It just became crystal clear today a few seconds ago why over 98% of people fail in a home based business.

In a network marketing business.

In a MLM business.

In an internet marketing business.

In affiliate marketing.

I used to believe because they didn’t have the right training.

They didn’t know how to generate leads, or didn’t use the right marketing system, or know how to convert prospects into customers.

Yeah that plays a part BUT it’s not the reason.

See you can have the best marketing system, access to the best training, have the best people selling for you AND still fail.

So all that is bull crap.

That AIN’T why people fail.

It’s not the #1 reason.

It’s not even because of cash flow.

My friend let me tell you a story.

I’ve been in more MLM companies and marketing systems than I’d like to admit. Over 8.

From the span of 2004 to now I’ve quit my job 5 times.

Did you know I ended up having to go back to work 4 times.

Yep…

Crawling back to corporate America.

Why?

Was it because I didn’t have great training?

Nope.

Was it because I wasn’t part of the right system?

Nope.

I know it was because I didn’t have the best compensation plan.

Wrong again.

So why is it NOW that I’m succeeding and won’t ever have to go back to a job?

Is it because I am in Empower Network?

That has some to do with it but ultimately that’s not why.

There are over 115,000 people that joined Empower.

Many have quit.

So it’s not the company per se that makes you successful.

Are you ready my friend to learn why sooooooo many people fail in this industry?

They are not connected to and pursuing their vision in life.

Period.

See when I left my job back in September of 2012 I left so I could grow my church ministry and work on my biz. I was tapped into my purpose.

As the months continued on my vision grew more and more on the spiritual side and business side. Not only did my vision grow but I grew as well.

I used to still be in a box, not a small one anymore, more of a medium size. I used to still care what people thought about me being a pastor and an entrepreneur.

Then I purchased an audio book called the 50th Law by Robert Green and 50 Cent which was recommended by my sponsor in Empower Network Tracey Walker.

And after the mid day call that we had today for the Dream Team and hearing Nicole Cooper speak, I felt more convicted that I need to TURN IT UP.

I need to tap into the Spirit of God that is in me more and just go ALL OUT.

Balls to the wall if you will.

My friend at that moment it became crystal clear to me why I am having more success in the last 8 months than in my total time of being in this industry which spans cumulatively 6+ years.

I’m pursuing God’s purpose for my life and I am focused on impacting others lives.

The success that I have now and will have in the future is NOT ABOUT ME.

It’s about the Kingdom Of God.

I’m not ashamed anymore or fearful of what others will say about me on Facebook when I talk about my church AND my business.

When I talk about God being unlimited and me being wealthy.

When I talk about GETTING FREAKING MONEY and how much I’ve made so I can inspire others.

My vision in business this year is to help 7 people retire from their job, earn $300,000 total income from Empower, be the 1st black male speaking on stage at an Empower Event, and be a black lanyard wearer at the events for the rest of the year.

Me getting on stage and speaking ain’t about me.

Is to inspire other black men that if I can do it so can you.

If I can go through so many setbacks in business, divorce, car repossessions, evictions, going back to jobs, making $8/hr, and other hell and come out on top…

Then so can they.

Me earning $300,000 this year is about helping retire my mom, putting money aside for the King’s agenda, starting a seminary school teaching Kingdom theology and not this other stuff that leads so many pastors away from the truth.

Me helping 7 people retire this year is all about helping them break free and being there for their family and living the dream life they’ve always deserved.

So you see my friend this is not about me.

I’m so focused on my vision now more than ever.

That’s why I WON’T FAIL.

The best rap beats are often made by people who are not really prominent in the music industry! But most of us don’t know about their existence because they sell the rights to their beats to top musicians for a lump sum. So how exactly do they manage to do it? Of course the answer is simple – they are simply talented! But even the most talented people do need some guiding and help at times!

So before you could actually decide on buying software that you would need for that soon-to-be hobby of yours, make sure you have earned the right skills for it. But basically this kind of artistry requires more than skills. All the popular hip-hop artists know what it takes to earn a name in this field. Usually, it takes passion and love for your craft. This is not something that you do because you like it at a time-and may find it boring at other times.

Note that the software is going to make your craft so much easier for you, most especially if you want to do things other than arranging beats that would appeal much to the listeners. Most artists of this field do more than making the beats. They also craft mixes and remixes for disco pubs or even concerts. You can do these things too.

Software

That’s where beat making software comes in! I’m talking of course, about people who don’t have an ever increasing bank balance which allows them to purchase expensive equipment (which, many a time, they don’t get around to using!). With a beat making soft ware, you can get access to all the sounds which are produced by top grade instruments, but without purchasing a single one of them!

It’s like a dream come true for aspiring musicians who want to try their hand at beat making! Of course, you can also develop beats for your own songs as well. Many veterans of the industry also take help from beat making software from time to time and they’re not ashamed to admit it. The simple fact is, if science and technology are going to make things easy (and less expensive) for you, then why go hard on yourself?

Examples

Software such as the SonicProducer allows you to make authentic beats and also comes with an in built, extensive library which has a variety of rap beats instrumentals you can fiddle with. Moreover, at $30, it’s not even hard on your pocket.

There is a lot of other software out their which is similar in nature to the SonicProducer, The Fruity Loops is another example of such a software. These user-friendly programs are easy to master and allow you to concentrate all your energy on the process of making music!

What is more, you can make the best rap beats which sound like they’re made by a professional without a multi-track recorder, condenser microphone, Digital Audio workstations or even synthesizers, all on your own! So what are you waiting for? Start making the best rap beats you are capable of today!

Entering music production as a career isn’t easy and can come with many obstacles if you are a sample-based producer. If you sample a pre-existing commercial recording the laws are even tougher today as publishing companies use the law to strike hard against copyright infringement. Since sampled audio recordings are your primary tools to get paid, it’s time to reevaluate your tool set for options of samples which you can use as a non-risk approach to creating music which still sounds like sampled vinyl but does not pose a legal threat where record companies will want to come after your pockets for shares of publishing.

As a sampling producer, The Drum Broker is your savior as a company which was conceived with the producer in mind who would like to have more options other than the standard Hip Hop production approach of sampling from vinyl records. Also known as Hip Hop Drum Samples, this company is an online resource which provides high-quality royalty-free samples for the music production community. Here you can gain an authentic sample sound recorded and designed by top names in the music industry without having to worry about the legal issues involved with sampling another artist’s music.

Here are some tips which demonstrate ways in which you can retain the gritty analog sound of sampling from vintage vinyl while taking an approach to making your music which relies upon the use of new affordable and royalty-free sample material.

Hip Hop Drum Samples is a company which goes the extra mile to ensure that their samples sound as authentic in color and musical execution to recordings of The 1960’s and 70’s. This undeniable sound is achieved by employing the use of vintage studio equipment in the recording chain plus a roster of top-class producers and musicians. Thanks to this vision, many producers have found a successful alternative to sampling from vinyl when downloading kits from The Drum Broker. Samples by this company are packaged with each producer’s name brand and categorized by sound and instrument into a final digital product known as a “kit”. These kits feature loops, individual hits and stems to provide options for you to compose and manipulate the sounds to your liking.

When choosing a sample kit, think back to your overall vision and purpose as a producer. How can any kit from The Drum Broker compliment your music and help you make a seamless transition from sampling vinyl records to royalty-free sample kits? At this stage you must rely on your ear to help you identify the perfect match of sound to your production within the vast sound library of Hip Hop Drum Samples.

Keep in mind that when downloading any one of these sample kits you are receiving sounds designed by producers who are essentially on the same mission as you: they are working professionals who need to find an alternative to sampling from vinyl. The producers and sound designers at Hip Hop Drum Samples all at one time found themselves in the same predicament as you in having to create their own samples from scratch. One of those producers goes by the name of Frank Dukes who provides original Soul samples which are dramatic in mood in his “Kingsway Music Library” series of kits. If your production sound is dark and sinister in tone yet soulful, choose one of Frank’s kits which feature loops and instrumental stems of grooves performed by his team of musicians using vintage gear.

If you would like to go even darker in your sound selection, browse through the sounds of award-winning producer Illmind. In his signature Blap Kits, you will not only find drum sounds which he has used as the foundation for numerous hits for the likes of 50 Cent, Mobb Deep, Skyzoo and others, but also a diverse selection of synths, basses, guitars and voices derived from the obscure musical influences of his sample-based producer background. The balance between vintage sound and new electronic sound is what separates Illmind’s Blap kits from the rest as he provides both a polished, cutting-edge sound ready for the mainstream and raw sound for the underground.

When it comes to Soul music sampling, Jake One remains one of the most influential in the music industry who delivers neck-snapping production which graces the top of the charts. In order to proceed in your transition from sampling vinyl to kits, Jake’s lead is a good path to follow. He has been successful in creating a seamless transition between the use of kits and the music of live musicians to maintain a sound which feels like it was sampled from vinyl. You can start by downloading one of Jake One’s “Snare Jordan” kits to gain access to his signature drum sounds. If you need a source of original royalty-free Soul samples, download Jake’s “15 Piece” kit which features grooves composed and performed in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist G Koop. It’s all about 70’s Soul and heavy drum sounds when you employ sounds from Jake’s Snare Jordan Enterprises.

You may be on the hunt for a set of quality drum and bass sounds in addition to original grooves to add to your sound library. If so, then it is worth lending your ear to the samples created by one of Hip Hop’s most prolific and influential drum sound designers. Drawing from samples in his personal MPC2000XL sampler, Marco Polo presents the “Pad Thai” series of drum and bass sample kits. This generous offering of sounds come from beats he has made for Hip Hop artists such as Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace, Hannibal Stax and others. With his blend of drum sounds sampled from vinyl and made original through layering and EQ along with signature bass sounds, Marco still manages to keeps the ears of underground Hip Hop fans happy with minimal sampling if any. His sounds are unique and is a great example of how to proceed in maintaining an authentic Hip Hop sound while avoiding sample clearance issues through the use of sample kits.

As a Hip Hop producer, you are bound to evolve in your sound after time spent honing your craft. In most cases this may mean you are seeking to elevate your beats to showcase a more musical approach. For this purpose, Hip Hop Drum Samples employs a roster of professional musicians to round out their catalog of kits giving producers the option to choose from a variety of musical ideas including riffs, grooves, loops and hits. Sampling the performances of musicians is a common studio method used by the majority of professional working producers of today as a way to expand upon a basic musical idea and/or provide an alternative to sampling. The Drum Broker makes it easy for you to begin sampling the performances of world-class musicians in their collection of kits by talents such as drummer Timmy Rickard, MSXII, bassist Corney Mims and other instrumentalists employed by the producers at Hip Hop Drum Samples.

The convenience of sampling the sounds of instrumentalists from kits by The Drum Broker in the studio provides more flexibility than sampling from a commercial recording on a vinyl record. You benefit by being able to receive the individual track stems of each musicians performance which gives you access to each instrument. When sampling from a vinyl record, you do not have the option to separate instruments of the recording into stems which limits your creativity. Most importantly, you benefit from being free to use the music on these kits without the anxiety of receiving a call from the publishing company or lawyer of these musicians who are complaining about their music being sampled. At Hip Hop Drum Samples you are sampling music which is guaranteed royalty-free!

One hurdle you must overcome in making a successful transition from vinyl record sampling to using sample kits is to avoid being swayed by the opinions of others. There are a group of people who firmly believe that the use of kits is forbidden in Hip Hop based on their view of tradition. However, when it comes to artistic expression there is no one who should be able to tell you what to do. Believe in yourself, set out to break the mold of old ways which others are set in and stand as a musical innovator. After all, at the end of the day the listeners of your music are unlikely to know or care whether or not you even used a sample kit to make your music if it is original and produced well. All they care about is the final product good or is it not.

Head out on your mission to make your music royalty-free and authentic with confidence after absorbing the advice provided above. Your are in good hands with The Drum Broker who are a company which is groundbreaking in the industry as sound providers and saviors of producers from sample clearance legalities.

When money is tight, sometimes the grocery budget has to take one for the team. Sometimes, there is no grocery budget.

The following five recipes have pulled my family through tough times on more than one occasion. They are all made of cheap ingredients that many chefs (and most moms) keep in the kitchen at all times. They might not be the fanciest fare to ever grace your table, but they sure sit well on an empty stomach.

5. Spaghetti

This one is a no-brainer. Pasta is inexpensive, filling, and most kids will eat it. If you’re too strapped for tomatoes or even store-bought sauce, dredge the couch for change and buy a can of tomato paste. A pinch of salt and some Italian seasoning will make a 60-cent pasta sauce that rivals anything you can buy in a jar. Chop up essentially any left-over meat dish and viola, you’ve got makeshift meatballs! My favorite low-rent spaghetti topper is a microwaved hot dog cut on the diagonal. Classy and affordable.

4. Rice Pudding

My kids don’t care for rice as a side dish, but when I sat a bowl of rice pudding in front of my daughter instead of her usual steel-cut oatmeal, she squealed. She thought she was being spoiled, but in reality I was too broke to buy breakfast food. Like many moms, I always have a half-empty bag of white rice in the pantry, and I usually have raisins, cinnamon, and enough milk to make a nice pasty treat. Plus, it’s always nice to feel a little spoiled when money is tight.

3. Bean Soup

You knew you weren’t going to use that bag of 15-bean soup you bought last October, but it was 25 cents! If you remember where you stowed it away, simply dump it in the crock pot overnight and it will keep your tummy full until payday. Not a fan of exotic beans? You have a whole aisle to choose from, and they’re all equally filling and affordable. A few coins extra will buy you an onion to chuck into the slow-cooker, and otherwise inedible stale bread will soak up this soup like a carb-filled sponge.

2. Macaroni Casserole

A 50-cent box of mac-and-cheese, diced bologna, and a bag of frozen peas. Need I say more?

1. White Chili (with or without chicken, depending on your budget)

When I was a kid, my mother made White Chili as a treat. Served in a bowl lined with a flour tortilla and topped with garden-fresh salsa, sour cream, and white cheese from the deli section of the grocery store made us all think this was a dish for times of plenty. But when I discovered you can make a bare-bones version of White Chili for less than six dollars, I began feeding it to my family on a weekly basis. Two cans of white beans, an onion, some canned chopped chili peppers, and a can of chicken (or vegetable) broth will run you about four dollars. Assuming you have cumin and a few tablespoons of flour at home, that is all you need to make the most basic version of this dish. Another two dollars will buy you a can of chunk chicken, or you might score a discount rotisserie chicken from the deli if the store is about to close.

These dishes won’t feed your family forever, but they will get you through those nights when the cupboard just isn’t overflowing with lean cuts of grass-fed beef and organic vegetables. The most important thing to remember when you find yourself scraping the bottom of the peanut-butter jar is that recipes aren’t set in stone. Work with what you have, be creative, and most importantly, be brave.

Sometimes after you wash your vehicle there is some contamination still left over. Before you go to polish your vehicle it may be a good idea to just run your hand lightly over the paint to feel for any rough spots. If you feel these spots now would be the time to get rid of them by using a clay bar. Just like with washing the car you do not want to do this in direct sunlight. It will be better if you wash and dry you vehicle outside then move it into the garage to clay the vehicle.

It is a good idea to clay your car at least twice a year. If you live in an area where there is a lot of industrial fallout or contaminated areas then claying the vehicle should be done more often. The more contamination that is in the paint the greater the chance you could introduce more imperfections in the process of using the clay. That is why it is so important to know the area that you live in and to keep up with washing the vehicle on a scheduled time frame.

The first thing you need to do is to decide on what type of lubricant that you want to use for the clay. There are two popular choices a quick detailer or a mixture of water and shampoo solution. Plus if you by the clay bar in a kit it may come with its own lubricant. The lubricant provides a slick surface for the clay to glide on. If you do not use any lubricant the clay will stick and mar the finish of the vehicle. Also bits of clay will be left and they may be difficult to remove from the vehicle.

I normally use a car wash soap. I will put one capful in a spray bottle and then fill the bottle with water. Normally the spray bottles I use will hold at least 20oz of water. If you decide to go with a quick detailer look for one that has some cleaning power but will not have any protection. The detailer will help loosen the embedded contamination from the paint and help the clay give great results.

Now to get started with using the clay bar. First you will want to wash and dry your vehicle. Next break off a piece of clay about the size of a 50 cent piece. Knead the clay until it is very soft and pliable. You can form the clay into a shape that will work on a flat surface. On an area of ​​18 "x18" spray some lubricant so that the whole area is covered. Then take the clay and gently slide it over the surface of the vehicle. Work the clay in overlapping passes. You can go left to right or up and down the vehicle. Stubborn contamination may require multiple passes with the clay and more than just the initial spray of lubricant. You will know when the area is completely clean because the clay will effortlessly slide on the paint and you will not hear it picking up any more contamination. Just take a clean microfiber towel and wipe the excess lube off of the vehicles surface. Continue these steps until the entire vehicle has been done. Once the vehicle is completely clayed then rewash the vehicle to remove any loose contamination or any excess lube which might have not been wiped up. This second wash should be very easy to do because the clay will have made the surface so slick that the water will sheet right off vehicle.

Here are just a few tips which may make going over the vehicle easier. When you move on to each new section of the vehicle reshape the clay so that you do not see any contamination on the clay. If you can not work the clay to a clean spot then toss out what you are using and break off a new piece of clay. Also if the clay gets dropped do not reuse it get another piece. Avoid using the clay in the sun because you do not want the lubricant to dry on the surface of the vehicle. Use a fine grade clay because it will not leave behind any marks on the vehicle that you would need to polish out later. Lube, lube, and more lube do not be stingy with it because you do not want to run the clay on a dry surface.

Now that the vehicle is completely clean and smooth to the touch you may be wondering what is next. Next up for your vehicle will be a good polishing. That is something I will cover in another article.

Rating: 5 stars*****

From 2003 to 2005, Proof made us wait for his searching for Jerry Garcia LP. During this two year quest for talented guitarist Jerry Garcia, he has kept working hard on two jewels, two mixtapes: I Miss The Hip Hop Shop and Grown Man Shit. He has developed a style of his own. Deshaun Holton is a perfectionist who comes up with an brand new explosive album.

Detroit is in the house! Besides very interesting artistic collaborations like B-Real of Cypress Hill and Methodman, Proof hasn’t forgotten about his hometown (many Detroit talents like Obie Trice, BR Gunna, First Born of purple Gang, King Gordy, J Hill, and many more have contributed to Searching For Jerry Garcia.)

The first track called Knice brings us back to the atmosphere of DJ Knice’s Detroit Hip Hop Awards at St Andrews.

From the very beginning to the end, you can feel Proof’s realness. He’s the kind of man who won’t let money corrupt his real me. True to the local scene, Proof expresses his love for his homies during the whole CD.

Clap With Me is mixed with rich musical themes that are announced in Grown Man Shit and makes you feel Proof on the run, always trying to be – better than best.

Proof’s album has not been made for oversensitive souls: the better Proof gets in his artistic inspiration, the darker his themes. Death, suicide, invitations to suicide are numerous on the album.

Proof mentions the murder of John Lennon and Kurt Kobain’s suicide. By mentioning Jerry Garcia and icons like John Lennon and Kurt Kobain, Proof’s constant quest for real artists is constant. Contrary to a common opinion, a real and talented artist is a rare thing. So many so called « artists » have nothing to offer to their public but some weak commercial music: obviously they are just the product of the music industry. Unfortunately, they have no artistry and originality of their own to offer.

Proof is totally right about it:

It’s exactly that, they were icons within the music industry. The biggest things about those guys are that they were artists. Today in the industry, man, you get a lot of the artists who duplicate what is already out there. They make it like everyone is manufactured as a product; they don’t even want to be an artist no more.

The second thing is that a real artist never exists only by himself. If you have a look at any great artist, he has always been inspired by other past and contemporary great artists. The concept of an ‘artist’ never excludes the concept of the fan. A real artist is also a fan, a music lover. Proof has never stopped being a fan: a fan of international artists and a fan of the local Detroit scene. You can see him on MTV and freestyling in his hometown afterwards as well.

Track Nr 3, Bilboa Theme reminds us of Proof’s constant quest for the talented guitarist Jerry Garcia actually was.

Proof’s album might explore the darkest themes, it also offers the attentive listener more insight about Deshaun’ s sensitive side. On track Nr5, Forgive Me in collaboration with 50 Cent, Proof asks God for forgiveness for his words and actions. It explains his dysfunctional family and his quick temper, his mistakes. Sounds of violin mixed up with piano sounds and rapid beats will make your heart melt in no time. Flashback to the time Bugz was still alive and words of love and recognition addressed to his long time friend Marshall…pure emotions. Proof pours his heart out.

Track 6 in collaboration with Detroit group Purple Gang is more offensive and aimed at Proof’s enemies who keep running their mouth.

Among Proof’s most valuable tracks, I’d highly recommend High Rollers featuring B-Real and Methodman, Pimplikeness featuring D12 (Eminem is present on the track too), 72nd & Central featuring Obie Trice and J-Hill. Also, Don’t miss track Nr20, Kurt Kobain, an excellent and dark Goodbye track in which Proofs applies to his well known quote: “If I was you, suicide would be a way of life. If you was me, you’d kill you.” A touching ode to suicide that won’t leave the listener indifferent.

Drugs and hoes are part of Derty Harry’s universe. The streets of Detroit are represented from the beginning to the end. Deshaun Holton has shown his full integrity as an artist. His realness is touching. If you love pure hip hop, you gonna love this album.

The musical background of Searching For Jerry Garcia is rich. Proof is always in search of new sounds and new techniques. Violons, piano, guitar, keyboard sounds, xylophones and many other instruments will make you appreciate the masterpiece Searching For Jerry Garcia actually is. Searching For Jerry Garcia deserves 5 stars. Check it out: it is really worth your interest.

Copyright©2005 by Isabelle Esling

All Rights Reserved

Rap music has been around longer than we thought. In the arts everything is recycled (many times stolen and recycled). We have had bell bottoms make a return in fashion, the bringing back of muscle cars on the road, big haired metal bands making come backs in concert and Neo-soul music which is…new soul music. Of course many are aware that the Hip hop culture and its music started in the boogie down Bronx in the 70’s but the style or monotonous melody delivery may have been grand fathered even further back. The likes of social movement groups such as the Last Poets who released a Billboard Charting album in the 1970’s, rhythmic vocals precedes the combining of lyrics over DJ breaks by delivering a lyrical flow of poetry to the beat of ethnic drums and instrumentation. The style which resembles closely the current Def Jam Poetry series or other earlier African American poets is not far off the beat of rap. You can link traces of both to the African Griots oral tradition.

Years ago rap music was considered a fad to vanish like the cabbage patch kids. The genre of rap music has thoroughly spread throughout the entire world and not only reaches, but affects and relates to every culture. Many countries histories are connected and deeply rooted in some influence of music, and the gap may be bridged closer.

Music is studied and broken down. Many composers and musicians learn to write scores of music by dissecting, studying and analyzing music of other composers and musicians. Music theory is derived from the analysis of common practices of that music’s time and genre. Typical elements that are analyzed in music is it’s form, such as intros and cadences, harmonies, rhythm patterns, tempo changes tonality or atonality and melody which are all present in rapping. JackDazey’s highly educated world renowned professor tells the class that Rap is not music because it does not contain a melody. Rap is certainly not musically dissonant as the likes of Pierre Schaeffer’s Mosque Concrète, whose genius attempt at innovated music technology was difficult to notate on paper like traditional classical music, but it may resemble more the expressionistic era as that of music theorist Arnold Schoenberg. Schoenberg’s Sprechstimme is singing in a restricted way to maintain a constant pitch unlike the ups and downs melodic contour most melodies would have when they are played or sung. An example of this would be in Schoenberg’s Gurre-Lieder or later works by Pierrot Lunaire.

Rap can be notated the same as Schoenberg did for Sprechstimme. However, rap actually has inflection in its speech delivery. This is relative to some exotic scales in which a micro tonality exist like Burmese or Indonesian music. Today’s rappers like 50 cent and Ja Rule have distinctive melodic flow. Groups like Bone Thugs and Harmony are actually harmonizing in their rap flow. Rappers like Nelly are practically borderline singing or sprechgesang-ing. Not to mention, the entire above named have been Grammy nominated.

It is always said “to know where you are going, you must know where you are from.” Rap is today’s urban music. Its techniques are deeply rooted for over 100 years in American music. History serves as a blueprint that has been forged for us to learn from. Does this mean that Germany is the birthplace of rap music? Not quite, though Schoenberg is Austrian he is a well known early American composer, but it puts an end to the debate for historians or ignorant professors on whether the fad of rap is indeed at all music. In a world in which music is a huge part of every one’s life, many cultures have been influenced by and incorporate rap into their own native language and music. Billions of profitable dollars have been earned from rap, it is not only grandfathered in as a style of music to last, but worthy of and honorary degree in which the success of hip hop can now afford to buy.

Copyright 2008 Rubin Einstein reprint leaving author and original article intact

Tattoos can be worn by anyone and in any part of the world! It does not matter if your

rich or poor. You don’t have to be a celebrity to have the hottest tattoo. A tattoo can

be an expression of yourself to the world and your friends. At the end of this article you

will find a website that offers a huge tattoo directory. This tattoo directory gives you

thousands of choices for the ultimate tattoo! Is a celebrity tattoo design right for you?

Your watching your favorite movie star and you notice they have a tattoo. You start

thinking you would like a celebrity tattoo design. Hey! Why not? You start looking

up the movie star in Google, to see if you can get some close up pictures. You find the

celebrity tattoo, but it looks blurry, so you keep searching. You now find another

picture, but you still cannot see all of the tattoo.

There are websites that have good pictures that show celebrity tattoos. The trend of

celebrities wearing tattoos is growing everyday. Guys don’t just go out and get drunk

and wake up with a new tattoo on them the next day. Ok, some guys still go out and

after a long night of drinking wake up with a tattoo. This type of behavior would be

dangerous on the eve of ones wedding. The guy wakes up and he has a devil tattooed

on his chest, with his future wife’s name on it. He is guaranteed a one way ticket to the

burning flames of the Abyss. On a good note, a celebrity tattoo design can make a nice

birthday present.

There was a time that people would look at tattoos with disgust. Those days are almost

over! I love art and tattooing is a powerful form of art. If you want a tattoo, then by all

means, get what you want. One of my

friends had a black scorpion on the inside of his arm. It was one of the coolest tattoos

I have ever seen. Tattoos make a powerful statement and it can be inspiring to an

individual. Movies stars, rock stars, sport stars, rap artists, business people, bartenders,

and anyone can enjoy having a tattoo!

Let’s look at some of the celebrities who have cool tattoos: Angelina Jolie, Lindsay Lohan,

David Beckman, Kelly Clarkson, Eminem, Johnny Depp, 50 Cent, Christina Aguilera,

Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kelly Osbourne, Nelly, Alyssa Milano, Anna Kournikova, Natalie

Imbruglia, Xzibit, Elijah Woods, Holly Valance, Usher, Tiffany Amber Thiessen, Britney

Spears, Nicole Richie, Robin Quivers, Pink, Adrian Young, and Rob Zombie. This may

not be all of them, because of those pesky hiding places on the human body!

Unless you have been living under a rock, you will notice some of the sexiest girls in the

world have a tattoo. Does James Bond have a tattoo? I don’t know! He might have

a 007 tattooed somewhere. The younger generation is strongly influenced by the celebrity

tattoos and thanks to the internet, millions can find a new celebrity tattoo in minutes.

The internet has made it possible for most of humanity to have a celebrity tattoo design of

some kind. While your reading this, someone may have already read this and is now getting

a celebrity tattoo design! Now that is great technology.

By using a huge tattoo directory, you will not have to search the whole internet. You would have

to look through thousands of web pages listed in Google to find what you want! Sounds like a

headache! I found a website that specializes in tattoos, by putting together the ultimate gallery of

tattoos, making your search easy and fun. Getting a tattoo is an exciting moment and you don’t

want it to be a drag. Your body is waiting for the ultimate tattoo. Are you ready for some ink?

Sydney – Our number one city

For the 10th consecutive year Sydney has been voted the world's best city (Top 10 Cities Overall) by the international "Travel & Leisure Magazine". It scored an 87 per cent approval rating among travelers and tourist industry workers. It was fourth after Florence (87.09%), Rome (86.15%), and Bangkok (86.11%).

The last two years it has been number one on this list. Judge by yourself and take a trip to one of the worlds most beautiful cities!

Size

Sydney is one of the largest cities in its land size. It reaches across 1580 square kilometers. This is the same as London and more than double New York's 780 square kilometers. Amsterdam is 167 square kilometers, and Paris is a mere 105 square kilometers. There are 1, 426, 266 dwellings in Sydney.

Population

Sydney's population is 3,536,000 people.

Sydney is Australia's oldest city, the economic powerhouse of the nation and the country capital in everything but name. It's blessed with sun-drenched natural attractions, dizzy skyscrapers, delicious and daring restaurants, superb shopping and friendly folk.

Although it's come a long way from its convict beginnings, it still has a rough and ready energy, and offers an invigorating blend of the old and the new, the raw and the refined. While high culture attracts some to the Opera House, gaudy nightlife attracts others to Kings Cross.

It's a city blessed with long stretches of heavenly beaches, a pleasant climate that sees over 300 sunny days a year, an economy that's stronger than it should be, a stable local government, and a population of open-minded, outgoing entrepreneurial types who are itching to show the whole place off.

Country: Australia

Time Zone: GMT / UTC +10 (Eastern Standard Time)

Telephone Area Code: 02

Orientation

Sydney wasn't a planned city and its layout is further complicated by its hills and the numerous inlets of the harbor, its focal point. The center of Sydney is on the south shore of the harbor, about 7km (4mi) inland from the harbor heads. Skyscrapers in the Central Business District (CBD) vie for dominance and harbor views, but the city's relentlessness is softened by shady Hyde Park and The Domain parkland to the east, Darling Harbor to the west and the main harbor to the north. The Sydney Harbor Bridge and the harbor tunnel link the city center with the satellite CBD of North Sydney and the suburbs of the North Shore. Sydney Airport is about 10km (6mi) south of the city center. Central station, Sydney's main train station, is in the south of the city center, and the main bus terminal is located outside it.

Currency

Dollars and cents. Notes: $ 5, $ 10, $ 20, $ 50 and $ 100 bills. Coins: 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, $ 1 and $ 2. The Australia dollar is floated on the world currency market and is presently fluctuating at around 74 to 75 cents to the US $.

Health

Sydney, like most parts of Australia, presents no real health risks for foreign visitors. Tap water is good, restaurants and eating places are required by law to maintain a high standard of food preparation, and the city is generally clean. Smog is less of a problem than with cities such as London, Hong Kong and Bangkok, but is still quite high. Exposure to the sun can be a problem for those who are fair-skinned. Also, those with little experience in swimming in the surf should be cautious when swimming at Sydney's famous surf beaches, Bondi and Manly, and should always swim between the warning flags erected by lifeguards. Medical costs in Australia are not exhorbitant like in the United States and Europe, but travel insurance is still recommended.

Handy to Know:

Electricity voltage: 240.

Units of measure: metric.

Public phones: 50-cent local calls (Sydney metropolitan area).

Phone directory assistance: 1223 (Sydney area), 1223 (Australia), 1225 (International).

Phone international dial out prefix code: 0011

Coffee: around $ 3.50 a cup, sometimes less, quite often more in tourist areas.

Petrol (gas) in cents per liter: approximately 120 (as at September 2006)

Emergency phone number for police, ambulance and fire is 000.

Sydney is also one of the safest cities to live in, with a reputation for fine eating. Two Sydney restaurants have been named in the world top 50 for 2006, with Tetsuya's ranked fifth and Rockpool coming in at 30th.

The Restaurant Magazine awards were unveiled to the cream of the culinary world at a ceremony at London's Science Museum on Monday.
The Fat Duck, in the village of Bray, west of London, which is famed for its curious signature dishes such as "snail porridge", was knocked from its perch as the world's best restaurant, with the accolade heading south to Spain.

El Bulli, near Rosas, northern Spain, regained the title it won at the inaugural World's 50 best restaurants awards in 2002, swapping places with The Fat Duck. Tetsuya's and Rockpool owners Tetsuya Wakuda and Neil Perry were at the awards to hear their restaurants named among the world's best.

Tetsuya's fifth ranking was down one place from last year, but his assistant Vicki Wilde said he was ecstatic with the result.

If you are considering switching from sampling segments of music from vinyl records and instead using original royalty-free samples as a music producer, then be sure to visualize your goal before choosing a sample kit. Once you decide upon purchasing a sample kit it is important to take into account the creator behind it, the type of instruments used, how it was recorded and the final sound you wish to achieve in using each sample to create a new musical work in the studio.

The Drum Broker, otherwise known as Hip Hop Drum Samples is a reputable distributor of high-quality sample kits which stand out among the average kit you are likely to find and are tailored to suit the needs of producers within a sample-based background of Hip Hop music production. The Drum Broker prides itself as a company who provides sound libraries which are based upon a unique design, production-oriented and crate digging sensibility brought forth by some of the best producers within Hip Hop culture.

Let's take a look at a number of basic guidelines which will help you make the right choice during checkout time to ensure you get the most out of your download of a sample kit provided by The Drum Broker.

First, take a step back and analyze yourself thoroughly as a music producer. What is your current approach to making beats and where do you wish to go from here sonically and musically? Is there a specific problem you can identify in your music which you feel using sample kits can resolve? Second, you will need to take an overall look at your work to determine whether incorporating new samples is or is not a worthwhile investment. Third, consider the style or styles of music you create and determine whether the sounds of a Drum Broker sample kit will be a compliment to your sound or will it clash. Fortunately, this is a company with a wide variety of sounds to choose from so with a little patience and self-assessment, you are likely to find the right fit of a kit. One of the foremost benefits of using one of these kits is the ability to avoid sample clearance issues which have landed other producers in legal trouble throughout history when sampling music from commercial vinyl recordings.

Hip Hop Drum Samples provides kits as folders with sound files that come in a variety of styles according to the instrument used and the producer who designed them. You can download them according to the producer who created the kit, genre, mood and for the purpose for enhancing your production. When browsing through the vast sound library catalog of this company, choose from drum breaks, synths, voices, transitions, guitars, bass, grooves and various forms of percussion as your preferred sample kit designed by a producer. Within organized folders, each kit is readily accessible as a digital download to your hard drive and features isolated sounds or stems which allow for easy sample navigation and manipulation. When making your choice of a sample kit, The Drum Broker provides unique and creative titles of their sample kit products which are marketed according to the sound it delivers. This along with detailed descriptions of what each kit contains and streaming audio samples makes it a simple task for you to choose the instrument of choice for your production.

For punchy drum sounds to cut through the mix and vintage synth sounds which are likely to inspire you to create a dark and sinister sound of music reminiscent of library, soundtrack themes and electronic music of the 1970's, consult the Illmind catalog of Blap Kits at The Drum Broker. Illmind draws from sounds within his renowned catalog of music production for heavyweights of the industry such as 50 Cent, Skyzoo and Mobb Deep to bring you some of the finest percussion, synth, vocal and bass samples in Hip Hop sound design.

If you are a fan of dusty and obscure break beats in the traditional sense of sampling, Hip Hop Drum Samples has got you covered with their International Breaks Series. Unlike their sample kits which feature drums sampled, layered and tweaked in the studios of Hip Hop producers, this catalog features bare drum loops and hits mined from rare vinyl records across the globe! The raw sound and international musical flavor which diggers thirst for is here as various rhythms and percussion come together in compilations for you to sample and add that gritty analog punch to your music.

In the music industry, producer Jake One is known for his neck-snapping drum sounds and choice of soulful and dramatic samples. At the Drum Broker you can gain access to his signature sound in Jake's "Snare Jordan" drum kit series and Soul grooves within his sample kit series created in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist G Koop. In choosing these kits you not only have the chance to make your drums stand out in the mix more than before but you also have a set of royalty-free stems at your disposal to sample in original music which brings the drama of a 70's Blaxploitation film soundtrack. Jake One and G Koop's collaborative kits include the "12 Piece" and "15 Piece" series.

If Trap music is your preferred choice of music, one of the leading producers of the genre Cardiak Flatline is one of the esteemed sound designers you can get a sample kit from at Hip Hop Drum Samples. His well-rounded palette of sound includes individual drum hits found one his "The Flatline", "The Infirmary" and "The Clinic" series, piano loops in his "Minor Scales" series and more specialized kits. Although Cardiak is known as a Trap producer, his kits are accessible enough for you to take individual sounds and manipulate them toward whatever production style you are aiming for. The foundation of Cardiak's sound is a raw and smacking sound of drums along with a dark and moody sound of chords, so keep this in mind when choosing your kit.

The Drum Broker features sample kits by Hip Hop producers who come from a sample-based Hip Hop production background, however you may be searching for the music of classically-trained musicians as your source of sample material. For adding this increased level of musicality to your music, choose from the following kits created by some of the musicians of this company:

• drummer Timmy Rickard and his "Dirty Ass Drum Breaks" series bring analog grit to your sound with a variety of kicks, snares and drum loops.
• the "Tape To Dub Plate" series by Monsole Music brings a warm 12 "dub plate and analog vinyl sound of drum hits to your recordings.
• drummer Stix and his "Jam Pack" series deliver "sonically vintage" sound to your studio.
• drummer / producer / MC J-Zone and his "Lunch Breaks" series pack a heavy punch with a series of original break beat drum recordings.
• sound designer and musician Erik Jackson's various kits including the "Sunday Breaks" series of drum break performances.
• sound design and musician unit MSXII who have released numerous kits bring great diversity in instrumentation to their kits. These sounds include include drum hits, loops, soul samples, bass, Rhodes keys, vibes and talk box.

When it comes down to making a final choice in downloading a sample kit out of the numerous options listed above, there is a great deal of quality and variety in sound for you to choose from. At this point, it is important to evaluate your mission as a producer so that you bring the right ingredients into your studio and you do not over compensate by downloading more kits than you really need. Many producers become overwhelmed with the easy access to samples which the Internet provides and make mistakes during their search. Hip Hop Drum Samples provides a clear distinction between each of their products to help the producer make informed and concise decisions in choosing a kit. Bestselling products from their company can be found on the homepage in addition to a menu which categorizes sample kits according to instrument.

This review on using The Drum Broker should serve as a guide which will allow you to easily navigate their product line and make the best choices possible toward sample kit selection. In choosing this leading provider of sound design, you are just a few clicks away from improving your sound as you draw from their high-quality library of samples.