Mood Music: Life's Soundtrack

"Alma Mater Instrumental" - The Strength


Mood: Curious

Upon one of my many daily visits to the "Neighborhood Co-nuh Stow", there was a guy backpacking his demo out in front of the store. I haven't seen this being done in years; not since "The Internets" have taken over the globe. I approached him and asked for a copy. It seems he had just given the last copy to a guy at the pump. Since I couldn't hear the music myself, I asked him a question to see where his head was at.

"What genre of music are you into?" I asked.

"Hip-Hop, fam! That real street, dirty...." I interrupted him.

"Are you a Rapper or an Emcee?" I asked. I wish I could explain the look on his face. It was as if he started daydreaming and it turned into a nightmare.

"What's the difference?" he finally asked. I, like most of you, already KNOW what the answer to this question is, but it's kind of hard to explain. So, I had to metaphorically come up with an answer to his question.

The way I see it, both are considered Hip-Hop artists. Now, let's use the term "artist" literally; a painter, so to speak.

Painter R loves to paint. He's been looking at paintings for a great part of his life and noticed that he too has a gift for painting. He paints often and one day, someone say some of his paintings and decides to purchase some of his paintings from him. Painter R now tries to sell his paintings to art dealers around the world, and for a decent period of time, he is very successful. Art dealers would come to him with suggestions, ideas, and even requests on what he should paint, because it is what people would buy. Painter R cooperated, but after a while, he paintings aren't selling anymore. Painter R quits painting.

Painter E also loves to paint. He too has been painting for a great part of his life and has a gift for painting. Like Painter R, someone wants to sell his work, which he has become very successful. Eventually, like Painter R, the art dealers suggest that he paint different things so that his paintings would sell, but Painter E refuses. He simply loves to paint and don't care how many painting he will sell. Painter E's paintings aren't selling anymore. He is running out of space in his art studio. He loves to paint.

The difference between rappers and emcees, well one major difference, is that for rappers, it's a career choice. For emcees, it's a way of life. When the money is gone, an emcee is going to do it regardless.

After our deep conversation, he rabbit-eared his pockets and said, "I'm an emcee. I've been giving my discs to anyone that is willing to listen, fam." I laughed as I "dapped" him up. I wrote down my contact info on a random, old business card I had I had in my wallet.

"I'm a producer. Holla at me..." I said. He interrupted.

"You mean, you're a beatmaker." He said, jokingly. "Just fuckin' wit you."

"Be safe," I said as I walked into the store.

He seems to know the difference between a producer and a beatmaker, but we'll get to that another time.

Because of this event, I'm wondering who knows the difference between rapper and emcee. Which one are you? Show me. The track at the beginning of this post? I want all you "emcees" out there to take that track, do your thing over it, and send it back to me. (beatmasonrymusic@gmail.com) I'm curious to hear what any of you could do on this track. This one seems to be a lot of people's favorite.

The track's format is as follows:
Intro
Hook (8 bars each)
1st Verse (16 bars each)
Hook
2nd Verse
Hook
3rd Verse
Hook
Outro

Download Alma Mater Instrumental©
Produced by The Strength for Black Pentagon Entertainment

Alma Mater Copyright© Beat Masonry Music. For promotional use only. Not for resale.