Monday, November 21, 2011

Musician of the Month: Bernard "Bizzy Bee" Smith

As if being a college student isn’t already enough, students like Bernard Smith are willing to go above and beyond the status quo to achieve their dreams. The communications technology major is taking ambitious steps to advance his career. Considering himself a jack-of-all-trades, the 20 year old Brooklyn native is a father of three-year-old son named Bernard Joseph Smith III, and is a rapper, manager, videographer, promoter, a producer of his own production company, Bizzy Bee Production. Smith received his rapper name, Bizzy Bee, from a couple of friends at the tender age of nine. Growing up with that moniker became a lifestyle for Smith.

Q: Who have you managed?
Well, its not like I exactly manage, but I take people under my wing. For example, my home girl Briell$, without that push from me she wouldn’t have been serious about her music. My friend Fidelity, he’s a rapper and a singer and I was really on top of him and now he’s working on a mix tape. I have some younger artists. I always look for the youth, especially those who don’t have that connection so I can give them an upbringing.

Q: So where does this passion come from?
I love music since I was little. That was my first excuse to curse, when I bought that DMX album and asked “Mom can I curse, when I listen to the song?” Then one day I got into film, and I said I was going to use film to help others with their music. With music there’s always a message. A message isn’t felt unless you actually see what they’re trying to say.

Q: I see you mention DMX, who else inspires you? Who are your top five rappers die or alive?
That’s always a hard choice, but that’s Nas, Biggie, Pac, Mos Def, Talib Kweli and I can keep on going but that’s some of the top that has hit me in the heart.

Q: Besides Nas, the others they haven’t really put a record out. So who are one of your favorite rappers out right now.
I would have to say Common, Kanye West. I’m not that much of a Weezy fan. I respect Lil Wayne as an entertainer, but not as an artist, he doesn’t click with me. I’m not going to say Jay-Z though, just because he’s from Brooklyn. I would say Busta Rhymes too.

Q: How do you get artist that’s under your wing to ignite that fire and get that passion out?
Basically, I give them tips and tricks that I’ve learned over the years as an artist who loves music. I bring the best out of them by bringing the worse out of them. Until you touch what the hell is messing with you, your music won’t really be you. I try to help people understand, if it doesn’t fit you try to adjust it to you, instead of people that doesn’t exist.

Q: Does your career affect your son?
My career affects him whole-heartedly. He’ll listen to my music all day and say “That’s Daddy!’ He keeps me pushing because there’s days where I really can’t walk or stand up and carry what I’m carrying, whether its cameras, but I still have to get out of the house and do it because I’m doing this for him. At the end of the day, I need my son to have something when I leave. I don’t care if I live before him or after him. People say people make mistakes, but I now I’m following up.

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Simple,  Bizzy Bee Productions on everything. I got people. I got skills and I’m a people’s person and it’s easier to work with people who are humble, other than someone who think they’re the sh*t.

Q: You say you’re a rapper, how many mix tapes do you have out?
It’s crazy you mention it because I wasn’t going to drop my first mix tape. Right now I’m working on my second one, Instrumental Crazy 1.5. If it weren’t for Lady Poison, I wouldn’t have dropped my first mix tape. Literally I’m too conscious of a rapper. Most of the stuff I put out would really appeal to the public, you would have to sit down and listen to my lyrics. Right now I’m working on an album right now called Writings of a Loser. It consists of deep thought, original beats and more realistic lyrics because I’m going to talk about not just my life, but also the life of someone who people consider a loser. Someone who has been pushed back from their goals. So it’s going to be real.

Q: How does the mother of your child feel about your career?
Honestly, she has always supported me. We might have had a few altercations, but I tell her she’s not with me all day for you to tell me what I’m doing is not that important. It gets real between us, but at the end of the day she still supports me.

Q: Have you met any celebrities?
Yes. I’ve been to Doug E. Fresh’s house. I’ve met Slick Rick, Grand Master Flash, Furious Five. I’ve met a lot of old school rappers, new school wise I met Fabolous. I met 50 Tyson and that was the highlight of my career. He came to New York for the first time, and to actually watch him perform, its crazy because he can sell out a show. He has something that a lot of artists don’t have, which is stage presence.

Q: if there was a label you’d like to be signed to, what would it be?
I would have to say Shady Records. I wouldn’t sign under Jay or Diddy because it wouldn’t make any sense. If I sign up with you all I’m getting is a good name on my back. A lot of people don’t get love because of the label their under.

Here's a video of Bernard Smith's work. 


Saturday, November 12, 2011

New Music: Rihanna- You Da One

Ahhhh shhhhh... SHOT! RiRi is back at it again! With her 6th album entitled "Talk That Talk", Rihanna has debuted her second single called "You Da One," after her pop single "We Found Love." This single brings me back to that middle/ high school kind of love, where all you think about is your significant other, or even the 'honeymoon' phase in any relationship.  "Talk That Talk" is out in stores November 21st.




                                                    







                                                                Rihanna- "You Da One"
            


Here's Rihanna's first single - "We Found Love"

Friday, November 4, 2011

Meeting Tyrese!

November 1st was a big day for me! Not only was the first day of such a festive month (Thanksgiving and Black Friday), but THREE incredible artists blessed huge fans, like me, great music. DC rapper, Wale debuted his sophomore album entitled 'Ambition' with featured artists, like Jeremih, Miguel, fellow Maybach Music Group rapper, Rick Ross and many others. Singer and now rapper, Trey Songz gave his fans a double dosage by releasing two mixtapes. One entitled 'Anticipation 2', which is R&B and the other  'LemmeHolDatBeat2', which portrays the rapper side of Trey Songz.

In addition, actor, model and singer Tyrese debuted his fourth album 'Open Invitation' after taking a hiatus from the music industry. On this album, Black Ty has Rick Ross, Ludacris and many others featured on it as well. Right now, Tyrese has two singles out 'Stay' with 'Baby Boy' Co-Star, Taraji P. Henson, featured in the video and 'Too Easy' featuring Ludacris. On this album, Tyrese is bringing a 'Melange' of different types of music. While 'Stay' brings me back to old school R&B, 'Too Easy' gets me amped to go out and have fun.

Luckily for me, I had the pleasure of meeting Tyrese for the FIRST TIME (and most certainly not the last)! Tuesday Evening, Tyrese was signing albums at the Basement Mixx in Brooklyn, New York. Once I found out that Tyrese was just a town away from my school my friend Clloyd & I GPS'ed our way to Brooklyn. And ladies I must say, Tyrese looks absolutely handsome in person ;).  Be sure to go ahead and buy the album! 

All Photo Credit goes to Clloyd Smith*