jb’s 2 cents
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elcome to JB’s very special OZONE Awards/TJ’s DJ’s Tastemakers Music Conference edition of OZONE Magazine. First of all let me say: I don’t wanna sound like I’m gloating. I’m not. I’m just proud. We’re the shit and we know it. Why? We made it through (almost) with some sort of sanity. Haha! And look at how thick this book is! I know y’all see all these ads! I know y’all are hating me right now and trying to count my money. Stop wasting your time worry about me and trying to stop me and go make some money of your own. It all comes back around anyway.
10 OZONE Award Nominees I’m Hatin’ On By Roland “Lil Duval” Powell
But, aw, man, this has been like the issue that never ends. And my editorial is always the hardest part to write so I put it off til the last minute. It was originally titled “10 People Who Pissed Me Off During The Planning Of The OZONE Awards,” but I scratched that at the last minute. Sorry to disappoint you .
Disclaimer: This is really what everybody else is sayin’. I know I’m dead wrong, but I’m hating anyway.
10 The We Couldn’t Think Of Nobody Else To Nominate For This Category Award: Joi I’ll probably be the only person at the Award Show that knows who she is. 09 The I Knew They Wasn’t Gonna Have But One Video Award: Purple Ribbon All-Stars I believe they knew that too. 08 The Promoter Most Likely To Try To Come Up Off Ya While You’re In Town Award: Dawgman How come every time I’m in a 100 mile radius of Orlando, this nigga calls me and says, “Shiiiiit, come pick up this bread while you passing through.” Little do I know, he done promoted the shit a month before.
T-Pain, me, and Trae in Tallahassee
Lil Jon and I in Atlanta
07 The I Got Caught Shittin’ Where I Lay Award: Dem Franchize Boyz That’s supposed to be the first rule you learn when you hustle. 06 The I Fuck With Niggas Cause They Let Me Shit On Them Award: TV Johnny Does it make sense to pay the same price for a grill that can only hold so many diamonds than a house? 05 The Oldest Nigga In Hip-Hop Award: Bigga Rankin My grandma used to go see Cool Runnings when she was in high school. 04 The We Know Gotdamn Well He Ain’t Coming Award: Jamie Foxx Come on now. Would you come if you were him? 03 The I Got Nominated Because I Advertise A Lot In OZONE Award: Tampa Tony You my nigga, but stop advertising in OZONE and see if they nominate you next year. 02 Worst Wardrobe Ever Award: Pretty Ricky No grown ass man should wear that much damn glitter. You can always tell if they’ve been around by the glitter trail they leave behind. 01 The When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong Award: Plies I seen that coming a mile away and I’m sure you did too.
The first time you do anything, you’re bound to make some mistakes. You wouldn’t believe all the drama me and TJ and the whole crew (collectively known as TJB – cute huh) went through to make this event happen – and it actually hasn’t even happened yet so I really shouldn’t be writing about it. It’s like living in the midst of a bad movie with too many plot twists. As I write this at 5:08 AM on July 25th I’m quite sure there are more surprise twists and turns to come. There are many reasons why I don’t throw parties, and I’ve been reminded of those reasons throughout this whole ordeal. Dealing with promoters + club owners + rappers + rapper’s managers + record label execs + music industry bullshitters in general is a massive headache. Everybody has dreams of being rich. And while it’s true that the more money you have, the more freedom and power you gain, it also works against you. But you’ll never understand the undercurrents of it until you experience it yourself. Whenever you’re dealing with big money – or the perception of big money – you run across two types of unpleasant people: One, the ones who will do anything to get a piece of your pie; two, the ones who hate to see you come up and will do anything to stop you from eating. Money makes people crazy, for real. They show their true colors. Greedy people really turn me off and I’ve run across quite a few of them in this process. One in particular, actually, but it’s okay: your time is coming, my friend. I suspect that many people will enjoy watching your downfall.
Pimp C and I in Milwaukee
The most amusing part of success is watching how people’s attitudes towards you change. Some people are genuinely happy for you, but more often than not they have a little bitter afterthought or they feel left behind. All of a sudden everybody who used to hate on me and have problems with me wants to be my best friend.. and wants free tickets to the show. When I take a step back and look at all this shit that’s happening, it’s crazy how everything came full circle. It used to be me trying to get media passes to events and award shows and people not taking me seriously, and it pissed me off bad enough to work harder. Now I’m on the flip side and I’m trying to do the right thing and help people, not discourage them. This whole game runs 360 so when you’re on top it’s your responsibility to help the ones on the come up. Anybody who’s willing to get out here and grind like I did, I don’t hate. More power to ya. There’s a Me & TJ - before we got all stressed out. bigger picture. (Photo: Ray Tamarra)
- Julia Beverly, jb@ozonemag.com
Lil Wayne f/ Robin Thicke “Shooter” Bonecrusher f/ David Banner “Thank You Kindly” T.I. f/ P$C & Young Dro “Bankhead” Lloyd f/ Lil Wayne “Want You” Outkast “Morris Brown” Pimp C f/ E-Vicious & Smoke D “I Don’t Fuck Wit U” Da BackWudz f/ Bun B “Look Of It (remix)” Big Neil f/ Rick Ross “Dope Boy Music (remix)” 19
jb’splaylist Young Cash “Believe It” Ne-Yo “Sexy Love” Rihanna “Unfaithful” Jibbs “Chain Hang Low”