Positivity Prevails
Positive Hip Hop Steals the Show at Def Jam Contest. When Paztuh Mike stepped on the stage, he knew the crowd of hip hop enthusiasts was in for a surprise. They’d already been grooving to gangsta rap tracks throughout the evening, so they were primed for more of the same. What they didn’t know was that Paztuh Mike planned to flip the script and deliver the unexpected.
The backdrop was the 2015 St. Louis Hip Hop Festival featuring Def Jam’s Quincy “Big Heff” Taylor. Twelve of the area’s best unsigned hip hop artists were all vying for the top spot in the competition and the chance for an informal meet-and-greet with Big Heff. The crowd’s reaction to each rapper factored into the final decision, which ultimately rested in the hands of “mystery” judges who mixed in with the spectators.
Paztuh Mike kicked off his five-song set with a simple question: “How many gangstas I got in the house?” Collective shouts rippled through the room and hands waved in the air. He invited the “real gangstas” to make their way toward the stage. They quickly obliged, inching closer as the song’s hard-hitting beats began wafting through the speakers. Then Paztuh Mike broke in with his lyrics:
Dang it feel good not to have to be a gangsta, Dang it feel good, Dang it feel good
What I realized about the game
Is everybody wanna slang that crack cocaine
It’s ‘bout that money man
Everybody want to stay the same
Ain’t nobody tryna change…
The Unexpected
Definitely not the message everyone was expecting to hear, but it didn’t matter. They were hooked. Paztuh Mike performed his songs effortlessly, entertaining the crowd while showcasing candid lyrics that both encouraged and inspired. By the end of the night, despite being the only contestant spitting positive messages on the mic, he was the clear-cut favorite and ultimate winner. He met Big Heff briefly, but already knew he would continue down the independent artist path.
“I ran the streets for years,” Paztuh Mike explains. “But then God got a hold of my heart. I was leaving that life completely behind when the Def Jam event rolled around. Initially, I signed up because I wanted people to hear my new music and my message, but I knew I couldn’t go back to an image that repped what I was walking out of. I was committed to turning my life around and helping others do the same. I appreciate all the careers Def Jam has launched, but I knew I had to stay on the path God had for me.”
After the Show
After the show, several of the rappers he competed against were quick to let him know how much they liked his songs. Combine that with the fact that he won a similar contest two years earlier, and he knew the talk that gangsta rap was the only rap that sells was a myth. He was proving otherwise. That reality kept him motivated through the years.
“It hasn’t been easy surviving in this industry as an independent artist,” Paztuh Mike says. “I’ve had to overcome a lot to still be standing here today. But it’s worth it. My desire to change the pimp mindset and help other indie hip hop artists avoid some of my pitfalls is what keeps me going. I have a purpose and I know it’s more than rap.”
Giving Back: Last Day Records Music Business Services
His desire to mentor and serve other music artists led to Paztuh Mike starting Last Day Records (LDR) in 2019. At the heart of the label is its Music Business Services, where artists “pay for the service, but the advice is free.” LDR only works with independent artists who are dedicated to producing positive, uplifting music. Unlike many record labels, performers pay a flat fee for services with no commission to LDR at any point in the process. That means they’re able to own all their work and maintain complete control of their creative rights. LDR’s services include but aren’t limited to publishing and royalties; digital distribution; copyright; label setup; web design; graphic design; and photo and video shoots. Paztuh Mike believes LDR will allow him to educate others about all that he’s learned during his 13-year hip hop career.
“Our goal is not to screw you,” he bluntly says. “This business is tough and I’ve seen firsthand the deals that often come with a high price. Most times, an artist has to give up a lot in return. I truly want to help others make it, put money in their pockets, and have them be who they want to be, not someone other people tell them to be. I believe all I’ve learned over the years can help. That’s why I started LDR.”
Take A Chance
Paztuh Mike urges those who want to do positive hip hop but may not think there’s a market for it to think again. He offers some practical advice for these artists.
“Take the chance and go ahead and record the music. And then go and perform it in front of people. You’ll see that fans want to hear positive music. But here’s the thing, it can’t be corny. Positive doesn’t mean corny, so you can’t come with a Barney beat. The beat can be hard-hitting, have that gangsta vibe, but your lyrics are what need to be positive.
“And positive doesn’t mean not real either,” Paztuh Mike adds. “You can talk about your struggles but if it’s positive, it won’t glorify that pimp lifestyle, it won’t glorify that gangsta life, you don’t have to downgrade women. You can use your story to relate to people, but tell the whole story, the negative costs that come with certain choices. Your goal is to always let people know there’s a better way.”
To learn more about LDR’s Music Business Services, visit lastdayrecords.com.
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