Nice To Meet You: Best You Never Heard Of
(Behind the scenes making of the “Check 1,2″ and “Best You Never Heard Of” videos)
EXT. ROOFTOP
Sycosis walks out of a rooftop entrance on top of a building in the city of Chicago. He contemplates the city’s skyline.
Cut To:
INT. CONCERT VENUE
Sycosis walks onto a stage. There is no one in the audience. He stares out into the open space for a few moments and then grabs the microphone from the stand.
Those are the first few lines from the treatment of the “Check 1,2″ video that I began writing in November of 2010 with the help of a classmate Josh who I’ve known since 4th or 5th grade. I began rapping in 6th grade (1996).
In the 15 years since then I’ve changed stage names twice, recorded 5 mixtapes, been a part of 3 rap groups, had 3-4 unofficial Rap beefs, recorded 2 albums, graduated college with a Bachelor’s Degree, lost 100 friends, gained 100 friends, had 3 full-time jobs, and contemplated quitting music approximately 1,028,015,891,234,085 times…a day.
EXT. RECORDING STUDIO
Sycosis walks out of the studio and accidentally bumps into a man and drops the CD.
Out of all those things and all that time, the biggest accomplishment I had up until 2 months ago was recording a song in a professional studio which didn’t happen until 2009. For me music was like a personal release and I only half way flirted with the idea of taking it seriously. If I was feeling tense or upset I could take it out on a track and be as aggressive as I wanted to be (i.e. pick any Wolf Pack Mixtape). But as I got older I started to challenge myself to do something I haven’t done and make something I’ve never made before. Whether it was to use a new flow or spit over a different kind of beat I wanted to make each song I recorded (which cost me an average of $100 a piece) be different from the last. Eventually songs weren’t enough and accomplishments became my measuring stick for success. Things like getting a song played on the radio, or in a club, or put on sites like HipHopDx became my markers. None of them have happened…yet.
Cut To:
Sycosis sits next to an engineer in front of a giant mixing board. The engineer mixes the track and then pops out a blank CD and writes “Check 1, 2” on it with a red sharpie.
Shooting a video was never something I thought I’d be able to do unless I struck a major record deal. I had a dollar and a dream (shout out J. Cole) to start. I ended up with 2 videos from 1 camera man (Scott) a director (Reynaldo), an editor (Mike) and a publicist/stylist/manager/promoter/ and street team (Me).
Sycosis begins his performance and the audience gradually becomes engaged. Everyone bobs their head in unison as Sycosis continues to perform.
Everyday I want to complain about how I should have more. How I should have more respect as an artist and more exposure for my music. How I should have more people asking me to colab or respond when I suggest it. How I should have more fans on Facebook (514) or more followers on Twitter (141). Even as I’m writing this article I checked my YouTube hits on both videos at least 3 times already (about 750 total so far..ugh!) but it’s not like I’m really counting *justifies lie in head*.
He gives his last CD to a young man. The young man looks at it, smiles, and shakes his head as he gives it back to Sycosis. Sycosis looks down at the CD. “Keep Writing” is written in red
There are somethings we are artist have to be willing to face or else this industry can crush you. Maybe I’m not meant achieve all of the things I would like to from music (good thing I got that degree). And maybe I’m not meant to be well-known. Or maybe I am and my struggle all this time will add to what I do once I get there. Only time can tell. But what I have always had is a network of friends, family, and people I love who support me and push me in every aspect of my life. As an entertainer you never really know whose listening and whose watching. Whose life you are affecting and who you are influencing. They may not ever get the chance to tell you. But we have to recognize what is right in front of us, control what we can control, and progress. Be it small or large. Just progress. And be grateful for the opportunities that we have. Thank you all for motivating me. I love you.
He looks at his phone. It displays one missed call from Ant. He picks up the phone as he walks out of the room.
Enjoy the videos and please share
Twitter @Sycosis
Sycosis “Best You Never Heard Of”
Sycosis “Check 1,2″
