tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18743870665030167982024-02-19T02:56:19.814-08:00The Official Life Entertainment BlogWhere music, social issues, and just life are discussedRoger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-68649259525537268712013-05-26T00:59:00.000-07:002013-05-31T13:39:11.476-07:00Nu-Soul Magazine Presents Art & Soul<i>A Night Full Of Artistry and Soul Music at The Mezz</i><br />
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On a beautiful night in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, the scene was set as some of LA's most talented artists gathered to display their artwork and music. The Art + Soul event presented by Nu-Soul Magazine gave people a chance to come out and discover the underground art movement sweeping the streets of LA.<br />
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Nu-Soul Magazine founded by Norman Mayers in 2006, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">bridges the gap between the world of R&B/soul and the underground vibes of electronica. Nu-Soul showcases artists and events in Greater Los Angeles updating the Neo-Soul community about the latest trends in soul and urban culture.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Art +Soul featured artists Teresa Bone, City Mindfunk, Otha Davis, Christine Miyahari, Kyoko Cole, Daniel Felechner, Lola, Gigi, and Keenan Chapman. Painting, clothes and multiple forms of art were curated on the second floor of The Mezz located on South Spring Street. </span></span><br />
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Vendors included fashion and jewelry from Thot Creations, Boho Funk, Litered Nation, JWNY, Sluts and Diamonds, and Polish by Ash.<br />
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The soundtrack for the night was provided by Seven57 and guest DJ Kronika (Soulection) that had the vibe feeling just right mixing old school soul, R&B, Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul and electronica.<br />
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The night was topped off by featured act Nikki Grier providing her soulfully and sexy performance with covers such as "Sugarfree" and songs from her most recent release "Soulgasm Vol. 9 - The Dreamy Water Sign" with grooves such as "Everyday"and "Love For Your Love."<br />
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For more information on the artists and future events check out the following links:<br />
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<a href="http://nu-soulmag.com/" target="_blank">http://nu-soulmag.com</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.reverbnation.com/nikkigrier" target="_blank">http://www.reverbnation.com/nikkigrier</a><br />
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<a href="http://soundcloud.com/kronika-selekta" target="_blank">http://soundcloud.com/kronika-selekta</a><br />
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<a href="http://soundcloud.com/thisjaylouis" target="_blank">http://soundcloud.com/thisjaylouis</a><br />
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<a href="http://citymindfunk.com/" target="_blank">http://citymindfunk.com/</a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #415995; line-height: 16px;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/kyokocole"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">www.facebook.com/kyokocole</span></a></span><br />
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<br />Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-65601947095257875832013-02-21T14:17:00.001-08:002013-02-23T23:11:19.428-08:00André DePriest's EP "Temptations" Is Creating A Buzz In The Neo-Soul Community<i>Up and Coming Soul Artist Receiving Great Reviews For Newly Released Project</i><br />
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While many of today's urban music trends include "Poppin' Mollys" and sexually exploiting women, Neo-Soul/Soul artist André DePriest brings a breath of fresh air with his newly released EP <i>Temptations, </i>a soulful journey through relationships and the temptations driving the human spirit.<br />
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DePriest, whose focus is to bring back more of a positive and soulful vibe to the urban community and around the world, blesses listeners with his soulful voice over traditional Neo-Soul backgrounds with his current single "<i>If You're Ready.</i>" </div>
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As André prepares to release his next single "<i>Get Over You," </i>which features an old school feel blended with new school style and flavor, check out some of the reviews he has received from top Neo-Soul subscriptions.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;"> </span> "André DePriest</b> is ready to emerge as a seasoned veteran ready to take the music world by storm." </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><b>-</b> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><b style="font-style: italic;">Godfrey Fletcher, Neo2Soul Promotions </b><a href="http://neo2soul.wordpress.com/2011/11/24/andre-depriest/" target="_blank">Click here</a></span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><strong>André DePriest</strong></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">has shown that he can hang with some of the best in the </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">neo-soul </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">pantheon. </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>Understated, </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>yet masterfully textured and layered vocals ride over </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>the top of some extraordinarily </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">smooth and chilled-out beats, suitable for a night out or a night in with a loved one. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><i>Classic soul</i> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>elements and modern hip hop grooves coincide effortlessly, and definitely leave us waiting for what </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>André will come with next!"</i></span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; white-space: nowrap;"><i><b>- Norman Mayers, Nu Soul Magazine </b> </i><a href="http://nu-soulmag.com/musings/?p=15239" target="_blank">Click Here</a></span></blockquote>
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<i>Temptations</i> is currently available to purchase and download at <a href="http://andredepriest.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">http://andredepriest.bandcamp.com/</a><br />
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Also like, follow and subscribe at the following links for more updates from André DePriest:<br />
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Facebook Pages:<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Andre-DePriest/198310263544874" target="_blank">André DePriest</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Official-Life-Entertainment/211056355592066" target="_blank">Official Life Entertainment </a><br />
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Twitter:<br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/soulmusak" target="_blank">@Soulmusak</a><br />
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YouTube:<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/AndreDePriestMusic" target="_blank">andredepriestmusic</a></div>
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Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-22156065629601569462013-01-25T17:06:00.000-08:002013-06-10T09:05:43.661-07:00Who's Next? Ms. Drama Ganza<i>The Girl Next Door Female Emcee Making A Name For Herself In Los Angeles </i><br />
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After stops in Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Atlanta, the city of Inglewood is now housing the next female game changer, Ms. Drama Ganza. With her traditional Blues sensibility and solid hip hop rhythms, Drama Ganza gives you a taste of her southern and midwest swag with her <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Rokkitt, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">witty rhymes, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Rokkitt, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18px;">singing and metaphor skills on</span> songs like "Wave'm 4 Me," "Gift of Gab" and "Girl Next Door." <br />
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Currently, Drama Ganza is being featured on one of LA's top radio stations, Power 106 FM in the "Who's Next @ 2pm" contest. <a href="http://whosnext.power106.com/bftb2013/artist/2849">Click here</a> to cast your vote!</div>
Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-23512850374114301892012-12-28T20:00:00.000-08:002012-12-28T20:00:22.983-08:00André DePriest Spreads A Little Bit Of Soul At The Fresh Network<i>A Night Of Networking and Building A Small Business Community</i><br />
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On a night where some of LA's young and upcoming business entrepreneurs gathered to give elevator pitches and share business practices, soul singer and recording artist André DePriest hit the stage to give the crowd a taste of his new upcoming soulful EP "<i>Temptations," </i>at <i>The Fresh Network Event </i>located<i> </i>at<i> </i>Skinny's Lounge in North Hollywood.<i> </i><br />
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Los Angeles is known for birthing some of the most successful businesses, artists and entertainers in the world. For those who "Take a Leap of Faith" to start their own business, quickly find out that it is not an easy process. If starting a successful business was easy, then everyone would start one.<br />
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Gimel "Brutha Gimel" Hooper, a spoken word artist, DJ and business man in the Los Angeles area, hosted <i>The Fresh Network</i> with the intent of bringing young business men and women together to network, collaborate and to build a small business community and family. There were varieties of industries that were represented from financial services, fashion, jewel, photography, music, web design, playwrights and a host of others.<br />
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At the end of the networking festivities, a special performance was given by the amazing and talented André DePriest, who performed <i>"If You're Ready," "In This Life" and "Let's Get Down Tonight"</i> from his new project <i>"Temptations," </i>which touches on love and the realistic ups and downs in relationships<i> </i>for the intimate and anticipating crowd.<br />
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It was just a great night of positivity, support and building of a small business networking community for tomorrow's successful entrepreneurs. <br />
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For more information and upcoming events for Gimel Hooper and André DePriest, you can find them at the following links:<br />
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Gimel Hooper<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/gimel.hooper?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/gimel.hooper?fref=ts</a><br />
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André DePriest:<br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/Soulmusak">https://twitter.com/Soulmusak</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Richplanet/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/Richplanet/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/AndreDePriestMusic">http://www.youtube.com/user/AndreDePriestMusic</a><br />
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Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-58263621253461249992012-12-03T01:29:00.000-08:002012-12-03T01:29:39.594-08:00Emcees Giving Back Toy Drive in Leimert Park<i>Talented L.A. Lyricists Spreading The Holiday Spirit</i><br />
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In the month of December, most of us are getting into the holiday spirit, trimming the tree, listening to our favorite Christmas songs and trying to find that special gift that our loved ones wants for Christmas. Many of us work extra hours just so that we can afford to have a Christmas in our households and to see the smiles and excitement on our family's and especially our children's faces.<br />
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Unfortunately, due to a variety of circumstances, there are many families that cannot afford to buy gifts and struggle just to get by day to day or there are kids that don't have families to enjoy Christmas with.<br />
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Kaos Network, located right in the heart of Los Angeles in Leimert Park, hosted a Hip-Hop showcase and toy drive event, where the cover was $5.00 dollars or bring a toy for entry. The proceeds and toys will be used for the upcoming Toy & Clothes Giveaway Winter Block Party, hosted by Project Blowed at 4343 West Leimert Park Boulevard on December 16th.<br />
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The Hip-Hop showcase featured some of the hottest upcoming young emcees in the Greater Los Angeles area representing Inglewood, Leimert Park, Compton, Pasadena and more.<br />
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The showcase started off with emcees <i>Black Diamond</i> "Soul Power" and <i>J-Ann </i>from Compton "Get Motivated," songs that promote positivity and how the power of music has saved their lives.<br />
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<i>Drama Ganza</i> from Cincinnati, Ohio, currently residing in Inglewood, stole the show, bring a lot of energy with her stage presence and boss chick lyrics with her song "The Girl Next Door."<br />
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Next, <i>Nu Nu Young Hot Celeb</i> from California and Chicago representing L.O.U.D. Pact continued to hold it down for the ladies with her song "Dreams."<br />
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Another emcee to look out for is a brother that goes by the name <i>Russian Roulette. </i>Representing Inglewood to the fullest with his song "Inglewood Salute" and acapella freestyle. His metaphors and similes remind you of a young Ghostface Killa from the Wu Tang Clan.<br />
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<i>Presidential Smoke</i> and <i>Radisrad </i>rocked the mic as well with their underground sound, rhyming about relationships they have been through with women.<br />
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There were many more emcees that were doing their thing and made the night a great success. Los Angeles definitely has talent across the city with different styles and swag holding down the west coast and the future of Hip-hop. It was great to attend a positive movement and see how Hip-Hop can make a difference in the community in a positive way.<br />
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To donate or for more information on the upcoming Toy & Clothes Giveaway, you can contact DVS/Miaisha at (323) 352-4677 or EMCEESGIVEBACK@hotmail.comRoger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-68025463565548350192012-11-19T00:29:00.000-08:002012-11-19T00:29:15.413-08:00The Art of DJing With A Girl Called Selectra <i>One of LA's Hottest Female DJs Guaranteed To Keep You Groovin' On The Dance Floor</i><br />
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If you're in Los Angeles looking to go somewhere you can just unbutton your shirt or let your hair down, have a few drinks and just dance, then you have to find out where DJ Selectra is going to be.<br />
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Wendy Le AKA DJ Selectra is one of L.A's hottest upcoming DJs that is sure to keep a party going, mixing Hip-Hop, 90's R&B, Old School Mixes and Reggae.<br />
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A regular at "The Room" in Hollywood, "The Whaler" in Marina Del Ray, and many other venues throughout L.A. and Culver City, Selectra considers herself an artist that specializes in the art of DJing, which consist of perfecting blends, mixes and feeling the vibe of the crowd.<br />
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A regular party goer at "The Whaler" said, "She's dope! The music is not normally that good here, it's a good change, I'm feeling her vibe."<br />
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To get more information on DJ Selectra, future events and where you can upload some of her mixes, you can check out the following links:<br />
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<a href="http://www.djselectra.com/">http://www.djselectra.com</a><br />
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<a href="http://twitter.com/Miss_Wendyle">http://twitter.com/Miss_Wendyle</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.mixcrate.com/selectra">http://www.mixcrate.com/selectra</a>Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-44120183608119781442012-11-10T21:54:00.000-08:002012-11-18T03:25:20.947-08:00Ginny Luke Rocks Club Tarantino at Three Clubs Hollywood<i>Multi-Talented Singer Showcases New Songs from New 'Self-Titled' EP </i><br />
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It was a quiet night in Hollywood on the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and North Vine Street in contrast from the night before, where goons, goblins and all types of people dressed in costume marched the streets during it's annual Halloween parade.<br />
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Three Clubs, a small and intimate venue known for introducing up and coming talent to the music industry, once again opened it's doors to debut the multi-talented Ginny Luke at the Club Tarantino event.<br />
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Ginny Luke, a talented singer/violinist/songwriter originally from Dubuque, Iowa, has collaborated with companies such as Fender and Panasonic 3D, played background violin for artists such as J. Cole and Snoop Dogg and has toured with hard rock legend Meat Loaf, is now stepping into the limelight promoting her self-titled EP.<br />
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During her 45 minute set, the crowd was very entertained with the full rock sound of the band in the intimate and up close setting. You could really hear and feel the passion in Luke's voice and electric violin solos as she mixes lyrics of broken relationships, hardships and struggles with hard rock, funky synth lines and dynamic strings in songs such as <i>Timebomb Tactics, Hysteria, and Silverlining Turnaround</i>.<i> </i><br />
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Make sure to check out Ginny Luke's EPK and you can get news and updates about what she is up to from the following links:<br />
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<a href="http://www.ginnylukeonline.com/">http://www.ginnylukeonline.com/</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginnylukemusic">https://www.facebook.com/ginnylukemusic</a><br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/ginnyluke">https://twitter.com/ginnyluke</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/GinnyLukeOfficial?feature=chclk">http://www.youtube.com/user/GinnyLukeOfficial?feature=chclk</a><br />
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<br />Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-80496013390897114232012-10-09T22:19:00.000-07:002012-10-09T22:19:44.794-07:00Los Angeles Jams With President Obama at L.A. Live <i>Campaign Concert A Success for President Barrack Obama </i><br />
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October 7, 2012 was not a typical Sunday afternoon in Downtown Los Angeles as people of all races, social classes, religious beliefs and sexual orientation all gathered to attend this once in a lifetime experience and support President Barrack Obama's "30 Days to Victory" concert as he runs for re-election for a second term in office.<br />
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You could feel the excitement in the air as people were waiting in a super long line that started at the Nokia L.A. Live venue and curved all the way around to the Olympic Blvd and Figueroa Street intersection to see the likes of <i>Earth, Wind and Fire, Jennifer Hudson, Jon Bon Jovi, Katy Perry and Stevie Wonder.</i><br />
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Stars and celebrities such as George Clooney, Lynn Whitfield and more came out to show their support for Obama and his "Forward" movement.<br />
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<i>Earth, Wind and Fire </i>kicked the concert off with hits such as "Shining Star," "Fantasy" and "September. "<br />
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Next,<i> Jennifer Hudson </i>took the crowd to church with her power presence and voice singing the old civil rights anthem "Change Gonna Come."<br />
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Then <i>Jon</i> <i>Bon Jovi </i>hit the stage and wowed the crowd with the acoustic version of his hit "Livin' On A Prayer."<br />
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Fourthly, <i>Katy Perry </i>along with <i>The Silverlake Children's Choir </i>energized the crowd with a cute performance of her hit "Firework."<br />
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Last but not least, the legendary <i>Stevie Wonder </i>stole the show with hits "Master Blaster (Jammin')," "My Cherie Amour" "Superstition" and performed a new song he wrote called "Song of Love." Stevie really got the crowd going as everyone was yelling Barrack Obama, 4 more years!<br />
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Finally, after all of the performances, President Barrack Obama came out and addressed the people discussing topics such as healthcare and making college affordable for the youth. He was very excited about how the unemployment has lowed to 7.8%, the lowest since he was been in office. But the one thing that he stressed is that there is still work to do and with the people's help, we can move America forward.<br />
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Rather you agree with Obama or not, as people of this great nation, we the people can change the world and we have a voice, so on November 6, make sure you get out and vote!<br />
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<br />Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-54909869713685920662012-10-04T20:40:00.000-07:002012-10-04T23:12:10.217-07:00Andre´ DePriest Hits The Room of Hollywood With Some Cherry Poppin' Soul<i>Andre´DePriest's Listening Party Review </i><br />
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The scene was set as people started filing into "The Room of Hollywood" on a late Wednesday night for the reversed happy hour and Cherry Poppin' event.<br />
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Cherry Poppin' Wednesdays at "The Room" features 90s and early 2000s R&B and Hip-Hop music that is sure to keep you movin' and groovin' all night long.<br />
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Around 10:30PM, DJ Selectra, a well known DJ in Southern California, stopped her set and introduced Andre´DePriest to the crowd as an upcoming Neo-Soul artist and started to play some tracks from his new project "Temptations," which will be available in early November 2012.<br />
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DePriest, originally from Chicago, Illinois, has hit the L.A. music scene by storm with his soulful midwestern sounds and "RichPlanet" movement, which promotes a positive message through music, and living a positive lifestyle.<br />
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As the first track, "If You're Ready" was playing, there were people, especially the ladies, bobbling their heads to the track's smooth instrumentation and voice of DePriest.<br />
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By the time the middle tracks "Get Over You" and "Stuck on You" started playing, most of the crowd was dancing and very receptive to the Neo-Soul/Hip-hop flava from DePriest.<br />
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The overall reaction to DePriest's project was very positive as he continues to gain fans and increase the anticipation for "Temptations" throughout the Los Angeles indie music scene.<br />
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Be sure to check out the video for "If You're Ready" and you can subscribe and get updates about Andre´DePriest's music, news and upcoming events from the following links:<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Richplanet/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/Richplanet/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/AndreDePriestMusic?feature=watch">http://www.youtube.com/user/AndreDePriestMusic?feature=watch</a><br />
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<a href="https://twitter.com/Soulmusak">https://twitter.com/Soulmusak</a><br />
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<br />Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-26194336664107368852012-05-18T03:31:00.000-07:002012-05-18T05:23:38.210-07:00Where is The Love?<i>Romance in Music, Does it Still Exist? </i><br />
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Today as I was on my way home after running a few errands, I just so happen to turn on the radio to listen to one of the local urban music stations here in Los Angeles just to see what was playing.<br />
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Usually, when I'm riding by myself, I am just riding in silence thinking about what is the next thing I need to accomplish for the day or swearing at someone to get out of the way because they don't know how to drive, but every now and then I like to turn on some music and bob my head and just vibe out.<br />
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So when I turned on the radio, the first song I heard was "<i>I'll Beat The Pussy up" </i>by Loverance. The next song was "<i>Make it Nasty" </i>by Tyga and the third song before I decided to change the station was "<i>Drank in My Cup" </i>by Kirko Bangz.<br />
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Now I've heard these songs plenty of times and I'm not knocking these artists for what they say or do but for some reason today it made me think; what has happen to mainstream urban music that talks about love, relationships or actually romancing a woman instead of just "beating it up" and having sex?<br />
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I can't even front, when I was these young men's age and "sowing my wild oats," I wasn't thinking about love or romancing a woman either, so it may just be a maturity thing and in time as I have, they will mature. But let's be honest here, though most women like to be romanced, not all women want to be romanced all the time. At times they like to get "down and dirty" just like men and I get that, so to each its own.<br />
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But I was raised old school and sometimes I would like to hear more of these New Generation artists be more creative and rap or sing about love and real relationships. What happen to songs like "<i>I Got So Much To Give" </i>by Barry White, "<i>Honey Love" </i>by R.Kelly, and "<i>Beauty" </i>by Dru Hill? Today romance is missing from urban music and there are less and less love songs being played on mainstream radio and it's a problem. Love songs are good for the soul, the subconscious mind and in the right setting, can really turn a woman on.<br />
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I understand that times are different and the goals of artists/record labels are to sell records. But is the problem that major record labels do not think "Love Songs" will sell anymore or is it that young artists and the new generation really have no clue what true love or romancing is?<br />
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All I'm really saying is that there needs to be a better mixture of what Hip-Hop and R&B artists are putting out to be heard and what is being played on mainstream urban radio. There are still people in the world that want to be put in a mellow mood or make love during a quiet storm.<br />
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<i>Image: Promise by Hulis Mavruk,</i><i> courtesy of blackartdepot.com</i><br />
<br />Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-65373947813527537522011-04-15T19:23:00.001-07:002012-12-06T03:30:39.508-08:00Is Hip-Hop "Winning"?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqu5y4j_l5FXfBxw7UHJlswpdonBOjnaAkVTO370hzq7LgWfYPpTqcQHTiPdKMX0kxbBgR8O-W_OUpZHfMJfOfRzfmL_hw42EM-nxU7qC9dNc7nmG6NC0GH5VZ4a-ShhPWfjsw2ztfm3k/s1600/hiphop.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596859362235964658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqu5y4j_l5FXfBxw7UHJlswpdonBOjnaAkVTO370hzq7LgWfYPpTqcQHTiPdKMX0kxbBgR8O-W_OUpZHfMJfOfRzfmL_hw42EM-nxU7qC9dNc7nmG6NC0GH5VZ4a-ShhPWfjsw2ztfm3k/s400/hiphop.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 400px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 266px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">A look at the past, present and future of Hip-Hop</span><br />
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Since the early 1980's, Hip-Hop has continued to grow and make it's way into the mainstream, generating billions of dollars for major record labels and companies, exposing the world to some of the most talented and lyrically gifted brothers and sisters to ever spit on a mic. Hip-Hop culture has set the hottest trends, giving black and hispanic youth a voice that informed the world of what was happening in our urban communities. The culture was more than just music and a fad, it was a movement.<br />
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Fast forwarding to the new millennium, Hip-Hop has continued its dominance as the most influential music genre today. There has been many artists that have come and gone since Hip-Hop first hit the mainstream and people can argue who is the greatest lyricist or emcee of all time until the end of time but one thing is clear, the music has changed and Hip-Hop has evolved. Many of the concepts are the same but there is no longer as much variety as there once was at one point and time when it comes to mainstream Hip-Hop.<br />
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People could argue that there just aren't as many gifted and creative emcees or rappers like their were in the 80's and 90's such as Biggie, 2-Pac, Public Enemy, Run DMC, Lauren Hill, and Outkast just to name a few. Or that the younger generation cares nothing about lyrical skills or being socially conscience such as Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka and Soulja Boy. A few years ago, Nas came out with an album and song, <span style="font-style: italic;">Hip-Hop is Dead,</span> where he says, "Everybody sounds the same/commercialize the game/reminiscin' when it wasn't all business/they forgot where it started". Hip-Hop is no longer a movement, it is a multi-billion dollar business, where we as consumers and artists have lost a sense of purpose, which is to buildup and to empower the urban community. <br />
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So where does the culture go from here? Has Hip-Hop reached its creative peak? As consumers of music and entertainment products we have a voice and the power to demand change if we want change. People cannot fault major record labels and corporate America for what sells, they base marketing and promotion plans off of consumer buying habits. By no means am I telling people what they need to listen to, buy or what they should like, but let's get a grip about how this is affecting the urban community across the country.<br />
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For example, there are places like Elementz Hip-Hop Youth Center, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Elementz recruits youth between the ages of 14 to 24 and focuses on teaching the elements of Hip-hop and promoting Hip-Hop in a positive light helping the community. On the other hand, there are artists like Gucci Mane, who recently was arrested for throwing a woman out of a moving car for refusing to have sex with him and has multiple accounts of criminal activity that reflects in his music. The message that some of these young brothers and sisters promote and release are negatively working on our subconscious mind. Where do we as the urban community and consumers draw the line and deem this as unacceptable? When do we start holding artists more accountable for their content and actions? Corporate America does not care because the music sells so the problem has to be fixed from within, that means within the Urban community.<br />
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As we look into the future in Hip-Hop, with digital technology we as consumers are beginning to have a choice again and a variety of who we want to listen to and when we want to listen to it. With social networking sites such as YouTube and Facebook, music sites like Pandora and Adio, and satellite and internet radio stations, underground and independent Hip-Hop artists have more opportunity to be heard rather than being dismissed by local radio stations for popular artists which is a win for the culture.<br />
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Music is powerful, it energizes and influences people and over the years Hip-Hop has begun to lose its power. As new artists and emerging figures rise within the culture to continue the legacy, let's take this lucrative movement, work together and make strives to improve the economical state of our communities.Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-75315226778113576042010-12-27T15:46:00.000-08:002013-04-27T23:30:09.007-07:00My Road To The Music Industry...So FarFortunately, I have known that I have always wanted to work in the music industry ever since I was a kid. Getting into music entertainment or working for a music company is not easy, you must be persistent, work hard, take some risk and keep up with the latest trends in the field or talented enough to create your own trends. <br />
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Thousands of people have dreams of becoming the next hot rapper, rock band, singer or entertainer. There are even thousands of people that are looking for jobs in the industry as well. Only the strong survive in this industry and nothing is going to be given, you have to build relationships with people in the industry, work hard and earn it. <br />
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Currently, I am a New Media intern at Warner Bros. Records in Burbank, CA. I definitely have bigger plans than to just be an intern and looking for other opportunities but please believe me, I have worked hard to get to where I am and will have to continue to work smarter and harder to get to where I want to be. <br />
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Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, my road starts from the age of 9 years old learning to play the trumpet. I then started to learn how to play piano at 11 years old. I played in school bands, pep bands, and started playing for people in my high school talent shows. I continued to study music going into college at Alabama State University and UAB and eventually majored in Music Technology, where I learned how to use music, audio and multimedia software and recording equipment. In college, I kept myself involved with music. I was in Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Computer Music Ensemble, participated in talent shows, I was a rapper with a group called "Unusual Suspects", I was on the Entertainment Committee, and I hosted a Hip-Hop show called "<span style="font-style: italic;">The Cybercipher</span>" on Blazeradio, an Internet Radio Station. I am also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, INC, which is a music fraternity. Being involved allowed me to network, build relationships and learn so much about music but at the same time I also learned that there are many shady people in the music business or trying to get into the industry that will try to take advantage of you as I learned interning at a recording studio in Birmingham, Alabama and had rights to my music I created pretty much stolen from me.<br />
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After college, I moved back to Cincinnati shortly after graduating to take a "break" from school to work with a friend who was having a studio built in his basement. After working with him for awhile things did not work out with us and we went our separate ways. Then all of a sudden I found myself working a 9 to 5 job and being in a challenging relationship, unhappy and getting away from networking and not creating music.<br />
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After dealing with wannabe artists and shady people trying to "make it", one day it finally clicked in my head to get my own equipment. So I started saving money and using extra money I had and bought my own equipment to where I didn't have to depend on other people anymore. Next, I finally made a tough decision to get out of the challenging relationship of 3 years because we were going in different directions in life and I could not be the man or caregiver she would need me to be and follow my dream of being in the music industry at the same time. So after "The Big Break Up" I started getting myself involved with music again and started working for BMI as a part-time music researcher, going to different venues and establishments in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana to create performance licensing and songwriter royalties reports.<br />
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So what was suppose to be a two year "break" from school and moving back to Cincinnati to see if I could get into the music industry from a street level, turned into seven years of walking away from a recording studio business a friend where we had our differences and on a business level could not see eye to eye with, working jobs I was not happy with, getting into a relationship that fell apart because of a life-changing experience that I could not handle and not getting anywhere in the music industry other than getting my own equipment and doing work for BMI.<br />
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All of a sudden, things started to change. I decided to go back to school for my Master's and enrolled at Full Sail University and studied Entertainment Business online. The program taught me the business aspect of music, learning management strategies, marketing techniques and how to put together a business plan. I started working on Official Life Entertainment, a startup label and I also gained friendships with classmates in the program that I can network with and networking skills I didn't have before. I started building relationships with artists, promoters and other music/entertainment professionals in Cincinnati and around the country.<br />
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Thirteen months later I graduated from Full Sail in June 2010 and recently in October 2010, I moved to Los Angeles (Burbank) CA to intern for Warner Bros. Going into 2011, I am still working on putting together Official Life Entertainment and interning at Warner Bros, as well as recently interviewing with other music companies seeking other opportunities. I am truly looking forward to 2011 and to see what happens next.<br />
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My advice to young artists, entrepreneurs and people striving to get into the music entertainment industry is to stay focus, persistent, get educated about the business side of music. Artists, it is truly not all of the glamour you see in videos or hear in songs. It's hard work, artists truly work hard in this business. It's more than making a song, performing on stage, pretty girls/guys and after parties. You got to work hard to play hard. Entrepreneurs and people looking to work or get an opportunity, you have to keep your integrity and build relationships in the business with professional people that are working in the business or that have had success, be very detailed and specific on your resume about things you have done in the industry and build a team of people who knows and sticks to their roles.Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-34637950359167011762010-11-10T00:01:00.000-08:002010-12-24T14:13:52.861-08:00Step Your Internet Game Up!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvOU00126DhCwkGTSYcd0m2h5N3XAxGNOW_cdU60Dik6JWJG9KIuhFo8CeW9bQO7Mi1ON0UoB4razg7cIFG5lgegR07TCILZFEmO5_iePjmMqiLVTcE-b2-J6w1LGx-x1cKirF2mmiiC8/s1600/images-1.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 219px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMvOU00126DhCwkGTSYcd0m2h5N3XAxGNOW_cdU60Dik6JWJG9KIuhFo8CeW9bQO7Mi1ON0UoB4razg7cIFG5lgegR07TCILZFEmO5_iePjmMqiLVTcE-b2-J6w1LGx-x1cKirF2mmiiC8/s400/images-1.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538572439195923842" /></a><br />For those who are inspiring to be successful in entertainment, rather it is being a rapper, producer, singer, model, actor or actress, the industry is in a time of change as social media technologies continue to grow and dominate society. Digital media and internet marketing is taking over and to become a presence in entertainment, you better be internet business savvy or you are going to get left in the dust. Not to say that live performances or CD/DVD sales aren't still important but entertainment is moving to what people are calling "The Digital Age" and it is growing bigger and faster everyday.<br /><br />Let's think about this for a minute or two. Just about everybody is on Facebook and Twitter and both can become very addicting. Here are some interesting statistics that may amaze you:<br /><br />- There are more than 400 million active Facebook users, more than 100 million access the site from their mobile device daily<br /><br />- There are more than 106 million active Twitter users, Twitter users increase by 300k daily<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbKcDrbXAjRBPKj1FItqjUBX_yyWnkqVs4FcoQi0aHxECCrK5LFcti-BJHbzpzJRVjUoLTmPAUOOt5x2tCgmKHlNSvklZbFJFP2S6SIyZFLQwkWizVAn_IUJEXaxsOnVRW3DVjLr9piSh/s1600/images-2.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbKcDrbXAjRBPKj1FItqjUBX_yyWnkqVs4FcoQi0aHxECCrK5LFcti-BJHbzpzJRVjUoLTmPAUOOt5x2tCgmKHlNSvklZbFJFP2S6SIyZFLQwkWizVAn_IUJEXaxsOnVRW3DVjLr9piSh/s400/images-2.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538583934265136418" /></a><br /><br />I could not find statistics that indicated how many music or other entertainment pages are on Facebook or Twitter but I think it is a safe bet to say there are thousands maybe even millions.<br /><br />My point for bring up these stats is if you are an artist or entertainer, having a page on Facebook or Twitter is the bare minimum because every artist has a Facebook and Twitter page. You have to do more than that to get noticed or to build an online following. To be successful in any business you have to think outside the box and come up with other strategies and ideas that other people are not doing until you come up with one that works.<br /><br />There are other music websites and social media networks on the web such as Reverbnation, IndiebyChoice, MySpace and it is important to build a presence there but as an artist, model and etc... it is important for you to have your own website that you can direct fans and online traffic to. It is also important to have an analytics program, to locate your drivers and referring domains to help figure out your target demographics. It does not make sense to continue to market yourself to the masses if you do not know who your audience is. I hear inspiring artists say all the time that they know their target demographics and in reality they do not. For those who have fan pages on Facebook, look into Facebook insights as you manage your page. That will give you a start to figure out who is listening, looking at you and how much interaction you have.<br /><br />Get people to talk about you online such as bloggers, twitter followers, facebook friends and build personal relationships with fans. I'm not talking about doing direct mail blast all the time. Make the time to write your new and old fans a personal note, message or email, make them feel as if you appreciate them supporting you. It helps build lifetime fans that will purchase your product.<br /><br />To be successful in entertainment you cannot just think on a street or local level, think globally. As an independent or unsigned artist it is on you to market yourself, remember entertainment is a business. Yes, you have to lock down your local region to start getting recognized but with the correct internet marketing scheme, you can build fan bases in a matter of hours or days in other areas in the country or internationally through the world wide web.<br /><br />References:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/facebook-statistics-facts-figures-for-2010/ </span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">http://www.digitalbuzzblog.com/infographic-twitter-statistics-facts-figures/</span>Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1874387066503016798.post-83937705838669810122010-11-02T00:28:00.000-07:002010-11-04T18:43:41.456-07:00Who Says You Can't Follow Your Dreams?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC-DLXgD_b1tgJFfBs4dcmtExifuxxr-sQZn_xjYKe9fqWy1ZlYYYPvW_Xy4Gd0zwHlexWw-q0jw8pi9wA40sq4B_sKD1pYjbCJtotlVfE5NkbY-WcL01k5mOrafG4grJWbtgX12ZQ6mY/s1600/images.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 143px; height: 107px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC-DLXgD_b1tgJFfBs4dcmtExifuxxr-sQZn_xjYKe9fqWy1ZlYYYPvW_Xy4Gd0zwHlexWw-q0jw8pi9wA40sq4B_sKD1pYjbCJtotlVfE5NkbY-WcL01k5mOrafG4grJWbtgX12ZQ6mY/s320/images.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535216688477558386" /></a><br />As children everyone has been asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and we reply with wanting to be a doctor, lawyer, athlete, entertainer or whatever it is you want to be. As people get older, some tend to forget about that dream or lose focus while transitioning into adulthood with decisions that are made in everyday life. <br /><br />Having grown up in the urban community, I tend to see this quite often. Many of us allow ourselves to get caught up into situations and make decisions that negatively impacts our future such as committing crime, dropping out of school, having unprotected sex and selling or getting hooked on drugs, which causes setbacks and bad judgements. Sometimes these situations are just a bump in the road to where you can dust yourself off, refocus and strive towards the dream you once had as a child, but many times it can lead unto a path of imprisonment, poverty or a struggle of survival. <br /><br />So the question becomes how can you stay focused on your dream and goals? The first step is to never give up on your dream. I have heard so many people say, "I don't have time" or "It's hard when I got to put food on the table" or "It will never happen for me". What is happening is that you defeat yourself before you even try because of your negative thoughts. Who ever said it was going to be easy? Achieving your dreams most of the time will not happen over night and you have to constantly work at it. That means if you are in a situation to where you have to do a little at a time to get to where you want to be then do the little at a time. You're not in a race but you have to stay consistent as you are reaching towards your goals.<br /><br />The second step is to not be afraid. Do not be afraid to take on new and different challenges and do not be afraid to fail. Remember that everyone and I mean everyone makes mistakes. It takes a mature person to admit to themselves that they have miscued or was completely wrong about a decision they have made. Every now and then you will fall or there will be a bump in the road but people that are successful get back up and find a way to overcome the odds. Just remember that a higher power works together with you and determines your destiny, but you have to put the work in to reach your dreams because it is not going to just fall into your lap.<br /><br />Finally, be confident and proud of your achievements. Not to the point to where you boast or come across arrogant, but have some pride in what you have accomplished. Be enthusiastic about your progress and steps you have made. Negative people will always try to deter you from going after what you want to achieve or want to say, "You're not good enough" or "You don't have what it takes". Just remember that your path does not run through them, it runs through you and from the man up above, so you have nothing to prove to anybody but yourself. If you don't believe in yourself, then who else is going to believe in you? Keep positive people that are constantly uplifting you in your life. <br /><br />So honestly ask yourself, "Where do you want to be within the next five years?" Plan to prepare and prepare to work your plan and remember dreams do come true.Roger Greerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16517570290159245049noreply@blogger.com0