What I See - May⁰⁷ by D2Nott

"couple words and like peaches and herb We'll be reunited and it feels so hood Have the whole world saying "How you still so good?" Well I do this in my slumber summer I ain't none of these half-assed newcomers, you know how I do summer I drop heat, when you bring the sun up" -Jay-Z "Dear Summer"

With temperatures rising and summer releases set to hit the shelves soon seems like the weather and gas prices aren't the only things changing. The game changes everyday, everyone adding a new spin on the world we live in. With rock n roll starting to influence mainstream hip hop once again with the Shop boys "Party like a Rockstar", wallet chains and even Lil Wayne rapping over Prince samples on his latest project "The Carter III" are some examples.

The Wall Street Journal reported in an article "Sales of Music, Long in Decline, Plunge Sharply"; there's much to and fro about what's behind the drop. In a dramatic acceleration of the seven-year sales decline that has battered the music industry, compact-disc sales for the first three months of this year plunged 20% from a year earlier, the latest sign of the seismic shift in the way consumers acquire music. The sharp slide in sales of CDs, which still account for more than 85% of music sold, has far eclipsed the growth in sales of digital downloads, which were supposed to have been the industry's salvation.

The industry as always wants to blame piracy. Critics want to blame poor quality of product, bad marketing tactics and digital rights restricting technologies. There's even some far-sighted commentary about changing business models. Business Week's Aaron Pressman had a somewhat deferring opinion on the decline. There are only so many hours in a day for the consumers of entertainment - to consume entertainment. Various new forms of entertainment that catch on have to displace some of the time once spent on our former diversions. While CD sales are down, the number of households with DVD players more than tripled over the past five years to 84 million and sales of DVDs rose to 1.1 billion from 313 million in 2001. Similarly, the number of households with broadband Internet connections almost quadrupled to over 36 million. While the number of households with access to video on demand hit 24 million in 2005, which is ten times greater than the 2001 level. And with Internet video is just starting up. Compact discs might be known as a thing of the past sooner than later.

The music industry lashed out its frustration on Internet Radio community by lobbying and getting legislation that more than quadruples the royalty rates. After much protest two senators rode to their rescue. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) have just introduced the Internet Radio Equality Act of 2007. "July 15, when collection begins on the new royalty fees, literally will be the day the music died," said the two senators in a joint announcement. If passed, the bill would overturn the decision of the Copyright Royalty Board and replace it with a rate mandated by Congress-7.5 percent of total revenues. This is the rate currently paid by satellite broadcasters like XM and Sirius, but the CRB's decision meant that small webcasters could actually owe more in fees than they earn in revenue, and some of the fees would be retroactive to 2006.

What are they putting on television? Some broadcasters are even attempting to compare reality to television and movies by rearranging what they have seen. "This ain't a movie, dog". The entertainment business model is changing and veteran rappers are moving there money out of music an into other business ventures. According to Forbes and other reports Jay-Z sold Rocawear for $204 million earlier this year, now that's movie money, but half a billionaire? Interestingly, the report had 50 in second place with $440 million after Coca Cola's recent purchase of the brand Vitamin Water for around $4.4 billion and with his book "The 50th Law" set to come out soon his stock is still rising. Diddy in third with $346 million, which is pretty close to the amount he was reportedly worth last year. The list also had Ludacris and T.I. as future Top Ten candidates and named E-40 as one of the richest men in hip-hop.

Knowing a little about mixtapes and music I heard about Mixtape inc (mixtapeinc.com) the new movie offering insight on the good, the bad and strategies behind its popularity the movie has over 100 interviews. Interviewing everyone from Kanye West to Dj Kay slay. It is sure to catch the attention of up and coming hip hop heads and djs. With DJ Drama's Gangsta Grills Album set to release in June and T.I.'s anticipated project set to drop early July the summer has just started to heat up. DJ Khaled anticipated second album "We the Best" is also set to be released June 12th, this album is full of features and is sure to have some summer anthems.

Back to wallets and chains; Juelz learned how to rap but some people are saying Juelz is a better rapper than the Game. With The Game recently saying he will retire, coincidently before his latest project is set to release his recent disses of 50 cent and Jay-Z are sure to create a buzz. I try not to compare the two, but long gaps in between words and spitting, "yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah" shouldn't be credited as good rapping. Speaking of Louisiana Juvenille's 400 Degrees, still getting play, I had to take it out of the cd player with the Trill Family mixtape is in heavy rotation now along with USDA's "Cold Summer" the south is where the heat is coming from.

Speaking of things from the past Master P has a book called "Guaranteed Success" is a guide to achieving and maintaining financial success and is being released on September 4. With the summer just starting to heat up, who knows what's in store. For all of you who watch too much television, "Stay Tuned". The best is yet to come.