IsaMusoJourno: 2012

Monday 31 December 2012

IsaMusoJourno: Exclusive Mc Lazarus interview

IsaMusoJourno: Exclusive Mc Lazarus interview: I discovered emcee Lazarus back in 2004 while investigating about the Detroit underground hip hop scene. Lazarus is far from being your av...

Exclusive Mc Lazarus interview

I discovered emcee Lazarus back in 2004 while investigating about the Detroit underground hip hop scene. Lazarus is far from being your average emcee. If you like the battle scene, Lazarus will ignite your passion with his astute wordplays. He allies a very good flow, a fantastic rapping technique, a good dose of verbal tornado towards his opponents. Mc Lazarus knows how to rap. Did you know? Kamran Rashid Khan is also a doctor.

Let me introduce you to the extraordinary rapper-doctor.

-What motivated you to become a rapper?

The biggest motivation for me was that I loved hip hop as form of expression. Hip hop is a vessel between an artist and the rest of the world. It’s also a vessel between the artist and himself. Through the use of this art, one can express their deepest feelings in thought and translate them onto a canvas that can be interpreted by others. When I was in high school, I found myself connecting with certain rappers that were asking to be heard and understood. Their music was built off of their personal story and struggle. With everything I had been going through in my own life, I wanted to tap into that medium. I wanted to spit my story out the world as well. I became fascinated with the way words played with each other to create a rhythmic pattern. Hip hop is a medium where the words you write on your pad become another instrument in the music. I used to put on instrumentals with my boys in high school and just start freestyling to the beat. Over time, this became my personal addiction. And then it just grew bigger and bigger.

-Why did you choose Lazarus, the Biblical character as your nickname?

I was without a stage name for the first year or two that I was rapping. My boys just called me Kamran. In the process of searching for a name that fit what I represented, one of the names that was brought to my attention was Lazarus. Lazarus, being a character that rose up from the dead, instantly connected with the idea that I stood for which was to rise from silence. Freedom of speech is very important to me. Living in a society where so much of what is experienced by a Muslim minoritiy is underrepresented and misconstrued, I felt that my presence would be one to enlighten and broadcast the tale of somebody who otherwise had no voice in the media. Even members of my own race and community discouraged me to pursue a career in music; there just wasn’t any place in that field for someone of Pakistani descent. At one point, all hope in my mind had died. Particularly after 9/11, I truly felt that my chances of making it as a rapper were finished. But then I started rising. I used the “Terrorist” stereotype against itself and started taking other rappers’ racial slurs in battle raps and deflected them back with triple the intensity. I wasn’t going to be silent anyomore. Lazarus rose from the dead.

-What is your outlook on the current state of hip hop?

It is devoid of stubstance. Hip hop used to be about passion, poetry and art. Look at KRS-One. Look at Rakim. Look at 2pac. These people put their soul into the music they put out. Their music represented something and was a way for them to express themselves. Today, music doesn’t represent anything except money, sex, drugs and clothes. I look at mainstream hip hop as the endpoint of a corporate machine. If you fit the stereotype that is projected to keep the masses dumbed down, then you get promoted and endorsed. You are essentially the outcome of picking randomly out of a box of millions to determine who the next generic street rapper is going to be. These artists get popular by way of forced promotion and as time passes, they get forgotten and so the cycle repeats itself. If an artist through this machine happens to come out and start rapping about something meaningful or relevant, they slowly start seeping back through the cracks and are trapped back underground. This is not to say that there aren’t any creative artists who are making names for themeselves, they are just managing themselves independently and building themselves without that commercial engine.

-What inspires you to write your songs?

Lazarus is an alter-ego for me. He is the Superman to my Clark Kent. When Clark Kent sees something troubling occur in his environment, he runs to the phone booth to transform into Superman who then comes to save the day. That’s Lazarus. Whenever I see something going on in my surroundings, whether that be in music, something personal, political, or if I feel that a certain issue fails to be addressed, then Lazarus will arrive at the scene and do that which others are either incapable of or too afraid to do. He’s the side of me that says, “Never say never,” or “Do or die.” He raises my confidence sky-high and allows me to be my own savior. A real life superhero. So when I feel there’s a need for that person, I call him out.

-What is the common point between being a doctor and a rapper?

There isn’t a common point between being a doctor and a rapper, but I make one. Both fields, in their own respective ways, require an unbelievable amount of perseverance and persistence. They just so happen to be polar opposites in terms of career choice. When I am practicing medicine, my focus is entirely on the patient in front of me. Likewise, when I’m in the studio, my focus is solely on making the best music I can make. The initial

presumption was that I was going to have to be pick one over the other. That was something I could never do. I was passionate to pursue both fields. So many people said, even using very humble and respectable approaches, that I would never make it past medical school with a career in music riding along with it. I did that. Then they said I wouldn’t be able to do it during residency, whilst working 80 hours a week in the hospital. I’m doing that. Now I am able to provide therapy to people with both my medicine and my music.

-What is the biggest challenge you ever faced as an emcee?

Initially, the biggest challenge for me as an emcee was to gain respect. In my early days, I felt that I had to do whatever I could do to separate myself from every other kid claiming to be able to spit. Everybody called themselves a skilled rapper the same way everybody thinks they’re Jordan playing ball. I realized early that there was a life force in me that made me feel invincible when I was on the mic. I trained it.

I mastered it. I would practice freestyling whenever I wasn’t studying. So that would mean being in the anatomy lab for four hours, then going outside on campus at Wayne State University and finding rappers to battle. This led me to competitions around Detroit and on various radio stations where I continued to battle and win. The big challenge after that, however, was to show that I wasn’t just a battle emcee. Most battle rappers can’t write songs. And to transcend from battling to song writing was necessary if I wanted to truly make an impact as an artist. I began to develop the art of putting narratives into songs. I wanted to tell stories about my life and my experiences. This is what started giving meaning to my presence as a rapper. My story being one that was distinct from the rest, I started to fill a void that was never tapped before in hip hop.

-Which artists have you collaborated with on the Detroit scene and nationwide?

I’ve collaborated with Stretch Money, Quest M.C.O.D.Y., Proof of D12 and Royce Da 5’9.” They were all great experiences. It was great to work with Royce on the song “Born To Die” and the late Proof on Helluva’s “I Dare You.” Recording with hip hop veterans definitely keeps my game sharp. I’ve also had the opportunity to open up for P. Diddy, D12 and G-Unit.

-Besides hip hop, what kind of music do you listen to?

I love anything that has a heart and a soul and feels good. I’m a fan of various different genres of music. I can listen to anything from Wu-Tang, N.W.A. and Biggie to Queen, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Smokey Robinson, Michael Jackson and Al Green. Outside of that, I’m a big fan of good bhangra and reggae. If it’s good music, it’s good music. I love quality music.

-How have you promoted your music to get to where you are?

The internet has been a great vessel for me to expand my audience. I’ve gotten fans from various countries around the world who check up on me and support the music that I put out. Both “Let The Game Know” which was directed by MTV VMA director Anthony Garth and “Drug of Choice” which was filmed in Pakistan, both received over 1 million views on YouTube. Prior to that, you would’ve caught me putting flyers on people’s cars, going from club to club, battle to battle and selling mixtapes out of my pocket. I sell my music on iTunes and am in the process of starting my own independent company. Radio stations have been helpful in getting my music out. FM 98 WJLB in Detroit, the various college radio stations in Detroit, stations in Canada, India, Pakistan, and the UK have been putting a lot of my records on blast. BBC ranked “Drug of Choice” amongst their most popular songs. The Discovery Channel and Voice of America both shot documentaries about me and FOX Sports featured my theme song for the Detroit Red Wings hockey team which I composed a couple of years back. Those have been great avenues to get my music and story more exposed. Lastly, doing shows has been a great way to gain new fans. As hard as it is during residency, I still try to get on venues whenever I get the chance.

-What are your music plans for 2013?

I’m in the process of putting together a new mixtape to follow the last one I dropped which was called “Lazarus Story.” I also plan on dropping at least a couple new videos this year. In addition to that, I have plans to do some soundtrack work in Hollywood and possibly getting an overseas tour going. I look forward to getting a lot done this year.

Thursday 29 November 2012

IsaMusoJourno: PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IsaMusoJourno: PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November the 29th, 2012 The publishing company HAYDEN KIAN is currently publishing my ...

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November the 29th, 2012

The publishing company HAYDEN KIAN is currently publishing my self-help book entitled „Unwrap Your Present“. “Unwrap Your Present” is aimed at anybody who is willing to improve their life quality by simply seizing the NOW moment and enjoying it to the fullest.

My book is divided in little chapters, easy to assimilate. These chapters will offer you some efficient methods to reach gradually more insight about your present. It will also be a precious help orientate your thoughts in a positive way.

By focusing on meditation and breathing techniques, you will learn how to keep your mind fully centred and reach your goals easily.

You will be able to understand better why you have to combine the law of attraction (LOA) with other spiritual laws in order to make it work properly.

Start living a fuller life. Discover the powerful message behind UNWRAP YOUR PRESENT.

Who am I?

My name is Isabelle Esling. I graduated from the University of Metz, France, where I studied Liberal Arts/ Languages. I have been teaching modern foreign languages in public and private schools, mainly as a German and French teacher.

I have always had a passion for writing and music, black music in particular. I discovered Eminem in 2001 and was very enthusiastic about the artist’s great talent, which motivated me to write about him. It also motivated me to explore the Detroit hip hop scene that is full of amazing artists.

In 2003, Gavin Sheridan, a technical writer and professional blogger offered me to be a contributing writer for his blog, which got me started as a freelance music journalist. In 2005, with Gavin’s help, I started The Eminem Blog where I expressed about the artist, the Detroit hip hop scene and other hip hop related subjects.

I have reviewed a wide range of CD’s and interviewed some consistent artists such as Dina Rae, DJ Butter, Big Proof of D12, just to name a few. The Eminem Blog gained me a worldwide audience of readers. I have also contributed to numerous hip hop websites such as Music Mouth UK, Detroit Rap Com, Michigan Bands and D Townie.

In 2006, I did some interviews for Jason Matthews Detroit digital magazine ILL Mag. Through the years I developed my craft, increased my knowledge of hip hop culture and also expressed on various subjects such as spirituality, humanities, beauty and lifestyle, movies etc…I keep writing at The Eminem Blog and sharing my passion with my readers till now.

My first book on Eminem and the Detroit scene has been released on August 2012 by Amber Books.

My second book in French is a novel entitled Sous Le Ciel de Paris that has been accepted by Delizon Publishers in France and will be released in December 2012.

I am also in negotiations with a third publisher for a biographical work regarding my grandmother, written in German language.

After writing for years on music related subjects, I also wanted to share my experience of spirituality with my readers. This is how I gathered the sum of my own life experiences in a book entitled “Unwrap Your Present” with the intent of helping people appreciate the richness of the NOW moment.

A few months ago, I started a blog about spirituality, entitled Unwrap Your Present, in which I gathered articles on the same theme. The content of my blog is available at:

www.unwrapyourpresent.blogspot.com

Personal biography

I was born in Saint Avold, a little French town near the German border. Being a French national of German origin, I grew up bilingual German-French in Freyming Merlebach, a tiny town very close to Saarbrücken. My parents introduced me to classical music and jazz at a very early age and I also showed some interest for writing and playing with words at a very early age.

As a young student , I settled in the French town of Metz, where I graduated. African students introduced me to James Brown and other remarkable artists such as Barry White. In the early 90’s I saw MC Hammer on TV for the first time, which triggered my passion for rap music.

Besides my strong interest for music, spirituality has always been part of my life. Being raised Catholic, influenced by my grandmother who used to be a strong believer, I explored Christianity. But soon I was very thirsty to expand my knowledge and I started studying Hebrew as an autodidact for three years getting access to the Biblical texts in their original language and to Hebrew culture.

I have always been very eager about the relationship between mind and body, so my curiosity naturally lead me to regular mediation practice and to fully appreciating the moment. This gift of our wonderful present, as it unfolds before our eyes is something I’d like to share with my readership.

In 2006, I moved to London, England where I live at the moment.

Why I wrote this book

All my life I have been interested in spirituality. I have been aware of the existence of spiritual laws since my childhood. However, I have been facing a lot of difficulties in my life because of my lack of awareness on how to apply these laws.

Like many other people, I have been stuck in the past and too many times, I have projected fearful visions of the future.

Since I discovered and acknowledged that the only moment any human really possesses is the present, I would like to share my discoveries and knowledge.

My aim is to help you all live a blessed and beautiful life. The present is the Universe s greatest gift to you: seize it!

Tuesday 27 November 2012

IsaMusoJourno: Here is a short presentation of my three books

IsaMusoJourno: Here is a short presentation of my three books: Hi, I am very proud to show you my three books, on very different subjects. My first book, Eminem and the Detroit Rap Scene - Whit...

Here is a short presentation of my three books

Hi, I am very proud to show you my three books, on very different subjects.

My first book, Eminem and the Detroit Rap Scene - White Kid in a Black Music World is a biographical essay about Eminem that will give the reader more insight about Eminem, the artist, the man and also the Detroit scene that made him the brilliant artist he is now. Published by Amber Books, USA
Available at Amber Books, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and any bookstore with the IBSN number.
Unwrap Your Present is a self help book based on personal experiences that will introduce you into the pleasure of living in the NOW. Published by Hayden Kian, USA.
Available at Lulu. Com and Smashwords. Com-will hit Amazon soon.
Sous Le Ciel de Paris , Under The Sky of Paris is a novel in French that depicts different persons of very various social conditions, living in Paris. Published by Delizon, France
Will be released on December the 30th, 2012 by Delizon Publishers...a translation in English will be available.

Feel free to ask questions.

Your author,

Isabelle Esling

Saturday 13 October 2012

IsaMusoJourno: Recommended reads

IsaMusoJourno: Recommended reads: I am a music journalist and a writer. A lot of aspiring writers have been asking me that simple question: how do you become a writer? My a...

IsaMusoJourno: Isabelle Esling interview by author Genevieve Scho...

IsaMusoJourno: Isabelle Esling interview by author Genevieve Scho...: A fellow author, Genevieve Scholl, kindly accepted to interview me about my recent book, my love for writing and music journalism and my fut...

Isabelle Esling interview by author Genevieve Scholl

A fellow author, Genevieve Scholl, kindly accepted to interview me about my recent book, my love for writing and music journalism and my future projects.

Who is Genevieve Scholl?

Genevieve Scholl is a woman of many hats: author, photographer, artist, designer, studying to be a Paralegal, crafter (she make hair clips), cook and proud aunt.
Here are some hair clips made by Genevieve Scholl
1.Explain what a music journalist actually is.
Good question! Being a music journalist for a decade, I do consider myself to be a kind of musical detective. You have to search for new talents, expose skills. You have to go deep into the music and figure out the artist s intent, so yes to me a music journalist is a musical detective at first, but also someone who is driven by a passion and who is capable of putting music into words.
2. What got you interested in writing?
I have always liked writing. I used to write little stories that I illustrated myself as a child. My father used to remunerate me for each of these stories.
Writing comes to me naturally, because this is something I really love doing. I love sharing with my audience.
3. Is writing/ music journalist your only career and/or hobby?
When I am not writing, I am teaching languages. I am a German teacher, but I also taught French and English.
4. Who, in the music business would you most like to meet?
I’d be interested in meeting Dr Dre. He impresses me, as a person and as an artist.
5. Your book is about Eminem, but do you listen to music other than rap? What kind and who is your favorite band or singer in that genre?
I am very eclectic. I love rap music, besides Eminem, I am very much into the Detroit Rap Scene. I also love many Westcoast artists, Eazy E and BG Knock Out and Dresta, Dirty Red…I love old school rap, including Mc Hammer.
I was raised into classical music and jazz. I love soul music ( James Brown is my idol, I also love Elmer Fields), blues…I have a preference for black music in general, but I also like artists such as Rod Steward or more recent, Maverick Sabre.
6. Do you read Fiction and if you do who is your favorite author?
I write more than I read at the moment to be very honest, but the book I came across during a short Parisian trip in August was “ Le Bonheur du Jour” from Jose Cabanis, in French.
I love Balzac, I love Friedrich Schiller, I love Victor Hugo, Guy de Maupassant, Chamisso and Heinrich Heine.
7. Where do you live?
I live in London, UK.
8. Where would you live if money was no option?
Paris, no contest, I love Paris…another option would be Saarbrücken, in Germany, a town that is linked with childhood memories.
9. DO you have any interesting collections?
I am not so much of a collector. I do collect memories that I put on paper. Sometimes they reappear in form of a fiction, like in my current literary projects.
10. Send link to your blogs/ media/ facebook/ etc.
Here are my links:
The Eminem Blog
Twitter
I do write for this website on the hip hop section.
Facebook account
https://www.facebook.com/isabelle.esling
LinkedIn
Website about my first book.

Website with professional profile-portfolio.
Websites regarding different literary projects:
About my novel in French, Sous le Ciel de Paris
Self help book project.
www.unwrapyourpresent.blogspot.com
About an upcoming project, bio of my grandma, in German language.
Copyright© by Genevieve Scholl and Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

Monday 8 October 2012

Promotional Services for artists

I have been doing artistic reviews for a decade now. My writing style has been described as compelling and usually people are satisfied with what I offer.

The Eminem Blog is a media that attracts over a million readers, worldwide. Being featured on this website alone will allow you to gain popularity as an artist!

If you are an artist and interested in promotion and exposure, I am offering the following packages:

$ 5.00 for a song review...published on the Eminem blog and D Townie
$7.50 for a song review with full exposure: published on ALL my media with appropriate tags and share on all my networks that include Linkedin, Digg, Reddit, Tumblr, Blogger, etc...

$ 25.00 for a full CD review published on the Eminem blog and D Townie

$30.00 for a full CD review published on ALL my media with appropriate tags and share on all my networks that include Linkedin, Digg, Reddit, Tumblr, Blogger, etc...

$.45.00 full promotional package: biography, CD review, website promotion (includes all your links), portfolio published on my Eminem Blog and D Townie

$70.00 full promotional package with all above plus share on all social networks.

Chose whatever formula is more convenient to you: Please note that you will have to pay FIRST before I deliver this service to you. In case you are not satisfied, I will reimburse you via paypal.

Interested? Leave your email and I will get back at you or contact me at

isabelleesling@yahoo.com

Monday 1 October 2012

IsaMusoJourno: PORTFOLIO

IsaMusoJourno: PORTFOLIO: PORTFOLIO ...

PORTFOLIO

PORTFOLIO

ISABELLE ESLING

MUSIC JOURNALIST-PUBLISHED AUTHOR – CREATIVE WRITER

WORK EXPERIENCE

November 2011 to present: published author at Amber Books and Colossus Books

Title of my book: “Eminem and the DetroitRap Scene-White Kid In A Black Music World”, Amber Books, 2012

From September 2003 to October 2005: contributing writer for Gavin Sheridan’s blog, Gavin’s blog

From October 2005 to present: freelance music journalist at The Eminem Blog

Contributing writer:

Detroit Rap Com (2004-2006)

The Flow Mag, Texas ( 2005)

ILL Mag, Detroit ( interviews of Detroit underground artists), 2006

Skrilla Gorillas.Com (2007 to 2010)

Michigan Bands (2006)

D Townie Com ( from 2006 to present)

Music Mouth UK (2005 to 2008)

British Hip Hop UK ( 2006 to 2007)

Expert Author at Ezines Articles (2005 to 2009)

WORK CONTENT

Hip hop is my specialty, but I have also expressed about a wide range of subjects such as black music, humanities, spirituality, beauty and lifestyle. I have done numerous CD and book reviews. I have also written biographies of Afro-centred personalities such as Marcus Garvey.

Rappers/ artists/DJ’s/ singers I writers I interviewed

-Dirty Red of Ruthless Records

-Big Proof of D12 (2006)

-Dogmatic (2007)

-DJ Rick (2004)

-DJ Butter(2009), also featured on Detroit Rap Com

-Uncle ILL ( available at ILL Mag)

-Purple Gang ( ILL Mag)

-Woof Pac ( ILL Mag)

-Stir Crazy ( with fellow writer Donna Kshir)

Singers

Dina Rae

Writers

Biba Adams (interview)

Donna Kshir ( we have done some collaborations together)

Contel Bradford ( I reviewed some of his books)

Current projects

- “Sous Le Ciel de Paris”, novel in French, due to release by Delizon Publishers in December 2012

- “Liebe Oma”, biography of my grandmother, in German language, in negotiations with United Pc publishers in Austria

- Unwrap Your Present, self help book in English

Isabelle Esling, music journalist, published author

Dear readers,

I decided to create this blog in order to allow you to know me better.
I am a music journalist who has been expressing about hip hop related subjects for a decade now. Some of you might have read my articles at the Eminem Blog or on other websites.

I have been reviewing CDs, interviewing artists , writing artistic bios since 2003.

An Irish professional writer, Gavin Sheridan, got me started in 2003 as a contributing writer. He then helped me to set up my Eminem blog in 2005, that is all about Eminem, the Detroit underground scene and hip hop.

Besides being a music journalist, I always carried the dream to become a published writer. This dream has now become a reality: I recently published a book with Amber Books and Colossus Books. It is entitled " Eminem and the Detroit Rap Scene-White Kid In A Black Music World" and is available on the publisher s website, at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

I am also working on other literary projects that will be online as soon as they will be released.

If you like Eminem and Detroit hip hop, you will enjoy my book...have a good read, dear friends!

IsaMusoJourno