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True School Univ.
Registration Day
Greetings!
Join us every Sunday for the True School University Members Only Chat at 6pm est. Artists and industry personnel get guidance on how to progress in the performance of Hip Hop Kulture. First session at a special time (4pm est) Sunday Feb. 7th 2010
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Where Do You Go From Here?
Where has your pursuit of your music career taken you in the
last year? Have you made any real progress? How do you sustain a career in the
music business? What venues should you perform at? What is your best song? How
do you find your best song? What does your stage performance say about your
music? How do you get celebrity collaborations? What should you submit to a
radio program? How do you get coverage in a magazine? When should you do a promotional
tour? Do you have all the answers? When
should you seek advice on your career?
For the answers to these and other questions,
become a member of True School University (TSU). Each week, new 2 hour sessions
will guide you to a better understanding of the music business and Hip Hop Kulture.
Classes begin Feb 7th 2010 at 4pm. To get your material reviewed during
the first show, register by Feb 3rd. Special guests and judges will
be announced.
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Major Label vs Independent
Our first major task of the new session is to fully integrate new artists into the independent career mindset. With the first sessions we will discuss the state of the recording industry and how it affects the independent artist. We have gathered some experienced minds for an in-depth look at what it means to be independent and successful. In this conversation, we touch a range of points all artists should take into consideration. Become a member of TSU and hone your craft to perfection.
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How To Book A Promo Tour
If you already have some music and have even performed at clubs or gotten some spins on radio, you still need to develop new strategies each year to remain relevant and grow a fan base. Part of that comes in the form of your promotional plan. The plan will consist of show bookings, debut of new material, internet marketing and merchandising. To coordinate the release of your promo campaign, you will need to handle many things in advance. You have to book appropriate venues to perform at or to simply promote in. There are magazines and radio programs which can be scheduled to coincide with performances. You can also have merchandise, and prepared one sheets to provide as physical product. Let TSU help you plan this year's strategy. It's never too early to get started.
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How Do You Participate?
At True School
University we will help
you develop this plan. We provide career strategy counseling which takes place
in group or solo discussions. TSU is a series of on-line conferences that you
can participate in from your home, review at a later date and take notes on.
From over the years, up until now, we have discussed the intricacies of the Hip
Hop music business with hundreds of famous and not so famous faces behind the scenes.
Whether for radio or TV we have usually captured these conversations on tape or
digital. We provide these archives and brand new interviews for you to use, and
help further you toward your goals. Register Now
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Shadesradio/Shades of Hip Hop BackgroundInitially Shades of Hip Hop started as a video mix
tape/documentary of the Hip Hop Kulture that showcased unsigned talent,
underground media and new music in the mid 1990's. We were the first producers
to popularize street cyphers, behind the scenes interviews, on-location
performances, and round table discussion about Hip Hop that were distributed
coast to coast. In fact we didn't start on DVD, our first projects were on VHS
tape which was the dominate format at the time in NYC. After receiving
recognition in the second issue of XXLMagazine in November of 1997, we went on
to complete 10 volumes by the year 2000. This was before the craze for
underground DVDs really began.
We didn't fully participate in this new brand DVD because it
accentuated the worst elements of what we had created. Yes, we showed artists
smoking weed, drug dealers posted up on the block breaking into freestyle
sessions as they peddled crack and dope to fiends, and even lock-door stripper
exhibitionists from time to time on Shades of Hip Hop. But honestly, it was all
just incidental as we sought to capture the real life aspects of Hip Hop at the
time. Our true focus was to represent a behind the scenes look at our culture
and promote creative underground talent that was being ignored by mainstream
media. We really began as a local NJ cable show in the spirit of Ralph
McDaniels Video Music Box. The footage we showed on the documentaries was
really just all the material that was too explicit to air on the local cable
without being censored.
Before the movie The Show and its sequel, before Smack DVD
and All Access DVD and before the Beef series we had done all of that. Truthfully,
I had already seen the effect of rappers committing acts of violence on one
another over things they said on a Shades of Hip Hop tape. Undercover police
had told me of how they used my tapes to get evidence on drug dealers who
flashed money and weed while making transactions in neighborhoods that they
recognized. And although I enjoyed videotaping sexy women as much as the next
man enjoyed watching it, I didn't want to create a soft or hardcore sex tape
series like my partner at the time eventually did. Our intention was to
highlight what we considered to be real Hip Hop. So even though, we had hours
of classic Hip Hop material including Jay-Z before he dropped Streets Is
Watching and became Jigga, Nore when he was in the studio making his debut solo
album N.O.R.E. with a young 50 Cent before he got shot, Canibus spitting the
infamous 'Second Round KO' verse for the first time, DMX after his first single
dropped, Big Pun at the height of his fame, and on and on we stopped making
Shades of Hip Hop videos. To me, Hip Hop was going in the wrong direction.
Instead of feeding into the promotion of more ignorance, we
fell back. We got into individual artist and event promotion. We showed others
how to create their own independent projects and helped artists promote their
careers independently with the creation of their own CDs, flyers, T-shirts etc.
Then, in 2006 we resurfaced with shadesradio.com and began our own 24 hour
internet radio station. Again we showcased underground talent and developed new
formats that would show a more cultured side of Hip Hop, this time for radio. A
part of our formatting on shadesradio.com brought us to cover the underground
music scene in New York City.
With email blasts we would capture the behind the scenes lifestyle of urban
music nightlife, once again. In 2008, as we continued to highlight underground talent,
promoters and producers we encountered KRS ONE in an in depth conversation for
the first time since 1995. Soon with his help, we started an intense Hip Hop development
course and promotional campaign that led us to playing a key role in promoting
the most important book ever written about Hip Hop consciousness, The Gospel of
Hip Hop by KRS ONE. It is with this accumulation of behind the scenes knowledge that we host these discussions for up coming Hiphoppas during the True School University sessions.
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SIGN UP NOW FOR TRUE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY CLASSES
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Get Artist Consultation, Concept Building Sessions and Hip Hop Kulture Lessons
We have a lot of new information waiting for you on the
members-only section of the shadesradio.com website. We have new material
uploaded from discussions with key industry personnel, artists and producers. We also have new info up about how to get a venue to perform in as a part of your independent tour.
During this year we will continue our mission of nurturing a
pathway of empowerment for artists, producers and industry personnel to follow by developing:
1. Forum
for artists to expand their knowledge of True Hip Hop Kulture
A. Study of The Gospel of Hip Hop by KRS ONE for the Temple of HIp Hop
B. Participate in production and performance of Hip Hop Kulture exhibitions and shows
C. Introduce pioneering figures in the culture thru interview segments and chatroom discussions
2. Provide access to independent media outlets
A. Radio
(Internet, Terrestrial)
B. Video
(Internet, DVD)
C. Magazine
(On-line, Print)
D. Digital
(Viral Marketing, Blogs)
3. Provide
artists with the tools to progress their craft independently
A. We
promote self creation rather than trend-based imitation. Self-creation is
the basis of the ideology behind the concept of originality in Hip Hop
Kulture.
B. Explore
the benefits of independent marketing
C. Restore
a sense of responsibility for the products artists create.
4. Give artists
examples of success to follow
A. Study
the careers of those who have already traveled beneficial paths thru the
industry.
B. Study
what to avoid in the business, especially the well documented downfalls
and character issues that will impede a career.
5. Promote
independent artists of a higher caliber
A. Present
Adult Contemporary Hip Hop to a variety of venues
B. Provide
True Hiphoppas with high grade material
As an apprentice of the Temple of Hip Hop,
I have been instructed in the art/science of teaching an appreciation for true
Hip Hop history and principles by the Teacha himself, KRS ONE. In various jobs
on the road at many shows, I have learned first hand tactics to the trades of
Emceein, Deejayin, Video Production and Promoting venues that are valuable to those who wish to
pursue such careers.
As the founder and creative producer behind the first
widely sold video mixtape, Shades of Hip Hop, I have created forums for artists
to promote their craft and promoted early careers of artists such as 50 Cent,
Noreaga, Jay-Z, Canibus, Mos Def, Big Pun, Wyclef Jean and many others. From
the early 90's til now I have participated in Hip Hop from behind the scenes
and as a producer and host of many shows. During this time I have been on the
cusp of changing technology from VHS tapes to DVDs, from hand to hand sales, to
digital distribution and viral marketing.
At this time we utilize fully
operational 24 hour internet radio, and television as well as viral email
marketing to promote the Hip Hop movement. It is with this experience and
access that we seek to inspire a new generation of Hiphoppas who are willing to
learn about the benefits of Hip Hop Kulture and how to practically apply it to
their lives.
To complete
your registration for the month, submit the up now portion attached to this
email.
Introductory Membership is ONLY $15 for 1 week!
Registration for the month is only $50 for 4 weeks (returning members $40).
4 month membership
$199 - upgrades include NYC promotional schedule.
Membership includes:
2. Your music may also be selected to accompany station promotion.
3. Submitted video will be reviewed by a guest judging panel that will give instant feedback on the material.
4. Music will automatically be resubmitted and voted on for extended display time on the page.
5. Access to our exclusive Study Hall will be granted for the duration of the membership
6. One session career counseling is also available for member rates.
7. We also schedule bookings in NYC for rappers and deejays.
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Sincerely,
Kurt Nice
Hip Hop Kultural Specialist
Temple of Hip Hop
908.279.4635
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