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March 31, 2006
Houston Day 1
Began my tutorial in Chopped&Screwed today at the side of Eric 'BigLove' - long time Houston rapper, composer, producer and entrepreneur. Eric spent many years alongside DJScrew at the inception of what has become the next big evolution of rap/hiphop. It's a totally infectious style of music, mashups of the latest rap & hiphop records, or classic R&B sounds, slowed to half speed and mixed with samples, grooves and original parts. It's hypnotic. I was treated to a realtime screw session in his northside studio with Stink, BigLove's up and coming protege); including a freestyle duet with Big Tee (the file will make it's way to this post soon enough) thanks for the shout out you guys). I have to say, I've always been blown away by folks who could freestyle. I highly recommend that anyone who hasn't done so, go check out a freestyle rap show, genius poets at work. Plain and simple.
Aside from the explosion of great new tracks, there's also a fascinating grassroots music business forming in Houston. It's all about the underground mixtape. Producers provide opportunities for new artists to record, financing the recording and pressings. They wholesale the $2 CDs for $5 to artists and producers, which they in turn resell straight to fans for $10. Everyone gets a piece. It's not uncommon for a tape to sell 20000 copies in a few weeks, mostly from the back of cars. The CD's quote liberally from the latest hit records (sometimes pre-release if someone knows one of the recording engineers!). You might think this would generate lots of copyright issues, but the source artists like the promotional value – even hiring the hot DJs to screw their tunes. It's mainlining now, with artists like Kanyae West and JayZ picking up on the style.
I'll have a fuller post with pictures any more on BigLove's background in the next few days… Gotta start building our C&S collection.
I have a long day planned today; but looking forward to meeting folks at Star Pizza tonight.
Posted by Tim Westergren at March 31, 2006 07:06 AM
Comments
Feels good to see Big Love still pushing. One of the original cats in the Houston movement!
Posted by: Kris Styles at April 4, 2006 09:42 AM
I wish you could have seen the Scattered Pages. One of Houston's best, www.scatteredpages.com.
Posted by: Brian at April 21, 2006 08:32 PM
You really must try Denton Texas! You'll love the eclectic little town with some big city advantages! It's fantastic!
Posted by: Joyce at April 27, 2006 02:39 PM
I see why Big Love never signed to a major now.
Posted by: Larry at May 1, 2006 01:26 PM
Yeah, Big Love getting that indie money!
Posted by: Joe Williams at May 12, 2006 06:30 AM
Big Love is no doubt the most underrated MC in Houston. He peaked in the middle of Screw and beginning of Watts. He never let back, he is maybe the most relentless MC in Houston. I'd pick him over Scarface.
Posted by: Kurt Dunston at October 9, 2006 12:49 PM
This is the best thing to ever happen to music. Tim, this is the magnum opus for all ears. Insane idea.
If you ever stroll through Houston again, you gotta hit up Devin the Dude and my boy DeeRaiL.
http://www.myspace.com/deerailmusic
Seabrook Drum and Bass-www.myspace.com/autumndnb
AND Texas has the illest dubstep www.myspace.com/fragiledub
Anyways man thanks for doing this on behalf of all hardworking, music loving musicians.
Posted by: Coach at November 3, 2008 10:07 AM
