Hip-hop came to school today, and hip-hop schooled UNC Charlotte students on entry into the music industry. It came in the form of six panelists informing through a formal Q&A session. The six panelists included a professor at Nash Central University, 9th Wonder, BET’s 106 and Park host, Terrence Jenkins, and Christopher “Play” Martin from the hip-hop group Kid and Play. The three other panelists included Larry Mims (aka No Limit Larry), Church Boy and Janeane Davis, all from the radio show The Morning Maddhouse on Power 98 FM.
9th Wonder began his career not being the famous world renowned DJ he is today. He actually started off in college DJing for North Carolina Central’s radio station. 9th Wonder was the panelist who reflected on the questions with personal experience of the grind of DJing and musicianship. As he is a person who has gone through the trials and tribulations of entering the music industry. “In order to eat off what you do, some days you are not going to eat,” is what he said of getting into this aggressive industry.
Despite getting kicked out of five high schools, Chris “Play” Martin graduated from the High School of Art and Design in New York and is now a professor at North Carolina Central University. Martin gave the “old school” aspect to the conversation, expanding on the other panelists’ answers with old school advice. His answer to how he got into the industry: “Women.” Despite all of the fame he has attained, Martin still holds a down-to-earth lifestyle. He does not see himself as being greater than any other man.
Terrence Jenkins seemed to answer the question with regards to today’s society. In response to being asked how he feels the industry has changed, he answered with regards on how much more difficult it is to get into the entry level today rather than in yesteryears.
Jenkins said that outlets such as YouTube and MySpace help aspiring artists, but still there is always the issue of the perseverance of a person. You have to work and you have to love what you want to do to the point where you would do it for free.
Janeane and the Maddhouse crew supplemented the discussion with their experience during their college tenures. Church Boy, a Charlotte native, graduated from Johnson C. Smith University with a degree in Communications and got his start on radio through one of his professors. College played a prominent role in all of the panelists’ careers, either through garnering them experience or just being used as a way to make new contacts. College taught them lessons only gained through a college experience. College played the building block upon which their careers grew.
UNC Charlotte students gained valuable insight on the ethics and pursuit of a career in the music industry. The music industry according to 9th Wonder is all about self entrepreneurship. Promoting yourself as marketable. “Dollars and cents make the world go ’round,” according to Church Boy.
Be the first to comment on this article!