Welland · Niagara, Ontario
Independent artists.
Performance. Conversation. Artist-owned platforms.
“I want every piece of content we produce to create an opportunity for the artist.” — BARS. The Writers Block is one way we begin: shared performances and conversations that lead people to your music, your profile and your own audience.
Return date not announced. The current registration is for cypher-pilot interest.
Original series artwork / 2019
I've heard artists say they love their craft so much they don't care if they ever get paid for it.
Fuck that.I love my craft so much I refuse to accept that I shouldn't get paid for it.
I deserve to create. I deserve to make a living doing what I love. And I believe the world deserves to hear what I've got to say.
— BARS
ARCHIVAL IMAGE / 2014 · MINDSTATE, J WRECK, MIKEY BARS · PRODUCTION: ILL TABLE MANNERS
You don't have to sacrifice your passion to build a business. You build the business so you can spend more of your life pursuing your passion.
— BARS / THE FOUNDING MANIFESTOI've built multimillion-dollar businesses. I've made money, lost money, built teams, learned how to market, sell, negotiate, operate and scale.
I've been a rapper longer than I've been an entrepreneur. Hip-hop isn't some business opportunity I stumbled across. It's part of who I am.
— BARS
The full argument, in BARS’ words ↗We've got artists fighting for the same 50 fans. Everybody chasing streams, begging for opportunities, arguing about who's better, and treating somebody else's success like it takes something away from their own.
Meanwhile, the platforms, promoters, distributors and everybody else who understands the business are making money from the culture we create.
I'm not against those businesses making money. Good for them.
I just think the people creating the value should know how to capture some of it too.
A network of independent creators building something together while keeping ownership of what they create.
Not a record label that owns your masters.
Not a manager taking a piece of everything you do.
— BARS / THE FOUNDING MANIFESTO
“We’re creating connections that can become lasting businesses.”— BARS / THE FOUNDING MANIFESTO
Video may contain explicit language. Playback loads YouTube. If the player is unavailable, use the original video link.
REAL ARCHIVE / 2014
Mindstate · J Wreck · Mikey Bars
Production: Ill Table Manners
A cypher, a beat performance, a DJ set or spoken word. The Writers Block starts with the artist’s work; the recording should give people a way to discover more of it.
But we're not just filming people rapping so everybody can collect a clip and forget about it next week.— BARS / THE MANIFESTO
Original cyphers available now. New sessions are in development.
Original recordings and profile tools exist today. New productions and the wider network are in development.
15 recordings. Original artists and production credits.
Published on the original channel in 2014, 2019 and 2020. Choose an artist or producer to explore the recordings and the people they created with.
Selected recording: Mindstate · J Wreck · Mikey Bars
Production
Ill Table Manners
The Writer's Block Cypher | Mindstate, J Wreck, Mikey Bars | Prod by. Ill Table Manners
Mindstate is the historical credit for John Carson.
Year refers to publication. These are historical credits, not a current lineup.
Suggest a correction ↗Press play to load YouTube. Videos may contain explicit language. If playback is unavailable, use the original YouTube link.
Three ways to take part in the network described in the manifesto. These are concepts in development, with no finalized pricing, checkout or active paid services.
People who love the culture
Maybe you don't rap. Maybe you don't produce. Maybe you just fucking love hip-hop.
— BARS
You don't have to create music to help create opportunity.
— BARS / THE MANIFESTO
The vision is a community that discovers artists and helps fund the work. A supporter membership and signup are not open today.
Read the original chapter ↗Developing independent artists
Maybe you're writing your first 16. Maybe you've been rapping for 20 years. Maybe you make beats after work because it's the one thing that makes you feel alive.
— BARS
This is where you come to develop your craft, meet other artists, learn the business, access tools, collaborate and figure out what you want to do with your talent.
— BARS / THE MANIFESTO
A place to develop the craft, collaborate and learn the business is part of the vision. A creator membership, education programme and resource library are not available yet.
Read the original chapter ↗Artists treating their career as a business
Your music is your craft, but you're ready to start treating your career like a business.
— BARS
You don't buy that reputation with a membership fee. You earn it through how you operate.
— BARS / THE MANIFESTO
A future professional designation built around craft, business and commitments. It is not an active paid tier, a badge awarded at signup or a promise of bookings.
Read the original chapter ↗I want the successful artists to help create opportunities for the next generation.
A verse, a beat performance, a DJ set, a spoken-word piece or a perspective on making a life in music.
The next format is rooted in hip-hop and starts in Welland. A return date has not been announced. Remote participation and travel arrangements have not been established.
“I don't care if you have 50 followers or 50,000. I care whether you show up, do what you say you're going to do, treat people properly and want to get better.”
— BARS / The founding manifestoFor the Niagara cypher pilot. Share your artist details and work through your account, verify your email and give permission for organizer review.
Interest does not confirm a performance place or apply you for the broader garage format.
View current cypher registration ↗We’re developing a way for MCs, producers, DJs, spoken-word artists and related creatives to share their work and explain what they would bring to a session.
Selection will consider the work, its fit with the session and practical recording needs. The broader application process is not open yet; the current cypher registration does not apply you for a garage session.
Read participation details ↗