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- Mar 5, 2016
- 2 min read
10 years ago today, i was in an incredibly frustrating place. I was a few years removed from my win on the MTV emcee battle and signed to the indie label Southbeat in Miami. My management had ditched me due to disagreements with the label head. I was fighting to get a release date for my first album at the time but was being pushed back behind all the other artists on the label that had signed after me, including ¡MAYDAY! who was just Bernz & Plex at the time.
So when I was just about at my wits end, I decided to start a mix tape series to both voice my protest and to at least keep some sort of promo for myself out there while i figured out what my next move was. I gathered whatever original production I could and jumped on a few of my favorite popular beats of the time and "The Waiting Room Mix Tape" was born. It would start a trilogy that would span seven years and three installments, the last of which was the Rooftops mix tape dropped in 2013 after being signed to Strange Music.
I do feel like everything happens for a reason. My music definitely had a lot of developing to do back then and I learned so much from the people I worked with during my first record deal that If I could go back today, I wouldn't change a single thing. I truly love how it all played out.
There is nothing overnight about my career. It has been a slow burn since the beginning with extremely hard earned accolades spiking the meter over the years. The beauty of having to earn something over such a period of time is that I appreciate everything I'm able to accomplish so much more now than if it would have all blown up for me back then. ten years later, i'm in a waaaaay better situation than I was when I released "The Waiting Room" but I'm still striving to do bigger and better things and still to this day, nothing is promised.
The most important part of this story is that even at it's most frustrating moments, if you truly love what you do, ten years goes by like ten seconds and barriers no matter how massive they seem, are merely speed bumps that will slow you down but never truly stop you.
Happy 10 year anniversary to "The Waiting Room Mix Tape"!
Here's to the next 10 and everything we'll learn in between.
Wrek
- Mar 1, 2016
- 2 min read
(Photo Credit: Anthony Uribe)
I've known Rudi Goblen for more than 10 years now. We met during a time when I was making regular trips to Miami from Hollywood working on breaking into the hip hop scene which at the time my city to the north severely lacked. After being introduced, we quickly cliqued up and started making music together. But this write up isn't about our time together in the miami hip hop group Illitterats or his prominent place in the B-boy community. This is about my amazing experience seeing his latest one man piece "PET". 10 years ago in 2006, I was assisting him with some sound for his first one man show "Insanity Isn't". Needless to say the evolution that has occured in Rudi as an artist over the last decade has been staggering.
PET bobs and weaves in and out of the abstract realm a few key times during the show but the substantial physical setting places the audience inside of a self help group for serial monogamists and people generally in search of love no matter how unsuccessful. I've seen the show twice now in different places and both times found myself relating to so many pieces of the show from the foolishly spoiled young love to the vicious adult bickering and the all too relatable shattered heart.
(Photo Credit: @AtlasWonder)
The interactive elements of the show are incredibly effective. You really start to feel as if you've signed up to be part of this support group (complete with pamphlets and a "Coffee Break" with snacks). Both times I watched the show I left feeling a sense of accomplishment like I had really attended a class and watched some personal issues be resolved in front of my eyes. That can be difficult to accomplish when you're watching a friend perform. But during PET, I completely forget this person was my bandmate, roomate, and fellow ruckus bringer for years.
For my Miami friends and family, you've got one last chance to see it this year when it runs April 7-9 at Miami Light Project. TICKETS: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/31685/1459483200000
As a friend, i can't wait to see what Rudi Goblen cooks up for his next adventure.
As a fan, I've already got my tickets pre ordered.
Rudi Goblen can be found @
PET Trailer:
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