THE 8R8s

THE 8R8 AWARDS

Welcome to THE 8R8s where we honor artists that continue to change the game and evolve with the times. There are no secret judges behind the winners this award. These categories and tracks were picked by the one writer. Live performances were heavy influences on the selection. The award shows that honor music stopped making sense to me years ago. I don’t have a problem with an artist that wins a Grammy. These kinds of music awards have honored musical legends and have been committed to history.  Their commitment to the past leaves me worried about music’s future. We all love Stevie Wonder but does he really need to be nominated in 2010 for Best Male Pop vocalist for a song we have never heard? This type of nomination is traditional to genre but doesn’t say much about current genre of pop. There has to be a reason behind the nomination process and maybe the artists and songs represent s us? I am sure there is an expert committee with a formula I couldn’t understand that can explain how nomination process works? The 8R8s are special artists, tracks, and songs that made this year feel like a dream.  My imaginary award show isn’t quite the defining moment of an artist’s career but this isn’t about the artist. The 8R8s are about the music that beats inside the heart of the fans.  An award winning song is still allowed to mean something? Record companies and members of the academy have created a hollow stage. They will honor the artists to influence the masses to sell to the tune of a meaningless song. The Most Important Night in Music is somewhere needs a more significant stage. 

HERE ARE YOUR WINNERS………

FUTURE TRACK FOR MANY YEARS TO COME
KEEP UP * HYPER CRUSH

There is only one Hyper Crush. They continue lead the electro moment as the industry tries to keep up. This track is surprisingly surfaced in the local dive bar I patronize. The song gets a great reaction. It really showcases the quality work this team can produce. You can hear all the mixtapes and live performances come together in this track. The First Lady of ELECTRO Holly Valentine shines bright as she spins me like record.  Donny shakes the ground lyrically and literally when he is in GO Mode.  Where does Preston get all of those crazy toys? The energy of this song is what makes it one of the best.

REMIX OF THE YEAR

BULLETPROOF * LA ROUX (HYPER CRUSH REMIX)

The song got some recognition from the industry. The fact that I never heard this remix in a Chicago-Land Area club or bar is a crime. I found myself doing the one knuckle click as I dodged bullets of fire in my head. Hyper Crush took a luke warm beat of really good song and made you move to the fire. Donny shined through the spit of his words on this track. He gives you that jump out your seat and start some shit flow. This remix was a strong candidate for track of the year.

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST of the YEAR

THE FAR EAST MOVEMENT

I followed this group like many of you when they were themselves FM. We shouldn't shy away from a group just because they have a mainstream hit. We should give them props because Like a G6 helped the young Genre of ELECTRO. The fact that the Hip-Hop Community recognized this group’s skill makes them the new force in Electro and Hip-Hop. Welcome to Generation Undefined. I believe this group is here for reason.

BEST BEAT OF THE YEAR
CHRISTIAN DIOR DEMIM FLOW

* KANYE WEST * KID CUDI * PUSHA T * JOHN LEGEND * LLOYD BANKS * RYAN LESILE

This track really has it all. The fact that it was a collaborative effort shows that Kanye West continues to be a true leader in the music industry. This song is a reflection of what the G.O.O.D. Friday concept was all about. He offered a new track every Friday night. Yes sometimes the party runs into the next day which is cool because it kept us the fans on the edge of our seat. The soulful beat is humbling. There is nothing but emotion from the artist that came together on this track. This was one those tracks that stimulated my mind when I was traveling to the next concert. It made me think. This was my number one song of the year because it brought depth. It is hard to believe it's almost 7 minutes long because it keeps my imagination running into the next verse. Kid Cudi kills it at the end of this track and in my opinion really showed Hip-Hop he is a major player in the game.

TRUTH TRACK of the YEAR
POWER * KANYE WEST
Kanye shows actions speak louder than words. This was KANYE's best track since Jesus Walks. He leaves the listener knowing that he believes in these words. He ended his months of silence with track that recognizes the flaws in society. It takes you on a journey into the insecurities of every young man's heart. It is one thing to point the finger at society but Kanye points the finger at himself in this track. I have learned it is extremely difficult to recognize a problem within. It is even more difficult to put those insecurities and problems into your art and words for the entire public to examine. The fact that he was able to communicate this message in this track makes me respect man behind the artist Kanye is.
THE SYSTEMs BROKE AND SCHOOLs IS CLOSED THE PRISONs OPEN, WE AIN'T GOT NOTHING TO LOOSE MOTHER FUCKA WE ROLLIN...

CONCERT OF THE YEAR
THE HALLOWEEN SHOW * OCTOBER 31, 2010 * THE CONGRESS THEATER *CHICAGO, IL* 7:30PM
LMFAO * HYPER CRUSH * JUMP SMOKERS * THE FAR EAST MOVEMENT * NAPALM and others.

This was the culmination of everything the fans wanted to see from the genre of Electro. The super-show was Lead by the Kings of Party Rock LMFAO. This concert mean was a great moment for me as writer and as a fan.  I got the rare treat of seeing an artist rise to fame. The first time I saw LMFAO in Milwaukee, they performed on a small stage in club. I was pretty fucked up but lucky to interact. It was cool to drink and talk with the group while they were on verge of superstardom. I remember telling Skyy that Party Rock was going to be huge or at least that’s what I was trying to tell him cause that night was blur. I could feel their energy and fire plus they were already starts in my eyes. This leads me back to Halloween in Chicago. The show turned into a dream show and everyone was full costume from Mario Brothers, Astronauts, and Street Fighter. This was the very best of the genre. The Electro Movement was just a segway into the Revolution of music ahead. We need more innovated DJs and artists to stand up to radio stations and record companies to let them know change is in the air. History has shown us music can UNITE the people and CHANGE the world. We made a little noise but we can be LOUDER. The pages of Generations Undefined are being filled everyday by the normal people like me and you.  The message is simple.  Stand up for something and bring meaning to your words.

THE INFLUENTIAL IMPACT AWARD
USHER * O.M.G.
Usher has been on fire for most 2010. R&B and electricity do mix well together. Usher was one of the first mainstream artists to throw a little electro in the beat.  The W.I.L.L. IAM produced track still manages keeps all of its soul.  O.M.G. made an immediate impact in the clubs.  I felt out of place when I was front row at the Usher concert wearing a Hyper Crush T-Shirt but a few months later Usher got remixed by the group and kept his momentum going. Usher is an artist that thinks outside of the box. The industry may follow because of the success of O.M.G .but Usher deserves props for being one of the first artists to embrace the change.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
KANYE WEST

Five Albums strong Kanye West continues to be the music industry's greatest anomaly. He managed to sell almost 500 thousand albums in his first week without even dropping a single.  Kanye’s fan base is very passionate about his music. There are people that think album is his comeback story. His true fans know that he never really left Hip-Hop. The fans that follow his music close know he has been changing the way we think about music since The College Dropout in 2004. Kanye West has the kind of universal appeal that offers listeners an education through soulful beats mixed with the truth. The G.O.O.D. Friday concept exceeded my expectations and opened my eyes on how music promotion is changing. The Runaway video was a beautiful compilation of his best album to date. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy picked up where the 808s left off. There were unanswered questions that needed to be addressed. He touches on what his fans want to hear. The passion behind his words brings definition to what he produces. Kanye is one of those rare people in life that as of yet has failed to disappoint. They say most geniuses are crazy or misunderstood.  Is this the Renaissance of Hip-Hop? Kanye West is leaders in music and this is why he is this year’s Artist of the Year.

WHAT I LOVED MOST SHE HAD SO MUCH SOUL

Teena Marie was one of those that didn't dominate the Pop Charts but her voice will forever be mainstream in the heart's of her true fans. Her legacy in genre of Rhythm and Blues was part my of education in Soul. Her contribution to soul told the story of artist's connection with love. She leaves us all with very personal songs in the soundtracks of our lives. She is part of the handful of artist that brought meaning to the words of the people around me with a direct finger pointing at my sister. My sister was responsible for a my connection with Rhythm and Blues and Soul. My sister didn't just play a song. She told the story behind the song. She associated the music with real people in her life and the events around it. My sister taught me how to make this connection with music and Teena Marie is one of the artist she loves. I love to try to play stereotypical brother today because of the lack of what was normal in our lives when we were young. Christmas Day 2010 I was blaming my sister for The 8R8 being connected with Teena Marie as Fire and Desire played in the backgound. Truth is I am honored. To know that a I shared the moment of seeing her for the first time with my sister makes me feel closer to complete as a person. I didn't expect it to turn out to be one of those storybook concerts but it did with a single rose. These are the moments that make forever. I will never forget an artist like Teena Marie. She is reminds me of what I my sister taught me in life. This is one of the reasons why my soul runs deeper than the crates of my music collection.

DAMIEN'S NOTES: TRACK NUMBERS 1-6

What was the greatest year of your life? The number 2010 with two explanation points! This was my year. The accomplishment of pulling off what did has put The 8R8 on the map.

JANUARY: started off with a simple wrestling show in the city where I was born. There was nothing fancy about the show and it was not televised but the fact that this would be my nephew's first wrestling show made it special. We sat traditionally at the top of the same small civic center venue where I viewed my first wrestling show at. I learned my nephew was as charismatic and funny as his uncle that night. The interaction showed me the hope had been missing in my life. The kid's optimistic eyes gave me a sense that the future was going to be bright. I started to focus on Grammy Night in LATE JANUARY only because LMFAO were nominated for Best Electronic Album of the Year. They didn't win but they brought meaning to the word ELECTRO with their nominations and became The Kings of the young genre in my opinion. LMFAO's nomination inspired me to write the Party Rock Chronicles which brought the fun back to my writing.

FEBRUARY 22TH: I decided to try something new in my dating life. I had two tickets to Monday Night Raw in Indianapolis so I decided to have a first date night at a wrestling show. The 3 hour drive to Indianapolis was going to have be done in less than 2 hours because we slept in. I hated being late for the introduction of a live wrestling show because I love the pyre techniques and the initial pop from the fans. I drove fast, okay, I drove very very fast to The Conseco Fieldhouse. I will admit I ran through the stadium like a maniac but we did get to our seats with 3 minutes to spare. There was obvious tension building up between me and my date and I brushed it off throughout the night. The thoughts in my head had me feeding this person to the rabid wrestling fans and cheering them on. I learned there is a degree of endurance that goes along with being next to me. There came a moment close to the end of the show where I had to make a choice between Triple H or my date. Triple H won that match with a the words Suck It to anyone that missed the match. I had abandon my date for wrestling but if you can't handle me for one show there is good chance I am not the guy for you. I decided honesty would be best so we ended the date in Indianapolis. The fastest trip to Indy had suddenly become the longest ride back to Chicago. Crazy me.

FEBRUARY 25TH: This marked my first Hyper Crush concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I remember inviting a friend along to the show but he bailed out on me last minute. I decided to make the trip solo because one of my goals for of the year was to follow the group by writing about them and it was time to measure the heart behind the sounds. The live performance gave a chance to connect with the fans and the group. The fact that they had no problem signing an autograph or posing for a picture with there fans let me know this was the right group follow. This was the first time I introduced myself as a writer to an artist. I was very nervous. I could hear myself on repeat saying it over and over again till my head almost exploded. I remember rushing back home after the show to write TAKE ME INTO THE FUTURE.

MARCH 26TH: actually started the day prior. The opportunity to see Kid Cudi at Purdue University arose. I drove to Purdue the day before the show to secure a front row ticket and still made it to work on time that day. The controversy kicked in and real decisions about friends from the past had to be addressed before I could escape into the music. This was my first opportunity to have an actual seat front row for a show. I didn't think real life test me to see how bad I really wanted it. I had to develop a plan that involved sacrifice that night. My intentions were to make everyone happy. The music never felt this good. The silence and bad feeling opened up my heart. They can't love me if they have no idea who I really am. This was selfish on the surface but personally it was an accomplishment of growth. The truth came out like an volcano destroying years of friendship the span of 5 text messages. I could have said and done what was expected of me to re-kindle a friendship where my passions had never been accepted. We may never speak again but I know I did the right thing for both us by unleashing my emotions. The offering of my Man on the Moon bracelet to Kid Cudi showed me that there was friendship and unity all around me with a Generation Undefined. To write history I needed to start leaving the negativity of my past behind.

THE MONTHS AHEAD: My dreams started to take over my life. I watch my confidence as a person grow by adding definition to the words in my head. There was evil lurking in the shadows of my world. There were moments when I just had to block it all out. I went into denial and really didn't believe I was important enough to targeted. The test taught me how to stand my ground and make it to the next show. The lesson was restraint over my basic instinct to react. There was no shortage of character being built. I watched myself struggle with new ideas and unique people to find a different perspective on life. I started opening eyes including my own. I started to understand that initially I would have be own biggest fan and believe in my words in order for others to understand them. I needed an office away from home with a strong connection to music and nightlife. My interactions of randomness were the material that gave me the insight of a new generation. I looked like the rude guy at the club or bar that was text messaging while he was out and about. They didn't know my attention was on them as I wrote story after story into the night. This was different territory for me. Suddenly I wasn't wasted at the end of my nights. The discussion of passions and dreams always had a different spin by the authors. The way there eyes lite up when they turned the pages in their heads became inspiring. My best stories are being written right now in my office while I am living in the moment with all of you. This was the key to it all. My dreams could no longer stay locked inside my head.

IN THE LAND OF MISFIT TOYS

I think about all the time. What the fuck did I get myself into. This Lifestyle is getting the best of me. I figured I would get into it and be a cliche. You know be one those stereotypes that partied until the sun came up. I was always able to maintain my professional life and the party life. It wasn't always easy. It was like living two lives and I had my very own Gemini to learn from. Yeah we learned from one another but we also hurt each other while we hurt ourselves. The truth really doesn't sting today because in away escaping the scene was my own personal victory. The real question I ask myself is did I escape with my sanity or did I learn how to be a very good actor. I have become a professional when it comes to controlling emotions. Today is different. I try to go against conventional wisdom when it comes to title dictating behavior. There was is no real in this lifestyle. Your dealing with the insecurities of every man, every woman coming at you like a bunch of knives. Don't get stabbed because your going to bleed. How did I survive in the land of misfit toys? It took everything from within to keep my identity. I was distracted with pills and thrills and twist and the turns. Maybe there is such things as angels because I swear we all should have been dead that night I was drinking and driving. All in the name of love for music and love for a person that sold me a bill of lies. You know what? I would do anything to look cool and man I looked cool doing it all. My demeanor never changed until I really thought about it. The Bat-Mobile became Harvey Dent then Harvey became my ultimate karma in life. I deserved that loss and was lucky I didn't loose my best friend that night. I guess I subconsciously was trying to commit suicide because I knew was living a lie. I was lying to myself. My trail of disaster. My 808s. My attempt at being what they all told me I was suppose to be. I decided I didn't want to play with your toys anymore. I was ready to come back home.