beats that will enhance this part of your overall projects.

INDUSTRY TALK: HOT NEW VIDEO! Nitro Evahype “Doin My Thang”

Sep 17, 2012 by strat - Comments Off

Beats and Rhymes in a Visual World

Hot off the press is the new single and video from Barbadian rap star Nitro Evahype from the Triple E Movement. Shot and directed by the team at RKADE Media, the single is Nitro’s declaration of the virtues of a carefree, fun filled lifestyle.

As usual, the production and mixing was handled by yours truly and is a prime example of why artists can find and buy some of the best beats online. The beat is a smooth mixture of soulful musicality and new school Hip Hop edge.

Buy Rap Beats for Your Next Single

If you are an indie Hip Hop artist and you’re on a budget, now is the best time to buy beats online. Nitro’s video is a perfect example of what you can achieve as an indie artist in today’s highly visual and highly social music market.

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