Tag Archives: atlanta

Can Other Musical Genres Survive in a Hip-Hop Dominated Atlanta?

Written by Stanley Vaughn

Podcast and video produced by James Riley and Cameron Smith

Atlanta, Georgia is undeniably a hub for hip-hop and rap music. Huge artists like 21 Savage, Childish Gambino, Gucci Mane, and Usher hail from Atlanta. Sub-genres like crunk, trap, snap, and alternative hip-hop were either created or developed by the city’s musicians. Atlanta hip-hop started dance moves like “the dab” that took pop-culture by storm, so much so that even some politicians have gotten in on it. The New York Times even commented on how influential Atlanta is to the hip-hop scene back in 2009.

So, of course we have a lot of hip-hop musicians. There’s even an entire list on Wikipedia dedicated to hip-hop artists from Atlanta. But what about the other Atlanta musicians, those who aren’t following the hip-hop mainstream of their native city? Do indie guitarists or R&B singers have a more difficult time than a rapper or hip-hop producer?

How do other genres fare in our hip-hop dominated city?

To answer these questions, we interviewed various Atlanta-based musicians to get their views (you can see some of the interviews in the video and podcast). We wanted to hear about their personal experiences. Had they had to compete with hip-hop? Or did it not affect their musical careers?

“I feel like there’s a lane for everybody,” said Nate Myers, an Atlanta-based jazz saxophonist who’s toured across Georgia. “Some times we can work together, y’know? I’ve worked with hip hop artists [before].” Nate Myers didn’t really view hip-hop as a bad thing for him. In fact, he enjoys it. “I love music in general, all genres of music. I can play hip-hop/jazz fusion, we can play together. I have no problem with it.” Myers says Atlanta’s hip-hop dominated scene hasn’t affected his jazz too much at all. “I guess you could say that the hip-hop circuit is a little more mainstream than jazz. It wasn’t necessarily a struggle [when I began performing], but it was a little bit harder to get noticed.”

“Being an Atlanta band, I honestly do not feel overshadowed by hip-hop,” said Ruby Velle, an Atlanta-based soul singer for the band Ruby Velle and the Soulphonics. “I think a beautiful thing about Atlanta’s music community is that we all kinda uplift and empower each other. We really lean on each other for everything from business knowledge to exchanging [details about shows] to get better venues.” Velle says that all music is worthwhile, especially in Atlanta. Atlanta Magazine named the Ruby Velle and the Soulphonics’ album “The State of All Things” the best non-hip-hop album of 2018, which only strengthened the fact that the city wants bands of all genres to succeed, not just hip-hop. Says Velle: “I’ve never felt encroached upon by any other genre within Atlanta, only uplifted.”

We also reached out to two people who work with venues as promoters to talk to us via email about how the city’s venues and promoters treat artists of different genres. We asked two Atlanta-based music promoters, Brannon Boyle, founder of Speakeasy Promotions, and Richard Dunn, member of The Muddy Water Group, about how venues treat hip-hop and non-hip-hop artists. They both said that genre usually doesn’t matter to venues and promoters. “I like to book music that I enjoy listening to, no matter the genre,” said Boyle. Dunn shared that sentiment, as well as wanting to “have a chance to make a return on my investment” when deciding which shows to promote. As for venues, they both expressed that different venues want different things. Boyle says that, “All venues are different. Different genres work differently at different venues. I wouldn’t say any of them have hip-hop as their #1 choice for a given night. Some places like hosting hip-hop shows, others don’t, and plenty are picky about what kinds of hip-hop they want in their venues.”

Sure, some venues prefer certain genres, but most, according to Boyle and Dunn, are just looking to get an adult audience, because older audiences earn venues more money. They also said that, in their experience, hip-hop does tend to grow in popularity faster, but that doesn’t mean success. Acts also have to be able to stay out of trouble, consistently please an audience, and keep a good presence in their music and at live shows.

To be perfectly honest, when I started writing this article, I was expecting to be writing a negative piece, about how non-hip-hop artists are being cast into the shadows while rappers and MCs soak in the spotlight. However, that wasn’t how either of the musicians we interviewed saw it. They both felt like hip-hop was, yes, more popular than their genre of choice in Atlanta, but it didn’t affect how they lived and performed in the city. And, thinking back on it, that makes sense. Other places with a mainstream genre like London, known for its classic rock, has had other successful artists like Amy Winehouse in different genres. Why would our city be any different?

None of the interviews had anything for or against hip-hop. In fact, Ruby Velle even specifically said, “I’ve got no beef with hip-hop” after we had asked a few questions about how the genre had affected her music career.

Really, the thing they seemed to hold above all else was a love of all music, no matter the kind. Both Meyers and Velle expressed that they got into their music because of a love of the art, and Boyle and Dunn said that they promoted for acts that they think are good.

Both musicians gave their advice for success, which basically boiled down to be yourself and connect with your community. They never said anything about certain people not being able to make it in Atlanta because of their genre or talent, they said to be yourself and connect with others.

So, if you want to make it as a musician in Atlanta, don’t be discouraged by the mainstream if you want to make EDM or country or orchestral music. Just love your art and, in the words of Nate Myers, “Do you. Nobody can do that but yourself.”

(Thank you to Nate Myers and Ruby Velle for coming into VOX to do interviews with us, and to Brannon Boyle and Richard Dunn for agreeing to interviews even if we couldn’t meet in person. Find them at natemyersmusic.com, rubyvelleandthesoulphonics.com, www.speakeasypromo.net, and www.instagram.com/muddywatergroup.)

VOX Teen Poetry: ‘Prison of Perception’

Look at my skin…and predict what the future holds for me, a statistic of why America needs more police, or an absent father, imprisoned for his crimes, unable to see the day that his son will finally rise

Listen to my voice…try to imagine my past.  A 9-year-old kid that hears the birds of the night, their chirping soon followed by a single mother’s cries, or a mistake, another burden of a 15-year-old girl, putting food on my plate, living in disgrace of how she got the money for it

Step into my shoes…and tell me when your feet start to hurt. Is it from all the marching, Black-on-Black crime is fine but a dead gorilla is more appalling, or walking to American History, to learn how your last name came from the rapist who divided your family.

We are all judgmental creatures, guess it’s human nature to be. I’m tired of praying every single night that I can even walk home safely, that when I do die, my mom ain’t digging my grave over a black hoodie

We may walk free, but because of our judgmental mentality, we are all enslaved mentally.But I feel something strong that moves me inside, and no longer is it fear moving down my spine

I feel this yoke of prejudice breaking, rusty like they’re worn by the slaves at the bottom of the sea. I have outgrown these handcuffs of superstitions, knowing that I can open their lock without selling a single key and anyone can thrive in this society, regardless of ethnicity.

I used to believe my skin color only guaranteed life in a penitentiary, but if my people created pyramids before Jesus Christ was conceived, hate it or love it, it’s in my genetics to succeed. So I’ll ask you once more, when you look at my skin, what do you see? A person who lives in a box society created to define me, or a regular human being who ain’t afraid to stand in front of anyone and say proudly, “only God can judge me.”

VOX 5: Five Ways to Break Barriers of Social Anxiety

Have you ever been nervous walking into a room crowded with people, feeling like all eyes are on you, and you’re thinking about the countless things they could be saying or thinking about you? Or when you have to present a project in front of the entire class and you can’t even get the words out your mouth? Your hands start to get clammy and sweaty,  you’re trembling, and your classmates are staring you down like your mom does when you do something despicable. Your heart is racing, afraid of all the potential embarrassing outcomes. This is known as social anxiety. According to Psychology Today, “Social anxiety disorder, formerly referred to as social phobia, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations.”

It is completely normal to be anxious in certain social situations, but if this is a continuous issue in your life you could possibly suffer from a social anxiety disorder. Having social anxiety is different from feeling awkward or nervous because the worry is present in every social situation and causes fear, self-consciousness, and intense distress. What differentiates a disorder from general nervousness is the feeling is overpowering and keeps people from their daily activities for six months or more.

In fifth grade, I personally was extremely self-conscious when meeting new people or simply getting called on in class by my teacher — not because I didn’t know the answer but because I allowed fear to overtake my mind. I used to think to myself, what if I start stuttering?’ or what if my voice sounds squeaky and everyone starts to laugh at me?  I used to get bullied in elementary school about my appearance — being the light-skinned girl or wearing long hair. Being different made me stick out — so I knew I had to be strong and learn to overcome my fears.  

I’ve learned that your mind can manipulate you into thinking you’re going to fail. You are your biggest enemy. But you can take authority over fear and overthinking, so you can fulfill your potential. Don’t make assumptions or start overthinking. Just do it! (Shia LaBeouf voice), and the weight will be lifted off your shoulders.

Here are five tips I’ve learned to keep from overthinking and keep my mind at ease. They might be helpful for you, too.

5 Ways to Overcome Social Anxiety


Know Yourself

                              

Ever heard of the phrase “you have to love yourself before you can love anybody else?” Well, in order to be socially active you have to first learn who you are. Things like your interests or hobbies can help you engage in conversations or find people who can relate to you. For example, when I started my freshman year in high school, I wanted to surround myself with people who have the same drive and tenacity to excel in every aspect of school. Associating with people who carry the same goals as mine helped me achieve a 4.0 my first semester of high school. Find a friend you see shares your characteristics or traits of yourself. But in order to do this you have to understand who you are.

 

Breathing Exercises

Breathe in and breathe out. In very tense situations, sometimes you just need to take a deep breath and settle into the present. Breathing helps lower stress, easing your mind from any tension. This is definitely a great coping mechanism when you have intense anxiety, ultimately making it easier for you to be calm and collected in social situations. So next time anxiety tries to come your way, remember to breathe!

 

Don’t Have a Scooby -Doo Complex!

Scooby-Doo Where Are You” is an American television series about a group of teenagers who solve paranormal mysteries. Every time Scooby-Doo encounters a so-called ghost or monster he immediately runs away, avoiding the whole situation. Eventually the Scooby gang solves the mystery and realizes the monster is actually a villain in disguise. Sometimes things are not what they seem. Our minds create this image of potential failure or embarrassment, and your immediate reaction could be to escape the situation as a whole. Instead, start writing daily affirmations in a journal expressing your confidence to help you achieve a brand new mind set. Don’t have a Scooby-Doo complex; be brave, face your fears.

Set Goals 

Don’t think your problems are going to be solved overnight; it takes baby steps. One of the factors that play a major role in anxiety is how you think others perceive you. As humans we tend to base our choices on how people view us. That means we have to be confident in who we are and hold our heads up high in the face of adversity. Take some time out of your day and write down some things you would like to accomplish. Start creating goals to become your best you.

Seek Help or Support 

If your social anxiety becomes too severe, please seek medical attention. Your doctor will be able to set you with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Psychotherapy. For those of you who are not aware of CBT is a therapy that deals with a person’s thoughts which can affect their behavior.  Your doctor can recommend someone to help you. There are also many different resources in Atlanta such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Social Anxiety Association, and Anxiety and Depression Association of America. All of these provide support groups, helplines and educations for your benefit. The worst thing you could possibly do is suffer in silence, so let someone know. Maybe even consider sitting down talking to your parent or another family member about how this is a major problem in your life. Explain to them how it affects you on a daily basis, and I’m positive they will help you!

I also have an interview with a mental health professional Shy Powe as well on social anxiety. Click below to listen.


You are invited to join VOX ATL’s teens at our annual VOX-A-PALOOZA celebration where we will highlight all of the work that has been created this semester as well as give you an opportunity to meet the teens themselves. You will also be one of the first to receive the newest print editon of VOX Investigates: Mental Health! RSVP HERE.