You Should Be Doing This...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyqCfbBuyxE

The Dollar In Your Pocket

On this great Sunday evening, there are just a few words I'd like to share with my indie/underground artists (especially the Carolinas **wink, wink**), whom I love and support with all the fibers in my being.

No, I'm not a radio personality.

No, I'm not a DJ.

No, I'm not a manager, or A&R, or big time promoter.

What I am, though, is your consumer. I am part of the fan base you will need to keep your music alive out there in the streets and on the radio. 

I am the dollar in your pocket.

I'm listening to your music on my iPod as I hit the treadmill for 20 minutes on Monday evening. 

It's me, Trooper, and CAROLINA MUSIC on I-20, Broad River, Two Notch, Hwy 17, I-77 and wherever else I need to go a minimum of six days a week.

I am the dollar in your pocket.

So even though I may not be able to get you a record deal (or even nothin' on that distribution), you should still keep me in mind as part of your plan. 

After all, if I (and people like me) don't wanna hear your music, why would those DJs and record labels need you?Where will you get the dollar to put in your pocket?

THE ANSWERS to Carolina Quotes

Well, I tried. I tried to find out who really k nows what music around here. Disappointingly, to no avail. Maybe folks just didn't even attempt to test their knowledge, maybe they did and couldn't figure 'em out. I did get a couple of folks' responses when they recognized their own tracks, though, so kudos to them!  I guess. 

Anyway, see if the answers below ring any bells:

"There's a place I call my own, from the top the bottom, the front and the other  side, my state my city my zone, I gotta show yall it's somethin' 'bout that  southern life..." -- "This Is My Hood" Christou

"Let's go the mall, let's go spend some money, girl you gon' have a ball, cuz you  the only one..." --- "One Girl" L-Boogie

"Uh huh, yeah I'm a 'G', uh huh, can't f*** like me, uh huh, gotcha out the club  early, I'll getcha home by three..." ---  "Bedroom" Boondak Syndicate

"If you ain't know wha da deal is then you betta aks, cuz I don't play with lil'  chern so run tell that, or fake mix with n***** who think they all that, they just  crabs in the bucket and ya know that..." --- from Hollywood-n-Troy "U Know" Remix  (side note: This track is 7 MINUTES!)

"Snitches got the block exposed, butt naked on the block got me hustlin' slow,  and I, I ain't got no where to go, trapped between a rock and a ounce of blow..." --- "Say Hello To My Life" Primo Starr

"Yall be steady hatin' cause I'm fresh up on my grind, I be getting paper so you  know that I'm gon' shine...why you hatin' on me, I ain't hatin' you...motha f****  worry 'bout me, I ain't worryin' 'bout you..." --- "Hatin' On Me" P.Watts

"Hater blockers on, blockers on I ain't seein' them, where ya at, posted on the  floor with my team and dem, people lookin' at us like we ain't supposed to be in  here, be in here, hater blockers blocking all the hate in here..." --- "Hater Blockers" Don Won Wizzle

"He told me, he wants me, so I told him, come and get me boy...[if you want me,  come and get me]..."      --- "Come Get Me" MaryLiz

"Let's stay down like four flat tires, we can smoke that fiyah then go joke at  Dinah's..." --- "Roll With Me" Dem Damn Twin$

"I know it's hard baby, in many different ways, ain't old enough to have sex and  gotta live with AIDS, plus it ain't your fault, you was born wit it, kids wouldn't  even play witcha think they gon' get it..." 

--- "Untouchable" Snook da Rokk Starr

"Everybody claim they got that work, everybody thugs, every n**** got a plug,  every n**** sell drugs...I don't believe 'em though..." --- "I Don't Believe 'Em"  TD tha Don (& others)

"My stunnas on, my eyes hid and I can't find my eyelids..." --- "Geek Muzik" Mr. Flip

Carolina Quotes: How Deep in the Game Are You???

I'm playing a little game today; whoever can give me the names of the tracks and artists listed below, I'll give you $10 (you gotta be the first person!). Yeah, I said ten, not a hundred, not a thousand, but it's ten more dollars you didn't have!   So let's play... (send answers to nina.german@yahoo.com)

"There's a place I call my own, from the top the bottom, the front and the other side, my state my city my zone, I gotta show yall it's somethin' 'bout that southern life..."

"Let's go the mall, let's go spend some money, girl you gon' have a ball, cuz you the only one..."

"Uh huh, yeah I'm a 'G', uh huh, can't f*** like me, uh huh, gotcha out the club early, I'll getcha home by three..."

"If you ain't know wha da deal is then you betta aks, cuz I don't play with lil' chern so run tell that, or fake mix with n***** who think they all that, they just crabs in the bucket and ya know that..."

"Snitches got the block exposed, butt naked on the block got me hustlin' slow, and I, I ain't got no where to go, trapped between a rock and a ounce of blow..."

"Yall be steady hatin' cause I'm fresh up on my grind, I be getting paper so you know that I'm gon' shine...why you hatin' on me, I ain't hatin' you...motha f**** worry 'bout me, I ain't worryin' 'bout you..."

"Hater blockers on, blockers on I ain't seein' them, where ya at, posted on the floor with my team and dem, people lookin' at us like we ain't supposed to be in here, be in here, hater blockers blocking all the hate in here..."

"He told me, he wants me, so I told him, come and get me boy...[if you want me, come and get me]..."

"Let's stay down like four flat tires, we can smoke that fiyah then go joke at Dinah's..."

"I know it's hard baby, in many different ways, ain't old enough to have sex and gotta live with AIDS, plus it ain't your fault, you was born wit it, kids wouldn't even play witcha think they gon' get it..."

"Everybody claim they got that work, everybody thugs, every n**** got a plug, every n**** sell drugs...I don't believe 'em though..."

"My stunnas on, my eyes hid and I can't find my eyelids..."

****** Tequilas and lemons are always welcome in MY galaxy!!!!  ******

MUSIC LOVERS EXCLUSIVE: New Peach and Beach Blend

Have you ever listened to a song that makes you just wanna live the lyrics as you're hearing 'em? Maybe it's only the hook that's got you feeling like it was written for and directed at you. Or maybe even the bridge. Not to mention a beat that's got you feeling like you're soaring through the air, life or whatever you wanna soar through. There's a couple of 'em that I can name off the dome right now! 

For example, a couple of years back, Rick Ross' "Speedin." I'd be headed down I-20, on the way back from a photo shoot in Atlanta, off in the zone that I'm always so lost in when it's just Trooper (that's my car/road dog's name, by the way), the music and me. The beat comes in, R. Kelly's voice fills the space, and I'm feelin' like I'm on the highway in Miami! I'm immediately caught up, my right foot gets this sudden charge that forces the pedal to the floor and WHOA!- I'm out this BEEEEESSSHHHH!!! A few miles per hour and a flashing blue light later, Crawfordville police wanted to know my reason for doing 90 in a 70. "ROSS."

Anyway, more recently - as in last week recently - I was sent a new track done by a couple of guys chillin' out (where they still say that at??) on the Grand Strand. Story goes, it was done in an hour's time, in between phone calls and Capri Suns. Sooooo, you know me - I had to hear what was up. 

I was NOT disappointed! There's something about a hot azz beat (thanks, Marcia) and motivating words, simple as they might be.  "I keep grinding, I keep riding, you keep tryna crown me, but my feet won't touch the ground...touch the ground..."

Hmmm, makes me feel some kinda way... Exhilarated. Invincible. NOTHING IS motherfruitin' IMPOSSIBLE! But u gotta listen to the song to truly experience the thing.

I can appreciate, too, the BALANCE the two artists create with their individual styles of flow. While the first verse is sorta hard and in-your-face (take that, trick), the second comes a little more laid back and matter-of-fact. Love it!

Somebody give me some Tequila and lemon, put me on a raised platform and welcome to MY galaxy...  "I Keep Flying" beesh!