Enjoy Hip-Hop Responsibly

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Today I received a package with CDs inside for review. Every day is about the same, I get anywhere from 1-5 review packages. This one was “special” however because I had to PAY to receive it! What?!?!

POSTAGE DUE

Don’t ever ever send anyone you want support from a package without the proper and correct postage on it. I am an understanding a forgiving guy when it comes to stuff but this one made me upset. Seriously.

Don’t be like this guy.

I get so much music in the mail it is difficult to keep track of everything. Since I’ve been exposed to so much, it’s also easy to be unimpressed by the constant stream of mediocrity filling my mailbox.

When I got this one in the mail from Dunham/Daptone, it piqued my curiosity. The packaging was interesting and I dug the photograph selected for the cover art. Was I ever in for a surprise when I popped it into my CD deck. I was hooked after about a minute into the first song. When I learned it was an instrumental release, I was even more excited to pour over the whole record.

Guitars dripping with funk, great basslines, horns, on time drumming, keys… it has it all. Basically, if I had any music ability… this is the sort of record I would dream of doing. If you love dusty 45s… you certainly will dig a bunch of this album. Yes, I am gushing… it is that good.

Here is a legit and legal preview (courtesy of their PR folks at World’s Fair) of the title track Make the Road by Walking.

The album drops October 14th. Definitely buy a copy when it drops if you dig what you hear.

Two emails I received

Maybe it’s merely a product of the volume of email I receive… Today I found a message in my news submissions (only) inbox requesting information on a review. To find that inbox, the submitter needed to ignore what the button said and what the entire page said. In addition, the entire message was one run-on sentence. I’m no English Major but I do try to make it easy to read and comprehend my communication. Isn’t that the point of communicating anyway? Needless to say, I deleted it without response. I don’t have time right now to chase people down to do their job correctly.

A few days ago I received another email requesting airplay. No information, no punctuation, no full words (”yo” in place of “your”), no capitalization… very unprofessional. Deleted.

Here is the jewel…

This doesn’t work. If this is you, change. If you don’t know how to present yourself to media and radio people then by all means learn how from someone who does. Moreover, be teachable. I shake my head at artists that “have it all figured out” and yet continue to make major mistakes.

Would you go to a job interview with dirty disheveled looking clothing and with your hair all jacked up? I doubt it. Well, this is essentially the perception I get of people when receiving sloppy submissions. At least I am understanding of it and am willing to look past it. Most others will not. You’ll get the delete button or the trash can with the quickness.

Once you have something of a relationship with an organization, then you probably have a bit more grace for being casual.

If you’re not willing to spend the time to do stuff properly, don’t waste other peoples time. Keep in mind… these people are doing you a big service.

For those of you who routinely abuse my email addresses by sending mass email forwards via the TO or CC field… and then those of you who insist on then hitting “reply all” to spam everyone… or those of you who harvest said unprotected emails…

“you MUST learn” - KRS-one

These links are also good to share with folks who need some email schooling. The last two are sure to improve your productivity.

Thanks. No. (For use in opting out of all types of unwanted email)
http://www.thanksno.com

BCC. Please. (For requesting the sender doesn’t expose your email address to a large list)
http://bccplease.com

Sentenc.es (For explaining your email brevity; more info)
http://sentenc.es

Waiting-For.com (To let your recipient know you’re waiting to hear back from them)
http://waiting-for.com