editor’s note I’m Just Sayin’tho by D-Ray
L
et’s talk about the perception of the media. I’m usually the one who has a “who gives a shit?” attitude towards what people think, but the misconceptions always bother me, for some reason. Maybe it’s because whenever people think of you as “media,” they pass judgment, thinking that you’re only into gossip and drama. But that’s where I draw the line with my media coverage.
Every time I’m in LA the city screams for me to stay. I just haven’t been able to bring myself to leave my home, the BAY AREA!
Yes, I read the gossip. I watch it and I hear it! I just don’t speak on it. It’s one of those things about being where I’m from. Besides, I don’t like confrontation, so I’d rather just stay far away from it. I’m “media” because I love the stories my pictures help tell. I have love for Hip Hop and I have love for people making their dreams come true. I have respect for the artists that stay working every day on their dreams. That’s why I do it. It’s my passion to capture all of those special moments.
I know I keep saying this, but it’s the truth: a lot of artists need to quit relying on their music and step their promotion game up big time! Hustlers never stop hustlin’. This business is all about your visual AND your music. You need to create a fanbase, don’t sit around waiting for a fanbase!
I know many careers have been ruined by negative media attention. How fair is that? So when I am thought of as “media” in a negative sense, I take it personally. I try to be a part of the solution (good media) not the problem (bad media). This might be the reason my birthday party was so big to me. I had a crazy time. I want to thank everyone that came out to celebrate with me on my birthday! If you haven’t seen the pictures from the party you can go to OZONE Magazine’s website ozonemag.com and look under D-Ray’s Birthday Party in Beverly Hills! Please go see what all the talk is about! I also have to thank Ballyhoo PR; she did her thing. Big Mike of UGMX, thanks for taking care of all my last-minute needs! You came through BIG TIME! We had a great turnout, with people from Alaska all the way to France! We had pimps, hoes, hustlers, goons, gangstas, OGs, rappers, and did I mention Suge Knight? Yeah, Suge Knight came through! We had gangs and all areas in the house with NO DRAMA. It truly meant a lot. Look out for all the crazy Hustle 101 footage from that night. Another special thanks goes out to London for singing Happy Birthday to me.
Everybody came through my birthday ...you already know J party at Gonapchi in Beverly Hills! Diggs was there... Here’s me and Shorty Mack...
Glasses Malone f/ T-Pain & Birdman “Sun Come Up” Crooked I f/ Snoop Dogg “I Look Good” Snoop Dogg f/ The Dream “Gangsta Luv” Nipsey Hussle “Hussle Is My Last Name” Nipsey Hussle f/ Snoop Dogg & Poo-Bear “Gangsta’s Life” Glasses Malone f/ Slim Tha Mobster “Mutha Fuckin Streets” Bishop Lamont f/ Suga Free, Chevy Jones, Bokey, & Butch Cassidy “Nothing Could Be Better”
4 // OZONE WEST
The Bay is my first love, and it’s where I’m from. I will always go hard for the home team! I just feel like it’s time for change. But remember, it’s straight up West Coast all day!
Take Tech N9ne, for instance. He’s one of my favorite artists and he put in the time and the work to build his fanbase. I knew who Tech N9ne was before I even heard his music. His visual and hype were on point! He’s everywhere! He stays on the road, I’d guess, at least 200 days out of the year. Tech, if you’re reading this and I’m wrong with my guesstimation, let me know! You’re a perfect example of how to get it in! Artists need to try to stay on the road as much as possible. It’ll help you create a fanbase with a crazy promotional campaign and music to match. You have to be willing to make certain sacrifices if you’re serious and passionate about your goals. You need to live everyday going for your goals; that’s definitely not happening at your house or just in your city. You have to get hot there first, but after you’ve done that, YOU MUST TAKE THE SHOW ON THE ROAD! Sometimes I’m so disappointed by certain movements and certain artists because they get so big in their region but fail to travel and bring that momentum to other areas so the movement can spread. I know nothing is EASY and nothing is FREE in life. Start by investing in yourself if you want others to invest in you! - D-Ray, OZONE West Editor-At-Large dray@ozonemag.com
...and of course some of LA’s finest were in the building, like Problem....
...and Jay Rock!
LATIN PRINCE’S
TOP SLAPS
Nipsey Hussle “The Hussle Way” Koolade f/ J-Ro “Get Addicted” Snoop Dogg f/ Nate Dogg “OG” Mack 10 f/ J Holiday “Hood Famous”