This Is Your Freestyle Blast #52
The culture, the craft, and the climb
Every month, The Blast shows up with a purpose… and this one is no different.
Inside this issue, we’re touching on something that every artist, every promoter, and every true Freestyle fan has felt at one point or another… even if they’ve never put it into words. It’s about perspective. It’s about approach. And it’s about understanding the game at a level that goes a little deeper than what you see on the surface.
We’ve got two features lined up that don’t just talk at you… they tap into the mindset behind the music, the stage, and the moves being made when nobody’s watching. If you’ve ever questioned where you stand, where you’re going, or how to move smarter in this space… you’re going to feel this one.
We’ve also updated the Freestyle Club & Concert Calendar, so whether you’re looking to catch a show, support your favorites, or just stay connected to what’s happening out there, make sure you take a look… because the movement never stops.
Also, the Blast Flash 3 is back with a brand new challenge, and as always, the clock is ticking. New songs, new energy, and another opportunity for artists to step up and show exactly how hard they’re willing to go when it’s time to be seen and heard, and make sure you don’t log out early, because at the very end of this month’s issue, there’s something special waiting for you.
A full 7-day blueprint, a step-by-step guide designed to help artists maximize every single day that the Flash 3 poll is open. No guesswork. No wasted motion. Just a clear way to turn momentum into impact. So take this one serious, and give that new release the chance it truly deserves. But hold up, this blue print isn’t just for the Blast Flashers, it’s for anyone who has, or is about to release something new. Just wanted to make that clear, cool? Great, now let’s get it!
THE STAGE IS THE STAGE
From small private parties to major arena concerts, and everything in between, no Freestyle event is less important than the next. Don’t laugh… I’m serious.
Not every artist is built for those massive stages, and not every artist gets the chance to step into a small, intimate room where you can actually reach out and touch the fans. A lot of people tie those bigger events to an artist’s pay status, and success, and sure, that’s understandable, but let’s look at this from another perspective for a second.
I once wanted to be an artist myself, laugh if you want. A rapper, to be exact, and like so many of us coming up in the 80s and 90s, and I can tell you this with complete honesty… money was never my initial goal, and any artist who says it was? They’re bullshittin’.
When it comes to the artists… Passion always comes first. Passion turns into obsession, and obsession sharpens the craft. Think about a kid drawing for the first time, stick figures, crooked animals, bright crayons all over the page. But then something clicks, and they start noticing what’s off. They erase, redraw, improve. Over time, that same kid begins to create things that actually resembles life, and that’s where the talent is born, or should I say… revealed?
And yes, there are some who have been born with special God-given abilities, like the 3-year-old who can sing like he lived and loved a thousand lives, or that 5-year-old blind girl who can play a piece of classical music as if she had composed it herself. Gifts from God no doubt, but they also come with a responsibility that many of these children will grown up trying to fulfill.
Artists don’t start this journey chasing a check. They chase a feeling. The money, if it comes, is just a byproduct, and yes, it can be a significant one. What keeps them going however, especially through the hard times, is the passion, and maybe even a possibility. The possibility of what? To be able to make a decent living from that passion. Because if it were actually about money, the term “starving artist” would never exist. Let that sink in a bit.
There are artists right now, maybe ones you know, who aren’t on those big flyers, not headlining major concerts, not commanding those big fees… but they’re still here. Still grinding. Still showing up.
They take the smaller shows. The low pay… sometimes even no pay. They deal with the side-eyes, the quiet disrespect, the overlooked opportunities. They work full-time jobs, then hit the studio at night. They sacrifice their own money on outfits, travel, promotion, just to get on a stage where the room might not even be full yet, and still… they perform like it’s the greatest opportunity ever.
Because when that music drops and those lights hit, nothing else matters. Those butterflies? Still there. Thirty years later… still there. And when they grab that mic, they give you everything they’ve got, like they always did.
So if you’re one of those artists still working your way toward those bigger stages, don’t ever look at yourself as “less than.” You’re not at a lower level, you’re at a different level. A necessary one, because Freestyle can’t survive in arenas alone. It needs those smaller rooms, those intimate moments, those after-show conversations. The hugs, autographs and pictures, the stories fans share about how your song carried them through a time in their life when they needed it most. That’s where the real connection happens.
And long after the big stages go dark and the lights fade out… those are the moments they’ll never forget. And neither will you.
HOW TO PLAY THE BLAST FLASH 3…AND WIN!
Freestyle Blast newsletter subscribers are not random, they are people who have chosen to receive the Newsletter each and every month. Those who do not like the content we write about are free to unsubscribe never to receive anything from us again…
In other words, our subscribers want to be here. They asked to be here. And most importantly, they love Freestyle!
The Freestyle Blast Flash 3, is a segment within our monthly newsletter, that showcases music by both new and established Freestyle artists.
The segment is handled by Dj Wonder Rican, and stands apart from the everyday social media posts that are all constantly competing for attention. It gives fans a chance to really check out the new releases without any distractions. Aside from that, every voter listens via Spotify, a small contribution to help toward those increased streaming numbers.
But what should you do if your new release suddenly ends up on the Flash 3? Do you sit back and just watch what happens, or is there a way that you can participate and help drive traffic to that new potential hit of yours?
That Kevin Costner quote from the 1995 movie Fields Of Dreams, where he says “IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME!” I don’t think ever worked for anyone, because I don’t care how great that thing that you built is, if no one knows about it, sorry, but they won’t be coming!
When the Flash 3 poll opens on the 15th of each month, inside of the Freestyle Blast Newsletter, it is set up to stay open for 7 days total.
This poll could’ve been set to just about any duration, including indefinitely, but I chose 7 days in hopes that I can encourage contenders to go hard for just those 7 days, a task that is much harder than it sounds
This should be a regular practice among anyone releasing a song, at any time, in or outside of The Flash 3. To challenge themselves by giving it all they got for just those 7 days.
Doing this will not only help put your new release onto the fast lane early on, but also, condition you to go super hard for at least the week of whenever you drop a new song.
Going hard for 7 days, may seen easy, but it’s not. However, it is for only 7 days.
I’ve been in the music business for many years. I know what it takes to try and create a buzz for a new song. Think about it for a second. It all starts with an idea. A cool song title popped into your head, a dope melody, or something happened in your life that just made an entire song ooze out of your soul, and now you gotta share it with the world.
You get the music done. You either do it yourself, or you get someone to do it for you. From there you get into the studio and record it, along with all the extras that it takes to complete it.
For some of you, you’re either talented enough to do it all on your own, or resourceful enough to gather the right team to do it all for you.
But then there are those who don’t have those connects. They not only have to figure it all out, they also have to pay for it, and though producing and releasing a song nowadays is nothing compared to what it cost back in the day, nonetheless it won’t be free, and the process is much longer than the one sentence I took to break it down.
And so you’re done. Song is complete, and uploaded to whatever distribution platform you decided to roll with, and all you have to do now is sit back and wait for people to hear it, right? No way!
If this is what you’ve been doing, you’re not alone, we’ve all done that. It’s easy to believe that the song you produced will soon resonate with the world, but unfortunately, it won’t!
Music is an art form, and like all forms of art, it’s subjective, meaning that what we think is great, to others might be total crap, and vice verse. Therefore, building, or in this case, creating something and expecting people to come is quite a wishful thought. And if they do come, what is it exactly that we want them to do?
Do we want them to Like it? Download It? Tell others About It? Share It? Vote For It? What? Because unless we literally tell people what we want them to do, there’s a good chance that the’ll do absolutely nothing!
But before we even go there, let me say this. That beautifully produced song that you uploaded to DistroKid and Spotify isn’t the final step in your journey toward a hit, but rather the beginning, because it’s from this point forward that will determine the fate of your new release.
Guide it, and like a child, it’ll have the opportunity to live and thrive. Leave it to move alone and without your guidance, rest assure it’ll end up, like so many other masterpieces, buried in that graveyard of brilliance.
Okay, so you get it. Now what? Should we just keep talking about it, or can something be done?
I feel that the Blast Flash 3 is an incredible vehicle, to at the very least, get the ball rolling, and so for those who are a bit lost as to how to get that ball rolling, I decided to create a simple 7 Day Plan to help you do just that.
Release that new joint to the public is not the final step, but the beginning. This is where the real work comes in. This is where you start recouping that investment, because anything less than that should be considered a loss, and we’re not in this to lose, are we?
Now in order for this to work, you need to really give it your all. I’m serious. I made this as practical as I possibly can, along with a worksheet to jot down your cutome plan, so make sure you print it out.
This is for only 7 days, and if you cannot dedicate your hustle to these 7 days, then you’re probably not cut out for this business.
So without further ado… CLICK HERE FOR YOUR 7 DAY PLAN
💥 Check Out This Video 👇😲
To all our Subscribers, Readers, Subjects, and of course our Sponsors, for being a part of this month’s issue of the Freestyle Blast Newsletter, Thank you all so much!
and until next time…
This was your Freestyle Blast!
Latif Mercado has been a part of the Freestyle Music scene for well over 30 years, as well as an integral player behind the genre’s continued success.
As a Booking Agent with a who's who roster of Freestyle Greats, as well as his managerial involvement with such industry icons as Lil' Suzy, Angel OCG, and The Cover Girls, rarely would you find a Freestyle event happening without Latif somewhere in the mix.
Latif loves hearing from his readers, answering questions, and sharing whatever advice he possibly can, whether it be on writing, or maybe something Freestyle-related, so be sure to reach out, even if it’s just to say hi.
So please Follow Him Everywhere @LatifMercado
What did you pick up from this month’s issue? What would you add to the conversation? Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just soaking it all in, hit the comment button below and share your thoughts and opinions. Can’t wait to read it!
I understand your point completely Latif!....Freestyle has come back once again!....Veteran artists are out there , doing both Big & small venues....Trying to make some money from their catalog of songs that made them famous!....The magic word you used is the key here: PERSPECTIVE
As a club kid from the 80's, It saddens me that people go to shows today and criticize artists.....Im in my late 50's....so...obviously....my favorite artist are around my age too!...Many have gained weight..their voices are not as strong as when they released their hit singles in the 80's....and their stage moves are gonna lack that energetic Vibe they used to have......so....Its a matter of PERSPECTIVE in how you see them today!....You either see them and criticize them, judge them for being older and saying,,,listen...your time has gone...hang it up......OR....View them in a different way....As pioneers of the genre called latin hip-pop/freestyle......Who made great dance songs, which to this day takes us back to those times when we were young, and Give them the respect they deserve!........