It took us a while to do it, but we did and will continue to do it. HitLetter was just an idea till January 2009, it has been in the works since then. It took till May 'cos every one involved had his neck in the noose of one hustle or the other. HitLetter is here now and pledges to stay in your face like sweat pores, be on point like decimals with word on the Urban Music scene and its Business, juicy in everything we've got to serve you with. We intend to enlighten people more about the Music Business.
This is our blog page to keep the online presence, where you can catch us at the click of your Artificial Intelligence otherwise known as computers. However, we'll always have our fly hard copy print versions so you should always look out for it, or request for your copy and we'll get it across to you, somehow. And of course it is FREE, making it very accessible to all and also the reason why you should advertise your business with us.
We reach people of the following class; students, upwardly mobile youths, music lovers,executives in entertainment industry and other sectors etc. Can we reach your target market?
Most likely! So keep reading and do send us your comments, we appreciate it!
Four years after she debuted in the music scene with ‘Gba’, star actress Omotola (Jalade Ekeinde) also known as Omo Sexy is said to be putting final touch on her sophomore album. The album which she plans to release independently, is been mastered in the US and though yet untitled,she’s already talking deals with international record companies and agencies showing interest in the project.
Though still in the acting business, it doesn’t quite seem like the diva is planning to quit music any time soon. Word has it that Omotola, who is also UN Ambassadorfor WorldFood Programme, is making plans to shoot a slew of about 10 videos for her forthcoming album, first of the series to hit the screens will be ‘Feel Alright’a single from the album currently enjoying rave reviews.
KnightHouse Presents Street Scriptures vol. 1
The creative mind squad of Aderogba Arimoro, Lanre Oladimeji, and Temitope Gomez, KnightHouse is geared and ready to step the game up another notch with the introduction of a compilation album titled 'Street Scriptures Volume 1', which according to them is the first installment in a series of musical servings to come from their kitchen.
The Street Scriptures
Vol. 1
presents some of the finest of Naija Hip-hop in series of collaborations featuring established rap heavyweights, steaming up-comers and some of the strongest underground contenders. Their aim with this release is to bring out the most definitive hip-hop album ever made, from the underground ciphers to the club banger
s, celebrating true hip-hop music and its culture.
2 singles off the album; 'Purple' featuring M.I, Nyore and Mo'Cheddah and'Hate' featuring illbliss, Othello and Aye'sha, were released online and on radio in late 2008.And now with videos for 'Purple' and a few other cuts like 'Drama'(which featured music video geek Clarence Peters rappin
g for the first time) and 'Finest', Street Scriptures Vol. 1 has been primed to explode on the scene and the CDs likely to hit the streets by May ending or June.
The roll call on the album is a long list; it features names like Mode 9, illbliss, Terry Tha Rapman, Othello, M.I, Kel, Blaise, Sauce Kid, Nyore, Mo'Cheddah, Teeto C-Mos, Teckzilla {Str8buttah}, Rooftop MCs, 4th Rebublic, Clarence Peters, Ikechukwu, Naeto C, The Kalifate, Loose Kaynon, KB {Trybesmen}, XYZ {Str8buttah}, Tha Suspect, Roguewave, T-Rex, Bigtyme, Mike Majik, just to mention a few.
2008 was a good year for the Nigeria music industry, and particularly Rap music. Within its 52 weeks, we witnessed Naija rap joints rock the entire scene, rappers score mainstream hits and win awards internationally and locally. A number of rap CD’s made it to the streets, and 2 out of these albums rounded up ‘08 and buzzed into the new year.
Paradigm Shift
REDEYE MUZIK
PRODUCTION: Kraft, X-0, Knight House, Jesse Jags, Was Beats and Others
While we might wonder what it is exactly Modenine has done for Hip-hop, he says on track “hip-hop is getting negative press/ that’s why I rake to clear up the mess”. As expected Mr. Nine brings indomitable rhyme prowess to the table with officially second LP, Paradigm Shift. Gets crooning assistance from pretty boy singer Banky W on Talking to you, starts a bon-fire with spit fire Reggae Dance-hall cats Mallam Spicey, Oso Sensei, and Rocksteady on track Fiyah Burn also teams up with Sound Sultan on Green Passportremix. The overall album features Mode brashly spitting battle rap verses with deep punchlines on mostly boom bap-ish instrumentals. Might not cut across very much in the music mainstream(though playingthe rivalry card, as he openly threw verbal jabs at Ruggedman gained him some
attention there), and just may be should have obeyed the less is more principle, but a definite good listen for serious rap heads.
Talk About It
CHOCOLATE CITY ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
Talk About It
PRODUCTION: Jude(MI) and Jesse(Jags) Abaga, Kraft
MI comes off with witty lyricism, hardcore in a mellow way, not rock-bottom deep but far from superficial. On this album, he managed to veil the rap form’s toughness in a more appealing cloak of melody and radio friendly song-craft both as emcee and producer. Features guest appearances frommusical comrades like Reggae dance-hall soldier Pype on Teaser,on Blaze got puff puff pass-ish with Jesse Jags, Ice Prince & Blaise, though instead of actual narcotics, their quad-team got high on their own verses, got up and coming singer YQ on Area and also Gospel-Rock singerEben on the praise worshipJehovah.Summing it up, MI’sTalk About It is a very entertaining piece for anyone who would care to listen. And to garner more attention and respect, in February he put out a mixtape titled “ILLEGAL MUZIK” lacing rhymes on tracks like D’banj’s “MO Gbona Feli Feli” and Lil Wayne’s “A Milli”. On that tip, has earned himself some critical acclaim in the rap circles and also the rapper-of-the-moment status in the entire Naija music scene .
Rap albums for 2009:
Ikechukwu’sLife and Times Of Killz vol. 1
iLLBLiSS’ Dat Ibo Boy LP,
Kalifate ’s Re-Ink-A-Nation
Elajoe’sElajoe ’sMicWorx
Rooftop MCs ’ Drunken Masters
KnightHouse ’Street Scriptures vol. 1
Kel ’s The Investment
Terry Tha Rapman’s Boys Are Not Smiling
Rugged man( Hopefully, with better joints than O Bangin’ si mi leti), Sauce Kid,…Gino ???...Will eLDee ever drop a rap album again?????
Even rap albums we don’t know about yet, mostly likely will surface sometime this year. But whether or not they do, this year is looking better for Rap. Rappers getting more awards and nominations, rap musicgettingmore and more spins on radio and in the clubs, more fly rap videos, rappers touring and doing more gigs, and hopefully someday soon we’ll see real rappers headline major shows especially the ones tagged ‘Hip-Hop’ HL
Essentially it is everything you need to do to build, promote, and enhance your music career.
Today, when most labels consider signing a new act, they are looking for artists that already have a solid independent foundation, a story, and the songs and image necessary to make it to the top.
You may ask yourself .... How in the world are we going to accomplish all that with little or no money or connections? The answer is very hard work, and a little knowledge and expertise. It sure wouldn't hurt to have the advise and counsel of an Artist Development expert either. You must set your goals, lay down a good music marketing and promotion plan and follow it. In a sense, in today’s music industry environment, every artist has an equal chance of getting where they ought to be, as anyone else provided they have the songs, and image.
In the Nigerian music industry, structural issues are crippling business for Labels and Management firms. So instead of signing up new acts, they are downsizing on their numbers, some even have closed shop. And so very few have the fortune of professional Management or Label Backing . For an artist who is not involved with a manager or an artist management firm, producer, or label that actually has a budget for artist development (which is not likely) you have to stick to that independent route and develop yourself.
Developing Yourself
As an independent artist you must approach your music career as a business. After all, if you want to make a living at it, that's exactly what it is. The responsibility for developing yourself as an artist, and developing your records is on you.
A music artist must start somewhere, that’s usually locally, but it’s better to not just dive in without a plan. But begin you must. Create a plan with some ideas and set goals as to what you need to accomplish weekly, monthly, and yearly. Start small and make it progressive. Reach bench marks and keep at it.
Image is everything. Image is the complete package - artist name, look, performance, merchandise, and style, to how that brand is marketed. A stage name can be a descriptive statement of the image you project. Be unique and interesting to look at in some way....build your own unique persona for stage and public appearances.
You may be a truly great talent, but without getting out there and consistently marketing yourself, networking, meeting the right people, maintaining your image, and being humble, your talent will only get you so far.
Listen to various and the best of materials, especially the ones that have the sound the you want to sound like. Practice and practice and practice. Longevity in the music business means learning new things, constantly creating, and always improving.
Use the Net to your advantage. Properly use the tools of the Internet to build your online brand.
Create a web site. Buy your own artist name URL for your web site, keep it simple, easy to remember, make sure it loads quickly and is easy to navigate. Almost everyone lives on planet Facebook today, you could to use that and other networking websites to your advantage. With the astronomical amount of competition out there in the Music Market, it is essential that your music, image, and marketing efforts rise above all the rest to even stand a chance. Trying to develop yourself and effectively implement all the strategies that are necessary to stand out from the crowd may be a difficult task. So it is advisable to seek the counsel of an Artiste Development expert.
Intending Artiste development professionals, Label execs, Managers should bear in mind; nearly everyone has the same opportunities available to them for massive global exposure. The difference maker has to be the right guidance to the right opportunities at the right times. A lot of the emerging artists are young and very talented but with no guidance. As we get older we learn the ropes but by then the window of opportunity may have passed.
Artist development comes through carefully evaluating the artist, his or her strong points and weak points and where the greatest opportunities for advancement in the industry may lie. Then the key is exposing that artist to the right people within the industry who can mold, shape and carefully develop the strong points, advance the weak points and prime the artist for the right exposure to the right people at the righttimesHL
" I'm not a business man i'm a business, man! let me handle my business damn!" Jay Z
