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Leny Ayala Instructor: Malcolm Campbell English 1103 Spam Artist: Hip Hop Artists Using the Web to Reach Stardom

When you hear the word Hip Hop usually artists; such as, Tupac, Jay- Z, NAS and Biggie Smalls are mentioned. What makes these rappers so GREAT is that they brought their own unique style to the hip hop world and gave the audience something NEW, unlike rappers in todays society. Before the web was introduced to the world, musicians had to find other means to get their music heard. Therefore, rappers were trying everything they could to get recognition, by trying to get their music aired on the radio or even by passing out demos to random people on the streets. All of these things were barriers between the musicians and a much-desired audience that these pioneers of hip-hop had to overcome just to get their music listened to. Due to the web, anyone who proclaims himself a rapper can post their videos on websites, such as, YouTube or Worldstarhiphop, for people to view. The web is now home to hundreds of up and coming artist self- promoting their music. This is advantageous to the artists trying to gain recognition, but not as convenient for the genre of Hip Hop as a whole. Most of the artist posting their music online lack originality and are still able to gain some type of recognition, positive or negative. Artists gaining a bad reputation online for their lack of creativity are diminishing the overall quality of hip hop and are tarnishing the genre, as oppose to what it used to be. People want to hear something unique; now all that is found online is rappers trying to mirror the rappers who became famous by using the web. Creativity is the key to success in the music industry and
Sloane Houston 5/7/12 6:14 PM
Comment: Talk more about how it use to be in comparison to how it is now to better show and prove your point.

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 5:55 PM

Comment: Sentence doesnt make sense I feel like you should say When you hear the word Hip-Hop artist such as, Tupac, Jay-Z, NAS and Biggie Smalls are who you think of.

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 5:56 PM

Comment: Who says there great?

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 5:57 PM

Comment: What Kind of Style did they bring.. maybe explain what you mean right here

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 6:08 PM

Comment: Why do you say that? What do todays rappers bring to the rap game

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 6:03 PM

Comment: All of what things?

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 6:05 PM

Comment: This sentence sounds awkward to me

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 6:06 PM

Comment: Right here you should explain what those two things are.

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 6:10 PM

Comment: Who are

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 6:12 PM

Comment: Reread this part

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without that rappers will never have their own identification, especially in the hip hop community. Does the website YouTube.com ring a bell? If you are not familiar with this website, you must have been living under a rock for the past few years. YouTube is a website where people can post their videos online for the public to view; over the past few years an abundance of artist have gained fame through utilizing YouTube. YouTube has over a hundred million subscribers from all over the world; these users are able to view videos from other users from opposite sides of the globe in just one click. Musicians have really used YouTube to their advantage in promoting their music. In an academic journal written by, Christopher Cayari, he explores the effect that YouTube has had on Music. Within the journal Cayari writes: To some, YouTube is seen as a website full of amateurs wasting their time posting poorly made videos, while others see YouTube as their chance at stardom, their most understanding teacher, or their meeting place with closest friends. YouTube does allow for all these things to happen. It serves as a virtual coffee house where people can share ideas and gather with likeminded and contrasting individuals to discuss ideas, art, and music. (Cayari) The majority of the artist who post videos on YouTube are up and coming and are searching for a stable fan base. YouTube has given the ability to musicians to create their own music videos and post them as soon as they want to. On the other hand, before YouTube artist wanted their music videos played on T.V. stations, such as, M.T.V., but now YouTube has more viewers than most T.V. stations so it seems almost pointless to go through that process. Every artist now thinks they can be the next Soulja Boy, therefore, they attempt to mimic his style and end up being uncreative. Repetition is a huge problem with musicians using YouTube; every rapper you
Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:13 PM
Comment: When you use these kinds of quotes you have to ask yourself if its necessary

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 6:16 PM

Comment: At the end of this paragraph I am a little confused on what your topic is on is it on the way rappers use to be? How they are now? Or the web artist? You hit on a lot of topics in this first paragraph. You may want to look at separating this into a couple different paragraphs.

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 6:17 PM

Comment: Okay, I see you talk about it here

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:08 PM

Comment: Like?

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:11 PM

Comment: How?

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:17 PM

Comment: Phrase this sentence Youtube has given musician the ability to create their own music videos and post them as soon as they want to.

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:18 PM

Comment:

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:19 PM

Comment: Reread this sentence it sounds a little awkward. You may have to rephrase it because of the way it sounds.

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:20 PM

Comment: The reader may not know who this is so you have to explain

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hear on YouTube seems similar and contains no variation in lyrical substance. It is extremely difficult to find artist on YouTube that are unique because they are all searching for the same thing, fame. They are all try to achieve fame in the same exact ways, by creating generic music that contains lyrics that cover money, women and expensive assets. It was okay for the first few rappers to exploit their wealth, but it is beginning to become very repetitive and YouTube is exposing this problem. Maybe, if more creative rappers began utilizing YouTube, it would not be such a problem, but when everyone is mimicking each other an art form begins to fall apart. Hiphop is supposed to be an art form that should vary from artist to artist, not a recreation of others works and that is what this generation of hip-hop artist believe will bring them fame. Soulja Boy is the epitome of an up and coming rapper, utilizing YouTube to their advantage. He began posting videos on Youtube of him dancing and rapping at the age of 16. Immediately, he started gaining recognition from the public, his style of rapping was very unorthodox, but he brought something unique for people to listen and view. From his Superman dance to his signature Soulja Boy sunglasses; he gave people something entertaining and creative to look at (Crosley). According to a Billboard article written by, Hilary Crosley, A year ago, "I was just making songs in my house and putting them online," says Soulja Boy, who was raised by his mother in Atlanta but moved in with his father in Batesville, Miss., during eighth grade (Crosley). As previously stated, Soulja Boy is the epitome of an up and coming rapper who utilized YouTube to his advantage. He did not even imagine the impact that these songs would have in the music community and the opportunities that he created for other up and coming artist in the future. Just to go over some of the achievements that Soulja Boys videos on YouTube have lead him to, in a Billboard article written by, Hilary Crosley, she writes the following about Soulja Boy:
Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:21 PM
Comment:

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:22 PM

Comment: But arent artist who are not on youtube looking for the same thing

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:24 PM

Comment: I feel like there is a lot of opinion in here with out facts you need to find facts that back up your opinion to make your argument strong

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:27 PM

Comment: You may need to bring this paragraph up to where you first mentioned souljs boy so the reader isnt left wondering about how he his.

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 7:28 PM

Comment: He brought something unique isnt that what you said earlier that the older rappers did so does he not qualify because he did it through Youtube

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Sloane Houston 5/7/12 5:52 PM
Comment: The works cited page I think is suppose to be a separate document

Works Cited Cayari, Christopher. The YouTube Effect: How YouTube has created new ways to consume, create and consume music. International Journal of Education & Arts 12.4 (2011): 1-28 Crosley, Hillary. "Ready For Duty." Billboard 119.38 (2007): 70-71. Music Index. Web. 9 Apr. 2012. MALONEY, DEVON. "180 Million Views And Runnin'." Billboard 123.41 (2011): 14-17. Music Index. Web. 9 Apr. 2012.

Sloane Houston 5/7/12 5:52 PM

Comment: Why is his name in a caps?