This one is for all of the support everyone has shown me from the moment this music- making mayhem began. I’m mad hyped to get this material out into the ears of the masses– there’s a lot of ME put into this project. If you dig Reflex Rhymes, don’t hesitate to educate those around you who are unaware. Post the link, burn copies, whatever you can do to pass on high quality hip hop, let’s get it done.

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Click the album cover to download REFLEX RHYMES from DatPiff.com

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If you find yourself vibing to the music, drop a comment on DatPiff (or on here) and let me know!

Remember: If you’re not doing what you love to do, why are you doing it? Life is too short to mess around and let your dreams and goals pass you by.

I love y’all for helping me achieve mine.

-Hardaway

]]> http://hardawaymusic.com/2010/07/reflex-rhymes/feed/ 2 http://hardawaymusic.com/2010/06/updated-and-underrated/ http://hardawaymusic.com/2010/06/updated-and-underrated/#comments Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:58:17 +0000 admin http://hardawaymusic.com/?p=105

My people, what’s up??

I want to apologize for my lack of posts, I’ve been a busy man lately. No worries, I’M STILL HERE DOING MY THING!! I appreciate all of the comments y’all have been dropping, glad you’re diggin’ the content.

I’ll start by giving you an update as to what’s been going on..

I’ve been running around like a madman trying to finalize everything for the release of my mixtape, Reflex Rhymes, which is dropping JULY 25th!! I’ll be doing a release party the night before (Saturday July 24th @ Rogue Bar in Fayetteville, AR) and then digitally releasing the tape for free DL on my site (and a few others) on Sunday July 25th. The mixtape is a collaboration between yours truly and Mr. Get Right himself, DJ Benzi. Benzi is a new-age style DJ, mixing hip hop with an electronic element that is TOO crucial. To date, he’s done projects with Kanye West, Pharrell, Kid Cudi, Lil’ Wayne, and Mike Posner. Needless to say, I’m honored to have my material added to this list. Be on the lookout!!

As the rat race seemingly never ceases or slows down, I’m always in the process of thinking “What’s NEXT?” So although the mixtape release is approaching, I’m currently in the process of acquiring new beats from producers for a solo EP that I want to release early fall. Word to producers— GET AT ME!! I’m also anticipating the arrival of  a new MacBook Pro so I can test my hand out on the beat production using Logic. The next Pharrell in the making?? Ha, we’ll see how it  goes.

I recently knocked out a photo shoot with my band, Hardaway & The Commoners, courtesy of THE Janie B. We’re working on the creation of a band press kit that we can send out to the media/venues/labels and updated pix were one of the final pieces to the never-ending puzzle. Feels good to be one step closer. Here’s one of my favorites from the shoot

Hardaway and The Commoners

Again, I appreciate all of the support from friends & fans, y’all keep me going. If you’re on twitter (who’s not on twitter??) then hit me up  @colinhardaway. Keep it cool, keep it classy

-Hardaway

To keep you all updated, I’ve been doing some work booking summer shows for H&TC as well as preparing for our upcoming performances. I like what we’ve got going. The release of Reflex Rhymes, a mixtape collaboration between myself and DJ Benzi, is on the way– I should have more updates on that in the next 5 or 6 days.

Anyway, I found myself with some free time (never can seem to get enough of that) and thought I’d bring a topic to the table that I’ve been thinking about.

Recently, a few friends and I were discussing the dating habits/lifestyle/ethics of a “Cleat Chaser.” For those completely oblivious to the term, I’ve turned to my good friends at Urbandictionary.com to help clarify:

Cleat Chaser- a promiscuous woman who follows athletes (baseball or football) usually on the college level, in the hopes of having intercourse with one of them

From a definition standpoint alone (granted it is urban dictionary we’re referencing), the term seems to roll off the tongue in a distasteful, almost stalker-like manner.  But in most situations, there is at least some grey area to work with. As a matter of fact, there are plenty of women who are proud to be accounted for in the Cleat Chasing Nation.

Nothing says "Wifey Potential" like some gym shorts from 7th grade with "Cleat Chaser" on the back

One friend of mine stated that instead of just seeking sex with the cleat-bearer, the chaser is also in pursuit of status– they want to be THAT girl with THAT baseball/football/(does men’s summer league slow-pitch softball count?) player when the limelight is on. Makes sense.

My first encounter with this type of behavior came when I started college and began playing basketball. At the time we referred to them as “Jersey Chasers,” since we didn’t ball in cleats. Same concept. There was a noticeable “group” of girls (I quote “group” because even though some of them rolled together and hung out, they all had some type of self-imposed competition against one another) that always seemed to be hitting up and trying to hang with the hoopers. After sitting through a couple of locker room discussions, it became clear that these girls weren’t just after any ONE player, but literally ANY of us. And sometimes they didn’t come with a pack of chasers, just by themselves. The ones that roll solo are the hardest to detect.

Hopefully Big Man can lock down at least one of these candidates before he graduates in May-- girls don't chase retired cleats that are collecting dust on shelves.. unless those shelves are also holding up a framed Med School diploma

As my friends and I have not been able come to a concrete conclusion on how to view or point out a Cleat Chaser, I decided it was time to take it to the blogs.

So, to get the discussion rolling I’ll start by throwing out a few questions:

1. What is your definition of a Cleat Chaser?
2. Can men be Cleat Chasers?
3. If the chaser succeeds in her quest, is she still a Cleat Chaser if the two begin dating? What if they get married?
4. Is there a difference between a Cleat Chaser and a girl who is only attracted to athletes?
5. Can a girl who has only dated athletes make a case for her NOT to receive Cleat Chaser status?
6. Is there even anything wrong with being a Cleat Chaser?
7. Will the Yankees win the 2010-2011 World Series? (That’s a gimme, of course they will)

Throw your answers/comments/thoughts about the topic in the Comments area. The first 5 people to post a decent response (AKA more than a sentence and a half) will receive an exclusive track from Reflex Rhymes before it is released. I already have the track picked out, I’ve never posted it anywhere or given it out to anyone so it’s a LEGIT exclusive!! Let the party begin

-Hardaway

** Click on album cover for link to download **

I wanted to go ahead and shout out to my man Big Piph for his latest release, RESPECT PT. 2 (WOMENS) mixtape. As a man who has had my fair share of issues with the ones who are WOMENS, I feel like it’s easy for (a LOT of ) people to relate to the content on this tape. Not to say that I’ve ever doubted Piph, but I was surprised at how hard I was vibing to this project and how quickly I downloaded it and threw it on repeat. I don’t do that too often.

As the album-esque mixtape flows, you’re able to appreciate everything from the lyrics, production, guest appearances, and overall quality of the musical product. It seems like a lot of themed albums/mixtapes never really live up to their hype or expectations (Ludacris’ Battle of The Sexes ::cough, cough::), but Piph puts it together on this one. Although a buzz over Part 2 (out of an anticipated 4 total installments) was generated by the early release of “Doin Thangs” and “Apology of Sorts,” my ear has also gravitated towards “Come Home.” Unquestionably ill tracks.

At this point, there’s really nothing more I can say to add any credibility to Piph’s project, you’ll see that it speaks for itself– Head over and DL IMMEDIATELY– EPIPHANY RESPECT PT.2 (WOMENS)

Track Listing:

01. Womens Intro
02. Doin Thangs (ft. K. Sparks)
03. Come Home (ft. Rah Howard)
04. P.O. Lover (ft. Double M)
05. No Happiness Interlude
06. Hurt Again
07. Emotional Rollercoaster (ft. Gina Gee)
08. Baby (ft. Rocks*r Jones)
09. How High
10. I Got It Made
11. Apology of Sorts
12. Outro
13. Right Hand Side
14. Pretty Memories
15. The Come Up

Shout out to the IATL family, they’re good peoples and hard workers– we’re almost there!!

If you would like to see Epiphany perform live, hit up his Myspace for a list of dates. He’ll also be performing with Gina G at George’s Majestic Lounge with Hardaway & The Commoners on April 30th. I know it’s a shameless plug, but it’s going to be one of the sickest Hip Hop nights NWA has ever seen. You can hold me to that.

Until next time, y’all be eeeeasy

-Hardaway

Some good friends of mine that are in a band that you may heard of (and if you haven’t, you will soon) called A GOOD FIGHT are about to release their second album. And if their pre-album released singles are any indication of what’s about to pop off on this album, then we will all be in for a hell of a treat.

I traveled South with the band to Bryant, Arkansas where (in the middle of nowhere) we found an oasis of a studio at Pure Sound Recording Studio. I’m going on record to say that it is the sickest/illest/most dirtiest(?) studio that I’ve ever set foot in so far. An abundance of recording equipment, flat screens, studio rooms, and a FULLY stocked kitchen.

Perfect recording conditions if I’ve ever seen any.

After months of mixing, editing, remixing, and mastering, I present to you A Good Fight’s (featuring yours truly) latest single, ALL DAY ALL NIGHT.



Props to Rizz for the vid

DatNewCudi.com: KiD CuDi – Soundtrack 2 My Life (Directed by Jason Goldwatch) from DatNewCudi / DP on Vimeo.

Every day there are millions of people in the world who wake up and pray that today is their day to make it in the entertainment industry. Whether it be acting, dancing, or performing music, the application pool in the entertainment business is staggeringly overcrowded. This could be because the age range is limitless: kids who are 7-year old piano prodigies are being pushed daily by their parents to progress, 20-year old models/actresses with bombshell bodies move to LA to become a star, and even Uncle Joe who is 62 can’t get through the week without a jam session with his buddies in the basement every Tuesday night after LOST.

It seems like everyone has the entertainment bug in some form or fashion. And with today’s current economic situation (AKA “Because everybody seems to be super-broke”), there are tons of people choosing to pursue their dream of stardom instead of continuing their education through the traditional college system. Some students are opting to attend a music engineering or producing school, some are choosing to drops studies all together. Aside from the financial aspect, the music industry can be found more appealing because there are:

-No MBAs necessary

-No high LSAT scores needed

-No late night study sessions for required yet undesired (you like what I did there?) courses. One course that falls under this category that I took comes to mind, the title explains it all: Philosophy of Leisure & Recreation. Way too much studying for a course from which the information I obtained I will never use.

What I’m attempting to highlight is the fact that there are LOTS of people who want to produce art for a living, whether that be painting, dancing, or music. And at this point in time, there are more aspiring musicians than ever before. This means that everyone can’t make it going the traditional route- major labels can’t offer contracts to every singer/songwriter in each coffee shop in America, even if they all had the perfect music. Labels can’t go sign every new rapper that comes out with a flow like Biggie because there are SO many artists out there with a developed sound. (What really propels one’s career is a thriving fan base, but we’ll touch on that next time around)

So here I am, swimming in this ocean of ambition alongside millions of others. All working with and competing against one another to make it.

Welcome to the life of an indie musician.

“Indie” definition (snatched up from Answers.com) :

One, such as a studio or producer, that is unaffiliated with a larger or more commercial organization.

Now, some might argue the fact that I’m an indie musician, partly because I’m signed to a label and partly because I don’t actually play an instrument. Touché. So we’ll switch it up. I’m an artist signed to an indie label, living the life of an indie artist. No big advances for the projects I do, just whatever I can make happen on my own, with performances and the help of the people around me. Shout out to y’all. I’m signed as a solo Hip Hop act to Tate Music Group and they published my debut solo album, Sound Check, in July 2009. They have been doing solid promotions for the album: In February 2010 they started airing a commercial advertising HardawayMusic.com as well as Sound Check. They have also scheduled CD signings for me to participate in.
For those who are unaware, I perform the vast majority of my shows with a full band and we are called Hardaway & The Commoners.  We started performing in August 2008 and released our first album, Off The Record, one year later without the aid of any label. We handle all of our own “operations,” such as booking, promoting, distribution, traveling and everything else that is required for a band to survive and grow. At this point, we are the definition of an indie band.

I’m loving where I’m at because I am experiencing the inner workings and grind sessions of the indie life for one project while also having the support of a label for another project. It’s an interesting spot to be in, as I can see things from both aspects of the industry and combine them to grow as an artist and further my career.

Several opportunities are developing as we speak, so I will keep you updated with all of the latest happenings.

Keep an eye out for “Life of an Indie pt. 2” coming soon.

-Hardaway

5. Sweet Carolina Sweet Tea Vodka & Lemonade

When I first discovered sweet tea vodka, I was in no way tempted to try it. Partly because I’m not a sweet tea fan, and also because anytime I think vodka I’m taken back to my freshman year in college when we were all bubbling Heaven Hill like we just bought the last half gallon on the planet. Since then I’ve tried to keep my distance. However, I was incorrect on the assumption that th is concoction was anything less than greatness. Perfect drink for any occasion where you can mix your own (not the best drink to order from a bar– it’s only 70proof, so you’ll want to go with something stronger in order to get more “bang for your buck” on the already over-priced drinks.) It’s so smooth that you could polish off a 5th by yourself and not even notice until you look at your phone and realize you’ve been drunk-texting for the last 45minutes. That’s how you know it’s quality.

4. Goose & Sprite (twist of lime)

Delicious and refreshing. When dealing w/ top shelf vodka, it’s always a good decision to mix it w/ sprite and give it a twist of lime. Fellas: the ladies will be impressed w/ your choice. Also, if they want to taste it, you won’t have to witness the “what-the-hell-are-you-drinking?!” face they tend to make after taking a swig of house liquor. If vodka is your poison of choice, avoid the embarrassment and go w/ a Goose & Sprite.

3. Tanqueray & Tonic (twist of lime)

Although Gin gets a bad rap for being primarily a drink for older alcoholics, add some tonic and squeeze some lime in and it becomes a refreshing summertime beverage. As with any liquor, the brands peering down from the top shelf (such as Plymouth, Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray Ten, even Beefeaters is a good candidate) will be a lot smoother and yield a much more lenient hangover. So stop hating, let go of your Gin N’ Juice misconception (does anyone actually ever drink gin and juice? Its terrible) and become a believer in the Gin & Tonic.

2. Hennessey & Apple Juice

I’ve dubbed this one as the “sleeper drink” in my top 5 because I know how hard I was “sleeping” on it when I first encountered it. I was at a friend’s house one evening and he went to mix one up and asked if I’d like one. My initial reaction on the inside was “Look at this dude right here.. can’t afford a 2liter of Coke to mix with his Hen so he’s using Apple Juice from the EZ Mart around the corner.. Hell no, I don’t even like Hennessey.” But, at the time, I was a full-blown alcoholic and up until that point had never turned d own a free drink (As a matter of fact, “free” is still my favorite drink.) So I tried it. And immediately fell in love. So I implore you, when your wallet is at a point where you can let go of that $30+ to purchase a bottle of Hennessey, grab some Simply Apple and let me know what you think.

1. Makers & Sprite

This is my personal Holy Grail of all mixed drinks. Surprisingly, a lot of people have not had the chance to experience the love that Makers Mark & Sprite has to offer. Usually, when drinking whiskey, it is assumed that you mix dark liquor with dark mixer. When I was first dabbling in alcohol mixology, that was a rule that I chose to stick to as well. It’s safe and usually very reliable. However, I knew nothing of mixing whiskey and sprite until a friend suggested that I try it. I decided I needed to find out for myself what exactly I was missing out on and as soon as I tasted it, I was hooked. It presents a smooth, almost caramel-like taste that is truly undeniable. Other ways of enjoying whiskey and sprite would be with Jack & Sprite or Jim Beam Black & Sprite– both are very adequate and pleasing substitutions.