⭐ Industry Feedback: Dina Rae (Eminem’s Superman) on My Music

When you spend years sharpening your pen, building your catalog, and pushing through the noise of the rap game, you don’t always know who’s listening. But every now and then, someone from the industry hears your work — and their reaction reminds you why you never stopped.

Recently, one of my tracks was reviewed by Dina Rae, the vocalist featured on Eminem’s Superman and multiple classics from The Eminem Show. She’s someone who has been in the studio with one of the most technical rappers alive, someone who knows what real lyricism sounds like.

During her review, she said something simple… but powerful:

“You clearly can rap.”

That sentence hit different. Not because it was hype. Not because it was flattery. But because it came from someone who has seen the highest level of rap up close.

For an artist like me — intense, clean, layered, and purpose‑driven — that kind of validation means the work is landing exactly where it should.

It’s a reminder that the grind matters. The pen matters. The craft matters.

And it’s fuel to keep building the world of 9Eleven — the lyrical architect who turns anxiety, faith, discipline, and storytelling into something deeper than just bars.

If you want to explore more of my work, check out:

My latest releases

My full artist story

My layered lyric breakdowns

Every track is another step forward. Every listener is part of the journey. And every piece of feedback — especially from industry voices — pushes me to go even harder.

12/7/2024

The Current State of Music Streaming and CEO Profits

The music streaming industry has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade, becoming the dominant force in the music industry. As of 2024, streaming now accounts for the lion's share of music revenues, surpassing sales of digital downloads and physical formats. With over 700 million people worldwide tuning in to their favorite artists via streaming platforms, it's clear that the future of music consumption lies in on-demand, online services.

Top Streaming Platforms and Their Payouts

When it comes to payouts, not all streaming platforms are created equal. Here's a quick overview of the average payout rates per stream for some of the top platforms:

These rates highlight the significant disparity in earnings for artists across different platforms. While Qobuz offers the highest payout per stream, Facebook and Instagram lag far behind.

Interestingly, despite being among the most popular streaming services, platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music offer lower payouts than Tidal, Qobuz, and Napster. This has raised concerns among artists about fair compensation for their work.

CEO Profits and Controversies

The financial success of streaming platforms isn't limited to their revenue models. CEOs of major streaming companies have seen substantial profits as well. For instance, Spotify's CEO Daniel Ek has made over $283 million from selling shares this year alone. His co-founder, Martin Lorentzon, has amassed an even larger fortune, selling shares worth $556.77 million.

However, this financial success has not come without controversy. Spotify's record profits of $499 million in Q3 2024 were achieved in part by lowering artist royalties through a bundling strategy. This move has drawn criticism from the music industry, as it reduces the earnings for artists while boosting the company's bottom line.

The Importance of Top Streaming Platforms

Despite the controversies, top streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music play a crucial role in the music industry. They provide a global stage for artists to reach millions of listeners, offering exposure that was previously unimaginable. These platforms also drive innovation in music consumption, with personalized playlists and AI-driven recommendations enhancing the user experience.

However, the disparity in payout rates underscores the need for a fairer distribution of revenue. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be essential for streaming platforms to balance profitability with fair compensation for artists.

The music streaming landscape is dynamic and ever-changing, with new challenges and opportunities emerging regularly. As listeners and artists navigate this landscape, understanding the financial dynamics and advocating for fair compensation will be key to ensuring a sustainable and equitable music ecosystem.

PRESS STATEMENT — 9Eleven’s 44‑Layer Interconnected Verse

For Immediate Release

Hamilton, OH — Rising lyricist 9Eleven has unveiled what may be the most structurally complex one‑minute verse released to date: a fully documented 44‑layer interconnected metaphor system. The piece weaves together anxiety, ocean‑predator imagery, phonetic chains, pop‑culture callbacks, and forensic wordplay into a single continuous loop — a technique 9Eleven refers to as Layered Metaphor Architecture.

Across sixty seconds, the verse transitions from internal pressure to dolphins, Dalphin, and Dolph Lundgren; from boxed‑in anxiety to boxing; from locksmith precision to lockjaw, Jaws, and Davy Jones’ locker; from fish to sharks; from Oscar the fish to Will Smith to Fresh Prince to “fresh prints” and fingerprints; from harpies to Screech from Saved by the Bell; and from venom to Tom Hardy — all while circling back to the opening emotional tension.

Unlike traditional punchline‑based rap, 9Eleven’s verse operates as a closed‑loop ecosystem, where every metaphor feeds the next and every system reconnects to the core theme. To date, no other artist has publicly created, mapped, or announced an interconnected metaphor structure of this scale within a one‑minute format.

“This wasn’t just writing bars — it was building a blueprint,” says 9Eleven. “Every line had to connect to the next. Every metaphor had to serve the architecture.”

The result is a tightly engineered piece that blends technical craft with narrative depth, positioning 9Eleven as a standout innovator in modern lyricism.

 

 

The Game  

12/2/2024 

To succeed in the music industry, here's a comprehensive guide to get you started, leveraging the power of AI:

✔️ Learn Affiliate Marketing: Master how to promote products and services to earn commission. #AffiliateMarketing 🎯

✔️ Run Effective Marketing Ads: Understand the ins and outs of creating and managing successful ad campaigns with AI tools for analytics and optimization. #Marketing #Ads 📈

✔️ Contact Playlist Curators: Build relationships with playlist curators to get your music featured. AI can help automate this process. #PlaylistCurators 🎵

✔️ Build a Robust Text and Email List: Collect and manage a large list of contacts to keep your audience engaged using AI-powered email marketing platforms. #EmailMarketing 💬

✔️ Create Multiple Websites and Link in Bios: Develop several online platforms to increase your visibility, utilizing AI for website creation and management. #WebDevelopment 🌐

✔️ Partner with Booking and Gig Platforms: Collaborate with platforms to get featured and booked for performances. AI can help you identify opportunities and manage bookings. #Gigs #Booking 🎤

✔️ Pursue Sync Placements: Seek opportunities for your music to be featured in games, TV shows, and more. AI can aid in finding these opportunities and managing contracts. #SyncPlacements #MusicInMedia 📺

✔️ Learn SEO and Traffic Funneling: Optimize your online presence to attract and direct traffic effectively. AI can help with SEO, keyword research, and content optimization. #SEO #TrafficFunneling 🧩

✔️ Utilize AI as Your Personal Assistant: AI can schedule posts, run playlists, generate text-to-speech (TTS), create voiceovers, design cover art, write eBooks, and much more. It's like having a personal assistant, boosting your productivity and creativity. #AIAssistant 🤖

✔️ Fail Often and Learn: Don't be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them. Each failure is a step closer to success. #FailForward 💪

✔️ Focus on Quantity and Quality: Regularly release high-quality music and content to engage your audience. #MusicProduction 🎶

✔️ Create 30-Second Snippets and Engaging Content: Share short, engaging snippets of your music to capture attention and drive interest. #ContentCreation 🎥

By mastering these skills and integrating AI into your workflow, you will increase your chances of success in the dynamic music industry. 🚀🎵

Lets talk about writing <better lyrics>

Let's talk lyric structure/meaning/breakdown! Here is a line from my song "Left Behind" Listen to song by clicking link below!
Lyrics: "My stomach's been suffering like it's stuffed with succotash, I'm like Sylvester, I can't be stuck in the upper class, Used to have thoughts about where I'ma have my last supper at, Checking off my bucket list, been a rocky start, Trucking through this muddy path, When life hits you this hard you got to keep punching back, I feel like a punching bag, Rap game has a barrier and I can't seem to puncture it, So I continue throwing jabs until it finally cracks."
Analysis:
Similes and Metaphors:
"My stomach's been suffering like it's stuffed with succotash": This simile suggests discomfort and hardship, likening the feeling to being overstuffed with a vegetable mix, implying both physical and metaphorical distress. This also references the iconic phrase "Sufferin' succotash" popularized by Sylvester the Cat in Looney Tunes, further emphasizing the character's persistent struggles and frustrations.
"I'm like Sylvester, I can't be stuck in the upper class": This line has a double reference. Firstly, it compares oneself to Sylvester the Cat from Looney Tunes, known for his relentless but often unsuccessful pursuit of Tweety Bird, signifying persistence despite repeated failures. Secondly, it alludes to Sylvester Stallone, particularly his role as Rocky, emphasizing perseverance and fighting back against adversity, and highlighting a struggle against being confined to a certain social class or situation.
"Used to have thoughts about where I'ma have my last supper at": Referencing the Last Supper, hinting at existential thoughts and the contemplation of one's final moments or legacy.
"Trucking through this muddy path": Metaphor for persevering through difficult and unclear circumstances.
"I feel like a punching bag": Metaphor for constantly being battered by life's challenges.
Double Meanings and Wordplay:
"Stomach's been suffering like it's stuffed with succotash": Double meaning where "suffering" hints at both physical hunger and metaphorical deprivation.
"I'm like Sylvester, I can't be stuck in the upper class": "Stuck" can mean being stuck in the societal position but also refers to the cartoon character's repeated but futile attempts to succeed.
"Punching back and rocky road": Clever wordplay connecting the idea of fighting back against life’s hardships (punching back) while simultaneously feeling beaten down (punching bag), and referencing the rocky path of perseverance, nodding to Stallone’s Rocky character.
Rhyme Schemes and Techniques:
Internal Rhymes:
"stomach's been suffering like it's stuffed with succotash" contains internal rhymes with "suffering" and "stuffed".
"checking off my bucket list been a rocky start": "bucket list" internally rhymes with "rocky".
End Rhymes:
Lines often rhyme at the end: succotash - class, last supper at - start, punching back - punching bag - puncture it - finally cracks.
Themes:
Struggle and Perseverance: Overcoming life's hardships, continuously fighting against obstacles.
Social and Existential Reflection: Considering one's place in society and the journey through life's adversities.
Persistence in the Rap Game: Despite feeling stuck, continuing to push forward until breaking through barriers.
This breakdown reveals how the lyrics use rich imagery, metaphors, and wordplay to convey deep personal struggles, resilience, and a relentless pursuit of success. The reference to Sylvester Stallone adds a layer of cultural significance, further emphasizing the theme of fighting back and overcoming obstacles. The rhyme schemes and rhythmic flow add to the musical and emotional impact of the verses. Additionally, the nod to the iconic "Sufferin' succotash" line deepens the connection to persistent struggles and perseverance.