Think 100 miles South!

[NY Dance Music Coal]

Sorry for the delay in posting.....

It took me a LONG while to reflect on everything regarding the Winter Music Conference in Miami. And with that, a time to think. Really think about where, and for that matter IF there is a future with freestyle.

I've been told by many to just FORGET the music. Admittedly, based on some of the negative feedback in here, the thought has actually crossed my mind. HOWEVER, a few weeks ago I did take a trip down to the Philadelphia area to check out a show by Peter Fontaine and Angel (Cover Girls). A couple of hours later, there was a show going on in another club hosted by Carlos Berrios. The crowd in both places were INTENSE! The treatment that I've received down there was PHENOMENAL! People knew, and if there is a crowd that appears HUNGRY for the music, it is 100 miles south of NYC!

It's no surprise that freestyle has always been popular in the Philly/So. Jersey area. When you consider the history (radio stations Q-102 and Boss 97) there was a fiercely loyal crowd that wanted the music. And as of late, NYC IS taking notice, with a freestyle concert happening in Trenton in a few weeks along with other acts realizing.....go south!

Along with that, there is that local base (Sammy Zone, Peter Fontaine, Wilson, just to name a few) going on as well. But what struck me the most was the fact that people were OPEN to new music! Maybe it's because the two dance stations in the region aren't tapping into Center City Philly, that people are just happy down there to get what they can. They certainly aren't deluged with the same music that 'KTU and Pulse 87 are playing here.

IF, and I do say a cautious IF (based on the responses with that "freestyle stimulus") freestyle CAN make a comeback with new stuff....let it happen in Philadelphia. The NYC people can certainly support it, but if something can be reinvented maybe it has to take "stepping away" from what appears to be a comfort zone and rejuvenating it elsewhere.

Now, I don't want this thread to be a NYC vs. Philly battle, so please don't conduct it like that. I'm just trying to think of different angles here albeit there are some that feel I am wasting my time on this.

Last gasp???

 

[CultureKlashJEFF]

I personally have seen these intense crowds at the Freestyle & 80's Dance influenced shows, and there is a demand for it. BUT, it will NEVER EVER be like it was in the 80's. That time, (like Disco), has come & gone.

BUT, we cannot deny the 80's are back in style - music AND Fashion. 😉
For the past several years, 80's is everywhere & in everything. Today's Hip-Hop is going back to it's Electro/Breakdance roots, sampling a lot of old records, giving new life to the old ones to be discovered by today's generation. Rock is sounding more & more New Wave, - and Pop & R&B artists are making Dance records go mainstream again, creating new 80's inspired sounds, or sampling & remaking 80's records.

Guys are wearing tighter jeans, bright colors, & neon kicks (sneakers), and today's girls are dressing just like the teens did back then. Funky outfits & stilettos. Also, the demand for 80's shows, movies, & cartoons on DVD is still high. Not just for us (the folks who lived in the decade), but today's younger generation has sparked an interest in retro stuff as well.

I give big props to alot of today's artists & producers for creating new "80's & Freestylish-sounding" sounds for todays scene. Like: The Neptunes, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Sam Sparro, Timbaland, Common, Armand Van Helden, etc. I know it's old, but did any of u ever catch Snoop's "Sexual Eruption" video?? What did that scream??
Rick James, Prince, and all their 80's nasty girl groups!!! 😉
Every 20yrs, music & fashion comes in style. In the 90's everything was dark & 70's looking. Lots of browns & blacks. Girls were wearing platforms & bell bottoms again, and Disco's predecessor (House) was just as popular as Hip-Hop.
The 80's was 20yrs ago, so it's it's turn to be back.
I've said this before on NYF: Today's kids are living in a futureistic version of the 80's, they just don't know it. Well actually many do. 🙂

As for Freestyle, with doors opening for Dance music by today's biggest stars, I do believe it's VERY possible for any of our Freestyle fav's to have a hit record out now with the right promotion. It doesn't have to be Freestyle. But if it is, they better go back their funky 80's roots of the major artists of the genre, and not sound like the mid 90's stuff, or it WILL NOT SELL!

 

[NY Dance Music Coal]

I personally have seen these intense crowds at the Freestyle & 80's Dance influenced shows, and there is a demand for it. BUT, it will NEVER EVER be like it was in the 80's. That time, (like Disco), has come & gone.
BUT, we cannot deny the 80's are back in style - music AND Fashion. 😉
For the past several years, 80's is everywhere & in everything. Today's Hip-Hop is going back to it's Electro/Breakdance roots, sampling a lot of old records, giving new life to the old ones to be discovered by today's generation. Rock is sounding more & more New Wave, - and Pop & R&B artists are making Dance records go mainstream again, creating new 80's inspired sounds, or sampling & remaking 80's records.
Guys are wearing tighter jeans, bright colors, & neon kicks (sneakers), and today's girls are dressing just like the teens did back then. Funky outfits & stilettos. Also, the demand for 80's shows, movies, & cartoons on DVD is still high. Not just for us (the folks who lived in the decade), but today's younger generation has sparked an interest in retro stuff as well.
I give big props to alot of today's artists & producers for creating new "80's & Freestylish-sounding" sounds for todays scene. Like: The Neptunes, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Sam Sparro, Timbaland, Common, Armand Van Helden, etc. I know it's old, but did any of u ever catch Snoop's "Sexual Eruption" video?? What did that scream??
Rick James, Prince, and all their 80's nasty girl groups!!! 😉
Every 20yrs, music & fashion comes in style. In the 90's everything was dark & 70's looking. Lots of browns & blacks. Girls were wearing platforms & bell bottoms again, and Disco's predecessor (House) was just as popular as Hip-Hop.
The 80's was 20yrs ago, so it's it's turn to be back.
I've said this before on NYF: Today's kids are living in a futureistic version of the 80's, they just don't know it. Well actually many do. 🙂
As for Freestyle, with doors opening for Dance music by today's biggest stars, I do believe it's VERY possible for any of our Freestyle fav's to have a hit record out now with the right promotion. It doesn't have to be Freestyle. But if it is, they better go back their funky 80's roots of the major artists of the genre, and not sound like the mid 90's stuff, or it WILL NOT SELL!

I will agree on one thing.....it will NEVER be like the 80s. And that's why I thought (going back to the "freestyle stimulus") that doing a new sound (not even going back to the 90's) for the current 20 something generation may be the angle to go on. NOTHING will change the mindset of the majority of people from that "first generation" of freestyle, to which that is fine. It's like the classic rockers loving Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith and hating what is out there today. That I totally understand.

I just think IF (a BIG "if") there was any sort of chance of a new scene to happen, perhaps Philadelphia/So. Jersey should be the area to start that up and we take it from there.

 

[cArLiToS WaY]

How many artists actually hail from Philly? I was curious. Isn't Denine from Philly or something like that?

 

[george]

How many artists actually hail from Philly? I was curious. Isn't Denine from Philly or something like that?

A ton of them. A lot of the Metropolitan/Tazmania roster were Philly / SJ locals. Denine, Stephanie Bennet, Pure Pleazure, Adam Marano, Anthony Monteleone (Collage), Joe Zangie, Samantha Geravasio, Miguel Reyes, And the guys that sang "False Love"- I cant think of their name right now but that song was huge in Philly when I was in High School. And many more, I just cant think of them right now.

As for old school artists, I can't think of any except Debbie Deb. I know she lives in Bucks County (part of Philly).

Freestyle has always been big in Philly. To this day, especially in the summers, you will still hear people-including teenagers- blaring freestyle out their cars driving down South Street.

Always puts a smile on my face.

 

[cArLiToS WaY]

A ton of them. A lot of the Metropolitan/Tazmania roster were Philly / SJ locals. Denine, Stephanie Bennet, Pure Pleazure, Adam Marano, Anthony Monteleone (Collage), Joe Zangie, Samantha Geravasio, Miguel Reyes, And the guys that sang "False Love"- I cant think of their name right now but that song was huge in Philly when I was in High School. And many more, I just cant think of them right now.
As for old school artists, I can't think of any except Debbie Deb. I know she lives in Bucks County (part of Philly).
Freestyle has always been big in Philly. To this day, especially in the summers, you will still hear people-including teenagers- blaring freestyle out their cars driving down South Street.
Always puts a smile on my face.

Damn, that is a lot. I always associated Metro/Taz with Jersey and Philly.....

For some reason, Summer & Freestyle go perfectly well together. Good times.

 

[Wild Style]

I had to bump this now that Tazmania Records is back making new music. This thread is more relevant now.