My life is devoted to music -- specifically music that hasn't touched the common ear.
A goal of mine is to have a music library that is a reflection of all that is independent -- artists who are not represented by a big time label company.
Yes, the radio will provide catchy tunes that will lead you to making a traditional iTunes purchase. Nothing is wrong with what your local DJ replays through your car speakers.
But, there is music beyond the radio and those who go out of their way to find what hasn't been heard know that the good stuff has to be searched for.
With an open mind and eager ears, you can search past the radio singles and onto uncharted territory where you will discover the true meaning behind artistic sincerity. This is exactly what I did and where I discovered the revival of my passion for rhythm and poetry -- better known as the common genre rap. This all started when I was introduced to a project called The Social Experiment and a little known mixtape titled Acid Rap -- both concepts derived from one creative brain that forever changed my perspective on what I listen to.
Chicago, Illinois native Chancellor Bennett, better known as his stage name Chance the Rapper, is a prime example of what exists beyond your car stereo.
Unlike many artists of this generation, Chance the Rapper is a musician you truly have to search for. His firm belief in being an independent artist has made his career stand out among the rest who are signed under labels of control.
This has also made him hard to find.
You can't just stroll the media isle of Target in hopes of seeing his face on the cover of his 2016 mixtape Coloring Book but instead you must follow the Chicago native on social media where he releases his music to the world for free.
Yes, you read that correctly. Free.
Without a record company backing up his projects, Chance's mixtape's are basically costless online, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
I had never heard Chance on the radio before due to him being an independent artist. After hearing the song Sunday Candy from a friend back in high school, I was hooked.
I couldn't get enough of it.
Chance takes on everything he does as a project which allows his creativity to surpass the limits of a musician who is under jurisdiction of a contract. To truly engage in the full experience that is the Chicago rapper legend, you have to put the time and effort into him, his story, and his projects. But most importantly, you need to drown out the noise around you, including the radio.
If you love music as much as I do, then feed your soul with what it deserves -- the unknown. Do the research. Go out of your way to discover what know one else has and bring light to the artists who are truly doing it for the people, not for the money. This is the difference between known music and found music. You already know what's going to come on the radio after that commercial. Turn it off and go find something new.
