Kevin Beacham (Social Media Manager / Music Buyer / Rhymesayers / Fifth Element / DJ)
What are your top five albums that were released in 2011? (in order 1-5)
Top 5 HIP HOP album (I have to narrow it to just Hip Hop or my brain will explode...it still might)
- Evidence-Cats & Dogs
- Willie Evans JR-Introducin
- Sims-Bad Time Zoo
- Hail Mary Mallon-Are You Gonna Eat That?
- TIE: Big Quarters-Party Like A Young Commie/Phill Most Chill-All Cuts Recorded Raw
What band did you discover in 2011 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?
I think the best example here is MaLLy. I had heard of him before 2011, but it was this year he made some huge strides as an artist. I got a chance to hang out with him at SXSW and he made a really really good impression me. Not just as a MC, but on how he carried himself to promote his music, talk to fans or potential fans, network with artists and people in the business. Plus he's just a really good person. He impressed me all around. I think that is what you can attribute all the support he received, fans he gained and progress he made too. Great music + Great Human = Great results. I suspect he'll continue to grow in 2012.
How will you remember 2011 (in terms of music)?
I'll definitely remember it as a year that a lot of great lost treasures and rarities come to the surface. It was nearly impossible to keep up with all the amazing gems from back in the day that keep popping up courtesy of Dope Folks, Diggers With Gratitude, Jamille Records, Get On Down Records, Traffic, Numero Group, Slice Of Spice Records, etc... Unfortunately, I think I'll also remember it as another year that a lot of really good albums came out that so many people slept on or didn't know about. It's becoming increasingly more difficult to discover artists doing great music who don't have the money and/or team behind them to market and promote it so that people are aware. As a result, a lot of talented artists don't reach as many people as they should; Open Mike Eagle, Live, Malcolm & Martin, Blitz The Ambassador, Jon Connor, Tribe & Big Cats!, Willie Evans JR, Paten Locke, Grip Grand, Jehst, Big Quarters, Carnage, Qwazaar & Batsauce, etc...
What can we look forward to from you in 2012?
In 2012 I plan to increase my efforts to focus on the projects that are most important and personal to me. I'll continue to do my marketing job with Rhymesayers/Fifth Element and with that I'm working on a long list of cool and special projects! More rarities and exclusives than ever is the goal! Plus I'll be doing a lot more writing with the FE Blog. Heavy work on my RedefineHipHop project; research and video interviews exploring Hip Hop History and the "Untold Stories Of Hip Hop". Less DJing. More internet videos, I have a bunch of cool video concepts that I plan to launch.
What records are you looking forward to most in 2012?
Here's what's on my radar right now:
- Chief Kamachi Rise And Rhyme album
- Soundsci album
- JEL (new solo album)
- X:144 (lots of new music!)
- Illogic & Blockhead album
- Carnage (new album)
- Audio Dragons (special project from Mr Gene Poole & Chilam Balam of Los Nativos. Super good!)
- Numero Groups's Rare Rap Label Imprint
- I Self Devine-The Sounds Of Low Class America album + more music! (Rhymesayers)
- Brother Ali & Jake One-Mourning In America Album (Rhymesayers)
Plus more projects from my fav reissue labels; Dope Folks, Get On Down, Jamille, and Diggers With Gratitude
What did you expect to be huge in 2011 which never made it?
Truthfully, I never expect anything to be huge, particularly these days. Plus I don't really pay attention to sales numbers and public opinion on any grand scale. I keep that stuff on a "need to know" basis. I like to just keep it focused on me enjoying the music. Point being, I have no idea what a lot of these records that I might think weren't that big sold. However, I don't feel I heard enough people talking about the latest albums by Murs, M.anifest, Open Mike Eagle, Willie Evans Jr, Shabazz Palaces, Blueprint, and probably a few others. I don't think they were going to be huge, per se', just feel they have plenty of potential to be much bigger than I think they are.
