Thursday, November 29, 2012

How do I become a successful topline writer?

Hey you all! It's me again! I wanted to post this video up because for the past year and a half now, I've been wanting to get more into topline writing (a singer or rapper comes up with the melody & lyrics). My strengths are usually with track writing (coming up with the instrumental/beat). But for anybody who happens to be in the industry that can help me with some constructive suggestions, I welcome them all! Because of the area that I currently live in, I do not have the access to people to collaborate with. So by sheer necessity, I have to learn how to do all of this by myself.

I've taken at least a semester of classical voice training in college (but my professor discouraged me from singing anymore when I asked her for a recommendation for Berklee College of Music, she in so few words said that I wasn't so good because I'd only studied with her for 6 months (and she's a classical singer). I used to love to sing, but I pretty much stopped after that moment 8 years ago.

I try to work on lyricism whenever I can. I work on my wordplay, poetic devices such as assonance, internal rhyme, similes & metaphors. I also try and work on rhyme scheme, flow, breath control, and cadence.

One person that I really look up to that's a topline writer is Drake. He's my favorite rapper and singer (he reminds me a lot of Craig David). I wanna be able to topline write just like him. Here's my video about everything I'm talking about and a couple of songs of his that are examples (one sung, one rapped):

"The Journey": trying to raise money for this musical journey

Hey guys! It's Robert Allen again!I wanna try and raise money for this new journey that I wanna undertake! I made a video all about it! Please check it out!

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Clearing some crap off of my mind...

Hey, I was just thinking about a lot of things last night and I wrote this post on Facebook. Here, I decided to repost it for all my blog readers:

"Been thinking and dwelling on a lot of things last night...actually had me in tears (and that's almost impossible for me). First off, I feel like it's time to call it quits for certain friendships. It's bad when out of your best friends from high school, one is dead from being murdered, one's in prison for bad choices, and one is on drugs (who knows how bad). It breaks my heart because I totally w
rote off the one who is now dead because of his choices to let drugs ruin his life, and now he's dead because of it. But how long are you supposed to try and help when they don't want it?How are you supposed to stick around when they don't treat you like a real friend? Secondly, I've grown sick of those ones who "claim" to be my "friend" but you never hear from them and they really don't give a rat's ass about me. They can claim that communication works both ways, but I'm so done with trying to make an effort only to get ignored by them. That proves that you're not really a friend. If I have unintentionally done this to anybody, you have my fullest apologies. Third, I'm beyond sick of being passed up by females and getting fed that same line of bs "I only think of you as a friend". Then they fall for some jerk that treats them like shit, dumps their ass, then they wanna whine and complain about how there are no good men out there. THERE ARE BUT YOU CHOOSE NOT TO GIVE THEM A CHANCE. The very definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result". And so tired of being led on (who know exactly who you are) Fourth, I'm so tired of living the kind of life that people around here think I should live. Ever since I moved back from California, I've regretted it (but I had to and had no place to go). People around here let their jobs define them and I've been brainwashed into thinking that it's stupid to chase your dream, that you should only work. Now I'm dead inside because of it. Working a job I absolutely cannot stand because it's the status quo. Fifth, dealing with bipolar disorder and the depression that comes with it is hard. People don't understand and don't want to be around you because you're "depressed all the time". Well if you can't be there for me during my worst, then you don't deserve to be there for my best. So I've come to a life-changing decision: it is time for this cat to move far away from this place. A new location, a fresh perspective, a new set of best friends, women who actually value how good of a man that I am, nightlife and culture, opportunities and a chance to actually succeed, and finally achieve some happiness. I'm not running away from my problems, just eliminating the negative from my life. Oh and if any of what I've said offends you, do us both a favor and unfriend me (because you're not a real friend anyway). I refrain..."
 
Hope you guys can see what I face on an everyday basis. Thank you.
 

My Ke$ha "Sleazy" freestyle!!!

Hey, guys!!! I wanted to do something a little fun and post up a video of me freestyling to Kesha's "Sleazy" beat! Check it out!!! Lol! Hope you guys like it!


A new vlog update for everybody!!!

Hey, what's up you guys! I just thought that I would try and post up a new vlog video and let you know what's been going on. I'm basically talking about where I am right now as far as my DJing and my songwriting and record production.




Tuesday, November 20, 2012

What would you do if money were no object?

 What would you do if money were no object?
So I thought that this was a very interesting video (one of my friends sent me this) and I believe in this philosophy wholeheartedly! Check out the video and let me know what you think...



Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Avid's Behind the Board with Grammy-winning producer/engineer Tony Maserati


I wanted to post these series of videos with Tony Maserati and his process of mixing a hit song! This is valuable info for any aspiring producer/engineer! I'm definitely gonna take notes! Hope you enjoy!

Here is the link for the rest of the videos:
http://apps.avid.com/maserati/videos.html
I just bought new music production & DJ equipment!!! Also an update!


What's up, guys! I just wanted to post this video as an update to what's going on lately. I just bought Native Instruments Komplete Elements and also I got a good entry-level DJ controller for my Native Instruments Traktor Pro and Traktor Scratch Pro (Numark Mixtrack Pro). It'll help me with my DJing until I can afford a NI Traktor S2 or S4.




Also, I talk about my plans for the future as far as my music career!

Follow me on Twitter @RobertAllen81 or on Facebook (DJ Robert Allen)

 
 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Letting it all out.....

I decided to make a more personal vlog tonight. Here it is...


As always, follow me on Twitter @RobertAllen81

Thursday, November 1, 2012

new post for November 1, 2012

Just a little update on what I've been doing today, an intro to my nephew who happens to be a rapper, and other miscellaneous stuff.


If you like this blog/vlog, please donate any money that you can!!!

Apple The Complete Desktop Recording Studio with Mac Mini | GuitarCenter

Apple The Complete Desktop Recording Studio with Mac Mini | GuitarCenter





Here is another awesome product that I am trying to raise money to buy. I'm wanting to make the switch from PC to Mac, but it's gonna be a little hard because I use FL Studio 9 Producer Edition (and it doesn't run on Mac unless you use BootCamp)

If you wanna help to me to buy any of these products, please feel free to hit the "Donate" button at the side of the page.

UTGNUTZRWYT9

Apple The Complete DJ Studio with MacBook Air | GuitarCenter

Apple The Complete DJ Studio with MacBook Air | GuitarCenter



 Here is one item that I am really trying to afford! I absolutely LOVE DJing and have been trying to get a proper set of decks so that I can do actual sets. And not to mention that Apple MacBooks are some of the most reliable and powerful laptops out!

It comes with an Apple MacBook Air laptop, a Native Instruments Traktor S2 console, Sennheiser HD 203 headphones, Traktor Pro software, and gel pads for the laptop.

If you would like to help me try and get this, please hit the "Donate" button at the side of the page!


The Beginning: welcome to my blog/vlog!!!


Thank you so much for checking out my blog/vlog! I am hoping to become a very successful songwriter/producer/DJ/remixer and this blog/vlog is a chronicle of this journey! I welcome any positive comments you may have for me and please spread the word! Tell all your friends about my blog!

As a way to try and create income from this blog to buy music production/DJ equipment and to be able to afford to travel around the world like I'd love to, I will have different affiliates on this page that you can go to and purchase products from such as iTunes, Apple App Store, and Amazon.

Also, if you feel like you'd like to donate any money to my goals, I will also put up a PayPal button where you can donate money to the cause.

I also would love to talk about songwriting & production techniques, DJ techniques, and other things as this blog goes on.

Thank you so much for reading/watching my blog/vlog and I hope we can build a long relationship together

 


Follow me on Twitter:
@RobertAllen81

Robert Allen's Facebook fan page


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