A note for you

I hate myself for a lack of determination that holds me back. It has
long been said that if I was as focused as I am talented I'd be a
millionaire by now. The said part is that I know that to be true and yet
I can't seem to find proper motivation. I mean I got a family now so
obviously I'm more motivated than before and slowly I feel a change in
my spirit. On the whole however I just don't have the drive to go that
extra mile right now and it bothers the hell outta me knowing that I'm
the only thing holding me back.
--dizzy

ID RATHER LISTEN TO JAMES BROWN THAN JAY-Z! Amazing as it may sound, especially coming from a rapper, its true. As I take yet another delay filled train ride home mentally exhausted from a hard day of doing nothing at work, I decide to throw my ipod on shuffle. The results were shocking, instead of being bombarded by the usual assortment of mixtape music and gangsta raps I was greeted by a pleasant surprise. My ipod decided today was the day that I would remember that long before I loved rappin I loved music. As track after track reintroduced me to old favorites like Babyface, SWV, and Jodeci I was forced to ask myself...what ever happened to this type of music? How could I go from loving R & B and wanting to be a singer to hating the genre? What's the difference between then and now? As the questions continued to flood my brain the Late Great James Brown began blaring through my headphones and the answer was as clear as day. SOUL! That's what the game has been missing and until it returns the music will continue to suffer. I guess you really can sell your soul huh? --dizzy

What's beef? Beef is when ya moms aint safe up in the streets. What's conflict? A fight, battle or struggle. What's drama? Any situation or series of events having vivid, emotional, conflicting or striking interests or result. What's a publicity stunt? When two celebrities who used to be buddies or at the very least colleagues decide that they no longer like each other, and feel the need to let the whole world know. This thirst for attention has ruined many careers specifically in the music industry where it is often the accuser who ends up suffering from their decisions. Lets use Canibus as an example, in the late 90's Canibus was the most talked about artist in the new york underground scene. Verse after verse his buzz grew exponentially with each appearance. Everything was going in the right direction and appeared to be gettin better when he was invited to appear on the seminal posse cut 4,3,2,1 on LL Cool J's Phenomenon. Soon after the tracks release reports surfaced that there was a misunderstanding regarding Canibus' verse that had lead to him rewriting his verse. As rumors swirled the rookie succomed to the pressure from the streets and members of his team and released a dis record, dispite having had a conversation with L allegedly to prevent a public dispute. While the track was regarded as one of the best dis records ever its release placed his budding career on the defensive. He was viewed as an ingrate who didn't appreciate the opportunity given to him by a legend and worse yet LL's response track was hot. So essentially "Second Round Ko" marked the beginning of his careers end, ironically I'm almost sure his team thought that the track would create the buzz neccesary to push his debut album over the hump. The moral of the story is this, sometimes no pub IS better than bad pub, his career had a full head of steam based on nothing more than his creativity and the quality of his music. Once he turned the focus away from his music he lost his identity. He went from being hot up and coming rapper Canibus to the kid who dissed L and he never recovered. This should be a lesson to these upcoming rappers, let the music speak for itself because until we care about the music we definitly won't care about you. Furthermore in these days a battle is more about who's gangster and less about who's nice on the mic, besides these guys aint rappers they're in the streets remember? So I suggest this if you are a rapper making quality music and you're feeling a little competitive man up set up a face to face and go to the fight klub. Other than that if youre a gangster handle situations in the streets instead of dragging the hip hop community down with the foolishness. There really is absolutely no need to tell millions of listeners what u are going to do to a person, just do it. Because history has shown that action speaks louder than words and no one is trying to lose their life or their freedom over a song. There is significantly too much violence in our community as it is and the last thing we need is more of our young voices gunned down over "beef". There is way too many opportunities available and money to be made in this industry for us to be throwing lives away, essentially for publicity. Enough is enough brothers let the music do the battling save your mind and body for actual drama and conflict. Remember this is JUST MUSIC!!!!!! --dizzy

I miss the days when rappers cared about being rappers. There once was a time when the people who claimed to be the voice of the hood were actually in the hood. I'm not trying to knock the next man for doing well and moving on, as I believe that is or should be the goal of every young individual growing up in a struggle. My beef is this, when you get paid to do something you should work towards being your best at it. With that being said I've lost count of how many times I've heard rappers say "I'm not a rapper! I don't care if people think I'm nice". That's exactly why the industry as a whole is struggling. Once upon a time rap was looked upon in the hood as a way out, a ray of hope. It was like playin basketball, only a few people you knew, if any, were actually good enough to make it. So almost noone counted on success in the music industry and they educated themselves and did there best to put themselves in position to succeed. This appreciation for the opportunity was reflected in the music as artists used their opportunities to relay a message to society. While the messages varied they all shared a common theme, a need to be accepted for who we are and what we do. Somewhere along the way that gratitude has been forsaken for commercial success. These artists treat the music industry like a summer job come in make some quick money and leave. They could care less about the path they leave behind, or destroy for young up and comers and so the cycle worsens to the point where every young up and comer feels the pressure to succomb to a gimmick in order to succeed. The music lacks integrity, its more about regional appeal than lyrical ability, and definitly more about a catchy hook than any substanse of content. Besides all we wanna do is get high and dance right? The music has been dumbed down so bad that many dedicated fans have lost hope. As a lack of respect for both the roots of the music as well as its forefathers mutate the music into something almost unrecognizable. My most frequently used quote these days is "that's what they callin rap now?". I think the solution or at least a start is in supporting independent radio. Without any obligations to big sponsers and major labels, playlists often feature much more thought provoking music. With better funding and support from the industry as well as indie artists it can provide an even better outlet for those artist making music that doesn't fit into todays "poppy" categories. Not to say that I don't enjoy a good party cuz I do but, theres a time and a place for everything and rap music doesn't understand that anymore. Rappers need to stop partying and start talking to the people again. Once they get back in touch wit the real hood not the fictious one they had built based on memories and movies then they can start talking FOR the people again. Once people can identify with your message they will support it and sales will increase. It would help if they actually HAD a message! If your whole album is for the club then which tracks do I bump when I'm driving? How about when I'm depressed? or angry?...exactly! not your album. So why would I buy it? I party a lot less than I sit down and chill and I think the average listener can say the same, so... ill listen to ya joint when I'm in the club I don't need to buy it. --dizzy