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I’m reading the April issue of XXL and can’t help but notice them biting your style. They did a humorous calendar about T.I. going to jail that reminded me of OZONE’s Sidekick Hackin’. They’ve got a section called Rings & Things that is similar to your Chain Reaction showing Ace Hood’s Obama chain, and then there’s a section where they got a comedian to talk about stuff and songs they like. I always thought OZONE was the only mag with comedians featured in their own column. I was just letting you know in case you don’t view their mag. I’m your biggest fan. – Eric Biddines, via email JB, here’s my 2 Cents. I’m a young MC and a devoted supporter and follower of the Hip Hop culture. I can honestly say that I have probably read and followed every Hip Hop publication: The Source, XXL, Blaze, Murder Dog, Don Diva, Hip Hop Weekly, Owners Illustrated, the list goes on and on. I have probably spent more money on magazines than anything else in life. OZONE is by far the best magazine I’ve read, and not just because it covers the South, but because it covers the artists that are looked over by other publications and because it connects with the readers. I’ve been doing this music thing since 2nd grade and there is nothing that speaks to me like this rap shit. Nothing gives me that awesome electric feeling that sends chills through my body but Hip Hop! I’ve been spitting for years, and I’m pretty damn good. I have slowed down on music for a little bit due to the stress of fighting with DJs and program directors. This shit doesn’t always pay the bills, right? I’m trying to stay out of the streets, though. But the point of this letter is to tell you that you are not alone with your feelings of solitude. Believe me, I have been there, and it’s not just a Gemini thing because I’m a Capricorn and I have always felt it. I know I was put on this earth for a reason, I’m just not sure what that reason is. From the bottom of my heart, I can say that this rap shit has saved my life. When there was no one but God to talk to, this rap shit talked back and I knew I wasn’t alone. So to answer your question, who would give a fuck? Who would care? I would give a fuck! I would care! And there are others out there who feel the same way, so keep doing your thing and maybe one day it will all make sense. I have never written to any magazine before, but after reading your 2 Cents I felt compelled to give you a little of mine. - Ice Mike, via email (East St. Louis, IL) I feel that we need to be represented in Rapquest here in Thibodaux, LA. We really support your magazine. Please give us some support in return. – Courtaney Sawyer, via email (Thibodaux, LA) JB, I read your 2 Cents. I feel you, life is all about dualities. Reading people’s feelings always gets the mind going. I can never stop thinking either. For some reason after reading your article I was left with the following picture in my head. Rap metaphorically is an old declining rich man with a bunch of bad, greedy, selfish kids that take everything they can and never spend time with him. I feel bad for rap. He has some fucked up kids. Then I look at the old man in my head, and I wonder what kind of morals and ideals he planted in these kids’ heads to make them act this way. And I wonder what the kids are going to do when he runs out of money. I don’t even think they are his kids. If you think I’m strange, I’m cool with that. Dr. Dre’s album may uplift things. I don’t read OZONE much anymore because I’m into a different style of Hip Hop now, like Kid Cudi, M.I.A., Diplo, DJ A-Trak, & Yelle. Maybe instead of waiting for another Tupac or Andre 3000 to come along, you should go find them. There are a lot of artists that have the qualities of those guys, just not in rap. – Mike Frost, via email (Houston, TX) Miss Beverly, I’m a big fan of your magazine. Congrats on your article in Businessweek. I really respect your movement. You persevered and succeeded through all odds. You saw your disadvantages as advantages and maximized your intangibles. Your FaithWalk paid off and now you are living your dreams to the fullest. I am inspired by your accomplishments. Recently, me and my mother started a clothing line called FaithWalk to utilized our God-given talents and not put them to waste. Our belief is that if you take a FaithWalk to follow your dreams, anything is possible. You are definitely a good example for publishers, musicians, and entrepreneurs. – Will Parker, via email (Chicago, IL) 12 // OZONE MAG
OZONE’s got it on lock. I’m proud to see you on the come-up keeping this shit alive. Your mag has helped us get further exposure here in the Bay Area and on the West Coast as a whole. You’re probably the only one helping us get publicity for our artists. We kinda get cut off from all the other publications. – Ian, via myspace (Bay Area, CA) I was locked up at the Bell County Jail in Belton, TX. While I was in there the other inmates were reading The Source, King, and XXL. I skimmed through a couple of them and I was shocked and appalled at the lack of actual hood articles. When I say “hood” I really don’t mean that in a negative way. I just believe that the inner city, the “hood” as we call it, is the center and foundation of Hip Hop/rap/R&B and straight gutta music. The “hood” is where all the trends are set and where the artist becomes connected to the public, who will become his/her customer. If you show the streets love, the streets will love you back. I’m familiar with OZONE because Tre Dubb is putting OZONE all over the city. He’ll pop his trunk in the middle of rush hour traffic and give someone a copy. Anyway, back to those inmates that were reading other magazines. Please understand that I’m not hating on those other magazines, but there’s a stark difference between the product that you and your staff brings to the readers and the product of your competitors. I asked my girl to send me an OZONE and when it was delivered to me in Bell County jail with T-Pain and E-40 on the covers ya boy had that pow wow in the pod, feel me? The other inmates treated that OZONE Mag like it was their daily bread. You’ve got 25 new readers. In JB’s 2 Cents you sounded like your air is being slowly released, like you’re almost beginning to give up hope. What you’re giving up on, I don’t know, but let me tell you something. You are going to crush the magazine game, just give it a little more time. You’re even doing award shows! You have the streets behind you and a lot of smaller cities and towns feel like you’ve given them a stage to get their shine on. So please keep that passion and continue to be that voice for middle America. Hey, Barack did it, and look where it got him? - Corey Hart, via email (Killeen, TX) Peace to the staff at OZONE. I’m a big fan of your magazine, but I’m writing to correct a minor error that appeared in your article about the late, great Shakir Stewart a.k.a. Shake in Issue #73. The article stated that Mr. Stewart graduated from Skyline High School in Oakland, CA, but the truth is that he graduated from St. Mary’s College High School in Berkeley, CA. I went to high school with Shakir. He was a very ambitious young man who was an inspiration to me. I always remember him as being humble and outgoing. The last time I saw him was in 2005 at the St. Mary’s College High School Graduation, when my younger brother Gregory graduated. Shakir still remembered me, was very approachable, and had a few words of advice for me when I asked him how he “made it” in this difficult industry of music entertainment. Blessings to him, his family, friends, and all who knew him. – SoloFlexx, via email (Oakland, CA) Hello D-Ray! I read your article on violence in OZONE Magazine. I’m making contact with you because I see that you deal with a lot of independent artists and labels, and you’re hungry for the news. I am currently incarcerated in a Federal prison. I have several partners that are about to get out and make a lot of noise on the music scene. Jacob the Jeweler is here too! - Antoine North, via inmatemessage (Gary, IN)