We are grinding here at SCR Entertainment, so while we diligently push through the workload, please be patient; you’ll love the new website!

A website we are developing which is essentially the whole catalog of SCR Entertainment is now in the works. The first 12 SCR releases dating back to 1993 plus all of the new works will all be available. At launch we will have over 150 tracks with more coming!

Did you check out the SCR Albums page yet? I have selected four albums from the audio vault for your listening pleasure, all with Hip Hop flavor demonstrating what it used to be like, preparing you for the now.

The choices are:

Spiritual Warfare by Yotman - This is Gospel Rap. Hip Hop from a warrior for God!
Release Year 2001

Against all Odds by EastSide - This is Urban Contemporary Gospel for five men of God!
Release Year 2001

From The Vault a Smooth Composition Recordings Compilation - This is Hip Hop!
Release Year 2000

Lord Please Protect Me by Krush - Full of bangers regarding hood life, ghetto fab and grindin!
Release Year 1998

All four album's tracks are available to listen to as sample clips and you may purchase any or all of the albums as MP3 downloads! (Complete albums only.)

Come listen, tell a friend, purchase and enjoy audio bliss at the SCR Album page!

Check out Bloggin 365 for daily posts where I will basically give you a daily peek into what's up in my world.

Here is a breakdown of the 5 most recent beats added to the site:

• Mo Fo U - Other Flavor
• Jazzy Funk - East Coast
• In The Hole - Club Flavor
• West Coast Funk - West Coast
• Symphony Funk - West Coast

All through October you can read my blog for updates and progress on the things I’m working on.

Currently, we intend to launch the SCR Vault site with the release of my first solo album “Spoken”, currently planned for December.

I remember having a meeting not long ago. My assistant and I sat with a director, an investor / co-producer and two cast members for a play to be brought to the stage in 2010. The meeting purpose, as I understood it based on previous conversations, was for me to meet with the director and investor to discuss what contribution I could possibly make to the production. Specifically, music and how much I would charge them for my services.

As we are seated, an attractive young actress joins us at the table. While not part of what I thought would take place, I did not question her presence. The first topic of discussion was determining parts in the play . . . what? While I did not react outwardly, I noticed that a second change from my perceived reason for the meeting had taken place; the first being the inclusion of an actress to the meeting.

An envelope was passed to me containing a script. While prior to this meeting, I was aware that there was an interest in me playing a role in a stage production associated with this investor, this was not the same director I met the week before.

I made a mental note and flowed with the meeting. While the meeting went well in terms of information shared and grand expectations for success expressed, it was really just about their agenda. To be expected, yes; however, vague information registers to me as one of two things: they didn’t have the specific information to share; or they did have the specific information and were not freely sharing it.

Lots of vagueness was being communicated in this meeting. Money was alluded to in the form of this statement, “Everyone will be getting paid,” but the specific answer to the specific question of how much was responded to with, “Our finance people are working on that equation.” Well, not an entirely un-plausible answer, but clearly leaving much room for speculation.

Over the course of a week and several additional conversations, here is what I discovered:

The director and co-producer were not on the same page, which was evident when I asked both individuals the same questions in separate conversations and got different answers. I allowed my primary questions, “What do you need me to do?” and “What is your budget for the music?” to be treated as afterthoughts.

Time was spent travelling to and from a meeting (transit time) as well as time spent on the phone and even time considering the possibilities, all of which is gone. I found out in roughly eight hours what I could have known within an hour. We can’t reach an agreement that is win / win for both parties.

The individuals I met with have some great ideas, great intentions, and the fire to get results, but five-year olds have all of these, too. I believe they even mean well, but in the end good business is about service and dollars, not good intentions and well meaning. They wanted my gift, but couldn’t afford my price. OK, fair enough; I move on.

The value you place on an hour of your time will determine how much a lesson like this can cost you. Whatever you want out of a deal, be willing to ask for it and make it the main thing for you, because what they want is the main thing for them.

Know your bottom line! Art, love and passion aside, this business is just that: business. What you give to your customers / clients and what you will receive for it in return; service for money.

Wisdom from the Grind:  Treat your bottom line as important as your client treat’s theirs!

Natasha’s album is currently on the high heat burner. Be sure to check the blog for updates.

Beat production for BanginBeatsByREL.com continues to be the priority until the first goal is met: 60 World Class Beats! We now have 27 on the site.