Music Downloads

Jeff Schuman
69

With all of the latest technology of downloading songs to burn onto CD’s, iPod’s, and more, the simple thought of music video downloads often passes peoples minds anymore. With burning songs onto CD’s, and listening to songs on your iPod, you’re only retaining the audio portion of music and completely overlooking the visual aspect of music.
Sure you can tune into MTV and VH1 and all of the other music channels. However, anymore there are more TV and reality shows on the music channels then there are actual music videos.
With music video downloads on your personal computer, you can download a video of your favorite artist or favorite song in a matter of minutes depending on your internet connection speed. Once downloaded you can save it to a file or if you download from one site, most contain a library in which all of your favorite music videos will be saved to.
In this day and age nothing is legally free, so one might ask themselves how much it will cost to actually watch music videos? Is it really worth it to pay for music videos when you can watch them on TV? Depending on the site you download from, it is very much worth it to pay the low cost and have a much larger selection than on TV and be able to watch them whenever you want.
There are millions of sites that offer music video downloads for free, so what’s the catch. For a majority of the sites you can only view 30 seconds of the song such as at music.lycos.com. Other sites such as music.yahoo.com allow you to view one music video, kind of like a teaser to see the quality of video. After viewing the video if you attempt to watch another one, it takes you to the sign in page where you can either log-in if already a member, or you can learn the prices and register to get unlimited access to millions of videos.
At music.yahoo.com they offer a deal where you can get unlimited downloads of music videos and music in general to save to your computer for just $4.99/mo. At music.yahoo.com there are over 1 million songs to choose from allowing you to never be left unsatisfied. There are system requirements in order to download the program that can be viewed at http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited/, but with music that cheap it’s hard to pass up.
Another site worth checking out is www.imusicshare.com. At this site you can purchase a 2 year membership for $1/mo. or a single year membership for $1.57/mo. With a membership to this site you receive unlimited access to billions of songs, no software is required to download, and you can burn unlimited songs as well. With this site you also are not limited to just music video downloads, but you are also capable of downloading mp3s, movies, TV and Radio shows, and much more.
Now that you have knowledge of how to download music videos and why to download music videos, get out there and begin building up a large library videos for a low cost.

Brent Wilson
137

Hip hop mixtapes are one of the foundations of the hip hop music genre. It is often through mixtapes that music gets out for the first time. And, it is through these tapes that many hip hop artists got their first start. No matter what your thoughts are as far as who to consider as hip hop’s first artists, there is no doubt that they had a mixtape. First, a definition of what a mixtape is. It is often a homemade taping that is a complication of homemade recordings. In some cases, individuals will record sountracks that are copyrighted music but then change them to fit their needs. But, in the hip hop world, they are a little different.
A hip hop mixtape is the customized recording of DJ’s. In the 1970’s when artists such as Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five were playing in clubs, they would often record their mixtapes to then sell to others who wanted them. Individuals would often purchase a one to three hour tape for as much as $75. Hip hop mixtapes are unique in that they were an expression of each individual’s concepts of the music. Other artists of the time frame that used hip hop mixtapes include Kool Herc and the Herculoids, DJ Breakout, Afrika Bambaataa, and many more. In today’s world, mixtapes have really become replaced by cd’s and mp3 players.
But, you can still purchase a variety of mixtapes. In fact, some of the hottest artists in hip hop right now are putting out mixtapes as recordings of their DJ careers. If you would like to find mixtapes that you can purchase, check the websites. On the web you will find a large amount of the best in hip hop mixtapes. You will find that these are often the best ways to listen to hip hop in general. To find them, all you need to do is to look on your favorite hip hop websites or the websites of hip hop artists and radio stations. You will then have a large amount of options to choose from. You don’t have to go without your hip hop mixtapes!

James Duffy
155

With the wrap of HBO’s first season of Rome comes the inevitable debates over historical accuracy vs. Hollywoodized storytelling. In the rhetoric over Julius Caesar’s looks, mannerisms, and political acuity, one key scene near the end of the series has been consistently overlooked: the gladiator games. Once again, costumers and production designers won out over the reality of arena combat and fighters. As with Ridley Scott’s brilliant, yet historically flawed, masterpiece “Gladiator,” the pairings, equipment, and battles within the arena were woefully wrong.
Here are five of the most common misconceptions about gladiators that should, perhaps, be required reading by all feature film directors.
1). Gladiators randomly fought any and all other gladiators.
This is false and is the root of the most common inaccuracies in gladiator films. Gladiators were categorized by specific fighting styles. Each had its own set of weapons, and more importantly, each fought only one or two other styles of gladiators. For example, the retiarius who fought with a trident, net, and small dagger, would only fight one other style of gladiator: the secutor. The smooth design of the secutor’s helmet-almost bullet-like in shape-was developed specifically for these bouts. The helmets worn by other types of gladiators, with elaborate crests and ornamentations, could easily get snagged by the net, putting the wearer at an unhealthy disadvantage. The tenet to gladiator combat was checks and balances. For every strong point each style of fighter had, there was also a weakness to be exploited.
2). All gladiators were criminals or prisoners of war.
While most fell into these categories, there were quite a few fighters who volunteered for gladiator duty. Some did it for the fame and glory, others sought a life of adventure and danger, and others did it for the money. Victorious gladiators were rewarded with a victory palm and gold coins. Although considered the dregs of society, the gladiators’ fame and celebrity was not unlike that enjoyed by today’s top sports heroes.
3). All arena bouts ended with the death of a gladiator.
Actually, relatively few arena bouts ended in death. A recent study of ancient writings revealed that, in the 1st Century AD, there was a 90% survival rate among gladiators in Rome. The number of arena deaths did increase in the later years of the Empire, but even at its most deadly period, 66% of gladiators still left the arena alive. The main reason for this was economics. The lanista-the owner of the gladiator school-had a sizeable investment in these professional fighters. If he were to lose half his fighting force in each arena show, he would be out of business quickly. Consequently, only the worst, cowardly fighters were sentenced to death.
4). Thumbs down meant death in the arena.
This may or may not be true. It has been the subject of debate by scholars and historians for many years. The only direct reference to this practice in ancient writings was by Juvenal, who mentions that fighters were sentenced to death “with a turn of the thumb.” Some historians have interpreted this to mean a thumbs down motion, others feel it could be a sideways motion, and still others feel it was actually a thumbs up motion.
5). Gladiators fought both men and wild animals.
Gladiators were rarely, if ever, pitted against wild beasts. That job was left to a specialized group of arena fighters called venatores. These fighters were well trained in the hunting and killing of the largest and most ferocious wild animals, usually with only a hunting spear in hand. They were considered of lower rank than the gladiators, although the crowds also had their favorite venatores.
So is it poor research or the whim of production designers and directors that continues to result in so many arena inaccuracies? With so much real-life danger and spectacle, it’s a wonder that filmmakers continue to feel the need to try to improve on ancient history.

[ Submitted with ArticleSubmitter Pro - http://www.articlecity.com/article_submitter_tmZZZ

Mark Bishop
242

Over a few years, mobile tones, cheap ring tones, mobile phone logo and downloadable game for mobile phones have become very popular among a large cross-section of mobile phone users in different parts of UK as well as other parts of the globe. A number of online providers of mobile phone logos, mobile tones as well as downloadable game for mobile phones have evolved and there is tremendous competition among them to make their presence felt in the telecom market. Many among them are enticing mobile phone users with offers that involve a lot of “small print.” Many of these offers do not respect the right of the mobile phone users to get what they are entitled to when they pay money for downloading of different types of mobile content in the form of mobile tones, mobile phone logo, cheap ring tones, other types of ring tones or those who are engaged in game downloads in their mobiles.
To protect the interests of consumers in this environment becomes all the more necessary. In this context, a number of rules have been devised to protect the rights of mobile phone users in UK for game downloads in their mobiles or in the instances of downloading of cheap ring tones, funny ring tones or a mobile phone logo. All firms that want to sell mobile phone content have to strictly follow these set of rules. These rules have been drafted by the Mobile Entertainment Forum and the UK’s phone firms.
Under the tenets of the new rules, the online firms must be transparent in their operations. They must provide all information to the end-consumers. The consumers must know what type of mobile tones or mobile phone logos they are expected to get for their money and also how they could discontinue the services of the online providers, offering the same, if they are dissatisfied with their services. The advertisements of these firms must speak in detail about the prices and time periods of the various offers in mobile tones, cheap ring tones, funny ring tones, mobile phone logos and downloadable games for mobile phones that are on offer.
Mobile phone users as consumers of the services of online retailers and providers of mobile content have a right to know what they are actually getting into, when they make a purchase of a mobile tone, mobile phone logo or game downloads for their mobiles. These rules would greatly improve the market dynamics of this sector of the mobility marketplace and would give more reasons for mobile phone users to make their online purchases of mobile phone logos, funny ring tones, Nokia ring tones, downloadable games for mobile phones, mobile tones and other forms of mobile phone content, with some degree of confidence. Z

Don Lair
125

The synthesizer was a long time in the making. The history of the synthesizer is one that goes back long before electricity – many of early composers conceived of the concept, but could never put it into practice. In fact, it would take the invention of the silicon chip to make synthesizers possible.
The first synthesizers were very crude in their abilities. They date back well over 50 years. They were wired manually to create a given sound. They consisted of an oscillator, or tone generators, in one of three basic waveforms. These were sawtooth, square, or sine waves. This signal was then passed through several other modules to alter the initial tone. These first synthesizers were not triggered by a keyboard like they are today and they were abstract in their uses.
It didn’t take long for many rock musicians in the 60’s and 70’s to realize the benefits of these instruments. Many companies were formed in these days. For example, Moog, Arp, and Oberheim were some of the manufacturers that would produce the first synthesizers. Most of these first models were only able to produce one note at a time. In 1978, the first polyphonic units were created. They were still typically analog in their design and had a very distinct sound.
Dates To Know:
1940’s and 1950’s: A variety of different automated electronic musical controllers were built.
1950: RCA produces an experimental device that synthesizes voice and music.
1958: Daphne Oram from BBC Radiophoic Workshop produces the Oramics technique.
1960’s: Real time synthesizers were designed but were mainly used in studios. They were simply too large.
1964: The Moog Synthesizer was the first to be displayed at Audio Engineering Society Convention. Four years later, it was a hot product.
1967: The album Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn, & Jones, Ltd became the first album to hit number one with a synthesizer used on it. It was from The Monkees’.
1970: The first synthesizer with a built in keyboard was designed by Moog.
Synthesizers enjoyed many innovations over the course of the following few years. They would become self contained and then movable, allowing them to be used throughout the home and recording studios. The synthesizer has continued to evolve and is widely used today.ZZ

Following jam bands is a blast because of the music, places you see and cool people you meet. Jam band journals are great ways to keep track of your shows.
Jam Band Journals
Undoubtedly, the Grateful Dead was the greatest jam band in history, but others such as String Cheese Incident have carried on the tradition. Whatever your favorite band is, think back to the last show you saw. What sticks out in your mind? Now think about the first time you ever saw the band. Do you remember the set, people you met and so on? Probably not. The experiences you’ve forgotten are lost to time. If you had kept a jam band journal, this wouldn’t be the case.
There are famous instances of people keeping journals throughout time. Of course, Anne Frank’s Diary is the best example. In her diary, Anne kept a running commentary of the two years her family spent hiding from the Nazis. While your show experiences better be more lighthearted, keeping a journal will let you remember them as the years pass.
A good jam band journal combines a number of characteristics. First, it should be compact so you don’t have to take up unnecessary space for other things. Second, it should have a case to protect it from the elements. Third, the journal should contain blank areas to write email address, phone numbers and set lists. Fourth, the journal should contain cue spaces to remind you to keep notes on specific things. Cues should include:
1. Set list,
2. Location and directions,
3. Accommodations and camping information, if any,
4. People you met, email addresses and phone numbers,
5. Grub and grog,
6. High points of the show, and
7. Any unique things that occurred.
As the shows add up, you’ll be able to look back through your journal to past shows, find information to locate people and generally laugh yourself silly about things that happened. Don’t lose your experiences to time. Z

Dan Brown
313

What does it mean to be an “organized” drummer?

When your band plays a song, do you play that song the same
way every time? If not, you should. Here’s why…

It can all be summed up into one word called
“predictability.” So many drummers will never play a song
the same way twice. This, many times, throws the other
musicians off, potentially causing a drag in timing or
increasing the chances of a mislead cue.

As the drummer in a band it is your responsiblity to provide
the foundation for the music. This meaning that everything
you do behind the drum kit is vital. Anything you do out of
the ordinary, or something the other musicians are not used
to hearing you play in a particular song really has the
potential to screw things up.

Experimenting is definitely a good thing, and that’s why we
practice, but there just comes a time when experimenting is
over. You must decide what you’re gonna do and then stick to
it. Never throw in something that the other musicians are
not expecting or you can end up with some serious choas.

Predictability is a must! The other musicians must know what
you’re going to do before you do it. An outstanding drummer
is predictable, prepared and organized, ready to bring his
or her goods to the table. Personally, it has always
bothered me when a band mate would come to play and he or
she would just not be ready. Situations like that are just
not fair to everyone else who is ready.

It’s been said that when prepardness and opportunity meet,
success occurs. I don’t know what kind of “success” your
hoping for, but one thing is for sure, you will more likely
meet with it by being organized when opportunity knocks.

Brent Wilson
146

LED buckles are a part of every hip hop lover’s wardrobe. They offer a wide range of sayings, designs, and styles. But, the bottom line is that if you want to have that hip hop look you need to get yourself an LED buckle. At least one of them anyway! These great looking buckles can say just what you want them to say and they offer some of the most sought offer options in hip hop jewelry.
LED buckles are just like little street signs right on your buckle. They offer programmable sayings or words. Some of them are able to scroll through a phrase that is programmed in. They offer a bright light in various hot colors. Everyone will know your name or your favorite group when one of these is worn. In fact, you can even have a belt in LED as well. Hey, looking great is important, right?
LED buckles have become quite a popular choice among individuals in the hip hop genre. Many people will tell you that they offer some of the best looking ways to get out your favorite saying or just your name. At any rate, they came about as part of the hip hop jewelry fad that is ever growing. Many of the hottest hip hop artists out there wear LED buckles making them very popular among their fans. And, those stars that aren’t singing are still showing off hip hop jewelry like these buckles. Everyone has to have one then!
The good news is that there are some really great looking LED buckles to be had. Individuals can purchase them to fit their personality, their favorite bands or simply to make a statement. They can be purchased in a variety of styles and colors. To find the most selection of LED buckles, you simply must purchase them on the web. Look for other hip hop jewelry here as well. You will save yourself money and time this way. And, you’ll end up with a pretty awesome LED belt buckle too.

Bobbie Grennier
210

World renown psychic and author Jane Doherty has found herself in a very prominent position on her new reality TV show called “Dead Tenants”, which is hosted by The Learning Channel. I say it’s a prominent position because of the phenomena that separates Jane’s psychic abilities from those of other psychics.
Whenever there are ghosts around Jane, she has an amazing physical reaction to them and handling it is no small feat either. The reaction Jane has is that her stomach area actually enlarges by as much as six inches around within seconds. And, Jane tells us that it’s extremely painful to her when this happens. If you watch Jane while this stomach expansion is happening, you’re going to hear her moaning and see her wincing … and trust me, it’s not dramatics … the woman’s in definite pain.
With regards to her expanding tummy, Jane says, “It feels like a contraction when a woman is in labor, but it doesn’t ever release me until the spirit leaves. Instead, the stomach expands as if I was nine months pregnant.” Jane actually describes it as very intense muscle cramps, where her stomach is physically gripped by the ghost, and if you watch, the belly will actually lift up. Jane continues, “Often I can tell by the grip whether it is a female, male or child spirit. It first happened to me in 1990, when I investigated my first haunted house with a researcher.”
The belly area is associated with the third charka located at the solar plexus, which is the area that dominates the gifts of telepathy, clairvoyance, clairsentience and an awareness of astral entities. It’s interesting that historically the belly area is associated with body’s core of energy sometimes called the “Chi Point” or the “Hara”, both of which translate literally to mean belly. It’s also interesting that historically, psychics felt their gift came from their gut … called “reading with the pit of the stomach” … where today, most psychics describe their gift coming from their third eye charka, between the eyes and centered in the middle of the forehead. With Jane Doherty, it seems to make good sense that the physical phenomena of Jane Doherty’s expanded stomach would be directly related to her psychic gift.
Jane’s devout belief in the power of God comes through in all that she does because she feels strongly that her psychic abilities are a God-given talent. Using her psychic abilities allows Jane to bring comfort to people whose hearts are hurting, and hope to those who need it most. And, that’s her personal goal on Dead Tenants whose families are in desperate need of help and knowledge to deal with their home’s ghosts.
The Dead Tenants TV show follows the journeys of the Preternatural Research Society (PRS) - a team of paranormal investigators - through the attics, basements, living rooms and back yards of some of the most haunted houses in the country. Coming to the aid of families experiencing very unwanted ghosts and unexplainable activity in their homes, Jane Doherty and the PRS team do their best to assist the families. The Dead Tenants show weaves the historical, scientific and psychic into a rich tapestry to help the viewer better understand the hauntings.
“There was never a question of how I would use my gift,” Jane says firmly. “I have taken every possible opportunity to help others.” Jane Doherty is the real deal, on TV and in print. Her words are like the words of her book - so compelling, you won’t be able to put it down.
Jane Doherty’s book, Awakening the Mystic Gift: The Surprising Truth About What It Means to Be Psychic, chronicles Jane’s own psychic awakening and what it truly means to be psychic. For those seeking more information on what it means to be psychic, this book is a very compelling read.
Jane Doherty is a gifted psychic and medium of international acclaim. Many refer to her as the “real deal” because of her accuracy and sincere caring nature. In fact, Hans Holzer, known best for his many books on ghosts and paranormal activities, has named Jane Doherty as “one of the top twenty psychics in the world.” A born teacher, Jane feels part of her own purpose in life is to teach others to open to their own psychic abilities, and for this reason Jane has brought her psychic teachings to an online format through the Herbal-College.com website. Here Jane has established a book club for her readers to explore more about their own psychic abilities with her personally, and Jane will also teach her multi-leveled Psychic Development courses at the Herbal-College.com website.
Learn more by visiting www.Hauntecom.

Joey Phillips
113

Christmas is a time for memories. What better way to create lasting ones than to gather the whole family around to watch some great classic Christmas movies?
Many movies come to mind, but following are the three considered by many to be the best.
1) It’s A Wonderful Life(1946): James(Jimmy) Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore
George Bailey(Jimmy Stewart) is considering ending it all to escape all the problems in his life-on Christmas! Just as he is about to jump off a bridge, he’s interrupted by Clarence, his guardian angel(Henry Travers). To convince George not to go through with it, Clarence shows him what life would be like without him.
Did you just hear that bell ring? An angel just got his wings.
2) Miracle On 34th Street(1947): Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O’Hara, John Payne, Gene Lockhart, Natalie Wood
When nice, old Kris Kringle(Edmund Gwenn) claims to be the real Santa and is put in an insane asylum, Fred Gailey(John Payne) decides to represent him in court. In a hearing that tests the people’s beliefs, Kris is found to be the real Santa.
Yes, Susan(Natalie Wood), there is a Santa Claus.
3) Scrooge(1951): Alastair Sim, Mervyn Jones, Michael Hordern
Everybody knows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. But, even with all the different versions of “A Christmas Carol,” over the years, none have given a better performance than Alastair Sim. It’s as if he was born to play the stingy, hard-hearted Scrooge. Sim is the embodiment of what Charles Dickens had in mind.
I think I’ll go buy the biggest goose in all of London.
Now go rent these three all-time classic Christmas movies, make some hot chocolate, gather the family around the TV and start making some classic Christmas movie memories.Z

Jaci Rae
232

I get asked a lot about press kits. People want to know how to present them, what’s in them, etc. I have been asked over and over again to write articles on the subject, so here you are: a brief crash course on press kits.
Your press kit is your calling card. It will introduce you and your band to the people you need to help move your career forward before they meet you or hear your music. Make it interesting, exciting and entertaining. Make it attractive. Make it something that will capture their attention and make them want to see, read and listen to what you’ve sent.
Your press kit should include reviews you have received for shows, information on current venues, and any reviews from your new CD when they are available. Include a head or group shot (black and white is the least expensive, but color really catches the eye), a bio (if you don’t have a bio, create one, or get someone to create one for you), a cover letter, a CD, and a business card.
Your cover letter, should be limited to one page and should be packed full of concise well formatted information. Try to limit your press kit to 7 or 8 pieces of information. You don’t want to overload them and you want to save some excitement for later! Keep them a little curious.
You’ll want to compile three types of press kits: one for major labels, one for distributors, and the other for Radio PD/MD’s. (In my book, “The Indie Guide To Music, Marketing and Money” ISBN 978-0-9746229-4-1, I go into much greater how to present the different press kits to each one.) The order you place the information in your folders is equally as important to the reader as the content is to you. They know what they’re looking for. Your enclosures should go in the following order starting on top:
Press Kit for Major Labels On the left side of the folder CD Business card (attached to the folder) Cover letter Head shot/Group Shot On the right side of the folder Bio Reviews (most current on top) Any press Lyric Sheets (very important to many A&R personnel. If you already have them in your CD jacket don’t repeat them with another enclosure unless they specifically request separate lyric sheets. Save on postage.)
Press Kit for Radio PD/MD’s on the left side of the folder CD (possibly two, depending on the type of station - more on this in my book.) Business card (attached to the folder) Cover letter Head shot/Group shot on the right side of the folder Bio Reviews (most current on top) any press
A word of advice: Certain labels will not accept unsolicited material no matter what you do. Generally, you’ll need an entertainment lawyer or manager to submit to them on your behalf. Other times major labels have an established relationship with a verifiable industry contact that must represent you. Warner Brothers is one of those. Before you send any press kit, you need to get permission first. If you don’t get permission, your product has a very low probability rate of ever getting to its destination and even less of a chance of getting read and listened to.
There are musicians who think that their music is the only thing that will speak for them. They believe that their music alone will open the doors to major labels. It won’t. That is just the plain truth. You must have a proven track record as well as a “certain” style and look. It is after all the first thing they see before they ever listen to your music. This is a money making business. The majors are in business. They may think you’re the nicest person in the world, but they still want to make money off of you and your contract. They aren’t really interested in taking a risk on what you think is the best music. Your CD and ticket sales will inspire them.
So make sure that you do your work! Get listed with Soundscan. Keep a record of all the airplay you receive (which stations are playing you), and sell, sell, sell before you submit to labels. Your statistics are equal to you being a low-risk prospect for a major label. You’ll have already proven yourself! And, more importantly, you’ll have a much better shot at opening the doors.
After you have sent your press kit, make sure to follow up with a phone call to make sure your press kit has arrived safely. Then wait three weeks before you begin follow-up calls. Don’t just send the package and expect them to call. Remember, they get hundreds of packages from musicians just like you every single week. Follow up and get noticed - but don’t become a pest or they will ignore you. It’s a fine line and you will know it when you speak with them. Once you get a response, whether you like the answer or not, politely thank them and send them a thank you card for their time. They will remember you and you may have perhaps gained an ally for the future! Jaci Rae - “The Rae of Hope TM” Copyright 2006

Jason Hahn
263

After a failed attempt at collaborating on “Eucalyptus,” Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman are looking to team with “Moulin Rouge” director Baz Luhrmann. All three are Australian.
Crowe and Kidman have signed on to star in what is being called an epic Australian Outback film set in the years up to and including World War II. The film, codenamed “Project Oklahoma,” will begin in the 1930s and stretch to the 1942 Japanese bombing of the tropical city of Darwin.
“We’ve talked a bout it for over seven years, that we must do something together in Australia.” Luhrmann said to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Kidman said that she was looking forward to making a “uniquely Australian story” with Crowe, who she calls her “good friend.”
Luhrmann compared the film to “Gone with the Wind” and “Lawrence of Arabia.” “Collateral” screenwriter Stuart Beattie will work with Luhrmann on the script for the film.
Kidman has had a working history with Luhrmann, who directed the three minute, multimillion-dollar Chanel No. 5 commercial in which Kidman starred.
The rumored budget for the film is said to be about $40 million in Australian currency, which is equivalent to about $30 million in U.S. dollars. Filming is set to begin in August, and the film is projected to be released i.

Jorge Garifuna
208

Jorge Garifuna has finally set the record straight. He has been planning to reveal to his audience the secret of his favorite Punta Music, but for some reason the time has never been right. Well, until now that is.
You are probably aware that Garinet Global just recently released a new website called “Open Fan Club”
http://www.OpenFanClub.com
One of the intentions of this site is to connect fans with their entertainment side. Jorge Garifuna is a fan as well, so he is no exception to the rules. Because of this, he felt that the time is now right for him to reveal his favorite Punta Music.
Punta is the contemporary electronic offshoot of an ancestral rhythm and dance of the Garifuna people of Central America, performed during celebrations or festive occasions, with links to West Africa and an ancient rhythm called Bunda.
How do you find out about Mr. Garifuna’s secret favorite Punta Music? This secret is revealed at the new “Open Fan Club” website. Here is what you need to do to find out about this little secret:
1. Visit the Open Fan Club Website at: http://www.OpenFanClub.com
2. Click to the “Forum”
3. Open the “Punta Rock/Punta Fan Club” under the “Music Fan Club” section
Since the secret is out, once you find out, feel free to tell your friends and family members that Jorge’s little Punta Music secret is located at:
http://www.OpenFanClub.coZZZZZ

Mantius Cazaubon
4

How do you expand your opportunities to work in the music business? How do you improve your employment prospects? The key to doing that is developing your versatility. There are many ways of expanding what you already know how to do as a musician. It’s all about using the skills that you already possess and channeling them towards related fields.
Ask yourself what your most basic skill is. Let’s say you play the guitar. You will find that there are several related instruments that you can easily adapt your skill to. Instead of limiting yourself to the guitar or one kind of guitar, why not expand your employment opportunities? Why not learn to play related instruments?
There are so many guitar related instruments. How about the acoustic guitar, electric guitar, twelve-string guitar, five-string banjo, tenor banjo, ukulele, mandolin, pedal steel guitar, and so on?
You can even learn different styles of playing. Learn to use finger picks. Learn to play both pick style and finger style. Electric guitarists should probably own both jazz and rock guitars. By doing this you increase your musical scope and you will be able to take on new projects easily. There will be more variety in the music that you play. Your arrangements will not all sound the same.
You can apply the examples mentioned above to all instruments and musical skills. Let’s look at a few others.
Another example is bass players. The same can be said of them. Instead of limiting themselves to the electric bass, they can learn to use a bow, play related instruments like the upright acoustic bass, learn to play both fretted and fretless basses, and use effects pedals.
Keyboard players should own more than one synthesizer. How about learning to play related instruments like organ, harpsichord and piano? Why not learn about MIDI and hook various keyboards together, along with a PC?
I could go on and on mentioning various instruments and skills and how a musician can become more versatile. Musicians must simply start with their most basic skill and expand it. This is an excellent way of ensuring that you excel in the music business.
The world is a very competitive one and you must continue to be competitive. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Add some variety and you may be surprised at how far you can reach; and how much more money you can be making.

Angela Taylor
11

If you are not busy making your movie, you should get busy making your movie.
“How can I start,” you whine, “when I don’t have any financing?” I know it seems you can’t roll film or tape until you have some money, but your lack of funding isn’t permanent, is it? You will have money at some future time, won’t you? You must have faith that things will get better, or they won’t.
So that’s a good place to start. Generate a little faith, and step out on it. Actively visualize how your film will look, and sound, and how it will be financially successful.
Visualization is key here. It literally costs nothing, but makes the real movie possible. I recommend the book, “Creative Visualization” by Shakti Gawain. http://snurl.com/gr88
Ignore any negative people in your life, and drive yourself on faith that your movie will get done. Visualizing your movie may seem like a waste of time, but is one of the best uses of your time. Visualizing your movie is working on it.
A present lack of money should never keep you from working on your independent feature. Besides visualization, there are many things you can do until the money arrives.
Work on your script. Read it, then read it again, and rewrite it. Punch up the dialogue, fix the scenes, weed out weak characters, get to the point of each scene.
Your script is never perfect, it needs work. Working on it a terrific use of your time before financing arrives. Have parties, where you and your friends read it aloud, just like doing a radio play. Take note of audience response, and revise accordingly. After each revision, read it again, and again.
When funding comes through, you will know your script inside and out and upside down. You’ll know the scene numbers, without looking at the script.
Once your script is polished, start planning. Now you need to be as artistic as possible. Read your script again, with your Director hat on. Imagine what the players look and sound like. Make notes in the margins of your script, and figure out how you’re going to do it. For now, don’t even think about the money.
Once you’re sure how the movie will go together, start breaking the script down. Make lists of all the cast and crew and props and costumes and locations that you will need. Assemble your ideal team, on paper. Figure out how many special effects shots there are.
Then make up your preliminary schedule. Think through the shots and get a real understanding of how long setups and shots will take. Just because a shot only takes two sentences in the script, doesn’t mean it will only take twenty minutes to shoot.
Obviously, after you’ve broken down the script, and know what you’ll need to buy, then you make up your budget, last of all. Really think about each line item and do some research to determine realistic costs for crew and equipment. Call labs and rental houses and get rate sheets.
The good news is a practical budget and schedule and artwork will help you get financing. When you show Investor Prospects you’ve really put some thought into how the money will be spent, they’re much more likely to see it your way, and give you the money.
You might read “Secrets Of Raising Money For Your Movie,” by Sam Longoria, to learn how to gather and approach investor prospects.
http://secretsofraisingmoneyforyourmovie.com
You should be using your TBF (time before financing) to network. When you call those labs and rental houses, get to know the people who work there.
Ask for names, and write them down. They’ll be good resources when the time comes, to get things at a discount. Not only can they help you on rates, but they’ll know crew wanting to break into features, who will also work at lower rates.
Join a filmmaking group. A good one is IndieTalk, http://indietalk.com It’s online, and you can reach it from anywhere. Networking with other positive filmmakers gets you moral support, and you can learn from the mistakes of others. Be selective, don’t hang with people unless they have a “can do” attitude. If you let them, individuals and whole groups can waste your time! If all they want to do is argue or debate, move along.
Pitch in! Help out on other filmmakers’ shoots, to get a better idea of how a set runs, and how long setups and shots take. This helps scheduling your own film.
By lending a hand to other filmmakers, you also make deposits at the favor bank. You will need to visit the favor bank repeatedly as you make your film, so it’s best to have an account there. If you help on their projects, it will be hard for your new filmmaker friends to deny you assistance, when you call.
Put your face before the industry. Filmmaking associations have events where industry professionals speak. Go to these. Be bold, and push through the minions and introduce yourself. Go to film festivals and be sure to attend the mixers and panels. Go to film markets, and sit in the lobby and talk to everyone.
When your financing comes through, and you have a green light to start pre-production on your film, you will already have done most of the work, just about everything but casting. Your schedule and budget will be done, you will have leads on crew and equipment, and your script will be in top fZZZZZZ

For over three decades, Aerosmith have been one of rock’s most revered and popular bands, crafting classic songs full of raw guitar runs and intensely energetic vocals. The band first reached fame in the 1970’s with a string of hits including “Dream On,” “Sweet Emotion” and “Walk This Way.” During this period, Aerosmith’s music defied easy categorization, falling somewhere between hard rock/blues and early punk, with occasional power ballads here and there. The band enjoyed major popularity throughout the 1970’s, but a split from 1979-84, and the serious substance abuse and drug addictions that contributed to their decline, would nearly relegate them to the annals of history. However, in 1984, Aerosmith was born again. They went on to enjoy resurgence in popularity that has made them one of the top-selling and most popular rock bands in the world today.
Throughout their rough and rocky history, Aerosmith defied failure and even defied mediocrity in a fast-paced rock-and-roll world abundant in tragedy and also-rans. Aerosmith signed with Columbia in 1972 and debuted their first album simply titled Aerosmith, which included a hit single, “Dream On”. After constant touring, the band released Get Your Wings in 1974, which did quite well on the charts, but it was Toys in the Attic in 1975 that established Aerosmith as international superstars. Originally pegged as Rolling Stones clones, Toys in the Attic showed that Aerosmith was a unique and original talent in their own right. Part heavy metal, part glam rock, and part punk, Toys in the Attic was an immense success, starting with the single “Sweet Emotion”, then a successful re-release of “Dream On”, and a new song from the album, “Walk This Way”. Both of the band’s previous albums re-charted as a result. Aerosmith’s next album, Rocks, went platinum swiftly and featured two hits, “Back in the Saddle” and “Last Child”.
Their next album, Draw the Line, was not nearly as successful, though the title track proved to be a minor hit. While continuing to tour and record into the late 1970’s, Aerosmith acted in the movie version of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, covering the Beatles hit “Come Together.” As their popularity waned and drug abuse began affecting their output, Joe Perry left the band in 1979 during the recording of their sixth studio album Night in the Ruts and formed The Joe Perry Project. Perry’s role in Aerosmith was initially taken by longtime friend and songwriter Richie Supa and then later by guitarist Jimmy Crespo who recorded the remainder of the album.
Aerosmith released its mammoth-selling Greatest Hits album in 1980, and in 1981 the band suffered another loss with the departure of Brad Whitford. Rick Dufay replaced Whitford and the band recorded their seventh album, Rock in a Hard Place. The album was considered a relative failure. The tour that followed this release is notable for Steven Tyler’s collapse onstage during a 1983 performance.
On Valentine’s Day 1984, Perry and Whitford went to see Aerosmith play. They officially rejoined the ranks of Aerosmith once more in April of that year. Steven Tyler recalls, “You should have felt the buzz the moment all five of us got together in the same room for the first time again. We all started laughing - it was like the five years had never passed. We knew we’d made the right move.”
Aerosmith embarked on a lucrative reunion tour entitled “Back in the Saddle”, which produced the live album Classics Live II. Their problems were still not behind them when the group signed with Geffen Records and began working on a comeback.
1985 saw the release of Done with Mirrors, their first studio album since the highly publicized reunion. It fared relatively well commercially, but it did not produce a hit single or generate much hope for their comeback. By the time the record was released, Tyler and Perry had exited drug rehabilitation. The group appeared on Run D.M.C.’s incredibly successful cover of “Walk This Way”, blending rock and roll and hip-hop and successfully beginning Aerosmith’s comeback. The group’s next release was Permanent Vacation (1987), which included the hits “Dude (Looks Like a Lady)”, “Rag Doll”, and “Angel”. Their next album, Pump, was received even better; Pump featured four Top Ten singles: “Janie’s Got a Gun”, “What It Takes”, “Love in an Elevator”, and “The Other Side”. Aerosmith was definitely in the midst of a major resurgence.
Despite significant shifts in mainstream music at the beginning of the 1990’s, the band’s 1993 follow-up to Pump, Get a Grip, was just as successful commercially. Though many critics were unimpressed by the focus on power-ballads in promoting the album, three songs (”Cryin’ “, “Crazy” and “Amazing”) proved to be huge successes on radio and MTV. The music videos featured then fresh up-and-coming actress Alicia Silverstone; her provocative performances earned her the title of “the Aerosmith chick” for half a decade. Steven Tyler’s daughter, Liv Tyler, was also featured in the “Crazy” video. Aerosmith signed with Columbia Records again in the early 1990’s, but they had to complete two contractual albums for Geffen before recording for the new label.
The next album, Nine Lives, was plagued with personnel problems, including the firing of manager Tim Collins. Reviews were generally mixed, and Nine Lives initially fell on charts, although it had a long chart life and sold double platinum in the US alone. It was followed by a series of late ’90’s releases, mostly earlier material that was live or retrospective. The albums sold relatively well, but also marked a second decline in popularity and critical respect for the band.
Aerosmith’s biggest hit of the ’90’s, and its only #1 single to date, was the love theme from the film Armageddon, “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”. This song was conceived by Joe Perry and Diane Warren, although Warren alone received songwriting credit. Steven Tyler’s daughter Liv was featured in the movie. In 1999, they were in the Disney-MGM Studios ride (and later in the Walt Disney Studios Park ride), Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Aerosmith provided the soundtrack and theme for the ride, which is based on their recording session and following concert.
The band started its next decade with the release in 2001 of Just Push Play, which charted well. They were also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Later that year, the band appeared as part of the United We Stand concert in Washington D.C. for 9/11 victims and their families. Stubbornly, the band flew back to Indianapolis for a show the same night, refusing to interrupt their Just Push Play tour schedule.
In 2002, Aerosmith released the 2-disc compilation O Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits and embarked on the Girls of Summer tour with opening acts Kid Rock and Run-DMC. In 2003, Aerosmith co-headlined with Kiss on the Rocksimus Maximus tour. Their long-promised blues album, Honkin’ on Bobo, was released in 2004. The Album continues to be a success, helping to inspire the resurgence of blues and roots music across the US and Europe. A live DVD, You Gotta Move, followed it in December 2004. The band also lent its well-known “Dream On” to an advertising campaign for Buick in 2004, targeting their audience, which is now composed largely of people who were teenagers when the song first charted.
In 2005, guitarist Joe Perry released his eponymous solo album. Many claim that it is in many ways truer to the Aerosmith of the ’70’s than any of their recent output. This is mostly due to its raw energy and lack of song doctoring. In October 2005, Aerosmith released a CD/DVD named Rockin’ the Joint. The band hit the road for the Rockin’ The Joint tour on October 30th with Lenny Kravitz and is still touring.
They expect to be on the road until some time around Spring 2006. Rumor has it that they will begin work on a new album at that time. It was announced in January that the band will embark on a 5-week tour with Cheap Trick in the spring. Rumors of a tour started a week before the announcement when Cheap Trick front man Robin Zander joined the band onstage for “Come Together” during a concert in Tampa, Florida. Early reports also indicate that the band plans to resume touring in the fall of 2006, most likely in support of the new album. According to insiders, an upcoming tour may see them alongside Motley Crue.Z

Tony Schuck
278

For a newbie, this may seem a little intimidating. But with the right tools, a little knowledge and some practice, you’ll be able to restring an electric guitar like a professional guitar tech. When I was gigging regularly, I would restring my guitar every week. My body chemistry is acidic and the sweat and oils from my hands would tend to dull the brightness of the strings as well as make them feel “dirty”. For me, the bright sound and smooth feel of a new set of strings would inspire my playing. It became a ritual for me the night before the weekend’s gigs started. I would sit in front of the TV and restring my electric guitar; my acoustic was much less frequent.
OK, so you’ve decided you don’t want to pay the guys at the music store and you want to know how to restring an electric guitar yourself. Here is the list of tools and supplies you will need:
· A new set of strings (naturally!) Click here for info on string sizes
· A string winder (not required but very handy)
· A pair of wire cutters
· A guitar tuner (again, not required but helpful)
You will need to set aside about an hour of time to do this correctly, but like I stated earlier, with practice you will know how to restring your electric guitar in about 20-30 minutes.
First thing to remember, do NOT remove all six strings at the same time. The guitar neck is designed to withstand the tension of the strings and if all of the tension is removed for any significant amount of time you could damage your guitar.
Also, there are some guitars that are literally held together by the string tension. I remember reading a story about a guy who had recently gotten hired as a guitar tech for the Ramones. Wanting to make a good impression on Johnny Ramone he decided to restring his guitar for him right before the show. He removed all six strings and Johnny’s Mosrite guitar literally fell apart in his hands. The string tension held the whole guitar together! What’s worse, the bridge of the guitar bounced across the floor and fell down the air conditioning duct.
If I remember the story correctly, they spent quite some time using a coat hanger and chewing gum trying to rescue the bridge from the duct. He retrieved it and managed to keep his job, living to restring the guitar another day. But not all six strings at once!
But I digress. Some people work in pairs of strings at a time, I prefer to work on individual strings. You will quickly decide what works best for you. Use this article as a guideline to get you up to speed quickly.
OK, let’s get down to it. I always start with the high E string (personal preference); it helps keep me organized.
If your guitar has a locking nut tremolo (whammy bar) system you will have to unlock it. It works best if you remove the clamps completely and work with just the nut until the restringing process is done and the strings are stretched and tuned. Then replace the locking clamps and fine tune using the tuners on the tremolo bridge.
· Use your string winder and loosen the string until there is enough slack that you can unwind the string from the tuning post by hand.
· Use your wire cutters to cut off the curled end of the string and discard. Do this to minimize the chance of scratching the finish of your guitar. Push/pull the string back through the bridge slowly making sure it does not drag across the body. You don’t want restringing your guitar to result in refinishing your guitar!
· Next, unwrap the appropriate new string. Insert it through the bridge of the guitar, over the saddle, up the neck, over the nut and into the hole in the tuning post. Again make sure the trailing end of the string doesn’t drag across the guitar body.
· Start turning the tuner by hand making sure the string wraps over the top of the tuning post. Ideally you want to have 3-4 wraps of the string around the tuner, but this in nothing to stress over.
· Turn the tuner until the slack is out and the string is properly seated in the nut and over the bridge saddle.
· Next clip the excess string off close to the tuner and use your string winder to bring the string up to pitch.
· Use your digital tuner and tune to pitch.
· Next, grab the string with your picking hand halfway between the bridge and the nut and lightly tug the string away from the fretboard. Do not pull real hard, just hard enough to pull the stretch out of the string and tighten it around the tuner post.
· Tune to pitch and repeat the stretching process until the string stays in tune.
Now repeat the entire process for the remaining five strings. Know that the pitch of the new strings may fluctuate as you work on the remaining strings. This is especially true with a Floyd Rose or similar type floating bridge. When you have replaced and stretched the last string make sure all six strings are still in tune. If you have a locking tremolo system, replace the clamps for the locking nut, tighten, and use the bridge fine tuners to get the proper pitch.
The final step is the best one; sit back, crank up your amp and enjoy. Make sure you play something with lots of note bending in it and make sure the stretch is all played.
Take satisfaction in knowing that you now know how to restring an electriar.

Univideit Gauitin
55

No two guitar aficionados will be able to agree on the list of guitar greats, but like so many lists, it can be fun to try to make. What each considers greatness will vary too - is it technical ability or some hard-to-define quality like ’soul’?
The blues guitarist Robert Johnson features on many lists. He has the added attraction of a shadowy legend all his own. The story goes that he was a pretty average, even bad guitarist, but in just one year he became phenomenal… Where had this new talent come from? Nobody wanted to believe it was just practice and hard work, so the tale started that Johnson had made a pact with the Devil.
The deal had been done, so the story goes, at a crossroads somewhere in the Deep South. Johnson himself immortalized the meetings, probably ironically, in songs like Crossroad Blues and Me And The Devil Blues. These were some of the few tracks he was able to record before his death in 1938 at the tender age of 27. To this day no one knows if he was stabbed or poisoned or if the devil himself came to claim what he was owed.
A tragically young death isn’t essential to become a guitar great, but another man who makes most lists also died aged only . Jimi Hendrix took guitar playing to an entire new level of showmanship. But sometimes people remember the antics - playing solos behind his back or with his teeth, setting his guitar on fire (an idea which owes a lot to Jerry Lee Lewis) - and forget how fantastic he was as a musician.
Hendrix was an all-round musician, equally adept at blues, rock and jazz. Believe it or not, he only had a bassist and drummer in his live concerts. He was a great exponent of playing guitar and very innovative as well. Being left handed, he re strung his guitar upside down.
All legends have lots of controversies associated with them and Hendrix was no exception. He has been blamed for covering other bands songs in concert and on record. Once he did the Beatles ‘Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club It is believed that he could play a song after listening to it for just once. He is also credit to have pleased the stubborn Miles Davis with his music.
Guitar players rule the roost in many forms of music. People do not view them only as rock or blues man. That is why Django Rheinhardt, John Williams and Paco de Lucia are considered universally great. No doubt complete agreement on guitar legends cannot be achieved.

Gary Whittaker
169

Honourable mention: The War of the Worlds
Would have made the list of not for the horrible ending, this movie demonstrates the awesomeness of alien creatures like never before. Spielberg fused old-style movie monsters with the latest special effects to give you a visually spectacular version of the War of the Worlds. While this movie was breathtaking in the beginning and middle, it’s ending left a lot to be desired, unlike the TOP T.E.N we have chosen for 2005’s Best T.E.N!
10 - Sin City
This movie was as bold as it was daring. Shot entirely behind a green screen, all the movies characters worked very well together to deliver some of the most dramatic, incredible scenes. Watching this movie brought back that comic book feeling that you used to have when you brought your characters to life in your head.
9 - Batman Begins
DC has come back with a vengeance not seen since Richard Pryor stole all those pennies in Superman III. Batman begins the battle anew between Marvel and DC for superhero supremacy. The battle lines are drawn in film as they were in the comic books, with Marvel going for flash and action, while DC opting for more depth and struggle. Bruce Wayne is superbly played by Christian Bale who knows how to play dark (see The Machinist). Although I feel that Katie Holmes actually detracted from the movie, you get a sense that big things are in store for our caped crusader.
8 - Wedding Crashers
This is the movie that for the rest of the year, all other comedies tried to compare itself to. I loved Vince Vaugn who, as a character role, has had a hit or miss kind of career. He does it this time as he pairs up with Owen Wilson to deliver a performance reminiscent of Swingers (the all-time sensitive guy movie). Christopher Walken was also a great addition to the cast, as the stodgy old father. A definite must see.
7 - King Kong
How good is a movie where the title character only shows up an hour in and all the other characters are one dimensional? Under Peter Jackson, the master of all things fantasy, this movie was simply incredible.
6 – Serenity
Science fiction is all about new worlds, and new ideas. Here is a movie that fused some of the old west frontier town with space ships and kung-fu. May sound crazy but it all works well together. The main characters are simply a bunch of smugglers that are being chased by a government special assassin, since one of their former stowaway’s may have top secret information locked in her brain. Given the success of the movie after the cancelled television series, comparison to Star Trek was inevitable. We hope this one becomes a new franchise ourselves.
5 - Skeleton Key
Can’t have a movie nowadays made in New Orleans without their being some voodoo. Seems like most of the people down there either practise it, or stay away from it from the simple fact that they believe in it. Do you believe?
4 - Saw 2
Very difficult to best the original movie for this type of film. Most of the suspense came from the not knowing and never having seen events like what transpired in the first movie. This latest edition weaves a slightly more intricate tale that involve a father and son with an ending that is sure to keep you talking after the movie has ended.
3 - Million Dollar Baby
Hillary Swank surrounded by 2 much older men. Not my idea of exiting. But this movie does a great job in getting emotion out of the audience. You feel determined as she was to become something, as angry as she should have been toward her family, and the fondness she felt for her old trainer. This movie is packed full of emotion, it’s what a movie should be.
2 - Hotel Rwanda
This is a story that needed to be told. A tragedy so terrible that it’s message needed to came out so as to help prevent those events from ever happening again. We look at those people, all of us black or white, as simple Africans living in the dirt. This movie made them human, made us weep and suffer with them for their plight.
1 - Crash
This movie was not just one of the best of 2005, but one of the all-time classic movies of its time. Taking a European slant with slowing weaving different stories and characters until they came together a various points near the end, every scene, every segment is worth watching, worth commenting on. Every action, no matter how insignificant, has a bearing on some future event. This movie should be part of any collection you have, or is the reason to start one. Z

Gary Whittaker
151

This list is based on lyrical ability, album sales, and longevity. Producers are not counted in this list. While we must give honourable mention to groups like RUN DMC who were breakthrough artists, and P.Diddy who is arguably the most powerful rap mogul (with Suge Knight perhaps the most dangerous), we are focusing on individuals who have each brought a unique style and message to the rap world. You may also noticed that the list is testosterone driven, but let’s face it, other than an argument for Queen Latifah, there simply are no great female rappers.
10. Talib Kweli
For someone who has never “made it”, no one is more respected in the rap industry for his lyrical ability than Talib Kweli. If he has not made it into the mainstream, it’s because he has more to talk about than just guns, bitches and money.
9. Ludacris
Luda is one of the hottest rappers out there today, but then so are a bunch of other young rappers like Nelly. Why we put Chris miles ahead of the pack for the simple reason that Luda is just plain FEARLESS! He spends his time not just trying to perfect the right rhyme, but the pitch and rhythmic tones for his speech patterns as well. He is also not afraid to take on movies with actual significant speaking parts and was part of the best movie of 2005 in Crash. Look for Ludacris to overtake LL by end of 2006.
8. LL Cool J
His rap career is basically over. He is reduced to Will Smith like rap status with his one hit per album these days, as he concentrates on his TV and movie career. That being said, LL was the first rapper to break into TV and kept the ball rolling after 2 Pac’s death for rappers to be considered seriously in movies. And for a guy who everyone complains about his lack of lyrical ability, nobody has squashed more beef than LL as well.
7. Chuck D
Fear of a Black Planet. Nuff said? Maybe. If I need to say more, than I will simply say that Chuck is to the underground what Emimem is to mainstream.
6. Busta Rhymes
>From his Leaders of the New School origins, to his recently re-invented shaved head self, Busta Rhymes’ ugly mug can be seen blasting at you in videos everywhere. Fortunately for him, talent is not based on looks. Busta’s in your face style, and crazy videos make him the Rick James of the Rap World.
5. Notorious B.I.G
Ok, ok, before you click on the refresh button to make sure that you are reading this right, let me just say that had the Notorious One not been killed during his prime, he may well be in the top 3, and I would even argue best ever. I will also concede that he was the best of his time, but compared to the overall careers of those we put ahead of him, his limited time in the rap game has him falling short.
4. Nas
God’s Son is next, since you can’t beat B.I.G on album sales alone. Nas has got the talent to be one of the best ever, and consistently shows his range on every album. While there is some controversy over some favourable comments he made about Hitler, we choose to give him the benefit of the doubt until it is proven otherwise. Nas’ ability is such that even if the beat is whack, you will listen to the song just to hear what he has to say.
3. Emimem (Marshall Mathers)
Speaking of squashing beef, can only one do it better than Slim Shady? We don’t think so. From Moby, to Benzino, to his own mother, Marshall has absolutely destroyed all those that sought to take him down. This man even simulated killing his own wife on wax, and had you feeling like she deserved it! What we love about Em is that he writes about what he knows. As his life changes, so do his songs. You may say that he gets away with all his crap and makes so many sales because of his skin color, but I defy you to find anyone that is even willing to take him on now lyrically. If Curtain Call truly does become his last album, then he will undoubtedly fall from this list, but at this time, there is only 1 person alive that can be considered better than him.
2. Jay Z
From his debut in 1996 until his “final” solo album in 2003, no live rapper has sold more hit platinum albums than Hov. Jay Z also went from co-founding Roc-A-Fella records to becoming the president of Dej Jam, and is responsible for launching the careers of many other now platinum artists. Jay Z has done everything a rapper can do in the business industry without getting shot or going to jail.
1. Tupac (2 Pac) Shakur
Whether you believe in the Man or the Muth, Tupac’s status has gone beyond iconic to legendary. More albums have been released and gone platinum after his death, than when he was alive. Through his words, you can hear his spirit and his passion for both his people and the direction they were headed. People of all colors respond to his music becomes he teaches hope. He is the only rapper to say that he will rap about guns and violence in order to reach his audience. Once they are listening, only then can he capture their hearts by his more peaceful message of peaceful co-existence by ending struggle through actionZZZZ