Fresh Music Friday: B Dot - Yesss I Know (Ballin)
This Fresh Music Friday, we're blessing your ears with B Dot's bass-tastic "Yesss I Know (Ballin)."
We first introduced you to the singer/rapper/producer/engineer with the sexy deep bass track Lean N Love. She said about the track, "I just thought about real scenarios. I felt like I had to be assertive and a little cocky with it. I think everybody has had those situations where it’s like, 'I don’t want to give it to you too good because you might fall in love. Keep talking and I’ll show you what I mean. Don’t make me do it!' type of deal."
In the studio, the mysterious artist definitely shows and proves with mega beats and dope lyrics. Here's her take on music industry experience and the importance of having a supportive tribe. Enjoy!
MUSIK !D TV: You wear many hats as an artist: You’re a singer, songwriter, producer, and engineer. What’s the pros and cons of doing it all on your own?
B DOT: There are a lot of benefits that come with wearing all of these hats. I’m allowed to be way more self sufficient than I was when I first started. I didn’t know how to do anything except for write the music on my own. I always had to wait to get in the studio and record, wait for beats, wait for mixes. So I really took the time to learn. Hands down My guys Donye’a, Merge, Deezy, Kenny and Rob truly helped me out with learning everything I know today. I’m so grateful. I used to just watch them and soak everything in like a sponge. I typically don’t like to ask questions, but if I had one I was fa-show asking them lol.
Unfortunately there are cons to this as well. People expect a lot from you. Everybody needs your help and /or they are trying to provide you an opportunity. So you are running around writing and recording for everybody else and you start to put your own stuff on the back burner. And it’s hard because you obviously want to network and get other connects and/or need money to survive. So it’s rarely times you just tell people no. Well in the early stages at least. I feel so grateful to even be asked to come into some of these sessions. But now I just try to keep a better balance and I think about time and money and not just money.
Also a con about wearing these multiple hats, it is very easy to get lost in what sound I want to portray as an artist. I am a very versatile person. I can do anything when it comes to different lanes in composing music. I’m a fan first so I do music the way I would want to hear it so typically I am making music I actually like. I obviously like a lot of different music so it was always hard to pick a lane. By fortunately as time goes on, there is starting to be no such thing as a lane. You can do anything. Look at Drake. This guy has like 100 different genres one album lol
MIDTV: Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get your start in the music industry?
BD: Honestly I have always had a love for music since I could remember. But I never thought I would be telling you that I’m a creator of music. I never had the urge to want to really do this. I used to freestyle with my siblings and rap on the homies' voicemails, but it was all fun and games lol.
One day I was clowning around and recorded one of my freestyles and put it on YouTube. My bro Deezy heard it and immediately hit me like, “Yo you trying to pursue this?” I’m like, “Hell nah bro!” Haha Then he showed Donye’a and he asked me the same thing. I denied. He told me to come down to the studio to come try it out and I’m like, “Ehhhhh... OK I guess.” Then the next day my cousin Jordan had a serious convo with me that took about 3 hours, and he got me to pretty much say yes I’ll do it. I said yes and literally 5 mins later while we are on the phone still, I get an email from Donye’a and issa beat lol. I’m like well I guess that’s a sign let’s do this! I finally went in the studio and recorded “Serial Killaz” and oooooomg ... love love loved it. Literally fell in love just like that. I continued to work with the guys I previously mentioned and I just became seasoned, and started moving around meeting different people.
MIDTV: What has your musical journey been like for you so far?
BD: Typical answer I’m sure, but a roller coaster is the perfect example because that’s just what it is. There are and ups and downs, highs and lows. There are times when you usually know you are just so confident in what you’re doing and there are other times when you’re like, “Yo what am I doing wrong?” But when you learn how political the industry is, then you will get out of your feelings real fast lol.
It’s a lot of things that go on behind the scenes that I’ve learned. So it makes me not feel so bad. I’m actually happy that everything has happened the way it has. I’m glad that God has granted me patience. I could’ve signed my life away by now lol, (and y’all know what I mean by that) but I’m a free woman. So when or if I do decide to sign, it will be the right paperwork for sure. I’m grateful for the game. I have learned from people that felt like they made the mistake of signing and making certain deals. And I’m talking people that are signed to “big names.” I thank you guys for keeping it real with me in that aspect. You guys were not obligated to share certain things with me. It really helped me Because I felt very desperate to ink at one point. But if I had to choose one word to describe my journey it would for sure be GRATEFUL!
MIDTV: What advice would you give budding singers/songwriters/producers/engineers who would like to be successful in the music industry?
BD: Do you! People can give you constructive criticism but you have to have that balance in putting your foot down and believing your ideas even if nobody else believes them. You cannot tell an artist how to paint or what to paint. Art is freedom of expression. So you can do whatever you want, as long as you believe it. If you believe, your consumers have no choice but to believe.
MIDTV: Where can people find updates on upcoming tours, new music, appearances, etc.?
BD: I will be dropping an EP on all of the main streaming platforms (Spotify, iTunes, Tidal, etc.) in the spring time. Also have music on SoundCloud.com/dottyblanco. To stay updated with releases and upcoming projects you can follow my Instagram itsdottyblanco.
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