What Bizz Did This Weekend: Showcase @ Circa

Got to meet Maestro, finally. Circa was the scene on Friday and Bishop, Era and Jonny Rox were on the bill. The vibe was cool and performances were eventful. The sound off the jump when Rox hit the stage was distracting. I wanted to listen to the man but all I could focus on was the levels. But fuzzy turned to in-focus and the double vision in my auditory cortex became clear. Kim Davis continued to shine. Rox looked more than solid on stage.

Era hit the audience in the head with a lot of bars. He really warms up into a powerful performance. I think his strength is his charisma in terms of body language and rythm. Whereas someone like Bishop is strong on the call to actions. Speaking of Bishop, he had Kin Smuv on stage with him at points of his performance. It started solo with "Got The Juice" and worked well into other joints like "It's Fo Twenty." But Bishop lost his voice near the end but finished up gracefully. It was just that intense, that even Bishop couldn't comment.

The Fine Print: 50 Cent Runs For Office

By: Jonathon “Bizz” Brown for Cityonmyback.com

There’s a lot that seems obvious about 50 Cent’s marketing techniques. He perpetuates conflict to generate interest and diversifies his brand like no one else. But The Fine Print of 50’s power is his ability to stay on message. Politicians learn the same technique during media training and use it in interviews. After analyzing a candidate’s strengths, his/her base priorities and deducing relevant subject matter, the politician steers his/her answers towards these premeditated talking points to best communicate his/her platform. Go watch a political interview and count how many times the question that’s asked is actually answered directly. Doesn’t always happen. Why? Because it is in a person’s interest to reiterate their own position on a few key points to create a clear persona and platform for voters to judge.

Now on to 50. When asked about Before I Self Destruct, he continously goes back to the same points.

• He’s returning to aggressive content.
• He’s contrasting the lighthearted hip hop around right now (thus positioning himself as a symbol you can buy into to oppose that trend).
• While others rap about the life they aspire to have, he raps about the painful pieces of life.
• He continuously draws comparisons to Get Rich Or Die Trying.
• He plays on the idea of a celebrity cycle in which the public builds you up to watch you fall later.

Now to continue to illustrate this point. What does 50 talk about when he’s talking down Rick Ross?

• He’s fraudalent
• He doesn’t take care of his family
• He doesn’t plan things out as well as 50

And when commenting on Jay-z recent?

• Jay-z has morphed into a “safe” persona (which is why Lil Mama jumped on stage)
• Jay-z feels like he’s above the competition of the culture
• Jay-z’ high brow approach is the binary to 50’s more refreshing ground floor riskiness

In each of his interviews – whether it be about his CD, defamating someone’s character, his new book – he hones in on a few key talking points and then circles those points in different ways at different times to convince you of his point of view. 50’s effective because he stays focused.

1. Beef – Rick Ross – Main Message – Rick Ross is a cop & a fraud
2. Beef – Ja Rule – Main Message – Ja Rule is a soft kid trying to act tough, I’m the real deal
3. Beef – Jay-z – Main Message – Jay-z is detached from hip hop culture
4. Beef – Game – Main Message – He’s below me, I helped create him
5. Beef – Buck – Main Message – He’s unstable, I had to get rid of him
6. Book – 50th Law – Main Message – Fear is nothing to 50 cent because of his experiences
7. CD – Get Rich Or Die Trying – Main Message – Shot 9 times, I’m as raw and controversial as they come.
8. CD – The Massacre – I’m still #1, you have no reason to doubt my creative abilities
9. CD – Curtis – I’m diversifying my sound and making event records.
10. CD – Before I Self Destruct – Return to aggressive content missing in hip hop.

And that my friends, is what the most convincing people/campaigns do. It’s not something 50 pioneered, or even something only he employs (Jay-z for instance was very on message about creating a “new classic” with BP3), but it is something he’s perfected. He not only states his point, he circles it long enough so you could state it for him. He rationalizes with his audience instead of telling them. Why do you think you never hear 50 say “f*ck Ja Rule,” “f*ck Jay-z,” “f*ck The Game?” Because that’s an inefficient method of garnering support. Imagine Obama abandoning his reasoning when explaining why he would be a better president. Nope, not going to happen. Instead, he stays on his talking points and in turn his followers are the ones more prone to saying “f*ck John McCain.”

That’s The Fine Print

Itlivesinthenorth.com - Spliffstar speaks about Hip Hop Ain't Dead It Lives In The North

For all content to do with the It Lives In The North Movement click HERE

By the way, Spliffstar is hilarious

Tour Stories

247HH Wild Tour Story: Method Man and Ghostface from MCM on Vimeo.

Tour stories are the best

My Train of Thought: Sick, BLAH

I don't get sick often. And typically my kind are the worst when we actually do get sick because we're not conditioned for it. We whine and fidget and resist the concept that we actually have to take it easy.

It's interesting because that's the same reaction I hear from many people regarding the H1N1 shot. They don't want it. It's not safe. It's not necessary. This sucks. But the thing is, when your sick you don't have that many options. You can watch other people be healthy and do nothing, or you can "try a ting" and take a shot - pun intended.

I think its important to point out that I myself am not completely sure about the H1N1 shot. But I don't really have to be, yet. Nobody is rushing a healthy, single, male in his mid twenties to the front of clinic lines anytime soon. I'll be one of the last groups to have access to the shot, which allows me some time to sit back and watch.

Speaking of watching, V for Vendetta was on TV last week and the timing was eerie. A movie portraying a government who creates a virus and a cure at the same time, infects their own population to reign power of them with the cure that will save them. It's a very powerful story and pushed me into the conspiracy theory mindset some people are stuck in concerning H1N1, if only for a few minutes.

Do you think our government is really setting us up for failure with this vaccination? Could this virus/vaccination be a new way of controlling us? Are they already controlling us?! Are they making type this right now?! The government is good and knows bes--NO! IT'S TAKING ME OVER! THE GOVERNMENT IS TYPING THIS NOT M--knows best and will take care of you if you just listen and do what they say. Please make sure you go get your vaccination because it is --- STOP. Ok I'm back. Phew, that was scary for a minute. The government must have activated the chip in my brain to control my thoughts and motor skills to force me to assist their rhetoric! They haven't been this hands on since they knocked over the twin towers!

It's ridiculous. It's not a conspiracy and if it is what are you going to do? Sit there, be sick and do nothing or "try a ting" government recommended or not?

Just My Train of Thought, Jump On Or Go The Other Way - At Least It's A Choice.

"That Party Last Night Was Awfully Crazy, That's Why I Blogged It"

"Every time I come to one of your parties I immediately feel like I need to write about it," I said to Sergio Senatore, one half of Kleen Media and host to "Nobody In The Club Got Swagga Like Us", Saturdays at This is London in downtown Toronto.

Saturday July 18th saw This Is London full of young Toronto socialites partying like they were all on vacation at once. At 11:45 the place held a healthy crowd, and by 12:45 - all bets were off. The energy was palpable as the collective temperature rose and all insecurities and reservations evaporated into the Toronto sky. The energy had complete strangers laughing and slapping hands, toasting and dancing, sweating and smiling, it was electric.
As I bounced around the club it seemed like everyone felt the same way. DJ Riz of Crooklyn Clan showed Russell Peters a thing or two on the turntables. Sergio poured straight vodka down the throats of every beautiful woman within arms reach. Guys grabbed girls, girls grabbed guys, girls grabbed girls and everybody danced until they hit empty.

I've been to my share of parties. I know my share of promoters. I've heard my share of music. But last night you had to be there to get it. An upscale clientele without the bougie attitude. A diverse array of music without isolation of audiences. Beautiful outfits without fear of getting them dirty! Jobs, problems, finances, garbage strike and Sunday morning's obligations were lost in space and pixy dust rules applied - 'just think happy thoughts.'
The type of party that tempts you to do it every weekend.
Shouts to Brohawk for Photos

Isn't It Awkward? - Bizz & Mon Like Deez on Champ Radio