NOTORIOUS

Not only do I plan to introduce you to new artists and producers, but I also plan to delve into the discourse of their underlying cultural relevancy, as well as I plan to draw meaning from and make conclusions about the creative musical collaborations we will encounter. I am largely influenced by the content and discourse of another blog which deals with similar subject matter. Dr. Todd Boyd is a professor at USC, and is the self proclaimed Notorious PHD. He is the authority on African American culture as it pertains to hip-hop, sports, and pop culture over the course of the last century. His blog includes deeply insightful "meditations on politics, culture, sports and the game of life from a uniquely notorious perspective." Not only are his writings extremely profound, but also are they very informal and humorous. He fuses wisdom with an extremely relaxed tone and rhetorical style that is often characterized by slang and profanity. However, Boyd maintains both his credibility and authority by means of such unique presentation of his thoughts.


Boyd's blog is not confined to one single subject, but rather maintains an omniscient frame of reference which is larger than the scope of most blogs I have encountered, which is a great part of the intrigue. He posts most frequently when he is teaching, and encourages his students to follow his blog as part of his classes. When some controversial event takes place in pop-culture that has any relevance with regards to sports, politics, etc., it is likely that you will hear from Boyd. His viewpoint is so sharp and so distinct that he is able to put in perspective issues which may not have previously held so much weight in your thoughts. In this way, by reading his blog, you can better understand the culture by which you are surrounded.


The posts are always fairly rich and detailed, and he often links them to youtube videos etc. One of my favorites includes his criticism of the African American film and television producer, Tyler Perry. Boyd's audience is widely eclectic, ranging from students to professors to fans of his work and career. I will attempt to incorporate elements of Boyd's relaxed analytical rhetoric into my blogging, as well as I will try to take on a similarly insightful viewpoint regarding my topics. My blog will differ in that it will be much more specific, however, the conclusions and theories that I intend to create will be of much larger declaration and cultural relevancy.

HELLO WORLD

As of the late 20th century, popular music has gradually and consistently become more integrated. Its roots have fused beneath the surface, and never before has it become engaged in a creative discussion of such depth and cultural relevancy. The lines which had so accurately marked genre boundaries have become obscured and in some cases abandoned altogether. This blog will discuss the instances of such inter-generic mingling and its overall cultural and historical significance.

I will argue that above all else, musical collaboration provides for the most imaginative results which transcend all aspects of its existence (from production to performance). I plan to bring to you knowledge and understanding of popular music which you may or may not already be aware of. Here, genre only functions to influence, not to categorize or classify. Rarely does collective understanding of popular music venture beyond consumption; I hope to expand upon that consumption and raise it to the level of willing absorption and immersion. This blog is not solely for music lovers, nor is it specifically designed to introduce you to new artists; it functions to broaden your interests, and further open your eyes (and ears) so that this absorption mentioned previously may go hand in hand with consumption.

Of course, this requires a certain willingness to participate, and a certain inherent interest in music, however, for whatever you prefer to listen to, there is always a common denominator to be found. You’d be surprised as to how far back you can trace the influences of even a single song or how far a given artist becomes spread across several genres.

Technological advancements, social and political climate changes and historical landmarks have accelerated the growth and development of music in all directions, from the dominion of superstardom to the underground and the indie. The current state of popular music allows all forms to exist at once, with a much less concentrated attention. The immediate accessibility of digital music puts the consumer in charge. The radio no longer determines what you listen to, you have the power to choose; and the better your understanding of music, the better your choices will become. The contemporary music listener functions independently with regards to the radio; in a sense, you are the radio. You may freely broadcast your own signal, your own message and voice more easily than ever before; and such activity has become relatively commonplace.

Over the course of the next few months, in no particular order, I will begin to discuss the ideas mentioned above, which will be most likely organized by specifically referenced albums. I will advise you not to attempt to make any sort of chronological sense of the postings, because there will be none, but that is part of the presentation. I don’t want you to be able to expect something, and neither will I. While I do tend to impose my musical taste, I mean to respectfully, whereas most of these posts will be about artists, issues and genres which appeal to me. The postings will primarily be concerned with hip-hop, rock, pop, jazz, and folk, but there very well may be a greater variety.

I am a musician myself and I would encourage other musicians to seek out this blog. I feel that there is a certain connection to be made between musicians, and this blog is surely a means for that. I plan to apply my experience as a producer, writer and performer in order to provide a more comprehensive approach to the issues at hand.