October 6, 2011
It feels good... but it almost didn't work out...
J. Cole’s highly anticipated debut album just hit #1 on Billboard and the first single “Workout” features a very heavy dose of Bosko on the talkbox!
Rewind four months ago: In the middle of a particularly challenging day, I got an email requesting permission to use a song I co-wrote with Kanye West called "New Workout Plan".
Of course I wanted to hear the song before I said yes, so a few minutes later I'm on my iPhone listening to my talkbox solo looped over and over behind a rapper I recognize as J. Cole spittin' a hot verse. I'm thinkin'...hell yeah. Great song. I like J.cole. Let's do it!
I'm all over the song, in fact the beat is me, so it should be good look right? Not so much... I call to get the details, only to find out that the record company is only offering me $250 dollars and NO CREDIT. Wow....is this Big Red Records?
I guess they had me mixed up with Lil Richard or something. No disrespect, but I cut my hair and this ain't the 1950's.
See...no resemblance.
An hour long phone call with the attorneys only ended in name calling and insults.
My first music attorney and mentor Virgil Roberts told me years ago, negotiation can be like a game of chicken. Two cars speed toward eachother head on. Whoever swerves loses the game and is forever labeled as the "chicken". Virgil's advice: The driver that throws his steering wheel out of the window is not gonna lose. So, I threw mine out. No credit, no song.
Of course this story has a happy ending as you now know. No car crash, just a call from J.Cole's manager agreeing to fair terms. The rest as they say is history: #1 Album, hit single with J. Cole, plaque on the way!
Here is the remix featuring an additional exclusive Bosko Talkbox verse! [warning: explicit]
Stay tuned for more Bosko + J. Cole Collaborations coming soon. Cole Word!
I’ve also been rockin’ some live shows lately. Here is a clip from a recent one at The Crown Room in Portland, Oregon. My parner in rhyme Cool Nutz & DJ Fatboy got down with me and Fonzworth Bentley was also on the bill. We had a great show and a great turn out. Thanks to Leigh Feldman for putting it on and to all my fam that came out to support!
(click picture to play video)
While I was in my hometown, I also shot two videos and went skydiving for my birthday. Here is the first video:
“Gas Team” Cool Nutz ft. Bosko. Cool Nutz blazed this track and forced me to step up my lyrical game! It’s the first single from the Cool Nutz brand new album The Cook Up. Download it free at RapHater.com!
feelin' great after my first skydive! No Fear....
I'll tell you more about the second video as soon as it's finished.
Last but not least, I just finished my dude Mikey Vegaz's first single:
"One Hit Wonder" featuring E-40, Bosko, & Mr. Fab! I'm on the beat, the vocals, and the talkbox...Click Here to Listen.
His new Mixtape comes out 10/11/11, download that free here!
Thanks for listening! More soon…
Bosko
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