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JB, your article on Gucci Mane’s management was a well-written and fair and balanced piece of work. At a time when the bar for Hip Hop journalism has been reduced to a bunch of self-proclaimed “Hip Hop writers” who are just glorified bloggers with delusions of grandeur, it was refreshing to see someone actually do the due diligence and write a good piece. To be honest, I had you pegged for one of those “industry types” who just wanted to be in and around the game for status or whatever reason. Now, I must apologize for being so presumptuous. You showed me that you put in hard work just as I do and I have to give much respect for that. In an industry full of people who don’t want to work, you showed me that you are about your business. - BJ Wheeler, via email I read your article about So Icey. I’m sure this isn’t on the scale of fraud that you are researching, but I manage a producer who has submitted tracks to So Icey for Gucci. Since they were submitted, several of those tracks have been released on Waka Flocka and Gucci’s mixtapes. So Icey’s in-house producer has tried to mute out my producer’s tags in the beginning of the tracks and calling them his own. Gotta love shady business. - Evan Rosin-Pritchard, via email JB, I’m not part of your primary demographic. I’m into jazz and older forms of rap. Anyway, I ran into your bio quite by accident on twitter. You’re quite an interesting young person and I wish you well. You’ve embarked on a journey into a world that most would not view as most comfortable for you. You’re navigating the waters well and proving your detractors wrong. Good for you! About some of the hateful things that have been said, some of these men are using defense tactics to cover the fact that they’re interested in you. Keep up the good work and let the haters do what they do best. In the meantime, you’ve got a magazine to run! - Richard Williams, via email I was reading the new edition of OZONE and I saw that a fan wrote in and asked about labels that signed deals and disappeared. I feel like the story of T-Town and DSR is newsworthy, even though it’s like opening a can of worms. After six years of passing out flyers ,hitting the road, lugging tools and working my way up to management at T-Town, til this day I’ve never just asked, “What the fuck happened?” Me personally, I’ve moved on. But I busted my ass to blow up the “Not a Stain On Me” record with Big Tuck and Fat B with a lot of industry assistance. I even had major labels considering re-signing the company, which basically redeemed me in the eyes of the industry and many major label execs. I was promoted to label manager of T-Town in the middle of the process of signing a deal, but I was in a helpless situation. You can’t sail a ship that’s already sinking. I took the proceeds from the “Not a Stain On Me” project and me and George’s former partner Trini started MPR Entertainment: Money, Power, Respect, which is stronger than ever. Our buzz with Fab B is bananas because he was signed to T-Town and was able to get some label support. He was part of DSR but the big budget never made it his way. This has given me the opportunity to start
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with a clean slate and re-brand and sell him under a new imprint, but still be able to keep his monstrous fan base and continue to move forward. Paco, via email (Dallas, TX) I’m a Hip Hop head/producer/journalist/DJ here in France and you put me on for an article about French rap on OZONE’s website back then. Just wanted to say that I appreciate what you’re trying to bring with the magazine. It’s more than just music and hype. That’s where I’m at right now personally, a Hip Hop/hood guy finding out how much bullshit I’ve grown up with. I see you trying to show your readers it ain’t all about money, power, and respect. I always felt like OZONE, the title, speaks for itself. It’s about air and life. It’s more than just music and lights. Continue speaking your mind! It’s been so hard for me to do it out here. - Joy Stik, via Facebook (France) I just finished reading JB’s 2 Cents in Issue #81. Great article. I really enjoyed the article and its focus on overcoming fear. My favorite part is pushing yourself as if you’re training for a marathon. Step it up and the results are inevitable. Thanks for an interesting read. - E Collins, via email JB, your name came up in a conversation, and this person spoke so reverently about you as an entrepreneur that I was impressed from afar. Then I read your article Scam Afta Scam. The way you took Johnnie [Cabbell] to task about his business dealings was worthy of not only a Hood Pulitzer but a real Pulitzer! It was like a good book; a real page turner! - Stephen Carter, via email (Atlanta, GA) JB, your Scam Afta Scam article was very well-written. So many emotions were running through me as I read it (I’m a retired promoter, and my company has done every artist under the sun except for Gucci Mane). I usually don’t type these kinds of ‘feedback’ emails, but I really was impressed with your article because I too am a fellow journalist. So I take writing to heart. I felt your reporting on the situation was done well, and it was actually the first time I’ve ever read OZONE Magazine. The reason I got emotional while reading your article is because there were so many personal friends mentioned in your story who were hurt by this situation. It brought back memories of how many people in your article had to grind to get to the point they’re at today, only to have one group of people fuck up their reputations. I also enjoyed your newest interview with Lil Wayne in the annual sex issue. The comments about Lil Wayne saying he needed to be #1 or #2 in his kids’ life were intriguing. That was a profound comment coming from him. So many times we as fans misjudge an artist based on what we see on television or read in a magazine. But your article portrayed him in a different light. I’ve heard a lot of good things about you over the years and truly respect your tenacity to produce OZONE and still have it standing when so many of your competitors have fallen to the side. Keep up the great work. - Charlie Chase, via email (Dominican Republic)