Hidden Dialogs Pt.1 Time to Win mixtape 11/17/08

Now I know there are very few people who remember this particular project of mine. This mixtape was the first project I ever put together where it involved professional studio recording. The theme "Time to Win" for the mixtape was fit for many reasons in that occasion. First, it was originally used as a way of saying, "time to do music alot more seriously" or "time to show the world what you can do". During that time I was heavy into Xbox live and specifically the Halo series. The majority of my time was dedicated towards school, music, and video games. During that time, I really didn't have too many people interested in the music I was doing so I would get discouraged easily and would work at the slower pace. At the same time, my longtime partner, Mic Jack was always there and was eager to release new material whenever we were able to record. Even though we would always be ready to record new tracks like we usually do, I always felt that there's was something missing. It could have been the originally at the time, lyrical content and/or delivery that was expressed wasn't matured enough. After we ended up finishing up the mixtape, oh course we were happy about the result because it was a first project we ever did in a studio. With every project, there was always good and bad feedback. Normally, we would get more good feedback then bad. Since this was our first professional piece of music, we received harder critics. Some individuals felt like the mixtape was rushed and not very planned out. Others felt that the delivery of the words were jumbled up and certain parts weren't mixed very well. While dealing with a 50/50 like or not like balance, I would take my aggressions constructively in video games. in May 2008, I met a person that was one of the leaders of a gaming community which had about 1000 members. After about 2 weeks, he was finally able to convince me to join the gaming community. At first I was just the typical member that posted on forum boards, play games with members and just chill really but as usual, the door of opportunity was knocking toward me; A leadership position. I was given a leadership position in the gaming community to watch and teach other member strategies about Halo 3. The more I was around them, it went from them being called members to being called friends and family. I would have to say to the person that influenced me to go through with it is a big thank you. If you haven't walked up to me with such a strong form of persistence and confidence, I would never have this feeling of being so appreciated. During those days, the person who recruited me, called "vegeta" found out that I was a rapper. He was first saying that he loved the music i was putting out and spread the word around the clan about my music. Throughout time, more and more gamers were interested with the previous work I just released. I can honestly say that, even though I had different motives for my music, these past moments inspired me to go for the impossible, the make an Album professionally.  

PWC and DCP

OK. Now alot of people ask me about the things I shout out on the track or the acronyms that I wear on my attire. Most of the time it's would be 2 quotes are DCP and PWC. Well I can let you know right now its more meaning then just words. In a sense its a way of life. Now to go in order, PWC is first. Now PWC is a group of individuals that I hung out with on Xbox live and eventually became a family of mine that's I can always count on being there for me. Although its only about 10-12 of us, it feels like i have a group of 1,000 behind me. I love em to death. PWC stands for Persona's With Chakra. This idea didn't originate from Naruto lol but it represents how we encourage one another with our positive and negative energy and spirit. You don't even know how much throughout time that I've doubted my own talent. I can honestly say that I'm blessed to have these individuals in my life. :) Now even though it has its own Acronym, I made my own version of that acronym to summarize my crew to apply to my lifestyle; Potential With Courage. Come up with that because my crew is extremely strong and as the leader I must be as well. Simply never be afraid of your own potential because its there for a reason. As for DCP, The acronym is already Disney College Program. Knowing me, I developed a meaning out of that as well. :) Well on August 18, 2010 I was in Anaheim, CA working for Disneyland. Throughout time I ended up meet the most amazing, funny, inspiring, and loving people I ever met in my entire life of living. I can personally say that I've never felt so happy in my lifetime. Had such a hard time in grade school and it was nice to meet friends that I would have for life. I even ended up meeting other musician to be able to create the first DCP graduation song. you can hear it on my newest mixtape; Artificial Intelligence http://reign.bandcamp.com/album/artificial-intelligence track 10. Featuring the talents in DCP interns I've met. After the program was over, it was really hard to say goodbye so we keep in touch by facebook like every 30 seconds lol. But after that, I was inspired and motivated to a whole new level to show what i can do which caused me to finish these newest mixtape. DCP in this sense is Determination Creates Progress. Its self explanatory but the stronger my determination that farther i will go. Both these groups are the reason that I put everything into my music, even my problem, emotions, feelings and many more things to come. I love em all and will never forget them ever :)

My Life and Music

OK. So normally I'm not a person that would be considered a blogger but I will tell you a little background about myself and my passion for music. It all started when I was 14. My parents weren't really home often because they both worked a large amount of the time. Most of the time I was home alone and was very anti social. At school, I wasn't considered one of the cool kids, I was one of the kids that was teased everyday. I really didn't have too many friends so I was used to going home and being by myself all the time. As time went by, I saw a kid at my school that was really popular for his music and his name is very known right now "Mike Posner". When I heard about it around the school I thought that maybe that could be the thing I'm missing in my life. As I attempted to make beats back then I had a low self esteem so I was easily discouraged and sort quit and came back time to time for about 2 years. When people around school heard I was trying to do music, they simply made fun of me even more. I felt like the dream i was developing was just a fantasy and I would never be good enough. By the time I reach my junior year, I decided i would try rapping out and once again I was picked on for it. After that, I really wanted to give up until the beginning of my senior year when I met my first rap partner "Mic Jack". I can truthfully say that my dreams of doing something with music began to show when I team up with him. He was like the Brother from another mother. We didn't have the best equipment, we had Cu base LE and an USB mic from a PS2 video game lol. We named our Group True Soldiers and that's where it true fully began. 3 years later, we decided for the first time to head to a studio to record. After that, I decided that we would make our first official mixtape called "Time to Win". After we finished that, It was around the time I was attending college and time was really hard to get together. Plus my partner had different focuses and new things he wanted to experience so I decided to work on my first solo project; an album called Distortion; which is a story based album where I expressed my life story. But with the inspiration to be a better rapper and producer, I decided to make my own beats, Not swear, not talk about the typical things rap influences, and tie it together like a story. I ended up finding a studio around my area I decided to record with and still today; Reagan Hamilton. Even though it was a hard task to make an album, expenses was another factor that came into play. I had to make alot of sacrifices to pursue this dream of mine. After I was finally completed with the album, alot of people seem to really like it alot except me. As an artist, I felt that there was so much more I could of done. They say that you are your own worst critic, I was 10x that lol. After the album, I decided to work on my Mixtape which is Part 2 to my album ; Artificial Intelligence. Along that process I once again got discouraged by the people that I was around at my college. Just when I was going to stop I got accepted into the Disney College Program is Anaheim, CA. Doing that internship, clearly changed my life. I was surrounded with some many people that were kind and were considered life long friends. It inspired me so much that I ended up making a Graduation song for the Disney College program and was the first to ever do it by collab with other musicians. After i came back home in MI, I had a new motivation and finished Artificial Intelligence. I could honestly say that i was really proud of it. Then recently I released my 2 creative beat tapes... Baby Steps (samples) and Artificial Mind (originals)  which i worked night and day on for 2-3 years straight. Now that I've been through alot of changes in my life, I feel I can finally be proud of the music I create...