I GOTTA GET DJ HERO

I gotta get this DJ Hero game, so I guess that means I gotta get a Nintendo Wii first...

SAW 6 (review)

I've liked all the SAW movies that came out. SAW four & five were a little disappointing.

I think they were basically building up the plot. Becase...

SAW 6 was crazy as hell!!!!!

I loved it.

One of the best since the first one.

The lady who one Scream Queens was in the movie. She had a small role, but she killed it.

I'm not sure if there will be a SAW 7, but...ya never know.

I'm already waiting for the DVD to come out.

Good stuff 

CHRIS BROWN ft. SWIZZ BEATZ & LIL WAYNE - I CAN TRANSFORM YA

One of the sickest videos I seen in a little while. I like how they used the effects, but also kept it clean with the white background.  They didn't over do it.

CREATIVITY (part 2)

The last time I said I had never heard of Melanie Fiona, so I did my research. Girl is mad talented. I will get her album when it drops in stores.

SAW 6 Comes Out 2morrow

I've been a fan of the SAW movies since the very first one.

Me and my girlfriend Lamura try 2 see SAW the first day it comes out

so we don't have 2 hear our friends talk about it.

Last year when I was interning @ Silent Sound in ATL,

I made the 8 hour drive back 2 WV 2 go see the movie with Lamura.

We gotta make sure 2 get our tickets early because I know this movie usually sales out.

I'll write a little review about it after we go see it.

The Life of an Intern...Quote of the Day

What rhymes with tired...

Fired

~Sean Combs~

Chobbe Boyz!!!!

Chobbe Boyz is a group of rap artist from Okeechobee, Florida.

I met one of the members, Curt B, when I was attending Marshall University.

Not only did we share the same interest in music, but we had the same drive.

Curt's cousin Dallas is a rapper/producer.

This dude is one of the most dedicated guys I know (besides myself).

Dallas just got a placement on Trick Daddy's new alum.

I've been working on this mixtape with the Chobbe Boyz.

Sometimes when I get off track, these cats help me get re-motivated.

They've been working hard for a minute...success will soon follow.

Intern Tip 101: DO YOUR RESEARCH

I made sure to know the credits and some background info on every producer, engineer, songwriter, or any client we had while I was interning.  If I was picking up food for someone I wanted to know who he/she was.  Its so easy to start a conversation by saying, "Congratulations for your work with____ ".  It works every time.

This Was My Ish

The Life of an Intern: Quote of the Day

I've been, working this grave shift

And I ain't made sh*t

I wish I could, buy me a spaceship

And fly

Past the sky

~Kanye West~

 

I JIZZED IN MY PANTS: LMAO

I Saw This Yesterday: LMAO

THIS WAS MY ISH

Rihanna - THE WAIT IS OVER (promotional vid)

The Life of an Intern: Quote of the Day

 

I find that this new generation of go getters doesn't really wanna start at the bottom. They wanna start in the middle, at the very least. But the last time I checked, the definition of "start" was to have a beginning. That's the time in your life when you'll do ANYthing to make it in the business, from driving all night to get to a music convention, to answering phones at a studio and picking up take-out for the engineers.

~Jermaine Dupri~

WHY SOME PRODUCERS CAN CHARGE $100,000 PER BEAT

Yesterday I had a conversation with one my friends (he's an up and coming rap artist) about why some producers charge $100,000 (and up) for one beat.

His argument was:  A beat can be hot no matter who produced it. So why are labels paying crazy money to a famous producer when they can get Joe Blow to make a similar beat?

I gave him my explanation...

1). YOUR NAME

When I was interning @ Silent Sound Studios, Assistant Engineer Kory Aaron told me that the most   important thing in the music busy is YOUR NAME.
      -No matter where you go your name follows you.


2). CREDITS

Sometimes the only thing that separates one producer from the other is their CREDITS
     -If you wikipedia any producer and scroll up to the top of their CREDITS you will see a list of 
          projects that were not huge hits. There may only be a few credits for the 1st couple of years. But  
          scroll down until you find that big hit. The list will become longer and the producer will have 
          more placements per year.

3). HIT RECORD

Its not just about getting placements on any Joe Blow's album. You need that HIT RECORD.
     -Even if you get a placement on an album that did okay, you don't want the track that no one likes.

     -I personally avoid making beats that will be the "I Miss My Dog" or "Life Is Hard" of the album.
     -I want the song that gets played in the clubs, on the radio, commercials, etc.

     -The key is to make a song that can be the lead single or a HIT RECORD.

4). GAMBLE

Releasing music is always a big GAMBLE.
     -No one can tell if a record will blow up or not
     -Record labels figure that since Famous Producer has had some hit records then it would be a 
         smarter move to go with him.
     -Its all about that hit record and Famous Producer has made some; therefore its a better GAMBLE

5). ITS A PRODUCER ADVANCE

The $500,000 is a PRODUCER ADVANCE meaning...
     -The producer will not receive a royalty check until the PRODUCER ADVANCE is recouped.
     -Famous Producer says to the Record Label: "Since I'm making you a hit record that will make 
         you a ton of $ I want $500,000 up front".
     -Most of the time the album didn't make enough money to recoup the PRODUCER ADVANCE so
         Famous Producer may not see a royalty check for that album.



6). MARKET

Its all based on the needs and likes from the consumer and the MARKET.
    -Why does a Cadillac Escalade cost more than a Dodge Durango?
    -Why does a Louis Vuitton t-shirt cost more than a Wal-Mart t-shirt?
    -Answer = MARKET
    -Every producers' dream is to sell that one beat for $100,000, but what's wrong with selling ten        
        beats for $10,000 per track?
    -There is nothing wrong with being the owner of Wal-Mart or Dodge.




 

YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS...SO SO DEF

Jermaine Dupri has always been one of my favorite producers.

I have followed his career since I was wearing my pants backwards.

I've read his book Young, Rich, and Dangerous.

Recently he has been blogging on Twitter and YouTube.

He also has his own blog site (Global 14).

I just watched an interview of him talking about music business and the internet.

I have never met him personally, but I've learned much from him.

WILL HE BE MY FUTURE EMPLOYER?

Check out his interview

6AM ---- NO SLEEP!!

Its 6AM right now & I'm still up.  I've been mixing these vocals for this singer from West Virginia.  Its a little weird sometimes mixing another person's material.  I've always considered myself a producer 1st b/c I only started engineering b/c I didn't know anyone in my area who could engineer the songs I was making. & plus it was cheaper 4 me 2 learn how 2 do it myself.  I basically try & do everything by myself, even though it can have its downsides. I'm very O.C.D when it comes 2 music (& a lot of other things...lol) so it may take me a little while 2 mix a record.  Just a day or so tho. I think I need 2 lay it down b/c I feel like I'm rambling about nothing....but n the words of Puff -----
WHAT RHYMES WITH TIRED...FIRED

JOHN MAYER - WHO SAYS

ENERGY X 2 (LIL JON & SWIZZ BEATZ)

Just saw this video of Lil Jon & Swizz Beatz recording vocals.  These dudes gotta b some of the most energized people in the music industry. I know the engineer had 2 have the knobs turned all the way down...lol

CREATIVITY

I never heard of this singer b4...but when I saw this I thought she was creative. I think she should come out with a DVD that shows her going 2 different areas singing with the street talent.

WAIT TIL I GET MY MONEY RIGHT

THE NEW WATER CAR... I'm not a huge fun on luxury cars, probably b/c I can't afford em...lol, but this is sick

JUST BOUGHT THIS ALBUM

MARIO - D.N.A

Just went 2 Best Buy 2 pickup Mario's new album.

Its crazy b/c 2yrs ago I would buy a CD & not personally know anyone who worked on the album.

Now I do, so whenever I buy an album I make sure 2 call & congratulate the people I know.

Hopefully one day I'll be on the opposite end of the line receiving a congratulations call.

I GOTTA GET IT

Amerie's highly anticipated album In Love & War is scheduled 2 b released Nov 3...

Check her out n the studio mastering the album

I GOTTA GET

ABOUT THIS BLOG

FROM STUDIO INTERN TO... is a blog about the journey I am taking trying to make it in the music industry.  Of course I will talk about music, but I will also write about fashion and art. Sometimes I may post something that happened in my past if it pertains to me becoming Another Step Closer. I've got a few ideas about things I want 2 write about, but most will be off the top of the dome. I'm just trying 2 make the transition FROM STUDIO INTERN TO...

Lyfe Jennings

I received a call a couple of weeks ago saying that platinum selling singer/songwriter Lyfe Jennings

needed help moving his studio 2 new location.

After the job was completed I gave him my resume' and an instrumental CD I produced.

This guy is very talented.  His accomplishments show me what hard work can get you.

ANOTHER CONTACT = ANOTHER STEP CLOSER

Derrick Selby

I met engineer extraordinaire Derrick Selby (DJ Toomp's personal engineer)while I was interning @ Silent Sound Studios.

  Since then he has been introducing me to many of ATL's elite producers & engineers.

The majority of the people I speak about on this blog were introduced 2 me from him.

Dude is extremely talented & I'm grateful for his help.

ANOTHER CONTACT = ANOTHER STEP CLOSER

Maestro

Just 2 catch up 2 speed...

A few weeks ago I had the chance 2 track vocals for Grammy Award winning producer Maestro (Lil Wayne-The Carter 3)

 At the end of the session I gave him my resume' & he was surprised & impressed.

The next day he got on Twitter & gave me mad props.

ANOTHER CONTACT = ANOTHER STEP CLOSER

The Dream

This happened a few weeks ago, but..

I ran into The Dream & his wife Christina Milian @ a store (won't say which one).

Reminded him that I had met him when he was working on Jamie Foxx's album.

Told him I was looking for an entry level position with Red Zone Ent.

WILL THE DREAM BE MY FUTURE EMPLOYER???

Sam Thomas

 

 Today I helped recording engineer Sam Thomas (Mary J. Blidge, Keyshia Cole, Trey Songz, etc) with a project that we tried 2 get working weeks ago...ANOTHER CONTACT = ANOTHER STEP CLOSER

My 1st Blog

This is my 1st Blog...not exactly sure wut i wanna talk about... but i have a few ideas...