<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<feed version="0.3" xmlns="http://purl.org/atom/ns#" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xml:lang="en">
<title>chrislighty.com</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/" />
<modified>2007-03-27T03:45:33Z</modified>
<tagline></tagline>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2007:/chrislighty/6</id>
<generator url="http://www.movabletype.org/" version="3.2">Movable Type</generator>
<copyright>Copyright (c) 2007, chrislighty</copyright>
<entry>
<title>CHAOS AND MAYHEM....HIP HOP.</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000156.php" />
<modified>2007-03-27T03:45:33Z</modified>
<issued>2007-03-27T03:13:00Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2007:/chrislighty/6.156</id>
<created>2007-03-27T03:13:00Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">I HAVE BEEN ON THE RUN BUSY TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF THE RAT RACE WE CALL HIP HOP. ALOT OF GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENNING AND AS USUAL ALOT TERRIBLE THINGS ARE HAPPENNING. I AM SURE YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>I HAVE BEEN ON THE RUN BUSY TRYING TO STAY AHEAD OF THE RAT RACE WE CALL HIP HOP. ALOT OF GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENNING AND AS USUAL ALOT TERRIBLE THINGS ARE HAPPENNING. I AM SURE YOU GUYS HAVE HEARD ALL OF THE RUMORS AND RIDICULOUS STORIES. I AM SORRY I HAD TO COME BACK TO THE BLOG WITH THIS BULLSHIT BUT HERE WE ARE. NO I DIDN'T GET ATTACKED. NO I DIDN'T SEE MY BROTHER GET ANY STITCHES LET ALONE 103. YES I AM TIRED OF ALL OF THIS BULLSHIT AND IN PARTICULAR PROPOGANDA OF THE NEGATIVE SORT. I AM ABSOLUTELY SURE MY CLIENT 50 CENT ISN'T INVOLVED. I AM SURE THAT WE WILL INVESTIGATE AND GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS MATTER. I AM SURE THE PRESS WILL CONTINUE TO PROP UP THE BULLSHIT BUT I CANNOT STRESS HOW WE DON'T CONDONE ANY VIOLENCE IN THE NATURE THAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED. I WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MY CLIENTS. IF YOU DON'Y KNOW WHO THEY ARE CHECK OUT WWW.VIOLATOR.COM . I HAD A FRIEND CALL ME AND SAY THEY ARE TRYING TO DRAG ME BACK INTO THE DARK SIDE OF HIP HOP AGAIN. I SAID I WON'T LET IT HAPPEN. YOU HAVE SEEN OUR PRESS STATEMENTS , YOU HAVE SEEN THE BEEFS, YOU HAVE SEEN THE SENSELESS LOSSES THAT WE HAVE HAD IN HIP HOP. I WILLNOT CONDONE ANY VIOLENCE. I AM A BUSINESS MAN IN THE BUSINESS OF BRANDING MY MUSIC AND EXPANDING HIP HOP. THE CHAOS AND MAYHEM WILL DESTROY HIP HOP. WE HAVE A FORCE OF PEOPLE IN HIGH POSITIONS LOOKING TO BRING HIP HOP DOWN. I AM TRYING TO KEEP IT ALIVE. MAKE A DECISION PEOPLE TO DISCERN WHAT IS ENTERTAINMENT , WHAT IS REALITY AND WHAT IS FICTION. WE HAVE TO LIVE AND ABIDE BY RULES NOT THE CHAOS AND MAYHEM HIP HOP IS IN RIGHT NOW. STOP HATING ON THE NEXT MAN. I WILL BE BACK BUT HOPEFULLY ON A BETTER NOTE AS THIS ISN'T WORTH THE ENERGY OR ATTENTION I JUST GAVE IT LET ALONE ALL OF THE PRESS. LETS STOP CONTRIBUTING TO THE CHAOS AND MAYHEM. THIS ISN'T ROME WE DON'T NEED TO SEE BLOOD. WE HAVE THE WWF FOR THAT. THIS ISN'T HIP HOP.</p>]]>

</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>2007</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000136.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T02:19:26Z</modified>
<issued>2007-01-03T01:57:17Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2007:/chrislighty/6.136</id>
<created>2007-01-03T01:57:17Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">We made it. Hip Hop gets another shot to step up to the plate and continue to grow in the revolutionary fashion that has had it featured in General Motors commercials to selling Vitamin Water. We have taken the blueprint...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>We made it. Hip Hop gets another shot to step up to the plate and continue to grow in the revolutionary fashion that has had it featured in General Motors commercials to selling Vitamin Water. We have taken the blueprint of the sound of struggle music to become an industry that transcends music and is a lifestyle in every sense of the word. The music business is under assault and we have to look to expand our business in a smarter way as the digital era not only brings growth but brings a trend that has made children,adults,everyone look for music and not have to pay for it. Obviously this format will not work but we have to make the music experience even more potent so that everyone will pay the artists and companies that bring this form of entertainment to the world. Look for more "Brand" entertainment to take place and understand that the world is no longer your block but truly a world wide digital experience.</p>]]>
<![CDATA[<p>We saw greatness past away in the last part of 2006 with the loss of "Gerald Levert" and also one of the founding fathers of hip hop even though we don't always acknowledge him "James Brown". James played to his own drum and then allowed hip hop to borrow it!! Lets continue to make a funky drummer out of the new records and sounds inspired by his greatness. I look foward to making new trails and the impossible possible for our culture. See you in the 007!!!</p>]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>New York New York where is the swagger?</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000114.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:47:05Z</modified>
<issued>2006-10-12T17:19:33Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.114</id>
<created>2006-10-12T17:19:33Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">Where is the swagger? Where is the entertainment? I took a minute to put this blog up because I love hip hop and I didn&apos;t want this to feel like I was hating on the south. I love hip hop...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>Where is the swagger? Where is the entertainment? I took a minute to put this blog up because I love hip hop and I didn't want this to feel like I was hating on the south. I love hip hop from everywhere but New York is my home and lately I have been wondering what happenned? We haven't went platinum since 50's last album as a city. I think Busta but up one of the best albums of his career and we missed the platinum. We got the gold but feel short at platinum. While we are shoulder leaning which I love we are also "Ballin" but we aren't entertaining enough to bring the platinum back home for some reason. My opinion is that we aren't entertaining. Banks(gunit) is giving us the new york point of view lets support. love him or hate him Papoose is entertaining the kids. check out his myspace numbers. Love him and Hate him but I will be the first to say it if you rappers aren't entertaining me the way "Diddy's" new album is than thats part of the problem. I need to say diddy is by no means a rapper but he is an entertainer and that is what makes his album entertaining and fun to listen to!!! Let the hate come my way I am sure I will hear it for this statement but hey something is missing and its the entertainment factor!!! f your not making me laugh,dance or say noone kills that many people(uncle murder) than I amnot being entertained!! New york the flows are cool but before you flow off the album Entertain!!! </p>]]>

</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>The music business is not for everyone.</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000110.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:46:50Z</modified>
<issued>2006-08-23T15:03:54Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.110</id>
<created>2006-08-23T15:03:54Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">It has been a minute since my last blog but I am back with a few topics that I felt relevant enough to share at this level. The title really says it all for me. I have tell you I...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>It has been a minute since my last blog but I am back with a few topics that I felt relevant enough to share at this level. The title really says it all for me. I have tell you I always meet people and even have family members that think just because I am in the music business so should they be and why aren't I giving out the free handout. This is a business and despite all the glamour and glitz there are people really breaking their necks on an individual and team basis.I have 16 to 18 hour days and try to juggle my business,a wife,a family and people think it is easy. The best is when my friends from the hood decide this is their new meal ticket and don't understand why they aren't rolling in the dough and take offense when they aren't being catered to as if they were a client and not someone trying to get on. I am very grateful to be in this business as something interesting is always going on and we are at a crossroads where the expansion of our business whether thru the digital realm or the brand marketing angle are creating new opportunities and income streams. That being said everyone should chase their dreams but remember it is up to you to make your dreams come true. The next man or woman shouldn't have their career used as your personal spring board. You have to find your lane and make it work!!!! Next blog: New york hip hop and the new york state of mind. stay tuned</p>]]>

</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>The 4th of july!</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000107.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:46:36Z</modified>
<issued>2006-07-04T04:55:58Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.107</id>
<created>2006-07-04T04:55:58Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">On this holiday I hope everyone has a festive family gathering. In my travels to Memphis for the Wright/Taylor fight I was enlightened and want to encourage everyone to get down to Memphis to see The Civil Rights Museum. It...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>On this holiday I hope everyone has a festive family gathering. In my travels to Memphis for the Wright/Taylor fight I was enlightened and want to encourage everyone to get down to Memphis to see The Civil Rights Museum. It gave me a very insightful view of the country on how far we have come but also how far we have to go. The fact that I was able to stand on the same balcony that our Dr. Martin Luthor King was taken from this world  made me feel very small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. It made me realize that I am and will be grateful for all the opportunities alloted me thru the deeds of many before me. It also made me realize that what I do is entertainment and should be taken as that. There are many other things we need to work on as a group of people and we should be lucky that we are in 2006 and not 1956 because America was a very different place. We still have a long way to go as a nation and as a race of people but to tear down "Hip Hop" isn't the answer. To ask people to change the music they make isn't the answer. The answer is we have to change as a nation of people and not take our entertainment more serious than our upbringing and culture of which "hip hop" is a part of. I hope you all get to see what I have seen and it will help to push you in a positive manner as it has helped me to change my framework just abit but it also makes me grateful beyond measure. I see some of the comments of how I am part of the machine and system. If that is the case than the machine wouldn't let me have this conversation. The fact is they say you have to know your past to have a future. Well get down there to see our past so you can help shape your future in a more positive way! That is my message for independance day! All the best!</p>]]>

</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>We are a global business.</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000104.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:46:22Z</modified>
<issued>2006-06-04T14:31:14Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.104</id>
<created>2006-06-04T14:31:14Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">I saw this weekend a crowd of forty thousand being entertained by hip hop. No I wasn&apos;t at summer jam. It was in moscow,russia. We have an opportunity just like Mcdonalds to invade every part of the world with a...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>I saw this weekend a crowd of forty thousand being entertained by hip hop. No I wasn't at summer jam. It was in moscow,russia. We have an opportunity just like Mcdonalds to invade every part of the world with a piece of our culture thru hip hop music. We have to realize that as this business  of hip hop grows and expands you may not like every bit of it but it is neccessary. Music is something that you don't have to listen to if you don't like it or buy if you dislike the content. It also is a personal expression of the many great artists out there that are pushing the brands foward. I see alot of the visitors to the blog  singing the gloom and doom of hip hop because it isn't in the native tongue phase anymore or the nice sugarhill era that set the stage for us all to hear what is rap today. We keep moving foward trust me despite what you think. The vanguards of the golden era weren't compensated they way that they should have been and that being said everyone is an adult and made or makes the decision to go foward whether it is the fame that drives them foward or the money that they see before them. I am not going to act like I should be responsible for the forefathers that paved the way and made x when now hip hop makes x y and z. The next era will do even better than we are so please remember I ran with red alert but I listened to mr magic too and picked up this one jewel from him that persistance overcomes resistance. I am being persistant people because this is a business and I hope that is what you get out of today's blog. This is a business and ten years ago they wouldn't have let us into moscow to perform. We are global and it is time for everyone to think of their own master plan to succeed in this hip hop world. WE ARE GLOBAL!!!!!! </p>]]>

</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Are you kidding me?</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000103.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:46:05Z</modified>
<issued>2006-05-31T03:39:55Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.103</id>
<created>2006-05-31T03:39:55Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">I love the internet it lets you express yourself to the world and allows alot of you internet thugs to get at me when you know your just mad because we differ in opinion! First I would like to tell...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>I love the internet it lets you express yourself to the world and allows alot of you internet thugs to get at me when you know your just mad because we differ in opinion! First I would like to tell Wendy "wake up this is the music business not the playground or park jams". We have to grow as a business and as a culture and even though you may not like "The Black Eyed Peas' the fact of the matter is Will i am is making hot joints for artists we all know and love like "Busta" and "Nas". The fact that the music his band makes isn't your cup of tea is your problem. </p>

<p>Hip hop is a rainbow of colors and styles. The artist that fall into the "I don't want to make commercial viable music because I don't want to sell out" need to be put to pasture. We all want to be rich from our efforts in this business. The king of backpacks right now Kanye West wanted to be rich and be able to create without the worry of the electric bill. He isn't giving the money back people because we are here to make money. Some of us will make more than others and still be creative but of course you will hate when success comes because misery loves company. Billy are you listening? I also want to acknowledge the person who said I don't like putting my friend Lyor on the top of this blog. I guess we were suppose to squirm because he isn't african american. This is America people!!!!</p>

<p>We are here to make money and to try and do it as respectfully as possible. I want to say "Thank you" to the kind words and supporters. This is the music business not the music charity and there are no hand outs. The Rolling Stones of hip hop will be someone  or some group that has a long career full of hits  hopefully it will be "The Roots" but right now it has to be "LL COOL J". I am sure I will spark more of a debate now that I have went on the offensive but I want to give you the mantra of my company that I live by. Crawl,Walk,Run.Persistence overcomes resistance. I hope the debate will continue as I love this hip hop music!!!!!</p>]]>

</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>The Roots of hip hop</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000100.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:33:27Z</modified>
<issued>2006-05-20T02:51:45Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.100</id>
<created>2006-05-20T02:51:45Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">Last night as I was running around the city to check on Q tip making a record with will i am. I stopped by a radio city theatre performance were we saw Nas do an interesting set with the hip...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>Last night as I was running around the city to check on Q tip making a record with will i am. I stopped by a radio city theatre performance were we saw Nas do an interesting set with the hip hop band called The Roots. I was rolling with Dnice and met Mark Pitts up there to see Nas do a quick 20 minute set. It was astonishing to see this particular venue filled with hip hop heads but as Nas went off and I went on my Qtip mission I realized that as a true grown man I had just seen an amazing feat. A hip hop band just filled a venue reserved for xmas shows, kid specials, and anything far removed from hip hop. The roots of hip hop started in jam sessions in the street where kids from the neighborhood would come out in peace to hear Flash,Theodore, Bambataa do a free jam session to express themselves. I didn't stay for the Roots full performance but I left feeling like that was the jam of the week.<br />
Fast foward to my office today where I meet with Qtip and we discussed his rollout and release for this year and we talked about how hard it will be not to rely on the pedigree that Qtip and Tribe have built from their past as this is a sport where your roots count only when your finished or you have a great band(The roots) playing beside you. This is a hit driven sport and even if your roots are stellar they are only to be shown in your live stage performance. You always have to have the new and next hit to play in this gladiator arena. As someone that has been active in hip hop since 86 in some form or fashion I am well aware that it is just as important about identifying the next star as it being associated with the current stars. Rap is still too young to really have an old school as it claims. What is old school? Sugarhill,Kane,DasEfx,Public Enemy,Foxy Brown? All of these artists have records that came out 10 plus years ago. Some older than others but is that really old? Is a twenty something year old person really old? Our roots are still growing lets check back in another 20 years when our roots will be a little stronger and maybe hip hop will be out of this strange growing spurt it is in right now. Love it or hate it this is hip hop.</p>]]>

</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>People are still taking rap for a joke.....</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000098.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:32:52Z</modified>
<issued>2006-05-13T23:51:29Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.98</id>
<created>2006-05-13T23:51:29Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">Well I am back from the left coast and I had several interesting meetings and realize that as big as our music is and as influential as our culture is on the world I always look around the room and...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>Well I am back from the left coast and I had several interesting meetings and realize that as big as our music is and as influential  as our culture is on the world I always look around the room and see few power brokers of color. The presidents of record companies are primarily white and are trying to figure out how to decipher the code. We are pigeon-holed by the power structure that tries to act like they have any clue what is going on in our neighborhoods. It is amazing when I am told by someone who doesn't interact with artists or consumers that a record sounds -----------. How do you know what the sound is? I sit stumped at how we decide what the public should hear when most of us hide up in the crystal tower behind the curtain but alas that is the music industry. I can only try to keep the edge by associating myself with great talent like Missy,Busta,50,LIL JON,etc. I cannot stress how hard it is to crack the corporate steel curtain to either move up in rank with power or have an artist that speaks directly to the consumer just get green light for the deal but because he or she raps its always we need to clear this with the board. I have been able to break thru several times to the benefit of both the brand and artist but it is like Janet say's "what have you done for me lately?" I am going to keep pushing our brand and culture until I can't anymore so please continue to expect the unbelievable associations. Who would ever think we would sell water? Vitamin water and 50 is one of my happiest moments as Vitamin water was smart enough to want to speak to our community and look past the surface of the records and on 50's part just being able to be healthy and not afraid to say" hey its cool to to be healthy" and maintain the flow of his career. The brands on both sides of the fence need to wake up so we can speak a common language and try to do the best job speaking to our community and not down to it.<br />
I said I would make an announcement on the last blog so hear it is. I am going to browse comments from time to time and try to engage conversations from your ideas. Let's not turn this into a free for all and an internet thug page. It will be at my discretion whose idea for a conversation we take and how long we let it last. So let's be respectful. Let's have fun and in the word's of Donald Trump "If your going to think THINK BIG"<br />
Holler Back.</p>]]>

</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Thinking of a master plan.</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000097.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:32:34Z</modified>
<issued>2006-05-07T00:16:01Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.97</id>
<created>2006-05-07T00:16:01Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">As I approach my birthday I was thinking of my master plan and it is moving along rather nicely. I have been very busy so I haven&apos;t been able to keep my blog hot but have no fear my next...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>As I approach my birthday I was thinking of my master plan and it is moving along rather nicely. I have been very busy so I haven't been able to keep my blog hot but have no fear my next blog will have a new and interesting announcement to keep us all together in conversation on music,life and whatever else we decide to conversate about. But back to my master plan.Remember those records that didn't have the "call out hook" but were hot as hell anyway.For those joining that have no idea what a call out hook is it is what we in the music industry have become slaves to! It is the part of the record that you instantly remember and hooks you in. It may be the whole hook of a record or just the most catchy part of it. But lets move on. Remember when hip hop had hot hit records that didn't have a catchy sing songy hook. It had that one linerand hot beat that drew you in. What happenned? We became slaves to the system that once resisted us! As we progress we move backwards. Remember "Paid in Full"..."thinking of a master plan...I need money I used to be a stick up kid"..."fish which is my favorite dish"..."hit the studio I'm paid in full"...."what happenned to peace..peace". Obviously I jumped around the verses pulling out my favorite lines the fact is I loved that record it was hot and had no chorus! What is going on in hip hop? I will say I am just as much the problem when my clients and friends play me their records and I say "where is the chorus?". I need to ask myself is the joint hot? This is important because damn I am sick of singing along every day. Sometimes I just need a hot idea and hot beat that transports me to the scene of the record so i can digress without worrying if the program director is going to understand that this joint is hot! How hot was "Children story" by Slick Rick."Uncle Ricky please read us a bedtime story"...."Knock em out the box rick". Tell me that joint isn't in rotation on your ipod.I have made it mandatory listening to in my house to these classics. My 16 year old  to my 6year old have that song on their ipods along with some other undeniables. How about this one and if you think it had a chorus callout that would work with these program directors today it would  be an uphill battle but it is obviously a smash. Drumroll please."Eric B for President"..."Go get a girl and get soft and warm don't get excited you been invited to a quiet storm but now its out of hand because you told me you hate me and then you asked what have I done lately first you said all you want is love and protection let me be your angel and I'll be your protection take you out and buy you all kinds of things caught an attitude you need food to eat up I'm scheming like I am dreaming on a couch with my feet up you scream I am lazy you must be crazy thought I was a doughnut you tried to glaze me....Hot Record!!Hip Hop what happenned? We had big chorus records from day one but we also had big joints that just made you feel good! It takes two by Rob Base...if your under 30 you need to go and do your homework on these records but hip hop has to start bringing these type of cuts back as their album cuts if we are going to sell albums in this digital world!! I can go on for days but I am going to give you my top 5 classic joints that have a chorus that doesnt make sense for radio research today but the song still feels good. Some don't even have a chorus.In no particuliar order of greatness:<br />
1.Rock the bells LL cool j<br />
2.Children Story Slick Rick<br />
3.Paid in Full Eric b and Rakim<br />
4.So wat cha saying EPMD<br />
5.The choice is yours BlackSheep(yeah it kind of has a chorus but how silly is this or that?Engine engine number nine....pick it up pick it up pick it up!So hot!)</p>

<p>Ofcourse I am not saying it isn't happenning today but damn we are chasing the biggest choruses possible 99 percent of the time instead of just focusing on making hot music. I have to big up Busta with "Touch it". What the hell is the chorus saying? it's hot though! We need more of these and less album fillers! As I move closer to my birthday I am still happy to have hip hop and to have been able to prosper from it so I can't be mad that we go for the kill almost every time we drop a joint but let's try a littleharder!! I will do my part!!<br />
5/8/06</p>]]>

</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Where are the hip hop rolling stones?</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000094.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:32:15Z</modified>
<issued>2006-03-13T00:12:41Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.94</id>
<created>2006-03-13T00:12:41Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">I am back. I have a question since we all have been consumed with the bad news in hip hop lets take a station break from that and talk about where is &quot;hip hop&quot; going with it&apos;s veteran artists? The...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>I am back. I have a question since we all have been consumed with the bad news in hip hop lets take a station break from that and talk about where is "hip hop" going with it's veteran artists?  The Rolling Stones can come out every year and gross a 100 million plus tour and go and hang out where ever it is rockers hang out for the rest of the year and sip on their pina coladas. We have grown up as a culture and as adults but we have few main stays from the "golden era" of "hip hop" that can go out and tour. As this generation grows older we are coming to a cross roads of what concerts we will be going to see in the next decade. Will we who have hip hop children,neices and nephews,etc. think its cool to be going to concerts with our youngsters? I know my daughter wants to see the 50 cent or Jay z concert just as much as I do but I am the exception not the rule. I want to see Big Daddy Kane but the demand is slowly evolving for these kind of concerts of the dare i say it "old school artists" but its an absolutely far and in between event. We have to remember that we owe alot to the artists that have paved the way and we should support any show that revels in the glory of hip hop from the pioneers. I  listen to Basckspin on Sirius as much as Hot 97 because I enjoy the music. Who will the first hip hop act to play vegas like the other icons in the business? I know this isn't the exciting dirt of the industry but its definitely something we have to think about because hip hop is the game of the young but if we don't solidify the base from the past we aren't going to have a strong future. Let's not go the way of the Jazz musicians of the past.</p>

<p>Also I want to say i do see and read your notes and I thank you for the positive and negative. I dont jump back into the discussions as if I did it would become a free for all and we can't have that!!!<br />
One!<br />
</p>]]>

</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Hip Hop Violence</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000092.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:31:52Z</modified>
<issued>2006-02-19T16:38:33Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.92</id>
<created>2006-02-19T16:38:33Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">I want to back track for this blog and address the discussion of violence in our community of hip hop. I see alot of people saying &quot;hey Lighty aren&apos;t you helping sell the same violence inducing music etc...&quot;. I want...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>I want to back track for this blog and address the discussion of violence in our community of hip hop. I see alot of people saying "hey Lighty aren't you helping sell the same violence inducing music etc...". I want to make it crystal clear that I personally and my company doesn't condone these acts of violence and think that our community as a whole has to be responsible for its actions and not blame hip hop regardless of the idiots that might run amok in it.</p>

<p>Hip Hop doesn't make anyone pick up a gun, knife, fist and go out and do acts of violence or stupidity. Stupid and callous people do these things. There are just as many acts of violence by individuals that don't listen to hip hop and aren't part of the minority of this nation. Look at the idiot that murdered his family (wife and child) and then ran to England. Did he listen to hip hop? Unlikely but he is just as much as a degenerate as the individuals that do acts of violence around hip hop.</p>

<p>The difference is  hip hop is giving an opportunity for our community to rise above it and if we don't act like we are in a special situation when we get the opportunity to be in this brand of entertainment than the system will figure out a way to take it away from us. If your in this business and your friends come around make sure you tell them " hey this is my life don't fuck it up for me because if you do who is going to help you?</p>

<p>Maybe the greed will overcome the stupidity! We have to rise above the bullshit! When the rock stars go back to their old neighborhoods they arent considered the next "vic" because they are doing well! That is unfortunately  what most rappers ,actors,ball players face in their own community. How many sports players, rappers, etc have been robbed going back into their community just because they made it and than the haters come out? </p>

<p>Our community has to be better than the others just to be recognized in society so we have to break this vicious chain of violence. I will never be a believer of the music made me do it? Every week a violent movie comes out, a comic book with violence comes out ,the damn newspaper puts an actual record of violence in our face daily. Noone said "The new york times article made me go crazy and kill that person." Hip Hop has to take the next step and protect our culture or we will go away like the dinasours except it will be the government that wipes us out. </p>]]>
<![CDATA[<p>I love gangster movies as much as I love gangster records..but as I was channel surfing last night I realized I also love a good story as I watched the last hour or so of "The Titanic". Our music has many forms and I love hearing  50 tell tales of crime as much as I like "21 questions" but neither made me go crazy to do acts of violence why would it do it to you? My favorite album is "Criminal Minded" by BDP I listen to it 20 years later but it doesn't make me do a drive by. To top it all off I love to hear the Ceo and President of Def Jam rhyme about how he is/was the best hustler but it doesn't inspire anything more than the thought to work harder.</p>

<p>This is entertainment  just like hollywood and if you can't decipher that than please turn off your radio! KRS said it best "rap is like a sport, alot of games, alot of suckers with colorful names,I am so and so I am this and that but there all just wick wick wack." Its like a sport,a game not an order of violence,not reality its a fantasy. So please "Stop the violence."</p>]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>Back to blog business.....The other shoe is about to drop.</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000091.php" />
<modified>2006-07-12T16:51:14Z</modified>
<issued>2006-02-17T19:43:59Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.91</id>
<created>2006-02-17T19:43:59Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">I have been runnning crazy for the last couple of weeks due to different events in my management company, my record company duties,the grammys and after having a few insightful mtgs while in los angeles I found myself pondering what...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>I have been runnning crazy for the last couple of weeks due to different events in my management company, my record company duties,the grammys and after having a few insightful mtgs while in los angeles I found myself pondering what is the new face of the truly revolutionary record company going to look like? </p>

<p>I find myself in a place where I believe for the survival of our music and brands not only are the record companies going to have to change their thought process so are the management companies. We as black people and executives can't sit around and wait for the shoe to drop like our counter parts do because lets face it we are the minority. Whether its a hip hop world which it is how many of us truly have power?</p>

<p>That being said, I see everyone wondering why this one artist is successful or that one has a perfume or a sneaker deal. The reason being is those individuals arent waiting for the other shoe to drop they are grabbing it and putting it on.The record companies constantly complain that "hey I am the seed money". Clearly they are but then they dont invest into building the artist brand outside of an mtv/bet  world.</p>

<p>What if the artist sells records only if he/she has a viable tour out there ? 99 percent of the time the record companies what for the manager to create that situation? What happens if the manager can't? What if their intentions as a new manager are great but their reach is too limited? Our industry is at a major crossroads where artist/manager/record company are going to have to work more as one because where is the next motown brand? def jam brand? uptown records? remember that? We have to build a better union between all the parts to succeed.</p>]]>
<![CDATA[<p>The "lil scrappy brand" is just as important as the "ludacris" brand but if we aren't smart as a management company in growing it and the record company doesnt chime in wewill never know!! Where is the next frank sinatri,elvis presley,marvin gaye,tupac shakur? I am not a fan of the first two brands i have mentioned but damn we just cant seem to shake them and they have stood the test of time.</p>

<p>The record company blueprint that is doing the robbie williams and korn deals are more to the future of our business than the lets wait and hope someone calls me and wants my artist in their commercial approach that we as a business have been taking. I know there are departments being formed but who has a marketing department that is strategic in all the aspects of touring, endorsements, merchandise, etc and has a great  artist  management relationship. Hmmm.</p>

<p>I could go on and on but the model of our business has to change or we will be put out of business and I am the first to say I love my job!!! My next blog will continue on this rant of changing the model but will address the manager's dream and nightmare: Touring!</p>]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>i am sorry i kept you.....</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000089.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:31:23Z</modified>
<issued>2006-02-06T21:09:11Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.89</id>
<created>2006-02-06T21:09:11Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">I promise i won&apos;t let this slip again and go for weeks without an entry unless i get busy again!!!I want to start off by saying that its a great day when the Pittsburgh Steelers win the super bowl.I am...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>I promise i won't let this slip again and go for weeks without an entry unless i get busy again!!!I want to start off by saying that its a great day when the Pittsburgh Steelers win the super bowl.I am a huge steeler fan and this has been a long time coming.I now unfortunately have to address the black community and say a few things.<br />
I have to hope that my children or their children will one day know hip hop without the violence.I am sorry and send out my regards to the family of Israel Ramirez. I don't know what happenned as i wasn't on the scene  so i won't comment but it is a sad day when violence erupts and takes anyone's life.We have to come together as a people and try to rise above the conflicts we have on the streets of our neighborhoods.I know it sounds corny that the we have to unite as black people,as minorities ,as people of color but sooner or later we will have to do this to survive. I am sure that everyone has a comment and the press will blame hip hop and rappers but none of that is the case.Hip hop gave the opportunity for all these great stars to come together for this</p>]]>

</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<title>what if there was no hip hop?</title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/archives/000086.php" />
<modified>2007-01-03T16:31:08Z</modified>
<issued>2006-01-20T11:56:58Z</issued>
<id>tag:www.unitedcamps.com,2006:/chrislighty/6.86</id>
<created>2006-01-20T11:56:58Z</created>
<summary type="text/plain">Imagine no culture, no music, no clothing, no style, no Russell Simmons, no Lyor Cohen, no Jay-Z, no 50 Cent, no BDP, no Talib Kweli, no Dr Dre. Imagine no Busta Rhymes, no Missy, no Bad Boy, no Def Jam,...</summary>
<author>
<name>chrislighty</name>

<email>chris.lighty@violator.com</email>
</author>

<content type="text/html" mode="escaped" xml:lang="en" xml:base="http://www.unitedcamps.com/chrislighty/">
<![CDATA[<p>Imagine no culture, no music, no clothing, no style, no Russell Simmons, no Lyor Cohen, no Jay-Z, no 50 Cent, no BDP, no Talib Kweli, no Dr Dre.</p>

<p>Imagine no Busta Rhymes, no Missy, no Bad Boy, no Def Jam, no Rocafella, no Violator.</p>

<p>Imagine no FUBU, no Sean John, no Rocawear, no G-Unit no S dots, no hip-hop.</p>

<p>Imagine no Kevin Liles, no Jermaine Dupri, no Sean Carter, no young african-americans taking the music business by storm.</p>

<p>Imagine how far we have come and all the opportunities we have received due to hip-hop and now imagine if we didnt have it.</p>

<p>Imagine how bad it would be but how great it is, and if we take it seriously we can make it even better.<br />
I wanted to push a little so everyone can see we do have it good and we just can't always complain on how bad it is in hip-hop.</p>

<p>Imagine how the guys at the Source feel after building that brand and just letting it go awry! The power is in our hands as long as we dont abuse it!</p>

<p>Thats all folks.</p>]]>

</content>
</entry>

</feed>