All the tracks on the album are done. All I’m waiting for is Destiny Soprano to re-record her part on “Bomb Squad” and it’s a wrap! She’s coming by tomorrow to record her part, and as soon as the mixing is over, it’s being sent over to TuneCore and it’ll be on its way to iTunes. March 1, 2010 is the tentative release date, as it usually takes 4-6 weeks for iTunes to have stuff up via TuneCore.
I released “Phase 2 – Lyrics to an Identity” almost 5 years ago. It took 5 years to make this album, and it’s gone through so many iterations and name changes that at one point, during a low point in my life, I didn’t think the album was going to come out. I have to thank God for that one (and everything else), because ever since I started playing in the church band every Sunday and cleaning up some of the stuff in my life that needed cleaning, I became revitalized and re-inspired. I’m not exactly making Christian music right now totally, though I have made Christian songs in the past, but He’s blessed me anyway with inspiration, wisdom, and freedom of creativity.
The acronym in the title of the album, “Phase 3 – L.Y.R.I.C.A.L. Without Fear,” stands for Leave Your Regrets In Christ And Live. This is the basically the approach I took with the album as time went on. The songs that were going to originally be part of the album were all pretty standard, and although I love every song I make, it was the songs that were different from what I’m used to doing that were the most enjoyable to make. There were three guitar solos (“Mostly Boast,” “Found Me,” “The Bomb Squad”), a video game sample (“Call to Arms” from Final Fantasy VI), a symphony orchestra (courtesy of Project SAM Symphobia, on “Round and Round”), capoeira rhythm (“Roll Your Windows”), blaring choirs with my “Bleeding Heaven” technique (on “Devastator,” more on the “Bleeding Heaven” technique later), multi-layer samples (“Roll Your Windows”), Beatles style build up and scream (“Mostly Boast”), live drums, bass and piano recordings (“Live Hip-Hop,” available on the iTunes version of the album) and other things. Although some signatures of mine are there, this album sounds distinctly different from my past two, and I think it’s for the better.
As far as concepts go, I think “The Bomb Squad” was the most fun. You also have “Found Me” and “Round and Round” which are both incredibly personal to me. “Mostly Boast” was the record that I let loose on and I stopped caring about what people would say if I did certain things in my music. “Call to Arms” was actually inspired by a crew of people I was running with that was finally getting over past beefs to go have fun again. “4 My Ghostwriter” actually makes the idea of a ghostwriter a more positive thing (listen to the song and you’ll see why). “Do Something” was my declaration that I wouldn’t just sit around and do nothing, especially after my best friend Rain past away in 2007. “Every Move” was me slowly getting to the point where I wouldn’t let people dictate what I rhyme about. “Handle Our Biz,” “Spear,” and “You Need To..” were getting my people involved with some 5fam love. “Devastator” was simply me kicking ass and getting you to want to kick ass too; in some ways an “I OWN YOU” part two.
I had a lot of fun with this album, and about just as much frustration. All the frustration was worth it though, and what resulted was an album that I’m most proud of and can’t wait to show the world. I’ve even got a plan for the songs I will perform, and hopefully I can gain some traction with some new listeners.
I have to thank everyone who helped me on this album with their contributions: Harmony Speaks, Destiny Soprano, CoCoa, DiMpLeZ, Brian Bullion, FoRcE oNe, Less, K-Maculate, ADM, Boy Gnyus, Vincent, Takewun, JC and SL. Each recording was a fun (and funny) experience. Especially “The Bomb Squad,” which took two years to complete and everyone in MsP had a role and their voice recorded on it.
Hopefully, when you listen to it, you’ll learn some things from it, whether it’s personal to you or on a musical/lyrical level if you are a musician. Either way, most importantly, I hope you enjoy the music when it comes out on March 1, 2010.
Thanks for reading also! More to come!
-mnshyn
Phase 3 Nearing Completion… Future Plans
Monday, January 18th, 2010With “Bomb Squad” in its release candidate phase (I recorded my part yesterday), and “Intro III” recorded (done yesterday as well), this only leaves “My Thoughts Exactly III,” “Thank You III,” and “Outro III” left to record. These last three would only take me an hour all together to record as none of them are songs. After that point, the album goes directly into Tunecore and FINALLY… on its way to iTunes.. hopefully by March 1st. =]
Now comes the planning for the future. I’m looking to promote this one more than I have promoted the past two albums, and I have a lot of confidence in this album. I feel that there are many strong tracks that will be alluring to different audiences, and with the melding of unorthodox elements within these songs I feel that I am bringing something quite unique to the table. Promoting will include performing in some open mics and a video. I may do some YouTube tactics as well, but I don’t want to use the same tactics everyone else is using.
Hopefully, I can bring in some iTunes sales. Although the numbers haven’t been anywhere near stellar, the fact that I have been regularly selling a song here and there means that there are people who are interested. This album, I believe, has the power to bring some more people in at a much better rate.
Here are the projects that are currently in progress:
1. Project Inhalor [adm/mnshyn]
2. Wind Beneath My Wings [dstnysprn]
I will most definitely be working on a Phase 4 once Phase 3 has gone to iTunes. What will Phase 4 be? It will definitely build on the ideas of Phase 3, but I want to bring in some other elements as well that I have not used. Different time signatures (5/4 and 6/8 being possibilities at the moment), different keys and chord structures (particularly more use of diminished chords and other 4 note chords aside from dominant 7th), and new sampling techniques. I want my music to still have the feel of a hip-hop rooted foundation, so it still won’t strive too far from that. Some people strive to get the old sound back (those still wanting that 94 boom bap), while others are trying a new sound that do not sit well with the traditional heads (snap/crunk/hyphy/signature dance). I’m trying to forge a new direction that would seem logical and fitting to everyone yet still sound fresh and innovative.
I still would like to do an MsP compilation album to really show what we’re about. MsP’s got such a lovely array of talent, and people need to see (or in this case hear) what we can do.
With that being said, I would like to help all the members create at least 1 or 2 songs this year at the minimum. It would be interesting to note whether or not that goal will be achieved by December 31, 2010.
There’s also Flight, who we will finally get to see again after 3 years! I don’t know if he will be interested in making music again, but you know I will have to ask.
MsP will have an informal meeting on February 6, 2010 over Chicken and Rice, so maybe we can trade notes there.
Interesting times! Let’s see what this year has in store for us.
-mnshyn
Tags: adm, bomb squad, destiny soprano, electronic music, hip-hop, intro iii, lyrical without fear, moon shizzle productions, moon shyne, my thoughts exactly iii, outro iii, phase 3, phase 4, project inhalor, rap, thank you iii, wind beneath my wings
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