Network29 Mixtapes

HOT New Hip Hop Dual Mixtape Music Release by The Grimm_Factor titled "Golden 16s and Golden Rhymes - The Bars You Didn't Get To Hear" Powered by Team Backpack

2016-07-10T00:56:00.001-04:00

HOT New Hip Hop Dual Mixtape Music Release by The Grimm_Factor titled "Golden 16s and Golden Rhymes - The Bars You Didn't Get To Hear" Powered by Team Backpack
Both Projects Feature The Acapellas!

Listen And Download NOW!!

HOT New Hip Hop Dual Mixtape The Grimm_Factor
"Golden 16s and Golden Rhymes - The Bars You Didn't Get To Hear"
Powered by Team Backpack

HOT New Hip Hop Mixtape The Grimm_Factor -
"Golden 16s - The Bars You Didn't Get To Hear"
Powered by Team Backpack

Download here ---> http://bit.ly/Golden16sEP2016

HOT New Hip Hop Mixtape The Grimm_Factor -
"Golden Rhymes - The Bars You Didn't Get To Hear"
Powered by Team Backpack

Download Here --> http://bit.ly/goldenrhymesep2016

Instagram Previews Of The New Dual Hip Hop Mixtape EP Project From The Grimm_Factor: GOLDEN 16s and GOLDEN RHYMES (The Bars You Didn't Get To Hear)

2016-07-03T21:26:00.001-04:00

This has been the first post from Network29 Mixtape in a few years. The drought is over as there is new hip hop material on the horizon from The Grimm_Factor of Style And Heat. The Grimm_Factor's next projects are two small but potent mixtapes.

These new mixtape releases were inspired by and developed from The Grimm_Factor's recent attendance at Team Backpack's Mission Underground 2016 Live Audition Competition and Music Festival event held in Brooklyn, NY from June 16-18th. The Grimm_Factor performed a quick 16 bar verse on the 2nd day of Auditions in Group B-3. These live auditions were an invitation only affair given to 500 aspiring hip hop artists/purists who were chosen out of over 2,500 online entrants. Each artist that performed a quick 16 bar verse (some actually went over that mark, wayyy over), was carefully screened by a panel of judges during and after the live auditions were over. Hip Hop veteran, and member of the Eminem branded Rap Supergroup Slaughterhouse, Joel Ortiz was among the Hip Hop elites judging the talent in the auditions. The judges made tough decisions in order to narrow down the competition to the Top 12 artists who were then pitted in a one on one showdown style competition to see who would be in the Top 3. Nearly all of the hip hop beats were designed by a select team of music producers and beat makers within the Team Backpack camp.

Those who made it to the Top 3 were given a "victory lap" on the mic where they would perform a solo verse for the amount of length of their choosing as well as being offered a deal to perform in future rap cyphers held by Team Backpack during different dates at other venues. All in all it was a great event for the hip hop community as a whole and one of the shining accomplishments of The Grimm_Factor's career to date.

Unfortunately The Grimm_Factor did not make it into the Top 12 but the fact that he was even invited to the event proved that his skills were comparatively better than over 2,000 other artists that entered. However, the time spent at Mission Underground, NY 2016 was more than enough to spark a flame in The Grimm_Factor so that he can release new material...

Enter: GOLDEN 16s EP and GOLDEN RHYMES EP (The Bars You Didn't Get To Hear) Release Date 07/09/2016

Both projects featuring verses that were written specifically for the Mission Undergroud, NY 2016 Live Audition Competition. Team Backpack gave every invited artist that registered for the event 19 hot tracks (well all except one track was dope Lol) and told them they would not know which track was being played when they came on stage to perform their verses. So The Grimm_Factor wrote at least one 16 bar verse to each track and he also wrote 9 longer verses (for the victory lap) and placed close to 10 extra verses from his archive to the remaining tracks. Since he did not make it to the Top 12, The Grimm_Factor decided to release the 16s and the verses into separate, but equal hip hop mixtape projects. Both mixtape projects will also come packaged with the Acapellas for DJs, Producers, and Beat Makers, or anyone who wants to use them for any of their upcoming projects.

To get an idea of what to expect, The Grimm_Factor has been releasing small snippets of each of the new hip hop mixtapes on his personal Instagram Profile. You can check out the collective of previews in this post. The Golden 16s have the Red Cover and The Golden Rhymes have the Light Blue color. Listen to these hot rhymes from the rapper known as The Grimm_Factor!

So...I just heard #joebudden's #Diss #Track to #Drake called Making A Murderer pt 1... Honestly their #Beef is pretty #wack hpw about you just #listen to this instead?? Track produced by @chasemooremusic "The Bars You Didn't Get To Hear" #Release #Date 07/09/2016 #MissionUnderground2016 #NewYork #HotFire #wrote #rehearsed #reference #NewRelease #EP #Mixtape #Acapella #BeatMaker, #musicproducer, #DJ #Downloads #16s #16bars #LiveAudition #Producer #Golden #Rhymes

A video posted by Grimm Jones (@grimm560) on Jul 2, 2016 at 11:01am PDT

Someone explain to me how #Drake and #joebudden got into a #beef anyway... ... whatever...next weekend I'll be dropping my #Mixtape #project. It comes with the #Acapella #Vocals for #Producers and #DJs. Don't worry, the music you hear in these posts are just previews and do not reflect the final product. #MissionUnderground2016 #NewYork #HotFire #wrote #rehearsed #reference #NewRelease #EP #BeatMaker, #musicproducer, #DJ #Downloads #16s #16bars #LiveAudition #Golden #Rhymes

A video posted by Grimm Jones (@grimm560) on Jul 1, 2016 at 5:08pm PDT

#Drake and #joebudden are beefing? #WhoCares?? I'm dropping this fire in a week! #Acapellas included! #Producers and #DJs I encourage to download and use the vocals or tracks in their #musicproject #MissionUnderground2016 #NewYork #HotFire #wrote #rehearsed #reference #NewRelease #EP #Mixtape #BeatMaker, #musicproducer, #DJ #Downloads #16s #16bars #LiveAudition #Golden #Rhymes

A video posted by Grimm Jones (@grimm560) on Jul 1, 2016 at 4:08pm PDT

Almost ready...just tightening up my mixes and my lil marketing campaign on top of a billion other projects and work I'm doing....ok maybe not literally a billion but shit it feels like it!! #ManOfAThousandTalents ...#MissionUnderground2016 #NewYork #HotFire #wrote #rehearsed #reference #NewRelease #EP #Mixtape #Acapella #BeatMaker, #musicproducer, #DJ #Downloads #16s #16bars #LiveAudition #Golden #Rhymes

A video posted by Grimm Jones (@grimm560) on Jul 1, 2016 at 8:20am PDT

Golden Rhymes. Coming soon...like real soon. #music #genre #song #songs #TagsForLikes #hiphop #loveit #rap #beat #beats #jam #myjam #newsong #newtrack #newmusic #lovethissong #listen #MissionUnderground2016 #NewYork #HotFire #wrote #rehearsed #reference #EPIC #Mixtape #Acapella #BeatMaker, #musicproducer, #DJ #Download

A video posted by Grimm Jones (@grimm560) on Jun 28, 2016 at 4:27pm PDT

Since I didn't make it into the #Top12 or #Top3 at #MissionUnderground2016 in #NewYork, I figure I'm not going to just sit on all this #HotFire that I specifically #wrote and #rehearsed and made #reference tracks for so I could be ready. Might as well make a #NewRelease / #EP / #Mixtape in honor of @teambackpack's epic event. The #Acapella tracks will be included in the download for any #BeatMaker, #musicproducer, or #DJ that wants to use them. 2 different #Downloads: #Golden #16s featuring every #16bars I wrote for the #LiveAudition and #Top12 And #Golden #Rhymes featuring potential verses for the #Top3 finale...I can't believe I wrote 95% of this material in the past month😁

A video posted by Grimm Jones (@grimm560) on Jun 27, 2016 at 2:12pm PDT

Since I didn't make it into the #Top12 or #Top3 at #MissionUnderground2016 in #NewYork, I figure I'm not going to just sit on all this #HotFire that I specifically #wrote and #rehearsed and made #reference tracks for so I could be ready. Might as well make a #NewRelease / #EP / #Mixtape in honor of @teambackpack's epic event. The #Acapella tracks will be included in the download for any #BeatMaker, #musicproducer, or #DJ that wants to use them. 2 different #Downloads: #Golden #16s featuring every #16bars I wrote for the #LiveAudition and #Top12 And #Golden #Rhymes featuring potential verses for the #Top3 finale...I can't believe I wrote 95% of this material in the past month😁

A video posted by Grimm Jones (@grimm560) on Jun 25, 2016 at 4:46pm PDT

Experience "Bright Girl, Dark Thoughts" The New Mixtape by Embishun with an Interactive Cover

2013-10-31T02:00:00.000-04:00

Embishun is a latina female rapper from Mass who just released a brand new mixtape project call Bright Girl, Dark Thoughts. This is Embishun's first project, and she's been working very hard to bring you a great product. Network29 Mixtapes is giving you inside access to Embishun's new music endeavor like no one else. Check it out and download the full mixtape for free!

This post features an interactive cover!

Watch video and play audio from Embishun's latest mixtape: Bright Girl, Dark Thoughts.

Hover the mouse over the cover design or the track list design to bring up its interactive features!

Watch videos and Subscribe Embishun's Youtube Channel
Listen to tracks and Follow Embishun on Soundcloud
View articles about Embishun across the net
Listen to Embishun's interview on The SH-Xperience
Connect with Embishun on Facebook and other Social Networks

Ready to hear more?? Then what are you waiting for?

CLICK DOWNLOAD TO GET
BRIGHT GIRL, DARK THOUGHTS NOW!!

Show Embishun some love! Call her message line and let her know what you think about "Bright Girl, Dark Thoughts"...

(617) 858-6612

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Preview and Download The Latest Mixtape By Crysis The Street Poet

2012-05-30T01:59:00.000-04:00

FROM A ROOKIE 2 A VET - THE BEST OF CRYSIS

Ok 29ers, as promised and delivered on time is the brand new mixtape from Style&Heat's own Crysis Tha Street Poet. From A Rookie 2 A Vet - The Best Of Crysis is sure to please all newcomers, those who already know his work, and just about any mixtape lover. You can preview the whole mixtape right here in this post, then decide to download if you like. None of that extra BS they put you through on Datpiff, just a straight download. This new hip hop mixtape features 20 well rounded tracks. No fillers or fluff, just straight fire! Preview and Download your copy now!

To hear more from Crysis Tha Street Poet, check out his soundcloud page. Coming Soon: New music from The Grimm_Factor of Style&Heat!

Check out Crysis on The SH-Xperience Radio Podcast!

Visit the official Out The Box Clothing line website CafePress!

Stream and Download Mixtape

Direct Download - No Streaming

Crysis Tha Street Poet Prepares Latest Mixtape Project

2012-05-24T14:16:00.001-04:00

Crysis Tha Street Poet, the flagship artist of the Style&Heat camp, is preparing his latest mixtape project: "From A Rookie 2 A Vet - The Best Of Crysis" for release within the next week. "From A Rookie 2 A Vet - The Best Of Crysis" will be a new mixtape with a selection of some of his best hip hop/underground tracks.

On the new mixtape you'll hear songs from Crysis that date back several years. The songs on "From A Rookie 2 A Vet - The Best Of Crysis" are not new songs just a collection of some of his most personal, favorite, material. Many of the songs were released across various mixtapes like "Mafia: This Thing Of Ours Pt2" and "Fire From The Underground Vol 1." Crysis brings nothing but the best flows on any project he's a part of, whether it be a mixtape or not.

There are 20 tracks in all on the mixtape. What's incredible is that these hip hop songs are all solos done by Crysis with no guest artist features. Crysis is planning to release another "The Best Of Crysis" mixtape in the near future, one in which he plans to showcase songs that include the whole Style&Heat camp.

When it comes to hot Underground Hip Hop artists and mixtapes. Network29 Mixtapes has you covered! Crysis Tha Street Poet's new mixtape "From A Rookie 2 A Vet - The Best Of Crysis" is guaranteed to please many Urban music fans hungry for a new lyrical experience that may have not heard of Crysis Tha Street Poet.

To hear more from Crysis Tha Street Poet to get a better idea of what to expect on his next mixtape project, take a listen to the track in the soundcloud player above or listen to -560- Radio's The SH-Xperience radio podcast in the player below. Granted, you wont hear all of the songs from Crysis Tha Street Poet's next mixtape "From A Rookie 2 A Vet - The Best Of Crysis" on these players, but it will wet your hip hop/urban music pallet to get you hungry for more.

RELEASE DATE: MAY 30TH, 2012

Upcoming Artist and The Appropriate Approach

2012-05-21T21:08:00.001-04:00

What's The Best Advice....
What's The Right Attitude....
What's The Appropriate Song Nowadays....
What's Your Opinion?????

-560- Radio LOUD AND CLEAR!!

2012-02-02T15:58:00.001-05:00

-560- Radio LOUD AND CLEAR!

-560 Radio- is just one piece of the Network29 puzzle. Ambitiously aiming towards providing the best in audio entertainment, Network29's -560 Radio- has come up with a familiar format but with new material.

-560 Radio-'s first effort is The SH-Xperience, a show dedicated to bringing you all things SH Entertainment. From the team Style&Heat to its individual members, The SH-Xperience gives you the absolute best in music from Hip Hop's newest rising phenomen. The Style&Heat roster includes: Crysis da Street Poet, Laquay Swaye (LS), Stan Spitt, Dub Banga!, and The Grimm_Factor.
Hosted by Grimm, The SH-Xperience is completely fresh and independent, with music and personality that rivals the mainstream industry acts. Even the soundtrack music is all independent with instrumentals from some of the best indie producers across the country and the world.
-560 Radio- will soon bring in new shows focusing on other independent artists, writers, fashion designers, Voice Actors, bands, film makers, bloggers, etc. -560 Radio-'s current home is Spreaker.com. We hope to never outgrow this incredible broadcasting platform. If we do, not to worry, there are so many ways to deliver talent to the masses.

Listen to The SH-Xperience!

Featuring Music By Style&Heat

Mouthpie$e "i Gotta Bomb!" Mixtape series all 3 parts!!

2011-11-11T13:24:00.001-05:00

The Mouthpie$e Closed Mouth Don't Get Fed Contest is on and poppin. You have 3 Coast2Coast Exclusive Mixtapes by one of the Phighness Kings from Vegas. Download the mixtapes and check out the Contest Rules here: http://on.fb.me/sO2fGu

Follow
Mouthpie$e on twitter: @MouthpieSe
Youtube: MouthpieSe
Facebook: MouthpieSe

These mixtapes go in!!

Mouthpie$e Presents: The Phighness - i Gotta BOMB (Part 1) Sneak Attack @mouthpieSe | Mixed by @djepps

Mouthpie$e - i gOtta BOMB! (part 2) $UICIDE BOMBER

Mouthpie$e - Clo$ed Mouth Dont Get Fed! (part 3) @mouthpieSe

Mouthpie$e Presents: The Phighness - i Gotta BOMB (Part 1) Sneak Attack @mouthpieSe | Mixed by @djepps

2011-09-11T12:29:00.002-04:00

Today, we're rocking with Mouthpie$e's newest mixtape "I Gotta Bomb! pt 1 sneak attack" on Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes, hosted by DJ Epps. Check it out!

Mouthpie$e Presents: The Phighness - i Gotta BOMB (Part 1) Sneak Attack @mouthpieSe | Mixed by @djepps

Network29's Fire From The Underground Vol 1 is here!!!

2011-05-27T18:41:00.009-04:00

Don't be stupid...

Get Yourself A Copy

Now!!

Download Fire From The Underground iOS users get iZip free in the AppStore, then you can DL the mixtape from Safari to iZip. You're gonna need a media player separate from the built in player. I suggest GOOD READER. But if you're not willing to pay for that awesome software then try Downloads Lite, it's free! #keepthepartygoing!

Download Mixtape | More mixtapes at MixtapeFactory.com

Fire From The Underground Vol 1 Release Date

2011-05-17T01:42:00.001-04:00

Fire From The Underground Vol1

Mixtape Release Date:

May 27, 2011

Lock in the date!!

That's right folks. History in the making. Network29 Mixtapes is set to release it's very first mixtape project, an ambitious effort called FIRE FROM THE UNDERGROUND. Vol #1 and it's gonna be a HOT ONE!! The tracks lined up for this first mixtape were carefully picked to give YOU, the listener, the best independent audio experience you could ever hope for.

If you're tired of the same hip hop artists (mainstream or otherwise), having all the fun on the mixtape scene and want to hear something different, then look no further. This is what it's all about.

Network29 Mixtapes will only showcase the best in underground, independent music. YOU WILL NOT HEAR MAJOR LABEL or INDIE-MAJOR LABEL ARTISTS ON OUR MIXTAPES!! Those guys have the backing and the resources to give them the promotion and marketing they need for the mixtape scene and beyond. If that's what you're looking for, please look elsewhere. We are here for YOU, the independent/underground artist looking to showcase new music, and we are here for YOU, the average music enthusiast looking to find new talent and gain an overall better music experience.

A little about Fire From The Underground:

This mixtape is not setup and formatted like a traditional DJ/Artist hosted mixtape. For our first endeavor, we decided to add a more radio-segmented styled format to the mixtape. Not only did we record the hosts with audio, we also recorded video footage as well. What that means is soon after Fire From The Underground is released, the mixtape video companion will be released as well. Unfortunately, due to time constraints and some previous setbacks, we were unable to get the video edited in time for a simultaneous release. We'll let you know when the video will have it's release date.

Fire From The Underground Vol 1 will have a slightly slower pace than the traditional mixtape due to the format we've decided to go with. You'll hear that it sounds more like a professional broadcast than us saying "here is this song, it is hot." We bring up a few topics of discussion that you'll see further elaborated in the video. So once you get the mixtape in your hands, kickback, relax, light up some goodness, drink something special, and let us give your ears something worthwhile to listen to.

Network29 wants you to realize that we plan to do things different. There are other plans in the works that we hope to bring to full fruition which could possibly change the mixtape scene altogether. Give us time to bring you the goods and you won't be disappointed.

Email us with your thoughts on the mixtape when you hear it:

network29mixtapes@gmail.com

Call and leave a message telling us what you think of the project:

(609) 445-4129

Get Heard On Our Next Project!

2011-05-15T18:08:00.002-04:00

So, you didn't get a song on our new mixtape FIRE FROM THE UNDERGROUND Vol 1 and you still want in on the project?

Well, we have good and bad news...I like to start with the bad news first.

The bad news is...the first ever Network29 Mixtape project FIRE FROM THE UNDERGROUND Vol 1 is completed. All of the songs have been picked and NO you can't get a song on it. This one will go down in the history books.

However the good news is that you can STILL be a part of the project and become a part of history by submitting a drop for the project.

What's a drop, you ask? Well simply put, a drop is a small audio blurb that gets DROPPED into various sections of a mixtape project or audio feed. Such as when you're listening to your favorite radio station and you hear one of your favorite artists come on and say a few words about the radio station (and the segment) without actually being at the radio station.

We're giving you this opportunity to not only plug yourself and your endeavors, but to also give a shoutout or two to the people you know and love.

Using this script as a basic idea, There are two ways you can do a drop and submit it to us. Here are the details:

script: Yo/Hey/Hello/Wassup/etc, This is_________ and you're listening to/rocking with/jamming/blasting Network29's Fire From The Undeground Mixtape Vol1. Hosted by Jza from Jersey and The Grimm_Factor (this is optional). Sponsored by S.H. Entertainment (also optional) --From here on till you're done you can give shoutouts, promote your business moves, etc.

This script is just a basic idea and you can tweak it how you like as long as you put in the important parts. Put your own style and swagg on it! Practice what you're going to say to make it sound perfect.

!!! WE NEED THE DROPS IN BY MAY 20TH, 2011 !!!

How To Submit your drop:

1.) Using some piece of audio equipment at home, or at a studio, or using your mobile device's audio recording function...Record your drop (no longer than 20sec) and then email it to network29mixtapes@gmail.com (please no spamming!)

2.) If you don't have the ability to do the drop as described in line one, then just call this number (609) 445-4129 and leave the drop there. Trust and believe, we'll get it!

Please consider that the drops should be 20sec or less. Smaller drops will probably show up more frequently. Anything over 20sec (unless otherwise approved by Network29) will not make it on the mixtape. If you email your drop in and can include a picture with it, then we'll consider adding your drop to our MIXTAPE VIDEO COMPANION which will be out and available soon after the mixtape drops.

Network29 thanks everyone for their time, effort, and support of our projects.

Network29

Join the network

Damn that 360 Deal!

2011-02-14T00:03:00.002-05:00

Let's enlighten some of your brain cells folks. You need to know as an artist or band that there is business afoot in the industry and the foot smells like it ain't been washed in years. To recap the past few decades in music would only summarize the end result of much of the quality of the music that’s coming out or already out. No matter how you look at it, hear it, slice it, eat it, chew it, or however you decide to take it in, there is not a ton of quality music on the airwaves. What can be even more depressing is the fact that most of the songs on the radio all fit into one sub genre. Then add to that the fact that all the radio stations play the same songs for weeks, maybe months, straight by the same artists. There seems to be very little diversity.

The music industry went full blast with the one hit wonder scene early in the new millennium. It didn’t matter which genre the artist was in, if they had a glorified hit (least to the labels) then that was enough to get put on. The labels wanted to expand and make fast money. The one hit wonders did it for them. Imagine all the songs that came out in the past decade that were hits. Then imagine where you’ve seen the new faces that made these hits recently. Probably nowhere. All this congestion of hits-only music made the industry worse. On top of that, the major label mentality trickled down into the indie/underground scene. What came to pass was a lot of new faces that sounded like, or tried to sound like, all of the hit bands/artists that were currently in the biz but doomed for failure.

It became the quantity over quality situation. It was mainly caused by the industry. Why blame the labels? Well, when so many people with talent that want to make it don’t but the next Joe Schmoe that has no talent does, who puts the talent less ones on stage? Who runs the radio stations, the music television channels, the music stores? The labels do. And if people in the indie/underground scene want to make it, they got to sound like the stuff the labels are putting out.

The one hit wonder phase backfired on the industry. The masses weren’t fooled anymore by artists that they wanted to connect with but couldn’t because the artist was here today, gone tomorrow. People stopped buying music and started bootlegging more. Why waste time and money buying an album from a non-established artist, only to hear one hot song on the album and that is the song which convinced you to buy it in the first place? I can bootleg it and if I think its hot enough, chances are I’ll buy it…or not.

If the RECORD LABELS can’t make any money off the marketing and selling of RECORDS, then what are they to do? The labels realized that their funds weren’t coming in as much or as often as they used to, but the artists were still eating. The artists were eating off of endorsement deals, tv and film contracts, merchandising, touring and ticket sales, as well as off the radio, film, tv, and multimedia outlets from publishing. The majors did not like that. They got the feeling that they were being shafted and given the short end of the stick. No matter how long the labels have been fucking artists over with shitty contract deals, it didn’t matter because now the labels weren’t making a good return on the investment put into an artist. For the majors, if they can’t make money off of doing what they are SUPPOSED to be good at, then they would find another way to get money from the artists.

Enter: The 360 deal. Seeing the need to completely change the scope and scale of the music industry business model, the labels and their lawyers got together and developed a new deal with the mindset that if they’re not going to make money off of record sales, but the artists were still getting paid off of their fame, then the labels needed to tap more into the other outlets that the artists were into. I mean hell, they couldn’t have been famous without the help of the majors right?? So it’s only right that your new record label signs you to a deal in which they can get a percentage off of everything else you get paid from as a result of your being made famous. It doesn’t matter if they help negotiate these outside deals (known as vertical income streams) or not, they just want the money.

The surge and acceptance of the 360 deal in the music industry as the dominant contract to sign marks in a new era. An era that may prove to be more harmful than helpful to certain artists. Now if you’re Madonna, J-Lo, Jay-Z, Shakira, or any one of the major superstars with an already established fan base, then this 360 deal is just another contract. One that those artists’ super entertainment lawyers can tweak toward their clients own terms and conditions. For the rest of us, the unsigned ones, the indie ones…the 360 deal can prove to be quite dangerous to sign. I’ve been reading from some entertainment lawyers that a handful of talent have signed 360 deals that give the label percentage over ALL outside business endeavors the signee either owns or is a part of. Sometimes these deals are designed to last well after the artists has fulfilled their contract or gets dropped from the label. Sometimes these deals are designed to last FOREVER!! That means no matter who you as an artist re-sign with, you still have to pay that one label a cut of your profits.

Profits are where its at. GROSS PROFIT are what these deals chip away from. Not your net. For example…if part of your 360 deal is to chip off 30% from your tv earnings, then that is from your GROSS PROFIT after taxes and other fees have been taken off of that amount or paid back to whomever you have to pay. So if you land a TV deal to do a few episodes of America’s favorite sitcom and the deals pays you $100k, then the label gets $30k! If your net is below $75k after taxes, then you got to pay your stylist, your hotel bill…food, travel, and other expenses, you could be left with less than $60k. The label will get $30k which leaves you with almost $30k. Now to some artists that may seem like a lot if they’re not used to making that kind of money, but if you’re in a 4 man band and have to split your profits then that $30k don’t do nothing.

I want artists to understand that the 360 deal is a sound thought about the investment that labels put into its artists. But they need to reformat these deals to work within certain parameters. One entertainment lawyers says the deals would be fine if the time frame was shortened during the artists time on the label. Or each label could reverse the percentage cut once the artists has paid back monies owed to the label from advancements and other monies provided to the artist. Alas though, the labels aren’t about just letting go of an artist these days. If they can keep the artist then they’ll keep the rights of the music that artist makes and now they will have their hands so far into your pockets, they’ll be grabbing private parts.

I do not recommend that any artist sign a 360 deal. The truth is that many of you probably will thinking you’re going to make it big. If history has proven anything is that not every artist that signs a deal is going to make it big. Many of them are pushed back for more established talent. Some are just dropped from the labels if the labels feel there’s no need for the artist. Yet in all of these scenarios, if these artists have signed 360 deals, then they are stuck with paying money to a label that didn’t help them get fame at all or that their fame was short lived.

Like the old womanly quote says: “A moment on the lips, A lifetime on the hips!”

Why pay when I can do it for free?

2011-01-31T13:04:00.000-05:00

Not a dollar needs to be spent these days in order to get things out there. Not one red cent has to be placed on the line to have people hear your music, buy your album, follow you, support you, purchase your product or service, or become a part of your cause. These days there are so many ways to do things for free, why the hell should you pay for anything??

The answer: Leverage. Look up the word to get the real meaning. In a nutshell, leverage is a balancing act. When it comes to marketing and promoting, there is a definite leveraging system in place. It's kind of the natural order of things.

When you work hard at what you do for business or as a business, leverage kicks in and you get compensated. Most times greatly, depending on the business model or system you're a part of. Just a regular 9-5 job is leverages time for money. Usually the more hours you put in at work the more pay you receive unless you're on salary. Then your money is at a fixed rate.

When you're starting your own business, there are so many option out there to promote your services or products for free, it's overwhelming. That's a good thing because it means you have choices. Choice=Freedom. If people only had Facebook or Twitter to use to promote their business, well that's not much of a choice now is it? Those two sites offer great services for promotion but then again, not everyone that access the internet is apart of those services. The main thing about free marketing and promoting sites is that you have to provide most of the footwork. The sites are just a platform that will bring more people to you. Also, you are competing with other companies that actually pay to get their brand advertised in your promo areas. How do you think Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace make their money and keep the site free for you and others?

When you pay for services, you're only choices are those you will allow your money to be involved with. Many times, you become limited depending on the promotional service you're using. This is normally the case with bigger companies that want to help build your brand. You may have to sign a contract or agreement with them and they'll do the footwork for you so you can focus more on improving your business. You don't have to worry about competing companies using your space because you become one of those companies.

Just a thought: Ain't it amazing that companies advertise on the net and that keeps sites and services free, yet outside of cyberspace in the real world, it doesn't work that way. Cable TV is not free, yet there are tons of advertisements by the second. Public Transportation is not free yet there are always advertisements at bus stops, train stations, and airports. Even on the vehicles themselves! Doesn't seem equal right?

There lies the leverage game. With free sites comes the fact that you have to do almost all of the work. Social networking sites are just there to bring people together. It's up to you to tell them what you have to offer them in ways that will get them to purchase from you. That's where your hard work comes in. You may find yourself spending more time promoting yourself than building your business. You'll then have to add that time to the time it takes to get your business to where it needs to be. Years ago, it was harder to use these free sites to promote because the tools were not efficient enough for you to spend less time to promote more. Now though things have changed and its possible to spend less time making and designing your marketing plans and more time executing the promotion.

In the case of mixtape promotion, anytime you don't have to pay for a slot on a mixtape, chances are the promotion behind it wont be as big as if you did. Depending on who is producing the compilation in questions will also add to that, as some people making mixtapes don't know how to promote them properly. If you pay for a slot, hopefully the promoter has a marketing campaign in place that will get that mixtape out to the masses. Paying for your slot should be going towards the production and marketing costs associated with the promotion itself. All you have to do is wait for it to drop.

With some free mixtape submissions, you can get more value than you've paid for. It all depends on who you're dealing with and how that person or company works. The promoters work ethics will go a long way into showcasing the talent involved with the project. Get yourself a bum behind the project and it may never see the light of day. If your submission did not cost you any money...well, no harm no foul. If you did pay for the slot, then you should be raising some hell (depending on how much you paid).

Like our first blog said, our network is constantly growing so our mixtapes will have a decent reach. However, when you submit to a free slot on the mixtapes that we put out, chances are the free ones won't reach our whole network. That's because Network29 will purposely only target the sites that offer everything for free. Unfortunately, we will not make a habit of promoting mixtapes that give away all slots for free on sites or with marketing companies that we have to pay for. When you pay for your slot, Network29 will work that much harder to get that mixtape heard across ALL outlets, rather those outlets be free or paid. This will maximize our reach for each project that gets paid for.
The good thing is, Network29 is constantly looking for more free outlets to promote our mixtapes. The bad thing is, more outlets means having to rebuild the network in that outlet each time...which takes time. Let us worry about that. Stick with us and we'll stick with you.

Do you understand how the leverage thing works now? There is no set or proven formula to show how leverage is supposed to work when it comes to what you're doing or how to properly promote yourself for free. Come up with your own methods and formulas and see how they work when you execute them. There are so many variables (options, people, prices, etc) to include in your methods that it may seem to be too much. If you can't handle it or aren't willing to put the time in. Then don't. Focus on something else. The payoff for promoting your business, product, or services for free can be just as huge as paying for it once your promotion catches on. You just have to be willing to work for it.

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New Mixtape Series - Fire From The Underground! Submission details

2011-01-31T13:03:00.005-05:00

The 1st Official Mixtape from Network29/Style&Heat Entertainment is in the works and now we have a call to arms. Any and all unsigned or indie artists (not indie major) working the underground circuit of hip hop are encouraged to submit their music for a chance to be placed on the newest mixtape. It will be tentively titled FIRE FROM THE UNDERGROUND and we are looking for HOT HOT HOTT!! music! It doesn't have to be your next hit song, just one you think is hot. We know it's out there, we just want you to give it to us so we can spread it out to our ever growing and expanding network. We may not be as big as Coast2Coast or Southern Smoke, but with time we'll get there. Ride with us and you'll be there too.

There are rules to this submission game, however, and as much as we'd like to put out every single song submitted, we can't and we wont. There are guidelines to the style of music we are looking to put on the first mixtape, but the good news is: ALL SUBMISSION THAT WE CHOOSE GET PLACED FOR FREE!!

That's right, the first one is on us! With that said, here are the rules and guidlines for submission:
1.) SEND US 3 GOOD SONGS. We will choose the best song to place on the mixtape. Make sure each mp3 is at least 128K or better bitrate. LIMIT THE SONGS TO 3:30 or less. If you can only send one song, that's fine. Just make it a good one.
2.) ALL SONGS MUST BE OF PROFESSIONAL QUALITY. It doesn't have to be studio quality, just have a good mix that sounds great in headphones and speakers. If its not mastered, that's ok. As long as it sounds good. No unfinished songs or concepts. We will not mix/master your songs for you!!
3.) NO FREESTYLES OR SONGS MADE TO INDUSTRY BEATS!!! We are not promoting freestyles or songs made to industry beats on this mixtape. We want fresh, original music. We don't care if its 5 years old...if its unheard its new to us and everyone else.
4.) NO SONGS WITH TAGS IN THEM!! Please have your producers remove the tags before you submit your song.
5.) INCLUDE ALL SONG/ARTIST/PRODUCER CREDITS IN YOUR EMAIL Hence the reason why we don't want tags included in the songs.
6.) PLEASE INCLUDE A TWITTER, FACEBOOK, EMAIL, OR URL. We only need one!
7.) NO BEEF TRACKS!! Network29/Style&Heat Entertainment will not condone any beef/dis records. We have a panel of listeners that will help us choose the songs to place on the mixtape and we can tell when there is a beef or dis song.
8.) NO GANG RELATED SONGS!! Its not about that for this mixtape. Plans are in order to bring out another series for the hardcore gangster shit. Keep the violence in the song to a minimum. Be creative with your drug talk at least.
9.) MAKE SURE YOUR EMAIL IS VALID and that you check it cuz we'll reply to the one you use to send us your songs.
10.) IF YOU CAN'T SEND SONGS, SEND A FEW DROPS!! They should be generic by including Network29, or Style&Heat Entertainment, or the title of the mixtape or name of the Host (if known) or any combination of them all. Be sure to state who you are and where you're from. Make em good and we just might use them. In fact we encourage all artists to send drops if possible.

A few things and artists must understand when submitting their songs.
1.) There is no gaurantee that we will choose any of the songs you submit. Same goes for drops. We will only place one song.
2.) If we choose your music, we will send you a reply to your email. Do not email us asking if we picked any of your songs.
3.) Our network is growing. We do not set the expectation that millions of people will hear our mixtape. We will send it out to as many sites as possible.
4.) What doesn't get placed now may get placed later. We will let you know.
5.) If you would like a master copy of the mixtape in wav format with the cover art/insert there will be a charge of $5 in digital format $25 in CD format.

The master copy will be in an hiqh quality format and the cover art will have a high resolution perfect for copying/printing. We don't care how many you print up for sell or distribution. If you'd like us to print out a set amount of copies for you, then you must email us at network29@hotmail.com and ask for a quote based on how many CD you want. DO NOT SUBMIT SONGS TO THE HOTMAIL ACCOUNT!!

SUBMIT ALL SONGS AND INFO TO NETWORK29MIXTAPES@GMAIL.COM

Please do your best to follow these guidelines. Keep your eye on this blog for updates of the release date and other important info.

WTF?? Yet ANOTHER Mixtape company??

2011-01-30T21:04:00.000-05:00

Yes man, yes! Yes I say again and again and again. We should all be welcoming every person or DJ or team or company or label that wants to produce hip hop mixtapes. Why not? Its promotion. Some of the best promotion you can get these days to spread the word about your music to the masses. These days a lot of DJ's and companies are giving up mixtape slots for cheap because they know how tough it is to come up on money. Also, the more known the mixtape series or company is, the more they'll charge because of how much exposure you'll get as an artist/group/producer/label and because of the costs of promoting said mixtape. They can propel your career if you deal with the right ones.

In all honesty, as an artist you have to keep putting your name out there in more ways than one. So starting with small or unknown mixtapes is a great way to get that happening for less. You'll never know who will download that mixtape, or who will be listening at a friends house, or who will decide to buy the Mix CD that your music is on. Add to that, someone may get the mixtape based off of art alone!

People have so many reasons to purchase or download mixtapes. Some want to hear new music and exclusives from their favorite artists that wont ever see a major release or time on the airwaves. Others want to hear new artists that have the talent so they can follow that artist's career. The rest just want to hear music and make their own playlist of songs you'll probably never hear anywhere else. There is a large amount of great hip hop, R&B, and Urban music out there. Much of it will never bless the ears of some lucky listener. That is mainly because the artists making the music may not know where to turn to get their music out or may not know what more to do with their music besides make the track in the studio.

What this company is setting out to do is bring you those new high quality songs from such artists. Unfortunately Network29 cannot and will not promote every single song that comes through our inbox. We do have to be selective. Our selection process won't be based on what we want to hear, but on what should be heard period. Being selective means that every artist putting out music must come with their A-Game. Not only does Network29 have a reputation to build and uphold, but so does the artist. Why put out music that no one will listen to or take seriously? Why break in a new song that can change the face of music, only to have the next song be a complete waste of time for the listener? Network29 wont be able to please everyone, but those we do please will be longtime listeners and followers of our work and the work the artists create.

So if you're an artist and want some form of exposure to add to your list of promotional tools, be sure to hit the mixtape scene as much as possible. Keep cranking out those tracks. Don't worry about making the next hit record that's going to get you signed. Make the music because you love to do it. Stay true to yourself and your fans, then the rest will fall in place. And even if you submit one track or one hundred tracks to Network29 to place on our mixtapes, chances are you'll create something that we feel the masses not only wants to hear, but NEEDS to hear.

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