Voice of the People

Real HipHopHead: Gina La Diva - Last To Know

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:35:00 +0000

Real HipHopHead: Gina La Diva - Last To Know: In 2007 Gina competed on the 7th season of American Idol. She made it through several cuts beating out thousands of contestants after being ...

Exclusive World Premiere Video From K.I.

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:36:00 +0000

NEW VIDEO FROM MUSIC UNLIMITED'S K.I. THIS SINGLE IS NAMED VOICE OF THE PEOPLE OFF OF K.I.'s NEW ALBUM ENTITLED "IT'S PERSONAL"

Do You Really Matter

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:50:00 +0000

At the end of the day, we as citizens forget that the government works for us and we never hold them accountable for their actions. Elections are held for citizens to say: yes you're doing a good job, here's an extension or hey, you're doing a terrible job and you're fired!!!

We let the government run the election process that they are supposed to be judged by. That's the same as letting a prison inmate tell the parole board whether or not he deserves to be released. Or, The person looking for a job telling the interviewer whether or not he's going to hire him. The government constantly lies to us and we stand around and hang on their every word like it's gospel. This country is made up of 300 million people, how can we let just a few stiff, out of touch men and women control it all?

The media controls public opinion and the media is controlled by the huge corporations with solid and traceable links to political parties. Dedicated news and business channels preach fear and rhetoric in order to make the public do what they want, buy what they sell and believe what they say.

We are way to concerned with what goes on in our lives exclusively. We think that if something doesn't effect us directly it doesn't matter. But life changing situations happen when things effect your life indirectly because those are usually the things we have no control over.

The government and large corporations rely on the fact that 99% of this country can't see outside of their own little circle of life. They understand that we don't read the "small print" because we are simply to lazy to care. We take everything at face value unwilling to look any deeper because if we do we may find something that needs fixing and then we may actually have to take a stand that is unpopular to the masses.

I ask each and everyone of you how do you look at yourself in the mirror with pride? How does it feel to know that you didn't take your education seriously enough and now you children are suffering because you don't have the career to really provide for them. How does it feel to know that you aren't living, but merely surviving?

I ask you; how does it feel to know that you are the "INDIRECT" reason why this country fails to learn from every life lesson?

First The Shelter, Now The Board Room

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:39:00 +0000

2002 seems like an eternity away for most people. Nine years can seem like a lifetime. So much has happened between then and now. Nieces and nephews have been born, relatives and friends have passed away and, for me, I've gone from the shelter to the board room.

Yes, you read the last sentence correctly. The Founder & CEO of Music Unlimited International was once the resident of the New York City shelter system. Before I elaborate further understand that no, there was no drug abuse or incarceration involved that landed me in the hole that I was in.

Remember these four words: pride, immaturity, irresponsibility and fear. These four words are the reason a young college graduate with a professional resume to be applauded and a booming social life ended up in a shelter. I never considered myself "homeless" because I had plenty of friends and family that, if they had known my situation, would have gladly taken me in. But, that's where the pride came in. I was to proud and embarrassed to ask for help. So, I traveled the road of redemption alone.

No one had any idea I was living in a shelter. Not the executives I worked with on Wall Street, not the guys I promoted A-List parties with in NYC and definitely not my friends and family. It was my little secret until I could find my way out of the storm. The shelter that I was in was considered a "working shelter" which means you had to work to live there. It's a place where drug addicts are sent to get clean but can't afford rehab. It's a place for newly released prisoners that must have a permanent residence for parole purposes. And, it was a place for people that had just fallen on hard times. Another stipulation was random drug testing. What in the world was I doing there. To this day I have never touched a drug, I have never spent a night incarcerated and I had a good job and extra money coming in from party promotions.

Well, the answer to the aforementioned question is immaturity and inrresponsibility. It doesn't really matter how much money you're bringing in if more is going out. I was living a champaigne lifestyle with beer pockets and it finally caught up to me. My life was a facad. I was working for a financial firm giving out great advice to millionaires that I never took to heart for myself. This was pure stupidity. There is no other way to phrase it.

Ironically while in the shelter I started Music Unlimited Records, later to become Music Unlimited International. Of course I didn't tell anyone in the shelter because I didn't want anyone to give me the obvious reasons why it wouldn't work. On my lunch break at the financial firm I would head over to the library and do research. I studied Russell Simmons, P. Diddy, Bill Gates, Jay Z and John D. Rockefeller, amongst others, like I was studying for my life's final exam. And, I guess that I was. Since I was 8 years old all I ever wanted to be was my own boss. Answering to someone else just wouldn't do.

I had hit rock bottom. One thing I forgot to mention was that living in the shelter meant I had to go through their work program of sweeping the streets of New York City each weekend. Talking about humbling and humiliating, I was now sweeping the streets right where I once partied. But, I swallowed my pride and did my job without any complaint because I remembered the night before I checked into the shelter I slept in the Chase bank ATM lobby on 72nd and Broadway because it was raining and freezing outside. So, I swept the streets gladly for about nine months. Then, I finally did something I hadn't done since I was a kid... I saved money!!! That meant that I could now move out of the shelter and rent a small room in drug and crime infested Washington Heights, 144th and Amsterdam to be exact.

Sitting in that little room each night gave me a lot of time to think and plan my comeback. And, I slowly and methodically did just that. My past came back to stare me right in the face. My childhood past. I guess I could use the excuse that my father was a pimp and my mother a known drug abuser, but it would be just that... an excuse. Yes, I was raised by my grandparents, but in upper-middle class Connecticut where our dinner table was always full and I attended the best schools. So what was my excuse? Those four little words I told you to remember earlier, pride, immaturity, irresponsibility and fear.

My pride kept me from asking for help, immaturity is the reason I never saved money, irresponsibility was me putting things off until the next day and fear kept it all a secret because I didn't want the world to point their finger at me and laugh.

Also, the falsehood of the "American Dream" played a part. I was unaware that there were different dreams for different races, but that's a totally different story for another time. As for my record label started in 2002? Well, I researched like crazy, combing the internet like a mad man for information. I was so precise and calculating that I didn't even sign my first artist until seven years later in the summer of 2009. Patience is a virtue and good things come to those that wait.

Well, you may be wondering how I'm doing now. Let's fast forward to present day 2011. As I sit here and type this open letter from my home office in midtown Manhattan I now have three great artists and an incredible producer signed to my label. And, for that first artist I signed... well, you may of heard of him. His name is K.I. and he's been tearing up the internet over the past year with hits like Troubled Waters, Take Off and Just Leave to name a few.

So, yes at the end of the day I can honestly say that I went from the shelter to the board room. It took me almost a decade, but I'm here now and not going anywhere any time soon.

RAPPER K.I. STEPS OUT OF THE E.R. STRAIGHT INTO THE BOOTH

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:49:00 +0000

Rushed to the hospital with severe chest pains, afterwards K.I. heads directly to the studio to finish recording his forthcoming album.

Hip Hop artist K.I. was rushed to the hospital in Bridgeport, CT late Sunday night with severe chest and back pain. K.I. was with his producer/business partner DJ Invizible as they headed to the studio to put the final touches on K.I.’s forthcoming album “It’s Personal” when he fell ill.

“The pain was paralyzing”, K.I. stated. “My left arm went completely numb followed by pains in my chest and back.” Even though K.I. had recently gotten into better shape by beginning a fitness program this was a wakeup call. “I thought I was head to the upper room.”

Known for his incredible work ethic K.I. handled the experience the only way he knew how. After leaving the hospital, even before heading home to rest, K.I. continued on to the studio to wrap up recording his highly anticipated sophomore album. Though his EKG test read his heart was beating “funny”, K.I. is feeling much better as the other test came back negative. Visit http://www.whoiski.net/ to learn more about K.I. and his music.

Hip Hop Was The Link

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 20:51:00 +0000

On this nice Saturday afternoon I reflect back upon my life, the twist and turns, ups and downs humbly and with humility. It seems that throughout my time on this earth with it's experiences and while friends, acquaintances and opportunities have come and gone, the one constant thread to bind them all has been hip hop.

Every person that I can remember coming in contact with for a significant amount of time in my life has at some point or another liked at least one hip hop song. From my white friends on Wall St. and my Asian friends back in college to my black and Latino friends in my hometown of Norwalk, CT. Though the taste in songs were different, we all liked hip hop. And, it has played a huge part in my life even when I left it behind in favor of alternative rock in the late 80's.

Like hip hop I have always done my own thing, moving when I wanted to move and where I wanted to move always delivering organized chaos to my own beat. When other kids wanted to play basketball I played baseball. When my friends wanted to party and stay out late I relaxed in the house reading and dreaming. And, when guys and girls I knew were becoming teenage parents I was sifting through athletic scholarship offers from major colleges.

Leaders are born, not made and I was fortunately born a leader. Though I play the background at times it is with a purpose for a designed outcome. This is where hip hop has helped me breathe. Hip hop has always played the background in the eyes of the media and society though it is infused in everything moving in the world from soundtracks on political news shows to the Food Network channel. Those that dismiss hip hop as nonexistent subconsciously use it daily.

Hip hop funded my dream, but in a different way than you may think. In junior high while my friends in my neighborhood were dreaming of being rap stars, singers and DJ's I was dreaming of being a CEO, the owner of my own enterprise. And, even thought I played baseball at high levels, and even worked on Wall St. as a well respected credit analyst with a top financial firm in the back of my mind my dream never faded. I used all of my life's work and personal experiences to prepare me for the day I would call myself "The Boss."

Today I write this post from the desk in my home office and I have paperwork stating that Music Unlimited International, LLC is a registered limited liability company in the United States of America and I occupy the titled of Chief Executive Offficer (CEO) and Chairman. Before the money started coming in, before the interviews and media write ups, even before signing my first artist my dream had come true. You see, I didn't dream of being famous and wealthy. I just dreamed of being in charge of my time, decisions and destiny. So today I can sit here and thank hip hop for being the thread attached to every person I'm spent time with and for being the equation inwhich my dream was the answer. Hip hop was the link.

Prominent Rapper Sonnie Seegz Inks Worldwide Record Deal With Music Unlimited

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:47:00 +0000

Label adds the Connecticut emcee to its ever expanding Music Unlimited roster

July 28, 2011 – Sonnie Seegz has just signed a recording deal with Music Unlimited. Full Length mixtape ready to hit the streets fall 2011.

Sonnie Seegz, signs an international record deal with Music Unlimited International. The label is setting up the Bridgeport, CT recording artist, for a late fall 2011 release of his forthcoming mixtape to have its songs released as a free download internationally.

Singles by the Music Unlimited artist, along with new videos, will be released prior to the mixtape release. And, in addition, all of Sonnie Seegz songs and music videos will be released worldwide through Music Unlimited International’s own distribution department in the fall of this year.

The new international recording deal with Sonnie Seegz and Music Unlimited will have an aggregate customer/viewer base that is worldwide and the label head, A.V. Hodge says that “having the ability to sign artists from my home state of Connecticut, and having the opportunity to then reach out to an international consumer fan base, is exciting for me.” Hodge then says, “making sales internationally is also gratifying to me because that allows me to find out what type of music consumers from around the world truly want.” And, Hodge explains that he is also “working on building a team that shares the same vision for my short and long term plans at the company.”

About Music Unlimited International:
Music Unlimited Records is a division of privately owned Music Unlimited International, LLC. Music Unlimited Records is one of the fastest growing independent record labels on the scene today. M.U.I.’s divisions, and its global operation, acquire, develop, and distribute independent music recording artists worldwide. M.U.I.’s four major divisions are Music Unlimited Records, True Focus Media, H & W Holdings, and Music Unlimited Marketing.

Issued By:

A.V. Hodge

Music Unlimited International

248 W. 62^nd Street, Suite 6B

New York, NY 10023

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com

Highly Anticipated Album From Hot New Rapper K.I. Now Available

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:29:00 +0000

NEW YORK, NY, April 16, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- April 15th emerging recording artist K.I. officially releases his debut project "Writing Is My Therapy." The 15 track opus is the collection of his audio memoirs, as he delves deep to bring you this honest piece of artwork.

"Writing Is My Therapy" is not skinny jeans, rainbow colored sneakers music. It's fitted cap crisp white Nike Uptowns music. Since we live with our eyes and ears this is the life of K.I., what he's seen, heard and lived.

This album is the story of a young man learning about himself with each life experience while dealing with conflicts such as love, heartbreak, empowerment, ignorance, lifestyle & loss." K.I. explained, "it's about reaching climactic highs, dramatic lows and taking unexpected turns, "Writing Is My Therapy" is nothing short of an autobiographical thrill ride!"

In K.I.'s music you will find that you are envisioning a story so real and full of life, revisiting a feeling you have felt, and a sound you will want to replay over and over again. K.I. recognizes his eagerly awaited album as his opportunity to showcase his skills, implying that "this project is the culmination of years of practice and progress."

DJ Invizible produced and shaped the sound of this project. K.I. also serves as Executive Producer along with A.V. Hodge (CEO, Music Unlimited) and Joshua Miranda (DJ invizible).

Here's the music video for the first single "Troubled Waters":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc77r5xNyMU

"Writing Is My Therapy" is available for purchase via link:
http://www.whoiski.net

Track List:
1. Troubled Waters
2. Money Talks
3. I Want In ft. Vil Dig'It
4. Can't Get Her Off My Mind
5. Writing Is My Therapy
6. Mind Games
7. I want To Get To Know You
8. Drippin
9. Harder Than Ever ft. Reese
10. Letter To You
11. Sexy Face ft. Merchant & Reese
12. Living Life Fast
13. Take Off
14. Earth ft. Merchant
15. Don't Let The Money Make You

WATCH THE WORLD PREMIERE VIDEO RIGHT NOW FROM MUSIC UNLIMITED ARTIST K.I. "TROUBLED WATERS

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:53:00 +0000

Growing Indie Label Music Unlimited Records To Re-Launch Sites For K.I., Gina La Diva and DJ Invizible.

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:58:00 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 10, 2011 10:00 AM

PRESS RELEASE:

Growing Indie Label Music Unlimited Records To Re-Launch Websites For K.I.,

Gina La Diva and DJ Invizible.

A.V. Hodge; Founder/CEO of Music Unlimited Records announced the re-launch of the official websites for their artists K.I., Gina La Diva and DJ Invizible: www.whoiski.net, www.ginaladiva.net and www.inviziblebeatz.net.

The newly designed websites now have many special features that make it the first and last stop for all information for the 3 artists including music, videos and online store.

The sites give thousands of fans great inside information on their favorite Music Unlimited artists. Fans that sign up for an artist’s mailing list will have opportunities for free concert tickets, visa gift cards, exclusive music downloads and more.

Also on the website is the Chatango© chat box where fans can chat with the artist or other fans. And, there is a Twitter© section where you can once again interact with the artist or other fans. Both sections are in real time.

The websites are predicted by most critics and bloggers to record close to a 500,000 visitors combined within a few months of re-launch.

K.I., Gina La Diva and DJ Invizible have burst onto the scene with the growth of new music on the internet. With the re-launch of their websites fans can be a part of their skyrocketing careers.

About Music Unlimited Records:

Music Unlimited Records is an international digital record and production company connecting it’s roster of talented artists with their fans and music industry insiders. The company is in the forefront of having its artists in regular rotation on internet radio stations throughout the world.

Music Unlimited Records is a subsidiary of Alvito Hodge Company located in New York City. It is the sister company of True Focus Media and Hodge Holdings.

For more company information visit: www.musicunlimitedrecords.com,

email: av@musicunlimitedrecords.com or call: (646)683-0735

Stupidity Rides Again

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 21:45:00 +0000

It's obvious to me and to most intelligent people in this country that Fox News and Fox Business Channels employ utter idiots as on-air analyst, anchors and commentators. And, the undivided ignorance that they rant and spew on a regular basis doesn't surprise me at all but Fox News analyst Tucker Carlson has taken stupidity to another level.

Everyone is aware of the cruel and inhumane abuse of dogs Michael Vick went to prison for, and I'm a dog owner so I was just as angry as anyone else. But, Tucker Carlson believes that Vick should have been executed for his crime. Is he serious?

There are murders that walk out of prison in under 25 years most times than not even though they have taken the life of a HUMAN. Dogs are pets and become part of the family but are they really more valuable than human life?

Slavery was abolished 148 years ago. Are animals still worth more than a black life? And, if the first statement by Carlson wasn't enough, he recanted the statement but went on to compare Vick to a child molester. So now he's trying to get people to believe that killing a dog is the same as molesting a child? What in the world is wrong with this idiot?

And, what's wrong with Fox? They seem to employ quite a few nut cakes from Sarah Palin and Bill O'Rielly to Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity. The popularity of Fox and their on-air employees shows a deepening of ignorance in this country. I guess stupidity will keep popping up its ugly head as long as Fox manipulates current affairs.

Would You Work For Free? Artists Wouldn't Either...

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:18:00 +0000

What would you do or say if your boss came to you and asked you to do your job to the best of your ability... FOR FREE? Even if you love your job I'm almost certain you would tell him/her to kiss your natural ass!!! Well, when artists go into a studio and record music and sell the finished product to the world it's because they consider it their career and plan to support their family and themselves with its income.

99 cents ... that's all the majority of music offered at online stores cost. In fact you don't even have to buy an entire album for one good song anymore, you can just buy the songs that you like individually. In my line of work I'm frequently on Twitter and Facebook and I see so many fake people bragging about how much money they have, what they just bought, their swag level, but these are the same cheap individuals that won't break a $20 bill for a bag of chips.

Forget the fact that music piracy is wrong and stealing music affects you as the fan or consumer. An artist is not going to put forth their best effort on a track if they know that it will just be leaked and they won't make any money from their time and hard work. Because of this you are not getting quality music and this is why 90% of the radio sounds like repetitive crap.

For the world to hear one song an artist buys a beat from a producer, writes the song, books studio time or pays electricity for their own studio, pays for marketing and advertising of the song and in most cases pays to have the song played on the radio. On the low end a song from start to finish can cost $2,500 to $10,000 for an indie artist and upwards of $50,000 to $100,000 for a major artist which is always paid upfront. Multiply that by the number of songs on an album and you can see why 99 pennies means so much to an artist.

And, if you don't have 99 pennies to download a song you probably shouldn't be on Twitter or Facebook anyway. Maybe you should be out looking for a job. And, if you have a job and still steal music consider yourself a thief that fronts on social sites. It is what it is people.

Not Just For Colored Girls...

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:41:00 +0000

Friday night I spent the late afternoon and evening with my significant other. This was a great opportunity for quality time since our children were visiting their cousins for the weekend. After a nice Latin dinner we went to the movies. I like Tyler Perry's movies but I wasn't to sure about seeing "For Colored Girls." It seemed like a movies for sistas (slang) to see for their ever needed bonding moment. But, my better half wanted to see it quite bad so there I was in a movie full of women with a few fellas sprinkled around undoubtedly in the same predicament as me.

This movie turned out to be one of the most important movies in the last decade of so. It's a must see for every woman, and yes, man of color in a white washed society. And, for you Latin men and women who don't think you have the same struggles as blacks... white America says that you do.

This movie grabbed my attention from the opening scene. It showed the strength, fear, hope and plight of a black family following the rules and doing just well enough to survive but not really well enough to truly live. The innocence had been replaced with self-doubt and the sunshine with everlasting darkness.

There were so many characters in this movie I wasn't sure if the storyline would be to choppy to follow or not. But, the writer, director and cast did an excellent job of making each character full and interesting. For Colored Girls turned out to be a movie for every woman of color young and old and the men that love them.

The characters range from the poorest to the richest and focuses in on the similarities of the group, their righteousness on one hand and their sins on the other. Go see this movie... once again I urge everyone to GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!

PRE-ORDER THE NEW K.I ALBUM "WRITING IS MY THERAPY" TODAY! LIMITED TIME ONLY!

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:06:00 +0000

PRE-ORDER THE NEW K.I ALBUM "WRITING IS MY THERAPY" TODAY! LIMITED TIME ONLY!

Get Over It Already

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Fri, 21 May 2010 09:09:00 +0000

In this post I'm responding to lies spread about President Obama on several republican websites that he isn't a natural U.S. citizen and that he is part of the New World Order some how.

I really can't believe that there are this many ignorant people in this country. It took President Regan and both Bushes and the Republicans decades to ruin our country and you want President Obama to fix it instantly. Quit complaining and start doing your part to make your life better. Stop being typical spoiled Americans and grind a little harder. Keep in mind that you don't live in a third world country, so stop acting like it. We live in the best, most opportunistic country in the world.

And, I will not even entertain the B.S. thought of the fake birth certificate circulating on the internet. I design album covers, posters, logos, etc. I know that with Photoshop and 20 minutes I can create an authentic looking birth certificate also (Stop being sheep).

As for "New World Order"... President Bush 1 & 2 are both members of the Skulls Society of Yale University. Look it up and tell me how an alcoholic, cocaine using, "C" student becomes a powerful Texas politician and eventually president without underground help? And, his grandfather Prescott Sheldon Bush was a U.S. Senator of Connecticut from 1952 until January 1963, so the family has always had their hands deep in the B.S. The 1st President Bush was involved with Watergate and was "HAND PICKED" as the Republican National Committee chairman by Nixon himself and after Nixon "RESIGNED" he was brought on as the director of the CIA 1/30/76 by Nixon successor President Ford. President Bush #1 knows who killed JFK!!! So, please don't open your uninformed mouths about President Obama and the new world order.

Educate yourselves, get your facts straight and then come back to the round table with better points and opinions, please. And, once again stop being sheep blindly led around by the media... all media.

It is common sense that every president spends half of his time in office cleaning up the mess of the previous president. And, we all know that the republicans are self-serving schemers in times of need... which seems to be all the time.

And, know the law please before you speak. If a child is born in a foreign country to parents that are U.S. citizens then that child is automatically a U.S. citizen. And, only one parent has to be a citizen and President Obama's mother was born in Kansas. but that doesn't matter because President Obama was actually born in Hawaii. And, he was born there 2 years after it became a state and even if it weren't a state at the time it was a U.S. territory before so he would still be a U.S. citizen a'la Puerto Rico, U.S Virgin Islands, U.S. Samoan Islands.

Do your own research and stop relying on the lying media for your information.

Only Worry About What You Can Control

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:44:00 +0000

This post hits hard so PAY ATTENTION!!!

I've noticed that too many people waste their energy on things they cannot control. You know what that's called? It's called SUFFERING. And it's all self created. When you focus on things you CAN control, you know what that's called? It's called SUCCEEDING.

The only way to make it is to focus your energy on that which you can control. You can't control what haters say about you or your career, you can't control when you get a record, movie, fashion or business deal, you can't control when you blow up. So sitting around putting all your energy into thoughts about these things is simply a waste of time.

You CAN control how many people you approach to hear your music, FOCUS YOUR ENERGY ON THAT! You can control how much of your soul you put into your craft. FOCUS YOUR ENERGY ON THAT. You can control how early you get up in the morning to start your grind. FOCUS YOUR ENERGY ON THAT.

Focus + Energy + Movement = Success. You have to train yourself to focus your attention on that which you can control and let go of the tendency to focus on that which you can't control. This can completely change the state of your career and maybe your life. Take this from someone that is extremely focused.

Custom Logo Design

Issues haunting Artists & DJs

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:17:00 +0000

The music industry may be the dirtiest industry besides boxing... and that's saying a lot. There's lying, stealing, cheating, violence and even killing that goes on within hip hop... and, not always by the artists. But, this post is not about what's wrong with the part of hip hop that everyone can see. This post is about the part of hip hop that is ugly and no one wants to see.

Health care is a hot topic today but since the inception of hip hop artists and DJs have never really had proper health care protection. There is no union for artists or DJs yet you can find one on every street corner in America. The art form of rap has taken over the world in just 30 years, so it's still a baby compared to other genres but the music is based on more pain than any other genre could ever imagine (country music is a close 2nd).

The bottom line... there is no real representation for hip hop artists or DJs as a whole. No union, no health care, no arbitrator. Nothing at all that says we are legitimate businessmen/women bringing value to the table. Old gray haired executives in starchy Brooks Brother suits can't rap, can't make a beat or get the crowd moving so why is it that we LET THEM dictate our careers both in the concert hall and in the board room? Why can't we get together as artists and DJs and form an organization that will force the corporations to treat everyone fairly just as if we worked at IBM, Microsoft or GE. This is just a little something to think about. Give me your thoughts.

Is The Internet Hurting Today's Music

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:30:00 +0000

I'm the Founder & CEO of Music Unlimited Records so of course today's topic is a large part of my business. As a label owner the Internet is the backbone of my marketing strategy and the best way to promote my artists and maintain a realistic budget. But, I don't know if it helps or hurts the industry as a whole.

In the past the major labels (Sony, Universal, Warner, etc...) had such a strangle hold on the music industry that if you didn't have a record deal with them you didn't exist, period. This was because advertising was so expensive that only the big companies could afford to push and market their artists. That shut the door on the hopes of many independent labels and artists hoping to grow.

Along came the Internet. A phenomenon that instantly leveled the playing field for all record companies both big and small. The Internet is so inexpensive that a one person label can advertise their projects right next to the big boys and no one knows the difference. This angers the majors but makes the indies happier than ever.

But, there's the case and problem of piracy. Everyone is STEALING music off of the Internet simply because they can. If there was no way to steal music you would just pay for it without any complaint like before. This of course hurts the industry as a whole because it raises the prices of all upcoming albums, there's legal ramifications and the music quality is watered down because artists and labels know that their music is going to be stolen before it is sold; so the energy, excitement and desire to create a good album is non existent.

So, in short I guess the Internet is both a gift and a curse. What is your opinion? How is the Internet helping or hurting music today?

Listen to the new Jay-Z D.O.A. Remix feat. K.I.

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:30:00 +0000

For sure, Jay-Z just did what he normally does... elevate the game, but check out the remix. Jay said that he was going to give it to some mixtape dude and K.I. killed it.

D.O.A. Remix - Jay Z feat. K.I.

No Common Sense

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:05:00 +0000

The five senses are important in life but the most important sense of all is COMMON SENSE. I'm the CEO of Music Unlimited Records so I stay on top of what's going on in the business world and the economy. Also, being a CEO of a record company that produces urban music I stay on top of what's going on in the streets as well. With that being said there are consumer idiots out there.

I listen to rap music consumers talk out of the side of their necks and it's idiotic and out of control. On one hand they complain about the music that is out today, how the radio plays the same songs over and over again without variety. But, on the other hand they don't make their voices heard and they continue to stay silent so radio thinks that they are playing what everyone wants to hear.

Radio play and media placement is not, nor has it ever been about hot music or quality artists. it has always been about money being placed in the right hands and still is. Thank God for the internet and internet radio which levels the playing field.

The entire music industry must listen to the consumer to stay in business, period, no questions asked. Open your damn mouths and tell them that you want to hear new music mixed in with the mainstream and if they don't listen you will go elsewhere to listen to good music. I'm in no way telling anyone to boycott commercial radio, I'm just telling you to stop being a follower and start being a leader. Tell radio IT'S YOUR MUSIC AND YOU WANT IT NOW!!!

Is Rap Art or Poison?

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0000

One night while flipping through the never ending cable channels I came across new reporter Paula Zahn doing a story for CNN on rap music, whether it is art or poison. Zahn and the people she interviewed pretty much did their best to belittle Rap as a whole and stereotyped the art form and culture like I haven't seen in some time, since rap was being called a fad by politicians, clergymen/women and critics decades ago.

Rap is not like video games. Kids and young adults in their right mind don't hear a rap song and then go out and commit immoral, violent or drug related crimes. Kids and young adults witness what goes on in their neighborhoods daily and then come home and write about what they've witnessed and report it to the world.

Rap is looked down upon when it speaks of "bitches, hoes and niggas (slang)", but it is bitches, hoes and niggas that are encountered daily in the inner city where rap is headquartered. Rappers aren't referring to "women and ladies" when they you bitches and hoes in their lyrics because women and ladies do what they need to do to be respected and successful. But, bitches, hoes and niggas need to be exposed for who and what they are.

The mainstream media reports from all over the world daily on various stories but when it comes to the inner city it never reports the reasons for the plight of its people... just the plight itself. Rappers are news reporters for their areas. They depict what's going on in the neighborhoods they call home or once called home. The mainstream media is upset because rap is a medium that touches more ears and eyes than they do and lyrics can't be controlled even with the censorship of the FCC.

I was taught as a child that if you don't know what you are talking about keep your mouth shut. Paula Zahn and her mainstream media cohorts should do more in-depth research before they open their mouths. It always amazes me how so many highly educated professionals can be so ignorant.

Who Will Bridge the Gap in Hip Hop?

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:48:00 +0000

I in no way claim to be a Hip Hop expert, rap guru or a fan that knows every beat and line of each classic rap song. I know the songs that I like and the ones that I don't, and the songs that I don't like seem to rule the radio, internet and television right now.

I had someone tell me the other day that the game had passed Jay-Z by and that he needed to step back and let new artist do their thing. What the hell was this person smoking when they hit me up on twitter? I stated that no one has stepped up to force Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem etc, into retirement and this person felt like the new artist of today were doing just fine in carrying on the Hip Hop torch.

Jay-Z, Biggie, Nas, Snoop, they took over from Run DMC, LL Cool J, NWA, Ghetto Boys, etc. Who is going to take over the game now? Who is going to bridge the gap? There's Lil Wayne and a few underground artists that can't seem to do much more that get their foot in the door. Why do I hear songs like "Stanky leg" and "F.L.Y Surf" everywhere I go yet I can only find Joel Ortiz on the internet, Joe Buddens is a mixtape maven and nothing else and Saigon and Jae Millz repeatedly jump from label to label without dropping a real album?

With the internet leading the way you would figure that there would be new artists dropping out of the sky like never before, but the wait continues. DJs aren't breaking new artists anymore and haven't for a long time. Of course you can pay your way into the game but at that point you are saying that you are talentless and lack confidence in your ability, period.

So, who will step up to bridge the gap?

I'm So Tired Of...

av@musicunlimitedrecords.com (A.V. Hodge) — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:36:00 +0000

I'm so damn tired of corny hip hop songs, corny one hit rappers and corny slang words like "swagger." What happened to the creativity our music and culture had not so long ago? Jay-Z was right when he said "I can't leave rap alone, the game needs me." It does need him. It needs Snoop, Trick Daddy, Ice Cube, Bun B, Eminem, etc.

In an ideal world the aforementioned artists would be able to do thing in the game for about 6 or 7 years and then bounce leaving the game to the next generation of artists in line. But, that hasn't happened. Because of some of the lackluster, lazy, non-creative artists coming up today the legends of the game are forced to stay around longer to make sure that what they set up is not lost.

Rap is often compared to sports. You practice and grind for years hoping for one shot and when you get that shot you try to stick around as long as possible. Athletes usually play 7, maybe 10 years before retiring. The superstars sometimes squeeze out 15 years if their lucky or good enough. But, once the legends and superstars are gone teams are left to rebuild, waiting for their draft picks to mature, which usually takes a few years. I guess rap is in it's rebuilding stage like the Knicks, Patriots, Red Sox and Rangers. But, when will rap's draft picks mature?