I’m from Minnesota and I bumped into OZONE Mag online, even though we don’t have the mag up here. OZONE is the hottest shit, I check this site out every month. Keep doin’ ya thing and let XXL and The Source fight like hoes for nothing. As long as you rep the music you’ll always be ahead of publicist beef. Too many dumb ass rappers are still broke thinking that beef sells. All beef does is sell more guns at the local gun store to shoot our favorite rappers. Now print that! Oh yeah, get this mag up to Minnesota, shit, we got black folks here too! 160,000 strong! – DC, Rocksolid Productionz, david.conover@spps.org I totally disagree with your article on Lil’ Kim. Female rappers need to change up to still be in this industry. Whether or not she altered her appearance is her business. If I had money, I would probably alter some shit too. Most stars have had some type of surgery, and she still looks good no matter what they say. She is the Queen of rap, and will always be. And if she looked a shitty mess, how come she has graced the covers of hundreds of magazines? People are so quick to talk about her surgery, but she put female rappers on the map and into the mainstream. She’s a pioneer and a trendsetter. So fuck the haters! Lil’ Kim isn’t a worldwide icon for nothing. - Liladge I agree with Noel’s article on Lil’ Kim, “From a Dime to a Nickel,” but she really did need the nose job and her tits done! Damn, come on, she’s got the money – unlike most female rappers! Look at Salt & Pepa or Roxanne, all them old chicks don’t have the money or the time to even come back with an album. Kim’s doing a lot of shit they wish they could do right now! The only chick that’s on top of her game and money besides Kim is Queen Latifah. Even if she get a nose job, an ass job, whatever, hey, I’m still her fan. - Four Five I liked the “sex issue.” Some of that shit had me laughing my ass off. As always, I also liked JB’s 2 Cents – the part about being broke building character. Always nice to be reminded that somewhere, someone out there feels the way I do. I also agree with the thing about many publicists trying to push those no-name artists on us. – David Himes, Connections Magazine, connectionsmag@bellsouth .net Your article, “The Future of Slip-N-Slide,” is the best article so far on the whole Slip-N-Slide situation. Props to OZONE Magazine for puttin’ another tight one together for the South. I pray to God that Ted Lucas gets his label together, because at the end of the day he can only help the 305 movement and the Miami hip-hop community a little bit more. Also, Ted’s asking C.O., Money Mark, and Rick Ross for hits? I suggest he tune into 99 Jamz and listen closely, because Rick Ross has a radio banger, “Rap Star,” which is produced by Cool & Dre and features them singing on the hook as well. It’s definitely a great record, and it has the potential to be a huge success if only somebody gets behind it and puts the proper push as far as marketing and promotions. A dope video, some regional airplay (ATL, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Pensacola, Tallahasee, Alabama, New Orleans, etc.), and some vinyl pressed up for DJ’s to play at clubs and on the air. Come on, Ted knows what he has to do. It’s just whether he wants to or not. Hopefully he will. Props on the article, though. Personally, I’m extremely grateful for OZONE Magazine and all the work y’all have put in for the South and hip-hop in general. Respect due. – UB, ub@thccrew.com I used to do promotions for 102 Jamz a few years ago. I was just back in Orlando and saw one of your new issues and it was nice to see you are still going strong. Your magazine is still hot, and I guess I’m just writing to give my support! I know it’s hard with this grimy industry and the haters, but keep it up. I want to see you around in the future! It’s amazing how you manage to cover other regions but still stay faithful to Orlando. I love how I can find out what’s poppin’ here but also what’s poppin’ in Miami or ATL. I know it must be hard trying to stay down with Orlando but also trying to spread your wings, but I bet you
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can make it happen! – Dominique Jackson, leighjoujou@hotmail.com I just saw Anthony B perform in Los Angeles. He was very inspirational, so I searched Google for more info and came across your cover story. Very cool, positive vibes. – Triniti, trinigirll@hotmail.com I agree fully with Noel’s article on Lil’ Kim. I share the same feelings, and I’m really sad that Kim fucked up her life the way she has. I’ll keep supporting her and wish her the best in her life and her career, though, because I’m not anyone to judge her. Everybody’s got their own issues. – Lboogie I must agree with the Lil’ Kim “Dime to a Nickel” article completely. Every time I look at pictures of Kim in her “Hardcore” days, I want to cry because she was such a cute and pretty girl, with small tits, rabbit teeth, wide nose and all. God made her that way for a reason, and she didn’t appreciate it and fell into the Michael and LaToya Jackson trap: Money can buy me beauty. And now, seeing pictures of her from the Grammy’s, I just cringe because she looks nothing like the rough-andtumble Brooklyn queen I once knew. Instead, an insecure plastic Barbie doll has emerged and completely took over who and what Kim was. I can’t relate to her anymore because she doesn’t represent Brooklyn girls or the streets anymore. I seriously hope that if Kim has at least one real friend left instead of just “yes men” and “yes women,” they can pull her aside, put a mirror in front of her face, and break it down to her that she doesn’t have to do this to achieve the white man’s standard of beauty. She is a beautiful African Nubian queen, and should respect herself as such. The white women she wants to resemble are the ones that are envious of her and her beauty. I really hope that she wakes up soon. She puts out great music and videos and is always exciting to watch, but my question is, is Kim really, truly happy? Did all that money she made for herself truly bring her happiness, or destruction? - Peaches I was just checking out the new OZONE like always, and I noticed you put our picture in the magazine! I just wanted to take the time to thank you for the support. I also read your 2 Cents. I deal with a lot of MCs and DJs wanting to hate, but someone told me once, “If they ain’t hatin’ ya, you ain’t doin’ it!” Keep doin’ ya thing. I see y’all workin’ hard, and it shows. Much love and respect. – Butch, Tyger Hill, tygerhill@hotmail.com I read your article on Lil’ Kim, “From a Dime to a Nickel.” I agree with some of it, but not all. Kim is and was a beautiful person. Even back then, she was fucking cute. She had the look and the body, but no tits. Sex rap was her profession. That’s her 9-5, so mama needed to come to work prepared. You need the proper tools to do the job, so she went and got a boob job. I understand that. But fucking with her nose was uncalled for. And what made it worse was the horrible clothes, the blonde/clown wigs, and makeup selection. It made her look awkward. She needs to stop now and live with what she has, or she really will look like Michael Jackson. It’s a shame that Kim doesn’t know how beautiful she really is. To me, when Kim messed with her nose, she messed with perfection. However, I do understand the insecure feeling. Although I think Kim went a little too far, I understand where she is coming from. When you have money, you just find things to do with it. And I think for most people, who have a little hint of insecurity or low self-esteem, if you were given a lot of money you’d change at least one thing. We can’t judge someone for doing something if it makes them feel better about themselves. I just pray that all the surgery is making Kim feel good, and not insecure and empty like she probably felt before the surgery. - Devin Correction: Last month’s Patiently Waiting to Blow section featured Piccalo, who are signed to Trunk Funk Records (incorrectly listed as Towners 4 Life).