The beginning

Ok so here it is. For those who don't know, I have been out of the music business for a year and a half. I was doing well...no scratch that...I was doing great until some things came up that I had to take care of and I had to go underground for a little bit. One of these days, when the present isnt so busy and when I have time to catch my breath, I will tell you a fascinating story about my first foray into the business. It is the story told by a million others before me. Most of these stories end with someone being strung up and destitute or at the very least, with someone leaving town and moving into retail sales or something. Mine is a lot more interesting then that. Forgive me though, I am a talker so let me get back on track!

When I left New York City, It was a heart breaking thing because I had come into the city with big dreams and had begun to realize them. In a very brief time I had been able to sell music to major labels and get a publishing deal! This was the stuff of dreams as far as I was concerned. That being said, you can imagine then how devastating it was to realize one day that, although my career was progressing nicely, their was people who needed me and me running around NY working 19 hours a day wasnt working. So I left.

It was easy to do at first. I thought that I may be gone for no more than a couple of months or so. Those couple of months turned into half a year and then an entire year. I was having to learn quickly that the real world does not accept dreams as currency. All told, I was out for 2 years! So Finally here I am...here WE are, ready to put down our heads and push forward again. Although I have been here before, and accomplished a lot, I cannot help but wonder....How the hell will this turn out???

So Im back! And back like a mutha******! Our music is bigger, better, more accessible then before. I know the business inside and out. I know what to say..know what to do..know what moves to make. I know the shcmooze, the industry hustle, the rat race. I know more then just about anyone..but yet, I sit here now, just as nervous as I was the very first time I walked into a music meeting!

I am nervous because we are getting ready to start again. I am not nervous because of the music. The music is incredible. The world embraces good music. That being said, I believe that people will be moved by the shit we write. But how much has changed since I last took a meeting? A lot from what I can tell. For example, All my old A&R Friends have done the A&R shuffle. Kwan Prathers has left Sony Urban. So has Ampora. I have no Idea where Dino Diavalle went. The man who got me my publishing deal at EMI, Lenny Santiago from Def Jam is still there, but since Jay Z left, how long will he be? I can list every label and tell you of 10 different A&R's who have left or been fired. There are still some, but these 2 years have been unkind to the music biz. So who are we going to see?

We will see very soon. I am ready to go! My brother left for New York This morning to meet with our attorney. Later on this evening he is going ot Def jam to meet with a good friend of mine Steve Carless. This is just an opening salvo. Right now everybody in the business is basically out of town for the Holidays. After the 4rth of July, we will begin our summer blitz. EVERYONE is going to see the Black Irishmen. We have some momentum because the Missy record (Ching a Ling) has done so well. Most importantly though, I am really proud of the music. I can't wait!

I invite you to follow us. Im going to bring you, as a reader to every meeting. I want you to experience every victory and every defeat. Im not exactly certain how this will turn out..We will not be satisfied until our legacy equals that of our hero's (Neptunes, Timbaland, ect)

But no matter how it turns out, it will most certainly be a good story..keep reading!!!!!!!

It's a great year!

Our song "Ching A Ling" won Missy Elliott the 2008

BET Award for Best Female

Hip-Hop artist!

mpc versus reason???

Last March I went to the Emi writers convention. Its a great experience. Big Jon Platt has signed some of the greatest producers in the biz right now. I was able to hang out with Dj Toomp, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Rodney Jerkins to name a few. When ever Im around people who I respect or am a fan of, I always like to pick their brains about some of the tools that they use.I am for the most part, pretty resistant to to new technologies, which sucks because once I actually try something new, I always come away wondering why I hadnt tried it sooner. Paul, however is a real tech head. He know about all the new shit way before I ever even get the courage to come out of my comfort zone. I guess it is because I am of the opinion that ultimately, It is not the technology that determines hot amazing your music is, it is your ideas.That being said, I struck up a conversation with a bunch of producers at the table that morning. To my chagrin the consensus began to emerge that software based sequencing was superior in many ways to the mpc! The more people talked the more I began to think that perhaps I had missed the boat on something. As is the case with most producers that I know, both Paul and I are big fans of the Akai Mpc series. I cannot tell you how many big ass, beat you across the head and shoulders, "oh my god did you hear that shit", tracks I have made on my good ol mpc! It has, over the years grown to be worshipped by many as a legendary, if not deified piece of equipment. It is in many ways, a dream box. It translates all of the great ideas in your head into something you can hear. Her sequencing is still, to me, almost TOO perfect. I could of course go on forever, but I probably sound like a nerd at this point so let me fall back a little.Just imagine then, how weird it was for me to sit there and listen to all of these great producers talk about reasons software with the same passion that I talk about the mpc! As time passed, 2 camps began to form at the table. One that was pro mpc, and one that was pro reason. The members of the pro reason camp spoke excitedly about how convenient reason was, and much better it was then what they described as the "old school" Mpc. This was disturbing to us in the Mpc camp. I mean we too felt passionately about our gear, but no one wants to be seen as "old school" or unevolved. So to avoid looking like dinosaurs, we just nodded our heads and looked on with a scientific detachment, pretending like nothing that they said was a surprise to us. I sat there hoping that I looked un fazed, but inside we were all being eaten alive by doubt. Was the Mpc the past? Did we indeed have to step up to something else? Would we become the music business version of the old man who still writes letters to his family own a typewriter? Would we be the vhs tape to their dvd? All I knew was this.......I was going to find out.Now I exagerate sometime. I was not nearly as intimidated as it may seem. See, When it comes to music production, I know my shit. I am a hell of a writer. There isnt any one in the business who can come up with melodies like my brother and I. But in order to stay in touch with things, you always gotta keep your ears open. Keep ears open for new sounds, new technologies. I have used other computer programs for sequencing like sonar or acid and have found them to be toys. Of course as any one who records knows, the digidesign pro tools format has reigned supreme for years. But that is just for tracking. I am wondering though if there is any advantage to making a swith.No one can convince me that I will be a better producer by switching to a software based sequencing program. Everything that I need to produce heaters is in between my ears. But I am attracted to the convenience that reason and logic provide. Any one out there, what are your thoughts? Have you made the switch? What are the benefits? What are the disadvantages?This battle will continue for years to come im sure! No matter what I choose to use though, you can expect the black irishmen to deliver you some serious heat!!!

What up people! This is Shawn Campbell from the Black Irishmen and this is our first post! For those who don't already know, this is a real exciting time for us. My whole family is musically gifted but as the oldest out of six kids, I've been the one who really pursued it into the professional realm. That is until now. But I digress.... Let me explain why it is that I am so excited these days. I have been in the music business professionally for about 6 years now. I moved from Va to New York, and along with my production partner at the time, Marshall Leathers, began to wreck shop! We produced and wrote crazy records for just about everyone underneath the name "The Arkitects." Within a year of moving into the city, I was able to sell music to Def jam, Atlantic, and Sony records. Shortly after that I was the subject of an intense bidding war in between Sony Music publishing and Emi Music publishing. After about 6 months of intense negotiations, I signed to industry heavy weight, the incomparable Jon Platt! Every where I turned, we were winning. This Year has been especially good. I got my first national single this year with Missy Elliott! It is called "Ching a Ling", You've probably rocked to it already if you've gone to any club in the last 6 months. The Song Shot up the charts and went on to bang it's way to the #1 position on 106 and Park!!! Just last night, Missy Elliott won the BET artist of the year...from my song!You might imagine the reason for my excitement is this whole list of accomplishments but surprisingly it is not.I am most excited because of this. Marshall and I decided to part ways about 3 months ago. We had a great time but are wanting to try different things at this point in our careers. Since then, I have begun to produce records with my younger brother Paul, who has surprised us all by becoming one of the best producers I have ever heard , and is now working with me on our new venture called "The Black Irishmen" We have also hired Manny Martinez as an assistant. Manny is also an incredible guitar player and someone to look out for in the future as well! The Black Irishmen are ready to go! We have officially been working together for about 1 month and have already landed two records on Avants Virgin records release!So this is our official first statement. As a person whose been in the business for a little while now, I have a lot of great stories to tell. This Blog is going to be our open letter to you about music, production advice, music shopping advice, music culture trends, politics....whatever! We'd love to hear from all of you...As we move forward with our new story, We will make sure to keep you posted..this should be fun!Shawn
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