Hip-Hop’s socializing tendencies have undergone a facelift thanks to the acceptance and of the internet as a medium to for people to engage each other, connect and transmit messages.
The NUE Agency and Mobile Behavior held a panel recently at Santos Party House to discuss the junction of Hip-Hop lifestyle with social media and social networking.
Panelists consisted of notables within the Hip-Hop sector of social media and social networking sites who each have contributed to the hip-hop culture on the digital forefront: Amanda Diva (Diva Speak TV, TV host, artist), Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur (CEO and Co-founder of AllHipHop.com), Corey “CL” Lewellyn (CEO and Co-Founder of Digiwaxx), DJ VLad (Founder of VladTV.com, DJ), Miss Info (Missinfo.tv, radio personality, Hip-Hop journalist on Hot 97) and Alan Rambam (President of MobileBehavior).
Moderated by Jessie Kirshbam, CEO of NUE Agency, panelists discussed the effects of social media and social networking sites within the Hip-Hop culture, the importance of branding products and the use of blogs and videos to launch careers as well as funneling information to the evolving fashion and music world.
One concern discussed involved the information published by bloggers and aspiring journalists who fail to initiate steps to investigate if exclusives are accurate or not.
“When you see certain sites, I think that it’s all about your intention,” said Miss. “If your intention is about getting hits and you get a scoop, you’re not going to question it…You don’t have to be in the game for mad years just to have that second step.”
Amanda Diva, who’s set to release a mixtape titled “Spandex, Rhymes & Soul,” spoke on the decline of record sales due to the everlasting issue of music leakage:
“Honestly, I’ve given in. I’ve really come to understand that album sales are no longer realistic.” As many labels continue to fail in producing solutions to the problem, Amanda supports the unconventional approach: “The Radio Head model and the Saul Williams model of ‘Here’s music, pay what you want for it,’ I think that should become the norm and I think that’s the fairest thing ever.”
The panel discussed various social networks, mobile and emerging technologies that will continue to affect Hip-Hop.
