Greenspan

Rapper Greenspan was one of the many musicians who contributed a previously unreleased track to City Paper’s Big Baltimore Playlist. And now that track, “Make Believe,” has a celebratory video directed by Akio Evans. Both the song and the video are vibrant and brimming with life, which is ironic since they heavily feature posthumous appearances from Smash, the beloved Baltimore rapper who passed away unexpectedly this past February.
The technology may not be Tupac hologram-level dazzling, but it’s still clever how Evans weaves archival footage of Smash into a clip full of Greenspan paying tribute to him, while partying in front of the City of Gods boutique with a marching band amidst cameos from Skarr Akbar and The Wire’s Felicia “Snoop” Pearson. Greenspan’s new album Stairway To Heaven is due out this fall, and on August 31 you can see the rapper put on typically energetic and inspired live performances at the Shake And Bake Family Fun Center’s Back 2 School concert, and also at PEDX’s Glory: A Night of Art and Fashion. - Baltimore City Paper (Al Shipley)

by Timothy Cooper | August 18, 2008 at 7:00 am
Posted in Almost Famous: Timothy Cooper, b the paper, music

From today’s b, the paper:

In today’s music industry, an artist’s business acumen has to be as sharp as the 16 bars he lays down in the studio. Baltimore’s MC Greenspan, 22, understands this protocol, and puts it to use as he wears the hat of an entertainer and an executive. As a founding member of the Federal Reserve Music Group, the man born Brian Dawkins released his critically acclaimed album, Got Green?, independently. Now gearing up for a new mixtape, a gig opening for Florida rapper 2 Pistols at the Black Hole rock club and executive producing an indie film, this commerce-minded MC has no time for slowing down. It just goes to show it’s not so easy being Greenspan.


Tell us what inspires you to create music on a daily basis.
Life and experience, first and foremost. I have a desire to create music because it’s something that’s instilled in me naturally, and other great music is an inspiration as well. … When you find your niche, it inspires you to continue on.

You describe your music style as progressive. Explain?
First of all, I motivate myself, along with other artists [who motivate me]. So every time I write something, I don’t try to outdo myself, but sometimes I maybe impress myself. … I’m interested in pushing the limit and going left a little bit, doing what they don’t expect me to do. I want to progress and grow, because I feel like it’s definitely bigger than Baltimore, and even bigger than the country, and it’s even bigger than hip-hop.

What’s the routine to get yourself in the zone for a show?
I ask my people that I surround myself with to actually leave me alone [laughs].

One thing I keep in mind with my performances, I’m really inspired by Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding. If you look at Otis Redding performing on YouTube, the energy that he puts in it and the energy that he receives back is just an awesome experience in itself. I try to keep in mind to do every show like it’s my last show. So if I ever do a show that not my best, it’s kind of regretful. So I gotta make sure the next show makes up for it.

As an artist and an executive, which task is harder to complete?
Neither one is hard. I feel like at this stage in my career, I’ve surrounded myself with great people. But I haven’t grown to the point where I can just let stuff go. I can’t just put something in someone else’s hand to do it yet. So I think that’s what’s hard, dropping something and knowing my people [are] going to handle it, even though they do. I guess I have a supervisor’s mentality, and it would be easier if I would simply just concentrate on music and not worry about being anywhere else. It’s a team effort, but it’s still me.

- The b Paper: Baltimore's Free Daily

Consider this post dedicated to “majormalfunkshun”. On the real, this song was sent over a little while ago and it’s pretty great (especially the use of Janet’s slept-on “Rock Wit U” single from last year) but it wasn’t put up because of the head-scratching intro by Greenspan in which he calls it “Baltimore Club”, then shouts-out the producer of the track DJ Sega and then says, “Even though MAD DECENT out of Philly, it is what it is…”. In short, I couldn’t post this song and tell you why it’s good without acknowledging how just kind of distracting and bizarre that intro speech is, you know? So I thought it better to forget about it, but after all this, it doesn’t matter.

In short, there’s nothing Baltimore Club or just Club about this remix, it’s straight Philly Club with one of the most nimble and exhuberant Baltimore rappers over top of it and it’s a perfect match. Really though, as Emynd attested in comment on the DJ Sega debacle I created, Sega’s a young but sturdy student of Club history and this track shows. The way he moves that Janet Jackson song synth line into the song midway through, is straight out of the older Club songs I’ve been posting in terms of holding off on the best part of the song as long as possible, then finally bringing it into the mix.

You should check out Greenspan’s album Got Green? from last year and his mixtape The Recap is over at datpiff.com.

http://www.41yo.com/?p=1755 - The 41yo

Taking His Career to the Next Level, Gaining Respect from DJBooth.net & AllHipHop.com

Baltimore, MD (Monday, July 12, 2010)- Welcome to Greenspan Day! The day the world goes green! The hip hop artist Greenspan is certainly a stand out individual, only he's equipped with a mic & a pen. Baltimore based hip hop artist Greenspan, Federal Reserve Music Group, IllVibes-DMV & DJBooth.net are proud to present, also in association with Water-N-Oxygen and Herkules World Promotions, "Got Green 2". With the project being released via DJBooth.net; one of the top music sites, Greenspan has continued to prove to the hip hop world why he is here. "Got Green 2" is Greenspan's 3rd studio release, and is the most personal. It's mixed by DJ Soundwave and features production by Mark Henry, Live Beats, DJ Booman, Mizfitz and features the vocals of K. Holloway & Karron Johnson.

When listening to "Got Green 2", you will definitely be taken on an experience. From the highly energized "Keep Up" track with 368 Music Group's Phil Ade (which was featured on AllHipHop.com, along with his lead single "Calling Me"), to the Baltimore Club track "Colours" to "Skytanic", which is a track way beyond it's time, very futuristic, walking on the moon type of groove. You will definitely learn more about who Greenspan is and what kind of work you can expect from him. Greenspan states "Got Green 2 is my best project to date. I feel that each song shows a particular level of sophistication and progression from where I've come to where I am going, you can experience my growth."

This project is available exclusively on DJBooth.net and can be downloaded by clicking this link: http://www.djbooth.net/index/mixtapes/entry/greenspan-got-green-2/.

For more information on Greenspan, please visit www.greenspanmusic.com and please follow him @Greenspan410 and get to know him a little bit better through his tweeting.
- Hip Hop Press

I read the caller ID on my phone: "CJ – B'More". CJ was a good dude, I had worked with him back in the fall, but as glad as I was to hear from him my smile faded fast when I found out what was up. No, it wasn't any bad news, but he was looking to book some shows for his artist… I had one show almost set and about 4 more in the works, the last thing I needed was another artist to book. So when he forwarded me the dude's mixtape I was legit hoping not to like it… My resolve failed. I couldn't help myself. Damn. Add Greenspan to the list.


Greenspan's got something going for himself down in Baltimore: his hooks are addicting, the flow is catchy enough that even a college hipster crowd would like it, and you can dance to it, just check the song he did with Mad Decent "Colors" at the bottom of the post.


I got Green on the phone the other day, and he made a strong first impression: "Everything with me is on the record," he told me right off the bat, "I don't have anything to hide." It's about damn time someone like this came along.


Born and raised in Baltimore, Greenspan has got budding careers going as a musician and an actor, ("everything is an art, everything is a self expression," he says), though music is his first choice. And the truth is, despite how saturated the game has become, Greenspan does offer something special."I'm more passionate," he says comparing himself to all the other underground rappers on MySpace, "not to take away anything from anybody, but I'm very passionate about everything that I do, everything that I say, everything that I live."


Green calls himself "the sky diver" -- fitting given the way that this kid is jumping into the game with no holds barred, and you've got to respect that. Check the song "Colors" and you'll know straight up why I think this dude isn't going away anytime soon. Plus, he's got a new mixtape dropping in mid-May, "When the Sky Turns Green" that's going to feature some of the best in the underground right now, including Wale's producer Judah.


Make sure you check out his myspace and his blog to grab some more tracks including two mixtapes for free.

http://areyouheretoconfuseme.blogspot.com/2009/05/sky-diving-with-greenspan-ayh2cm.html - Are You Here to Confuse Me?

Washington, D.C. -- Greenspan, the DMV up-and-comer who recently introduced himself to the Booth with "Headbop," (ft. Feevaleo & RAtheMC) has teamed up with Judah and DJ Benzi to bring fans his latest street album. The emcee's When the Sky Turns Green mixtape, presented by Illvibe and illRoots, is available for free download at the link below.


- Richard

It's the Greenspans that make the hip-hop world go 'round. Having just released his newest album, Got Green?, he already has talent such as Paula Campbell and Dark Room Productions from HBO's The Wire attached to his latest effort. Not only that, but Greenspan appears on The Wire. This Baltimore native is coming fast with raw lyricism and wavy beats...real enough for hip-hop, but smooth enough to smile to. He's mastered his art, and, even though he has his head in other film-related projects, music is his number one passion. This isn't hard to tell when you listen to his song, "Mt. Rockmore," featured below.

http://www.urb.com/promotions/next1000/profiles/1346-Greenspan.php - Ben Meredith

-This track popped up in my inbox a couple of weeks ago, and I never quite got round to it. Looks like that was a mistake on my part, as this is a great slice of hip-hop. The production is low-key, and much like J.Cole’s Lights Please, doesn’t interfere with the raps and lets they lyrics take centre stage. Definitely worthy of opening this post!

- ajay182

-This track popped up in my inbox a couple of weeks ago, and I never quite got round to it. Looks like that was a mistake on my part, as this is a great slice of hip-hop. The production is low-key, and much like J.Cole’s Lights Please, doesn’t interfere with the raps and lets they lyrics take centre stage. Definitely worthy of opening this post!

- ajay182

Hi dolls. Just wanted to share with all of you Greenspan's newest single named after yours truly!!! It's off of his mixtape When The Sky Turns Green and I absolutely love it. I'm so flattered that someone would write a song about me!!!!


Have a listen and let me know what you think :)
- Khloe Kardashian

Hi dolls. Just wanted to share with all of you Greenspan's newest single named after yours truly!!! It's off of his mixtape When The Sky Turns Green and I absolutely love it. I'm so flattered that someone would write a song about me!!!!


Have a listen and let me know what you think :)
- Khloe Kardashian

"Up next was Greenspan, an underrated local rapper with one of the tightest live shows in the city, which we've raved about at least once or twice before. As a bonus, he was handing out CDs, so we can finally listen to songs like the single "Drop" at home. Where so many local rappers let the momentum of their live shows sag, often by dictating to the DJ which track on their CD to cue up, Greenspan launches into an uninterrupted and impeccably sequenced set, from one song to the next with no stops or errors."

http://www.citypaper.com/printStory.asp?id=14695 - Al Shipley

"Up next was Greenspan, an underrated local rapper with one of the tightest live shows in the city, which we've raved about at least once or twice before. As a bonus, he was handing out CDs, so we can finally listen to songs like the single "Drop" at home. Where so many local rappers let the momentum of their live shows sag, often by dictating to the DJ which track on their CD to cue up, Greenspan launches into an uninterrupted and impeccably sequenced set, from one song to the next with no stops or errors."

http://www.citypaper.com/printStory.asp?id=14695 - Al Shipley

Heater of the Day - All Hip Hop

Time to get your passports stamped and take a ride with Sir Balance of the Bay. For his latest rappin’ rendezvous, he lets his compass spin and picks up Greenspan from the East and Rain out of North Cacklacka and they let the lyrics fly.
- Smoking Section

Heater of the Day - All Hip Hop

(Baltimore, Maryland) Independent hip hop artist Greenspan delivers this single, “Calling Me”. - Indie Hip Hop

(Baltimore, Maryland) Independent hip hop artist Greenspan delivers this single, “Calling Me”. - Indie Hip Hop

Spanning to the Masses:
A Man on a Mission for His Music
By: Chelsie Rohlen

Keep it simple. Be truthful. Be yourself. All phrases that could sum up the aura of Baltimore native Greenspan, who wholeheartedly believes that rap music is not as complicated as we think it is. Get into the mind of the masterly artist and find out what rap is, is not, and who inspires him the most. Use his advice as a catalyst for your own artistry--just remember to keep it your own, always.
Bu’Ji Magazine (BM): First off, where does the name Greenspan come from?

Greenspan: When I first began basically creating my music, creating a company, and creating a brand, I was also learning about the government and finance. I was in tune with the Federal Reserve of the United States. So the former chairman’s name was Alan Greenspan so that stuck since he was the chairman of the Federal Reserve. But at the same time, for me, green is like progressive, I’m a progressive thinker.

BM: What’s the biggest aspiration of your career?

Greenspan: So far, to answer the question short, I would like to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. I [eventually] plan to be, but it’s not my limit. I won’t be limited to that. I don’t want to get the cover of Rolling Stone and be like, “Okay, I’m done.” But it’s definitely an aspiration.

BM: So when you finally reach the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, that’s when you feel like you’ll have reached success ultimately?

Greenspan: No. Success to me, really---well I kind of explain this on a song called “Shine” that’s coming up on my next album. I say one of the things I want to do. I want to ride around shining with my Momma. I want to be smiling, I want her to be smiling, I want to be comfortable and be able to provide for your family and create opportunity for other people. So when your creativity is your career that is success.

BM: When you write songs, where do you gather your inspiration?

Greenspan: Life, experience, [and] emotion. Sometimes depending on the sounds [and] depending on the sales of the records, I’m really in tune. I love Marvin Gaye because of how you would listen to his music, how he would piece his words together, [and] his harmonies. I like working with singers. Sometimes I might sing a hook myself, but I love creating harmony. Marvin Gaye is a big influence.

BM: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned on your road to success?

Greenspan: So far, probably that it’s every man for himself. If you’re working with an “outsider,”[or] if they’re not a part of your team, it’s every man for himself. I can dig it. I got a heart for people so I’m willing to help if I genuinely feel that way. That’s why my company, Federal Reserve, as far as I’m concerned is based on economic self-interest. But that’s just for the simple fact that you gotta get yours and be successful in order to make a difference and produce opportunity in someone else’s life.

BM: What sacrifices have you made to make your dreams a reality?

Greenspan: Personal life.

BM: That seems to be what everyone working hard says--personal life, social life. What advice can you give someone with a passionate dream like yours?

Greenspan: Be as much of yourself as possible. I always felt this way, but it’s what I lacked along the way. First of all, when making your creativity your career, it has to do with branding. I am branding myself. Selling my personality as opposed to saying, “Let me turn into Greenspan now.” I gotta put on, turn into a character. No. It’s me. So yeah, be yourself. The people that are supposed to feel you will feel you genuinely. That’s who they want to see all the time. That will be your clientele.

BM: What is your favorite quote or words to live by?

Greenspan: It’s not rocket science, it’s rap music.” In a sense of, what are you waiting for? Just record a record and put it out. Sometimes I might sit on a record and nitpick with it, like oh, my God. I don’t know! I’ll let everyone else hear it, and they’ll say it’s crazy, why don’t you put it out? I’ll just say no I want to do this and that different. But it’s like yo, there are so many other people who, in my opinion, music is not the greatest, but they’re getting it. So it’s not rocket science, it’s rap music.

BM: Do you have anything else you want to say about your July 12th release?

Greenspan: Yeah, Got Green 2, it’s my best project so far [and] my favorite so far. I think it’s gonna be an enjoyable record for everybody who takes the time to put their ears on it. I appreciate anybody who takes the time to listen to it.
- Bu'ji Magazine

Spanning to the Masses:
A Man on a Mission for His Music
By: Chelsie Rohlen

Keep it simple. Be truthful. Be yourself. All phrases that could sum up the aura of Baltimore native Greenspan, who wholeheartedly believes that rap music is not as complicated as we think it is. Get into the mind of the masterly artist and find out what rap is, is not, and who inspires him the most. Use his advice as a catalyst for your own artistry--just remember to keep it your own, always.
Bu’Ji Magazine (BM): First off, where does the name Greenspan come from?

Greenspan: When I first began basically creating my music, creating a company, and creating a brand, I was also learning about the government and finance. I was in tune with the Federal Reserve of the United States. So the former chairman’s name was Alan Greenspan so that stuck since he was the chairman of the Federal Reserve. But at the same time, for me, green is like progressive, I’m a progressive thinker.

BM: What’s the biggest aspiration of your career?

Greenspan: So far, to answer the question short, I would like to be on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. I [eventually] plan to be, but it’s not my limit. I won’t be limited to that. I don’t want to get the cover of Rolling Stone and be like, “Okay, I’m done.” But it’s definitely an aspiration.

BM: So when you finally reach the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, that’s when you feel like you’ll have reached success ultimately?

Greenspan: No. Success to me, really---well I kind of explain this on a song called “Shine” that’s coming up on my next album. I say one of the things I want to do. I want to ride around shining with my Momma. I want to be smiling, I want her to be smiling, I want to be comfortable and be able to provide for your family and create opportunity for other people. So when your creativity is your career that is success.

BM: When you write songs, where do you gather your inspiration?

Greenspan: Life, experience, [and] emotion. Sometimes depending on the sounds [and] depending on the sales of the records, I’m really in tune. I love Marvin Gaye because of how you would listen to his music, how he would piece his words together, [and] his harmonies. I like working with singers. Sometimes I might sing a hook myself, but I love creating harmony. Marvin Gaye is a big influence.

BM: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned on your road to success?

Greenspan: So far, probably that it’s every man for himself. If you’re working with an “outsider,”[or] if they’re not a part of your team, it’s every man for himself. I can dig it. I got a heart for people so I’m willing to help if I genuinely feel that way. That’s why my company, Federal Reserve, as far as I’m concerned is based on economic self-interest. But that’s just for the simple fact that you gotta get yours and be successful in order to make a difference and produce opportunity in someone else’s life.

BM: What sacrifices have you made to make your dreams a reality?

Greenspan: Personal life.

BM: That seems to be what everyone working hard says--personal life, social life. What advice can you give someone with a passionate dream like yours?

Greenspan: Be as much of yourself as possible. I always felt this way, but it’s what I lacked along the way. First of all, when making your creativity your career, it has to do with branding. I am branding myself. Selling my personality as opposed to saying, “Let me turn into Greenspan now.” I gotta put on, turn into a character. No. It’s me. So yeah, be yourself. The people that are supposed to feel you will feel you genuinely. That’s who they want to see all the time. That will be your clientele.

BM: What is your favorite quote or words to live by?

Greenspan: It’s not rocket science, it’s rap music.” In a sense of, what are you waiting for? Just record a record and put it out. Sometimes I might sit on a record and nitpick with it, like oh, my God. I don’t know! I’ll let everyone else hear it, and they’ll say it’s crazy, why don’t you put it out? I’ll just say no I want to do this and that different. But it’s like yo, there are so many other people who, in my opinion, music is not the greatest, but they’re getting it. So it’s not rocket science, it’s rap music.

BM: Do you have anything else you want to say about your July 12th release?

Greenspan: Yeah, Got Green 2, it’s my best project so far [and] my favorite so far. I think it’s gonna be an enjoyable record for everybody who takes the time to put their ears on it. I appreciate anybody who takes the time to listen to it.
- Bu'ji Magazine

With a slippery flow and effortless breath control, Greenspan puts most other Baltimore rappers to shame as a live performer, and Got Green?, his first full-length release, thankfully does not put the 22-year-old MC's natural talent to waste. His high voice and penchant for syllable-stuffing internal rhymes bring to mind Lupe Fiasco, but Greenspan's lyrical approach is less heady and imaginative. When he does get socially conscious, however, as on "Colors," he takes a refreshing approach, analyzing the psychology of Baltimore's gang culture while neither glorifying nor outright condemning it.

When Greenspan reaches out for the assistance of other hometown artists, he has the good taste to use the best, as exemplified by "Luv Jonez," which features a beat by local veteran DJ Boo Man and a hook by R&B siren Paula Campbell. "Colors" samples Ogun for its hook, and "Playing Dead" borrows a beat from local superproducer Blaqstarr. But instead of going for an obvious Baltimore club banger, Greenspan instead raps over "The Turn," Blaqstarr's downtempo collaboration with eclectic British singer M.I.A. And for every hard-edged hip-hop track, there's an offbeat freestyle over a Roy Ayers or Erykah Badu song. Still, considering that Greenspan raps every verse on Got Green? and produced one of the disc's tightest beats himself, the horn-driven "Fastlane," it's likely that he could have made just as good an album with no supporting cast.
- City Paper (writter Al Shipley)

With a slippery flow and effortless breath control, Greenspan puts most other Baltimore rappers to shame as a live performer, and Got Green?, his first full-length release, thankfully does not put the 22-year-old MC's natural talent to waste. His high voice and penchant for syllable-stuffing internal rhymes bring to mind Lupe Fiasco, but Greenspan's lyrical approach is less heady and imaginative. When he does get socially conscious, however, as on "Colors," he takes a refreshing approach, analyzing the psychology of Baltimore's gang culture while neither glorifying nor outright condemning it.

When Greenspan reaches out for the assistance of other hometown artists, he has the good taste to use the best, as exemplified by "Luv Jonez," which features a beat by local veteran DJ Boo Man and a hook by R&B siren Paula Campbell. "Colors" samples Ogun for its hook, and "Playing Dead" borrows a beat from local superproducer Blaqstarr. But instead of going for an obvious Baltimore club banger, Greenspan instead raps over "The Turn," Blaqstarr's downtempo collaboration with eclectic British singer M.I.A. And for every hard-edged hip-hop track, there's an offbeat freestyle over a Roy Ayers or Erykah Badu song. Still, considering that Greenspan raps every verse on Got Green? and produced one of the disc's tightest beats himself, the horn-driven "Fastlane," it's likely that he could have made just as good an album with no supporting cast.
- City Paper (writter Al Shipley)