Before the Music Dies - Documentary

If you have an hour and a half to spare, I highly recommend this.

"This documentary explores the reason why so few companies currently control the music played on the radio and for sale at retail stores, and whether corporations really have the power to silence musical innovation."

Here are a just few things you will encounter watching this documentary:

- How Clear Channel was born
- Erykah Badu's easy-to-follow-steps to super-stardom for girls
- Why Wynton Marsalis' music students are full of crap
- Why Sunday should be important to you if you're a musician
- Some great musicians you've probably never heard of

This is good stuff right here. Enjoy.

Nyle - Emcee

Nyle (formerly NyelLee) is a New York City emcee (read: more than a rapper) originally from Philadelphia. Nyle. ... Nyle? ... attended (not sure if he still attends) NYU? ... And studied abroad in Ghana? Wait, an educated rapper? Rappers and college? How the hell does that work? What will they think of next?


I won't say too much, because I want to introduce you to him the way I was, via the video below. Here, Nyle along with 37,000 other people take Lil Wayne's, "Let the Beat Build," and breathe enough life for 10 cats into it.

Beware; this is art. Good thing schools are cutting budgets on programs that help kids do stuff like this. Last thing we need in this country is creative genius. Shout out to the best music video director on Earth/budding film director/editor of half of what you see on TV for putting me on to this.

*steps off soapbox, lets the beat build*

Nyle "Let The Beat Build" from Nyle on Vimeo.

Normally, I wouldn't list all these credits, but they deserve it. The following was pulled from the video's Vimeo page.

This video was filmed in one take, with audio being recorded simultaneously with the film. The video features Nyle (www.nyleraps.com) and is produced by Last Pictures (www.last-pictures.com) and 194 Recordings (www.myspace.com/194recordings)


Director- Chadd Harbold
Producers- Golda McCormick, Nyle Emerson, Chadd Harbold
Director of Photography- Adam Newport-Berra
Steady-Cam Operator- David George Ellis
Assistant Camera- Andy Kromphardt
Gaffer- Greg Golko
Key Grip / Transportation Captain- Bobby Olsen
Assistant Director- Keith Haskel
Art Director- Heidi Goldstein
Editor- Bryan Gaynor
Post-Production Supervisor-Dan Berk
Music Producers & Engineers- Katie Buchanan & Alan Gordon
Music Pre-Production-Brian Lee
Mixed by Mykael Alexander
Mastered by Nyle Emerson
Assistants- Chase Culpon, Jacob Blumberg, Dana Sedgwick
Colorist- Vladamir Kucherov

TEACHER
Phil Swetz

VOCALISTS
Danni Lee
Elle Varner

BAND
Isaac Teel (drums)
Mitch Friedman (Bass)
Daniel Mensch (Piano)

HORNS
Al Barrentine
Kevin Birk
Julian Taylor

STRINGS
Molly Fletcher (violin)
Cameron Orr (violin)
Alexandra Jones (cello)
Kristine Kruta (cello)
Liz Hanley (violin)
Hana Segerstrom (violin)
Patti Kilroy (violin)

OTHER
Marlene Desiree (Dancer)
Josh Pikulin (Guitar)
Katie Buchanan (Banjo)

HOMEBOY CHOIR
Plateno Man
Syanide
Maverick
Odudu Akpaeti

SPECIAL THANKS
Priska Neely

Nyle's Web site.

Nyle on MySpace.

And just for kicks, here's the original.

Paul Pre - DJ/Producer

Just download this, and thank me later.

For the record, before I begin, Paul Pre puts out a mix about every month. ... I'm still listening to the Oktober mix from last year. Paul Pre is a Hip Hop/Down-tempo/Electronica DJ/Poducer from Kiel, Germany. Do yourself a favor, and check him out.


Here are a couple of quick snippets from from his Pandasession mix series. Frankly, I don't think they're a fair representation of what Paul brings to the table. So, I highly suggest you check out his Web site or his MySpace page.





I'm more familiar with Paul as a DJ, and I think he has a great ear for setting a soulful vibe than anyone with functioning ears can get lost in. I don't really want to talk much. You really should just go, and scroll down to the gray box on the right with the squiggly lines.