Doug Rasheed: " No Boundaries"

Over the last two decades there have been a few artists and songs that seem iconic for their era. Some of those tunes include "Gangsta's Paradise" - Coolio featuring L.V. ( Dangerous Minds Movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer). Other icons include Tupac Shakur, Brandy, The Bee-Gees, LL Cool J, Barry White, Chaka Khan, Jamie Foxx, Whitney Houston. These artists and their songs evoke a mood and a feeling through their songs, style and delivery. As we listen to our favorite artist perform our favorite tunes, many times we forget about the creative team tirelessly working behind to the scenes to produce the beats and the words that help make the music so memorable.

Enter Doug Rasheed, whom I have had the pleasure of working with most recently. The self-taught producer and musician has built an impressive discography adding his musical talent to the works of all of the previously listed artists works over the years. Currently in the next phase of life and career he is venturing forth from producer to artist with his debut CD, "No Boundaries." When asked why he chose the title for his CD he simply responds; "musicians should not be pidgeon-holed. There is no such thing as a single genre for an artist based upon race, creed, color or gender." So after listening to the CD( "No Boundaries") we immediately understand the title. The album's first single is "Hootie Who?", a fun club banger/anthem. "What I'm In", features Rasheed's 7 year old daughter Devynn Skye who adds absolute cuteness to this street bounce and is definitely a tribute to their father/daughter relationship. "Road To Nowhere," is a song about overcoming adversity set to a hip/country track, "Countdown" explores the state of the world literally and figuratively, on top of space age music and phat bouncy beats. "Nasty Disposition" and "Schizophrenia" both touch the heart revealing love in its myriad phases and stages. "Bad Wolf" is a guardian angel tune to young runaway girls urging them to return home. This track resonates a powerful message about the horrors of child molestation, drug abuse, and the downfalls of life on the street for young homeless women.

As Mr. Rasheed navigates his life as Producer, Father, Artist and Businessman, he is riding the wave of change as it ebbs and flows through the music industry. With the advent of the internet and technology, record companies and artists seem to be re-negotiating their decades long relationships. He tells me that "was more then evident" during his recent trip to Cannes, France for MIDEM WORLD 2010 (http://www.midem.net) - where the world's industry professionals meet. Rasheed says; "The industry is buzzing and people are really evaluating what's next."

However, for a man who has spent more then half of his life "doin' dat music" on stage and behind, Rasheed is watching the evolution of an industry and banking on the idea of that the time has come for music with "No Boundaries" on and off-line.

Check out Mr. Rasheed's Debut Video "Hootie Who" Exlusively On AC :