When The Heart Speaks... Get Moving!

When The Heart Speaks... Get Moving!

an original inspirational poem
by Nathanial Foreman


Is it really possible to be jealous of yourself?

Jealously comes from what you don't have so what happens when you don’t have yourself?

You don’t have you

Your not jealous of now because you have now But maybe your jealous of yesterday

Or better still, jealous of tomorrow

A valley that use to be a mountain and on its way to a sky scrapper

Sacrificing the greatness already obtained in hopes to build something greater

Patiently enduring the pain of a glorious memory

Fearful of the humiliation of having had and had not taken but had given away the rare spoils of life enjoyed by too few and desired by all.

Given away not in the spirit of waste but with the pure intent to invest in a wider horizon

A deep heartfelt passion that lay dormant in the mind, only stimulated in the realm of dreams and fantasy yet corrected diligently by reason to become an actual possible reality

How can you trust the idea of resetting what has gotten you to this point when it is at this point the knowledge came?

Isn't it merely resentment?

An acknowledgment that you made the wrong choices in life?

Shoulda coulda woulda?

Or is there a deeper definition, more real, a true calling

Everything up this point proves the majority of your talent is dormant because while you have proven you are talented, your talent is squandered

Distracted

Abused

Imagine the possibilities that derive from development

You've collected enough evidence to prove that it is possible

Could it really be that the only way there is to start over?

All this time put towards what it is and no one will argue that it is an achievement but could it be that the purpose of the journey behind you was to serve as your education for the real test?

Is that not why parents guide their children because they are familiar with the path and the basic responsibility demands that they make it easier for the child than they had it?

No matter where you stand, what you achieved, or what you own, never forget

The human heart craves more

It deserves more

Somehow you've grown accustom to the rhythm of life, timing it at the pace of your beating heart

At some point your heart starts talking to you

Hey, I keep you alive I work myself to death... Literally I don't stop until you die Even while you sleep I keep moving I've never stopped What have you done with this gift? You are way behind me and you may never catch up but it's never too late to get moving

Cause and effect are now a cycle as one effect becomes the cause of another

Connecting the dots no longer creates a complete picture

In time the dots you started with begin to fade, breaking the pattern of what was once so clear

What now?

How do strengthen something that was designed to fail?

You didn't know it then but it is crystal clear now

You were doing what seemed right in the present yet if more attention were paid to the forecast, the correct choices become clearer

The theory never fails, yet failure seems popular and forgivable as we ignore the obvious

What is true today feels great but what feels true in the future is divine and absolutely worth every single bit of scrutiny you get today and along the way

Those who quote 'what goes up must come down' miss out on the most beautiful part of the process

After a roller coaster descends from a steady climb, it goes forward with tremendous speed, looping, spinning and dazzling better than it ever could climbing steadily

The roller coaster track is much like the time line of your life except the start and end never meet

Regardless of your altitude or your speed, rest assured it will change

Shame on those who get depressed when the roller coaster is soaring down and fear shakes all through you

Don't you know the loop is coming?

Don't you know you will climb again?

Still, you're jealous, because you remember the air feels so much better up there

You used to be there and now that your view is beneath it

But wait, now that you are looking up at where you were, don’t you have a perfect view of the uncharted heavens above it?

Wow!

How does it feel up there?

Even further up

How do I get there?

A steady climb works well but that isn't my life

No, the reality is I will turn

I will spin

I will shake

I will brake

I will rise

I will fall

You what?

All the while your heart reminds you

I’m still working harder you!

You hear me thumping around when things get crazy?

That’s my job

Convert that fear, that doubt and that uncertainty all into their respective opposites and get moving!

I’m here for you I’ve always been here

I beat harder when its hectic and little softer when its calm but never off alert

I’ve got your back

Damn it, I’ve got your whole damn body in my grasp and I’ve kept you up this far

We are not stopping

I am your motor

I am your motive

I am your motion

I am you emotion

I am your joy

I am your tears

I am your cry

I am your health

I am your wealth

I am your power

I am your passion

I am your pleasure

I am your pain

I am your peace

I am your family

I am your father

I am your mother

I am your breath

I am your blink

I am your life…



GET MOVING!!!

Lucky Ice

Lucky Ice came to The NatCave Studio and gave us the honor of bringing three of his tracks to life. We soon discovered Lucky Ice is an awesome artist who works very well inside the studio. He has a great talent that needs to be shared with the world. We worked on Pose For Me, Show Off and My Lady. The studio favorite is My Lady where we had fun with the auto-tune effect. All three of his new joints are in rotation on NatCave Radio. Check 'em out.

Straight Barz In The Building

OK, these guys scare us. Ay Kay and Clipz came into The NatCave Studio with lyrical metaphors falling from every inch of them, itching to get inside the booth and work their magic. These guys are straight amazing lyricists and you need to hear them to know what we're talking about. The icing on the cake is these guys love the camera and their fans love to see them. We put them on our Youtube Channel and they had over a thousand hits before the night was over. The written comments under the videos go on for pages and pages. They are definitely stirring up controversy with their lyrical content and video presence. Straight Barz worked on two fire tracks back to back Spittin' It Killin' It and Crack Story. Tune into NatCave Radio to hear thier tracks and check out their videos on our YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VCuMPR82W0

Big Iz Equals Big Biz

Big Iz come to us by way of referral from Landmine Entertainment which is probably the greatest compliment we can get . We are grateful when an artist decides to work inside The NatCave but to then spread the word is on another level. We give special thanks to Landmine Entertainment.

Big Iz is one of the coolest artists we've met. He understands the artistic side of the rap world as well as the business side. He dropped two blazing tracks Ain't Messin' Wit' Me and Do The Huffy Duffy. Both tracks are in rotation on NatCave Radio. It's not hard to tell that Big Iz is moving toward success, check out powerful vocal delivery he gives you on these track. Iz defiantly has a home here and we're looking forward to doing future bIzness with him.

Married Marina

Marina left us a classic voicemail before we met in person. She was scouring the internet looking for recording studios and requested we call her back asap. When we returned the call, the urgency was related to her wedding which was next week. There just isn't enough of this romance stuff in the world. Her plan was to record the actual song that would be she and her husband's first dance. What an honor for us and with the wedding right around the corner we hadn't a moment to spare so we were able to squeeze her in the same day she called in so she could scratch the song of her long to-do list.
The background music was provided by her brother but he was out of town ad therefore unavailable to record the vocals. Without any worries, we took care of her and the song came out lovely. As a wedding gift we asked Marina to get back in the booth and let us record a video of her singing the song so she'll always have it to remind her of that moment. Marina reported back to us that the first dance was everyone's favorite part of the wedding. You can check the video out on our YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2QxrOBlONU

Daejanae Whatcha Say

Escorted by her supportive father, Daejanae comes to The NatCave Studio to process her songwriting and singing talents. Although she may appear shy about her skills at first, don't let it fool you, inside the booth she's in full control. She came to us recently to work on her single Night Life and yet again to master a stage version so she can perform the song live. Daejanae is another one of our young wonders. The most exciting part about her career is it's already impressive and we haven't seen the best of it yet. We look forward to seeing her back soon.

Wayne In The Membrane

Wayne lives, breathes, eats, sleeps his music... and who could blame him. The man is a genius. He came to us recently to build a rhythm for his new song Gangsta Man. We tried a few approaches to the track and finally decide that Wayne's greatest musical gift is make people dance. We put together a fierce combination of serious hardcore reggae vibes and by the end of the session it felt like Labor Day on Eastern Parkway right inside the studio. Anxious to complete the songwriting, Wayne now has a massive powerful instrumental to match his captivating delivery. This one is a guaranteed smash.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Banga's Only has been in the studio steadily as they prepare for the release of Vol. 1. With the majority of the songs recorded already, we've initiated the mixing processes and started tuning up the tracks for mastering. It's an amazing journey as we look back at each track and realize the strength this project really has. So many talented minds coming together and unifying to create this master artwork. This level of dedication and persistence is seen far too little in this industry and this group deserves all the respect the music industry can give out.
Staying true to their craft, they are working on even newer material as the unreleased work is rapping up. They also launched a brand new must see website with information about the team. Go check it out at http://www.bangazonly.com/

French Connection Overload

GET THAT MONAAAAAAAAAAAY!
French Connection blows up the studio with a mega hit Get That Money. This is the one right here people. This recording serves as a prime example craftsmanship. The beat was constructed by none other than NatCave's very own Nathanial Foreman. Under the exclusive production of Edidi himself, this track was catapulted into an instant classic. We're going to be playing this song forever. Our kids are going to wonder what it was like inside sessions that create songs like this one. Edidi generates an exuberant amount of swagger while Mizz P closes the track with her remarkable flow. If your having trouble finding the real deal, look no further.
Edidi doesn't stop there. He also created a monster dance track called Sexy Whoa, a high-tempo "booty-mover". This track was so much fun to put together. Featuring the tantalizing vocals of Nefertericomplimenting Edidi's command on the track, you'd swear they were doing something other than performing inside the booth.
Mizz P also took focus in recent sessions. We put a new spin on Just Dancin', one of Mizz P's singles. This song has so much movement in it your body has no choice but to just bounce right along with it. With this new mix Edidi is spitting a mean "machine-gun like" flow in the chorus. The new beat gives it what Edidi calls the "salt n' pepper".
French connection is a non stop freight train reminding everyone to either get on the train or get out of the way.

Ahmad... Meet A Millie, A Millie... Meet Ahmad

Ahmad is definitely an artist we wish we could see more often but like most successful players in the rap game, Ahmad spends much of his time promoting and exercising his talent on the road. His last visit to the studio included a powerful freestyle to the popular A Millie instrumental. The track grabbed the attention of a music video director that now has Ahmad displaying his skills for the visual world as well as the audible world. We're looking forward to Ahmad's next break from his crazy schedule to come work on some new material.

The Synergy of Suicide

Suicide Records is on an epic mission. Fund$ Dolla and Capital T didn't waste anytime coming back to The NatCave after their last visit to the studio. We already new Fund$ is a musical magician, pulling out new tricks at every session. We already knew Capital T has a killer flow, unmatched by anyone in the business. What we didn't know was these two are certified hypnotists. After completing their new hit track Touch Me, we kept the track running for a couple hours, completely oblivious to the time that past. This track went beyond just making a song, this track actually has the power to capture your soul and trap you in its trance, only breaking out to hit the repeat button to get some more of it's energy. When they release this one, they need to include the old "Do not use while operating heavy machinery" label right on the package. Check out Touch Me on NatCave Radio and you'll get the vibe we're describing. Fund$ promised us that this just a taste of what they Harv in store for the future so experience and appreciate it now.

Who Can? The Cannon Can!

Someone save this man. Juice Cannon is a straight up maniac. We've been secretly working on a beat that we were afraid to release because... well... it scares the living crap out us. Juice Cannon rightful labeled this monster track God Of War. To see this track being built piece by piece was an absolute wonder. Juice sits in the producers seat better than a king sits on his thrown.
Not only did he make this legendary beat from the ground up inside The NatCave Studio, he also puts an incredible twist on his vocal delivery by unleashing a powerful multiple personality personality performance. Quite simply put, this track is must to experience, as a matter of fact, you have to hear it over and over again to really get the hidden treasures Juice careful buried inside it. You can preview God Of War on NatCave Radio. Juice Cannon is constantly moving to higher levels in his career and we continue to celebrate his journey.

Lets Get Dirty

Dirty Red is more than just a client to The NatCave, he has become one of the family. We won't put his personal business out in the open but the stories we hear from Dirty Red are out of this world. Even between projects, he keeps in contact with the studio and keeps us posted on whats going on in his crazy life. We won't get into details here but when you meet him, a great conversation starter is "Tell us the story of how you had to jump out of an apartment building..."
Dirty Red came through and blessed us with yet another smash hit entitled Stand On Ya Own Two, a high tempo jam digging deep into the mentality it takes to live his life. The serious business man, the new millennium pimp, the veteran rapper, etc.
One of the bonuses with working with Dirty Red is he produces his own beats and comes with his Pro Tools sessions already formatted, ready to lay down vocals. In fact, Dirty Red is intelligent enough to put a decent mix on his own work but nonetheless brings his tracks to the NatCave to get a rich vocal sound and spice up the mix so it's certified for distribution.
Dirty Red is definitely a NatCave favorite and we always look forward to seeing him on the schedule.

The Return Of Rassim the Russian Rapper

Rassim is a NatCave Studio legend. Every session with Rassim is like a wild night at the club. Only at his very first session did he come alone, every since then he brings his entire entourage with him. While most times, groups in the studio are not a great idea, Rassim does it right by bringing along people that are fun to work with and contribute to the recording process.
Rassim's music is very unique and captivating. Last year year we put together his first American made album that made him somewhat of an overnight celebrity back in Russia. Usually when an artists tastes success they feel pressured to "move on" from what made then a success but Rassim plays it smart and came right back home to share the wealth and recreate the magic that got him this far.
At his last session, Rassim laid down the vocals for a song simply titled Miss You. We can't tell you about the lyrics in the song (because Rassim raps in russian) but The NatCave Studio's very own Nat was requested by Rassim to contribute to the track and wrote a charismatic verse describing the absence of a loved girlfriend from the past. Miss You is available to listen to on NatCave Radio.
We called this article The Return Of Rassim the Russian Rapper, with regards to the word Return especially because Rassim changes continents like mother nature changes the seasons, going back and forth from the United States to Russia. But before he leaves, he makes it a point to visit his studio: The NatCave.

I'm Focu$ed Man

Jay Focu$ makes his NatCave debut with a killer track for the ladies She Digs Me. For those of you who need a textbook definition of swagger, Jay spells it out lovely using his smooth flow and upbeat lyrics. The beat is perfect to vibe to while you're with your shorty. Mr. Focu$ has more in store and we're anxious to get his talent shared with the world.

Keemo Comes Through

Keemo's visit to The NatCave Studio is definitely a classic. His haunting southern voice casts a spell over his track No Fear. We wish we had more to say about Keemo but he's definitely the "making moves type and much like his lyrics, his personality is mysterious. We look forward to the next time Keemo drops us a line.

Feel The Breeze

Breeze makes his first visit to The NatCave Studio and what a treat it was. He drops an anthem track titled Never Slippin' The beat alone is sick and if you're not careful you'll miss all the lyrical gems Breeze drops on the track. One of the concepts that Breeze said he appreciates about the studio is it allows artists to get their work out a lot faster than trying to do it alone. There are a lot of artists that are drawn to learn how to record their own tracks but in the end it turns into a distraction from your original goal which is to entertain. With plans to drop a CD very soon, Breeze anticipates returning to the studio in the near future.

Bless You

Working with Blessed is truly an inspiring experience. It is immediately evident that he is possessed by an astonishing amount of lyrics and music. As soon as he walks in the door with his entourage they get right to work and lace the studio mic with one song after the next, no breaks allowed. They go hard and they go fast. With the formula he uses along with The NatCave Studio at his disposal, he literally puts an entire mix CD together in one day. It's an aw inspiring experience to see it in motion, be warned this technique is not for everyone, in fact be sure before you even attempt it, you're... Blessed. Check out his awesome myspace page at myspace.com/drestagg

The Wonder of Wayne

Mr. Magadawn stops by The NatCave Studio do get some Soca rhythms out of his head and into our hearts. He is definitely one of the coolest artists we have met running the studio, never putting pressure on time but instead energizing the time with good vibes. Ever since first day he came in to the studio he was singing and dancing to a song that was trapped in his head called "Follow Fashion and he decided it was time to create the perfect instrumental to support his fierce vocals. If you're a fan of dancing like there's is no tomorrow, this track is for you. While great music is always the goal in every session we have with all our artists, Wayne has a majestic way of expressing the energy he generated and constantly tells us not to focus on the clock and to focus on the music. What a genuine spirit, truly an artist worthy of grand publicity to support his quest to keep the world dancing.

Azeezy Baby

Azeez is a young Brooklyn rapper who is putting serious work into his natural talent. We had the honor of being the first official studio Azeez calls home and the first session he had with us about a month ago was just a taste. After blocking out an afternoon of time, Azeez drops three blazing tracks one after the other: "I Be Easy, I Watch You and I'm Illy. You probably wouldn't be able to tell meeting him face to face but trust us, this innocent looking young man turns into a beast in the booth. Azeez is defiantly on his way to getting the attention he deserves and The NatCave Studio is with him every step of the way.

Keep On Bangin'

The team from Bangas Only is definitely making their mark inside The NatCave Studio. They've been steadily increasing the momentum of their upcoming CD, not wasting any time while inside the studio. One of the unique pleasures that comes from working on this project is the flow of work that is performed. The same way performers rehearse before a big show, they have adapted the same principal to their studio recordings by going over the songs completely before stepping foot into the studio. It's an amazing process to witness as each layer of each song is applied in such rhythm, gracefully resembling a live play as actors step in and out of the spotlight and grace the audience. While we're familiar with the names of the members, we actually had the pleasure of meeting members face to face and experience the talent celebrated by the group. The energy in the sessions is priceless and we're counting the days until this masterpiece is available to the public.

Bux - Why The NatCave Studio Is The Only Studio I Use

Written by Bux Dolla for The NatCave Studio





In my opinion, a studio is a place to substantiate the creative process. In the optimal situation the studio should be used as a tool on your way to a final project.

The studio experience allows an artist to hear the culmination of all the aspects of a particular project and is the first place a project will be heard by others. It also allows for an artist after hearing their work to make changes to the minute, nuances that make a piece perfect to you and also to take in any input, ideas, or constructive critiques of your project. This by far places The NatCave Studio head and shoulders above the "other" studios.

I don't call them competitors because at The NatCave we are family, but first I'll talk business. State of the art equipment and programming from Pro Tools to FL Studio, isolated vocal booth and professional staff, not to mention it's affordable. Ok, business aside, let's talk about people and music. Why do you do music? I don't have one reason why I do it and I'm sure you probably don't either but for some reason I do it and I'm protective of it. Here at The NatCave Studio, creators of the music run the show, not musicians. A musician takes someone else's music and in order for it to be any good they have to make it their own, that's just the nature of the beast, music creators make their own music so they understand the creative process and can give input that will help you further you're own work. The music is your statement and we want to know who you are.

Let's talk flexibility. Have you ever been somewhere and missed one appointment or meeting and felt embarrassed to go back? Well The NatCave Studio understands that people are just that... people. They allow for you to easily change an appointment to suit your needs. This is your project and it will progress at the speed you want it to. I have witnessed and have been guilty of all night marathon sessions where we lock ourselves in and get it done because that is what's needed. You won't get a "No" at The NatCave Studio. As a matter of fact a question asked at The NatCave Studio that starts with"Can you...?" is usually answered with a big smile because I have yet to find something that couldn't be done.

Which leads me to my final thought, Nat. The NatCave Studio has Nat. Any studio without Nat is missing... everything. I can't explain it and if you haven't been to the studio I won't try. That's something you will have to experience for yourself. Once you've been through your first session here you're left feeling "After recording at The NatCave Studio, I will never record anywhere else again. Period." That in itself is reason enough. It was reason enough for me over 10 years ago and the new artist that come in today agree. The NatCave Studio is where ideas become reality.

Ami Is On Her Way

Amira has been back and forth to the studio finalizing her first single "I'll Live Up To Me". Her dedication is very rare, especially at age 14 and at The NatCave Studio we encourage every minute of it. Amira examines every element of the song in pursuit of a flawless CD release. One of the things we love about Amira is she her imagination encourages her to inquire all possibilities, yet remarkably stays focused on her original goal. She's had guest musicians contribute to the project and is always seeking critique from everyone involved in the sessions proving the ability to ad producer to her long list of titles connected to the song. Look out Amira, we're amazed at what she's accomplished and what's even better is this is jsut the begining to wonderful career in music.

Landmind Entertainment

Andrew is a long time affiliate of The NatCave Studio. He comes to us with original music and orchestrates his sessions with pure swagger. Andrew graced us with two new singles "Eternal External" and "War's Hell". You can tell just by the titles of his tracks that he is no ordinary rapper. There is so much content is his lyrics that you will be playing his music over and over to absorb his message deeper. Andrew reinvents himself during each visit and we are always excited to see him on the schedule. Once he drops this CD you will fully understand his remarkable vision.

Edidi's Passion

If every artist booked studio time like Edidi does, we'd need to publish The NatCave Journal on a weekly basis. Recently Edidi brought us some great surprises. He has a monster hit "Boma Ye" that we must have mixed and remixed over a dozen times, pluging in different beats and different elements to express the raw emotion displayed in Edidi's vocals. This song is definately a studio favorite.
One of the best things we like about working with Edidi is he is not selffish, he shares his studio time with all the artists in his circle and proudly sits in the producers seat. Every time another artists books a session adjacent to one of his, he instantly begins networking. Annie was no exception. While working on her single "Diffusion", Edidi recognized Annie's talent and soon began colaborating on a new version of Boma Ye.
Edidi has also invited Mizz P in on numerous sessions. Not only is Mizz P featured on some of Edidi's tracks but she has also worked on tracks she can call her own included two tracks partnering up wit Lenora (sister of Amira).
Edidi's hard work and endless persisitence is paying off. No one can deny the impact that he makes with his music.

Ene Is Back In Town

Ever since the day we met Ene and her husband Rommel, we've been truly inspired to give our all into their project. They brought an external hard drive to the studio hiding an absolute goldmine of powerful music. All the tracks were recorded in Philadelphia and while in New York they decided it was time to lay down vocals and start mixing this symphony of recordings accompanied by live musicians.
Ene doesn't play around with her studio time, she books her sessions in big chunks, in fact her last visit to the studio in August 2008 endured for a whopping 13 hours straight. We were amazed to discover Ene authored all the songs for this project as well as contributed to the musical composition. She won't hesitate to jump on the keys when she feels a track needed something more. Rommel is an incredible producer and has what we call in the industry the "Golden Ears". He knows exactly what each song's potential is and does what it takes to get there. Ene is just a alert, remarkably remembering individual takes and relaying to us what edits need to be made right from the booth, without the aid of the computer screen.
Ene has a host of valuable music and she is diligently working in the studio while juggling work, school and motherhood. On top of all this she has returned to Philly since first coming to the studio but the distance doesn't stop her ambition. Truly an inspirational artist to work with and we are anxiously awaiting the completion of her next project.

Bang Out Artists

What a treat. Every time the Bang Out Artists squad drops in the studio they're always cooking up something over the top and this time was no different. They put together a smash single simply titled "No" calling out those who don't know where they stand. If you haven't heard this team flow you're missing out on prime music and "No" is the latest and greatest so jump up on it. Check out this single as well as other tracks released by Bang Out Artist on NatCave Radio.

It’s A Suicide Thing

Suicide Records pays The NatCave Studio a visit after a long pause and we kicked it off in style. Fund$ and Capitol T blessed the booth with their hit song That Paper We had so much fun putting this track together. The beat hits you right on your back and the lyrical flow rides the track beautifully.
Fund$ is always in communication with the studio, keeping us updated with the progress of Suicide Records. We are grateful that Suicide Records works on all their material exclusively at The NatCave especially since they are coming out of Bronx, NY and we are located in Brooklyn. Any group that travels 10 miles (right through Manhattan) to find the right studio has to be the real deal. Check out their catalog on NatCave Radio.

Fresh Juice

The Juice is definitely fresh this season. Juice has been getting all types of media coverage due to his first release “International In 23 Days”. He’s been featured on the Steve Harvey radio show, as well as NY1. Every time Juice calls the studio we get excited cause he drops some unbelievable news.

Even with all the buzz about his first release, Juice Cannon has not forgot about his focus on number 2. He finished his latest single “Jeans Hang Low” and then in no time came back to the studio to crank out the exclusive remix. Both are straight up bangers and available to preview on NatCave Radio. On this song, Juice has female rapper Suko featuring on the track. Be warned, these two get into a serious X rated lyrical back-and-forth showdown.

This is yet another track Juice produced himself and we see that Juice has definitely graduated to a new level in his career. We are ecstatic to be along for the ride.

Funding Your Studio Project

Once upon a time, a young artist walks into the door of The NatCave Studio, partnered with the two other members of his group. Anxious to grace me with the work they have already conducted, he whips out a cassette tape (by the way, the year was 2007) and offered me the pleasure of listening to a sample of some songs they had already recorded. After dusting off my cassette player, I played the tape and mentally repainted the picture these young talented artists had created on the cassette tape. I invited them to use the studio for one hour at no charge just so they could get a taste of what the studio could do for them. A few minutes into the session is all it took to blown them away with the difference working inside The NatCave made. In less than an hour’s time, we had rerecorded their song and they were ecstatic to experience such a drastic improvement. All I kept thinking in my head was “Jez… I haven’t even begun mixing yet!” I won’t toot my own horn too loud, in fact I knew exactly what was to come from them remaking the song. A home stereo with a karaoke mode is no match for The NatCave Studio.
Completely gracious for the opportunity to use the studio, their excitement soon dissolved into stunned frowns. It is that magical moment where we cross over from music to business, hoping to cross back over to music… the studio rate. This is what separates the men from the boys, the women from the girls, the players form the haters and the ambitious from the quitters. They looked at each other, then looked back at me, thanked me for my time and uttered a painful phrase “We have no money.”
No money? Is it really possible to have… no money? I was so confused. I tried to imagine myself going to the grocery store, spending an hour filling up my cart, then pulling up to the cashier saying “I have no money”. For those reading this that have not been to The NatCave before, it wasn’t about paying for the session they just had, I actually encourage people to come in and record with us at no charge before making any financial decisions, but to hear afterwords “We have no money” just felt incredibly awkward.
First of all, having no money is impossible. I asked them how they got to the studio, low and behold, they weren’t even from the same state, they traveled from New Jersey into Brooklyn, NY just for us to meet. This required each of them to take the NJ Path train into Manhattan and transfer to the MTA to get to Brooklyn, How do you have no money? Not one of them showed up without clothes on their back, no money? For a second I actually felt insulted but then an idea popped into my head, maybe they don’t know what I know. What I know is everyone has money, the trick is deciding where that money goes.
To make a long story short, I told the leader of the group that if you truly feel you have no money then your next step is to review your resources. For young artists, there really is no better resource than their parents so I suggested they start there. Later that evening would you believe I got a call from the leader’s mother? She called to thank me for allowing them to come in and use the studio without charging them. After a short pleasant conversation, she stated that she now had a situation on her hands because her son now could not think about anything other than coming back to the studio. It turns out she was looking to enroll him in a program to keep him off the street and out of trouble but simply could not decide what he could seriously benefit from. The happy conclusion to this story is the mother pre-paid for 50 hours to allow her son and his friends to work inside the studio. The group soon released a 20-track mix CD, recording, mixing, mastering, artwork and duplication all worked on inside The NatCave Studio. They ordered 200 copies of their CD and between the three of them sold every copy within one week of receiving the CDs. My last conversation with the mother was a warm heart-felt thank you because her son had learned how to take his talent and churn it into a successful entrepreneurial experience. They made every dollar they invested into studio time back via CD sales.
One of my greatest joys running the studio is to see artists grow. The transition from potential to kinetic energy has become a guilty pleasure of mine and I love helping artists make that leap to jumpstart their careers. I have seen more than enough success stories to encourage every artist I encounter to push themselves to the next level. Unfortunately, I am not always that lucky, I can also recall people (not artists, people) booking studio time merely because the ad said “Free.” Instead of working on a music career, they see an opportunity to play out a fantasy and why bother paying for it when I can get it free at this guy’s studio. Talking to them about the studio rate is like reading the morning news to a dead person, I get more out of than they ever will, but the sad thing is I am not doing it for me.
This article is not for the general public, this article is for artists. Artists… don’t ever tell yourself you have no money. It is an immature lie that will ultimately push you further away from your goals. Financial resources are all around you. Family members, friends, banks, jobs, etc. I even give free studio hours to artists just for referring the studio to other artists. In fact, I have an artist that does nothing but refer other artists to the studio. To this day, he has worked on 30+ tracks at The NatCave Studio and has yet to pay for one of them, simply because he keeps our business cards handy while he is networking. While it is true, he has never purchased studio time with money, he has earned it by exercising his natural born networking and marketing skills. I have been happy to accommodate him as a thank you for his generous efforts.
Most of the time, the feeling of having “no money” comes from a psychological condition that prioritizes certain purchases you make as automatic such as rent, car payments, cell phone bill, etc. Many of these automatic payments are legitimate but if you look carefully, you will always find a few that sneak in there and rob you of the opportunity to work in the studio. In other words, the money is there but you can’t acknowledge it because somehow you know at the end of the month it will disappear regardless. Currently, our studio rate is $50 an hour. For veterans in the music business the rate seems like a hell of a discount. Even some new comers who do their homework and shop around see the benefit as other studios of equal quality post rates of double or more.
What I tell an artist that sees the $50 an hour rate as lot of money is try not to think of it in hours, think of it in minutes. Truthfully, a studio hour consists of a variety of tasks, procedures and instructions that the artist or engineer carries out during each hour. Not one of these tasks takes an hour, usually it is a matter of minutes and if your working with a professional a matter of seconds. $50 an hour actually turns out to about 83 cents a minute. That’s right, 83 cents. If you really want to hear something crazy, $50 an hour works out to about 1 cent a second. Granted, most people do not look at their finances like that but just image the next time you come across a penny, do not say you have “no money”. Say you are “one second” closer to booking studio time at The NatCave Studio.

Shanksmear

Shanksmear has been through it all. We won't delve into his personal business, all we can say is when you listen to his lyrics, listen to every word he spits because every word is the truth. The delivery of his songs in the NatCave booth hold so much power you end up asking "why bother with a beat?, this man is spitting pure poetry". Like most upcoming artists, Shanksmear supports his music on the solo tip so while we don't see him in the booth as often as he deserves, we love him regardless. He is always in constant contact with us, calling the studio the very minute after he finishes writing a new song and no matter how busy we get, how could we refuse? Shanksmear is a lyrical master in his own right and we’re glad he’s part of The NatCave Family. Currently he has three fire tracks in rotation playing directly on NatCave Radio.

The NatCave Studio Meets Annie

Running sessions at The NatCave Studio we never know who we’re going to work with. Nat has set strict rules that anyone is welcome; no one is to be turned down regardless of what stage they are at in their career, so we just keep our fingers crossed and hope at the very least we get artists that are motivated .When Annie walked into The NatCave Studio, we knew fingercrossing was completely unnecessary. She came in ready to get down to business and made her vision crystal clear. It didn’t take long for us to discover that sitting in our studio was the complete package, she has the look, she has the talent, she has the drive, all she needs is the studio. What a perfect combination, a driven artist with a driven studio staff. Annie is working on a killer demo and came to us looking to add to the three songs she has already recorded. Needless to say we were we impressed with what she brought to the table. Before leaving the studio she allowed us to get a sneak peak at her video “American Girl”. We were so impressed with the video we asked her if she mind sharing with us who edited the video. Her answer floored us… “You’re looking at her!” There goes the old saying if want something done right you have to do it yourself. It’s frustrating for an artist to envision something and not have the right people around to help bring that vision into tangible form to share with the world. The smile Annie gave us at the end of her free session was priceless. She found her studio!

The NatCave Studio Meets Amira

Amira has been in communications with the studio for a few months now and her break from school finally allowed us the pleasure of meeting face to face. At age 14, she dazzled us with her ability to entertain as well as anyone twice her age. She came to us with a focused mission of producing her first recorded song from her library of songs she has written. She came to the studio with the support of her family including her parents and her older sister who is also a singer anxious to exercise her vocal chords inside the cave. When Amira recorded her reference vocal we were all ready to give her a standing ovation. She is set on finishing the details of her first sing “I’ll Live Up To Me” this summer and The NatCave Studio is working with her every step of the way.

The NatCave Studio Meets Harlam

Although The first session at the at The NatCave Studio is on the house, sometimes we get so wrapped up in conversation that we use the whole time getting to know the artist. This is how we were introduced to Harlam, an aspiring singer from… you guessed it, Harlem. Every once in a while we find that diamond in the rough. The thought of recording in studio can be intimidating especially for the first time so we help break the ice by inviting artists to come and discuss their aspirations with us before we get into project work. Upon sitting with Harlam, Nat, the Chief Engineer at The NatCave Studio, playfully used the term “stingy” referring to Harlem’s obviously talented background but has yet to share his talents with the world. Even though Harlam is working on his first recorded song, he is an established singer/songwriter and has come to The NatCave Studio to take his career to the next level. Harlam also introduced us to his very supportive colleague Bekele who is an established pop artist and lead singer in the group Bekele and The Pretenders. After an enriched conversation and a tour of the facility, we assured them both Harlam is in good hands and granted us the experience of working together. We’re excited to have met Harlam and Bekele The NatCave is gracious for the opportunity to help broadcast his gifts to the world.

Bangaz Only

Only two words describe this team… Be afraid. For this group of multitalented individuals, shocking the world comes natural. Herp Bionic, one of the group members came to us last year and put down three blazing tracks partnering up with Blizzi, all original music. The last thing we remember hearing was “Wait till you meet the rest of the team”. They were right to warn us.
Herp not only performs but also makes beats for the group. One track that stands out for Nat, Chief Engineer at The NatCave Studio is “2 Many”. This time we need three words… Oh My God. The beat that came through the studio system was so sinister, so dark, so demented. The instrumental alone shook the control room with it’s gothic vibes. Then the booth opens up and Herp steps inside, it was as if he dumped a can of gasoline in there and struck a match. To hell with a Grammy, the performance that came out was worthy of an Oscar.
Just when we thought it was safe to mix, the song wasn’t done yet. Sincere, sitting in the producers seat directly across from the other side of the glass coaching the sessions turns out to be the singer of the group. The song was so damn sick already, how could they possibly turn the heat up more? By lacing the track with an unbelievable hidden weapon.
After experiencing what Herp put on the track, Sincere spent about 15 minutes scribbling and scratching on a notepad humming to himself. Then he steps into he booth and shuts it down, everyone on the other side of the glass is flipping out. This is only one of a collection of tracks that clearly earn them the name Bangaz Only. These tracks include exclusive new music from Herp Bionic, Sincere, Blizzy, Knoxvill, Kannon The Kemist and more. We’re warning you now, get a fire proof case for your iPod!

Working Flawlessly

You've heard the rumor that Jay-Z Drops his vocals in one take with no paper right? Well imagine seeing the same effect inside The NatCave Studio from a killer artist less than half Hova's age. Believe it! We saw it with our own eyes. He goes by the name of Flawless and the name says it all.

Flawless came to us with his manager/uncle Lavox last month and since then has built a 'flawless' reputation of dropping all the vocals for his songs in under 30 minutes after which Nat, Chief Engineer at The NatCave Studio, himself jumps in the drivers seat and conducts the song mix.

Flawless and Nat working together is a prime example of chemistry. When an artist as skilled as Flawless walks into your studio, it can be quite embarrassing not being able to keep up. Inside The NatCave Studio we're always ready to find and develop that chemistry and from the minute Flawless stepped in the booth we knew he was not the average rapper and we had to keep up with his delivery. First meeting Flawless he showed us his business side: calm, cool and eager to get the ball rolling. Once that record button was hit we witnessed a transformation that rivals most live stage performances.

Flawless has completed four new tracks at The NatCave Studio (we dare you to find one that isn't fire) and currently he is shopping for new beats worthy of his hypnotic lyrics. We blessed him with some original instrumentals from our secret stash and we can’t wait to see what this young genius has in store for us.

Juice Cannon Working On 2nd NatCave Release

Even while promoting his already released hit album International in 23 Days (recorded & mixed at The NatCave Studio), Juice is anxious to drop album number two which he has already promised to have more controversial content and a fresh new view of the world according to Juice Cannon.
The major upgrade we see with this project is Juice is now in the producers chair as well as behind the glass. The first song contributed to the new project “Fuck You, Pay Me” features original melodies delivered straight from the mind of Juice Cannon himself. Nat (Chief Engineer at The NatCave Studio) helps out by adding his unique drum style to the mix. The results came out fierce. Tempted to sell the beat for a couple grand, Juice decides instead to bless the track with his dominating lyrics.
Juice liked the producer’s seat so well it wasn't more than a 24 hours later that we got a call with next song idea. Juice and Nat are again working together to recreate that mind-blowing effect that comes from their collaborations.

Edidi & French Connection

Next to Nat himself, Edidi is by far the hardest working man inside The NatCave Studio. He books studio time with us so frequently we're considering charging him rent instead of a studio rate. His dedication to his music is both inspirational and absolutely captivating and we're thrilled to be apart of the movement he is creating.

For those who have not yet experienced Edidi, he is a native of Africa, or as he so boldly puts it “The Motherland”. He spent most of his music career in France and has already worked on a vast number of tracks. When Edidi first walked into the studio we had no idea his vision went so deep and four months later he is even more focused than when he started with us. Although Edidi speaks fluent English, his music is performed in mostly in French. The amazing thing about Edidi’s work is that he is not focused on the spoken language, rather the language of music itself.

The only word we can use to describe this experience is “ENERGY”. The energy that bursts out of Edidi when he is in the booth is so raw and powerful, it often feels as if the glass between the booth and the control room will shatter. Aside from being an established rapper, Edidi produces his own music and sits in on every mixing session. We had that honor of providing Edidi with a few beats for his upcoming release “French Connection” but unlike most artist who take the beats as-is, Edidi molded each instrument to match his unique rapping style and in some cases brought in live musicians to spice up the tracks even more.

One of the things we love about Edidi is he does not settle. Sometimes with working with an artist it’s hard to tell them “Your music needs more” because if they are on a budget they look at it as spending money they don’t have. Edidi understands that it’s not about the money, it’s about making music that people want to hear, if that’s not your goal then you’ve got no business in the studio to begin with.

The NatCave Studio Meets Ruby Collins

Meeting Ruby Collins was an absolute joy. She filled us in on the journey she has had putting together her previous three album releases and expressed her enthusiasm to get number four in motion. Established singer/song writer describes Ruby’s foundation however her talents don’t end there. Walking into The NatCave Studio with her guitar case strapped to her back, Ruby did not hesitate to symphony us with some brand new material she has in the works. Check out her work on her website www.rubycollins.com as well as www.myspace.com/merubycollins. We are looking forward to working with Ruby on her future releases.

Procrastination In The Studio

What is the difference between a great thought and a great action? Pretty much the only difference is...getting off your ass! Running The NatCave Studio for so long I have seen countless artists walk though the door. The artists that last are the ones who have that voice in their heads that commands them to take action on their ideas. It is so sad to see an artist come into the studio fully aware of their talents and abilities yet does not utilize the will to complete the thought. Its like showing up to a marathon, stretching, tying your shoe laces, on your mark, get set, go... "Ah screw it", then walking off the track.

Fortunately for me, the phase where these type of artists were the majority ended long ago but every now and then someone stirs up the deja vu. Within these group of procrastinators that come to the studio, the favorite procrastination engine is studio cost. That's the easiest one to dish out. I used to try and encourage these "sort-of" artist but what I've learned is its not about cost, its about value. Cost is determined by the studio. Value is determined by the client. Clients who appreciate the rate in the studio are the ones who understand the value that they get in exchange for the studio rate. So the 13 year old using his moms computer to illegally download instrumentals and software will not understand paying $50 an hour for studio sessions. Its just not in the brain chemistry. They have predetermined what they do to be a hobby and create a ceiling that no one can break for them, they alone must choose to take their gifts more seriously.

I was once asked do I take it personally when someone decides not to record at The NatCave. Honestly, when I first started it would bother me. I wondered what I might be doing wrong. Then I discovered that when an artist comes to the studio, my job is usually not to sell artist on using the studio, my job is to sell the artist on themselves. Most new artist lack confidence, intimidated by negative thoughts. The artists that keep coming back to the studio are the ones that don't hear these voices or if they do, cancel it out of their mind, confident that when everything is said and done, there will be a new track in this world, one that would not exist had they not fought for it to be here. Witnessing this happen time and time again is what keeps me enthusiastic about new projects and always ready to encourage someone who can't see the potential of their gifts. Yes, it cost something, so does everything else that holds value in this world. How much is your music worth to you? How much is it worth if gets you that record deal your dreaming of or perhaps that goal of 10,000 units sold independently?

If money stands as the first procrastination, time stands right next to it. There once was I time when I felt I didn't have time for things. What broke me out of that excuse was a simple time management exercise. As a matter of fact its so basic that it can easily be overlooked but I personally guarantee its success. Time was invented by man. We use time as a tool to identify when things happen or the duration of a task. Time is represented in numbers... so count them up! How much time do you really have? You'd be amazed. Most people work with the understanding that they don't need to plan out their days because things happen regardless. Gotta go to work, gotta eat, gotta sleep, etc. Unlike money, time is spent whether you choose to or not so once you acknowledge that you have to spend time, your job is to map out what your time will be spent on. If you choose nothing, guess what, time gets spent anyway, if you choose the wrong thing, the time is wasted.

Procrastination comes in the picture when you ignore the idea that time is passing. Sometimes we justify it by dropping excuses, doing something instead of what your procrastinating on, yet that's when value comes back into the picture. Just how valuable is that which you are procrastinating? Is it something important to you or is it an idea you're playing with. The difference between the two is crucial to your life. Ignoring a dream that feels real to you turns into torture as time passes. Everyone has their challenges in life and the rewards come to those who push harder than the others.

One bonus reason why artists procrastinate is they feel intimidated by the superstars. I've heard fantastic singers say "I don't have a body like Beyonce" or rappers say, "I'm not a gangster, how do I compete with 50 Cent?" The advice I give is again quite simple. The superstars we are all familiar with have one thing in common, there is a whole team of people that are working to keep them superstars. No one does it alone. When you're looking at a performer on television, you might as well look into a mirror because the individual you see is just as capable of accomplishing the same achievements. A team has to believe in you. They have to feel your success as strongly as you do. Eventually when you get the right combination of professionals together, you get the superstar you see on your television screen. There's only one way to attract professionals and that is to be a professional yourself.

Professionalism and procrastination simply don’t mix. So now in the event a talented artist decides against exercising their talent in the studio and they talk themselves out of a future they deserve, I have to shake my head and realize in some crazy way, it’s actually better for the real artist that they are not distracted by false competition. God bless ‘em!

Nathanial Foreman

The NatCave Studio

Brooklyn, NY

(888) 603-3587

studio@thenatcave.com

www.TheNatCave.com

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