The Sundance Film Festival normally features independent films. Alongside the films, the festival also pays homage to the music that makes films so great. This year, the Celebration of Music in Film will feature hip-hop music for the first time in the festival’s 34-year history.

Top Hip-Hop Acts To Be Featured

Ice-T, Chuck D and Grandmaster Caz will perform at the Celebration of Music in Film. The performance is related to Ice-T’s documentary film, Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap, which will also be featured at the film festival. The film will also showcase music from some of rap and hip-hop’s most enduring acts, including Afrika Bambaataa, Chuck D, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Ice Cube, KRS-One, Mos Def, Nas, and Snoop Dogg.

The festival will also feature live musical performances from artists whose music appears in films shown at the festival. This is the first year organized musical performances will be included. In the past, musicians performed at private parties that were related to, but not sponsored by, the Sundance Institute. This year, musical performances will be incorporated into the official festival program, with live performances from at least two artists per night.

Ice-T produced Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap to examine the musical genre. The film features interviews conducted by Ice-T with more than 50 rap and hip-hop artists who try to define what rap music is today and where it came from. The film tries to capture rap’s roots and share some musical history with a generation of rappers who may not understand the forces that brought rap music into the forefront.

In the film, Ice-T says that he had to make the film because rap made his life. Ice-T is just one more in a growing line of old-school rap artists who are concerned about the genre and where it’s headed. Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay-Z and others have all expressed concern that today’s up and coming rap stars don’t understand what rap music is all about.

Ice-T is expected to perform in Park City, UT at the festival on January 21, and indicated in at least one interview that he may be joined by other rappers who are interested both in promoting the film and supporting Ice-T in his effort to preserve a bit of rap music’s history.

Ice-T had a significant career as a rap artist, beginning in the 1980′s. He also began his acting career at that time. In 2000, he appeared as a regular character on Law and Order, and has since concentrated primarily on acting. His most recent album, Gangsta Rap, was released in 2006.

Photo Credit: nan palmero, via Flickr

Rapper Lex Luger released a couple of free rap beats last week for any aspiring rap musician to use. The beats, which Luger released via Twitter offer up-and-coming musicians about eleven-and-a-half minutes of mellow backup to work with. Luger comes with a pretty good rap pedigree. He’s recently worked with Waka Flocka Flame, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Lil Scrappy and That’s not the only way aspiring musicians can get their grooves on, however. No one can beat the collection of free rap beats offered by Sonic Producer.

Free is Key To Making Hot Rap Music

Most rap music contains beat samples from other songs – either from rap or from some other genre. When a rapper samples the music of another artist, typically he or she splits the proceeds of the song with the original artist as a way to license the music. If a rapper can come up with his or her own beats, or uses music that is royalty-free, there are no splits involved. All of the money stays home with the original artist.

Sonic Producer offers a library of thousands of royalty-free samples that aspiring musicians can use, without having to worry about splitting the proceeds of any songs. Royalty-free music samples can cost hundreds of dollars when purchased individually. The exceptionally large collection of royalty-free rap beats is what makes Sonic Producer stand out from the crowd. The beats alone are worth a fortune!

Aside from the great free rap beats, Sonic Producer also provides video tutorials to help new music producers learn how to get the most out of the Sonic Producer software. Sonic Producer is easy to use, but there are a lot of features that new music producers may want to take advantage of. The tutorials show you how to make the best music possible.

Sonic Producer contains all of the features you need to make professional-quality sound recordings. You don’t need additional equipment and you don’t need the services of a professional sound engineer. Everything you need is right in the box! Once your music is arranged the way you want it to be, lay it off to MP3 and start sharing it with your friends, your fans or with anyone! Sonic Producer enables you to make high-quality recordings that you can even sell on iTunes.

Create a name for yourself with your rap beats by creating and distributing your own mixtapes. Let everyone hear your raps and get your name out in the open. Give your mixes to the local DJs and help them help you promote your act. Download Sonic Producer today. It’s available for both the Mac and PC platforms. What are you waiting for?

Photo Credit: Lex Luger, via Facebook

XXL Magazine has debuted its list of the “most promising hip hop beats, rhymes, artists, labels and more.” The April 2011 issue, which has been in the works for months, features 11 hip hop artists whom you may not have heard of before. It also features some new lists, including Top Five Hip Hop Soul Artists, Top Five New Producers, Top Five New Groups and Top Five New Labels/Companies.

Music Still Open To New Hip Hop Artists

The magazine has produced its “Freshman” introduction for the last four years running. This year, the magazine features hip hop artists Big K.R.I.T, CyHi the Prynce, Diggy Simmons, Fred the Godson, Kendrick Lamar, Lil B, Lil Twist, Mac Miller, Meek Mill, Yelawolf, and YG.

If you haven’t heard of them, you’re not alone. None of these artists has landed on a major label, and most of their press has come from their own hard hustling to earn fans through self-produced music and online distribution. A few of the newcomers do have album deals, though.

So what does being selected as a XXL Freshman mean? Ask some of the alumni, including Big Sean, B.o.B, Kid Cudi, Wale, and Wiz Khalifa. You’re likely to be hearing a lot more about these performers and their hip hop beats in the coming months. Being an XXL Freshman comes along with a lot of publicity. To be sure, there are a few acts that don’t make it, but the staff at XXL have done a pretty good job of picking out the future stars of the hip hop genre each year.

These freshmen also demonstrate that it’s possible to break into the hip hop music scene with not a lot more than some fresh hip hop beats and a lot of determination. Hip hop is a great genre to get into, and there are plenty of great tools out there to help you make your mark. One of the best tools available today is Sonic Producer.

Sonic Producer is a software package that allows you to create professional sounding beats using your own computer. Sonic Producer has everything you need to mix as many as 16 tracks, and it comes loaded with thousands of royalty-free samples that you can use, mix and master to make your own unique sound.

When you make your own beats, you can develop your style the way you want to. You don’t need to spend time and money in a professional recording studio, because you’ll get a great sound out of Sonic Producer.

Use Sonic Producer to make your own beats, mixtapes or music. You decide what you record because you can be your own producer with Sonic Producer. There’s nothing quite like it on the market today. Download your copy and start making your own beats today!

Photo Credit: Jalen Bolling, via Flickr

Eric van Tourneau, the music director for Cirque du Soleil is working with Legacy Records to produce a hip hop remix of songs originally recorded by Elvis Presley. The remixed album will also contain punk genre versions of some of The King’s music.

Reaching Out To Hip Hop Music Fans

Legacy Records Vice President Tom Cording says he’s prepared for complaints from Elvis purists who may not appreciate the newly remixed songs, but says that the remix is a way to bring Elvis’ music to a younger generation of music fans who would otherwise not hear Presley’s music. One single from the album, “Suspicious Minds” has already been released. The new album, entitled Viva Elvis: The Album, will be available November 9.

Renewing older music is a great way to reach out to young music fans who wouldn’t otherwise hear songs. Sonic Producer provides the tools you need to create your own music, remix older tunes and create whole new sounds. One great thing about Sonic Producer is that it provides hundreds of royalty free samples you can use to make your own sound.

Sampling or re-recording someone else’s music is a great way for a new artist to get in trouble. Music is copyrighted and without the permission of the music’s owner, you can quickly find yourself in financial trouble. Sonic Producer’s samples are included with the product, and they’re entirely royalty-free. Anything you create is yours to do with whatever you choose. Export your music to MP3 and share it with your friends, make it available on the Internet, or use it during live performances.

You can also use it as a basis for promoting your own music. Set up a Web site where you can promote your music and make songs, mixtapes and even entire albums. Sonic Producer is one way for you to create the music you want to make.

Don’t know much about producing music? No problem. Sonic Producer can show you how to put together the rap beats people want to hear. Learn how to make a professional-sounding mix in no time. Within hours, you’ll be able to create your own music. Sonic Producer is available for both the Mac and Windows platforms, so you don’t even have to buy any special equipment. Download the software, install it on your computer and get your music career in high gear. There are lots of opportunities to bring your music to the world. Let Sonic Producer help!

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C. KhiD, an emerging hip hop music artist, has announced that his new album “New Hip Hop Songs” will be available for free download starting October 25. C. KhiD works with producers Johnny Juliano, Bravestarr Beats, and LOSBeats.com on this new collection of hip hop music.

Free Hip Hop Music Is A Way To Build A Fan Base

C. KhiD says his songs appeal to the “under-30″ crowd, and says that he and a handful of hip hop music artists are changing the way hip hop music appeals to fans. Producers Johnny Juliano and Bravestarr Beats have recently created rap beats for hip hop music artists such as Wiz Khalifa, Travis Porter, and Nipsey Hussle.

Fans who want to download the music, or want to hear C. KhiD for the first time can visit C. KhiD’s Web site (ckhid.com) beginning Monday, October 25 to get the new tracks. C. KhiD’s producers say they expect to see 100,000 downloads in the first month. C. KhiD has already been building a quiet following on YouTube and on his own site. His YouTube hits have exceeded four million and his site boasts more than 100,000 hits each month. In addition, ringtones featuring C. KhiD’s music have been downloaded more than 350,000 times.

C KhiD’s approach underscores the importance of being yourself when it comes to producing and promoting your music. “I’ve had a lot of success on-line because people like who I am authentically. I love entertaining, I love music, and I love having fun. Will Smith, Heavy D, and Teddy Riley might have been the last successful people to do what I do and be successful,” says C. KhiD.

Online distribution is just one way in which independent hip hop music artists can promote their work. C. KhiD is also looking for support from local DJs and party promoters to help spread his music to new fans.

Independent artists can be successful when it comes to music self-production and self-promotion. One key in producing great rap beats is to have the right tools on hand for the job. One great tool to have is Sonic Producer. Sonic Producer is a software program that can not only help you put together rap beats, but also can show you how to put together the music that people want to hear. Check out Sonic Producer and see how it can help you get your music career started.

Photo Credit: CrimsonR, via Flickr