Media Blog

As if I need to explain, there are many who doubt just why Outkast are such legendary icons in music. In a time where hip-hop music was dominated largely by the North, southern hip-hop artists were given little to no respect as far as being able to produce anything more than booty shake music. Enter Outkast, a laid back, eccentric duo from one of the ghettos of Atlanta (East Point//Southwest Atlanta {S.W.A.T.S} to be exact). Around 1992-1993, they emerge as a lyrical force that would not and could not be ignored. Big Boi and Andre released their first single, Players Ball in 1993 and the single was followed by an album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, in 1994.

The album mostly was an account of their lives growing up and for the most part, a motivational album targeted to the streets. With all odds seemingly against them, the duo went on to achieve platinum status for this album and the rest is history.

But when it comes to Big Boi and Andre 3000, you cannot simply base their greatness on just the fact that they are able to make good rhymes. Everything from their appearance to the deliverance of their lyrics makes them true trendsetters of their time.Picture this, two young, rebellious African-American males who are trying to do all they can to make it something out of their lives. They release their first album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, and the streets love them. Their next album, ATLiens gets even more acclaim from fans and now the world is listening. But its their next album, Aquemini, where Outkast really shows their courage. The duo begin talking about spaceships, time travel, conspiracies and other things that it would seem the fans from their first album just werent trying to hear.

But no, even with the outrageous topics that the duo were touching on, the fans still in the end were able to respect the duo for just being themselves, while at the same time keeping it real. This is where the true testament of their greatness comes in. Throughout the career, even with their mind-boggling lyrics, outrageous videos, and crazy dressing styles, everyone (fans, other musical artists, non-fans) still had the utmost respect for them as individuals.

As much beefing, and drama that is often entailed in the hip-hop world, I cant recall one artist or group that actually expressed their genuine dislike of Outkast. In their 10+ year career! That alone should receive an award. And no matter what crazy outfit Andre comes out the house with next, or name he decides he wants to go by, or no matter what the duo announces theyre next plans are, most people can do nothing but say, Well, Im not surprised, thats just Outkast for you?

If you want to know why duo is so great, Ill tell you why. Throughout their career Outkast, as well as Goodie Mob and the Dungeon Family, have broken countless barriers in order to be heard, achieved success around the world, all the while, while maintaining the respect of all fans. Outkast are truly monumental icons of their time, and this should never be disputed.

For more information on Outkast go to:
Everything Outkast

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Epictunes, a UK based company takes on the industry to provoke a music revolution.

Epictunes believes that true musicians, bands and artists are being replaced with corporate goldmines.

Times are about to change says company founder Matthew Ridout.

With the recent worldwide boost of unsigned bands who needs the record companies? If there is a platform to sell your music directly to fans why not cut out the greedy middle man?

With the recent explosion in the UK of The Artic Monkeys and Gnarls Barkley the music loving public are only too aware that there is good music to be found on the internet. As both these now very famous bands discovered by generating their fan base on the internet first.

Bands and artist now need a place where they can do this. Some people might argue that myspace is that place. With myspace now worth in the region of 400 million US dollars is that not a corporation itself? Its as hard to get heard on myspace as it is on national radio. This is where Epictunes comes in.

Epictunes boasts an array of features to try and help unsigned bands and artists to reach their audience. Its free to join to make use of the standard features of the site, you can upload up to four tracks, photo of the band, a profile and a direct message system.

For a small subscription fee bands can upload unlimited songs, post blogs, upload photos, upload videos, feature on a CD, get promoted on their radio stations and feature on their monthly podcast.

Epictunes is indeed the stepping stone to recognition on a world wide scale.

The site is located at Epictunes Site

So you?re a musician that just recorded your first album. You probably went into a recording studio and played all of your parts a couple of times, with the audio engineer handling all of the technical stuff. As far as you know, they should be able to take all the parts they recorded, burn it to a disc, and then it should be ready to press. While this isn?t completely wrong, most professional musicians take their mixed down recording and pass it off to someone else for mastering.

What is mastering?
Mastering is the final step in the production of an album where they add the final ?polish to the recording. This is done by technically enhancing the clarity of the mixes. This makes the compilation of songs sound more coherent, more ?together. This also ensures that the mixes sound well on all listening devices.

Well, that?s all fine and dandy, but does a professional mastering technician do when mastering a recording?

1. Volume Level Maximization
This is to make sure that all audio is at maximum volume, so that all songs are at the same volume level. Ever watch late night TV, where the volume of the commercials are a couple notches higher than the show you were watching? If a professional mastering engineer was involved, they would raise the volume of TV show to match the volume of the commercials.

2. Ensuring a Consistent Balance of Frequencies
This ensures that all frequencies are accounted for in the recording; bass, mids, and treble, so that there are no areas where there is no bass/mids/treble.

3. Noise Reduction
This is the process of removing noise from an audio signal. When using analog technology, sound recordings exhibit a type of noise known as tape hiss. This is related to the particle size and texture used in the magnetic emulsion that is sprayed on the recording media, and also to the relative tape velocity across the tape heads.

4. Encoding
A professional mastering lab may also take your recording and encode the UPC (Universal Product Code), ISRC (International Standard Recording Code), CD Text (additional information about the CD, e.g. album name, song name, and artist name) or other PQ information.

5. Error Checking
This ensures the integrity of the data stream during CD duplication / replication at any CD manufacturing plant.

Still confused about what a professional mastering engineer does to your CD audio recording when you hand it off to them? Don?t worry, audio mastering is a very complicated process. I just hope that you better understand why professional mastering is an integral part of the whole audio production process. It can make a world of difference!

Yesterday I was riding in my truck. I went over a bridge that had some exceptionally quick and repetitive bumps. As I crossed this relatively short bridge and passed an uneventful point in my life something happened that has had me thinking for a full day now. I felt my belly jiggle. And when I looked down, I could sort of see it jiggle from under my shirt. I hated that.

So, what do I do about it? Well, if I want to hop on some sort of bandwagon that may actually have the legs to make it into an actual established activity, I need look no further than in the front pocket of my backpack. Whats in there? Nothing short of a 20 gig powerhouse packed with nothing less than thousands of my favorite songs. Yes, its my well used ipod. I must confess that for the year or so that Ive owned my ipod, the state of my belly has not improved, but seems to have actually deteriorated. But, that was before I began to hear about a new use for it (aside from bothering friends into listening to a song that will change their life).

Ipod workouts are yet another thing that this apple product is doing that no one expected. Obviously, a benefit while working out with your ipod is its mobility and its ability to absorb shocks that cd players cant. But, the new fad of ipod workouts has taken that at least a step or two further. There have been several workout instructions that are now available to be purchased or downloaded. This is like getting yourself a personal trainer that will walk you through your workouts whenever and wherever your heart desires. Some of these can even come with images that can be displayed on your screen.
The point is that at times one of the biggest obstacles in the way of you and a belly that doesnt jiggle when going over bridges is knowing what to do during your workout and having the motivation to do so; and both of these may be significally minimized by using an ipod workout.

You cant help but thumb through the fashion mags after a Hollywood award show to see what the stars wore-the good, the bad and the downright shameful. But one aspect of all the glitz is the goody bags the stars take home. Sure, it may take an entire paycheck (or two or three) to afford just one item from these hush-hush swag bags, but we still want to know whats in them. What is so intriguing about millionaire celebrities (who could stop working today and still live more comfortably than the general populous)getting free stuff that wed eat Ramen noodles for a month to own?

Maybe its because stars set the trends-and even if youre not a closet E! News devotee, youll run out to buy those hot shades Paris Hilton was photographed wearing. And as much as it pains us to think about the unfairness of it all-stars hold a lot of clout when it comes to product endorsements-the very reason companies load them up with free loot. So, even if you think youre the most stylish accountant to grace corporate America, thousands of people wont buy leopard-print pants simply because you wore a pair to the office party.

Okay, so whats in the bags? It could be a Gaiams Organic Spa Experience, complete with European-style glass aromatherapy essential oil diffuser; organic cotton towel; organic cotton robe; soy pillar candle; botanical shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, body wash and cleansing bar; meditation and Yoga CD sets; and a Maize storage chest.

Celebs at the recent Academy Awards took home a Motorola Special Edition Black RAZR V3. in a keepsake and personalized Jonathan Adler box (sorry folks, this tricked out version of the Motorolas popular mobile is a celebrity exclusive).

How about a two-night stay for two at Bernardus Lodge in Carmel Valley, California valued at $2,500? www.bernardus.com Or a sterling silver choker/braclet/earring set made of pearls and Bali beads by Cathy Jordan?

To keep track of celebrities 15 minutes of fame, guests could take home a Fabio Micucci Fabio Micucci (no, not that Fabio) hour glass. And presenters at a past Oscars got a Micucci crystal decanter with a sterling silver stopper (perfect for all those celebrity offspring born with a silver spoonoh you know what I mean)

Its a bitter pill to swallow but we both know youll be breaking out the Top Ramen (and Im right along with you).