How Has Eminem Risen to the Top?Written by Jeff Schuman II
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In 1997 he was married with a child trying to support his family with very little cash to do it with. He went to Rap Olympics in Los Angeles hoping to win cash prize of $1,500 for first place, but instead was spotted by a few sponsors from Interscope. Furious that he had come in second, he later found out about sponsors and he gave them a copy of “Infinite” tape, which was later sent to Dr. Dre. Dre was extremely impressed with talent of Eminem and got contact of him, where two recorded his second album; The Slim Shady LP. This album set tone for his style of rap, as he lashed out on everyone that had bullied him throughout his life. It was a different style than anyone had ever heard, which brought him to stardom. Eminem is by far most popular rapper that is seen most in public. He has been seen in Rap Pages, VIBE, Rolling Stone, Spin, The Source, URB and Stress and continues to strive for more. He became first white person to ever be on cover of The Source. Throughout his life he has starred in movie “8 Mile” based on his life growing up, has had over 20 guest appearances on TV, has featured on numerous different rappers CD’s, and has recorded 5 CD’s of his own. His second LP, “The Marshall Mathers LP”, sold over 8 million records in United States alone, 1.76 million copies in first week setting a record for a solo artist. This album became first rap album ever to be nominated for “Album of Year” at Grammies. He would go on to win 3 Grammies for album that night. In year 2002 he made $29 million in earnings of his fourth album “The Eminem Show LP” and touring for it. Then on March 23, 2003 song “Lose Yourself” from his movie “8 Mile” became first rap song to ever win an Academy Award. While being known for his explicit behavior and horrendous lyrics on his albums and in eye of public, it is difficult to overlook all that he has achieved. Coming from where he did and rising to where he is currently, it is remarkable what he has done not only for himself, but rap world as well. While it is hard for most to like him, there are not many that do not at least respect him for what he has achieved as of now, and what he may do in future to come.
Jeff Schuman II is the creator of Best-MP3-Music-Downloads.com where you can buy CD’s and find all of the best free music downloads. http://www.best-mp3-music-downloads.com
| | Duke Ellington Starring in “The Evolution of Jazz”Written by David Kunstek
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While Duke's band was performing at Cotton Club, his band participated in more than sixty-four recording sessions. In 1931 Duke grew so tired of show-business routines that he decided to try his luck again on his own. When he arrived in New York his band grew to almost three times what it originally had been at Cotton Club. Duke feared that this would become a very serious problem considering how stock market crashed in late 1929 and millions of people across United States were out of work. Somehow, though, most of entertainment business survived economic hardships. Ellington's band had appeared on Broadway and had even gone to Hollywood to make a movie. Duke's band was having a hard time performing in south because of segregation laws not allowing blacks to eat in white restaurants or finding accommodations that would allow blacks and whites to stay together in a half-decent room. In 1932 Duke added a trombonist named Lawrence Brown. In same year, most of other big bands were adding vocalists to their ensemble and thus Duke felt pressured to do so too. Duke then hired a woman named Ivie Anderson and quickly proved that he had done right thing. Then in 1933 his band got a chance to play in Europe. At first Duke was very skeptical of how his music would be reacted to just because jazz had its roots in America and Europeans had a very contrasting style of music. The band managed to talk Duke into believing idea was a good one. The band's first stop was England. The band was amazed at how well informed they were about their entire past. Even Prince of Wales came to hear band play. At time prince was an amateur drummer and Sonny Greer Showed prince how to work drum set and they played together and in end were calling each other 'Sonny' and 'The Wale'. All concerts held in England were sellouts. The band then moved on to Scotland, and then Paris, France where their music was greeted with open arms. When Duke's band returned to America band really began feeling hardship and sorrow of traveling on road, being separated from loved ones. Also, many of band members, including Duke, began developing drinking problems and started making some of musicians lives miserable. What made things worse was fact that Duke's mother, Daisy, died in May of 1935 that set Duke into a deep depression and he used to sit and stare into space while he talked to himself. Fortunately though, those long pep-talks with himself seem to snap Duke out of his depression. But despite everything band survived and in 1946 a saxophonist/clarinetist named Russell Procope joined band and brought everyone up to a new point of view about traveling on road. Around time that Procope joined band Duke invented a new song called 'Reminiscing in Tempo' and was not looked upon favorably by critics but it did seem to sum everything up that was written by Ellington from 1931 to 1939 in a combination of gladness, sadness, triumph, and tragedy. But then Duke's friend Arthur Whetsol became and had to leave band. Then future of band seemed uncertain as depression continued and millions of people were still out of work. Until around 1935 when 'Swing Era' hit U.S. Irving Mills had then formed his own record company in 1936 that boomed with popularity as demand for big bands playing this new swing music was in intense demand. Later on Duke hired a lyrical writer named Billy Strayhorn that led a premature death in 1967. But when Strayhorn was with band he wrote many compositions that often went into band's book of music. Then in 1942 Duke hired one of best tenor saxophonists ever and let him play first tenor sax solo ever arranged by Duke Ellington. In 1951 Saxophonist Johnny Hodges, trombonist Lawrence Brown, and Sonny Greer left band together and formed their own band but then in 1955 Sonny Greer returned to band and stayed with Duke until his death in 1970. And then by 1950's Ellington band was carrying on almost alone. By 1972 times and styles of world no longer fit old time style of Duke's band. The band was not known like it used to be and that could be point in time I suppose you could say that band broke up. Duke Ellington's career spanned whole history of birth of music called jazz. And nowhere in that glorious history is there a man who had more love for music, more respect for his art, than man they called Duke.David Kunstek writes for Http://www.ShotGlassShelf.com – Display Cases for Shot Glass Collector, and Http://www.Secret-Deals.com – Every day discounts on Brand Name Merchandise Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared; Mailto:webmaster@secret-deals.com
David Kunstek writes for Http://www.ShotGlassShelf.com – Display Cases for the Shot Glass Collector, and Http://www.Secret-Deals.com – Every day discounts on Brand Name Merchandise Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared; Mailto:webmaster@secret-deals.com
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