I think we can agree that not all remixes are the success story that “Wild Thoughts” is. We should be singing DJ Khaled’s praises, but DJ Jazzy Joyce and I are anxious for what is to come.

With the resurgence of Xscape and Bell Biv Devoe and the twentieth anniversaries of the murders of Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur upon us, this is the perfect time to revisit some of Hip Hop and R&B’s most iconic acts. The downside; not every track will be a hit. Furthermore, we are prepared to be inundated with tracks not worth the studio time spent to lay them down.

So, before you become a statistic, what should you know about the chemistry and politics behind the music? According to Forbes, Hip Hop and R&B is the dominant genre in the U.S. for the first time in history. In part, because the fanbases age range continues to grow; Hip Hop elders are approaching their sixties and are still contributing to the culture.

With that in mind, the song choice should feel nostalgic to this demographic. This will increase your exposure and sales in this age bracket; they have more disposable income than younger fans. To make it fresh and relevant, the message and timing are everything; collaborations are key. Make sure your clear the samples. Remy Ma’s “Shether”, one of the most controversial tracks of the year, should be very fresh in everyone’s mind. You never know how big a track is going to be; especially when the lyrics are delivered with precision.

Now that we have covered the politics, we look forward to ending 2017 strong. Be sure to pick your team wisely; they reflect you. If you would like additional insight on this issue, please look into Jazzy’s Jewels – The DJ Jazzy Joyce Industry Workshop for Music; sessions are available now on www.djjazzyjoyce.us.