ARTISTPRENEUR VIDEO COMING SOON!!!

In my effort to ramp up my media presence, I shot 2 videos this past May. I shot a video for my first single "Artistpreneur" off new project Art & Commerce. I also shot a video for a song that i was featured on with Austin Fuze & Kazanova The Great One. For Artistpreneur I commissioned a local graffiti artist Nathan Sloke Nordstrom to paint a custom burner for the video, I caught some footage of him painting the piece. Check it out and stay tuned for the official Artistpreneur music video coming July 2012 WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/MIRAGE512FILMZ

MIRAGE512 RELEASES 1rst OFFICIAL SINGLE OFF THE ART & COMMERCE PROJECT

ARTISTPRENEUR IS THE FIRST OFFICIAL SINGLE OFF THE ART & COMMERCE PROJECT. ITS THE ANTHEM FOR THOSE ARTIST THAT ARE ALSO IN BUSINESS FOR THEMSELVES, FOR THOSE THAT KNOW THERE'S WAY MORE TO THIS THAN JUST PICKING UP A MICRAPHONE AND SPITTING SOME HOT MUSIC.

THE ART & COMMERCE PROJECT WILL BE RELEASED ONE SONG AT A TIME, ROUGHLY A SINGLE EVERY OTHER MONTH FOR THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF. IVE BEEN DOING SOME RESEARCH AND I HAVE FOUND THAT MAJOR CD SALES ARE A THING OF THE PAST, THUS WHAT IVE DECIDED TO DO IS LET YOU ALL MAKE YOUR OWN ALBUM FROM THE SINGLES THAT I WILL BE POSTING EVERY OTHER MONTH AS THE ART & COMMERCE PROJECT. THERE WILL BE VIDEOS MADE FOR THIS PROJECT AS WELL SO SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/MIRAGE512FILMZ. STAY TUNNED FOR THE NEXT SINGLE COMING JUNE 2012!!!

MIRAGE512 LIVE FROM SXSW PT.2

MIRAGE PERFORMS NEW MATERIAL "SO AUTHENTIC" LIVE @ SXSW 2012

MIRAGE REFLECTS ON SXSW 2012

SXSW? in the words of Kanye & Jay is just "KRAY". Its 10 days of music, film and technology overload. As a native Austinite its almost unfathomable to see how much this thing has grown. I remember being in high school back in 1991 and going to the one day of shows that they had and if you narrow it down to hip hop shows it was about 1 maybe 2 hours of music. But now its a full week of just hip hop music along with every other genre of music you can possibly think of. Its very corporate now (and i don't say that in a negative way)again as a native Austinite I remember when it was no big corporations involved. Its great in the sense that EVERYBODY........ I mean EVERYBODY in the music industry was here in my town that gets some of the people that are outside of the industry the regular citizens involved in sxsw. On the flip-side I hope that the original intent of the festival will not be lost in all the hype. SXSW is meant to be a festival of up and coming artist that are on the verge of "stardom" or at least wide spread exposure and I always got a kick out of meeting cats at sxsw and showing them a great time in my city, then seeing them blow up and come back like "oh shit what up man thanks for helping me out last year"

I didn't do much performing this year for sxsw, I only did 2 shows which is a very slow sxsw for me.Ive done 9 SXSW and some years Ive done up to 8 shows in a 4 day period during a sxsw fest but I never got any solid networking or busines done. This year I really wanted to make sure that I did the things necessary to grow my business. I know there is a increased importance on media push, really there always has been but now it seems to move really fast with the internet and mobile devices, so i wanted to make sure that i connected with people i knew had media platforms and i think i did that. I met so many great people this year for sxsw and I started some new relationships that will hopefully prove to be valuable in the very near future.

I also hosted a few interviews for a new website that a comrade of mine started called WWW.YOURONESPOT.COM which I hope will become a great media outlet for up and coming artist in the future.

CHECK OUT MY PERFORMANCE AND SOME OF THE PHOTOS I TOOK AT THIS YEARS SXSW


MIRAGE512 & JEAN GRAE
PAPA CHUK, OG FATAL, MIRAGE512
THE MADGODS POPUP STORE @ THE ART DEPARTMENT
MIRAGE & SCOOTER @ THE MADGODS POPUP STORE @ THE ART DEPARTMENT
JASIRI X AND PARADISE THE ARCHITECT (FORMERLY OF X-CLAN_
PRODIGY OF MOBB DEEP
PHAROAHE MONCH, MIRAGE512, ARSON OPTICS
CHRIS FROM MADGODS
MIRAGE512 & YOUNG NICK
STATUS!!!!!!!
ATX SKYLINE
DORITOS ANYONE?
MIRAGE512 & MITCHY SLICK
DJ BABY CHINO (9yrs OLD)
HEATH MUHAMMAD OF WWW.YOURONESPOT.COM
PARADOX ATX
BIG K.R.I.T LIVE @ FADER FORT
THE CHEF
THE ROOTS LIVE FROM THE MOHAWK (THANKS JEIGH/SUBZERO)
WE HAD CAKE TOO
MY MAN LANDO REPPING THE GROOVEMENT
MY MAN DJ PONCHO REPPING THE GROOVEMENT
DJ LIL RON IN THE MIX!!!!!!!!
MIRAGE512 AND THA LIL HOMIE ARSON OPTICS
M.C. + AUSTIN FUZE + SPECIAL K + MIRAGE512
KICK BUTT COFFEE: VENUE FOR THE KICK OFF @ KICK BUTT
MIRAGE512 & HEATH MUHAMMAD OF WWW.YOURONESPOT.COM

MIRAGE512 FEATURED ON HIPHOPTITAN.COM

BIG UP TO MY GUY MONTGOMERY BURNZ AND THE GOOD FOLK OVER AT HIPHOPTITAN.COM THEY HAVE DONE 2 FEATURES ON YA BOY. THEY FEATURED MY "DOIT DOIT" VIDEO AND THEY ALSO FEATURED MY BLACK HISTORY MONTH EXCLUSIVE "4 THA PEOPLE". THEY ARE HELPING TO SPREAD THIS MELODICSCIENCE GROOVEMENT TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND TO THE WORLD SO Y'ALL CHECK THE SITE OUT AND GET IN WHERE YOU FIT IN. SALUTE 2 HIPHOPTITAN AND SALUTE 2 THA SIP!!!!!


GO TO (http://hiphoptitan.com/2012/02/21/new-ish-mirage-4-tha-people/) AND LOOK AROUND

LONG STORY (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) BY MIRAGE feat. DAVID SHA

LONG STORY


THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR A GROOVY JOINT I BEEN PUSHING FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND FINALLY A VIDEO FOR A SONG THAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN ME SUCH GOOD FEEDBACK ON. IT FEATURES MY MAN DAVID SHA OUT OF HOUSTON, HE IS A GREAT SINGER AND A NICE RAPPER AS WELL. HIS MOVEMENT IS COMING UP.

BUY THE SAVANT ALBUM @ HTTP://WWW.REVERBNATION.COM/MIRAGE512

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER@MIRAGE512 AND HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/MIRAGE512

ROCK N ROLL (512 REMIX) BY YOUNG NICK & MIRAGE OF THE GUUD + LONG STORY BY MIRAGE FEATURING DAVID SHA

Rock & Roll 512 Remix By Young Nick And Mirage Of The Guud by mirage512

Long Story Feat David Sha by mirage512

SXSW 2011 THE MADNESS

I WAS EVERYWHERE WITH MY CAMERA DURING THIS YEARS SXSW 2011 HERE IN MY TOWN AUSTIN TEXAS. HERE IS SOME VIDEO FROM THE FESTIVITIES.


THE COOL KIDS


BIG BOI of OUTKAST #1


BIG BOI of OUTKAST #2


LEP BOGUS BOYS

A SHORT CONVERSATION WITH KAZANOVA

I BEEN DOWN WITH MY GUY KAZANOVA FOR THE BETTER PART OF ABOUT 5 YEARS. HAS HIS OWN COMPANY AND HE IS A PART OF THE DIRTY POLITIC FAMILY WHICH IS THE BRAIN CHILD OF MY COMRADE YOUNG NICK. KAZANOVA IS A HUSTLER FIRST THEN A RAPPER, HE IS GONNA GET IT DONE REGARDLESS. SO I SAT DOWN TO TALK WITH HIM ABOUT HIS MOVEMENT AND HOPEFULLY TO SHED SOME LIGHT ON WHAT HE IS DOING

A SHORT CONVERSATION WITH KAIZEN

EPISODE 5 OF THE SHORT COVERSATION SERIES FEATURES MY MAN KAIZEN OF THE WORDPOWER LIFE MOVEMENT. I FIRST MET ZEN WHEN HE GOT HERE IN 2003 AND HELPED HIM GET CONNECTED HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEXAS AND HE HAS BEEN ON THE GRIND EVER SINCE. HERE HE BREAKS DOWN SOME OF HIS PAST PROJECTS AND SOME OF THE NEW THINGS HE HAS COMING UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE, OBSERVE.

A SHORT CONVERSATION WITH MIRAGE

YOU EVER TALK TO YOURSELF?

FOUNDING FATHER OF HIP HOP: DJ KOOL HERC NEEDS OUR HELP

DJ Kool Herc, the father of Hip-Hop, is in need of surgery and is seeking financial help due to a lack of health insurance. DJ Premier announced Herc’s hospitalization and financial woes on his Live From HeadQcourterz SIRIUS satellite radio show this weekend and the news quickly spread via Twitter, Hip-Hop sites and blogs.

Herc, born Clive Campbell, came to prominence in the late 70’s DJ’ing parties throughout the South Bronx. Herc’s deep crates and eclectic mix of records (Funk, Latin, Jazz, etc.) are credited for sparking what we know as Hip-Hop today. Taking two of the same record, Herc would isolate and extend popular segments of recordings, which became known as “breaks.” A party he threw for his sister Cindy Campbell on August 11, 1973 at 1520 Sedgwick Ave in the Bronx is credited as the day Hip-Hop was born.

Along with Grandmaster Flash and Afrika Bambaataa, the trio is considered the creators of Hip-Hop music and culture. However, unlike his two aforementioned peers, Herc never went on to record music as an artist. In 1977, Herc was stabbed at a party and fell back from the Hip-Hop scene. In ensuing years he also developed a drub habit.

In more recent years, a drug free Herc has rekindled his presence—he’s a fixture at major Hip-Hop shows in NYC—but unfortunately, unlike the millionaires that Hip-Hop has spawned, he never reaped the financial rewards of his creation. Though plenty of artists pay homage to Herc, props don’t pay medical bills.

Although DJ Premier stated that Herc was very sick and is in need of surgery, the exact nature of the Hip-Hop founder’s illness has yet to be revealed. DJ Tony Touch revealed via Twitter that he had spoken to Herc and plans to host a benefit on for him on Tuesday (February 1) at Sutra in New York City.

Donations to Kool Herc can be sent to: Kool Herc Productions PO Box 20472 Huntington Station, NY 11746 or paypal cindycampbell1@aol.com.

Send your well wishes to the godfather of rap here or tweet us at @MTVRapFix.

OPEN LETTER TO HIP HOP BY CHUCK D

Chuck D:

I really don't know what constitutes for "relevant" coverage in HIP-HOP news in America these days, but I really want to give you all a heads up. As you know I've been through three passports, 76 countries on the regular in the name of Hip-Hop since 1987 and in 2010, although I've never stopped traveling the earth this year, I've seen, heard and felt some new things.

As far as RAP and HIP-HOP, it's like USA Olympic basketball, the world has parity now and have surpassed the USA in ALL of the basic fundamentals of HIP-HOP - TURNTABLISM, BREAKING, GRAFFITI, and now EMCEEING with succinct mission , meaning and skill. Skill-wise rappers spitting three languages, have created super rappers to move the crowd with intensity and passion. The "arrogant" American comes in blackface, but if there was a HIP-HOP or Rap Olympics, I really don't think the United States would get Gold, Silver or Brass or even ass for that sake.

Personally, Public Enemy has been setting records in a record book that doesn't really exist. The 20th year anniversary of FEAR OF A BLACK PLANET has become into a year and a half celebration of eights legs and five continents. All the while, looking at a HIP-HOP Planet across 25 countries while still somewhat supportive of American rap, the rest of the world has surpassed the U.S. in skill, in fundamentals and commitment to their communities. Public Enemy's mission is to set the path, pave the road for cats to do their thing for a long time as long as they do it right.

Because of the lack of support from local radio, television and community in the United States, the ability for "local" acts to thrive in their own radius has killed the ability to connect and grow into a proper development as a performer, entertainer and artist. Rappers trying to get put on to a national contract hustle from a NEW YORK or LOS ANGELES corporation has caused the art-form to atrophy from the bottom, while never getting signed to a top echelon that really doesn't exist, but to a very few.

HIP-HOP NEWS spreads like any other mainstream NEWS in America. The garbage that's unfit to print has now floated on websites and blogs like sh*t. For example a rapper working in the community gets obscured while if that same rapper robbed a gas station he'd get top coverage and be label a "rapper" while getting his upcoming or current music somewhat put on blast, regardless of its quality which of course is subjective like any other art. RAP sites and blogs are mimicking the New York POST.

This is not mere complaint , this is truth and its coming down on Americans like rain without a raincoat with cats screaming how they ain't wet. This is real. The other night upon finishing groundbreaking concert performances in Johannesburg we followed a special free concert in Soweto. To make a point that our agenda was to "show? and encourage the Hip-Hop community to be comfortable in its mind and skin without chasing valueless Amerikkkan values.

Never have so many been pimped by so few.

It does the people of the planet little good to hear that an an artist is famous and rich, will wear expensive jewelry straight from the mines, show it off, stay it the hotel, ride in limos, do the VIP with chilled champagne in the clubs, ape and monkey the chicks (meaning not even talking) and keep the dudes away with slave paid bodyguards when real people come close. The mimic of the VIACOM-sanctioned video has run tired, because it shows off, does NOT inspire and it says NOTHING.

Here in South Africa PUBLIC ENEMY has done crucial groundbreaking performances. Its the same level of smashing the house that we've done this year in Moscow, New York, Paris, London , Chicago and other places this year. This is not news We are not trying to prove any point other than to show that a classic work is timeless and doesn't have a demographic per se. The Rolling Stones and U2 are NOT measured by mere tracks' they are measured by the all-around event they present. The art of the performance has left Hip-Hop whereas somebody has led artists to do more performing off the stage than on it. The agenda here is to create artist exchange

This serves as a call to the infrastructure-less Hip-Hop game in Amerikkka. We know what your hustle is, but what is your work and job here? Faking it until making it runs its course in a recession, which is a depression for Black folks who increasingly are becoming more skill-less as they become jobless.

Never have so many been pimped by so few.

Since the music has so much power, and image has become everything to the point that it can dictate the direction of a person in their life, it is my mission now to really become a "freedom fighter" and stop this radiation. With Jay-Z and others who, for years would faint their worth, the statement of "with great power comes great responsibility," is more true. Words are powerful and they can both start wars and bring peace. This cannot be taken lightly. Its important for the words to be body with the community. If not one dime of $250 million doesn't benefit the people who contribute to it then why does that warrant coverage above the will and effort of many in the music who have done great things.

Never have so many been pimped by so few.

I turned 50 this year. Everyday I get the question whats up with Hip-Hop today. If nothing was wrong the question wouldn't be the dominating question I get. I do massive interviews worldwide. I'm covered from varied aspects Hip-Hop, Public Enemy, social issues, musicology in general. So, my interactive world dialogue is deeper and more present than 140 characters.

Never have so many been pimped by so few.

I am tired of the silence of people that know better. There is nothing worse than a person that knows better and does worse. Or says nothing.

And makes excuses for bulls**t.

You know damn well HIP-HOP in the USA has fell way the f**k off as the American dollar and much of America itself. Held up and dictated by White business lawyers, accountants in New York, and Los Angeles offices.

To dictate to a community and not even live or be with the people is offensive. VIACOMs reach into Africa to turn HIP-HOP in to Amerfrica, which is as exploitative as those slave-makers who carried us across on boats. The decisions made in a boardroom in New York City while these cats scurry to their high rises, and suburban mansions from cultural profiteering must stop. And I'm going to do something about it.

Never have so many been pimped by so few.

My agenda of Hip-Hop around the world is in line with its creators, who followed Black Music. The music had the people's back. It has never been my personal agenda. Americans arrogantly have no back. Hip-Hop has followed this. I am disturbed by the fact that I tell artists that doing work in their community will get them little or no buzz for their effort, but in the same sense if they robbed or shot someone or did a bid they would get national and sometimes international attention.

Never have so many been pimped by so few.

So many of your favorite people suck up to the NBA and NFL, because it has order and when you make the game look bad David Stern or Robert Goddell is kicking their asses out . They are the indisputable HWIC, and negroes are in line and silenced. But here in Hip-Hop the dysfunctionality reward makes the money that puts food on many tables.

Its time, because I hear too many excuses. I wont allow what's in the USA f**k up what I and others worked hard to instill. I drive a '94 Montero, a '97 Acura, and have no expensive jewelry. There is nothing on this planet materially that is better than myself. This is what I instill in many doing Hip-Hop that nothing is greater than what is given. These games of people doing anything to get things has seeped into my way so therefore witness some radical virtual things coming from me in protecting the art-form of Hip-Hop.

Never have so many been pimped by so few.

So, I'm going after the few.

I'm tired of it.





I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS HEALTY RESPECT AND A TAD BIT OF FEAR OF CHUCK D. I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SAW PUBLIC ENEMY LIVE IN CONCERT IN 1987, I WAS 13 AND IT WAS ON THE RUNS HOUSE TOUR (AUSTIN TEXAS) THE S1Ws CAME OUT WITH UZI's CHUCK WAS GOIN HARD ON THE MIC SOUNDING LIKE MY DAD OR AN UNCLE GIVING YOU A GOOD WORD IN A TOUGH WAY. IT WAS TRULY WHAT WAS AND IS NEEDED IN HIP HOP. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH CHUCK D AND I WILL NEVER FORGET IT. HE WAS PLAYING THE SOUNDTRACK TO A VERY POPULAR MOVIE AT THE TIME CALLED "COLORS", I REMEMBER HIM PLAYING THE MUSIC AND ASKING ME IF I LIKED THE SONGS AND I LOVED THAT SOUNDTRACK I HAD BEEN PLAYING IT FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS AT THAT TIME. I GOT SO MUCH GAME FROM CHUCK THAT DAY ABOUT THE HIP HOP INDUSTRY AS WELL AS LIFE IN GENERAL. IM GLAD THAT CHUCK WROTE THIS LETTER IT SEEMS TO BE THE ROLE THAT CHUCK PLAYS IN HIP HOP HE IS TRULY AN O.G OF THIS SHIT AND DESERVES THE ULTIMATE RESPECT.I AM VERY GLAD THAT THE MAJOR HIP HOP ONLINE OUTLETS HAVE CHOSEN TO PUSH THIS OUT TO THE PUBLIC. SO PLEASE PUT THIS ON YA FB, TWITTER, AND ANY OTHER SOCIAL OUTLET THAT YOU ARE A PART OF

MIRAGE THE SAVANT ALBUM: WHAT THE PEOPLE ARE SAYING

In-case you dont know I (MIRAGE) have recently released my latest album called The Savant on November 22nd. The Savant is a very special project for me because out of the 5 solo albums and the group album I have with my group The Guud, I have had the most input on this one. I actually produced 70% of this album. Thats big for me because I just started making beats in 2008 and im still pretty guarded on letting the world hear them. This album is almost like my first album in my mind. Anyway here are some early reviews that I have recieved thus far. I will be adding more to this post as time goes on.



YOU CAN BUY IT ONLINE RIGHT NOW @ WWW.REVERBNATION.COM/MIRAGE512 (CHECK MY STORE)



C. SMITH

I have to say that listening to this album made me very angry, why are you not bigger? Your sound and post production is very professional and tight. You present a positive message through out the album. You have a sound that while original and experimental is still very radio friendly.

I have listened to this album at least 14 times since I got it a week ago. It is in my car on repeat, so I hear it every time I get in my car.

Generally I have an issue with intros to albums, they always seam pretentious, but even that worked for me.

I don't want you to think I am blowing smoke up your butt, if I had anything really bad to say you can believe I damn well would, but there isn't anything glaringly bad on this album. The only thing I have an issue with, and it is a small one, is the vocal in the background on SMELL GOOD, "Mister Miagi on some bar number 9." the "On" in the middle seams like it may be just a smidgen off beat. I noticed it as a drummer but I had to listen 3 times to figure it out so it is really really close.

I liked the way you included others on your album, it made it feel like the album is part of a community and not just a "ME, ME, Me" presentation to the world.

I know most of this sounds cheesy, but that is who I am.






D. PARNES
Like a great baseball hitter, Mirage uses the whole field. In The Savant Album, Mirage uses complex sounds to back up a smooth voice. I’m a metal fan, but ya gotta appreciate how he uses (in track 3, "If you Believe") keyboards, xylophone, and bongos in the same tune!


HERES THE VIRAL VIDEO AND THE COMMERCIAL