Music mogul works with a new generation
(New York - WABC, December 5, 2006) - Do you ever listen to the radio with your kids, and a song comes on with lyrics that make you quickly change the station?
Now, a music mogul is now behind some kid-friendly tunes.
Eyewitness News reporter Sandy Kenyon is here with a look.
The idea behind "Kids Rap Radio" is simple: To sell hip hop music parents will feel safe playing around their kids.
Music man Mathew Knowles, who guided "Destiny's Child" to the top of the charts, has brought his considerable talents to bear on the next generation.
The sound remains the same, pure hip hop, but the rappers are so young that some of them are still wearing braces. And these are not angry young men.
"I always speak the truth, there's no need to lie. I'm gonna have fun with this until I retire," raps J. Xavier.
J. Xavier's mentor is Mathew Knowles, who coached his daughter Beyonce to superstardom.
"He's not my manager because he's my father," Beyonce said. "He's my manager because he's the best."
Now a younger generation gets the benefit of his guidance.
They are kids rapping for other kids.
"We're excited about this, because I have a 2-year-old grandson," Mathew Knowles said. "And one day I was just in the car with my wife Tina and a song came on the radio and I found myself putting my hands over his ears."
As a grandfather, Knowles was concerned. As a top music man he thought, "What if we really took the really best of the best rap songs, and what if we kept the music beds the same, and we kept as much of the lyrical content as we could, but make it child friendly?"
The result is in stores now.
"Coming up with the children's album is genius," Beyonce said. "And it's something that's surprising that it hasn't been done yet."
Doing it now still means keeping it real.
"It's not corny, not at all," Mathew Knowles said. "But at a young age still we have to be concerned about the lyrical content."
Knowles said when Beyonce was just 5 or 6 years old and wanted to sing, he looked around for an appropriate tune for his little daughter to perform. He settled on "imagine," by John Lennon.
(Copyright 2006 WABC-TV)
Influences
Bow Wow,
Chingy,
Mike Jones,
Nelly,
The Ying Yang Twins,
Lil Wayne,
P. Diddy,
T.I.,
Young Joc,
D4L,
Busta Rhymes,
Run-DMC,
Slick Rick,
Dana Dane
The Kids Rap Radio Series comes from the people who brought you Destiny's Child and B2K. Its also part of the Music World "Parental Approved campaign created by Mathew Knowles, President and CEO of Music World Entertainment, for his 2 year old grandson, Juelz.
Kids Rap Radio Vol.1 & 2 contains 2 CDs full of clean, G-rated versions of today's HOTTEST rap songs heard on the radio. Kids Rap Radio Holiday has the greatest holiday rap songs of all time performed with a Kids Rap twist by kids FOR kids!
Kids Rap Radio is perfect for birthday parties, family functions, toy stores, play centers, and even classrooms!
While the rest of the music industry searches for the next Beyoncé, her father Mathew Knowles hopes to continue his family's hit-making legacy on his own Music World label.
"I want Music World to be known for the same thing Destiny's Child is known for -- artist development and having great songs," he tells AOL Music. According to Knowles, that development entails the performers coming to the label's Houston headquarters for thirty days of instruction. "We've taken them through vocal lessons, choreography, team-building exercises and all the fundamental things an artist needs to be successful," he says.
The Music World roster includes R&B acts Sunshine Anderson, Next and Dionne Farris plus new teen idols 2 Much, J Xavier and Mic Little. There's even something for those not quite old enough for iPods, namely the 'Kids Rap Radio' CD series.
"I don't want my grandson Jules, at two years old, to hear all of the lyrics of some of the rap songs," Knowles says. "So, we thought, 'What if we kept the tracks and the choruses as close [to the originals as possible] but change up the lyrics so that it's kid-friendly, parent-friendly, teacher-friendly?' That's what 'Kids Rap Radio' is all about, and we've had an overwhelming response because no one has done this in hip-hop."
'Kids Rap Radio' and 'Holiday Kids Rap Radio' are in stores now.
HEY K.R.R. HOW YALL DOIN?
I LOVE " I KNOW HOW YOU SEE IT" YALL ARE REAL GOOD. NO LIE..
AWWWWW LOVE YALL AND KEEP DOIN YO THANG.
MUCH MUCH LOVE,
LADYTIPC...
hey!well first of all a gotta say thank you 4 adding me!!...i really think it's a blessing 4 young kids 2 hear clean music but still be a very good music;)...the Knowles family is always amazing me...u're always doing a great job!!!these songs are really really great and cute:-)...my cousin is 5 years old and she's always listening 2 the songs:))...so...thank you 4 making all this great,amazing job!!!i really really appreciate your hard work
Amen!!! I have two kids and I believe that this is a blessing for this world that we live in. I love the Knowles Family. Father, mother, sisters, and grandchild. You all have been touched and called by God to make an amazing difference. To God be the Glory!!!
this cd is great! It's always a blessing when good, clean music is created for kids and it's still got the hot beats they love. this is the one to add to your shopping list!:-)
I love the idea of kids rap radio... This is brilliant being that so many of our kids love music and can sing and rap before they can talk.. Good luck and I know my 5 and 2 yr old will support!
iam so happy with what u all came up with my lil brother is only 3 and he have 2 put on his chains and get to rapping ,but what u all came up with.i hope he do the same with this and have fun with it !!!!
This Kids Rap Radio is so inspirational. This is something positive that young kids can listen to. This is more like the kids edited versions to songs. Who would of ever thought that something like this would happen. When I become older to have children, they are going to be raised on listening to things like this. There want be any trash in my house. Thats why I like the Destiny's Child crew. They are always singing about something truthful and positive. This has taken rap music to another level and I appreciate it.
Online Now!
