How the True Producer Treats His Customer

How the True Producer Treats His Customer
by: Jonathan Daniel

One thing you should consider when buying beats from a producer is whether they have the ability to produce more beats that cater to your style within the one beat you interested in. I know some producers who have that one fire R&B track, but couldn't produce another one of the same caliber if their life depended on it. This is a quality that all producers should have. This is a must if you are in search for a producer that you want to work with on an ongoing basis.

Another thing to look for is the quality of the music. And a lot of times, you will find producers on websites selling beats and providing you only with a 128 bit rate encoded MP3. While this may be satisfactory for amateur artists, a true producer makes it his responsibility to be available to provide artists with their preferred track in various formats. For instance, some artists would rather have their track snail mailed to them on a CD or DVD containing 24-bit wave files of each instrument track. A producer should always be prepared to fulfill this request. I make it my business to do this even for non-exclusive tracks. I'm not saying you have to do this every time, but if the artist requests it, you want to give great customer service which will in turn give you repeat business.

Exceptional customer service is what will set the professionals apart from mediocre producers trying to make a quick buck online. They always check back with their customers to make sure that their CD or DVD arrived safely and that no problems have occurred. They are also willing to adjust instruments that artists feel are too loud or low, or if the artist requests a better mix all together. Even if the beat is non-exclusive, the artist will be comfortable with referring these producers to their next potential customer because of the service they were given.

At least half of the time, an artist would like to know if exclusive beats are available. Even though all of the beats on my website are nonexclusive, I make it known that exclusive services are available. This conversation may arise after an artist purchases one of a producer's nonexclusive beats. They should always be ready to make a beat just like the nonexclusive beat they sold. This happens to me often. An artist buys and nonexclusive beat and makes a demo that they is satisfied with, but decides he wants to take it further. They then ask me how to obtain exclusive rights for the beat. In this situation I convinced them to let me produce a beat just like the nonexclusive one they have purchased. It's an easy fix for producers providing exclusive and nonexclusive beats.

So the keys to finding an exceptional music producer who is versatile and Knows how to reproduce the magic over and over again and in all styles, having a quality mix and providing it to the customer in various formats, providing exceptional customer service, and being able to assist customers who wish to have exclusive rights to their works.

What's Your Style?

I read an article quite some time ago around the time when Missy Elliott was talkin' about how she was "Supa Dupa Fly" She made the comment that she didn't watch a lot of TV and that she seldom listened to the radio. This was because she didn't want other peoples music to interfere with her creativity.

While I believe it is important to know what people like and what music is being embraced, Rappers and singers do need to isolate themselves to a certain extent to find out what type of style they are truly supposed to project. When I hear a lot of music that sounds repetitive and eventually turn it off, I think to myself "That formula is not working for them."

I come to the conclusion that a lot of rappers and singers don't know their style. The main reason for a lot of this is that most artists automatically lock themselves into a certain style of rap based on their geographical location.

In my opinion, you should strive to be unique anyway. Sure you live in the south and the south is making music that is selling, but if you sound better arranging your lyrics like an east coast rapper, that's just the way your gift was given to you. I took Missy's advice way back when I heard it. Today, I feel like I can't be put in a box. I'm in the south, but while most would expect crunk beats, my music is kind of mellowed out and R&B-ish, and a little unorthodox too. I've heard MC's who would actually sound better over my style of beats ask for more crunk down south beats. I can give them exactly what they want, but then they try to rap over those beats with a flow that needs more of a storytelling instrumental. Most of the rappers who have this problem are quite gifted. They just need to turn the radio off and study themselves for a minute.

I've heard rappers try to spit deep lyrics with metaphors over beats that are only fit for booty shaking or club fighting. I seldom see this type of music get far. They want a hype club song, but they're really saying something that has substance and people don't grasp that over beats they would rather be shakin' it fast to. You also have to ask yourself "Do I even look like that style of rapper I'm attempting to be?" I think if these MC's find their true style and delivery and put it with the right beats, they have a better chance of getting where they desire to be.

My Start with Christian Rap Music

My Start with Christian Rap Music

By Jonathan Daniel

Rap music is what I indulged in as a child. It is the music genre that played the biggest part in shaping me into the artist I am today. It was popular among my two sisters and their peers. As a child, watching them dance to it in their bedroom sparked my interest even more.

Unaware that Christian rap had been around since the late 70's, I thought I was the first to do it. I didn't attach the word Christian to rap to define what I was doing because I just considered myself to be a rapper rapping about Being the new person I had become, I utilized lyrics that expressed the message of my faith, and was anxious to introduce this new form of music the world . However, I walked to a retail store one day and discovered a Gospel Gangstas Cassette tape and realized that I was only becoming a part of something that was already in motion.

From the jump, many Christian churches have dismissed this form of music ministry. Since there is a clear difference from the traditional gospel music, a great number of churches put up resistance to it. Even I have experienced people getting up and walking out of the building when I rapped in a church service. As time has moved along though, Christian rap has gained some acceptance from churches and also has been making it's way to the mainstream.

Christian Rap is similar in ways to Traditional Christian Music, but I strongly feel that christian rap lyrics take a more evangelistic approach. Most Christian Rap artists use this music to tell their testimony in a compelling way to provoke change in their peers and youth. Christian rap or hip-hop music can be likened to an art that is a form of expression. Over the years, this art has been accepted by several communities that has adopted rap- themed songs in their places of worship.

Currently some Christian Rap artists have gained recognition and had some mainstream success . Christian rap or hip-hop music is an effective way of reaching out and touching those who share cultural similarities with these artists.

I feel that believing I invented the art form lets me know that I do it because I am called to, not just because I heard about it somewhere. I love what I do, and I feel that God does too.

You can hear Music From Jonathan Daniel at: http://www.myspace.com/jdeyebrows