Meneja wa kitengo cha Mziki na Ratiba kutoka CLOUDS FM, Ndugu OTHMAN SUKA jana alitembelea studio ya JC-RECORDS, kusikiliza kazi za mziki zifanyikazo JC-RECORDS baada ya kuvutiwa na kazi ya Msanii Mulla Jr (Inayoitwa “Without You”) aliyeshiriki Fiesta Super Nyota, kazi hiyo bado haijatambulishwa rasmi na imefanyika katika studio zetu za JC-RECORDS. Mdau OTHMAN SUKA alipata wasaa pia wakutupa ushauri ili kuboresha kazi zaidi na pia kukabiliana na changamoto za soko la mziki. Asante kaka kwa kututembelea.

The opposite tactic is that you attack a bigger fish. Attack a big rapper. Don’t go overboard though. Think of a rapper with a reasonable difference in popularity. When you attack a more popular rapper, you have to remember that you have the advantage. There is so much information on that guy and you’re basically invisible. Nobody knows anything about you. So, before writing a general diss song, dig deep and research your enemy. What has he been though, where are his weak spots, where can you attack. After you get enough information, hit him ruthlessly. The main idea is to really affect him personally, get him emotional. Once you get a person emotional, doesn’t matter of his status, he’s likely going to do something stupid, like respond to you. If he does that, pop a bottle of champagne, because you managed to get some more fans. Another tactic is to stir the water, means attack a lot of people in a single song. Remember how 50 Cent wrote “How to Rob”, dissing almost everybody popular in the rap game. What happened? Almost everybody responded, including Jigga, fat Joe, Wizzy etc. What happens when all of those responses get released? A lot of attention was directed at 50 cent, which gained him power, removing him from the circle of indifference. Currently, you can see the same tactic, being used by Kendrick Lamar and his “Control” verse, where he disses a handful of rappers. What is happening right now? There is talk about that verse, views count are jumping, album sales are increasing, responses are being released. That’s the main idea. However, in order to pull this tactic off, you’d need a high number of listeners already. You have to be someone to diss a lot of people. Otherwise, you’ll end up looking like the next hater and nobody will care about your words, rendering your tactic useless.

Diss songs are fundamental part of the hip hop culture and thanks to their ground breaking nature, disses are driving innovation and attention for rapping as a whole. Have you ever thought of writing a diss song against somebody? Do you know what are you doing though? Following your momentary emotions is a losing strategy. Do you know the rules? The first thing you need to figure out for yourself is why are you writing the diss song? What do you want to accomplish with it? Don’t just write it because you got angry with someone. This will usually bring worse than good. You might want to Get some popularity on the back of others, Destroy the credibility of a certain rapper, Conquer the fan base and work opportunities of your enemy. Some of you might think that a diss song has all of those three components, but you have to decide the main objective on which you’ll be focusing on, since it will be the thing, that will dictate your pick of a strategy .If you find yourself in a position of being attacked, you first have to assess the situation. Who is attacking you, why and what does it all mean. If you’re attacked by a smaller rapper (popularity wise), you need to be careful not to get emotional from his words. The most probable reason for his attack is that he wants a piece of the pie. He wants to get noticed by your fans. That’s how it works: He attacks…you hear it….you attack….your fan base hears it….your fan base checks out who you’re beefing with. If they like him, some will stay. When you get attacked by a smaller rapper, just think of Jigga and how he deals with it. If you diss Jigga and he responds, you can take it as a “welcome to the game” sign. You can take it as an “I see you” sign. It gives you recognition and that’s priceless in the hip hop industry. So be careful not to help someone, by trying to harm or embarrass them. This article will continue……check it out

Have you ever used a mind map to help you write your rap song lyrics? Do you know what a mind map is? This is a new idea, I will tell you what this map is and also show you how you can use this to help you write your rap songs. A mind map is actually an exercise that will help you come up with all sorts of ideas. These ideas can be used to write papers, books, rap hip hop lyrics or even to draw pictures. A lot of times, we think that we can come up with ideas if we just sit and think. Honestly, this isn't necessarily a bad idea. You may be able to come up with some great ideas. However, mind map is the best way to come up with some ideas. A mind map is a diagram that will help you to come up with your thoughts and ideas that you put on paper. Begin with writing down your main theme. Let's try some examples. My main theme is nature. I'll write that down in the center of the paper. Then I just start to jot down ideas that are related to the central theme. For example, I will put down the following words. Trees, flowers, birds, wind, rain, hail, thunder, lightning, that is just a start. My next step is to write more words that will underneath each of those words. For example I would write underneath trees, words like skin look sweet like brown-flower, I roar like thunder while I rain on you etc. As you can see, we have already come up with a lot of ideas. So the next time, you need some fresh ideas for your rap song lyrics use a mind map to come up with them.

Distance is your friend when it comes to microphone control. The distance from a singer’s mouth to the microphone can affect three things; Volume, Strength, and Accent. Singers who tend to get very close to the microphone can lose enunciation and make their voices sound warped. A well-trained singer doesn’t need to have her lips and teeth on the microphone in order to be heard. Learning how to project with the microphone just a few inches from the mouth can really help a singer learn to project and to help her sound engineer. Another technique that assists in maintaining tone is to move the microphone away when holding a note that is intended to fade out. Don’t attempt to lower the volume and intensity of the note at the same distance from the microphone. Hit the note strong. Hold the note strong, and move away. That ensures the same tonality of the note from start to finish. It will clash less with the supporting instruments, and require fewer takes when recording.

At the opposite end of the recording process, we have mastering, and it is here that we have to face the thorny question of loudness. Over the years, various strategies have been employed to try to make mixes sound loud when played next to another artist’s work, usually involving some pretty assertive compression and limiting. When used carefully, compression and limiting can help knit the elements of a mix together, making it sound more polished, but sadly commercial record studio/companies often pressure mastering engineers to push the subjective loudness of mixes to such an extent that real damage is done. The practical outcome of which is that the consumer finds the mixes harsh and fatiguing to listen to. Why such a quest for loudness? Radio play is part of the equation, naturally you want your record to sound just as loud and appealing as all the other commercial releases. However, radio stations usually add some fairly hard multi-band compression of their own, so that an over-limited mix can end up sounding truly horrible. The use of MP3 players to play songs in a random order, rather than as albums has increased the pressure to keep mixes loud. Experienced mastering engineers using the very best equipment currently struggle to make their mixes sound listenable at the loudness levels record companies and artists demand, so it comes as no surprise that those trying to make their home recordings match the level of commercial releases using only basic plug-ins often spoil their music in the mastering. Maybe it’s time to say ‘enough is enough’ and do what’s best for the song is not simply what makes it loudest. JC-RECORDS have been recognized as the best studio for producing amazingly great sound.

Vibrant mood at JC-RECORDS with Gospel and Inspirational Hip-Hop Artists and Producers from UGANDA (Thank you Mac-Elvis, see you in heaven brother, the place we it call home).

Msanii wa lebo wa JC-RECORDS MULLAH Jr. amefanikiwa kupata nafasi ya uwakilishi wa mkoa wa Dar-es-salaam katika shindano la Fiesta Super Nyota. Kwa niaba ya JC-RECORDS tunampa pongezi kwa kudhihirisha uwezo na kipaji alichonacho. Mullah Jr. yuko pia katika maandalizi ya album yake na bila shaka atakuwa mmoja wa wasanii watakaofanya show katika jukwaa la Fiesta Jumamosi hii. Pongezi hizi zinaenda sambamba na pongezi kwa studio zilizotolewa na wadau wa mziki waliokuwepo sunciro siku ya jumapili, ambao walifurahishwa na kutiwa moyo baada ya kusikia Studio na lebo ya JC-RECORDS ina takribani miezi mitatu tu toka ianze kufanya kazi rasmi. Tunatazamia mafanikio makubwa zaidi kwa wasanii walio chini ya lebo ya JC-RECORDS.

This is not goodbye, for it is not the end. I will see you again when my journey will end. So no more crying, for I know you have made it home with Jesus in heaven, right where you belong. I thank God for your life, I thank God for your time at JC-RECORDS, I thank God for blessing us with your powerful worshiping and praising voice and what can I say about spicy touches on them beats. See you home MAC-ELVIS “The Church Boy”, Pumzika Kwa Amani Kaka Mpaka Tutakapokutana Tena.

HIP-HOP (Conscious and Inspirational) JC-RECORDS’ Label Artist ELANDRE with his fellows Artists from UGANDA, who showed up to support the preparation of ELANDRE’S DEBUT ALBUM at JC-RECORDS. From far left, ELANDRE (Hip Hop Artist), LYLL MYKK (Hip Hop Artist), MURO (Hip Hop Artist), NoHELL (Producer and Singer), and MAC ELVIS (Producer and Singer).

Families need to recreate together. We have to be available, and we have to value having time together. As we spend time together in both spontaneous and planned activities, we will find our family relationships growing together. Spend time with your children and spouse, it builds a bond that can last a lifetime. Take home point, For a far too soon our CHILDREN will be grown and creating traditions of their own, be available for them, and have fun with them. Here is Jayden-Christ a.k.a JC and his Mom (Amanda) having fun together.

JC-RECORDS will soon present Hip Hop-Opera as the new movement in music. This is a fusion of Hip Hop and Opera to create a fresh new sound the world has never heard.

Drum Master and Bass Guitarist AMANI, Vocalist MR. WILLYZ, Another Drum master and Pianist King JOFF, and Producer Orme-splash working on AIRTEL MONEY advert"HAKATWI MTU REMIX" at JC-RECORDS. It was so fun having different musical skills collide in one special occasion. There is always a magic moment of creativity when many skills collides, but you can be sure there will be no short of heated debate, and differences. One of our best crazy fun moment at JC-RECORDS.

EMMANUEL, Guitarist and Pianist working with Producer Orme-splash on RUTH's Gospel Album Project.

I'm listening to NISAMEHE @Hulkshare:

New track from ELANDRE, JC-RECORDS' Label Artist, Song Title- NISAMEHE, Artist ELANDRE ft TAZ, Producer- TAZ, Studio- Goemi Records(Zambia) and JC-RECORDS(Tanzania).

JC-RECORDS have a great pleasure to introduce the one of our own, HIP HOP legend in the making, the dope MCEE, Conscious HIP HOP artist, the BEST Gospel HIP HOP artist…..ELANDRE.

Renowned Dj, founder of legendary Kwafujo Djz, Aboubakar Sadiq at JC-RECORDS studio. Tulipata nafasi ya kubadilishana mawazo na Dj mkongwe na bora kabisa wa redio kutoka Radio one Aboubakar Sadiq, kuzungumzia changamoto mbalimbali za soko la mziki wa Tanzania na soko la mziki wa kimataifa. Tulifarijika kusikia kutoka kwake lakini tulichukua pia ushauri wake katika kukabiliana na changamoto za soko la mziki wa sasa na shughuli za studio kwa ujumla. Pichani Aboubakar Sadiq akiwa amembeba Jayden-Christ a.k.a JC, JC ndiyo mmliliki wa studio ya JC-RECORDS.

Think about the sound you want to achieve. Nobody likes to classify their sound, but it is important to have reference points when trying to explain the tone you’re looking for. Listen through your favorite CDs and find elements that are similar to the sound you’re trying to achieve. Being able to say “I really like the drum sound on song x” or “I want a vocal reverb like song y” is a huge help for the recording engineer. It’s not about copying the sound of another artist, it’s about establishing a starting point for your creative vision.

In my opinion, the #1 way to save time and produce the best recording is to come into the studio with your songs prepared. You don’t want to waste your studio time working out arrangements, you want to spend it tracking and mixing. Sure, those moments of artistic inspiration happen when you want to try a different harmony or rearrange a chorus, but the bulk to your arrangements should be complete. Remember to establish the tempo for each song. Nobody wants to record the rhythm section tracks and realize it’s the wrong tempo once the vocalist cuts their lead. When working out arrangements remember that recording in a studio allows you to do things you can’t do live; things like harmonies, doubled parts, or extra instruments. Take the time to work these ideas out before stepping in the studio and you’ll save money and end up with a better recording. Tomorrow I will continue with other tips, keep following our Inspirational Recording Studio and Music Career Blog.

Do you have what it takes to succeed in the music business? Have you wondered whether or not to pursue your dreams and become a recording artist or group? Well, we here at JC-RECORDS live, eat, breath, and sleep music…it is our world and our lives. That is why it is so gratifying to see so many young, talented artists, what we refer to as Emerging Artists, make it in the music business. That is why we offer the Consultation Plus 6o. The Consultation Plus 60 gives a solo artist or group, in any genre the opportunity to come in, meet with the staff, sit down for a professional consultation, take an hour to record, and then receive an honest evaluation from our producer and vocalist and who know the music business. “JC-RECORDS is the only recording studio in town where supportive environment meets your needs”

Writing great songs are not as difficult as most people think. Use this easy to follow guide do learn how to write great music. What makes good music? It's a very subjective question because there are so many different kinds of people in the world and as many different types of music. But it isn't necessary to have a degree in Music Theory to write a satisfying song. You only need to have some inspiration and a strong feeling you want to share with others. Outstanding songs have several components that make them superior and memorable. The lyrics should be filled with truth, sometimes hard truths and sometimes joyful truths. To accomplish truth in lyrics it's important for the artist to zero in on a certain feeling: joy, despair, love, sadness or even lust. However it is equally important to keep the central idea of the song simple. Great songs convey very straightforward ideas or emotions in a fresh way. The second factor of a good song is something more elusive. It's called the “hook”. The only way to learn about the “hook” is to locate it in other songs. A hook is usually a catch phrase of words that sum up a commonly recognized emotion, set to a rhythm for impact.