I'm Jerren Spruill. I'm 22 and I'm a music producer in the music biz. I've worked with some major artists but I've always had a huge interest in composing and arranging for film. Being in the business for two years now, many producers do not play their own intruments and limit themselves to only hip-hop, r&b, or pop music, which is fine. But they are categorized, or "put in a box" of the type of music they do (especially those who don't play their own stuff). I've done some R&B, Pop, and rap, and a lot of what's mainstream is trendy or pretty much the same type of music circulating. I do play the piano and guitar, but composing is such a challenge for many to become successful it seems. I started composing four years ago when I got college.
Trying to beat deadlines, and doing a specific type of track for an artist can sometimes get stressful and redundant. Everybody wants what's hot! There aren't many who can stay true to themselves and be successful at it (Timbaland, Kanye West, The Neptunes). Those guys have their own distinct sound and can adapt to any genre.
As for composing and being Black, there are not many blacks who are known as great composers, with the exception of Quincy Jones, William Grant Still, and Duke Ellington. In our culture, we're sometimes not driven or inspired from composers and orchestrators. Not all Blacks though:thumbsup:
Although African Americans or Blacks are considered to be more "rooted" in gospel, jazz, spirituals, blues, hip-hop/r&b, etc., I've been inspired by great composers such as Igor Stravinky, Danny Elfman, Hanz Zimmerman, as well as those in R&B, Hip-Hop and Rap, and all across the board.
I know this is kinda vague and risque', but I'd like to know your opinions on why you think there aren't many black composers and just some comments about what I've just talked about.
Peace
