West Coast Connection Forum

Lifestyle => Train of Thought => Topic started by: jeanmiche777 on September 11, 2013, 08:31:01 AM

Title: What do you think of my plan?
Post by: jeanmiche777 on September 11, 2013, 08:31:01 AM
I know most of you don't even know me, because I'm not the most vocal member of this forum. I'm not form the great United States of America, which may (or may not) makes you think I'm some kind of disturbed euro, looking at rap from the outside like a little slave of your incredible culture oh my god you guys are great.

But I'm not, I'm simply a music lover. And I want to make music. But I need a pretty good plan if I want to make music AND have an impact on my culture, especially where I'm from: Quebec city. I'm a french canadian, and Quebec the province should be a country, but it's not. That's another debate, and I won't go there right know, I just want you to know where I'm from, and where I'm going.

Almost everyone I know can help me with the big idea, the project I have in my head right now. I want to build a french hockey blog. Hockey is pretty big where I'm from, but there's no decent blog talking about it. There is only one that is popular and you can compare it to a hockey TMZ. I have a friend that is currently studying in journalism, and I'm going to university next year in comptuer science. I know that the two of us can build something pretty good, complete and different from everything else. One of my friend went to university in visual arts and can help us with the design i have in my mind. I want to grow it progressively into a culture platform, I want to create a new music movement based on that blog after a few years. I going to record an album during all these years. A funky album, something rare where I'm from. I've got a lot of dope samples and I will make my friends play those parts and build on what they do. I've got a clever name and concept for the visuals, I can't really describe it to you because it's, well, french. Here is a really simple remix I did with a sample. This song is basic, and the album will be way more complex than that, but it will give you an idea of the sound esthetics I'm going for. http://djmr.bandcamp.com/track/le-maudit-probl-me-feat-jean-pag-st-phane-turcotte

What I have to define more clearly right now is the lyrics. Every other part of the concept is clear in my head, but this part is a little bit more cloudy. I think I will have to read more cooks and listen to a lot of music to really get an idea of what I will compose. I want to create lyrics that appeal to my generation, that represents us pretty well. I want to touch on the subjects 2pac touched, while staying into the hockey theme with metaphors. The best current lyricist I can think of is Earl Sweatshirt, I love how he is keeping it real. I think he lacked a theme, and i don't want to make that mistake. This won't be a rap album, but will be influenced by rap. Think of Mayor Hawthorne mixed with Earl, 2pac and Jean Leloup (google that).



Title: Re: What do you think of my plan?
Post by: V2DHeart on September 13, 2013, 01:59:03 AM
I would recommend that you rap about what you feel passionately about. You don't need the familiarity of other peoples work to make it easier to reproduce under your own words if you have the ability and talent, nor do you need to tell others.
Sure you can listen to them naturally as your life goes on because most of us listen to music daily, but don't go out of your way to 'study' other artists for notes and instructions, under the guise of "influence".

And to the music and stating you need some kind of "plan". Plan for what? You need a plan to make music? Or you need a plan in an attempt to gain fame and fortune? You have to decide what it is you want because you can't always have both. Your heart should be in the music, forget the plans. Make the music first. Then you can go around locally. Ask if some Hockey stadiums will play your music, send to local radio's, local newspapers, go around pubs, clubs, fitness centers in your town, city and region. Build local support first.

Everyone is in a mad rush to post everything up on the internet, even before getting their copyright in place. It allows true artistic types to be exploited and to be thieved from by others.

Good luck with the progression and keep us updated
Title: Re: What do you think of my plan?
Post by: Will_B on September 13, 2013, 03:54:05 AM
First and foremost I like the remix you posted. As you say it's a little simplistic perhaps, but it sounds professional and musically interesting. That kind of sound is bound to appeal if you get your lyrics right. They can make or break a song.

In regards to listening to other music, I think there no harm in broadening you horizons. That's to be applauded. It's not about taking others viewpoints to me it's expanding your own view of where you can go with your own stuff. Plus those samples won't find themselves!!

In terms of topics don't go 'out of your depth' unless its something you really know about you'll be on dangerous ground. Life experience will help you on this one.

2Pacs style was mixed. He was unusual in the sense that his lyrical range was limited to a point but his message was very strong. His methods of repeating like he did made the metaphors become like a mantra. Almost empowering for the listener. Complex rhyme patterns, socially aware lyrics, word play and poetical tools like alliterations make his style a tough thing to follow on from.

Planing is something that should not be knocked. Kendrick didn't sell a million albums based on a haphazard or unpolished project, however truly great music does not need to be over produced. Depending on what sound you're after, it's about the fusion of the elements involved. If your team is good keep a sound in mind but experiment with developing it further when you're all together.

Good luck!
Title: Re: What do you think of my plan?
Post by: jeanmiche777 on September 13, 2013, 06:50:02 AM
I would recommend that you rap about what you feel passionately about. You don't need the familiarity of other peoples work to make it easier to reproduce under your own words if you have the ability and talent, nor do you need to tell others.
Sure you can listen to them naturally as your life goes on because most of us listen to music daily, but don't go out of your way to 'study' other artists for notes and instructions, under the guise of "influence".

And to the music and stating you need some kind of "plan". Plan for what? You need a plan to make music? Or you need a plan in an attempt to gain fame and fortune? You have to decide what it is you want because you can't always have both. Your heart should be in the music, forget the plans. Make the music first. Then you can go around locally. Ask if some Hockey stadiums will play your music, send to local radio's, local newspapers, go around pubs, clubs, fitness centers in your town, city and region. Build local support first.

Everyone is in a mad rush to post everything up on the internet, even before getting their copyright in place. It allows true artistic types to be exploited and to be thieved from by others.

Good luck with the progression and keep us updated

Thank you for your comments! You asked a good question, why do I need a plan? Well, I think you answered that a little bit in your post. Today, with the internet, it is so easy to upload a song on, let's say, bandcamp as soon as you finish a little remix. I'm guilty of that. I think that, if you look at every successful artists that didn't want to be slaves of major labels, they all have a big plan of a ''movement'' that is based on the music they create. You have to put yourself in a position where you are the one that is calling the shots, so you can build on your own vision of music. I know that I could simply record music, then put it out, then start build a local fan base. But I want to create something bigger than that so I can just kick back, relax, nobody knows who I am and I still get to produce music, wither it's my own or music from other people. My goal is to have a platform that I can use to make whatever I have in my head, pushing the talents of people that are around me. The goal is not fame and money, it's is all about doing what I have in my head while helping people around me getting even better at what they do.



First and foremost I like the remix you posted. As you say it's a little simplistic perhaps, but it sounds professional and musically interesting. That kind of sound is bound to appeal if you get your lyrics right. They can make or break a song.

In regards to listening to other music, I think there no harm in broadening you horizons. That's to be applauded. It's not about taking others viewpoints to me it's expanding your own view of where you can go with your own stuff. Plus those samples won't find themselves!!

In terms of topics don't go 'out of your depth' unless its something you really know about you'll be on dangerous ground. Life experience will help you on this one.

2Pacs style was mixed. He was unusual in the sense that his lyrical range was limited to a point but his message was very strong. His methods of repeating like he did made the metaphors become like a mantra. Almost empowering for the listener. Complex rhyme patterns, socially aware lyrics, word play and poetical tools like alliterations make his style a tough thing to follow on from.

Planing is something that should not be knocked. Kendrick didn't sell a million albums based on a haphazard or unpolished project, however truly great music does not need to be over produced. Depending on what sound you're after, it's about the fusion of the elements involved. If your team is good keep a sound in mind but experiment with developing it further when you're all together.

Good luck!

Thank you for your toughts! You know, that part about 2pac wordplay and subject is exactly what I need to aim for... Why? I need to have a meaning in my lyrics. I don,t want to create dumb lyrics. I don't want to create an ego monster where I simply boost my image to create some kind of God-image, someone that is above everything and that is better than everyone. That is way too easy to do and got bad consequences on society as a whole. I think lyrics are tricky because you need to have a purpose with them, without forgetting the musical aspect of it. That is the part that I need to polish a little bit more.