Monday, October 19, 2015



How Sampling Music is to Hip-hop what Traditional Media is to Social Media for Business
By Khary Frazier

Sampling music is the art form which brought hip-hop music to prominence in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Foundation Acts such as Afrika Bambata, Grand Master Caz, and the Sugar Hill Gang all took interpretations of Soul, Disco, Rock, and R&B music to craft the sound that became Hip-hop. Using primarily record turntables as an instrument portions of songs were ‘sampled’ and later reinterpreted to make music for rappers to perform vocal lyrics with. In the world of business today a form of ‘sampling’ is taking place between Traditional to Social media marketing.

The world of business has always changed, but in the past 20 years the changes have come faster than anyone imagined. The interconnected world we all live in through the internet has birthed an abundance of markets, and closed a series of others. The playing field for business competition is daily becoming more level. Which has led to many more start and stop, low/ no service, and bad business flooding the market. Today marketing is essential. Using social media tools to market successfully has many traits of traditional integrated marketing campaign strategies.   

An influential integrated marketing campaign establishes or reinforces a brand. In social media using a name and image that is synonymous among all social media platforms is needed. There are so many social network options to choose from developing a look that people can easily identify is important. Traditional Marketing begins with branding. This is similar to Hip-hop sampling Soul music because of the break beat. The early days of Hip-hop sampled music was always using a break in the song with generally drums. These breaks were used in the original records as places for audiences to dance. Hip-hop music was originally made as dance and part music.

Voice is the expression of the marketer in Traditional Marketing. In an effective Integrated Marketing Campaign a marketer would take into account the medium the advertisement is being placed before creating it. The medium has much to do with the style, language, and look of any advertisement. Social media use is more effective when functioning each specific site to the tastes of the users and their sensibilities. Twitter in example attracts a younger audience and is driven by the quantity of content whereas facebook is more of a personal space where users connect with messaging that has sincerity. Hip-hop sampling was segmented between East Coast and West Coast music. West Coast Hip-hop music sampled more of the Soul, Funk, and R&B that was more popular in Urban radio markets throughout the 1970’s. East Coast Hip-hop music sampled more of the Rock and Disco songs that found radio success in the 1970’s. This style of sound was sculpted to create a voice that would resonate with an understanding audience.   



Cited Works
Savage, Greg. "How To Clear Music Samples: Every Sample Based Music Producer Needs To Know This."http://www.diymusicbiz.com/. N.p., 25 May 2014. Web. 17 Oct. 2015.


Bennett, Shea. "Marketing 101 – Social Media vs Traditional Media." http://www.adweek.com. N.p., 13 July 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2015.

Monday, October 12, 2015

“It was all a Dream” 3 Business Networking Skills Biggie Taught Me

by Khary Frazier 

It was all a dream
I used to read Word Up magazine
Salt'n'Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine
Hangin' pictures on my wall
Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl
Juicy by Christopher ‘Notorious BIG’ Wallace

I was born in 1982 to Jan and Greg Frazier on Detroit’s Westside. My parents were (and still are) a hard-working, loving, and committed African American couple building business and family. My father is a CPA. My father and mother have built a practice that has grown to abundant success. Greg Frazier CPA has reached point of capturing long standing relationships with international clientele.

Being born in 82’ in a predominately Black neighborhood placed me in a position to witness the growth of hip-hop culture. As a young Black male witnessing performing artists close in age, with representative styles and communication skills resonated with me. This was uniquely balanced by watching my parents develop a professional practice. Interestingly, I have found many parallels in both worlds.

Notorious BIG (Christopher Wallace) is recognized universally as one of the most talented and skilled hip-hop performing artists. His first nationally recognized single ‘Juicy’ is an introspective narrative of his appreciation for hip-hop. Sharing stories, names, and moments throughout his understanding of hip-hop is what this song is about. As a hip-hop performing artist myself I appreciate the song. Developing my marketing firm today I apply lessons from this song in business. I have the competitive advantage of combining my 10 years of business acumen with my parents 30 years of business application as well. Notorious BIG’s ‘Juicy’ is an example of 3 great business networking skills.



Three Business Networking Skills I Learned from Notorious BIG’s ‘Juicy’

I.              Edify and Introduce: Notorious BIG’s ‘Juicy’ song begins with him sharing rap lyrics with the listener about his adoration and introduction to hip-hop. By presenting his understanding of hip-hop as ‘a dream’ it takes the listener to believe his relationship with hip-hop is almost euphoric. In business to humbly present the best qualities you initially connect with others is extremely advantageous. For, compliments and positive attitudes galvanize and populate the minds of all people. Doing business you’d rather interact with someone who sees potential and talent between one another.

II.            Functionality: Notorious BIG lets the listeners know he played tapes, listened to the radio, posted up posters, and bought magazines while connecting with hip-hop. In business networking establishing what, how, and why are in business are essential. For meeting a potential client, partner, or connection to both is only useful if he/she knows what you do.


III.           Visualization: ’50 inch screen/ money green leather sofa/ got two rides a limousine and a chauffer’ Juicy by Notorious BIG. Those rap lyrics are examples of the visual elements Notorious BIG would offer listeners. Communicating while business networking will draw attention the same way. The more descriptive language you can use while using reasoning behind your descriptions will connect with everyone.