Q&A

So...where have you been?

I've been around.  All of your comments still got published, so I wasn't ever too far from my phone, but I couldn't commit to writing anything really substantial, such as a review.

And I'm guessing that you won't explain just what was going on that caused you to stop writing. right?

Right.

So what happens with the HHID now?

The easy answer is that I'm going to start writing again.  The comments section on the previous post has proven that there is still enough interest to keep this thing going, which was nice, so I want to at least complete my "finish what I started" project that I sporadically mentioned before I went on hiatus.  Also, I want to thank everyone who submitted a Reader Review for your patience, since I'm sure some of you were sitting around wondering why I didn't just throw your shit up on the site to fill the time.

Explain the "finish what I started" thing.  You've mentioned the phrase before, but you've never actually said what it was you were trying to accomplish.

You see all of those artists listed in the sidebar?  I've only completed the discographies for a tiny doll-size handful of them.  During the last five years, I've gotten a bit ahead of myself, trying to tackle as many rappers as possible, and I've dug myself into a hole.  Someone out there has got to be wondering just when I plan on getting back to Big Daddy Kane or Brian Austin Green, for example.  Or the Lost Boyz.  Remember them?  Apparently I didn't, or else I would have gotten to their second album a long time ago.  Anyway, I want to close some of those files and move on, so that will be my primary focus, meaning that I'm going to (hopefully) rely on Reader Reviews to fill in the gaps when it comes to newer artists or older cats who I've never started writing about for some reason.  This doesn't mean that I'm going to ignore any newer artists or that I will never get to (insert your favorite artist here), though: I'm still going to consider those write-ups, too, but I'm looking at the big picture here, so I probably won't do a ton of them unless I can fit them into my project without sacrificing other things.  

Speaking of Reader Reviews, I understand you have some new guidelines?

Yes.  While I appreciate any and all interest from you two about contributing to the site, I'm going to put this in the plainest language I can: Before you submit anything to me, please send me an e-mail (max.hiphopisntdead (at) gmail (dot) com) with your ideas so we can discuss them and I can approve or decline accordingly.  I hate to do this like a publishing company or a major Hollywood studio, but it's come to this: Unsolicited submissions will not be considered.  I won't even read them.  When running a blog like this, I have to consider schedules and audience interest, and I also have to make sure that your ideas don't conflict with those of myself or another contributor.  So unless I've already told you otherwise, every Reader Review I've received up until this very sentence will be under consideration, but for any future ones?  Just shoot me a freaking message first, okay?

So what will the schedule be like?  Every three days again?  Are you going to do another stunt month, since you tend to do that when you've been away for long periods of time?

I haven't decided yet.  I'm still not where I want to be writing-wise, but I understand that I need to start posting new material or risk losing all of the readers I have.  Besides, even my wife is sick of seeing that "hiatus" post on the front page.  Although I'm still undecided about the posting schedule, though, I will be posting some new shit, so stay tuned.

What have you been listening to during your break?  

Mostly stuff that isn't hip hop, since I was trying to recharge my batteries at the same time that all of the other shit was going down (because I can multitask like that).  So any actual hip hop has been courtesy of satellite radio and Pandora, since I didn't really have any time to check out the other blogs.  But the big-budget stuff has hit my ears, such as all of the new Kanye music, which I'll get to eventually (probably when Cruel Summer hits).  I realize that everyone else has probably already moved past this song, given the fickle nature and short attention span of the average hip hop head in 2012 (myself included), but I'm really digging Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre's "The Recipe".  That song is the shit.  But yeah, I've been mostly hiding in my New Wave/indie rock/electro hole.

This Q&A was kind of bullshit.  What if I had an actual real question to ask you?

Ask away in the comments section.  For a short time, I'll try to answer as many relevant queries as I can.  But if you fill the section with suggestions and requests, I won't really be all that upset.

See you on the other side.

-Max