New hip hop track

Beat Takeshi

Beat Takeshi

Two-Hip Shakur
Hey guys, check out this new track we just did and feedback is much appreciated even if you are not a hip-hop fan. Ain't no gangsta music here though.
This is from that group I started managing after making their music video (here) and its been a fun ride so far. We on going to our second show tonight and slated for another one in 2 weeks. Also, I have been getting more music video work just meeting with other managers at these shows so its been a win win situation.

Hear it here
Da Truth Spitters: Get Down

Here is some other tracks
http://www.purevolume.com/datruthspitters

Let me know what you think

Peace!
 
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Thank god NO Gangsta !

I love the 2nd track Let's Stay 2gether ! Awesome.

They have a cool sound; feels 70's ish funky
 
Honestly? Well, I love the idea behind a track like "Let's get 2gether" - however, you gotta deliver. I mean, to grab that song - or any song of that stature and fame - well, you better do justice to it. It's like a modern classical composer grabbing Mozart's most famous concerto and riffing off it. Yes, it shows balls, but man... you better be equal to the task. The music here is really lacking - the moment it quit, I couldn't remember it. It didn't have a hook, or sound, or beats or anything to make it stand out. I mean, I listen to a ton of hip hop, and this effort doesn't sound special in any way. Let's put it this way: I didn't bump to it. So, the music is just not there. Now, on to delivery...

Sometimes your flow may be so-so, but your vocal quality is fantastic, and that's enough (good example: MF Doom). But you gotta have something. I'm not hearing anything that special in these two nice guys delivery. Not the lyrics, not the flow, not the vocal quality. They are not bad, but I don't find them compelling. And you need 'compelling' to stand out from the approx. 10 million other hip hop cats out there trying to make it.

As you know well, there's a lot that goes into launching and sustaining a career in music - obviously the music itself, but also image and marketing. The video is OK. However, I can't say that the guys have much of a presence on screen either. The eye is not drawn irresistably to their personas. They don't do cool threads or cool moves. It's all kinda "meh". They have to sit down and think this through - and pick it up by several levels. YOU MUST HAVE AN ANGLE. Otherwise, it's not gonna hit. All IMHO.

Maybe this wasn't what you wanted to hear, but it was honest feedback.
 
Looks and sounds pretty good. If anything, I'm not crazy about that sepia tone thing on the back half of the video. Wait, are we reviewing the video?

Just out of curiosity, where did you shoot the beach shots?
 
I'm looking for all feed back. I know most that listen to todays hip hop might feel it because its not thug enough and they actually got booed once while performing their music before they were with me but tonight they killed it. We were in the heart of Harlem and there were 10 different performers tonight doing there thing from R&B to straight up gangsta. My guys stood out from that crowd at least and "Get Down" got people out of their seats and were clapping their hands to the music. Don't think anyone else got that reaction tonight that I saw. Let's Stay doesn't really have a hook and thats why we made Get Down and plan to work on more hooks and stuff. We are just getting off the ground and this was the first time I saw them both on stage. Tonight we got asked to be on some local hip hop underground radio station and get some spins on there which was a good look and they also got asked back to the next show in 2 weeks on the 29th. From what we hear from people we show the tracks to the reaction is the mostly the same, its refreshing to hear something not talking about the typical stuff everyone talks about. Not saying everyone is going to like it and I definitely will not tell them to conform to something like doing a song because its what they think people might want to hear. I tell them just do whats in your heart and don't try to be like anyone else.

Their delivery is still in the making since they are still young and need more experience and practice. I wish they would have been able to come with me to the other show I went to after theirs so they can see what rock bands do and how they move the crowd but they are 18 and 19 and had to go home after. The girl Madison Rocks played with Bizaar Royal and destroyed it in there along with the Lordz of Brooklyn. In time though they will get all of that stuff down. I think we have a good chance of at least doing a lot of shows if anything. I know its a long shot for anyone in the music business but if you don't try then whos to know if its your vibe people will feel.

I know what you mean about their persona because it was tough getting them to move when shooting that video. Part of all these shows I'm putting them in is to loosen them up and get them to build a stage presence. Its going to take a lot of work but I'm game for it as are they. I tape all their shows so we can see what needs to be worked on. Its a work in progress and I hope to keep everyone updated on whats happening so that if one day they do happen to get signed, you guys would have seen the ups and downs of their grind. I also have no idea what the hell I'm doing either but have a lot of friends in the industry that are helping me out so I'm a work in progress too as a manager.
I can definitely say though that its fun as hell and I could do this and the film making forever and not make a dime and still be happy.

The beach shots were out in Connecticut somewhere.


Thanks everyone for their feedback.


OldCorpse said:
Honestly? Well, I love the idea behind a track like "Let's get 2gether" - however, you gotta deliver. I mean, to grab that song - or any song of that stature and fame - well, you better do justice to it. It's like a modern classical composer grabbing Mozart's most famous concerto and riffing off it. Yes, it shows balls, but man... you better be equal to the task. The music here is really lacking - the moment it quit, I couldn't remember it. It didn't have a hook, or sound, or beats or anything to make it stand out. I mean, I listen to a ton of hip hop, and this effort doesn't sound special in any way. Let's put it this way: I didn't bump to it. So, the music is just not there. Now, on to delivery...

Sometimes your flow may be so-so, but your vocal quality is fantastic, and that's enough (good example: MF Doom). But you gotta have something. I'm not hearing anything that special in these two nice guys delivery. Not the lyrics, not the flow, not the vocal quality. They are not bad, but I don't find them compelling. And you need 'compelling' to stand out from the approx. 10 million other hip hop cats out there trying to make it.

As you know well, there's a lot that goes into launching and sustaining a career in music - obviously the music itself, but also image and marketing. The video is OK. However, I can't say that the guys have much of a presence on screen either. The eye is not drawn irresistably to their personas. They don't do cool threads or cool moves. It's all kinda "meh". They have to sit down and think this through - and pick it up by several levels. YOU MUST HAVE AN ANGLE. Otherwise, it's not gonna hit. All IMHO.

Maybe this wasn't what you wanted to hear, but it was honest feedback.
Click to expand...
 
this is an example, imo of 'good' hip hop. Still not a major fan of the genre, but i found it good. As an aside, towards the end of the song i was wondering if they were singing about the girls or the both of them...heh
 
Beat Takeshi said:
The beach shots were out in Connecticut somewhere.
Click to expand...


I knew it! I thought that was Long Island Sound.

"out in Connecticut somewhere"? Ha ha, spoken like a true New Yorker.

"Word up! Quick to set it, don't wet it
Real ni**as lick shots, peace Connecticut"-Raekwon
 
I just checked the old emails. It was Milford CT. :)
Very nice area and the mother of one of the girls had crazy juice out there. We could shoot anywhere we wanted with no problems. Too bad we didn't have the time to scout before we got out there.

I think they were singing to the girls but thats funny.
 
Yeah, Milford has some nice places to shoot.

I like the sunset shots. My first guess based on the position of the sun was that you were in the Bronx or Westchester, but you were obviously a bit further East! :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)
 
Yeah, we caught those shots just in time too. I just wish there wasn't rocks on the beach instead of sand. Even though I was using a stedi cam I was tripping like crazy and could only use short clips from the takes. :(
There were 2 funny moments out there where this fat guy was laying on top of his girl but she totally disappeared under him and then some dude was taking a crap in the weeds and we chased him out before he got to finish.
 
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