Christmas came early for me last fall when my grandpa won an iPod in a raffle and gave it to me. The main thing that I was excited about was Podcasts (I'm still a CD person). A podcast I started listening to is the "CD Baby DIY (Do-it-yourself) Musician Podcast." It covers things important to aspiring and independent artists. I recently listened to an episode about performances at nontraditional venues. Another episode was about using video to promote music. I've only listened to about four episodes, but I'm looking forward to listening to the other episodes too.
I did my first beat purchase ever. I guess it's a little Christmas present to myself. I plan to rap to it at a talent show event coming up at my school.
On Saturday I spent about 8 hours making a beat, and I like it a lot. What's interesting is that when I listen to it, it sounds really slow, but the tempo is actually quite fast, like 112 bpm. Just start freestyling to it and you'll see what I mean.
Right now I'm writing lyrics to it so that I can use it in a talent show at my school. That would be my first show! The plus side of the talent show is that this talent show is less of a talent show and more of a showcase. A good place to build up from. What they do is they take all the couches from teachers' rooms and they turn the commons into a coffee house. Which is why it's called the "Beatnik Cafe."
The types of things they are expecting are poetry reads, so that means that it would work if I performed a chill, lyricism-deep song that isn't meant so much to rock the party as it is to chill and convey messages. Of course, this "chill lyricism" song I'm referring to is not one that is found on this website yet, because the instrumental of it wasn't made by me (so there's no point to uploading it until I record vocals on it). Actually, there's not much of point to me putting my beats up on the site, but I figure, "hey, why not?"
Also, there's going to be an awesome event coming to Rogers High School in Puyallup, WA on the end of February that is completely different from the Beatnik Cafe, because it's going to be an all HipHop show. I am actually working on a website for it, and I'll put that up in the second week of December. It's for a good cause and it's going to be awesome. But more about that later.
The tables in the classroom are covered with paper. You aren't supposed to write on the paper, but there were sentences like "We will miss you!", "I love you", and "Sorry for writing on the tables!" These are words of fellow students. Last words that didn't get a chance to be said, so here they are written.
Maybe it's because I know more people now but it seems like every year someone from my school dies. Yesterday it was a teacher. My art teacher. They say she died in her sleep. She did a lot for our school like art shows, events and more, and will be missed. I don't know if I'm numb or if it hasn't registered yet or what, because I'm not in despair, only a little sad when I think about it. Other people are affected more than I am. It's been a good class because I basically can do whatever art I want as long as I'm doing art, and I wonder what my class will look like for the rest of the year. I had a lot of freedom. For now, I'm just remembering the good times and I'm thankful that I got to have her as a teacher each year of High School.
She was a teacher for many years, and she was very active in the community so this affects a lot of people. She was a part of our school more than the brick and glass that form the buildings.
It seems like whenever someone finds out that you are into doing any element of Hip Hop, it doesn't matter whether you're the one who told them or not, they'll ask you to prove it. I'm not complaining, I think that's cool, it means you have to be ready. The other day before school someone found out that I am into hip hop dance (it's not something I'm pursuing but it's something that I enjoy, so that's why I keep it general). Actually, what was said about me was that "He's a breakdancer." Not true! Not quite. But when the other guy said, "show me a dance," I didn't argue, I just put on some headphones, played some LA Symphony and busted a move right there in the middle of the High School commons before school. I don't know how good it was, certainly nothing special, but no one was laughing or challenging me at the end of it.
A good sign.
The reason why I don't say that I'm a Bboy (the 'real' name for breakdancer), is because if I say that, then people get a picture in their head of someone spinning on their head. Plus, it would do injustice to call me that because I don't pursue it with all my will, I just dabble. Like on Friday, I went to the YMCA and asked someone in the dancing room there to teach me. I could've gotten intimidated because there are some really good dancers in there, but everyone starts somewhere. He was cool and taught me the six-step---something that I can practice and my first "real" Bboy move... unless popping counts. I'm still doing that at a slow speed but who knows? Maybe I'll start liking this as much as rapping.
In the past few months, I've gone through 50 random name ideas, seriously considered around seven and actually went by three. It was a "process" but now I believe that I have a name I'll stick with. I had a name that sounded too similar to another rapper's name, so I knew I was going to change it, and when I wanted to communicate through myspace and create a soundclick (to try it), picking a name was something that I absolutely had to do, unless I wanted to be stuck staring at the "Create a Username: " page.
Survei is the one that it came down to. It's a bit out-of-the-ordinary, which is what I was going for, it feels deep, and it has a meaning. What it means is that I am constantly looking ahead and asking questions, figuring things out and learning new things from people. Also on really good days, it means I served it up, (but don't tell that to anyone or I might find myself between a tough rap battle and hard place.) I take advice and learn from other people.
Keep it movin
Survei
I am an aspiring Hip Hop artist. Maybe I'll use this website as my artist page, maybe it will just be my blog. I have big dreams, goals and plans and a love for writing songs so keep your eyes out and maybe you'll see me and you'll remember that you saw my name somewhere before.
Peace.