I've been going back and forth on this, but I'll go out on a limb and say I established myself WELL in my first time out in the music business. The contacts I made are lifelong, I established a rapport of making CONSISTENT good music (perhaps an understatement), and my viewpoints were generally accepted (despite initial resistance). Say what you want, but it was more than a domestic dispute and an "overshot thank you" that got me removed from the label.
Love is why I am not on Interscope.
At least not on a physical roster.
Since Interscope, I was marketed as "a new artist" on Republic. Republic and Interscope are both under the Universal umbrella. BEING a new artist meant I had no control over the music or image. Meaning, I had to wear what they gave me, and NOT rap about... particular subjects that show up in my music. Therefore, I was VERY muzzled in my barks of "I actually bodied this album with the writtens, I just couldn't lock in the way I normally would with the hooks". Many have told me they enjoyed "Hamilton, Charles" (the Republic digital/retail album), and that they're satisfied.
Perfect.
Now to introduce you to what I've been doing.
I realize that there are traits about Scorpios that are universal (no pun intended). I endured several ego deaths, exoskeleton-shedding moments, and overall fatalities of my very being. Recently. But if it weren't for me taking moments to read literature about my craft, I would've crashed out. I'm not exactly sure of the gravity of the phrase "crash out". It sounds ridiculous (as in, cool), but I don't think niggas know the levels of #crashingout my generation of Harlem is/was on. So peep. I crash out, by reading! What I read, I study, and apply to my music!
All of it!
Here's the catch: whatever developments of self I make, I have to be prepared to DISPLAY such. To keep consistent with who I (pretty much) ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. You may say I don't, but it's a literal exhibition of talent to dead LOOK LIKE a song. NO LESS be the physical representation of a user-made genre (Nu-Hop, Voodoo Hop, Hypersoul, SUPERTrance, NDM, etc.)
It could be a matter of a throwback. Or an update of an original. But I been on my bum shit out here in South Central. I dead wanna get fresh one time. And I have the time in mind. I'm gonna crush it. What makes it even sweeter is, I'm somehow honoring mom with how rad I plan to look (lol shouts to B/A).
So it was a blessing (in the long run) for me not to have creative control on Republic. The reception was clear, the perception was there, and we left it in the Air. I NEED to control the music, and designate whom I see fit as an advisor. I also NEED to dress the way I see fit. We can get sponsors, but I'm on some shit that you can't smell, baby. (Abel, man! #signCYoung!!!)
I do agree that I need to visit Harlem/NYC in the near future. Maybe I'll be stupid enough to go out there in the winter season. lol!
"Died So Young" by The Rebirth of Charles Hamilton (from the album "Natural Causes") is my SHIT as of late. I love spinning it... in fact, I'ma go do that. Holla.
#thenewboy
