8th Post: Is COCAINE making a COMEBACK?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Chances are if you're reading this, you were probably born sometime between 85' and 90'. And if you've ever watched Scarface, Blow, or any other movie about cocaine, you'd know that the 80's was a HUGE time for cocaine. Billions were made, hundreds of thousands (probably millions now) died from crack overdoses and the ever so hilarious "Richard Pryor incident" (i know HE didn't die, but others did. You CANNOT light yourself on fire people!). But make no mistake, there was nothing funny about it, the only people using this as a "party drug" were those who could afford it at the time. Eventually even those people had to make a decision whether to stop or become junkies. Now, my entire life (88 till ----) the only drugs i was introduced to via pop culture was weed, and maybe a pill or two here and there. But it seems that cocaine is making a comeback in pop-culture (though I don't think it ever left, i.e. the mid 90's). Everywhere I turn its a song referencing in some very obvious way use of or distribution of cocaine. Needless to say they make it look VERY cool (that is their jobs, right?). And even on television, the LAST place i thought I would see coke peddled (not sure why), it is obviously being pushed as an accepted deviance. Now, weed is one thing, sure it's illegal and makes you act a little funny, but it never broke up a home or made a woman (or man) sell themselves. So I pose this question to the artists, their managers, and whatever PR firms is helping this degeneration: Why would you make it acceptable en mass via pop culture to sell and/or use cocaine? Who is paying you for this? I mean, if I were any worse of a conspiracy theorist, I'd say the U.S. Government was tied to this correctly (example: gun store, liquor store, fast food place, and church, the formula of every hood in america. Funny eh?) But I digress, people, if you weren't down with it before, don't flip the script because pop-culture says its "acceptable" now. Be you. Be yourself.

Peace.

7th Post: It's YOURS, not THEIRS!

Alright, i'm back. Apologies for the time lapse between posts, but life has been moving at a million miles an hour. New job, new roommate, but regardless, same R.I.C.O.. And that's the topic of today's column, staying true to you. Now a lot of people have a misconception of "keeping it real" and this eventually leads them to doing things that are, in all actuality, outside if their internal moral code. This could be anything from drinking when you know you usually wouldn't to (enter worse case scenario). Regardless, there is a VAST difference between staying true to yourself, and "keeping it real". One thing the people that constantly scream about "keeping it real" tend to forget is that the human being as an organism is ever-changing. From the time we are conceived to the time we die we are constantly changing, morphing,growing, shrinking, etc etc. So with this in mind, obviously the way we think is going to change over time is well. So if someone tells you that you're not staying true to yourself because you're not in the same mind frame you were 2-3 years ago, take it as a compliment. You've grown! Congratulations! There will be balloons!
Another thing people allow to dictate what is "them" and what is not is, unfortunately, other people. It's been this way for a loooooooooooooooong time (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery my ASS!). People tend to look to the crowd to find themselves and those that are shunned by the crowd are considered "weird" or "different" (or nowadays "underground" or "hip"). Honestly with all the groups and cliques in the world, if you can't fit in somewhere, well, thank god for the internet right? And to those of you that have a different mindset, possibly a positive one, that you think could be of some use, but nobody has your back, emotionally, or physically, guess what? A lot of people that started great revolutions were considered either "outside the norm" or if you really want to push it, "terrorists". I think my best example of this would be the Black Panther movement of the 1960's. Now here you have a group who is by all legal means justified in what they are doing. But not even the entire BLACK community could agree on whether they stood behind the panthers or not. And of course the masses considered them armed terrorists (which is why the FBI, CIA and COINTELPRO collectively oversaw the demolition and eventual media slander of these black power movements, but thats another post). But this did not stop the originators or their children from continuing the legacy and fighting for them same beliefs, despite obvious attacks and no support from the government. So you have to look at these things and realise that the masses aren't that smart. And the people that control them, do not have your best interest at hand. YOU have to have your best interest at hand.

6th Post: THANKSGIVING SPECIAL! (Getting outside your comfort zone)

So besides all of the historical injustices tied to thanksgiving, the holiday before Christmas is usually a time for food, friends, and thinking about what you're thankful for. But as we all know, as a musician, sometimes you can't make a holiday. This is something that must be understood if you are going for a star role as a musician (or really as any kind of entrepreneur). Holidays can be made up, but chances to advance your career cannot. Another give-in to those of us without money who don't get to leave their city that much, when you are given an opportunity to go out of town, especially to a major city, DO IT! No matter what you are doing, you're being seen, and of course being out of town gives you the chance to market to a whole new demographic and possibly set up shows and connects in that city. For example, I would love to be home with my family this holiday season (dysfunctional as they may be, I love them all very much) but I am in Nashville and will be until Sunday. While I am on "vacation", I am not simply chilling up here.
The moral of all this is, MOVE AROUND! Hometown love is wonderful, but national exposure is what gets you noticed.

I gotta get back to having a vacation, see you guys on Monday!

5th Post: WTF IS A HIPSTER?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Ok, it's Rico investigation time (that's right I referred to myself in the third person)! I saw something on facebook the other day for an event called "National Punch a Hipster Day" (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=160113817359108) and I immediately started laughing. Now I know, why would I laugh at obvious violence based on such a silly dividing line, the dividing line being whether you are a "hipster" or not. Then I started to break down in my head what a "hipster" might look like, act like dress like, then I looked at all the pictures of the "Attending" people. To say the least it'd be like if the black panthers held a "no muslims allowed" party. This is what I think a hipster is, and feel free to email me or post comments if I am wrong.

A) Retro Dress Atttire
From what I can see, hipsters would really like to be in the 60's or 80's, even occasionally the early 90's again (but I mean, who DOESN'T want to be in the early 90's right?). But apparently what makes this a hipster thing is that the clothes are not "authentic" and are "expensive". But they look REALLY good.

B) Dub Step and other type of Electronic Music
Big thing in the "hipster" scene. Lots of flashing lights to keep the kiddies entertained and some very talented DJ's up at the helm controlling this mass of, hip, cool sweaty ass kids at the club (shout out to NOCTURNAL and the whole ELECTROCITY crew)

C) Ray Bans
Ok, seriously, who doesn't like Ray Bans?

D) Bad Independent Rock Music
Another super fad nowadays is to have a shitty indie band (when was that ever NOT a fad), but in the "hipster" scene apparently tuning your instruments is not key, and lessons................pssssh, who needs em? Theory......................GETOUTTAHERE! Now there are some great indie bands out there that are popular in that scene, but your average band by  a bunch of kids in tight jeans and flannel will more than likely blow, but their friends will think its FUCKIN AWESOME!

E) Anorexia and/or Denial
All fo the "hipsters" I've seen are FUCKIN TINY! Either that or they're big guys (or girls YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE, STOP IT!lol) in tiny or just very form fitting clothes.

That's about the gist of it. I believe. At any rate, none of this is grounds for a throwdown. Though I think this is a prime example of how people truly show their self-hate on facebook EVERY DAY................................

.........................or just aint got shit better to do.

PEEP THE YOUTUBE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JUST ANOTHA INTERVIEW Episode 1!!!!!!!!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWOULZJPsrI

I'm Out.............

4th Post: Who's phony, who's fake..................?

So you ever been kicking it with a couple of your peoples and maybe somebody you just don't hang around that much. You notice that one of your homies is acting a little funny, like maybe this one person has changed his entire persona for the evening, or possibly brought out something that lied dormant. Or, maybe it's not even that deep, maybe one of the people you thought was on your team, is completely leading you on, and probably gonna steal from you later on (you know who you are). Regardless, realness is one of the most debated topics in music, PERIOD! Whether it be if a rappers background is actual factual, or whether a band actually wrote AND performed one of their hit songs (a lot of your favorite songs, were written by somebody in the background, NOT by the band, people make shitloads doing that, its called PUBLISHING RIGHTS!), being real is, on the surface, a very important detail in music, but a declining necessity in our society, making it a declining necessity in the music business. Now before I say anything else, I will say that A) there is a difference between a gimmick and being completely fake and B) I in no way shape or form condone being fake to make it. Now that I've said that, faking it with the right PR has done wonders for some artists (I will not mention names because, hell, I don't know those people personally, I didn't grow up with them HAHA!) That formula alone coupled with minimal talent can shoot you to where you want to go, for about a year or two. Those who have true talent also have another word that will decide whether you make money or not in the music industry................longevity. Perfect example, rapper T.I. said on his first single, "Some people wonder what my goals is, they think its goin' gold, havin hoes sweatin me, fuck that, I'm in it for the longevity.". Now this is a cat who's first album maybe went gold, and first label DROPPED him (Arista). But his talent, dedication and business savvy could not be ignored (when you sell dope, you gotta be business savvy HAHA!), and now 5 albums later (wait........6 I think) look at his empire. 8 Ball and MJG, B.o.B, Young Dro, all signed UNDER HIM!
But I'll stop ranting about the homie Tip.
Apparently, being real means just about nothing nowadays. But please believe if there is no true talent there, you will not last. And for those with true talent reading, don't be so damn ready to have YOUR sound and YOUR vision put out there at first. You gotta play the game to win, dig it?

Peace

3rd Post : Professionalism, MUY IMPORTANTE!

We are all artists, in one definition or another. Whatever we do really well can be considered our "art". I used to wonder sometimes, "Why do some really, really talented people never get the break they deserve, and on the flip, why do some garbage, no-talent folks get HUGE breaks and make LOADS of money?". Well ladies and gentlemen, I have found the answer in this last year of searching. And it is a multi-level answer. Let's break it up into sections

I: Location
Sometimes you just live in a shitty city, and the smartest thing would be to move. People tend to think local buzz is the key to national success. This is true...................in major cities. If you live in Po-funk, AL, it's gonna be a little hard to get noticed, especially if you're doing jazz-funk or reggae in the deep south. Sometimes you have to cater to your demographic. Basically, MOVE!
II: Dedication
If you don't do what you do in your band or act just about every day (or something close to that), there's no need for you to think that you're ever going to get famous. Those people, despite the hype, practice their ass off. That is how they make a living.
III: PROFESSIONALISM, SO IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When you become an artist, you have, in so many words, become a business. You must conduct yourself as such. You have to keep yourself maintained (unless your gimmick is filth, then in that case GO NUTS), you have to keep files of EVERYTHING you sign, and even before you sign anything, you have to ACTUALLY READ it. A lot of people get offered checks and forget the fine print. This is a fine way to get further into debt. You also, if you are self managing, might want to find yourself a GOOD entertainment lawyer.
IV: Stage Show
You are throwing a show, correct? or at least you're apart of one? I think the best quote I have for this is from Sebastian Banks (of Black Rock Revival)," Why say it's a show if it's not?" your stage show must keep the audience entertained, and on top of that, YOU HAVE TO BE ON TIME TO PERFORMANCES. Showing up late shows extreme lack in professionalism.

From what I can see, that has been the downfall of a lot great acts (besides drugs, but that's another post) that could have gone national and even international. Just try these things out, get some good PR, and see how far your talent will take you.

Peace.

Post #2 - Music in the Middle East: Arrested for a cipher?

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.12910/title.iran-cracks-down-on-hip-hop-for-western-perceived-contents


 I saw the link above and I had to make this topic numero uno for my 2nd blog post. Apparently hip-hop and other "western-perceived" contents are under attack in the middle east, specifically Iran. Basically, if you're spittin a hot 16 in Tehran, yes, they can arrest you. The students in the universities over there are using bombed out buildings with blankets on the windows as studios and video sets. And being punished for it because it apparently, "use the lowest form of street talk", and, "had departed from the normal course of life and aspire to a life of limitless indolence." I find this act of revolutionary musicality inspiring, these are the kinds of things that should inspire us as American artists to use the freedom we have to speak out against the problems we have in our own government. I mean, if these people can do it, AND RISK PROSECUTION IN IRAN, why can't we just do it for the hell of it? Why can't we get involved in our local governements and start making change in our own local communities? Why can't we use our art for ourselves and for the betterment of our world? All of these things tie in together, art, government, freedom, life, these things are all very intricately woven together. Without the full strength of one, the tapestry will fall apart.

Think about that,
RicoThaAkronym

First Post: What's goin on world!!!!!!!!!!!

So the hell with all the intro b.s., you already know who it is, and if you don't, you're about to (peep the profile section if you're just mad interested HAHA!). I am Rico The Akronym. So I this first post is gonna break down what exactly I mean when I say I'm an Acronym. When I say i am an acronym it means that I stand for something. There are a lot of people in this society that call themselves standing for something. But when it's time to beat the street, or basically get involved on any level besides what I'm doing right now, they would rather watch it on the news or read about it in the paper. The Akronym side also comes from the fact that R.I.C.O. itself is an acronym, both legally, and in my own life. Of course, anybody that knows anything about the Mob knows about the RICO act of 1970, but I twisted it a little differently. R=Ridiculously, I=Independent, C=Completely, O=Overconfident. That's it. The simple formula. Some people asked me off the bat, before I even hopped on the computer, "Why call your blog, "just anotha nigga with a blog?" Since this is the inaugural post I will keep it short and get on with the day. Be on the lookout for DAILY posts, the YOUTUBE, and all that other good stuff.

One Love
RicoThaAkronym