Thursday, May 23, 2013

Jahah: "Happy" (Official Music Video)



Today I'm feeling really good! I have all my family with me from all over the U.S. I've waited for a day like this to come my way for a long time! I can't express the way I'm feeling...it's a great moment for me. That's all I can really say.

Because I'm feeling so good inside...I thought I'd release the video to my song "Happy"! This particular song will be on my upcoming project Nostalgia BLACK and it's one of my favorite songs that I've recorded. This song was written and produced by me and it's a honest emotion...it feels exactly the way I felt when I wrote it.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy what you hear and see! Spread love!

J

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Jahah x The Cast Interviews For My Video 1986



Not too long ago I released a project entitled Nostalgia RED. One of the songs on that project is 1986. When I finished the project...my team and I decided to shoot a video for the song and instead of featuring myself and the other two gentlemen rapping...we decided to cast some of the illest toddlers you ever met in your life!

Today I introduce you to Evan, Quinn, and Meron! The cast to my video 1986! You'll definitely enjoy what you're about to see...One love ladies!


Spread Love Ya'll!



Friday, May 17, 2013

Jahah - Doin' It (Street Sessions)



God is great! For the past week and some change I've had the flu and couldn't sing at all! My voice was gone and I had a serious phlegm and snot problem which prevented me from hitting my little high notes. My main fear during this time was that I would let my big bro Speech down by not being able to perform. I didn't want to disappoint anyone so I pushed myself all week to prepare for last night. I wasn't 100% but I managed to pull it off and not embarrass myselfll.

Earlier in the week I claimed and vowed to perform whether I had a voice or not. This is the first time (in all the years that I've been performing) that I've actually lost my voice before a upcoming show! I didn't know what to do so I had tons of green tea, echinacea, Ricola, and Thera Flu. Two days before the show I could hum...then a day before the show I could actually reach a little higher vocally. More importantly I stayed positive and didn't let the devil mess with my head...I was focused!

Because I couldn't rehearse prior to last night, Brandon (the guitar player) and myself got together an hour before I was scheduled to perform and rehearsed outside of the venue. What you will see in this particular video is Brandon and I going over the arrangement of "I'm Doing" which will be on my upcoming project Nostalgia BLACK.

We're not "Going All Out" here in the video but I do feel like Tony captured an honest moment when things are natural and authentic. That's what music should be about...nothing is perfect in it's truest form.

Have a good weekend ya'll!

Spread Love!

J

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Jahah at The Mix-Tape Mixer



Tomorrow night I will be at The Green Room for Speech's Mixtape mixer singing two songs from my upcoming project Nostalgia BLACK.

I'm sure this event will be advantageous for all artists, photographer's, videographer's, graphic artists, and make up artists who come out and not only see me perform but (more importantly) network with some of the major heads Speech invites out.

Actress Terri Vaugnn (Steve Harvey Show) has been present in the past and DJ Nabs (Kriss Kross) has spinned on the 1's and 2's as the featured DJ for the night.  Producer Khao (R. Kelly) has been a guest speaker at this event and make-up artist Kara Ramos (Maroon 5) and former NFL player Elton Patterson have also spoken.

My point is that you stand to meet anyone from Tacoma Perry (Fox 5 anchor) to Angelo Maldonaldo (print model) at this Mix-Tape mixer. All you need to do is show up with a positive energy, an open mind, and some business cards! It's that simple!

Alright! I think you all get where I'm coming from and I hope to see you there!

Spread Love!

J

Monday, May 13, 2013

Jahah x The Green Room (Speech: Arrested Development)





This Thursday I will be performing at The Green Room around 8:30PM. The night will consist of many different things that Speech (from Arrested Development) puts together every 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month. I've been to a few of these events myself and there really good for meeting creative and positive people in the entertainment industry.

Essentially this is a networking event for all walks of life. if you come with an open mind, you stand the chance to see/meet some influential people behind the scenes as well as some people you've seen on TV and/or videos and film.

If you're an inspiring artist, producer, photographer, videographer, or make up artist...come out to the this industry mixer and hand out some cards! Make your voice heard and meet some new people that may be able to help you. I hope to see you there!

Spread love!

J

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Jahah x A Early Documentary about Sampling



I don't really sample anymore because of  money issues that arise when you sample music from a artist(s) catalogue. These artist(s) have publisher's who will rape you for your publishing and leave you with zero dinero after all is said in done. At the end of the day it just doesn't make sense as a business man (or woman) to sample someone else's work unless you have the capitol to clear the sample out of the gate. However, If you're Jay-Z, clearing a sample shouldn't be as much of a issue and negotiating the publishing will more than likely not be as big of a headache because the Jay-Z brand speaks for itself. If Jay-Z samples The Spinner's...The Spinner's should be thanking Jay for making them relevant again.

The Beginning:

I first started producing music in the mid 90's. I was new to Atlanta and a aspiring rapper with dreams of making it big! I wanted to start making my own beats because I felt like other producer's were shorting me on the production end. I also felt like I had enough talent to make my own music without having to answer to some bum who thought he was God's gift to Hip-Hop and American culture. I swear most producer's I've worked with have huge ego's when their really not as great as they think they are. Most of these cats can't play any instruments and but walk around like their the black Mozarts of our contemporary times. It baffles me to this day...

Anyhow, I didn't know how to play any instruments during this time but I was hungry to learn. I also couldn't tell you anything about chord progession or what key a song was in. I had no idea what an octave was and measures or bars didn't mean a damn thing to me. I just knew what I liked and I wanted to win! I wanted to make music that made people feel good inside.

With that being said, I purchased my first production sequencer from Ensoniq called a ASR10. The ASR10 is a 8 bit sampler that gives you a little over 60 seconds to sample and about 512MB of RAM (memory). In today's world a ASR10 is not really powerful at all. It's actually a pre-historic instrument at this point. Kids today would look at a ASR10 like what the hell is the dinosaur doing the studio right now? Somebody please execute this son of a b***h!

Yeah, my ASR10 days are some of my funnest days because I was in the learning stages of production and trying to figure out my sound. Now-a-days I've developed my own sound and I know exactly who I am as a producer. I can now sit down at a piano (or keyboard) and play songs I know or that I've created. I now understand what chord progessions are as well as theory, octaves, and all the many different scales. I've transformed myself into a musician as opposed to just another cat that can sample a record and throw some drums on the top of it. 

I've grown as a human being and has a producer/singer songwriter but I sometime miss the innocents of making music. I often reflect on when I didn't know a damn thing about the music business and I remember how free I felt. I remember how much more fun I had when money and politics were not even a thought in my head. Back then I created rhymes and beats for nothing more but the love or admiration I might obtain from my homies. It was a different world back in the 90's and sometimes I say f**k the piano, I'm going to pull out my ASR10 (which I still have) and sample some records! I guess you gotta take things back to basics every now and again! For my heads that continue to sampleLong live sampling!

Spread Love ya'll!

J