This is an inspired blog from Twitter of course where else, the creatives industry, especially within the black community, is lacking dramatically if you think otherwise you’re clearly deluded, but if you have an opinion then have it all for freedom of speech and all of that, I have seen some companies thrive and do well, they have the followers, content and most importantly the consistency, but some of you in this industry are bitter.
The creatives going to be included:
THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
YOUTUBERS
(ART)ISTS
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS
FASHION DESIGNERS
MODELS
I’ve been scrolling through Twitter as I do and, just found tweets that correlated heavily and so many people are woke on this situation but what can be done on something that is literally spiralling out of control at a rapid rate.
The creative sector currently employs 3 million people, the number of jobs in creative arts and design rose by 5 % in 2016 and the growth of the sector is expected to carry on rising.
THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
“The scene is so fake.” @Jamzldnkmt
The music scene has so much potential within the realm of possibilities, however, there are too many people who don’t know what category they belong to at all, it is starting to look like a travesty.
Grime is getting mixed up with drill, singers are hopping into the drill scene, Afrobeats and Bashment are clashing continuously, some people won’t collaborate at all, the females within the scene it’s too small, it’s a shambles.
We have people coming on the scene taking the mick, like the You tuber Vanbanter, some people really have gassed him up for what reason, you’re giving attention to people that don’t need it yet there’s a rapper/singer out there looking for the same attention but their not getting it.
We as a collective need to stop shouting ‘We need to get this person signed’ please we cannot come like that American guy @IamAkademiks he’s made the likes of ‘boonk’ famous, he entertains all these dumb people for retweets and likes, this stupidness cannot come and land itself in the UK.
The way some people overhype their friends in this industry is ludicrous, especially when the song is wham. Some music that gets put out it’s like some of you are deaf, the beats are first class until some of you spit over the beat or even sing and it just ruins the whole aura.
I’ve personally been sent songs to review and I honestly enjoy doing it and giving my opinion and feedback where needed, please if your looking for your song to be reviewed get someone out of your circle to do so, because lies can really take shit music far, also when advice is given don’t get defensive because the music industry is far from a walk in the park, it can be a dream come true or a nightmare about to begin.
” The lack of professionalism shown by UK musicians is genuinely baffling” @Or_cle
“From when some of them can’t take criticism, no way they are going to be professional” @StevenChap
Personally I think the UK creatives industry is lacking professionalism, you’ll make a comment about someone’s music and the way they’ll come for you like nobody’s business it is insane, the music is for the people, doesn’t matter what audience but your projecting towards us, so if your music is shit we should be able to project our voices without constant issues, I’ve made comments about people’s music and even though I can’t sing/ rap whatever, I can filter between worthy and unworthy music, I’ve seen musicians personally search for people’s @’s on Twitter to look for comments, honestly it’s too sad, either do your thing and accept the good and bad comments and improve or move from the scene and give someone else a chance, there’s enough space for everyone in the scene but it’s how you get noticed.
Ramz- Barking, I admit from the start I didn’t like this song only because to me the lyrics actually made no logical sense to me ” I might link my ting from Barking 7am in the morning” can’t lie that bar spun me into another dimension, who’s linking who at 7am? Not even PM a whole AM, but I started hearing this tune daily, then hourly I added it to one of my YouTube playlists and that was it for me, it’s so catchy like ‘Addison Lee’ or ‘Man’s not hot’ I feel like it’s very similar to Addison Lee well the video scene, but either than that Ramz is taking the UK charts by storm, the highest charting rap in the UK in 3 years, if that’s not an accomplishment then I don’t know what is, the hate I’ve seen Ramz receive though it’s actually horrible fair enough your allowed to have your opinion but you lot are deep, every bit of hate he’s received he’s bounced back he even apologised to someone because they said his song was shit, he continued to say that he can only do better and improve.
Ramz is only 20, from South London honestly you people always want people from ends to blow but you won’t even give this artist a time of day, South London is on the map again, you people hating did the exact same thing with Not3s & Michael Dapaah honestly give it a rest.
Stop dividing our race and support your black brothers & sisters.
“ Real Recognise Real”
On the week beginning 08/01/18 I decided to collect some information, here are my results:
Personally, I think it’s lacking both, some people are really professional and some people really need a tutorial on how to come correct.
Creativity is lacking a lot, we have people spitting bars about hood life when they live a good quiet life.
Recently there was a dispute on the TL between Dimzy and his self because I’m pretty sure Michael Dapaah didn’t do anything purposely wrong.
For anyone that didn’t quite understand what was going on here is what I got out of it so ‘Man’s not hot’ went viral over 177 million hits on YouTube, Mr Dapaah has flown around the world performing his new hit, now where it got sticky is 67 said that Mr Dapaah should’ve given them more exposure as it was their beat which went with their song ‘Let’s lurk’ which was released a year ago and received 12 million hits, but Twitter being Twitter people clearly knew where the beat originally came from and it was 86, not being funny but I didn’t see 86 complain, I would’ve bought royalties to the beat, but Michael Dapaah really grabbed his opportunity and I’m mad happy for him.
“No losses just lessons” ~ @23Unofficial
Within the black community with females I’m not seeing a lot in the industry, I really think it’s harder for black females to break out, always have to look a certain way, certain sound, honestly it’s easier for males.
There are so many black females that deserve exposure, so I’ll list a few of my favourites:
@RebeccaWinter_x ‘Dance with me’
@Nallie_SheTrap ‘Which gyal man’
@Bleuautumn New Single ‘Good girl’ behind the scenes footage
21/01/18 I conducted more questions on Twitter, I swear I was meant to ask five questions but honestly I saw people answering them so I was like to myself “Yo this is fun lets just carry it on”forty-nine questions later I rounded it up and told everyone I was tired, I was not tired but honestly I got some spectacular results, I’ll list a few of the questions down below along with responses.
Who’s your favourite artist and why?
Who’s the hardest drill artist out there?
K-Trap, Headie One was definitely winning.
Skengdo X AM & Loski, these three were very close behind.
Who’s the hardest rapper out there?
Which artists do you think will blow this year? (UK)
What are the negatives & positives of the music industry?
Is drill a bad influence on the younger generation?
As I know a few of you won’t have twitter here’s a link to the full question thread ‘Creatives Thread’
Take a look around you, different views on the same topic shared daily.
I listen to Soundcloud a lot, it’s the point when I get bored of Apple Music, and the artists from Soundcloud that I want on Apple Music just aren’t there, so I have to swap! However Soundcloud has the mixes I want to hear or just different rappers or singers, I’ve discovered a lot of people through there and there’s honestly so many people that deserve exposure or a few minutes out of someone’s day to help them blow, so I’ll list a few of mine.
Teks Sinatra – Letter to my unborn
Ratlin- More money, more problems
Tolu mogul- We came a long way
Tex- Cold love & Cold love (part 2)
Renne- Addicted Ft Lottie Jade
I’m going to post all my Soundcloud playlists below, please some of them don’t make sense though, I just add music to any list but one day, not this year I’ll rearrange them.
++Destination Unkwn++
Album Produced by @LWRNCE1 & @PRVXMITI
Sound Engineered, mixed & mastered by @LWRNCE1
Featuring: @MAGSDBF @KINGKYLA @MULANROUGE
Released 22/01/18
If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stream/ buy this album, available on all platforms
Links will be below:
#PEN2CHALLENGE
Looking for a new collaboration?
Have a listen to both & please follow their socials.
YOUTUBERS
YouTubers are literally the second worst in my category, I’ve seen that some of them literally converse with the same people, videos with the same people and when a new person jumps on the scene and asks for simple advice a majority of them are just shut down, everyone wants to ‘win’ so badly but won’t help each other prosper, this behaviour is very foul. Personally, I’ve wanted to join YouTube for time but how the scene is at the moment I might just have to take a seat until people start to come correct, the only people that can change it is us, not just creatives but everyone.
We’ve had the likes of Oloni ( Award-winning sex & relationships blogger) try and help pave the way for new YouTubers, on the 17/01/18 @Oloni created a thread prompting new YouTubers to share their links, the tweet itself gained over 2000+ replies and it helped a lot of people gain subscribers.
Personally, I thought this was an incredible idea, so many people got involved even people I followed who I never knew had YouTube tagged themselves in and shared.
“This really isn’t my market but 2018 black British YouTubers, please start collaborating more with each other, not this cliquey thing, bring each other up and support each other and get your coins, lastly be genuine about it too, don’t try work with someone to get your clout up.” @Ghostbanks ( Sauce Ctrl)
This is so correct to me, Ghost Banks is a creative himself and even sees the industry itself for what it really is, this whole clique nonsense needs to get cancelled, redirected and teleported back to 2017.
From @Ghostbanks, @ProdbyMk & @shotbykaiz they’ve all come together to create: “Wave Like Me”
Here’s a small snippet, Full video on YouTube
Video Vixens you’re up next, you vixens can stay in the YouTube category because some of you are either front and centre of just in the background making some sort of movement, some of you vixens make me laugh, the music videos I’ve watched and seen some of these girls in with no purpose to be there just make me scream.
The one music video I’ve watched for me to gather an opinion is ‘Sun goes down’ by Belly Squad X Section Boyz if you haven’t then please click the link and watch the girls, to me the girls look like they actually don’t want to be there at all, they’re all bopping to different beats, it’s actually a mess, however I have nothing against these girls clearly because I don’t know them, however the song is levels.
21/01/18 Regarding my results on video vixens with the ‘Sun goes down’ visuals I found two people who had more of the same opinion as me.
What music video do you think has the most useless video vixens?
(ART)ISTS
The art I’ve seen on my timeline over the past few years I’m honestly amazed, I could never draw as a kid let alone in art class at school, my stickmen looked like they were on crack! Being an artist is a real talent, the work, hours, reaching standards, getting noticed looks like a lot of work but must be so rewarding sharing your work with the world.
There are only a five people that consistently catch my eye, so if I was you check them out:
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
One word…
Talented.
I can’t even draw on paint, I have no patience and to do this I know you have to have a lot of that.
There are only two graphic designers I actually really like or pay attention too and will defiantly be using their services in the coming months.
Joe (@Unfamiliarjoe) Owner of (www.thefilterplug.com)
The one thing filter plug is clearly known for is snapchat filters, you’re probably thinking but you can get filters from snapchat.
If you are thinking that yes you’re correct but I’m sorry if you buy your filters from snapchat you’re very mad.
First of all snapchat filters from snapchat are boring and basic looking, I tested out the service for myself and let me tell you never again, I compared areas and the pricing goes up depending on your geographical area, imagine paying more for a service because you live in London or less because you live in the countryside, sorry but I don’t think so.
The same snapchat that wanted to charge us for certain filters or that one where it would cost 79p for a replay a REPLAY, come say I miss my a snap by accident and I have to pay to see it again, I certainly cannot come and kill myself, your probably thinking but 79p isn’t a lot of money, the way I miss people’s snaps by skipping them when they get sent to me I’d be spending £10 in one sitting.
Why buy Geo – filters from snap chat when you can go to ( The filter plug) get one specially made for any occasion and they’re all unique.
Want a Snapchat filter? Want a logo? Business Card? The filter plug is your new go-to!
(@Whybleach) Owner of (dbwb.co.uk)
Design your own package? You now know where to go.
SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS
19/01/18 Today I read a news article regarding Elle Darby a social media influencer, she focuses mostly on fitness, lifestyle, travel & beauty. Elle Darby sent an email to a luxury hotel in Dublin requesting a 5 night free stay in exchange for exposure, the hotel turned around and declined this request, the hotel owner Paul Stenson released the email and rubbed out the influencers name but it wasn’t done properly, you could slyly see her second name, once people recognised who it was Elle received a substantial amount of backlash from the public.
Images from ( @d_alesheaMUA)
My personal opinion of all of this, I’m livid and the news article also gave me brain damage for a few hours, this girl is absolutely insane, so Elle Darby thought because she is a social media influencer she could get a free stay in exchange for some poxy exposure, the hotel is luxury and she offered exposure, some of you social media influencers think your the dog’s bollocks, couple thousand followers and requesting free shit, look at the economy and you want to be asking for FREE stuff.
Half of you buy your followers for what reason I will never work out, saying you have a business through your following count but baby please who are you promoting too if half of them are fake/ghost?
The entitlement you ‘social media influencers’ think your worthy of is ridiculous, don’t forget you’re normal people as well, wouldn’t catch me emailing brands asking for collaborations it would have to be the other way round.
Moving on slightly some of you ‘social media influencers’ who ask for people to pay for promotions, fair enough everyone makes’s their money in various ways, but it’s you lot that someone will pay you and then you say you’ll promote and you don’t do it are you sick? And please some of you aren’t slick people can defiantly tell the difference between paid and genuine promotion, paid you lot don’t put in any effort, this singing/rapping venture whatever some people are into, is actually their grind and for it not to be promoted properly while it’s been paid for, I’d really fight someone.
I’ve seen someone with 300k followers promote a song and it got a marga 20 likes & 30 retweets, I was so confused.
I first joined Twitter seven years ago, honestly back in the day I had every social media platform there was, I wanted to be in with the times and didn’t want to be left behind, at the start I did not understand twitter at all, likes, retweets, DM ( I didn’t know what ‘DM’ stood for, I left twitter and came back in 2012 when Twitter was in it’s prime, honestly all my tweets from when I first joined are still around, I tweeted the stupidest shit ever, however I learnt for myself how to work twitter, I gained followers and continued that growth, I really learnt what a simple retweet could do I was so astonished, I’ve made friendships, business contacts all through just socialising, honestly I would’ve never started a blog if my followers weren’t up but all my followers are authentic, and if you deem yourself to be a ‘social media influencer’ yours should be too can’t be selling dreams.
FASHION DESIGNERS
Hello…hi, this tweet honestly made me scream with laughter because it’s so true, some of you slap your logo on a cheap product and sell it for triple the price, I’m sorry I’ll happily shop from the white man, people are honestly creating logo’s and slapping them here, there and everywhere they want to call themselves a fashion designer/graphic designer, sorry but it doesn’t work like that at all, it’s actually very cheeky.
I’ve seen people personally work consistently on a craft day in day out, fashion designers are perfectionists, imagine throwing a design away because there’s something just not right but you can’t figure out what.
Perfect your craft and graft effortlessly till you know it’s something you want to see someone styling out.
I’ve only seen a few black clothing lines I’d buy off and they are:
MODELS
“Beautiful” “Hold that pose” “Work the camera” “Ok now I want you to take off your clothes” “Sorry but you’re not tall enough for the runway, maybe commercial” “You’re too big to model, slim down maybe” “This is your career” “Do this shoot, then you can have fun”
Any of these sayings sound familiar to you?
I’ve been to a few shoots myself, some of them were fun, some not so much, the not so fun ones where you had to do outfit changes in minutes, going to and from hair and makeup, back on the set, honestly it’s tiring I’ve had to give it a rest.
The modelling industry, one of the hardest industries to get into, having to look a certain way, specific heights, you have to have the LOOK! I don’t know what the ‘look’ is but I guess agencies know what they are looking for and what the new in thing is!
Personally from looking at the modelling industry a few years ago to now, it’s come a long way, plus size models did not exist, it was a size 4-8 or nothing, I found that a bit absurd I really use to think who could fit into a size 4, well it’s me I used to be able to, let me repeat USED to, not anymore now I’m a mere size 6-8, I used to hate being so small everyday “Your anorexic” more time it was just a high metabolism that I had/have no control over, but a few years later I’m overly thankful as I can eat whatever I want without worrying about gaining weight.
In addition to the modelling industry it’s improving dramatically I never thought I would see change, but its happening the first plus-sized model was Emme Aronson, Emme is a body positive supermodel that has paved the way for the woman to know that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
Nevertheless, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I want to dedicate this part of my blog to Harry Uzoka.
Our black brother is no longer with us and he never deserved what happened to him.
“Jehovah Jireh, there is none like you. Everyday we want to praise & worship your glorious name. Today we weep at the death of our friends, family, or loved ones, but blessed father, we can rest assured knowing we can find comfort and peace within you, in the midst of our tears & our grief. Lord, we shout your praises, because you have turned our mourning into dancing.”
“Peace go with you.
God’s quiet within the noise
God’s hope within the uncertainty
God’s rest with the toil
God’s presence within your soul
Peace go with you”
May his soul rest in perfect peace.
There is a lot of platforms that are for sure getting the scene seen more, and they’re honestly my favourites pages, which are:
Make sure to follow them up!
At long last I have come to the end of writing out this blog, I’ve really enjoyed writing this, hopefully, I have opened a few eyes on what is really going on in the creatives industry too many people get thrown under the bus and honestly it needs to stop.
People need to learn to come together and support each other I’ve screamed about support in previous blogs and this will be the last one (I’m probably lying, don’t mind me) I’ll be mentioning it in, it’s ridiculous what I’ve been seeing lately, support your brothers and sisters we are all striving for the top and to be successful.
Please continue to support each other there is enough space at the top for everyone, there’s no reason to knock someone’s grind, opinions are allowed but be careful how you go about it.
Real rap needs to come back onto the scene. Real hood storytellers none of this fake shit.
We need to see more versatility, flows, melodies, lyricism, we need deliverance.
We need experimental music, so far we have Afro- trap, Afro beats, we need more, being different is what the scene needs. UK music will and shall always prosper.
We need fresh faces. We need to give fresh talent a chance.
Anyone in the creatives section needs a strong team behind them binding them together.
We can’t do this shit on our own, support is vital.
But it will only prosper if we allow it too, there’s too much negativity in each and every sector, it can only move forward if we accept it.
I actually enjoyed doing the question thread, first off I really needed those responses and I loved seeing everyone come together with their opinions everything was so positive as in there was no arguments started there was minor debates and just agreements, that’s what I like to see.
I’ve tried to feature as many people as I could within this blog, all @’s our included I’m not a person where I’ll drop names out unlike some.
“2018, we are out here chasing dreams, aspire to inspire before we expire” ~Teeks
Thank you to everyone who continues to support I really appreciate it.
See you in my next one.
Teeks X
TEEKS THE BLOGGER 