Enjoy Hip-Hop Responsibly » Stuff I got in the mail

What not to do – Random Email

Josh — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:42:01 +0000

I’ve been slacking on the blogging only for lack of time. This entry is an email I wrote to an artist who sent me a random email about his album. No personal introduction… no relationship… sent to an email that is definitely not appropriate for content submissions… and… the email was in ALL CAPS. Most recipients of email will usually delete it, block them or both. Definitely not good form.

Their response to my email removal request was good but I haven’t heard back from this email. Here goes…

Hey [name removed],

It’s all love here… don’t cry

Do NOT just add people to an email list. It ain’t cool nor is it effective… at all. You’re emailing the customer service line for our online shop. Not our website.

Learn how to properly contact and connect with media/radio etc. We’re all usually very busy and when I see random stuff like this, more often than not I delete it or otherwise ignore it. An email in all CAPS probably isn’t your best move. I’ve heard of you but we have no sort of professional relationship. Don’t assume that someone receiving communication like you sent will do anything other than delete it.

Find out the proper way to submit information and carefully follow their instructions. Everyone has different requirements and a different process. Respect that and do what they need if you want to have any hope of coverage.

It’s cool to be casual but only after you’ve built the relationship. Even then, I wouldn’t have done any coverage for you. All I got were two YouTube links.

A good resource is my blog. You’ll learn some do’s and don’ts when it comes to marketing/promoting yourself.

http://www.enjoyhiphopresponsibly.com

Good luck and God bless,

Josh

LMNO & Kev Brown – Ya Know music video

Josh — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:05:56 +0000

Wally Boy Wonder – Simple Life video

Josh — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:34:29 +0000

We got a really fresh press kit from Wally Boy Wonder and his record label Intolerance Records. Very well done with lots of information and some goodies. Good touch!

I shy away from anything with explicit lyrics on the site but wanted to share the Simple Life video here on the blog. Cool track and a decent video.

Tough Junkie – Grab What You Can

Josh — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:32:04 +0000

Colemine Records dropped a CD in my mailbox a few months ago from Tough Junkie. The first 60 seconds of vocals on the album remind me of a cross between Mos Def and Joey the Jerk. He has something of a lazy delivery. Don’t mistake that as a diss… he’s just mad laid back sounding on the mic.

“Grab What You Can” looks like what it sounds like. An earthy stripped down hip-hop album with of touch of old school jazz flavor. The beats are for the most part basic but are dope enough you can really get lost in a few of them. I’ll definitely be listening to this record again.

The honey bun dessert tip was pretty funny.

The record was a welcome departure from most of the absolute crap I get in the mail. 7.5/10

Stuff I Got In The Mail April 20

Josh — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:31:57 +0000

I figured I better get going on this again… Every day I get a small stack of CDs in the mail. About 98% of it is unsolicited, some good and some not so much. Some from secular and some from Christian artists. Either way it’s cool to see what’s going on out there.

In the “Stuff I Got In The Mail” category of the blog here I’ll be writing about those random projects I find in my mailbox. Don’t expect to see everything here that I get. I don’t have all day. Ha.

Sandbox Rebel sent me a CD called “Songs for Friends, Family & the Times”. It’s definitely on some indie rock tip with a bit more polish than normal. The vocals are alright. Nothing that says to me “Hey, I’m gonna listen to this a ton” or anything. One of the RIYL (recommend if you like) artists listed is Eminem. Not sure why that’s listed to be honest. Nothing on this album makes me think “rap”. 5/10

Daily Download: Re-cap

Josh — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:35:18 +0000

In case you missed them, here are the last week’s worth of Daily Download features from Sphere of Hip-Hop. Sphere features many different artists and styles on the site and Daily Download is a new way to discover artists. Check each track out… you might find a new artist to love.

August 3 – 8

Monday: The Runaway – Good Times part 2
Tuesday: Peace 586 – Tree Trunx feat Propaganda
Wednesday: Cas Metah – Find Time feat. BC and Playdough
Thursday: Mr. J. Medeiros – Holding On
Friday: Illustrate, Spokin 11 and Minority – Let the Muzic Play
Saturday: YSG-Timothy – Bigger

Recently we featured tracks from many artists including:

4th Avenue Jones
Ajax Starglider
Freddie Bruno
Mars ILL
muzeONE
Rootbeer
Sareem Poems
Scribbling Idiots
Sojourn
Solseekers

Change – The Stimulus Plan (free album download)

Josh — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:02:27 +0000

Change has released an EP full of new tracks worth intent listening. Plus, it’s a free download and you ain’t got nothing to lose!

Download: Change The Stimulus Plan ep

Sound off here in the comments -or- Sphere of Hip-Hop Facebook page -or- Sphere of Hip-Hop Album discussion forum

Lil RikRak – How far has hip-hop fallen?

Josh — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:18:46 +0000

Post your comments.

Don’t be like this guy Part 2

Josh — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 02:22:47 +0000

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.

Menahan Street Band – Make the Road by Walking

Josh — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:47:45 +0000

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.