To Hate or congratulate . . . that is the question

[gullyjewelz]

Road to fame
Having rap video on BET is start for teen

By Laura McFarland, Rocky Mount Telegram

Thursday, December 06, 2007

. . . . While his peers may be dreaming of fame as rappers, Johnte' Davis is on his way there. His 'Red Monkey Jeans' video premiered Tuesday night on '106 and Park' on BET.

When the hosts of the music video show "106 and Park" announced that Davis' video was about to air, the room went wild, said his dad John Davis.

. . . .

For the most part, Davis, a senior at Northern Nash High School, seems to be taking in stride a situation that might overwhelm many 17-year-olds. Eight months earlier, when he filmed the music video about a line of popular blue jeans that can cost hundreds of dollars and sent it to BET, he had no idea the response it would receive.

"Red Monkey" first drew attention in a weekly Monday video review meeting, said Kelly Griffin, senior director of music programming at BET. It is rare to find a video that has such an immediate impact on an entire room – much less one by an unknown, underage artist – but this one did, he said.

"We put it in the machine, and there was just something about the style, the charismatic way this video was shot. You could tell it was done on a budget, but it was done very creatively. The song itself was a winner," Griffin said.

The video has been played on "Rap City" for a week, but it premiered as the "New Joint," or hot upcoming video, on "106 and Park" before going into regular rotation, Griffin said.

The video was shot by Chicago-based V. Labar Productions in April at different locations around Rocky Mount, John Davis said. Just a few weeks after that, the network was flying Johnte' and his family to New York for meetings.


- - -


Though success seems to have happened overnight for the young artist, he has actually been rapping since he was 12. With his parents' encouragement, he started writing his own songs and performing them at schools, businesses and as the occasional opening act at clubs.

He looks younger than his age and is a self-confessed clown, but he takes a serious stance on his musical content, due in large part to the way his parents have raised him, Johnte' Davis said. In his songs, he does not use curse words or derogatory words about others, especially women.

"The message I want to send is that you can be a clean rapper and still be successful. ... I have a mom and a sister, and I would feel bad calling women that and then have to look them in the face," Johnte' Davis said.

Instead he has songs such as "Rep Your City, Rep Your State," which encourages people to take pride in their hometowns, and "Get Your Granny On," based on seeing his grandmother in a wheelchair running away from a snake in the front yard. She laughs every time she hears the song.

. . .
http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/ma...12/06/BET.html
if u want to read the entire article . . .

NOW ITS TIME TO BUILD . . . HOW CAN THE FAM ROUND HERE GIT THIS TYPE OF THING CRACKIN!!?

[bknot1]

I never heard of the Song or the Artist..
damn I guess I need to listen to the radio and videos sometime..

[Fyre]

Its easy and I aint hatin on dude but the key to success right now is making some BS song about some material stuff thats goin be gone tomorrow.... you see it all over the place.....

I haven't heard the song but just by the topic I got an idea of what its going to sound like....

Its cool the the games just a cycle always has been and sooner or latter the talents goin come back to hip hop..... BUT I SWEAR IF I HEAR ANOTHER BATHING APE, RED MONKEY, BAPE, AIR FORCE 1's, 24" RIM, DIAMONDS IN MY DAMN CHAIN........ IM A GO......... ahhh fuck it.....

[Fieva]

That's the thing...

I hate to say it but bubble gum bullshit is what's getting industry airplay right now. You can go against the grain all you want...and trust me...I DO, but there's been so many one hit wonders and kids out trying to make hits and getting airplay that rap is sugarcoated. IMO I think ever since 9/11 the game started to change. You can do all the underground shit you want, but if you don't adapt to the state that the game is at now, it's not likely to happen for you.

I do however give props where they're due...right here in this forum.

First, I'll throw props to Change. He does his thing, his way. He gets results and appeal (not to mention respect) for what he does. Not to mention his production skills are on that level.

Second goes to Wargasms (and the whole Slept on Fam). Same thing applies. Not to mention that they work as a well polished team. Everyone knows their strengths and weaknesses and what they have to do to make tracks. Where the hell he at anyway?

Third, Red Kross. Simply put, he'll rap about what he wants to when he wants to, and still keep you listening for what'll come out next. I respect that. Only thing is dude stays so busy in the land of 9 to 5 that it's hard to hustle like he should (I identify this with myself as well). Once again, where the hell he at anyway?

Fourth, Killah Trakz. Dude will spit on anything that is going on in his world at the moment and make it easy to relate. A good storyteller, something that you don't see too much of these days. Also, he's always putting out tracks as soon as events happen. And it doesn't help that it keeps your head noddin.

Number 5? Gully Jewelz. Dude is probably the most versatile cat that I've seen. I think his style and voice can fit on most tracks. Also, dude is hustlin and grindin' to do whatever the hell he can to get his foot in the door. You gotta respect that.

This is just off the dome, so if you didn't get named don't take offense. I respect what everyone does, even if I criticize it or give suggestions. I would have put myself as number 6 but I didn't want to be biased

[gullyjewelz]

AWW SHUX, IM TEARY EYED!! LOL

FO REAL THOUGH ITS GREAT TO BE MENTIONED ITS SUCH AN HONOR!!! THANK YOU ALL!!!

LOL

NOW ON THE RIZZY REAL - I DONT SEE NUTTIN WRONG WIT BUBBLEGUM RAP - IF U GOT SKILLS TO DO REAL SHIT AS WELL . .. IM RESPECTIN DUDE FOR HIS HUSSLE . . . BUT TO SOME EXTENT IT AINT EVEN "MUCH" OF A HUSSLE THE WAY THE ARTICLE PUTS IT . ..
HE HUSSLED TO GIT HIS VERSES, AND SONG RECORDED N WHAT NOT (BASIC)
HE HUSSLED TO GET THAT VIDEO DONE (SIGNIFICANT)
HE HUSSLED TO GET HIS BOSS TO LET HIM OFF WORK SO HE COULD GO HOME N WATCH IT BEIN PREMIERED . . (BASIC)
HE HUSSLED HIS ASS UP TO NYC WHEN BET CALLED HIM N SAID THEY WERE GOING TO PLAY IT . . . (SOMEWHAT SIGNIFICANT)
HE HUSSLED TO GET THAT VIDEO INTO THE MAIL TO BET . . . (BASIC - UNLESS THE MAILING ADDRESS IS TOO DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN)

ALL OF US COULD DO most OF THOSE HUSSLES . .. ITS A QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT BET IS GONNA CALL . . .

SHEIT, I SAY WE DO A SONG COLLABO AND HUSSLE UP TO GET A VIDEO DONE N SEND IT IN TO BET . . .
ESP. WHEN THERES SOME OF US THAT ARE RELATIVELY CLOSE ENOUGH WHERE WE COULD PROBABLY FIND ONE VIDEO COMPANY TO SHOOT THE VIDEO - EVEN IN DIF. AREAS . . .

BUT IM JUST SPECULATIN

THE ARTICLE SAID THAT DUDE USED A CHICAGO, ILLINOIS BASED VIDEO COMPANY (IF I READ CORRECTLY) AND DUDE IS IN NORTH CAROLINA . . . NOW THATS GRINDIN!! GOOD VIDEOS NEVER HAVE TO BE SUPER-EXPENSIVE - THEY HAVE TO BE DONE TO "GOOD" SONGS . . . AND THEY HAVE TO BE EAZY ON THE EYES . . (NOT SO MUCH AS EYE CANDY SHOTS) BUT WITH REGARD TO QUALITY VIDEO FOOTAGE . . .

[Call Me Cell]

"SHEIT, I SAY WE DO A SONG COLLABO AND HUSSLE UP TO GET A VIDEO"

i bet with all the knowledge and connects that ya'll have on this board, something like this would actually work. just think of how many songs ya'll have done that you consider to be better than " the bubble gum rap"!! SHEIT, like Gully says lol. It's mos. def. worth a try

[gullyjewelz]

now thats how u make a splazh -- videoes for the hussle magic comp projects . . .

[Fyre]

its whateva.... i aint get mentioned by fieva *tear* but yall kno i got 16's all day.... let me kno whats poppin

[gullyjewelz]

Oh Yea Fyre - U In There!!! U In There@!!! U C Homeboy's Video? Its Not A Hard Video To Do . . . Im Sure!!!

[Fyre]

yea i just seen that joint.... and its exactly what i expected.... I was hopin since it said he been rappen since 12 that he would have some skill........ but nope...... some shit different toilet..

[BALKI]

Originally Posted by Fyre

Its easy and I aint hatin on dude but the key to success right now is making some BS song about some material stuff thats goin be gone tomorrow.... you see it all over the place.....

I haven't heard the song but just by the topic I got an idea of what its going to sound like....

Its cool the the games just a cycle always has been and sooner or latter the talents goin come back to hip hop..... BUT I SWEAR IF I HEAR ANOTHER BATHING APE, RED MONKEY, BAPE, AIR FORCE 1's, 24" RIM, DIAMONDS IN MY DAMN CHAIN........ IM A GO......... ahhh fuck it.....

Couldn't of said it any better.

[Physical Ill]

Here's the video in case you didn't see it:
http://www.dailymotion.com/tag/johnt...ns-tunna_music

The way they describe him in the article make him sound like he had potential as a lyricist...and he most definitely is nothing new.

[rnb259]

im down to fam

[ethos]

That song & video isn't anything new. same old bullshit if you ask me.
His claim to fame is that he doesn't say "bitch" in songs. but he doesn't say anything worth listening to either.

[gullyjewelz]

thats y i said hate or congratulate - guess it just depends on each artist's goal - if artists with real skill made some bubblegum songs as the marketing ploy to get the right buzz on a project then places like BET mite pick up the video and promote it . . .

[rnb259]

i been doin that for a minute now, makin catchy ass hooks and puttin down lyrics that mean somethin but to each his own i guess lol

[rnb259]

i just got done seeing the video and hearin the song...im definitely hatin on shorty. of all the young rappers that are out there even with catchy hooks why the hell would someone sign this one lol im sorry but even i see not even one hit wonder status for this kid...

STEP YO RAP GAME UP!!!

[gullyjewelz]

i dont know, i just cant shake the feeling of . . . being "impressed" that the kid is doin it . . . i diddnt think he got signed, though. i was under the impression that he did the song and video on his own . . . [which is where the majority of my impressed sentiment originate from . ..

[Fyre]

I guess im kinda like Gully on this one...... im not so "impressed" by the fact that he doing it, but I respect his hustle tho... I kno money runs everything so shit If my paper was right id could have a video 2..... it aint that hard..... but I dont think BET, MTV, or nobody else would give me the airplay wit out a major label backin me, cause they would kno im not sellin my soul to sell records .....

[gullyjewelz]

This is part of what "got" me on this dude, this article, etc. . .
""Red Monkey" first drew attention in a weekly Monday video review meeting, said Kelly Griffin, senior director of music programming at BET . . . . "We put it in the machine, and there was just something about the style, the charismatic way this video was shot. You could tell it was done on a budget, but it was done very creatively. The song itself was a winner," Griffin said."


I mean, BET is not in the business of determining what's skillful, but what is "watchable" for the general BET tv audience . . .

the writing is on teh walls, in Manson red!

[BALKI]

Originally Posted by Fyre

I guess im kinda like Gully on this one...... im not so "impressed" by the fact that he doing it, but I respect his hustle tho... I kno money runs everything so shit If my paper was right id could have a video 2..... it aint that hard..... but I dont think BET, MTV, or nobody else would give me the airplay wit out a major label backin me, cause they would kno im not sellin my soul to sell records .....

Man you'd be surprised on how many well kmown artists with money are putting out low budget videos. It's quick fast & easy and you don't have to worry about all the time it takes to do so and money to spend.


Fast,easy promotion.

[gullyjewelz]

Thats All Im Sayin - Just Seems Like An Unlocked Door - Waitin For 1 Of Us To Kick It Open N Git To The Next Level!!

[Sinistah]

puttin 2gether a nice low-budget video ain't that hard at all, what that really banks on in terms of being effective is the creative vision between the director and artist....

and trust me you don't need a truckload of money to be creative, i say ya'll go for it!!!!!


i know the type of shit i make ain't too mainstream-friendly, my idea of visuals to some of my songs would encite riot-gear, an Emergency Broadcast System disclaimer, and a conspiracy charge

[gullyjewelz]

lol - sinista - u trippin - i just got to find the rite song to do that to - (another reason i was askin pplz to give me feedback on the songs posted on http://www.myspace.com/breadwinnaz
the ones to perform = the ones to video record . . . any help wit dat part is still appreciated . . .

[Call Me Cell]

so i'm guessing the real question is..... do ya'll really want to do this?? and if so, should we focus on the "memory lane" track, or focus on this collabo effort??