What is your NICHE?

Being a Artist/Producer since the 90’s in the Big Apple, I’ve seen a lot of hopeful entertainers come and go. For most, the hope of being a Super Star was never meant to be. Then there are the tiny few who have great potential but for some reason never took that last step to stand out of the crowd. That is, they never found their niche. Instead, they emulate what they hear on the radio, see in the videos and read in magazines. They’ve become slaves to the ever changing fads in music as opposed to being the people who create the fads. There are exceptions like LL Cool J who was always able to switch up his style to what ever was current and stay on top for over 20 years.

Now lets bring this into the context of the Christian based rap industry. The idea of finding your niche is almost completely ignored and even frowned upon. I’ve met many artists who’re going through all the motions but are not really making an impact on the audience they’re trying too or believe that they should reach(I’ll address this further down). If you ask any Christian Rapper why they do what they do, the answer would be to reach the youth and or the streets because the traditional church has not been able to do it. The dilemma is that most Christian Rappers aren’t able to reach the same people either. Just like in the general market, most weren’t meant to be artists and the talented few rarely find their niche. And if you’re wondering what I mean by niche; It pretty much means to be who you really are and to develop (you) into a marketable form. Here are some examples. Braille has a different style and content than Cross Movement but they’re all
very influential and successful in their own arenas. T-Bone knows who he and his audience is and he works his situation very well. Just look at his success. KJ52 has a different vibe and sound from either T-Bone, Cross Movement, Braille or the GRITS. Get the picture? Some work the streets well, some do the Church. Some are mainstream, some are underground but they all have a real audience and positive influence. For many years I’ve heard people claim that a Christian rapper is *supposed* to do this or that but their solutions do more harm than good to artists in the Christian Rap industry.

We all have different abilities, personalities, education, outlooks, etc… and we have to be honest with ourselves and find out who we are as artists. If you’re a theological rapper then your songs won’t really impact the streets (For some reason people get upset by this truth). If you don’t have a strong theological presence then you might be better off marketing your music to the streets but a lot of churches aren’t going to feel as comfortable with you in their concerts and won’t invite you. Don’t take it personally.

Is one better than the other? Not at all for the Church needs good artists to keep it’s members encouraged and moving forward in the Christian experience. The streets also need people who are able to do the same outside of tradition. Then you have to think our your rap style and music. Are you actively developing your own sound or do you sound current? Do you have a 90’s sound? Do you have an 80’s sound or are you all the above (Very rare and are expensive to promote). Be honest with yourself. This is how you find your proper demographic or audience. Once connected they’ll listen to you for life and you wouldn’t have to pay a PR firm to create a phony buzz for you because a real one will already exist.

PARADOX

www.jahrockn.com

Check this new track by Paradox:

Lifting up the standard

Greetings and blessings, fam.

Tony “Keynote” Sebro from JahRock’n Productions, here.  As background, I’ve been collaborating with JahRock’n since 2005, and I got my first piece of production equipment–a now-ancient Yamaha DSR-1000–back in 1990. I’m also a lawyer by trade, which helps because my fellow JahRock’n producers are constantly getting brought up on charges for straight murderin’ tracks. 

Anyway, I was chatting with an older friend of mine the other day, and he was lamenting the decline of musical innovation in gospel music over the past ten to fifteen years. Now, some of this is generational, to be sure:  everybody thinks that “their” music was hotter than the current stuff being put out today.

But my man made an interesting point. He noted how, back in the day, the Church as a spiritual and cultural institution was the training ground for the musicians who went on to create popular music. He contended that jazz, blues, rock, soul, and funk were all built on a foundation of sacred music–built by brothers and sisters who honed and developed their chops in the Church. The Church was where the hot vocalists learned their runs, where the dope keyboardists learned to play by ear, and where bands learned to improvise on the fly to support wherever the Spirit was leading the music. As a result, the craziest, most innovative musicians were in the Church, and they were the ones setting the musical trends.

Now, as musical styles have changed and developed over the years, can we still claim that the Christian community is at the leading edge of music? If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that many of us are taking our cues from the mainstream. Artists want tracks that “sound like” so-and-so, and producers try to dissect and replicate that Timbo or that Polow Tha Don sound. Our labels are fine with marketing artists as “Christian alternatives” to more popular secular acts.

It’s natural to recognize and be influenced by dope music. But, we can’t stop there. So, from this corner of cyberspace, I want to challenge all of us that create music to take back our position as leaders. As the taste-makers. God isn’t calling us to reflect what’s out there, but to change it. To me, that goes beyond the lyrics. I don’t want our music to sound like Kanye’s, or 9th Wonder’s, no disrespect. I want it to be better. I want to be doper. More interesting. More daring. I want Kanye to want to sound like me.

‘Cause frankly, the “stakes is higher” when your faith is involved.

As long as we’re settling for merely being the “Christian version” of what other artists have already done, then we’re not truly repping the gospel tradition. Family, let’s lift up that standard.

Anyway, I’ll follow Rock’s lead and throw up a track for your previewing pleasure.  Lemme know what you think.  FIW=Feedback Is Welcome.

‘Til next time, keep makin’ the trees clap.  Isa. 55:12.

-Tony “Keynote” Sebro

A Weekend to Remember……my first GMA week!!

This wont be one of my typical blogs. I just want to highlight (with pics) the events and moments that impacted me the most about my week in Nashville.

Shout out to: KDrama, D-Maub, Jason Norfleet “DJ-Meastro1″, DRe, My JAHROCK’N FAMILY, HeeSun Lee, SeDa, Pleshette Hunt, L.I.V.E Dance Crew, LeCrae, Carlos Hale (Urban Soul Cafe’), The eXtreme Tour (Ted Brun), J Sky Walker, Tye Tribbet, Canton Jones, Tonex, MALI Music, Michelle Bonilla, and Many Many More……

Disclamer: I dont put up any photos that i didnt have a personal connection with…..with that said here is some pics from our week….

Chris “Rock” Belmont

Who is the producer??

Who the “heaven” is the producer?

I started producing back in 2002, and over the past few years, I’ve noticed a trend in the music business where more and more people are losing sight of what the true role of a music producer is.  Producers are now defined as “beat makers,” that dude behind the board” in the recording studio, or even “the guy who owns the studio.”  The truth is that a music producer by definition can be all of those things–or none of those things.

To all of my “Beat Makers” out there:   you’re definitely a piece of the puzzle.  But, if you’re not able take an artist, record them, mix the record and/or get it mastered, then you’re not really a music producer.  I know this can sound a bit harsh, but I think being precise with our job descriptions will help to clear the air and avoid confusion–not just in the urban Christian music community, but in the urban music community as a whole.

Of course, anything can be negotiated with an artist or management company.  You might be able to negotiate to receive credit as a producer when you’ve only contributed a beat, but I feel that is misleading.  As producers or aspiring producers, you’ll benefit from better understanding your role, so that you can understand the value you should bring to a project.  From there, you can equip yourself with the necessary tools to be a music producer in the truest sense.  That will set you apart from the beat makers, and trust me:  once word gets out, you will have more work than you can handle.  In particular, it’s been my experience that if you can create a true one-stop shop for music production–and you’re good, independent artists will come running.

Anyway, hit me with your thoughts and questions.

Here is a beat for you to ponder on!!!….who can u hear on this track?…lemme know….

Chris “Rock” Belmont

Going to the GMA’s??

Whassup family!

I just wanted to let everyone know that myself and my artist will be down in Nashville this weekend at the Urban Soul Cafe’ (Tuesday April 21st) and other events happening in the area. SeDa aka “The Four Letter Word” ,HeeSun Lee, and L.I.V.E Dance Crew will be riding shotgun with me to the GMA’s. So all my DJ’s, Promoters, A&R’s, and Radio Stations, if your going to be in the area come check us out or hit me up if with where you will be and i will try to arrange a meeting.

rock@jahrockn.com

or

neorock@gmail.com

Love you guys and keep your eyes on the blog!!

 

Thanks

Chris “Rock” Belmont

Lets talk Beats and Production….

Hello all!!

Welcome to my space on www.holyculture.net. For those who don’t know who I am, my name is Chris Belmont aka Rock. I am the founder and CEO of JahRock’n Productions LLC, a music production company out of FLATBUSH BROOKLYN. We have produced many songs and albums for indie artists in the NYC area. To name a few: Yankee B, J Sky Walker, Peoplez Choice, HeeSun Lee, SeDa, Shanelle Gabriel (Def Poet), and Many more. See our Bio and Discography. 

OK OK enough with the formalities. Where are all my Producers!! My Christian Hip-Hop, R&B (R&P) producers!!! I want to know who you are here on Holy Culture. Please respond and post your websites our where you host your tracks. I’m gonna make this BLOG, a information exchange for us. A place where we can share ideas, techniques and strategies. When we stick together and share ideas, and network, the sky is the limit for the music we have grown to love and enjoy for all these years. Urban Christian Music.

Now currently there are a few things I’m working on myself here in NYC that I’m real exited about. I will be sharing those things RIGHT HERE!!! So STAY TUNED!

Hey, you feelin this track?

Who would u want to hear on it?

Hit me Back with your comments.

www.jahrockn.com