Jamestown hip-hop artist Michael Lane may put in 40 hours a week as a construction worker, but he said that's not his full-time gig. "I look at it as a part-time job because I work 60 hours a week on music," he said.
Those long work hours could pay off with a fat $250,000 contract with Universal Records. Lane said he has qualified for the final round of the Making The Next Hit Season 3 competition, which will award one group or artist the money after the final round in Las Vegas. The competition, which is hosted by DJ Fahrenheit, will air on BET at a later date.
Prior to making the trip to Las Vegas, Lane said he will perform at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta late next year. He'll travel with co-performers Relly Rell and Goody from Jamestown. The trio operates under the umbrella of Beast Flo Entertainment, which Lane created.
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Hip-hop artist Michael Lane of Jamestown has qualified for the final round of the Making The Next Hit Season 3 competition, which will be held in Las Vegas next year.
Submitted photo
"They're coming with me; they're my team," he said. "They're with me now; we're like family."
Relly Rell and Goody are featured on several tracks of Lane's album "Campaign," which will hit iTunes on Dec. 31.
Lane explained the name of the album. "I'm coming from nothing to make something. I know I have the talent to do it," he said. "I just need the right ears to hear me, so I figured I'm kind of on my own campaign."
The record includes 15 of Lane's newer songs. He has recorded more than 100 tracks during the past 10 years. He has opened for Machine Gun Kelly and Chip The Ripper, while also performing at various Western New York venues.
For Lane, who moved to Jamestown with his mother at age 3, music has served as an escape.
"I didn't have a way to express myself. I had a lot of anger problems and a rough childhood," he said. "I found music; I fell right into the hands of music."
Lane previously performed in another local group called Small City Syndicate. He hopes his appearances on BET will help make a name for him in the hip-hop world.
"I have positive music," he said. "I still keep it street, but I have a lot of radio hits."
If he doesn't land the contract through Making The Next Hit Season 3, Lane will still pursue a career as a recording artist.
As 2012 nears, he, Relly Rell and Goody will continue to work on new material. By October, they'll have to decide what to perform at the 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards.
"Everything we do is original," he said. "We get to pick what song we want to perform, but I'm not sure what song we'll do. We'll probably pick our newest song at that time."
On Lane's website, www.reverbnation.com/michaellane, fans can find his mailing list and information on Beast Wear, his recently created clothing line. His music videos are also available there.
Lane said he is looking for management. His next live performance will be at Broadway Joe's in Buffalo on Feb. 18.