editor’s note I’m Just Sayin’tho by D-Ray
I
t was a wild night cuddy! You missed out! (in my Mac Dre voice) Really, it was more like three nights. Let’s start with how I ended my hear in 2009 with Snoop Dogg. Snoop and his West Coast family DJ Quik, Nipsey Hussle, and the Hustle Boyz hit the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, CA, and the name of the tour was When the West Was One. So you know I had to be in the building, and oooohhweeee, was that a show! DaeOne thanks for the ride! Did I mention that I’m a real West Coast kid? Chuck Taylors always on my feet? This show definitely did not disappoint. The Hustle Boyz and Nipsey Hussle had it jumpin’. Then there was a surprise performance by Problem. He brought out West Coast legend DJ Quik. If that wasn’t enough, Quik brought out 2nd To None. I love that classic West Coast Hip Hop. Their performances were dope but the Snoop part of the show was straight crazy! During Snoop’s set he brought out Butch Cassidy and one of my all-time favorite Bay Area legends, Too $hort. “What’s my favorite word?” He had the crowd going crazy. Then Snoop brought out The Doggpound (Kurupt and Daz), Xzibit, and Lady of Rage. The show was bananas. Snoop shut L.A. down that night! Snoop shuts L.A. down every time he does an event. In December he shut Hollywood down when he did an event at the Vanguard with Travis Barker. It was a joint Malice N Wonderland release party and Famous Stars & Straps 10 Year Anniversary. As we got closer to the venue, traffic was stopped on every street. The police were out pulling cars over everywhere you looked (the police are always much thicker when it’s a Snoop show, SMH) . We parked and headed towards the Black Carpet entrance. I know I said the streets were packed, but not as packed as the black carpet! This was a 100% star-studded event. It was so crazy I just had to get my wiggle on. I learned from the best, JT Tha Bigga Figga a.k.a. Wiggler. Vanguard holds close to 3,000 people, and it was filled to the max. No one was moving and I thought I was gonna go bonkers. No moving around that night. I’ve been there before and have NEVER seen it so packed! I’m surprised the Fire Marshall didn’t shut it down, on some real shit. I gotta thank everyone who helped me accomplish my mission that night! S. Chung, you’re the best. Thanks for sharing your space with me. It was just too packed to move! I saw a lot of my people in the building: Rick Thorne (BMX), Boss Lady, SkinHead Rob, Freeway Rick Ross, Ray J, DJ DWrek, DJ Paul (Three 6 Mafia), Kelly Osbourne, Lamar Odom, Krondon,
Phil The Agony and so many more. Octavia and MiMi I see you! This was another historic Snoop show: he had Warren G, Butch Cassidy, The Game, Bad Lucc, Kurupt, Nipsey Hussle, Problem, Pharrell, Hustle Boyz, Soopa Fly, and Damani on stage with him. He had a live band who has been rocking with him a lot lately; crazy! He had one of my favorites, Terrace Martin, on the sax gettin’ it in doing his thang like always! Travis Barker was going so mainey on the drums. Travis always does a dope show! This show was so outta here! I love the WEST COAST! This is my home! My New Years Eve was so low-key and relaxed. I brought 2010 in at the house reflecting and really hanging with the family enjoying tamales! I have a lot of things in store for 2010. I’m gonna have my very first photo exhibit on April 10th, 2010 in Northern California. This will be an inviteonly event, so I can keep it close and very personal with my family and friends. I will also save some limited space for anyone else that appreciates my photography (if this is you hit me at dray813@gmail.com). Something else is brand new for 2010: Husalah is home! Welcome home cuddy! I just went to the Catalyst in Santa Cruz to see Husalah perform for the first time since he’s been home. It was a surprise performance; nobody in the crowd knew he was there. The Jacka already had the place lit. It was crazy; one second The Jacka was telling the crowd to put their H’s in the air for HUS and had them all chanting “Free Hus!” The lights were off and DJ Quest played the Husalah single “Pray For You” while the crowd started chanting even louder. Hus was singing the hook backstage and nobody even knew. Then out of nowhere, a spotlight guided HUS to the front of the stage and everyone just lost it. The crowd’s reaction was amazing. The performance was crazy; he did two separate stage dives. He was straight crowd-surfing. It was bananas! I definitely got chills from all the excitement in the room. Did I mention that all five Mob Figaz were in the house? The Jacka, Rydah J Klyde, FedX, AP9, and Husalah were all in the building. Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of people trying to get in where I get in and do what I do. I must make it look easy! It may look fun, but you should take it seriously (I see your groupie side!). At the end of the day, it’s a hard-ass JOB and I respect it like a job. That’s why I receive the respect I deserve. There are a lot of folks who carry cameras and try to take pictures they don’t need to be taking (those shots can get you caught up). I’m a hood photographer and I follow the street codes. I’m not one to look for a shot that gets you caught up! I carry passion with my hustle. Being a female I’ve had my share of doors slammed in my face, but, through my heard in this game there are just as many doors that have been opened. I’m playing chess while the rest of you are playing checkers. You can’t be taught the game, it has to be in your blood to get the trophy. Welcome home Dubee! Free P.S.D. Tha Drivah and Band Aide of Dem Hoodstarz. Shout outs to all those locked down who follow my photojournalism! I’ve tried to accept your email requests and sometimes for some reason it doesn’t work, but one love!
Lil Chuckee & me in Miami for his Young Money video shoot
Matt Kemp & me in Los Angeles @ Power 106’s Cali Christmas
“Rock N Roll” DJ Pizo f/ Muggs Money & Spice 1 “Get Off” Krizz Kaliko f/ Tech N9ne ““Gangsta Niggas” Ludacris f/ Spice 1 & Mopreme “Glamorous Lifestyle” The Jacka f/ Andre Nickatina “Baby Come Home” Spice 1 f/ Tony Toni Tone “So Far to Go” Common f/ D’Angelo “Fuck Me Thru the Phone” Spice 1 f/ Michelob & E-Note
4 // OZONE WEST MAG
HUS a.k.a. Tito, I’m glad you’re home. Let’s get it! 80% of success is showing up! Lead, don’t follow (unless you’re on Twitter, lol - @dray_ozonemag). - D-Ray, OZONE West Editor-At-Large dray@ozonemag.com
DJ PIZO’s
TOP SLAPS
“Give Me Luv” E-40 f/ Cataracs “Why I Hustle” Hot Rod “Top Spot” Laroo f/ E-40 “Hi Way” DJ Paul