BTOWN STAND UP -- I love this town... >>>SPREAD THE WORD

CURRENT LOCATION: Right back where I think I started this blog... Can somebody say Herman B. Wells library?

So it's my second week of campus and I'm having nothing short of a dope ass time at the best college in the world. Shouts to my fraternity and every gorgeous Bloomington girl that I've partied with or have said what up to thus farrr.. We're in the making for a great year.

Despite the great parties, and amazingly interesting classes (yeah, for once, right?), there is nothing I'm enjoying more than the LOVE from all of you -- INDIANA students and everyone else on the internet that's helping SPREAD THE WORD about my mixtape and everything else I got going on.

I was walking out of my apartment two days ago and some dude was on a bike and dodged me at the last second, turns around, and yells "love the mixtape". That's what the fuck is up.. Lots of love at the tailgate too. I think I gotta perform thereeeeee hahahaha -- that might just be a hint of what's about to come.

Musically I've been working with a lot of awesome producers in town doing their thing -- shouts to J-CUSE and congrats to him as well on his recent placing of Bow Wow's new single "BREAK IT DOWN" which rumor has it will be featuring Drake as well, my boy J. Miles, Javan, and SoundRemedy. Lots of young talent, I dig.

The street team is getting ready to go back to wrok with new missions and objectives and when we see facebook statuses, comments, and photos we can't help but get excited, but you should be excited to. Bloomington, I'm gonna give back to you-- surprise you with a nice little Welcome Back show within the next 3 weeks... and trust me you'll know when and where because my street team is going to have this place on lock because they got my back like thatttt.

If you're not in BTOWN, you're missing out, but don't worry this year I will be coming to a city near you.. I just gotta get this Dixie Cups single music video and promo all straight before I can devote all my time to rocking out with you. But it's going to happen...

So once again, thanks to everyone coast to coast and especially BTOWN for spreading the worddddd about me, my music, and my movementttt.. you're da shit

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

I wasn't even talking to Mark Cuban on twitter, but...

he responded. CHECK IT OUT!



Don't forget to follow me @burbetto

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

JQ - SUPER FLY GUY CHOSEN FOR 1200 SQUAD CORNERSTONE MIXTAPE - SEP 2009

Congratulations to DJ Boogie Boy as this is the first Cornerstone mixtape in the almost 12 years of its operation being mixed and presented by one DJ instead of two!!! So sick...

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Representing 4 Mr. Chi-City

Chillin' with Chad Hugo After N*E*R*D* Show

CURRENT LOCATION: Back at School - in the new apartment. Gettin' ready to do some great things down here with my boys Jon Stein, Matt Strombelline, Aaron Mojica, Jaime Rocque, and Andrew Cooney

w/ Chad Hugo after the show -- hopefully I get to work with him someday soon.. Incredible producer always on the forefront of today and tomorrow's music. P.s. if you haven't seen N*E*R*D live, I didn't get to see them this night, but I have 2x before and it's not to be missed -- they are the best live group I have ever seen -- PERIOD!

And... yes! He's got the mixtape!

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

P.s. What should I wear next weekend to R Kelly's Swag On Billion Party?

Thank you for all the messagesss -- I guess you wanna see a post.

CURRENT LOCATION: ???

Have you ever gotten fucked? lol, I know you have. Wow.. It's at the point where I can laugh about it -- I'm making progress.

I got this song, right? It's H-O-T... And I'm pretty sure the "O" in HOT is interchangeable with an "I"--Therefore, we would have "H-I-T". Some of you may have heard it... Some of you may have not.

Anyway, I know this song is fire because its feedback has been remarkable across the country with completely different demographics. They say you can't please everybody... and I believe that, but I'm still trying to figure out who this song doesn't please.

(My grandma just called me... to go to dinner... with her and my grandpa... and I'm going to go. but some lyricssss:

Hey grandma, it’s not a phase, this is me,
It’s time you appreciate me for, who I be... )

Back to the hit... I filmed a music video over a month ago now for this song.. And I couldn't be more disappointed. I've shown quite a few people and they all like it, but they don't see what I see. The video was supposed to be on MTV this entire month and instead has sat in front of some editor's face who has NO IDEA what he is doing and was already paid by the team of people who were handling the video -- as I would post on twitter #fail !!!

The sucky part is these guys are real professionals, or so you would think based on their resume, but I got fucked. I wish we could salvage it, but we can't... and I need to re-film.

"Ok, so JQ, why aren't you, or better yet, why haven't you re-filmed?"

Well, you see.. music is many ways a capital game. And right now, that's all I got... So I have to make a decision, release the shitty video and let the hit carry itself or wait until I can raise another 5 figure budget and make a real move... Either way, the "SUMMER SONG" I had lined up, looks like it will be a fall song at best, and I wouldn't even be surprised if some of you reading this were reading it after hearing it this SPRING!

I'm really upset about it if you can't tell... Not a lot of things get me down, but it seems like that is the piece I need to move on. Like I'm some sort of video game level with no ammo and I got shoot guys to move on so I'm looking around the whole level for ammo.. When I told my girl that on the phone yesterday, she said it was in my pants LMAO

and for all of you that wanna fuck with me.. "what you been doing g, come fuck with me nigg" ain't gon cut it.. Cuz I know most of y'all ain't doing shit. PERIOD. hahah n to all you out there trying to get it in, never say "google me" either. It's just not classy... I'm a smart dude; if I'm thinking of fucking with you, I'm probably gonna google you anyway.

So my dilemma stands... I just don't think I can release something that isn't perfect. My first single wasn't my choice of release... And when it didn't do what I wanted it to do-- I could only blame myself. The question is would I rather depress or fail? Neither of those are viable options...

SOLUTIONSSSS... ANYONE?

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

P.S. If I get one more call from CutCo asking me to sell knives this summer, I'm gonna buy a CutCo knife and stab the lady on the phone with it...

"HI JAKE...! My name's Shannon, you don't know me, but your friend Aaron Paker (yeah, I'm throwing your name out dipshit... n I like you, but man... she called 3x fam!) referred you to me as somebody who might be interested in making a little bit of extra cash this summer."

"I make enough cash" CLICK!

This lady, I wanna call her a bitch, but I'm not sexist -- let's just say if she was a dude she'd be a huge prick -- she called up my boy and did the same pitch, righT?

He was like, "I got 3 jobs this summer... so I'm good, but thank you."

She comes back with, "Well, I'm with Brian (the kid who referred him) right now and he says you have no jobs."

hahaha and my boy got like an internship, he's a tennis coach, and he babysits.. well, nah, he doesn't babysit, but I don't know the third job, but he's got it! Aight?

Fuck ittttt --



Happy Belated Baby.

Props to my dude Wildstyle and his birthday bash

CURRENT LOCATION: My kitchen

Just got back from Wild's b-day celebration -- CruCon still gettin' it in as always. good 2 see.

I'm on the grind tomorrow. waking up at 7:30 in the morning and checkin into work... Gonna be doing everything I can to make Dixie Cups "THAT" summer record. And I know summer's coming and going so the time is N-O-W.

Cuz don't get me wrong, I'm down with new music --I'm just not seeing that summer record as a kid I would always identify or match with a summer -- you feel me? Do you see it? "You're a Jerk... You're a Jerk." lol props to New Boyz.

Got the Dixie Cups first edit of the music video coming back tomorrow. Shoutout to Coodie and Chike -- Let's get it!

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Nobody's gonna see this - Except the world...

Us after a long day of the video shoot -- the "final scene"

"I'm f.. I"m wasted." -DMarC

CURRENT LOCATION: I'm at home.

Lol -- That's basically all I can do today. I'm happy. I'm proud. And when people say some shit that just isn't true, it's funny to me.

I watched an awards show -- the Grammys -- not the BET awards -- let's get it straight. and said I can do that... No... I'm gonna do that. How many of you have ever been watching a professional sports game or been to a concert and dreamed of being on the court or on the stage? Yeah, a lot of you.

For most of our lives, we're told we can't do what we wanna do. We live by Plan B. It's like, "what are you in school for?" -- You mean what am I in school for? or what do I wanna be in school for? Or what do I wanna be doing? It's always a different answer. Shoutout Wes B.

Society has raised us to not go after our dreams or follow our ambitions. And yes, they're bizarre and crazy unrealistic at times.. And now ten months later, people are seeing and believing. The impossible "is" being achieved ONCE again because of one or two people's visions coming together to form something great.

It's no surprise. The "Rudy" stories of our generation carry on and develop stars and individuals with genuine character and attitudes that entertain, motivate, and inspire us everyday. They won't stop either... Because while a bunch of people hate as one gets higher and higher on the totem poll of success, there's those individuals who just don't stop.

Sometimes they wind up traveling so far they become distant even in their own lives and to those around them -- soaked up by their dream. Rarely do they fail... They usually stumble upon magic, success, and wisdom. They're not afraid to take risks... And they will win.

I am one of those people.

So while you sat around and became a dope blogger, I'm accomplishing my dream.

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Proving Yourself as An Artist

I recently re-discovered the greatest cereal on the planet.

CURRENT LOCATION: My brother's computer (for some reason in my life, I never wind up using my own computer even though I have 3 of 'em lol)

Ok, it's 6:48 in the morning... And I've been thinking about this post for like two days now.

There have been so many sacrifices that have been made in the past 10 months to get me where I am. I can't count them on my ten fingers... Like Spinning off the highway going 70 MPH in the middle of nowhere Indiana after almost hitting a deer at approximately 4 in the morning on a Sunday night because I had left the studio at around 2. Or the time "we" spent 36 hours straight in the studio... Or when I had to skip school to get my mixtape crackin'. Or the 4.5 hour drive I took home every weekend both semesters, missing the greatest college weekends of my life that can never be replaced at the dopest fraternity in the country -- what up ZBT Beta Gamma?

I've heard some of the nicest things in the past few days... There's no better feeling to an artist than people connecting to their music. In just ten months, many who work with me or close to me believe I have made the impossible happen -- and I am proud of that despite it being just the beginning. We all have dreams when a new year begins and I think if you could show me where I am right now, I'd be satisfied.

With all that being said, never underestimate the grind of an artist. Don't think it can't happen or will never happen for someone... Cuz first off, things change, people change. I've changed... I used to not believe in God. Now I believe in God. I used to be anti-smoking weed... Now I'm promoting it. LMAO!

But a lot of people think these things "just happen" to me cuz... my parents are rich? Or cuz I live in a big house?

They really have no idea.... And it doesn't really matter -- I don't need them to because in the end, their hate will bring me to the top so I'm not standing in their way from trying to bring me down -- it's more fuel in my tank really. I wanna thank Vince Lawrence -- cuz despite all the shit I go through to get my music done, in the end, it's fucking dope, but that's not what I'm thanking him for... He was kinda the first person to believe I could be "that dude". He really helped me grow and a lot of my humbleness is owed to him.

On the other hand, there's one thing that nobody can give me and nobody can take from me... And that is my hustle. So for anyone that's ever talked shit or anybody that came out with some whack shit that never got played or to anybody with a dream that's sleeping right now and will sleep all day tomorrow or call me to party every night of the week but say "they wanna do this" -- let me tell you right now. that's not how it works. You can think that's how it works, but you're only biting yourself.

Boogie tells me almost everyday that whatever we do, we're gonna smash what anybody else is doing... He calls it being on smash. And I wanna thank him too... I got a bigillion things to thank this dude for, like y'all don't even know. I'm gonna make it its own post in the next couple days or something cuz this entire blog entry will turn into a Gangsta Boogie thank you note. Anyway, I think that's a cool way to live -- striving to beat expectation and the competition. Telling yourself that you're doing that and doing it are two different things -- I don't "need" others to see the struggle, but if you're reading my blog, I thought you might be interested:

I spent the last 6 hours putting them together and I have more to do so that means I won't be getting any sleep... Then I'll be headed straight to the city where luckily I have great street teams to distribute them -- shoutout to Ruben and his Smash Bros team. And coming home to sleep won't be an option, cuz I gotta get fitted for the music video this weekend. Then I'll probably wind up in a studio or something or a meeting -- and you get the picture. THIS IS A GRIND.

And I'm not saying I grinded like everybody else, cuz I didn't. I grinded smarter. Don't always try and take the shortcut, just make the best cut. Track. Rap.

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

P.s. Fuck I'm tired. And now it's 7:25... lmao... took longer to write this blog post than a verse.

P.s.s. One click MIXTAPE DOWNLOAD: www.files.burbetto.com/JQ_TheOfficialBurbettoMixtape.zip

And it's out...

CURRENT LOCATION: My kitchen... amongst 3000 CD's put in their sleeves with coversssss by mainly myself and T .  Shout to Dj, Mitch, and Alec too.  thank y'all.

Damn...  So Boogie told me today -- about mid-afternoon -- that the place where our CD's were replicated and printed ran out of sleeves.  So he had them ship 'em anywayyy... Yup, all 50,000 and then he went out and bought the sleeves separately.  Long story shorttt...  I've been putting these things together for the past oohhhhh... 6 hours.

It was kind of a good break to take my mind off things and watch history get made as the mixtape was released.

This was the first mixtape ever hosted by DJ Khaled & DJ Drama -- as well as the first Heavy Hitters, We the Best, and Aphilliates production.  Shouts to Boogs on making my dream a reality.

I appreciate all the support I've been getting -- texts, calls, messages, the whole nine.  From friends, family, and strangersssss... it's all really appreciated.  My team and I really put our heart and soul into this thing - more than you can ever hear within an hour's worth of audio - so to see this kind of response has definitely got me excited.

I don't know how I should feel now...  at 4:50 in the morning.  I know my mom is going to wake up and see all the CD's on the counter, but I don't know if I got it in me to clean 'em all up right now.  I'm known as the one man wrecking crew in my house...  yeah, my bad momz.  I'm sorry.  I love you.

So what's next? 

Well, first off, as if we were going to relax for a minute and get this thing out there, my mind shifts into another gear as a week from today (June 27th), Coodie and Chike, the video producers that brought you Jesus Walks, Through the Wire, Culo, and Ghetto Rock will be filming my first music video for my single from the mixtape:  Dixie Cups -- right here in the Chi.

It's going to be crazy... I can't even explain.  My mind is in a million directions right now, but once again, thanks for the support -- time to spread tha werd.

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

One of the three powerhouses behind my mixtape

DJ Drama's Release Party in Chicago a couple weeks ago when I was on blog hiatus.

Yo Q, where the fuck have you been?

The Official Burbetto Mixtape Trailer

Current Location: Sitting on my brother's love sac

Is what my friend Alex Alessi asks me week after week... "Why aren't you posting on your blog?"

Me: Man, you read that shit.

Alex: Yeah dude, I look everyday for that new post.

Well, here it is my dude. Thanks for the support!

And to all my other blog readers, who I probably lost over the last month during my "waiting" period -- which basically consisted of self-realization and TV -- AKA one of the worst months of my life. People are probably reading this like, "WHAT HAPPENED?"

More like WTF didn't happen?

I sat around and waited... For other people to do things that I couldn't possibly do. Yeah, I know -- I'm that kid that thinks he can do anything, but when it comes to music and politics, I'm learning to be patient. I can go into it, but honestly... it hasn't been that exciting. It's been the typical teenage start to summer. But this week changes that.. as you'll see.

So the mixtape... will be released officially this Friday: 6/19/2009. It will be released and available for free download through my BRAND NEW official website: Burbetto.com .

If you haven't watched the trailer yet, the mixtape is presented by none other than my dude, and when I say my dude, I mean MY DUDE, Boogie and is hosted by none other than the MIXTAPE KINGS -- DJ Khaled and DJ Drama -- Their first mixtape ever hosted together.

By virtue of that, it's another first... It's the first "Heavy Hitters", "We the Best", and "Aphilliates" collaborative mixtape ever. 'Nuff saidddddd...

I'm gonna blog a bunch over the next couple days to get back in the swing of things and cuz I owe y'all a step by step look at what will happen prior to the release!

We'll be leaking a track tomorrow morning so let's see if you can find it on the internet before I post it!

As always, I appreciate your continued love and support! Without it, I would've stopped this craziness long before -- not just blogging -- music, believing, etc. All I ask of you, is that you enjoy the free media and help SPREAD THA WERD. What up Mani?

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

On the front page of the Indiana Daily Student

Front Page of IDS 4/22/09

"If there's not going to be that level of success, then I'm not interested."

To read the full article click here.

CURRENT LOCATION: Still in Chicago... Wondering when my work will actually be finished here so I can head back to Bloomington.

So I'm sitting in Chicago for one final day before I make it back to the town that I'm honored to be seeing so much support from. All the texts and calls are greatly appreciated. Big thanks to Rachel Krasnow of the IDS for giving the story the spotlight it deserves as well as for the recognition. Rachel, you did a great job and on behalf of me and my team, it was a pleasure to work with you.

The article contained a few quotes from my close friends and individuals who have been involved in my project including my good friend Jon Stein:

"Stein, also a business student, said he met Udell through a friend and has gained skills that deal with effectively marketing campaigns. The term “Burbetto” comes from the suburban and ghetto culture, Stein said."

I woke up to a text from another one of my good friends Joby Wright. I had yet to read the article, but dragged my ass out of bed before responding to Joby.

I apologize to anybody who was offended by the misrepresentation presented in that sentence. The actual "term" Burbetto is does not come "from the suburban and ghetto culture"!   Allowing individuals to speak on your behalf always puts you at risk for situations like this. While luckily I'm not in the spotlight yet, this has allowed me to pledge my faith towards awareness of Burbetto by using viral marketing tools to help "SPREAD THA WERD".  Shoutout to Mani Manglish -- mmdot.blogspot.com !

I think Joby brought up some really great points and I appreciate him for coming to me before talking to anybody else about it. Hopefully in the future Burbetto will be represented accurately, but we all know how the media is and we were obviously not allowed to see this article before it went to print or that would've been changed.

On another note, Burbetto: The Mixtape is on its way. I wanna talk about it so bad, but you're not ready for it yet. When you are, I'll let you know. hahahaha Show love.

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Missing School... Do they give me credit for hours I spend in the lab?

I sure hope so. I'm too lazy and tired to find a picture or something else to entertain you mutha fuckas. Actually, wait one sec.

There ya go.  One of my girls was imitating this on the phone today... Imagine a Romanian girl with her sexy European accent trying to say, "The back of your head is ridiculous" in ebonics -- haha, it's to die for. I'll try and get a video of her doing it... Don't say nothing.

I apologize for not getting on here sooner. Everything has been C R A Z Y! I'm going to pull one of those, "I didn't have time" things on ya -- ya know when somebody was like, "Well... I just didn't have time... I had to ____, ____, ____, and _____ and then ______, _______, and _____." I mean sometimes it's legit, but all bullshit aside I shoulda come on here for five minutes each and everyday and given you guys some love. It's aight though because there aren't many followers yet hahaha. Am I supposed to tell you that? (Although I must be doing something right because I got a text at 7:04 in the morning a couple days ago saying,

"Jake! Okay I'm sorry if this woke u but I'm sure ur up anyways cause u always are... (she was right, I was -- "Ain't No Rest for the Best" y'all) So I haven't been able to sleep and not even realizing it but for the past hour I've been reading your blog!!" So this one's for you Jen lmao - thanks for the love)

So anyway, my schedule has really been crazy like the ones above that people exaggerate the shit out of as if everybody wasn't damn busy. But you can fill all those blanks in with STUDIO TIME. I think most artists except those "crazy freestyling dudes that can release like 25 mixtapes and 8 albums in 2009" -- yeah, I'm talking to you Charles Hamilton, you're a beast -- spend a good chunk of time on their mixtape...

Like a month or month and half in the studio. It's quite the process: getting the right people to work on it from producers to features to hosts, DJ's, and drops, creating all the song concepts, putting together all the beats... While that list seems short, it's just the beginning -- the photoshoot, the funding, the cover, the manufaturing, the distribution, the publicity. It's the whole nine. I hope we're able to hit everything -- our budget's tight, then again whose isn't? We're in it to win. period.

And at this stage in the game, that's exactly what we're gonna do. Hard work usually pays off, but with music, I mean sometimes you can spend a shitload of time in the studio and still come up with some huff shitttt... I mean, think of how many FULL "ridickilous" expensive label-backed albums COMPLETELY flop.

But right now, hard work does pay off and the music is sounding like it should. I'd give you guys a preview, but I wanna save it all until the official release date -- still to be announced.

Back to this hard work thing, for those that do wanna know what it takes to make it in the music game... Here have been my studio hours this week (which will in the end start to finish have been all the recordings you here on the mixtape):

Tuesday 6 P.M. - 5 A.M. (in which I got a $150 ticket at 4 in the morning for parkig in the alley
Wednesday 6 P.M. - 7 A.M. (in which I got in a car crash on the way to the stu writing lyrics to the second verse of a song on the mixtape called "Superstar")
Thursday 6 P.M. - 8:30 A.M.
Friday 6:30 P.M. - 6:30 A.M.

NOTE: This is not a mastercard commercial even if all that time, dollars, and conflicts will in the end be THE OFFICIAL BURBETTO MIXTAPE -- which, yeah, is priceless.

I'm exhausted... Now. Time for bed... I leave you on one note:

People wanna know what the fuck I'm about, you can tell 'em the hottest mixtape on the planet just came out.

This is my path I am creating to live my own destiny and fortune. My vision is clear and my determination is unstoppable. I am <>UNDENIABLE<>

Man... Who wants to read a blog about some dude who is just talking shit all the time? I promise I'll shut the fuck up after the mixtape comes out and let y'all do the talkin' for me. Aight? Deal.

Until then, THIS THAT NEW SHIT.

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Feelin' Alive BACK in the C-H-I

Love this video. Everything is a complete piece of art with Kanye West.. He defines creativity and our generation.

CURRENT LOCATION: Just got back home...

Took the test... Drove back. Exhausted. NOT! I'm super-hyped.

This is my month. The mixtape I talked about in the last blog is just the beginning... Be ready.

I heard a rumor on campus that some promoters thought I had $ because I was opening for the Game and Soulja Boy. That's great! I hope they come to me with all their offers and opportunities. For the record, based on the amount of tickets I move(d), I actually get/got paid to perform!  Damn... Why did I just give away my secret?  Oh yeah...  Because you can't move or hustle like "we" -- thanks to all my boys who helped me accomplish that.

I bet my producer would say that's my bad attitude coming out again. Hi Vince!

Ok, I gotta unpack my stuff, make RAMEN NOODLES, and get some sleep before I wake up early, workout (I'm on the "'Bout to Be a Boss" plan), and make a plan. Speaking of workout, like two days ago, I heard some chick ask another chick if she had "that new Kanye song on her IPod... the one about working out." Other chick: "The Workout Plan"? First Chick: yeah... I love that new song! Second Chick: That came out three years ago. LMAO!

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Fuck School, Chase Bank, and... Aghz... I'll save it

Hollywood Shuffle (1987)

CURRENT LOCATION: The "fucking" library

FUCK SCHOOL!

Ok, school is stupid. I can prove it. What university other than Indiana has tests only on the weekends? The weekend is defined in the dictionary as "a period taken or given regularly as a weekly rest period from one's work" -- So can somebody please tell me why I have an accounting test on fricking Sunday? I mean damn... If I was gonna be an accountant, this would all make sense: creeping up into the stacks on the east side of the library (this crazy uninhabited area of the library where one of my friends got head while studying haha) to do math problems for hours on end.

I know in order to make it in the music industry I gotta be a businessman, but I've been getting that education since I was 13 from reading real business books not TEXT BOOKS! And there's only one thing I need to know about accounting as far as I'm concerned -- Stay in the black... In other words, as Weezy would say, "MAKE MONEY". I'm gonna be a boss with or without this accounting class... Period.

FUCK CHASE BANK!

Ok, next on my list is Chase Bank. I'm getting more and more calls everyday for interviews and big events, etc. As you already know, I'll be opening for Soulja Boy on the 24th and negotiations are in existence for other shows around that date as well.  I've been steady at work on my debut album, but despite not being the typical rapper I feel I do need a way to get my music out there. I can't release the album for free because of the production costs associated with it, so I need to create a mixtape.

When I mentioned doing a mixtape to Boogie Boy, I was impressed by the names that were interested in being a part of the project. I am honored that while other artists have to pay large sums of money to get these figures to host or rep them, these figures have shown major love and cut these costs after hearing the album material. They must see me.

After hearing the names that could be involved, my mind has been doing whirlwinds. The whole point of the mixtape would be to show people who the fuck I am. In fact, that was our mixtape name: "WHO DA FUCK IS JQ?" before B.o.B. stole that shit from right under our feet -- I guess great minds think alike. Be sure to check out his dope new single "I'll Be in the Sky".  I'd attach the video, but the labels are taking sound off all the youtube videos :( -- I don't know how they possibly think that's good for the artist or their pockets for that matter.

So in order to show people who I am, especially when they witness the One Man Show LIVE! at these performances, I need to give my street teams the proper materials -- aka actual CD's and cards to promote the mixtape. These things do cost $ :(

My producer always says there is a line between the fan and the artist, but I don't necessarily support that argument. I've spent my hard-earned $ in production costs thinking I could get signed just because I had dope material. WRONG!!! The only thing labels wanna see you is you reading this... IS IT WORKING? hahah, I hope so. But it's not about that... If it was, I would've started this a long time ago, but I didn't. I started it when I thought it was time for y'all to know what the fuck I'm on (I can see my mom being like "watch the language" right now).

So what am I supposed to do? I don't fucking know. But I do know that if I do a mixtape, I'm going big. It's either go big, or go home. We either MBM (Make Big Moves) or we don't make moves at all... In other words, I gotta manufacture 100,000 of 'em.  I don't know how I'm going to come up with the kind of money necessary to put 100,000 of these things in the streets, but I am going to take off the next week of school to try and figure it out -- maybe move a piece of ONtheCOURTSports -- that's the kind of dedication you gotta pull. I know someone is out there reading this saying, "STAY IN SCHOOL!" As my girl would say, "Relax!" but on the realz, this is my life. Not school... Music.  I'm 20 years old. I'll do what I want... And right now, I wanna make a mixtape -- so fuck you.

So why are the last six paragraphs under a category title of "FUCK CHASE BANK" -- Let me tell you. My best friend told me that I should get a college loan from Chase -- He got $20,000 for being in state and I could probably get $30,000 for being out of state. Since my parents pay for school, I figured I could put my own ass on the line. The last thing I wanna do is be another broke artist. When I told my producer what was going on he mentioned how Robert Townsend funded his first movie, Hollywood Shuffle, on credit cards. I was shocked. Wikipedia said:

"Hollywood Shuffle was created on a very tight budget. Townsend personally financed the movie with his own credit cards, and, in order to avoid obtaining permits, he asked his crew to wear college sweatshirts to pose as students."

With an estimated budget of $100,000, the movie went on to have gross revenues of over $5 million. If you're smart, a tight budget can work.

Anyway, when I called Chase, they informed me they currently don't accept applications for uncertified student loans. This policy was enacted on the 26th of March, like a week ago. With an ailing economy, I'm sure this was done with good reason. I respect business as much as the next businessman, but why the fuck was I holding money in a bank for years to not get approved for a student loan? Shiyattt...

So anyway, after this 6:00 P.M. accounting test on Sunday, my journey begins. I have UNDER three weeks, to come up with the money, make a mixtape, and manufacture it. I don't even know if it's possible, but my friend R. Kelly says, "I believe that if we believe, the unbelievable can be achieved." Then again, Kelz believes he can fly! hahaha, he probably can. Shoutout to my dude: www.myspace.com/rkelly .

It's off to the races.

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

P.S. In the future, longs blogs of "BITCHING" will be summed up into one sentence at www.twitter.com/burbetto !

P.S.S. The third "FUCK" is lucky I'm not calling him/them out. Refer back to my "American History X" post: Hate is baggage.

Only love.

Named as the OFFICIAL Soulja Boy Opener for the Biggest Concert in Little 5 History!

On April 24th, 2009 I will take the stage directly before Soulja Boy Tell 'Em

Signed my contract today... It's official. I will be opening directly for Soulja Boy on April 24th, 2009 -- Show starts at 6 P.M. and will take place on Indiana's tailgating fields. For tickets, get at my boy Matt Strombelline at (516) 567-7787. There is a nice surprise in the making for after the concert as well so as always, stay tuned! - Thanks for your love & support!

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Performing Ludacris Featuring T-Pain - One More Drink LIVE Freestyle

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

This Weekend was FUCKING CRAZY!

CURRENT LOCATION: IU Computer Lab

Sometimes pictures are worth a thousand words:

The crowd seconds before my set at IU.

DMarC and I before the show

Opening for the Game on March, 24, 2009

The BURBETTO Drumline: Ross, DJ Webz, and Jordy

Nikki Lynette and I -- Congrats to her on her website release party two nights ago -- www.nikkilynette.com !

The Burbetto Girls : Dani, Veronica, and Renee
P.S. Shout to my girls D, J, and T.

Jon and I gettin' it in after the show.

Videos coming soon...

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

What is "Burbetto"?

The Logo

CURRENT LOCATION: Don't you wanna know. Running around preppin' for my gig tonight!

Wouldn't you like to know?

Just because I'm a rapper, doesn't mean my music is directed at the hood -- that's a common stereotype. My music is directed at the world... Everybody in the industry keeps telling me to pick my target audience and attack 'em, but if you ask me... It's you... and you... and you too. I'm not going to discriminate my audience. If you wanna listen to my music, buy my album, or come see my shows, you're more than welcome to -- you don't need to be in some exclusive group or something. How many times have you heard someone ask someone else, "Why do you listen to them? You're not _____." Exactly!

Also, just because I'm from the suburbs doesn't mean I have nothing to rap about... Damn. So stop asking me, "What do you have to rap about?" I rap about what I feel like rapping about that day and if it's not relevant to you, then that's cool. Thanks for listening!

Haters... I love you!

So back to Burbetto... It's a combination of two words, but it's deeper than that...  But I can't tell you the rest right now.  That'll have to be a later post.  or series of postssss...  and videos.

Are you ready for The Reverse Racism Experience?

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

OPENING FOR THE GAME Part 2: It's over...

Killin' Drumline

CURRENT LOCATION: Back at my fraternity after the after-partyyy...

I never thought I would walk on stage to people chanting "JQ" at a Game concert!

There were a lot of flugs in the crowd - "fake thugs"... Lots of real ones too -- Reppin' their city to the fullest... That's what's good though. My dude Joby and his girl Kelsi really did a great job of promotion and had the place packed. I went on an hour and a half later than expected which was really perfect because I wanted a real crowd.

It's good to see hip-hop fans still coming out to support their artists... even in this day in age and at this stage in the game.

Major shoutouts to everyone who came up from Chicago Momz & Crew (Aunt Janet, Erica, and her boyfriend), T-A-B-Y, J to the L to the E to the V to the I - 4.5 hour drive -- thanks for showing love. Lastly and most importantly thanks to everyone who helped me throw it down my drummers DJ Webz, Jordy Cohen, and Ross Donnewald for coming through and taking care of business, my good friend and coach Nikki Lynette, all the videographers (Rick, Isaac, & Aaron), and Brandon Mojica with the dope lighting ! Zach Walker at ImFlashy.com - I see you.

Now I know I'm ready for this "Game".

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

OPENING FOR THE GAME Part I: Judgment Day

Show Flyer

CURRENT LOCATION: Just got out of my last class before the show.

I gotta go finish hustling these tickets so I can keep bringing the heat, but a million things are going through my head right now.

We got all the videographers lined up... And the entire "show". 15 minutes of "show".

A lot of people have been asking if I'm nervous?

To answer that: No.
I've been planning on doing shows all year. When the radio started playing my track, some parts of my career shot up and others got postponed, like shows. I was supposed to be opening for an entire Big Ten Tour (shoutout to K'Naan -- I heard he killed it!), but when I got the text it said K9 so we rejected it - plus my producer didn't think he was ready...

But I am. So judgment day is here.

I'll hit y'all after the show.

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

It's a "One Man Show"

CURRENT LOCATION: X202 Technology in Business

Yeah, I'm in class. Fuck it! At least I'm writing at a sane hour unlike my other post or my good friend Nikki Lynette's blog (Sitting Up Naked with Insomnia -- Currently a seven part series! lol)

Anyway, I'm mad ready... I hope Bloomington is too. It sucks being an opener -- having to worry about whether or not people are gonna be there in time to see your performance. Actually, I'm not worried about it... I can't... Cuz in the end, I can't control it. It's gonna be what it's gonna be.

Earl Nightingale taught me not to worry through his analogy of worrying to fog (The Fog of Worry). He says, "A dense fog covering seven city blocks, to a depth of 100 feet, is composed of something less than one glass of water." His analogy goes on to state that worrying needs to be put in its place; while it can blind an entire city, so few times can we actually control the outcome we are worrying about. If we can't control the outcome, than we have no reason to worry. And if we can, then we need to stop worrying and go out and do something about it.

I've seen a lot of concerts -- all genres. Lots. I get bored. I don't know why... I could love the artist, love the music, love the band, and bam! halfway through the show I'm bored off my ass wondering if it's his or her or their final song. These experiences, being the ultimate concert critic, have really helped me design my show. 

Without having a budget for my props, people, and giveaways, I am really impressed with what my team has been able to do. I'm an individual with very high expectations so despite being confident, if it's not perfect, I'm usually not impressed or proud. For example, when I show people new songs, sometimes I'll fast forward 3 minutes into the song to the only part I think is "perfect".

The thing about tonight is, it doesn't have to be "perfect". As I learned from the Robert Ringer book I read last week, it's always better to hope for the best, but assume for the worst. So far as I assume, there will be zero people there when I'm naked on stage. Oh, I didn't tell you I'm getting naked on stage? Well, I guess you'll see a video soon enough!

Thank you for joining me because without you, the One Man Show isn't possible.

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Told ya I was getting naked.

P.S. Fuck the dude that kicked my clothes underneath the table and fucked up my go-go dancers routine. I'm sorry girls.

My Single is Playing in Mexico?

CURRENT LOCATION: Finally out of the car after four and a half hours coming back to Bloomington from NBK. and I'm back Herman B. Wells library at 4 A.M. where I started blogging last week. Just got done e-mailing DJ Boogie Boy my tracks for the showtape.

Text message received from one of my girl friends last night at 1:05:24 (the :24 is essential) -- "jake they played your song at a club in mexico".

I know DJ's in pools claim the record is playing in the UK, Germany, Japan, and has spread all the way to Antarctica, but to hear it firsthand from somebody who heard it.. OK... STFU, that's pretty tight.

Now I get to hear spring break stories for the next week :-P while I was at home working on the movement. Come to think of it though, it's cool; Next year I'll be rocking the stage in Panama City with MTV.

As for this year, opening for the Game will have to work... But the way I'm treating this show, you'd think I'm performing down at Panama haha -- you'll see soon enough!

MBM: Make Big Moves.

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Two days after I posted this, my sister's boyfriend heard the song on his resort in Florida. Meanwhile DMARC found out one of the stations we're on the top request list for with mediabase is actually a sex talk radio that plays music. With lines like, "Let me see your ponytail from bird's eye vision" and "Call you dynamite because you blow me like some TNT" for some reason I'm not surprised LOL

Kobe Joby Obi-Wan Kenobi -- SAY WHAT?

Me & Kobe -- Check out those SICK headphones!

CURRENT LOCATION: Just got back from the Chi... And another late night. If you can't figure out my routine by now -- just check the times these blogs get posted... L-A-T-E.

I was at the studio heating it up and working on my show with DMarC when my brother called me to tell me that the Lakers were staying one more night in Chicago. I'm personal friends with one of the players so I thought I'd make my way over to their hotel after the game. I was waiting in the lobby for him when BAM! out of the left corner of my eye there was Kobe Bryant.

I told him about some stuff I was doing as we walked to the elevators and he wished me the best of luck! Total class act... It's athletes and celebrities like Kobe that serve as perfect role models for up-and-coming stars like myself! Thanks for the great pic my dudeeee...

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

P.s. Kobe, your security guard is a prick for getting in our picture like thatttt!

P.s.s. Shoutout to Joby Wright of B.F.A. Entertainment http://www.bfa-ent.com/ for hooking me up with the opening slot for the Game concert! Big ups. And as far as Obi-Wan Kenobi, I freestyled these three names in a rhyme today in the car with TabZ so I tried to connect 'em in a blog cuz that's what came to mind for a title. But come to think of it, I was wearing a Star Wars sand trooper shirt today!  Yessurrrr...

What do your parents think?

The New Burbetto Ladies T-Shirt and Men's Hoody -- So freshh!

CURRENT LOCATION: At a computer... Duh. Still in the Chi... For one more day.

As I pursue each day of my career with an open mind, I've noticed that one question is asked more than all others combined in my interactions. The magic question is: What do your parents think?

I don't know... What do you think they think about their white son from suburbia who attends Indiana University and studied business up until this point in his life becoming a rapper?

Actually, my parents are pretty cool. I give them a lot of credit--I'm a very difficult child. At the same time, I'm pretty cool too. Pretty cool in knowing what I want to do and relentlessly working to attract it. I'm ambitious and focused to the point if my parents aren't on my team when it comes to what I want to accomplish at any given point in life, they my as well be working against me.

Working against me is too much stress... So, support it is. Regardless of whether it is rap, memorabilia, or any other venture I vigorously chose to pursue, or at least attempted to, I think my parents recognized my ambition and realized it couldn't be stopped. Working to stop real ambition -- not the bluffing kind, you know what I'm talking about -- is more difficult than "silently" supporting or supporting your child or anybody else in your life. I love my family, not just my parents, but my awesome sister and brother too, and hope I always be able to support them as actively and passionately as they have for me.

The concept of wanting what I want and getting what I want is selfish to an extent, but at the same time you gotta not only look out for your own self-interest sometimes, especially when you deserve it, but you also can't be afraid of being someone you wanna be or doing something you wanna do because your family or anybody else doesn't think it's possible or isn't supporting you. Trust your instincts, be strong, and don't forget -- "See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

P.S. Speaking of "silently supporting".. . As far as my rap is concerned, "silently supporting" with the parentals quickly became your music is getting better to, "I really like that one!" to the point where I think my Dad is actually gaining an understanding of hip-hop -- a day I never thought would come.  I'm pretty sure Dixie Cups is now in his regular playlist... And oh boy... You should see the little dance he does to it. He's even got me doing it!

"Hate is Baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time."

"Hate is baggage. Life's too short to be pissed off all the time."

LOCATION: Upstairs about to go to bed... Still in the burbs.

I am currently writing a paper called the Reverse Racism Experience. I will release it to the public one day. While I was writing, I had to do a little research on the KKK. As soon as I started to dig through some articles I realized at that very moment, I had to watch American History X. This is my second time seeing it...

I'm a big believer in books... But sometimes there's something a book can't do for you. I guess it's like your mind can read and wander off on its own imagination... Reading is an adventure. You're free to interpret it as you please and let your thoughts run wildly. On the other hand, movies give you the visual. They restrict you to the picture they represent. In cases like American History X, we all have something to learn... Something to learn from a story and motion picture worthy of this restriction.

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

P.S. Shoutout to my dude Drewfy -- Great to see you tonight buddy. Keep moving.. I see you.

With Love Comes Hate: Sometimes People...

CURRENT LOCATION: Just got back from the Glenbrook North Supersectional... About to head to the studio.

Sometimes people rip on me for who I am or what I wear... But sometimes in life like my dude Kelz taught me on his birthday, you gotta say, "Fuck dat!" When I started rapping, I'm not gonna lie haters got in my ear, but that's because I wasn't expecting it -- the hate. I've learned that if you're successful at anything you do, people are going to hate. I didn't have haters until my track started bumping on B96. As it slowly spread throughout Chicago and into the other markets, more and more people began to get at me like that. With every video that a girl would post dancing to my song -- thanks for the love girls -- there'd be another person unhappy with where they were at in life bring that aggression to me. So on top of fuck dat, you know what I say... Bring it! hahaha BURBETTO!

Sometimes people would meet me at parties... One time I went up to a girl and said, "My roommate thinks you're cute." She was like, "I know you. You're JQ. My friend showed me your friend on her IPOD. I love that shiyatttt!"

Sometimes people are at their best when they're wasted -- hahaha!

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Am I a Head?

Ronaldo sports his medal with the original Mercurial R9 cleats hanging from his neck

CURRENT LOCATION:  My basement

"Sometimes people" ask me if I'm a shoe head...  I don't know if I'm a shoe head, but I do know I collect shoes.  I don't follow it or anything; I don't care how much they are or if they're rare or not...  To me, it's all about the look.  Back to the music comparison, it's like a beat.  I've paid $100 for beats that are sick and $4000 for beats that don't bring the heat -- there's no formula.  You just gotta do you.

I showed one of my boys the shoes I got and he was like, "How do you know they're dope if you don't know anything about them except what kinda Nike they are and their color?" -- So I decided to do some research.

SimplySneakers.com and NiceKicks.com (official article click here) filled me in:

"The Nike Dunk Low Mercurial brings the colors of the original Mercurial, which inaugurated a new era in real shoes for soccer in 1998, and lines that evoke the sole and traces of leather and comes to stores in June [2008].  The shoes will sell for about $125.  Like the top tiered soccer cleats, these Dunks also feature Zoom Air. "

It sounds like these original Mercurial R9 cleats were a part of the soccer great Ronaldo's bringing of a new generation to the game of soccer:  one filled with "game striking fear" and "off-the-field antics".  I have chosen to wear the shoes I was given yesterday at my first show one week from today to symbolize the way in which I plan to start a new era and movement in music.

Get ready to "fall into my drumline"

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Brand NEW Kicks

NIKE Dunk Low Supreme - Thanks to Jon Stein

CURRENT LOCATION: In the Kitchen... No, not cooking -- unless we're talking Ramen Noodles.

"With the brand new kicks never ever outta style, got her flashing me a pair like Girls Gon' Wild". I forgot how hard it is to shop.. in normal stores at least. I've been in at least 10 department stores in the past two days gearing up and everything is the same in each store. I just don't get it. How is it cool to wear Ed Hardy if any dude or girl with $50 can grab a t-shirt and sport it?

I guess my inner-self has always strived to be different. It sounds misleading... I haven't had to try by any means -- I just don't like doing what everybody else does. To me there's something about seeing something in a store that I know nobody else will have - my uncontrollable instinct says, "Nobody is going to have that....... That's cool." and next thing ya know there are things in my closet that are bizarre or well, different.

It's also crazy how fast a brand such as Ed Hardy or now with shoes like Supras or Creative Recreation reach the tipping point. Not saying I don't dig 'em, cuz I do like all three of those brands, but how cool are they now that everybody is wearing them? I always want what's next!

Price doesn't affect my intuition either...

Over time, I've learned to trust my instinct whether it's working on a track or just buying shoes. It's either hot or it's not. Period.

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

P.S. Thanks to Paulina at AKIRA in the C-H-I for hookin' me up!

Just got back from New York -- Part 2: How'd it go?

Me and Jermaine Dupri at Columbia

CURRENT LOCATION: Back at my house in Northbrook, Illinoissssss

So I just got back from the Bulls game -- helping out my little brother Alec with our previous venture, ONtheCOURTSports. I'd like to thank Chris Paul for hookin' it up tonight.

In the previous blog post I was focused on the Enuff story and didn't get a chance to thank my people--so right now I'd like to thank Vince Lawrence of Slang Music Group and Heavy Hitter DJ Boogie Boy for taking me out to the east coast and showing me what's good. Boogie, you're a beast! Being so green, it's really an honor to be put on the scene so quickly.

I’d also like to thank everybody we met with at the labels – I would name you all, but I wouldn’t know how to place an order on it! :-/ I appreciate you taking the time to hear my team and me out. Now all I need is a chance because I know once I get a chance, whatever it is, I can smash it! Special thanks goes out to Michael Blatter for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with us at Mirrorball. And one last thanks to my dude over at HOT 97, DJ Enuff, for opening his arms with hospitality and showing us how New York gets down… I appreciate the shoutouts and all the love!

I have never been so confident in my team and surroundings then I am right now… Now, it ’s time to start doing shows. I just got booked for a couple different gigs random stuff like youth events in the C-H-I, fraternity partiesssss at IU, and ummz... opening for THE GAME. March 24th, 2009 in B-Town. Be there! Shoutout to fam Joby Wright over at BFA on the hook-up.

Boogie and Vince think that Elvis is more likely to hit the stage than I am -- I'm gonna get 'em back for all the hotel humor they gave me for not doing shows yet. 

So get ready to put your KICKS IN THE AIR! You'll know what that means in a few months, but in the meantime be sure to buy your freshest pair of NIKE’s because we’re about to get down like thatttt -- especially if you get the chance to see me perform! Speaking of, I'm going shopping for some kicks tomorrow. I guess when you have 50+ pairs of "sneakers", as my boys on the East Coast Strom and Stein would say, a few more can't hurt.

I’m pretty sure new music is on its way too! which is exciting because no matter how essential “Go Down and Show” has been to my young career, I’m excited to see what people have to say about some of this other stuff that’s been on repeat in my car for the last couple weeks.

So until next time, “get all mixed up with a Dixie cup” and get ready to meet a “Super Fly Guy".

“See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Just got back from New York -- Part 1: Who am I?

What's in My Pockets

CURRENT LOCATION: My room in Northbrook

I just got back home from Bloomington for Spring Break and since I just started blogging a couple days ago, I figure I'd bring you back a couple weeks:

So I just had a great first day in the Big Apple... We met with Universal SRC and Mo-Town and we'll meet with the rest of the major labels tomorrow or the next day. I'm chillin' in the W hotel room when I realized I just left my cell phone in a cab. I make a $44.30 hotel phone call (which I got my money back, fuck yeah... who do they think they are charging forty bucks for a five minute phone call?) to the New York 4-1-1 or whateverrrr. Vince (my producer) gets a call on his cell phone that a woman found my phone so we arrange to meet up for it the next day. There's only one reason I'm telling this story: the girl that left work to give me my cell phone was mad sexy -- definitely going to meet back up with her next time I'm in NY -- think she'll see this by then?

By the way, that hotel is dope; the fruit cider that comes out of the water jug is ridiculousssssly good ! If you ever get a chance, just run up to the lobby and grab some. I promise you won't regret it. Don't tell the W I sent you though!

So I'm back chillin' in the room with Vince and DJ Boogie Boy of B96 who helped put the whole trip together and get word that we're about to make a move over to the other side of town. On this special night, Boogie decided to introduce me to his Heavy-Hitter brother, the emperor of the HOT 97 traffic hour, DJ Enuff. It was an honor for me because in the eight years that Boogie's known Enuff he's never brought an artist or song to him... EVER! So for that opportunity Boogs, thank you.

Not only was I lucky enough to receive an introduction, but we also had the pleasure of sharing a great Italian dinner with him. So after dinner, we're back at Enuff's crib. He hears my records out and asks me who I am? What kind of person am I? And who do I wanna be?

The first thing that came to my mind was the greatest artist in the world. It's weird cuz I think about stuff like that so much, but the way it was phrased just put me on the spot. Not that there is a correct answer, but since then, the question has been on my mind. So if I could go back, here's how I would answer it:

The three most important priorities in life are my family, my music, and my future. Thanks to my mentor, Tatiana Kolovou of Indiana University, I understand that these three priorities translate respectively to relationships, creativity, and vision. With every person I meet, I have a goal to establish the first and use the second to create the third in order to then, execute. While execution might be the most important, it rarely if ever happens successfully without the first three.

Over time, family has become more important to me. I guess when you do something the world disapproves of: aka a white kid becoming a rapper -- you see who is really there to support you.

My music is important to me because it's my creativity speaking. It's my voice. It's my life. It's what I live for everyday -- like why do you wake up? I wake up to make music. In fact, I love music so much that my #1 passion as well as previous success being business was overshadowed - I just jumped right in!

The music I create is universal: I'm a college kid who spent much of his time growing up chasing autographs in the city but originates from the suburbs. Now, I live half the time at school, half in the burbs, but most of the time that I'm home I'm in the city recording at Slang -- so... I feel like I'm part of all three in a sense -- and can relate with a lot of people because of that.

People can interpret making music for the general population however they want... yes... Pop music. You can judge, but in Hip-Hop 101 I'm pretty sure Grandmaster Flash and Kool Herc were trying to get as many people to listen to them as possible... In fact, that sense of competition, seemed to stir hip-hop whether it was DJ'ing or breakdancing or rapping (MC'inggggg, ya dig) didn't it? What's different today?

For the past few years, I've realized hip-hop is empty. Tupac and Biggie ring in our ears... still. And most of today's stuff... well, just doesn't -- not the same way at least. But when artists come out with new music that sounds like Pac or Big's era, it doesn't feel the same way either. On this special trip, I think I might have found the answer.

The day after Enuff, one of the A&R’s at Interscope who has worked on projects for Eminem and 50 Cent enlightened me when he said, ‘hip-hop isn’t what it used to be… the guns, killings, money, bitches. That was so 10 years ago. A lot of people in the hoods got their kids in school and made better lives for themselves and their families. The demographic of people buying those old hip-hop records isn't there anymore.  Burbetto – I get it -- This could be the next big thing…”

As far as my future, I don't know what it holds... Except BURBETTO!

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

Welcome to the "No Limits" Zone

Official Blog Logo

CURRENT LOCATION: Herman B. Wells Library in Bloomington, Indiana

If I am not at the Grammys in 11 months, I will destroy my own career. Yes... These are the standards in which I hold myself--which might sound crazy considering last August I couldn't rap. So now it's been 1, 2, 3... 7 and a half months and yes, I've come a long way.

For those that don't know, my song "Go Down and Show" has received airplay nationally and seems to be having its own fiasco on YouTube.

What started with three of my girl friends telling me they were going to make me a music video because they were tired of watching still pictures on YouTube -- check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N97RvVu3xWo -- became an "I can shake it better than you" debate which led to the SHAKEiT4JQ competition. I've been lucky enough to have 100+ videos posted by girls across the country and from all around the world including girls from the Canada, the UK, and Spain!

Unfortunately, YouTube keeps taking down the best ones cuz they're "inappropriate" -- I guess they don't want a six year old -- yeah, there's six year olds on YouTube these days, go figure -- watching girls in thongs without bras dancing to a song about blow jobs. Did I just type that outloud? I'm going to save one of these so-called "inappropriate" videos one of these days and post it here to show you what I'm talking about.

Anyway, back to my "Grammy guarantee" which will slowly seem less crazy as the months wear on, but if I was you right now, I'd probably press "X" -- thinking who is this kid -- and WTF makes him think today he is nobody and tomorrow he'll be at the Grammys?

A little bit over a year ago, I was running my sports memorabilia company (ONtheCOURTSports -- http://stores.ebay.com/ONtheCOURTSports-Memorabilia) which was "nice" before this recession, when a Grammys advertisement popped across my page. I hadn't really been writing at the time... I don't know... It goes in phases, ya know? Writing that is. But anyway, for some reason, at that very moment, I was bored with life--with routine. I was done pledging (yeah, I'm in a fraternity... Zeta Beta Tau, '11 Full, yessur (at Indiana University btw)).. School was kickin' my ass and the classes weren't nearly as good as first semester.

At that point, I decided I was a rapper. See, I was always a poet... and I've always been into music. I had recorded a track or two joking around with my boys that remained in our day to day playlist about some crazy ex-girlfriend and real "hip-hop", but nahhh... This was different. This was for real.

I told a couple people, who obviously didn't take me seriously... and I slept on it. But for some reason, unlike most dreams we have on a day to day basis, this one didn't go away. I started to write songs... a lot of songs. Songs like thiss:

JQ - 'Bout My Money (T.I. - Big Shit Poppin' REMIX)
http://www.limelinx.com/files/2bc114568c3abfdfb78a5a84c3e9f833-- The First "No Limits" Zone EXCLUSIVE Release.
(yeah, as you can see, my style has changed a lot hahaha... yeah, a lot... I realized I wasn't a thug? "So who am I?" if I'm not a thug and I rap -- that's a question for my next blog.)

I didn't really know what I was doing, but I was further along than I thought and by the time summer hit instead of heading to New York as originally planned, I found myself in a nice learning situation in Chicago with house music legend Vince Lawrence of Slang Music Group (http://www.slangmusicgroup.com/).

But back on Grammy night, February 10, 2008, I told myself that in two years, I would be at the Grammy's (aka 11 months left). It was more than an "I told myself" sorta thing; it was like an oath.

People have been hatin' since so I must be doing something right and as my good friend Jon Ackerman told me the other day, "That's your motivation--isn't it? Proving people wrong... That's what keep you going."

I plan on using a handful of quotes like Jon's inside the cover booklet (what is that thing called?) of my debut album, which I don't have a release date for, but my only hint is that it would have to be before the Grammys next year, if I was going to be there, wouldn't it?

That's "Enuff" for now -- a subtle shoutout with hint to my nexttttt blog. As Lupe told me back in 2006 when he autographed my picture and watered the "rapper seed" Kanye planted in my brain, "Stay Tuned!"

"See No Limits. Hear No Limits."

-JQ

www.myspace.com/JQhitsit