21st October 2012
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#1 | | Gear addict
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Thread Starter  | Hip Hop / Rap Cities of the Future
I'll start off short and sweet.
What is your insight about the best cities to make music in for 2013 and beyond?
Getting more specific, over the past year I've been getting my chops back up making music, after a 5-year hiatus (I've been making music off and on since the mid-90s, started as a guitarist in a skate punk band).
I'm working with a local rapper in a producing role, where I'm making the music, tracking, mixing, and generally guiding the project. We've both put a lot of time into our work, and as a result have come a long way. I love it, and can't wait to complete it, but I do worry that our passion will fall on deaf ears.
I used to run a small indie punk label back in the day, and I'm thinking about doing that again, except for hip hop, and helping a few artists get a modest step forward.
However, I have two big problems.
1. I live near Jacksonville, FL. The music scene is small, and seems to be split into two parties: Old School Hip Hop, and Trap/"money" rap. The hip hop head crew seems somewhat resigned and only has an ear for sample-based recreations of the old school flavor. Some of them are actually pretty talented as emcees though. Finding people to work with has been surprisingly tricky.
2. I want to do more hands-on production work, and I want open-minded, progressive artists with hunger and talent, that wanna make great music and pour themselves into a project, but I also don't wanna do all that and then force it on a tiny music scene that isn't all that interested.
I know I'm not being all that clear, but I'm trying to make some decisions about my future, and really plan this shit out and think through all the factors. I'm married, but we have very flexible, decent-paying jobs and we're not tied to living any specific place.
I want music to be more a part of my life, and I'm willing to invest time & money to do it right.
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21st October 2012
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#2 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,706
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I don't think Hip Hop is really as regional as it used to be since the advent of the internet.
Really, if your music is good, you can MAKE the scene wherever you are at. That, IMO, is much more satisfying than going to LA or NYC or Philly and bringing sand to the beach...
In the 90's you pretty much HAD to do that...Not so much anymore.
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21st October 2012
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#3 | | 3 + infractions, forum membership suspended.
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 266
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Well, I live in Pittsburgh, and up until a few years ago, there were almost no hip hop artists that were known nationally from here. Currently, we have a few.
I think each major hip hop city has it's own sound to a degree, but more or less, lines are starting to blur.
In Pittsburgh, much like many other cities, people were forced to look outside their city for music and inspiration. So here, people listen to anything from Dipset to UGK to Tupac to whatever.
That said, the voice is an instrument. What do you want your artist to sound like? Do you want a southern-sounding rapper? Do you want a New York-sounding rapper? Each part of the country will have it's different sound and you can choose to live anywhere you want.
I personally lived in California and Florida and find home to be the best. Where you're most able to focus on music. Why move away from home to somewhere expensive (like LA) just to be stuck working all day to pay your rent and not have any energy to make music? I'd rather live in North Dakota (or wherever) and pay next to nothing for rent and be able to focus on my music. I think you should only move to the major cities of hip hop or entertainment in general when you have a name for yourself and can afford it.
Johnny Juliano moved to Atlanta after he got some credentials.
So I guess I would say that it doesn't matter. It's 2012, we have the internet. Major recording studios are disappearing and have disappeared. People are working out of their homes. Any city you can do work in will work for you.
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21st October 2012
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#4 | | Gear addict
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Thread Starter |
I agree that the internet is a major force, and certainly a front to put energy into, but also consider that I'm looking for work with people in a room together, and build something.
Internet collaboration is certainly possible, but a different thing altogether.
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21st October 2012
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#5 | | Gear Head
Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 71
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Johntron, I don't know if Jacksonville is the hip hop city of the future, but I met more people who wanted beats just stopping to buy gasoline and a Pepsi in Jacksonville than I have after living 18 months in Miami. Yeah, these were trap guys, but you just have to keep an open mind. Anyway, good luck...
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21st October 2012
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#6 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Dec 2011 Location: Boogie Down
Posts: 1,050
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pittsburgh definitely got something in the water up there. I remember somebody telling me about the hip hop scene in pittsburgh years back and he kept rambling on bout how there is nothing like it. Guess he was right!
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21st October 2012
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#7 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2010 Location: Honolulu/Cincy
Posts: 1,264
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Lol i was gonna bash in this thread but its actually pretty interesting!!
I think ur looking for "that scene" right? Maybe a scene thats not over-populated, but not "hanging by a thread" either. Someplace growing and coming up maybe. Thats hard to say IMO.
What are some of the styles/artists that inspire u? Theres so many sub-genres of hip-hop now. Identifying that would probly help ppl guide u towards this city or that city IMO.
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21st October 2012
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#8 | | Gear addict
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by BobbyTheProducer  Johntron, I don't know if Jacksonville is the hip hop city of the future, but I met more people who wanted beats just stopping to buy gasoline and a Pepsi in Jacksonville than I have after living 18 months in Miami. Yeah, these were trap guys, but you just have to keep an open mind. Anyway, good luck... | Hehe, thanks Bobby, I don't know anyone in the trap circles, and that's probably my area of least experience. I actually like some trap beats a lot though, but a lot of the subject matter I'm iffy on. I'm open-minded though, there some people doing some great trap-influenced music right now that I'd have no problem getting involved with.
My boy keeps telling me to start making more trap-sounding stuff and he can turn me on to a bunch of people...
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21st October 2012
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#9 | | Gear addict
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by JLiRD808 Lol i was gonna bash in this thread but its actually pretty interesting!!
I think ur looking for "that scene" right? Maybe a scene thats not over-populated, but not "hanging by a thread" either. Someplace growing and coming up maybe. Thats hard to say IMO.
What are some of the styles/artists that inspire u? Theres so many sub-genres of hip-hop now. Identifying that would probly help ppl guide u towards this city or that city IMO. | Yeah, sorta, I know there's no magic answer, I'm just kinda hoping that talking about it a little with people around the country might shed some light on some areas or give me some cues.
I get the strongest impressions from ATL and LA currently, but one thing about LA is there's a LOT of fish in that pond, and my cash would be worth so much less there :/
Artists that inspire me are the progressive ones, people who keep the spirit of hip hop evolving without being stuck on pure sample-based music. I'm scared to say it because of the current hype, but Kendrick Lamar is a decent example, but I also dig Skyzoo, Grande Marshall, STS, Kid Cudi's less recent stuff, and I'm a big fan of Killer Mike's recent album.
All those people feel more creative and don't put boundaries on their sound.
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21st October 2012
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#10 | | Gear addict
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by CharlesEdward pittsburgh definitely got something in the water up there. I remember somebody telling me about the hip hop scene in pittsburgh years back and he kept rambling on bout how there is nothing like it. Guess he was right! | I'll have to look into the area more, definitely heard some good music from PA.
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21st October 2012
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#11 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2010 Location: Honolulu/Cincy
Posts: 1,264
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Gotta ask...but what is 'trap stuff'? Is that like club/pop hip-hop?
Lol....the stuff that middle-class moms like to exercise too??!
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21st October 2012
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#12 | | Gear nut
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 113
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Chicago is getting a little buzz even though the music sound like outdated trap music
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21st October 2012
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#13 | | Gear addict
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Thread Starter |
I'll probably get reamed for defining it in a way that doesn't fit someone else's description, but here we go!
Trap music is mostly 808-based with subby kicks, paper-sounding snares, spinning hi-hats, and snappy claps. Melodic aspects can range from any synth at all to spooky sounding pads, cheesy synths, and horn/string stabs. Rap style varies but is generally "gangsta" and/or "hooky", catering to club listeners. There are lots of variations though.
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21st October 2012
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#14 | | Gear nut
Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC |
charlotte is kinda like jacksonville. i live here but from va beach va. i love the fact that the scene aint big nationally. means i can make it trending. im suprised the OP wants to find the "next" city. put ya city on! be the trend why follow it
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Music is subjectively objective to every individual, but we all wanna fit in. Do your best to make it work.
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21st October 2012
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#15 | | Gear addict
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by mequaz charlotte is kinda like jacksonville. i live here but from va beach va. i love the fact that the scene aint big nationally. means i can make it trending. im suprised the OP wants to find the "next" city. put ya city on! be the trend why follow it | I try to look at it that way, with optimism. You are definitely right about trying to be part of something to PUT Jax on the map.
Jax has a weird setup though, it's a HUGE city, geographically speaking, but the downtown area is not very populated at all. Unlike NYC or Boston, if you walk around the city, some days the only people you see are a few bums here and there. Sometimes I wonder where the hell everyone spends their time.
There is a growing portion of the scene that puts on a monthly free show called Lyricist Hour. It's a curbside live show with a DJ and some cyphers, which happens during the city's monthly ArtWalk. It draws 50-150 people, depending on the weather, and I go to every show, but networking has been slow ... or maybe I'm too impatient (or I just need to make better beats!)
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21st October 2012
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#16 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,024
| Quote:
Originally Posted by JLiRD808 Gotta ask...but what is 'trap stuff'? Is that like club/pop hip-hop?
Lol....the stuff that middle-class moms like to exercise too??! | just google trap music. and yeah the way things are going it wouldn't surprise me if in a couple years trap is being played in spin classes at curves.
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22nd October 2012
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#17 | | 3 + infractions, forum membership suspended.
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 266
| Quote:
Originally Posted by CharlesEdward pittsburgh definitely got something in the water up there. I remember somebody telling me about the hip hop scene in pittsburgh years back and he kept rambling on bout how there is nothing like it. Guess he was right! |
You'd probably know more than me. I got a small circle of friends that I make beats with but we don't really get into the whole hip hop scene. Honestly I rarely hear something that I like and I listen to mostly Houston/Southern rap. I'm sure if I paid more attention I'd find something I like from the burgh.
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22nd October 2012
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#18 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2009 Location: oakland ca
Posts: 1,488
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rap city of the future 
__________________   punks jump up
to get beat down | |
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22nd October 2012
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#19 | | Gear addict
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by ncoak rap city of the future | Haha, looks more like a city of the 50s though. I wonder if all those caddies have pimped out hydraulics.
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22nd October 2012
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#20 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Jacksonville, FL/NYC/Rotterdam, Netherlands
Posts: 280
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Originally Posted by Johntron512 Haha, looks more like a city of the 50s though. I wonder if all those caddies have pimped out hydraulics. |
More like Fallout 3, pre war.
I live in Jacksonville, FL right now and your assessment of the city is spot on in my opinion.
However, just because you make music here doesn't mean it has to stay in, or be forced on, Jacksonville, FL.
In all honesty, where it goes is up to the artist or their management no? If you plan to be apart of the music for the long haul, then as has been said, you've got the internet to reach out to people. Use it to set up shows and trips to other cities with bigger scenes.
About the 90's and trap factions of Jacksonville, there is great talent in both. The only way to know this is to go out to shows and talk to these guys.
You have people like Swords or Beast Boi doing more street stuff than anything else, but these two guys can and do rock other styles, rather well even.
You've got people like Tough Junkie and Mr. Al Pete on the 90's rap music side, but again, they can do a lot of different things well.
You're not gonna find a lot of material from them that shows what I'm talking about though, so you're left with actually talking to them, and anyone else, to find out if you would like working with them or not.
Additionally, I know Tough Junkie and Beast Boi personally. They're really approachable and would help you find other artists you could work with.
Look them up on Facebook. Beast Boi has a fan page, and Tough Junkie... Well, he had his name legally changed to Tough Junkie. Lol! Finding his page should be no problem at all.
There is a new kid just came to town by the name of 8th. He doesn't fit either side of Jax and is probably someone you'd have fun making musical art with.
Hope this helps.
-Dexter, DX, Dxpert
__________________
"I don't have to dodge shots, I'm the shooter".
Larry Otis.
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22nd October 2012
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#21 | | Gear addict
Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Jacksonville, FL Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Tha Govna More like Fallout 3, pre war.
I live in Jacksonville, FL right now and your assessment of the city is spot on in my opinion.
However, just because you make music here doesn't mean it has to stay in, or be forced on, Jacksonville, FL.
In all honesty, where it goes is up to the artist or their management no? If you plan to be apart of the music for the long haul, then as has been said, you've got the internet to reach out to people. Use it to set up shows and trips to other cities with bigger scenes.
About the 90's and trap factions of Jacksonville, there is great talent in both. The only way to know this is to go out to shows and talk to these guys.
You have people like Swords or Beast Boi doing more street stuff than anything else, but these two guys can and do rock other styles, rather well even.
You've got people like Tough Junkie and Mr. Al Pete on the 90's rap music side, but again, they can do a lot of different things well.
You're not gonna find a lot of material from them that shows what I'm talking about though, so you're left with actually talking to them, and anyone else, to find out if you would like working with them or not.
Additionally, I know Tough Junkie and Beast Boi personally. They're really approachable and would help you find other artists you could work with.
Look them up on Facebook. Beast Boi has a fan page, and Tough Junkie... Well, he had his name legally changed to Tough Junkie. Lol! Finding his page should be no problem at all.
There is a new kid just came to town by the name of 8th. He doesn't fit either side of Jax and is probably someone you'd have fun making musical art with.
Hope this helps.
-Dexter, DX, Dxpert |
I appreciate it, thank you. I've met a fair share of the 90's artists in Jax, but not the two you mentioned. Tough Junkie was at the last Lyricist Hour, but I didn't get a chance to meet him. I'll reach out to both him and Beats Boi though.
Is 8th that guy that moved from NY? Do you know how to reach out to him online?
Thanks again!
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22nd October 2012
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#22 | | Gear nut
Joined: Nov 2011 Location: Chicago
Posts: 75
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Personally I think Chicago is booming right now. We dont only have trap style music we have other great artist to like Kids These Days, Chance the Rapper, Kembe X and Future Freshman(Had to throw my own camp in there). its a great time to collaborate to here. A lot of artist are really humble and will just work with you. I personally just hit up a artist email or twitter and let them know ill have a session if they wanna come out and most of the time they do. So to stay on topic if we are talking about the next big City in Hip Hop I think we have to really talk about Chicago now a days.
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22nd October 2012
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#23 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2011 Location: Bronx ,NY
Posts: 1,248
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Hawaii is next!
Seriously though, i wonder how rappers from Hawaii sound.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
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22nd October 2012
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#24 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Mar 2009 Location: Jacksonville, FL/NYC/Rotterdam, Netherlands
Posts: 280
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I'm not exactly sure where 8th is from. A friend of his reached out to me about recording, but I had been too busy to reach back just yet.
I'll PM you how to reach him later today.
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22nd October 2012
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#25 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Apr 2010 Location: Philadelphia |
LA's back
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23rd October 2012
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#26 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 594
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Originally Posted by PRPS LA's back | no joke dude.
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23rd October 2012
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#27 | | Gear maniac
Joined: Jan 2011 Location: Seoul, Korea
Posts: 161
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Seoul, Korea!!! And I don't mean Korean rappers but expatriates who are teaching English in Korea and rapping at hip hop shows during their free time. You get a good mix of East Coast, West Coast, Southern, Midwest and everywhere in-between. The downside is that most of the talent is still in the states...
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23rd October 2012
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#28 | | Gear addict
Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta/Alabama
Posts: 425
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ATL, LA, Miami, Houston, and everywhere up north. I'm from the south and lyrical content is a step ahead up north flat out...Montana got some gangsta music too now lol
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23rd October 2012
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#29 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,427
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I thought hiphop died about 10 years ago???
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