What’s New With Logic

     It’s been a while since my last post on this blog, so I’ve decided to give an update on what’s new in the world of DJ Logic.  Over the past couple of months I’ve been working on DJ battles and upgrading my equipment.  The most recent additions since this past May are the NS7 with Serato Itch, and I finally upgraded my computer to a Mac. I just wrapped up a series of DJ battles for Mountain Dew and V-103. Unfortunately I didn’t win, but I did put on a good performance and I got my name back out there as a force to be reckoned with. 

Here is the video from my first attempt.

http://youtu.be/zpa3FciZE2E

Here is the video of my second attempt.

http://youtu.be/QNeqn_6RW2E

I was much happier with my second set, but I think both were pretty good.  I’ve finally realized why I’ll probably never win one of these battles.  I’m too serious when I’m on the decks. I stay so focused on accomplishing what I prepared that I don’t have enough, or SHOW enough personality in my performance.  Sonically everything is there, but my focus is too intense I think.  When I listened to the other DJ’s sets I could point out lot’s of sloppy mixes or failed attempts at beat juggling, but they were all smiling and pointing out the crowd while performing.  I’m not really into that kind of thing and honestly I don’t feel that comfortable with my routine to be improvising and not paying attention to my decks.  I think if I continue to stick with these same routines and practice them until they become second nature to me then I’ll be able to loosen up and crack a smile when battling.  Until then, oh well.

Also, since my last few posts, I’ve become the resident DJ on Tuesday nights at The Uptown Comedy Corner in Atlanta (once again).  Tuesday nights are cool for this kind of gig because I can get to the club from work, and don’t have to bring much gear other than my Serato box and my laptop.  Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s are the nights that they bring the big name comedians to town, so I get to watch a good show , practice and advertise in front of a good crowd and make some extra cash while doing it. It only gets monotonous when there’s two shows in one night. Now that I think about it, I need to get some more pics with the comedians to spice up the blog and my Facebook page.

I’ve also recently signed up with a new music licensing company called Vidiots.  They have a very impressive business and they reached out to me to add my music to their catalog.  This has caused me to start working on new material, and begin getting ready to even perform a set on a show here in Atlanta. I’ll be performing my own original material alongside some dope MC’s from the local scene. I’m still picking out which 4 songs I plan on doing. I’m thinking I’ll start out doing something on the hip-hop tip and then segue into one or two of my dance tunes.  Stay tuned for more details. In fact, take a listen to my Soundcloud page and let me know which songs of mine you would like to see performed at a live show.

Here’s the link to my Soundcloud page:  http://soundcloud.com/user8242115

#DerrickUtsey #DJBattle #HipHop #DJLogic #DJ #logisticalstyles

The future is here and it’s dope.

See that ^^?  That’s a link to my DJ profile on www.Thefuture.fm.  What is www.Thefuture.fm? It’s a website for DJs to post up their mixes legally.  It used to be known as Dubset.com but they recently relaunched as Thefuture.fm  They use an interesting bit of technology called Mixscan that actually scans the mixes we DJs upload and tags the songs. It’s pretty accurate, although I’ve had to correct it a few times.  From what I’ve read on the website, they actually report the spins to Performance Rights organizations such as ASCAP, and BMI.  So far, this site seems to be the most legitimate way for DJs to upload mixes without having to constantly worry about having a mix taken down off of Soundcloud, or YouTube due to copyright restrictions.  The site seems to still be under some construction as certain elements are not always working the way you’d expect but for the most part it is pretty functional.  The website allows DJs to track the listens and it also gives listeners the opportunity to purchase the songs you use in the mix.  It seems like someone actually sat back and thought about what is really happening when DJs make and distribute mixes. DJs are the original promotions department for music labels and people listen to our mixes because they trust our taste in music. Until now there has always been a gray area concerning the legality of DJ mixes.  Now with Thefuture.fm all of that seems to be cleared up. Thefuture.fm seems to tie up all of the loose ends concerning DJ mixes.  Artists are getting the promotion that they need through the DJ’s mix and the music executives can keep track of what’s being played.  Fans are getting exposed to great new music and DJs can create and distribute mixes without fear of legal action from the industry.

I highly recommend that DJs use this service for uploading mixes, and I would also recommend this site to music lovers that want to check out new DJs.  Lot’s of major DJs are already on the service and the range of music that is posted up is very diverse, so please believe that there is something for everyone on this site. Also while you are on the site check out my mixes and follow me.

#music #performancerightsorganizations #promotionsdepartment #thefuturefm #mix #entertainment #DJ #marketing #promotion #mixcd

What’s going on?

Over the weekend I sat down to work on a mix for a CD that I and another DJ are trying to put out together. Since he is the lesser experienced D,J I asked him to make a mix and then I would design my mix around his. We’re based in Atlanta so I knew it would be mostly down south rap, which I don’t have a problem with. In fact I had a playlist in my mind, but had to switch it up because he ended up using some of the same songs I was thinking of. This caused me to have to go digging for some other tracks online. I figured it wouldn’t be that hard to find something worth adding to the mix but I was oh, so wrong.

 I honestly don’t know where to begin so I’ll just be blunt. Today’s rap and R&B music sucks. It doesn’t just suck its plain horrible. As I listened to the music previewing it for some new hotness I was bombarded by unoriginal lyrics, extreme use of vulgar profanity, over sexualized themes, and wack beats. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a DJ and I believe in freedom of expression just like anyone in the industry. I just can’t see how some of this stuff made it out of the studio. There used to be balance in the music world. For every NWA, there was a Public Enemy. For every “Between the Sheets”, there was a “What’s Going On”. What happened to the music you could play in front of the kids or your parents? What happened to singing and rapping about social ills, and just plain old love? Why is everyone claiming to be a drug dealer or killer in our music? And yes the problem is mainly in OUR music. Black Music, Urban Contemporary, or whatever you want to call it, is OUR music. You don’t hear this much killing on the pop charts, and Country music sells way more than Rap and yet they don’t have to cater to the lowest common denominator. Why do we feel the need to only entertain ourselves with violence, drug dealing, and sex, sex, sex?

I’m well aware that there are many exceptions to the rule, but if you turn on “The People’s Station”, or the station “Where Hip-Hop, and R&B Live” you will not hear them; unless the artist is doing a big show in town which rarely happens. Lupe Fiasco doesn’t get major play on the radio; neither does Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Jean Gray, or any other artist with good sense. But you know who does get major play on the radio? Lil, Wayne or anybody he does a song with. Nikki Minaj and her self loathing lyrics get spun every day all day. Black radio will play songs with a black woman calling other black women nappy headed hoes before they will play a song that refers to black women as queens, princesses, or just plain sisters. Make a song about young black men going to college and taking care of their kids and it won’t go anywhere, but make a song about poisoning the community with crack, disrespecting women, or black on black violence and it has great potential to become a hit. Why is that?

As a DJ I take partial responsibility for this because I play some pretty ignorant music from time to time as well. I think what separates me from the radio is the fact that I keep it balanced. I admit that I do like a lot of Jeezy’s songs, and even some Lil Wayne songs. I also like A Tribe Called Quest, and The Roots. See that? That’s called balance. There is a time and a place for everything. You can’t just thug it out all day and all night. There needs to be a compromise somewhere. When will there be a Trey Songz song that doesn’t push sex to the kids? 7:30 in the morning and V-103 is reminding my daughter that Trey invented sex. Don’t they know that parents are riding in the cars with kids going to school?

Chuck D once said that hip-hop is the CNN for the ghetto, and that does remain true even today, but even CNN has some happy ending stories run throughout the day. When is hip-hop going to do that? If rappers want to be mad and have their voices heard why aren’t they getting mad and speaking out against the real problems in the ghetto? Where’s the message about the senseless killings of our youth? The corrupt cops and politicians can do their dirt in the hood and no one would know because most of the ‘hardcore, OG’ rappers are too scared to speak up about that. It’s easier and more profitable to brag about killing your own. We can’t even blame The Man anymore. Most of the crap rap that is put out today is from independent artists that have their own labels or are on local street labels. We’ve been trained long enough by the powers that be to the point that we no longer need guidance on self degradation. We’re on auto pilot now.

I can only imagine what ‘music’ will sound like 10 years from now. Hopefully people will wake up and realize that there is more to life than what we are currently being presented, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen anytime soon. For now I can only do the best that I can and heavily filter the music that goes in my library. I’ll most likely be turning off the radio and digging deeper for musical gems. We all have to do our part and I need to define my role in all of this musical madness.

[\end rant]

#rap #music #craprap #HipHop #opinion