I KNOW THAT UNITY DONT PAY THE BILLS BRO , THIS IS A DOGGY DOG BUISNESS, BUT THERE ARE MANY FORMS OF UNITY.FOR INSTANCE TAKE THE FREESTYLE TRACKS FROM YEARS AGO, THERE WERE NUMEROUS PRODUCERS AND MUSICIANS COLLABERATING ON A SONG TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS THERE WAS SO MUCH INPUT FROM EACH PERSON .THATS WHAT MAKES A GREAT PRODUCTION .THREE HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE RIGHT? AS TIME WENT BY THERE HAS BEEN LESS AND LESS INPUT GOING INTO PRODUCTIONS A ONE MAN SHOW .WITH ARTISTS SINGING, WRITING, PRODUCING, ENGINEERING ,ETC TRYING TO DO IT ALL AND MOST OF THE TIME IT JUST DIDNT WORK AND THEREFORE THE QUALITY WAS DIMINISHED.THAT IN MY OPINION IS ANOTHER REASON WHY FREESTYLE IS AND HAS BEEN IN THE POSITION ITS IN. AND OF COURSE THERE ARE A LOT MORE REASONS ALSO...GALVATRON said:
Caleb-B
New member
No Doubt....i personally have been tryin to gather heads and make some seriouse moves .....Coast to Coast.....But (like you said) tahts all been deminished.....its a thing of the past now.....You got to have money aint a damn thing funny. Much Love to the Producers who are still down to jump on a project strictly for the Love!! PCe!italo1 said:
ARE YOU TALKING TO ME ?, YOU'LL GIVE ME THE HISTORY OF BUULSHIT YEA YOULL GIVE ME THE HISTORY OF THE INVENTION OF THE LIGHT BULB, OF WHICH YOU DONT EVEN HAVE ONE ON IN YOUR HEAD. YOU WANT TO GET NASTY MAN, A LITTLE FRUSTRATED ARE WE?? YOU NEED TO GET OUT MORE MAN. IVE NEVER HAD ANY TYPE OF BAD WORDS TO SAY ABOUT ANYONE OR ANY OPINION SAID ON THIS SIGHT. BUT YOUR ATTITUDE SUCKS.jboyvip said:
italo1 said:
Then if you knew that, then why are you going against what I said, "dawg". And anyways, I wasn't "trying" to give anyone an attitude-I think you're attitude sucks. You're the one cussin and stuff. I'm just being straightforward and blunt. I don't stoop to one's level, but the reason why I wrote that long paragraph was to further explain Freestyle and what I meant. Obviously, you did not know that because you said in the post yourself all your discrepancies! You're the only one that has no "lightbulb" in your head (which is such a lame comeback). What I'm speaking is truth. I've even met Kraftwerk (1997), and they admitted that ever since they started in 1970 as a group (the lineup changed since then), they had always been to the left in "experimental" music, ambient music, and soon electronics with the syncopated "Trans Europe Express". When I asked them about what they thought of Freestyle, Electro, Bass-Dance in general, they were pleased to note the similarities and the roots between them and they had revolutionized electronica forever. Yet, they weren't the only people delving into electronic sounds. A few soul and rock artists had touched upon electronics in their songs during the same period, but Kraftwerk became the most successful.
Elelectronica-after simple inventions in improving music in the late 19th century. Genre rose out of World War II due to war technological advances and developed technologically through synthesizer technology, the availability of computers, the space programs (military), and machines such as the drum machine. In reality, the first form of Electronic music was modern/contemporary clasical music. It really became of interest to rock bands as well (synthesizers) such as The Beatles and to European rockers who began to experiment with such sounds. 1970-Kraftwerk forms and their real first breakthrough single 'Autobahn' which becomes famous for its rockish/electronic sounds. Soon the 80s come, and everyone begins to use electronics in their sounds. There, happy? Short and sweet.
And I'm not here to jump down anyone's throat or to create any problems. I'm just here to support Freestyle music, keep it real, and keep it true.
Caleb-B
New member
Yeah Bro iz cooo, Im sorry if i came out like a Dik.....I was tryin to be a wise guy. But when i re read it I saw how ugly it looked. My bad dude.jboyvip said:
Last Wish
Ok, I'm kinda tired of postin' in this thread, yet it is exciting though. I do learn a lot and what people feel and it only helps me more.
Back to the point of this discussion, I just don't understand why people don't give Shannon the credit she deserves (I'm sorry, Shannon made the #12 slot in VH1's greatest Dance songs-I was typing too fast). I know there r some ignorant and hatin people out there just because, one of the reasons I know, was just cause she was black! Really, we should acknoweldge the history and facts and respect it (the rock fans know Elvis really pushed rock into the mainstream and rap fans know the importance of James Brown in their music and "Rapper's Delight" being the first rap breakthrough). Freestyle, really, is Latin though and was really meant to represent them. I'm proud of its accomlishments, and I am a loyal fan to this day. It really has contributed much to music.
Like Planet Rock initiated a wave of Electro-FUNK (Funk-very fast, James Brown-like which really helped bring Hip Hop about-remember, Electro is a component of Hip Hop and had always been around, beginning in Kraftwerk's days-D-Train's 1981 "You Are the One For Me" is a prime example of this), Shannon's "Let the Music Play" initiated a wave of clones that, during the 83-84 period, were called "Shannonesque records" or "Shannon clones". She created a new style like Bambaataa: Freestyle. Really, C-Bank's "One More Shot", Nancy Martinez's "Can't Believe", Newcleus' "Jam on Revenge" and Freeez's "I.O.U." were more Electro-Funk than Freestyle-all released before Shannon's September 1983 release (although I can see why many would coin it as Freestyle songs and Afrika Bambaataa). But, Freestyle is really for the Latin crowd and represents them best-it gave them pride, a new wave in the 80s such as the wave in the 40s and 50s of Latin legends. I can also see where people would credit Kraftwerk's "Trans Europe Express" as the first Freestyle record (although many of today's dance sounds have came from Kraftwerk's sounds-but remember, Disco, Hip Hop (bass, electro), House, Techno, etc. are still AF because of the syncopation and musical characteristics such as instruments, voice, body use, etc. in which Kraftwerk used syncopated electronic sounds in "Trans Europe Express" in 1977. They were sort of a rock band, like kraut rock that was popularized in the 60s (remember, rock grew out heavily from Rhythm and Blues of the 40s and 50s and other genres such as swing, blues, etc. and is really American-the syncretism of African and white cultures). But back to point, many would agree Shannon as the first Freestyle artist to have a Freestyle record. Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock" is purely Electro-Funk, but since many Freestylers and others imitated the sound, could it be included as Freestyle as well.
If you lived back then, you could tell the difference between Shannon and other Electro records of her time-really because of the Latin instrumentation that found international success (man, many of my black friends who lived during that era remember the "unexpected 80s"-living through the excitement of Bambaataa, Hashim, Cybotron, and Shannon-through the sounds of Chip E., Farley, New Age, Miami Bass. One said that when he heard Shannon in the fall of 1983, he noted the "revolution" that she would have such as Bambaataa. He had a little retail shop in Philly-up since the Disco days yet down in the mid 90s-and he remembered some Hispanics there talking that although it was electro, it was different and were proud of the Latin instrumentation. Every day, as my man put a monthly vinyl list were these Hispanics and a few blacks and whites waiting for any "Shannon-sounding" vinyl. Back then, a majority of the people-from fan to marketer to editor-called it Latin Hip Hop, Latin Electro, and soon Miami Disco. At a music conference in Germany in 1998, I asked some Germans about the "Shannon" sound, and they mostly replied that it was something new back then (No one really knew what to call it).
The word Freestyle was first used in 1987 or in 1988 (probably even as early as 1986-I know by 1988 for sure) when it reached its pinnacle (esp. in 1988, Freestyle's best year with the countless release of Freestyle records and pop and crossover success-a good year for House "Summer or Love" and Miami Bass "Afro Rican, MC Ade, Sir Mix-A-Lot, etc. as well and the crossover of rock/soul/hip hop artists etc. into the dance realm with countless remixes). Few sources cited Freestyle but Latin Hip Hop was still used, or Latin Pop or "The Miami Sound". Even to this day, some still say Latin Hip Hop, but Freestyle is the major word now.
Ok, I'm kinda tired of postin' in this thread, yet it is exciting though. I do learn a lot and what people feel and it only helps me more.
Back to the point of this discussion, I just don't understand why people don't give Shannon the credit she deserves (I'm sorry, Shannon made the #12 slot in VH1's greatest Dance songs-I was typing too fast). I know there r some ignorant and hatin people out there just because, one of the reasons I know, was just cause she was black! Really, we should acknoweldge the history and facts and respect it (the rock fans know Elvis really pushed rock into the mainstream and rap fans know the importance of James Brown in their music and "Rapper's Delight" being the first rap breakthrough). Freestyle, really, is Latin though and was really meant to represent them. I'm proud of its accomlishments, and I am a loyal fan to this day. It really has contributed much to music.
Like Planet Rock initiated a wave of Electro-FUNK (Funk-very fast, James Brown-like which really helped bring Hip Hop about-remember, Electro is a component of Hip Hop and had always been around, beginning in Kraftwerk's days-D-Train's 1981 "You Are the One For Me" is a prime example of this), Shannon's "Let the Music Play" initiated a wave of clones that, during the 83-84 period, were called "Shannonesque records" or "Shannon clones". She created a new style like Bambaataa: Freestyle. Really, C-Bank's "One More Shot", Nancy Martinez's "Can't Believe", Newcleus' "Jam on Revenge" and Freeez's "I.O.U." were more Electro-Funk than Freestyle-all released before Shannon's September 1983 release (although I can see why many would coin it as Freestyle songs and Afrika Bambaataa). But, Freestyle is really for the Latin crowd and represents them best-it gave them pride, a new wave in the 80s such as the wave in the 40s and 50s of Latin legends. I can also see where people would credit Kraftwerk's "Trans Europe Express" as the first Freestyle record (although many of today's dance sounds have came from Kraftwerk's sounds-but remember, Disco, Hip Hop (bass, electro), House, Techno, etc. are still AF because of the syncopation and musical characteristics such as instruments, voice, body use, etc. in which Kraftwerk used syncopated electronic sounds in "Trans Europe Express" in 1977. They were sort of a rock band, like kraut rock that was popularized in the 60s (remember, rock grew out heavily from Rhythm and Blues of the 40s and 50s and other genres such as swing, blues, etc. and is really American-the syncretism of African and white cultures). But back to point, many would agree Shannon as the first Freestyle artist to have a Freestyle record. Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock" is purely Electro-Funk, but since many Freestylers and others imitated the sound, could it be included as Freestyle as well.
If you lived back then, you could tell the difference between Shannon and other Electro records of her time-really because of the Latin instrumentation that found international success (man, many of my black friends who lived during that era remember the "unexpected 80s"-living through the excitement of Bambaataa, Hashim, Cybotron, and Shannon-through the sounds of Chip E., Farley, New Age, Miami Bass. One said that when he heard Shannon in the fall of 1983, he noted the "revolution" that she would have such as Bambaataa. He had a little retail shop in Philly-up since the Disco days yet down in the mid 90s-and he remembered some Hispanics there talking that although it was electro, it was different and were proud of the Latin instrumentation. Every day, as my man put a monthly vinyl list were these Hispanics and a few blacks and whites waiting for any "Shannon-sounding" vinyl. Back then, a majority of the people-from fan to marketer to editor-called it Latin Hip Hop, Latin Electro, and soon Miami Disco. At a music conference in Germany in 1998, I asked some Germans about the "Shannon" sound, and they mostly replied that it was something new back then (No one really knew what to call it).
The word Freestyle was first used in 1987 or in 1988 (probably even as early as 1986-I know by 1988 for sure) when it reached its pinnacle (esp. in 1988, Freestyle's best year with the countless release of Freestyle records and pop and crossover success-a good year for House "Summer or Love" and Miami Bass "Afro Rican, MC Ade, Sir Mix-A-Lot, etc. as well and the crossover of rock/soul/hip hop artists etc. into the dance realm with countless remixes). Few sources cited Freestyle but Latin Hip Hop was still used, or Latin Pop or "The Miami Sound". Even to this day, some still say Latin Hip Hop, but Freestyle is the major word now.
Alright. Nuff Said. Shannon had the first true Latin Freestyle record. We should thank Kraftwerk and Bamb for their efforts in revolutionizing the dance sound. The word Freestyle was for sure used by 1988 by several authors and industry personnel, probably even as early as 1986 (the girl bands that ruled the 80s really did help coin this word such as Company B, Expose, Cover Girls, Sweet Sensation, etc.) And to those saying Nayobe had the first Freestyle record, she can probably be credited as the first Latin woman artist to have a Freestyle record and hit (before her debut, there was:
Lookout Weekend-Debbie Deb
Sidewalk Talk-Jellybean f/ Madonna
Set It Off-Strafe
Yo Little Brother-Nolan Thomas
Jam On It-Newcleus
Mexican-Jellybean
If This Ain't Love-Jay Novelle
Honey To a Bee-Tina B.
Point of No Return-X-posed (Expose)
etc. etc.
THE END.
Lookout Weekend-Debbie Deb
Sidewalk Talk-Jellybean f/ Madonna
Set It Off-Strafe
Yo Little Brother-Nolan Thomas
Jam On It-Newcleus
Mexican-Jellybean
If This Ain't Love-Jay Novelle
Honey To a Bee-Tina B.
Point of No Return-X-posed (Expose)
etc. etc.
THE END.
Naturalstyle
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I cant' believe people still ask this question. It's like saying "which came first, the chicken or the egg", or "if a tree falls in the forest and no one is around".
It's a question with NO ANSWER because freestyle was an EVOLUTION of a music style.
Even the very definition of "freestyle" is unclear and if we can't even effing describe it, how the hell can we identify it?
Perhaps we should ask about the first time the word "freestyle" was used to describe this particular sound.
I personally know of at least one song from 1982 that if it were out today people would say is "freestyle" but if I were to mention it people would go NUTS and say I'm wrong.
Anyway... While we sit here and go crazy over this issue, life goes on outside of our little "freestyle fantasy" world.
It's a question with NO ANSWER because freestyle was an EVOLUTION of a music style.
Even the very definition of "freestyle" is unclear and if we can't even effing describe it, how the hell can we identify it?
Perhaps we should ask about the first time the word "freestyle" was used to describe this particular sound.
I personally know of at least one song from 1982 that if it were out today people would say is "freestyle" but if I were to mention it people would go NUTS and say I'm wrong.
Anyway... While we sit here and go crazy over this issue, life goes on outside of our little "freestyle fantasy" world.
first of all man everything in my reply was not only directed towards you some, of it was and some of it wasnt, i was speaking in general and i speak bluntly also just like you do.and second of all i just didnt like the way you came off, and third your posts are damm to long yur talking about too many different things man, before you know it youll be talking about which came first the chicken or the egg. and one more thing im referring to what you said about shannon in that she created a new style, she interpreted the new style (vocal style) along with jimmi tunnel, she didnt create the style, the producers and the musicians created that style of music.theres a little bit of a difference. and lastly im not looking to have an attitude with anyone either you seem to know your stuff for the most part and there had been a little misunderstanding. i just didnt agree with everything you said...
I KNOW WHT YOUR SAYING, AND IF YOU LOOK AT MY EARLIER POSTS ON THIS ISSUE I TRIED TO EXPLAIN THE SAME THING, BUT THE WHOLE DISCUSSION JUST GOT BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION. PRETTY SOON WILL BE TALKING ABOUT WHICH CAME FIRST THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG.ITS BORING ALREADYNaturalstyle said:
Naturalstyle said:
Yes, there is an answer. It's really Shannon's "Let the Music Play" and many will agree. Freestyle is not so distant as if we can't record its evolution and inception. All music evolved somewhere, and one song is what can start a new genre (i.e. house, hip hop, funk, reggae, soul, jazz, ragtime, country, bluegrass, Motown, Psychedelic rock, kraut rock, etc. This isn't a "crazy" issue either. In everything, there's always going to be an issue. I think we all know and understand that life goes on in our "little freestyle fantasy", but this happens to be a website with posts after all. Issues such as this should be tackled and be cleared once and for all. Yes, we can't solve all issues, but this one is a far cry than debating on what the president should focus more on in the country or how the country should change its Constitution. It eveolved really from the electro-funk movement, and Shannon created the new sound-having dominant Latin percussion to an electro beat. Maybe there wouldn't be such an issue if everybody recognized and respected Shannon as having the first true Freestyle record-Latin influenced (most of the dance records with Latin influences in the 80s were disco, which did not truly "die out" until 1985 and since then spread to other genres of dance music such as the burgeoning Freestyle and House and later techno, dnb, eurodance, etc. It's sad to see that fans of other genres of music can overwhelmingly claim where their genre of interest originated from and what were the first significant songs.
italo1 said:
Ok, that's fine as well if you don't agree. I'm not forcing people to accept everything I say, but I can only give clear, hard facts. It's like religion, you can't convert everyone to believe everything you believe. At least I hope people can open their eyes a little more and see what a crucial role Shannon played in the music's involvement. So many people disrespect her and I've had enough. She deserves respect such as any of the freestyle pioneers or other artists deserving of respect-and yes, the producers, promoters, Djs, etc. as well.
Infinit1
New member
Nayobe? eh..
So what was that music i was dancing to @ HEARTTHROBS in 1982 when Lil Louie was cutting?
Way Before NAYOBE! People....
If you ask me I would look towards Trilogy, C-Bank, Tina B, Newcleus (Jam on it!) or Afirka Bam
So what was that music i was dancing to @ HEARTTHROBS in 1982 when Lil Louie was cutting?
Way Before NAYOBE! People....
If you ask me I would look towards Trilogy, C-Bank, Tina B, Newcleus (Jam on it!) or Afirka Bam
Infinit1 said:
Alright, I'm not trying to be mean or anything, but everything before Shannon was considered electro-funk or nowadays, proto-Freestyle as can be indicated by various sources from back then till now. For instance, "Shaft" by Isaac Hayes was considered proto-disco although many people claim it as disco (disco truly began by late 1973 and definitely by 1974). Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" is not really disco but synth-pop geared towards R&B-oriented music. I know back then though, many still classifed Shannon as disco as well as Evelyn "Champagne" King's "Love Come Down" and Aretha's "Jump to It". But in reality, these songs were largely not disco because the use of machines and styles associated with their songs. But I do have a lot of respect for Vega and Hearthrobs as well as other clubs and producers and DJs for keeping freestyle alive and helpind it gain success.
vendettastarslayer
New member
Just a quick thought from a newbie (sorry if I'm repeating something others have pointed out already)...I thought Set it Off was definitely more along the lines of house music than freestyle. But then again thats just my take. I just thought it was interesting that the variety of songs you've posted all have such different sounds (i.e. you have artists like debbie deb, meg, etc, vs. tina b vs. so on and so on). So I guess my point of view is that since there are so many different sounds, its really kind of hard to pinpoint one particular song or style to call the origin of freestyle music. Its really about what you consider to be freestyle. For instance, I was reading another thread about Information Society and realized that they are really not a freestyle group (I was actually really surprised to see them compared to New Order and Depeche Mode, but then again I have only heard a few of their songs). I probably havent really added much that most of you didnt already know (and I'm certain most of you here know much more then me; I'm just learning from you all 🙂), but I just wanted to throw my little two cents in there 😉jboyvip said:
cArLiToS WaY
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I don't think we'll ever know. But who cares, right?!
Kwabena D.
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If freestyle is a mixture of hip hop and dance, then MY BOO by Ghost town D.J.'s is one of the most perfectly made freestyle songs to me. Also, If Planet Soul, Angelina, Synthia Figueroa, Adriana, La Rissa, Li'l Suzy, Julissa, Acid Factor, Jossette, Rockell, and Dj Laz and Jonny Z. can be labelled as freestyle, then "Planet Rock" must also be freestyle because it has exactly a freestyle beat. A lot of freestyle songs use that beat as one of the general sounds of freestyle. There is mostly the Lisa Lisa "take you home" sound, then there is also the simple beat "Planet rock" beat sound, that MANY people (including many of the people in the Galaxy Freestyle records company) use. Maybe they rapped in Planet Rock, but somehow it wasn't enough to convert it to booty bass, and.... I guess it could also crossover to the breakbeat category. I've seen Dj Laz and Jonny Z. both put on freestyle compilations along with whoever sings "lookin for the butta". Another song that is completely freestyle is "a players ey.....- oops, I meant "play at your own risk". It has the freestyle beat with the melody in the background, the arranged treble sound, and the singing. Planet Rock also had the beat arrangements and the treble sounds with certain sounds that freestyle would use, but it was a little different. I don't know if I would consider that or "My Boo" by Ghosttown D.J.'s to be more freestyle, but "My Boo" would fit in with the freestyle songs that also have a lot of bass kind of like a bass or booty bass track. Dana Harris "as we lay" had a freestyle beat, but no extra sounds like "a little bit of ecstacy", "set u free", and "love's high (album version)", but it did use the same beat. "summertime summertime" by Corina had parts in her song that had that same beat. Anyway, I really don't know what is freestyle anymore because..... I really don't know what to say next my mind is somewhere else now. Here in Arizona, Hip hop and latin are big, (even the Gay 104.7 is starting to play some reggaeton), but there is NO freestyle... except of course on Energy 92.7/101.1, but IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER TO ME ANYMORE because I started listening to A.M. TALK RADIO, C.D.'s, and the new.... // excuse me, LA NUEVA 106.9 107.1 SUPER ESTRELLA #1 de Exitos because I got sick of all the other stations (except the alternative ones I've also kind of been getting in to). But right now I mostly listen to 107.1 which is a spanish station I found last week. I occasionally listen to Energy when I'm near a radio that can pick up it's signal, but since I have a new job and I keep my radio (that has a lot of bass) at work and I can't pick up Energy there, I just stick to - what I mentioned earlier. I sold my stereo, so that's no longer an option. I know they are playing "Masquerade" by Science and other songs like that on Energy at times, but they do not play Planet Rock! However, In Miami's Party 93.1, they DO play Planet Rock, but I don't care too much about it, Masquerade and Take me in your arms both have major elements of Planet Rock so it makes up for it. (I hope people kind of get what I'm trying to say indirectly...) What about that Jazz song with a freestyle beat and the little bells? It wasn't first, but what is the name of that song?