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and now, for a serious post.
Newsweek, Rolling Stone Magazine, The Holy Bible. How did it ever come to be that a publication could hold an entire industry in its palm, entitled with the responsibility of its vitality, prosper and evolution? Every few decades appears a collection of literary works which shape the way a society or culture will think, behave and ultimately, fail. It gains the trust of the people with the agenda of creating a mass flock of sheep. When it says jump, you jump. When it says buy, you buy. And when it says die, you pull the trigger. Ball is in their court. Power has shifted to their gravel. Control. It's all about control and power.
Let me take you back to a time a little over 10 years ago in an alternate universe called Hip Hop. Once the "most trusted magazine for hip hop news and culture", The Source, loosely headed the #52,901 greatest rapper in the world (aka, the second worst rapper in the world. second only to Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell, look it up on wikipedia),it was found to be the most corrupt, maligned and misguided publication of the past century. Rappers would pay a premium to recieve positive reviews and head executives with an agenda would request that unfavorable rivals received poor ratings. Benzino used his position at The Source to place an overwhelming amount of advertisements for his projects, particularly in periods of time where he could make the most money by downplaying other artist's big releases.
Allegations of race related criticisms, raunchy staff behavior and a bribe induced "rapper of the year" list can be overlooked by the offensive of misrepresenting themselves as an unbiased news source and misusing the gained trust for their own financial well being.
Now this all came to a comical and embarassing end in about 2004. There are several coincidences that occur at this particular time.
1) hip hop sales are at a decade low. From 1995 to 2004, 2004 had extremely weak sales of hip hop. Where The Source went, hip hop went. The People would get led by The Source to buy this, buy that, buy this CD, buy this fashion, go to this club. When The People could no longer trust The Source, they could no longer trust the music. "Now, who can tell me what I like?"
2) Mixmag grows. Immensely. The jump from the year 2000 to 2001, Mixmags revenue grows a shade under 200%, in particular to the explosion of trance popularity in The United States. The coerce the lost soul with a "free CD." And believe me, these CDs are great. I have 2 from Paul Van Dyk (which I bought from Ebay a year ago, but the principle stands). But did Reflections really deserve a perfect score?
If Paul Van Dyk helps Mixmag sells their magazine with a free compilation CD, and PVD's Reflections disc gets a perfect score (it was "ok" at best), then shouldn't there be a moment to reflect on the events of The Source? Lil Kim (aka, "my pussy and my crack")got a near perfect score (4.5 out of 5) for a garbage CD, but she was fucking Benzino. Do you see Lil Kim is no different that Paul Van dyk?
Essentially, the magazines are helping the artists by any means necessary- immorally, unethically or otherwise- to help feed a propaganda machine which they, in turn, profit from. It's not that they review artists who just happen to be great. It's that they actually say "Is Carl Cox the second coming of Jesus?" They relish themselves in the idea that they came up with the terms for Superstar DJs, SUPER clubs and, ultimately "THE DEFINITIVE ANNUAL TOP DJ LIST."
They push the idea that DJing takes talent, that clubs get you laid and that the music is tolerable without drugs. They make the reader, a sad pathetic soul who still reads print periodicals, worship this culture as if its an experience exclusive to a Saturday night under a full moon on a leap year. Humans which need to be ranked, a rank which needs to be publicized, a publication which holds the industry in its palm, a palm with loads and loads of cash.
oh god, friday night. Gilmore girls at 2am baby
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Everything is beautiful. Let the music carry you. Baby I will follow you forever. Nowhere else I'd rather be when you're lying next to me. Let the music carry us together.
anti-JennyPie Alliance
SuspicionVandit: Are you God?
Paul Van Dyk 09-24-2009: No, but I can sign your sleeve under that name if you let me!
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