Universal Indie Records - The Indie Label For The Digital Age!

Cartel - The Motown Years: Coming Soon!

admin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 03:30:39 +0000

Even though “Tha Throwback” has just been released and is still in the promotional stage, work has already started on the third Cartel album, entitled “The Motown Years”. With this album I wanted to do something a little different. I wanted to tell a story and I’ve always been a fan of movies detailing the lives of stars like Frankie Limon, The Temptations, Jackson 5, Dream Girls, etc. With these movies as the basis of my inspiration, I decided to create an album featuring nothing but Motown samples. I wanted to create an album your grandma who hates rap would still be able to groove to because of the sound. Yes, I understand the feat that I’m undertaking but I feel that myself and my talented cast of rappers, no let me correct myself, emcees are more than up to the task.

I was so excited by the idea that I’ve already created the cd cover for the album. I’m also toying with the idea of creating different cd covers based on classic Motown albums featuring all of the artists that are on the album and offering different versions of the album for download each with a track that the other doesn’t have. A collector wanting all of the songs would have to download all of the versions.

On top of this album there’s a ton of new music coming your way from Universal Indie which includes another album from the Scholarly Pursuits, as well as an EP that we’re working on produced solely by myself. There’s also a project with a rapper/producer out of Spain but I’ll reveal more on that later. In the time being make sure you download and enjoy the tons of cost free music available at this site.

Review of “Cartel - Tha Throwback” on HitStopz.com

admin — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:09:52 +0000

The review on this site was picked up from the Zillasays.com website, but I’m not complaining because press is press.

This is the follow-up to my fam Cartel’s Prepare For Glory. This new album is a free download with the option to purchase for the enhanced version that includes acapellas and the “Rock Stars” video performed by Full Fam. The album is entitled Tha Throwback because it focuses on a period where hip-hop was all about the lyricism and skills as opposed to what’s being perpetuated constantly in the mainstream media today. So much so, the big homey Mallz makes a couple of appearances on the album with “Green” and “The Love”. Be sure to check out the remix contest that has a grand prize of $200. And as always ZS cosigns no BS!

reprinted from HitStopz.com

“Tha Throwback” Featured On Italian Blog: Cartel is back! Grande hip hop gratis su Jamendo!

admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:29:34 +0000

I’m not quite sure what it says and trying to translate it on Babel Fish yielded horrible results, but from what I was told it was very positive, lol.

Che bella sorpresa ho avuto stamattina! L’uscita del nuovo album di Cartel su Jamendo mi era sfuggita, per fortuna una sua intervista sul blog di Jamendo ha posto rimedio.

Per chi non conoscesce Cartel, vi rimando ad un episodio del podcast dove avevo passato un suo pezzo. Si tratta di un artista hip hop, di quelli veri. Vecchia scuola, quando (cito da un testo del suo nuovo album) i neri facevano “album” e non suonerie per i telefonini.
E il suo nuovo album Tha Throwback e` il degno successore del precedente “Prepare for glory” che tanto mi aveva impressionato. In un periodo in cui l’hip hop sembra diventato un esercizio stilistico di copy paste unito allo sfoggio di tanti fondo schiena il piu` possibile svestiti, Cartel e` capace di spingere un album intenso, dalle basi ben pensate e dai testi impegnati. Niente street rap, hip hop melodico che accarezza le orecchie all’ascolto.

E la scelta di continuare a pubblicare album su Jamendo la dice lunga sull’impatto che la distribuzione “legale” e “gratuita” della musica puo` avere: Cartel nell’intervista su Jamendo ha chiaramente detto che Jamendo e` ormai uno strumento indispensabile per la promozione del suo lavoro. Grazie a Jamendo e` riuscito a raggiungere un pubblico molto piu` ampio di quella piccola nicchia che negli States e` ancora alla ricerca di hip hop di qualita`.
Se il genere non vi dispiace, vi consiglio decisamente di ascoltarvi i tre album presenti su Jamendo.

You can view the original article here!

New Website Features

admin — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:31:24 +0000

This has been an interesting week for me. “Tha Throwback” is out and I’ve been garnering some press, not as much as I would have liked. I chalk that up to me losing my original press database and having to start from scratch. A slow and tortuous process to be sure. Album downloads at the site and on Jamendo are steady but because I chose to implement some new features on the site, I haven’t been as focused on promotion as I should have the past week.

One of the first new features I’ve implemented is the Universal Indie Demo Club where we offer members exclusive and unreleased songs and instrumentals. Membership is free so be sure to take advantage of it. We’ve also added a section where we can sell instrumental tracks to hip hop artists who are in need of such things. We offer high quality tracks at low prices so if you’re an artist, it can’t hurt to check it out. In addition to the Jamendo Widget which allows you to stream full albums at your website or blog, I’ve added YouTube Samplers of every song on the album in the Blogging Tools section.

Now that the site updates have been completed I really have to get back to the “promotion hustle” and get the word out about the album.

“Drive Me Crazy” produced by Cartel featuring Mishaira (on the hook)

admin — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 18:10:20 +0000

There are two options for purchasing this track. Non-Exclusive and Exclusive. These options are set forth below.

Non-Exclusive - $50 - This option is the least expensive and will allow you to utilize this track on your demos and mixtapes. Since this is a Non-Exclusive license, the owner has the right to resale the track to others as well. If you plan on releasing this track on itunes (or any other digital store) or on a retail ready compact disc, then you will have to upgrade to the exclusive track.
Note: It must state “Track produced by Cartel for Hoodgrown Productions. Chorus by Mishaira” where ever this track appears whether it be Myspace, Cd Booklet, etc. The track is copyrighted 2008 Cartel for Hood Muzik (ASCAP)

Exclusive - $200 - By purchasing this track on an exclusive basis it will be removed from the site so that no one else will be able to obtain it. You can use this in your professional recordings to be sold on iTunes and retail ready cds.
Note: It must state “Track produced by Cartel for Hood Muzik (ASCAP). Chorus by Mishaira” where ever this track appears whether it be Myspace, Cd Booklet, etc.
If you require separated track elements for the recording process the price will increase to $250. Please contact Cartel at hoodgrown.productions@gmail.com

Click here to purchase this track!

Demo Club: “Real Emcees” by Scholarly Pursuits

admin — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:00:51 +0000

Originally intended for the “Cartel - Tha Throwback” album, this song was pulled due to a conflict with the track which on the album is utilized by Mallz for his song, “The Love”. Regardless, this is a great track that needs to be heard and downloaded.

You must be a Demo Club member to download this song!
Login (if you’re not already) or Register now!

“The World” produced by Cartel

admin — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:17:40 +0000

There are two options for purchasing this track. Non-Exclusive and Exclusive. These options are set forth below.

Click here to purchase this track!

Cartel - Tha Throwback: YouTube Samplers (Complete Album)

admin — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 20:29:40 +0000

Use these tools to add songs from Cartel - Tha Throwback, to your blog and/or website. These samplers have been created from the mastered version of the album.

Intro by Cartel

This Time by Marc Dollarz

Green by Mallz

Fool by Scholarly Pursuits

We’ll Be Alright by Gates

Monkey See, Monkey Do by K.Sparks featuring Nova

The Love by Mallz

You by Scholarly Pursuits

What It Do? by Butta featuring M.A.

Don’t Want No Problem by Gates

Rock Stars by Full Fam

Gotta Fight by T.G.

“I Don’t Wanna Cry” produced by Cartel

admin — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:18:10 +0000

There are two options for purchasing this track. Non-Exclusive and Exclusive. These options are set forth below.

Click here to purchase this track!

The Karmafan Blog Mentions “Cartel - Tha Throwback”

admin — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 18:52:20 +0000

“Tha Throwback” album received a nice little mention on the Karmafan blog.

We’ve been listening to some very cool sounds this week from underground hip-hop producer Cartel’s new album, Tha Throwback. Universal Indies Records gives fans the choice of either a free download or an enhanced album for $5. You can enter the remix contest if you buy the enhanced version.

Tha Throwback is produced entirely by Cartel and features some of the most promising, upcoming MC’s in the game right now. “I’ve named it Tha Throwback because it’s a throwback to when hip hop artists actually cared about lyrical content.” states Cartel.

reprinted from the Karmafan blog.

All versions of Tha Throwback come with PDF digital art, come as DRM-free 320kbps mp3 files, and there’s also a virtual cd booklet.