The Purple Prince - RIP

Click the above image to read the story in the New Yorker

The day my elephant became a dragon

Note to reader: The cool title credit belongs to my beautiful wife and inspiring muse, Lauren Lee Aboagye.

Just when I thought Evernote couldn't get any cooler, I remembered a feature that I've been wanting to try out for some time.

Enter The Dragon.

For awhile I used to use a software from Nuance called Dragon naturally speaking.

The software translates spoken word into text. An amazing little tool that can really enhance your productivity. But I've always struggled to find the right time and place to use it because you often need to be in a room so quiet that you can hear a pin drop. Plus there's always that schlep of having to train your dragon first, so that it can pick up on your pronunciation and analyse your sentence structure. The learning curve is kind of steep and honestly a little time consuming.

But now with using dictation in Evernote  I found the perfect tool that integrates both worlds. Dragon and Evernote. The convenience of having my phone in my pocket, and taking notes verbally while on the go is wonderfully freeing.

In fact I'm writing this blog post using the dictation software and the accuracy is pretty amazing.

This really opens up a world of possibilities.

If you don't already use Evernote this is a good reason to start.

Diva antics

Why oh why oh why would you want to be a diva?
If you behave like the world should revolve around you do you really think people would want to work with you?

If your attitude is; drop whatever you're doing so that you can do what I say, then the only message you're communicating is that you believe you are more important than the other person. 

"I've been touched by the hand of God so you mere mortals must listen to me."
That becomes a sad state of affairs when you believe that that is what being charismatic is about.

It's not. Being charismatic is about caring enough for the other person to actually want to make a difference in their life. Caring so genuinely that if you are not around your absence is truly missed.

So stop being a diva just because a few people know your name and you have been on television.

Money, power and fame don't make you  better, they merely amplify who you really are. If you are generous, kind and loving you will be more of those things. 

If you are a jerk... Well.

If that's what it takes...

“Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.” - Oprah Winfrey

Mike Tyson once said: "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."

If you need to flip burgers so that you can do more of what you are passionate about, then do it!

If you have encountered a set back then you need to get back up and come up with a better plan.

For years I have worked as an IT Consultant, Business Analyst and Project Manager. And for a rapper it may not be as "glamorous" as drug dealing but it put food on the table and helped finance a number of music projects that have literally changed my life. Allowing me to meet some pretty amazing people along the way and continue to keep the dream alive. 

Use your environment

John Grisham the writer of The Firm use to be a lawyer so he wrote a fiction story using details he was intimately acquainted with.

Steven King use to clean sheets in motels while writing manuscripts which would later turn into novels.

John Legend use to work for the Boston Consulting Group.

Walt Disney use to work at a local newspaper company until he was fired for "a lack of creativity".

Elvis Presley use to be a truck driver in Memphis.

Eminem used to cook and wash dishes for minimum wage at Gilbert's Lodge a family-style restaurant.

J. K. Rowling was a researcher and secretary for Amnesty International when she conceived the idea for Harry Potter.  

Usually, the unexpected flip side is that the environment you are in often ends up being the material from which you can draw from to create the work of art that you are working on.

It's not where you start that matters but where you end up that counts.

The only rule I'd like to add to this is: Please keep it legal! Because if I meet another drug dealer rapper who thinks they will beat the odds like Jay Z and 50 Cent. I'm going to call the cops myself.

The bottom-line is, there is no point lamenting your current situation. For whatever reason you are where you are for a reason and you have the power to change it. The wise thing to do is use your surroundings as the catalyst for change. Use it as the creative fuel to elevate you from where you are to where you want to be.

No Record Deal, No Problem

So, How do you get signed to a record deal? 

In a nutshell...

Doing it on your own is the best way to get signed.

What do you have that a record label would want?

"I have a good voice."

"I can write a good song."

"My mama said I can sing."

"Yo man, I can rap."

"I make dope beats."

If you said any of the things I just mentioned above then you can expect the following.

No. I'm sorry, but that's not exactly what we are looking for. And sadly talent is not enough.

So what are record companies looking for?

Simple. Three things: PPD

1. PROOF

This can come in many forms but the two important ones are Social Proof and Profit Proof.

If you say something online, on your website or social media (and you should have both) do you have an engaged audience that cares and will respond?

If you put on a show or release a single can you turn a profit? 

In today's current market, even a little profit is better than none. Are you turning out tunes and shows consistently and keeping records?

2. PROFESSIONALISM 

Honestly, I believe that this is the most important of the three because it can determine your success in the other two areas. 

It doesn't take talent to arrive at rehearsals on time. 

It doesn't take talent to do what you say you will do.

It doesn't require that special "X" factor to show up and put in the hours of work that is required to hone your skills.

But it does require professionalism to do those things and respect other people's time and space.

Calling someone you have never met at odd hours or sending them a text message on a Sunday is not very professional is it?

Do whatever you can to stick out in a professional manner. Showing courtesy and respect for the other person.

3. DATABASE

Do you have access to a database of fans (names, email addresses, cell numbers etc.) that are ready and willing to pay for your music? 

If you do. How big is this database and how quickly can you grow it?

If you can start showing numbers that would impress your local bank manager, then I think it's safe to say you're on the right track. 

But wait a minute, if I could build a team that could do all of that what on earth would I need a record deal for?

Exactly!

However, sometimes you need to scale quickly in your business and standing on the shoulders of a giant makes sense if you need to reach those high and lofty goals. 

Other times small is beautiful.

And Joint Ventures mean more if both parties will benefit.

If you are not bringing any of these three things to the table, then you don't have a leg to stand on. And if you can't manage your on business correctly, how will you know if a record company is doing it right?

So either way, being entrepreneurial is key. 

So I'll say it again.

Doing it on your own (first) is the best way to get signed.

The problem with the future

HAPPY NE!!... Ah, wait... It's already nearly March?!

I thought time was only supposed to fly when you are having fun?

The new year has felt a bit like the old year continued. Kind of like 2015 - 2.0. 

The problem with the future is that you just can't see what's coming. And if you like sticking to a plan, that could be a bit of a challenge. 

Recently I completed work on a 3 year business proposal for a Dynisty project. When planning like that and I am always amazed at how much stuff you can actually anticipate if you put your mind to it . I am  also equally amazed at how little we know about the future. 

How could we? It is the future after-all and we are not there yet. But we can dream and that helps make it more tangible even if it is only in our minds. 

Then, the other problem kicks in. We get stuck dreaming about this world that doesn't exist yet and we neglect to do the hard work now. In the present. 

LEARN FROM THE PAST. 

FOCUS ON THE PRESENT. 

BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.

Help us pick artwork for our new single

I have always liked the idea of involving people in the creative process. Most of the time as an artist you get lost in your own ideas and imagination. Which is fun, but it does get a bit lonely. So to take the time to stop and show people what you have been working on is always an eye opener. You get to hear other peoples perspectives and see things from a different angle. This I believe, almost always leads to creates better art.

Currently, I am working on the Soldier.Lover.Poet EP and have re-recorded some tracks that have been great performed live with a band. The first single to be released will be "Makin' it Happen". 

And I would love to have your input on the cover artwork.

Take our survey by clicking here. 

My Weapon is music

“My Weapon is Music.”

This year, more than any other I have felt the pain of the world lay heavy on my shoulders. 
Whether it be the killing in France, the massacre in Kenya or the Fees must fall struggle in my own country and home town. 

Not to mention my own personal struggles and those of close family and friends.
2015 has really had a heavy gloom about it. 
Indeed this world is so broken and in desperate need of a Saviour.  

Jesus Christ and the message of the Gospel offers a real hope and light to these dark times.

With so many thoughts swimming in my head and emotions that toss about like waves...
The message needs an outlet and my weapon of choice is music. 

Drake - Obey Your Thirst (Video)

"Do it from where you are at..." 

#RealTalk

What's next to fall?

Without a doubt this is a major issue that could have been avoided. As Maxwell says: "Everything rises and falls on leadership."

And so, as the dust slowly begins to settle, one can not help but wonder. What is next? 

How long can you poke a lion and expect it not to roar? 

And when the lion realizes it has a voice... What happens next?