Rapper 50 Cent continues to amaze me, and I hope he never stops. He’s definitely one of my favorite business men to follow. If you didn’t know he recently announced the launch of his new energy shot called Street Kings. With every shot sold, a meal is purchased for someone in need. His goal is to feed 1 billion people. Help him out by watching the videos below and like the facebook page. ONE LIKE = ONE MEAL. Like SK on Facebook to give a meal to a hungry child: facebook.com/StreetKing
Just wanted to share this. Modelland written by Tyra Banks
**Item is on my birthday list in case you were wondering lol š
Here’s the Synopysis from the publisher Random House:
No one gets in without being asked. And with her untamable hair, large forehead, and gawky body, Tookie De La CrĆØme isn’t expecting an invitation. Modellandāthe exclusive, mysterious place on top of the mountainānever dares to make an appearance in her dreams.
But someone has plans for Tookie. Before she can blink her mismatched eyes, Tookie finds herself in the very place every girl in the world obsesses about. And three unlikely girls have joined her.
Only seven extraordinary young women become Intoxibellas each year. Famous. Worshipped. Magical. What happens to those who don’t make it? Well, no one really speaks of that. Some things are better left unsaid.
Thrown into a world where she doesn’t seem to belong, Tookie glimpses a future that could be hersāif she survives the beastly Catwalk Corridor and terrifying Thigh-High Boot Camp. Or could it? Dark rumors like silken threads swirl around the question of why Tookie and her new friends were selected . . . and the shadows around Modelland hide sinister secrets.
Are you ready? Modelland is waiting for you. . . .
Itās funny how social media can put you in contact with people you would least expect to meet. The connections that you can make, the things that you can get done in business and in life can all come about within the instance of a tweet or a Facebook comment on a post. Thatās exactly how it came about that I met Mr. Over Time Grind, Mr. OTG if you will. When I came across his Twitter account I checked out his website and saw that he was a producer and fell in love with the grind and the business model of his site http://www.idoublel.com/. (Check it out youāll see what Iām talking about) I thought why arenāt all producers/artists doing something like this and being about the business of music instead of expecting everything to be for free? I reached out to him and asked if I would pick his brain with an interview for the site and he agreed and below is a synopsis of what we talked about as, he had a lot of knowledge and experience to give. I decided to share with you all of the note worthy information, especially what is most useful for all of us who are looking to get up and get out there and make it.
For this interview, I started it out a little differently. Instead of diving into my questions I decided to start out with questions that I had asked my Facebook friends to give me for Mr. OTG and this was his response.
Steph W. Asks the following questions:
What are the top 3 adversities that you have had to face in order to get to where you are today?
Go Crazy Remix
Well the top 3, Iād have to say would be Confidence, you know getting my confidence up in order to take some of the feedback that the industry can bring your way. As an artist you wear your creativity and your heart on your sleeve and you have to be strong to be able to accept that people may not like everything that you put out. With that Iād say that my second one is learning how to take criticism. Iāve had to come to understand that the things that people say aren’t because they donāt like what you do, itās because they have their opinion and they just want to help to make what you are doing better. The last thing that Iāve had to overcome is learning not to dis-count anyone. Iāve learned that just because someone doesnāt have the money or connections that you are looking for doesnāt mean that you shouldnāt give then a listen or a chance to hear what they have got to say. Iāve looked over a lot of quality people in the beginning who are not doing it big in the industry and realized that Iāve missed out on making a connection with them when I had the chance. So if there is anything that I really want people to know is that Iām open to talking with people and hearing what they have, you never know where it may go.
The saying goes, āItās not what you know itās who you know.ā Does that account for the minority or majority of your success in the industry?
Crown +Dro
I would say itās definitely what you know. There are things that I didnāt know and in the industry a lot of people arenāt willing to share information about how to protect themselves and how to really make money and to continue to be a success in this industry. When I first started, I didnāt know too much about copyrighting my music, and joining ASCAP and all of that stuff on how to protect yourself and really profit from your music. There are still things Iām still learning about the business like the promotional photos, and things like that, that artists and producers need to promote themselves.
After all you have achievedā¦What is your primary inspiration that allows you to continue what you do and come up with fresh concepts?
Postman (Dirty)
My primary inspiration comes from life. Iām a regular blue collar dude, I work with my hands and working with my music for me itās a release. I draw inspiration from things that are going on in life around me. Like the other day I was walking towards South St. and I saw the bums on the street and I went home and worked on a song about that and how they looked to me and the struggles and the life they must go through. Iām not the type of artist that raps about the 8 cars or the huge mansion that I donāt have, thatās not who I am and thatās not what I aspire to be, I just want a good car, place to live and the things that I need to take care of, to be taken care of, and I donāt have problem working in order to get that.
What was your most rewarding experience as a producer?
I 2 L’s
My most rewarding experience would have to be when my girlfriend at the time told me that she just heard one of my beats on TV, on a promo for the Tiny and Toya 2 show. I didnāt believe her when she said it then I told her to rewind it, and then I heard it! I was like WOW, and I wasnāt excited because it was playing on TV I was happy because the feedback I got from my friends and family was so positive and it was rewarding to me that people would be able to share in my music.
Luis Y. asks:
If the eight year old version of him was to walk up to you today, what would the eight year old version of you have to say to you today?
84 More
Well the 8 year old me, would probably be like, why didnāt I end up like the dudes in Hoop Dreams lol! But based on how I grew up it was kinda like that, except I got hurt and it ended my ball playing. As it turned out I had to find something else that I was good at to occupy my time and eventually it brings me to where I am today. But I think the 8 year old me would be proud of me.
After we finished the Facebook questions I asked a few of my own, mainly about the business of his music. I started off asking how he got the name Mr. Over Time Grind.
SO when I checked out your website, I was thoroughly impressed how you have your beats up and ready to go either for sale or for lease and you even give bundle details on the beats! When I saw that I was like he truly is Mr. OTG, this dude is not playin! [laughs] Where does that name come from and where did you get the concept for that site?!
NovacaneĀ Remix
Well I used to work my job all day and spend all night at home working on my website and my music to the point where when I would come into work I would have bags under my eyes and be super tired and people stated calling me Mr. Over Time Grind and the name just stuck and if been focused ever since. For the site the site came about as a way for me to promote my music and have it available for anyone who was interested. Similar to the blogs that I have, that is more about the promotional aspect and networking for my music and to give others a way to have their work out there and get attention to their music.
What kind of success have you seen with your music being on those sites?
Well I have been fortunate enough to now be working with Philly artist Tone Trump, Iāve had my site talked about on the Star and Buckwild show and with my own music Iāve had over 55,000 downloads of my mixtape.
I think that I have covered everything; I know that we have covered a lot! Is there anything that you would like to mention that I may have missed?
The final bids are due forĀ Warner Music Group today, and the company could reportedly be sold by week’s end. Sources tellĀ Reuters WMG is expected to go for at least $3 billion to one of two competing groups:Ā Len Blavatnik‘sĀ Access Industry and a joint bid byĀ Tom andĀ Alec Gores‘Platinum Equity and Gores Group.
One source tellsĀ Reuters thatĀ Ron Burkle‘sĀ Yucaipa Co dropped out of the bidding late last week, while bids from two majorĀ competingĀ music industry companies “fell short of what Warner’s board was looking forĀ in the second round.”Ā Digital Music News notes that Yucaipa was the group that includedĀ Napster co-founderĀ Sean Parker.There is still the chance that music companies such asĀ BMG could be involved down the road by purchasing some of WMG’s assets from its new owner. Even though bids are due this week, there is no guarantee a deal will close in the coming days, according to one ofĀ Reuters‘ sources.Additionally, theĀ Wall Street Journal reported on Friday nightĀ that Blavantnik is frustrated by the decision process and has threatened to drop out of the bidding if WMG’s board takes too long to make up its mind.
In casue you don’t understand what this means… WMG is the world’s third-largest record label behind Universal and Sony. In recent years, the company hasĀ overhauled its business model and made significant inroads in theĀ digital music market. Digital revenue represented 40% of its recorded music revenue in the U.S., WMG said in its most recent earnings call. I wonder how this will change the way they do business after it’s sold…