jb’s 2cents A
dmittedly, OZONE has engaged in its share of controversy during our five years of existence. Hey, we did what we had to do to get noticed. But you can’t deny that we also backed it up with consistently good material. Good interviews, good pics, good concepts. We’ve got flavor; attitude. It’s what sets us apart from the million other publications out there.
10 Things I’m Hatin’ On By Roland “Lil Duval” Powell
Yeah, we’ve highlighted some of the more interesting beefs over the last few years. I went through a number of obstacles – sneaking into big shows with a camera, my specialty – to bring you the nowclassic shot of TI holding up the picture of Flip in the leprechaun suit when he dissed Flip at the Birthday Bash in ATL. I filmed that clip of the Orlando police officer throwing Lil Scrappy off the stage in his early days that you’ve probably seen on the Beef DVD (that officer, who happens to be Smilez of Smilez & Southstar’s brother, hates me to this day, by the way). And those infamous voicemails I got – well, never mind. And yeah, I’ve put people on blast myself. I’ve ended a few careers – but every one of them deserved it. And I’ll continue to do it, because my bluntness is the reason you read this column.
Disclaimer: This is really what everybody else is sayin’. I know I’m dead wrong, but I’m hating anyway.
01 // PEOPLE BITING MY NIGGA JIM JONES Is it just me, or does everyone you see in the club now try to look like Jim Jones? Gotdamn, black people are followers. 02 // MOHAWKS This shit makes some of you niggas look like dykes. 03 // VH1’s I Love New York Speaking of gay, I’m convinced that everyone on that show is gay except the cracker, and he’ll probably let someone stick their finger up his ass if New York tells him to. 04 // UGLY BITCHES Have you ever fucked a bitch so ugly that when you nut you feel the same way you feel after you jack off? 05 // REAL ESTATE AGENTS If one more person comes up to me telling me they sell houses, I’m gonna snap. Stop believing what a nigga tells you. You ain’t gonna get rich just cause you got your real estate license. Getting a real estate license is as easy as getting a Kroger Plus card now. 06 // NIGGAS LIVING FOR EVENTS Stop revolving your life around events. People were planning six months in advance for Super Bowl and All Star weekends, which is the dumbest shit I’ve ever heard. Think about it: does it really make sense? Save up damn near a whole year for three days, then come back home and start over. Boy, these crackers got us right where they want us. 07 // MYSPACE Please change your password at least once a month, cause I’m tired of y’all letting these people get in your account and putting these bullshit-ass comments on my page about tracking everyone or the iPhone.
Ballin’ with Jim Jones in MIA...
With Rich Boy, Spider Loc, & Young Buck in ATL...
JB, DB, & our Blackberries
Pimp C, me, & Big Gipp
08 // ANNA NICOLE SMITH This bitch thought if she killed herself she would get more attention. Hey, it worked! 09 // THE MOVIE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS This was one of the longest, most depressing movies I’ve ever seen, and what pissed me off is how they ended it. They didn’t show the man balling or nothing after he got the job. 10 // COMEDIANS A lot of comedians have been hating on ya boy, and I have one thing to say to all of them: It’s too late! You should’ve hated four years ago. LOL @ you broke ass niggas. www.myspace.com/rolandpowell
So call me an instigator if you will, but lately it’s come to my attention that I also have a skill for getting stubborn alpha males to deal with their problems in more productive ways, like actually speaking to one another. Most rap beefs are either publicity stunts or the results of Ego + Entourage. Take Rick Ross and Trick Daddy, for example, the biggest beef bubbling under the surface that neither has publicly admitted yet. What is it ultimately based on? Nothing, as far as I can tell. Some ego bullshit. DJ Khaled’s “Born & Raised” is a classic Miami anthem and one of my personal favorite songs that dropped last year. Rick, Trick, and Pit each killed their verse, and because of some silly shit, we as music lovers might never have one of those moments again. In Vegas I witnessed another classic moment as Young Buck and The Game stared each other down across a crowded club. Although the incident ended without violence thanks to a few dozen police and security guards, it could’ve easily gone the other way. If it was just the two of them – minus the entourages – the situation could probably be defused. Without the pressure to make a public statement and “keep it real,” two reasonable adult males could probably come to the conclusion that at the end of the day it’s really not that serious. Biggie and ‘Pac, anyone? Remember the little diss records Chingy and Nelly had thrown at each other? No? Me neither, but anyway, they’re friends again and performed together in Vegas during All Star weekend. We’re still not sure what Mike Jones and Chamillionaire were “beefing” about, but they took a picture together (check the photo galleries) so apparently things are squashed. Baby and B.G. settled their differences after the untimely death of Baby’s sister. The CORE DJs boycott of Young Buck only lasted a week. See? We can all just get along. I try not to brag on myself, but based on what other people tell me, I’m one of the few respected females in this testosterone-fueled industry. So, I feel it’s my duty to offer my mediation services to these silly boys. Occasionally, there’s legit beef. But most of it is based on nothing, and if the two of you will just fucking talk to each other and express your feelings (it’s not masculine, I know) maybe you can make some money together. And that’s really what it’s about, right? So, Rick & Trick, whenever you’re ready to share a blunt, I’ll be more than willing to set it up. I don’t know Game personally but hey, holla at me if you wanna make nice with Young Buck. Is this naïve? Maybe, but at least it sounds good. As for the females, well, yeah, we’re even worse. We hate each other more than men do. Jacki-O vs. Foxy Brown? Khia vs. Every Other Female Rapper? I will take all of your pictures and put them in the photo gallery so you can get some pub, but that’s where it ends. Y’all are on your own, sorry.
making Kenny famous
- Julia Beverly, jb@ozonemag.com
Diddy f/ Keyshia Cole “Last Night” DJ Khaled, Akon, TI, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Baby, Lil Wayne “We Takin’ Over” David Banner f/ Akon, Lil Wayne, & Snoop Dogg “9 MM” Lil Scrappy f/ E-40 & Sean Paul “Oh Yeah” Baby Boy f/ P Town & Lil Boosie “The Way I Live” Diddy f/ Timbaland, Twista & Shawnna “Diddy Rock” Chamillionaire f/ Kelis “Not A Criminal” Blast f/ Akon “Look Me In My Eyes”
jb’splaylist Young Buck “Get Buck” B.O.B. “Daddy” Trick Daddy “Born A Thug” Young Dro “We Lied” Trick Daddy “Lights Off” OZONE MAG // 17