editor’s note I’m Just Sayin’tho by D-Ray
I
n this month’s editorial, I want to touch on a few things. The first is approach. They way you approach someone is the very important beginning of a possible friendship or future business. If you’re not sure if you’ve met the person before, just reintroduce yourself and go from there. That way, you’ve reestablished contact and have a starting point to go from. To me, nothing is worse than meeting a person and spending the first twenty minutes of the conversation trying to remember who they are. My bad if I don’t remember you; I meet a lot of people. That goes for everyone in the entertainment business. If you make yourself memorable, there’s always a better chance you’ll be remembered. It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you. I feel so special when a high-profile artist or music executive remembers me, not just from my work in publications, but from my work behind the scenes. They really just love my hustle. I’ve worked so hard at this through the years and have been through so much. There’s been so many times I wanted to quit, but I wasn’t raised a quitter. I was raised a go-getter! So that’s what I do. Most days, I’m traveling, all around the West Coast and the Midwest. My days tend to just start running together, but that’s what I signed up for, right? I feel blessed to be able to do what I do, and that’s why I sacrifice so much. I had to go back home to the BAY AREA because seeing D-Lo perform at Tatou’s in downtown Los Angeles made me instantly homesick. The party was smacking. Happy C-Day to my little brother Rob G, “Get Your Green Up!” The trip back home worked out great for my mind and soul because I really enjoyed the time at home and spending it with my family. It’s always family first – and I also got the chance to witness history. I was in the studio with The Jacka and Freeway for three days as they recorded a dope ass album. Scoot of Dem Hoodstarz was also in the studio (Free BandAide!) Around this time last year, history was made. We elected our first African American president. As millions of people celebrated, just as many people sat around anticipating his failure. We all hoped for something. “Hope” was the key word at the time, but it’s not just about “hope.” It’s about “believing” too. “To believe is to succeed, and to succeed is to achieve,” my nine-yearold niece said that to me as we were walking up to the movies to see Michael Jackson’s “This Is It.” Like Michael always said, the change starts with the person you face in the mirror every day. Believe.
The Jacka, me, & Network @ Boardwalk in Orangevale, CA for the Giants & Elephants Tour
Tech N9ne, me, & Violet Brown @ House of Blues for the KOD Tour in Los Angeles, CA
Daz Dillinger “I Luv Blood Bitches” Nipsey Hussle f/ Snoop Dogg “Gangsta’s Life” Mack 10 f/ J Holiday “Hood Famous” Glasses Malone f/ T-Pain, Rick Ross, & Birdman “Sun Come Up” Snoop Dogg f/ The Dream “Gangsta Luv” E-40 f/ Young Jeezy & B-Legit “Get Money” Bishop Lamont & Indef “Team America”
4 // OZONE MAG
This is also my favorite time of year: holiday season. It’s a very stressful time for the majority of the world. The thing most of us forget is that it’s not about material things and gifts you receive; it’s more blessed to give than to receive. It’s about love and happiness. Without that, you have nothing. Most of us wake up daily and take life for granted. We’re living on borrowed time, so we should enjoy it to the fullest. We all need to be celebrating. It doesn’t matter if your pockets are heavy or light; just make the best of it. This is where “hope” and “believe” comes into play. Nothing changes overnight (unless you hit the lottery, and the chances of that are almost 0%). Don’t take life for granted, because you’re not promised tomorrow! Love is more valuable than anything you can buy! As a child, I didn’t realize that material things didn’t matter. All I wanted was the newest and nicest stuff. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized what my grandfather was trying to teach us by making us rocking chairs, bikes, and picture frames – things I felt we should buy brand new, not homemade. Today I’d die for some of my grandma’s tortillas and I value all the homemade items my grandfather gave me. Those picture frames are so special because they were made with love, and it’s also a great story to have now that I no longer have him physically here. Love you Gramp! The world today is so obsessed with materialistic values and it’s hard for children not to be drawn to that. I think that’s why so many kids are robbing and stealing today; the parents can’t afford the lifestyle their children see on TV. Learning to love and accepting love is the best food for the soul! Children don’t ask to be brought into this crazy world. We bring them in! So we need to let the children know we believe in them. I had a conversation with Husalah while he was locked up. I recall him saying that if we look stressed and unhappy, that’s what the children of our future see. If we stay smiling and let the children see that the smallest things can make us happy, they’re happy because that’s what we’re teaching them! So this holiday season, let’s be grateful for our lives and the families we get to share our holidays with. Remember, material things can be replaced, but a life can’t. When a life is gone, we can only live through stories and photos. Life is bigger than money! It’s about memories and moments. - D-Ray, OZONE West Editor-At-Large dray@ozonemag.com
Me & Mitchy Slick @ Boardwalk in Orangevale, CA for the Giants & Elephants Tour
Me & E-40 on the set of his mini movie in San Francisco, CA
DJ BIG DEE’S
TOP SLAPS
Kurupt f/ Problem “I’m Burnt” Snoop Dogg “I Wanna Rock” The Game “Big Money” Crooked I “Mr. Pigface”