When I first heard “Sexy Can I” with Ray J feat Yung Berg I actually really liked it. What was even more interesting to me is the artist featured on the track, never in a million years would I think that just a few months after that song hit #1 I would get a chance to sit down face to face with Yung Berg.
In late summer of 2008 through a connection in Ohio, I was able to attend a meet and great for Yung Berg at The Cyrus. I sat outside the VIP area where he was being interviewed by other media outlets for my turn. I watched 2 other media outlets sit and talk with him and noticed how gracious he was. Shaking hands, taking photos all with a smile on his face. This was one of my first real meet and greats (normally I don’t attend them because of other times I have been able to connect with major artists and normally not for media coverage) It was my turn, as a large man unclipped the red velvet rope for me to enter to sit on the side and await my turn I found myself a little nervous. At that time the media was swirling with controversy about Yung Berg about his comments on a radio show about his preferences on women he dates. The media had been so harsh to him I thought in my head that LAST thing he would want to do right now was any interviews with ANY media outlets, so I have to say I didn’t know what his attitude would be like. Also he had been on a #1 single across the country, and in my previous experience some new comers who get hot fast seem to have a little chip on their shoulder, I couldn’t have been more wrong!
I knew I wasn’t even going to touch the subject the rest of the media was buzzing about, that’s not what I was there for.I sat down across the room from him. He was finishing up another interview. I saw him across the dimly lit room (only candles, a TV on in the corner and light peaking from the outside through the drapes that hung outside the area lit the room) before I knew it, it was my turn to talk with Yung Berg.
I walked over and reached out my hand, with a smile Yung Berg stated “uh uh come here” and hugged me. I was a little shocked. Now please understand, I am FAR from a super model, not by any means fine so that wasn’t it.We sat down on the couch and had to be very close because of the blazing music from the club. I asked him about what he had been up to, his label, his projects and his trip in Cleveland. The interview was about less then a minute. I really wanted to just get a quick one two from him and bounce.
At the end of the interview (which I NEVER do, but had to) I asked him if he would mind doing a drop for one of my clients. He had no problem. He didn’t make a face like “wtf is she asking me” or “Who the hell is this artist she wants a drop for” he simple with a smile did the drop.
I left and have to say I really was really happy, got what I needed, he was very nice and I didn’t completely F* up. He had actually in his action made me regret all the things I had thought because the MEDIA I had been following on him had tainted what my first impression was going to be of him. I apologize for that. I of all people should know better.AS I left right outside the doors was the head of the Entourage DJ’s (also a Core DJ, Shadyville DJ and many other titles) DJ G-Spot was standing talking with someone. I take pictures especially of people I know so I interrupted the conversation and asked if I could take a picture. I had NO idea who he was standing with but I knew him and that’s what I cared about.
Now fast forward to a few weeks later. I was in NYC for the Threshold Underground Music Awards. I had some time off and had asked a few friends if they wanted to attend B.E.T’s 106&Park with me (I had got tickets before I had left for NYC) As we were waiting to get banded I walked over to smoke a square away from my friends who don’t smoke as they stayed in the line. Out walks like an entourage of 10 guys and one man stood out of the group. Standing over 6 foot, nothing flashy Tshirt and jeans but his face, something about him seemed so familiar. We both saw each other and smiled. He proceeded to walk and then stopped, turned around and looked at me again, I swore in my head I had met him before and by the look on his face I looked familiar to him as well. He walked back over to me and I asked him if we had met before. With a smile he said maybe, I think so. I then introduced myself to him and it clicked. He was the man talking with DJ G-Spot outside the Cyrus after my interview with Yung Berg that I had taken a picture of. I then found out it was Cap1 of Yung Berg’s camp.
We laughed as we both realized how we had first met only for a split second a few weeks back. He even told his entourage to hold up he would be with them in a minute as they yelled for him to come on. We exchanged direct contact information, hugged good bye and went on with our day.
After that the news of Yung Berg getting jumped in Detroit came out, another artist slapping him and most recently in the past few days a news show showing him on holiday getting arrested.
Now I can’t say that someone should be looking out for him, he is a grown man, but he is a signed artist WHO IS LOOKING OUT FOR HIM? You know what I mean? I had conversated with others in the industry as the latest flashes of him hit the net, and we seem to agree that someone isn’t doing their job. Isn’t a publicist at that level suppose to be doing a job not only getting his name out to the public, but shielding their client from some things going public? It's just hard for me now to believe all the things I have heard since my meeting with him and my experience with him and his camp.
When the news of people trashing him , after our introduction, I had put out a blog, did a brief version of my experience all the way to commenting on AHH.com about it. It’s funny to me how everyone and “their mama” had something to say about Yung Berg. How his mouth this, or how he that, but I saw comments from people who admit tingly said they had never met him, but had to put their two cents in. I felt the need to tell people about my positive experience with him and his camp. Why? Not sure, but I felt like no one was coming forward and I am sure I’m not the only person he had been nice to in his vast travels and promos. So why did it seem like I was standing alone?
This is one of the reasons Hip Hop at times can get a bad name, not only do we have ignorant people who talk from the side of their neck about nothing they know anything about, but not enough people stand up when a situation occurs and stands for something other then themselves. Back in the day people would have no problem people public about positive, but more and more the negative is what everyone is fed. Do I think there is an easy solution, no. Do I think that people will start to want more from their hip hop culture, yes. Do I think that will happen anytime soon? Probably not. With websites like a “TMZ” getting to the for front, it seems people forget that you are only seeing one side. You are seeing what people in that outlet Want you to see, and instead of actually taking a second to think before you react by leaving some comment on a site using an alias, people just believe what’s in front of them. Negativity doesnt sell unless we buy it! please BELIEVE that!
I am an advocate for THE ARTIST. Not the industry. I believe there are good and bad things on both sides, but I want to see people succeed. That is why I got into this business. But if your listenters/fans are not smarting up then the downward spiral of negativity will continue. Until you stop giving some websites the 50 million impressions a month or stop giving them the footage to post, they will continue to highlight the negative. And we will continue to be on life support.
Our culture makes Billions of dollars and is in every inch of this planet, our voices DO mean something, what we Let out in the public eye can effect all of us. Believe it our not, every step someone takes can actually trickle down to the newest person in the business. So when you think that you don’t have a responsibility other then to just make music, think again! It can be like throwing a rock into a calm pond, the ripples can be endless and the effects of what you do can reach all the way out to the outer layer.
Be smart about your choices, about how you represent not only yourself but the culture we call hip hop.Hip hop is not dead, it is not going anywhere, but I think the foundation of what it was built on is getting lost in the shuffle, getting lost in the masses and if we as a culture don’t stand together support one another and get it back on track, then the hip hop as we have known it will be a memory.
Respect yourself, respect the elements, respect the DJ, Respect others who share your craft, respect the originators struggle for us to do what we do today.
And remember this…It may not be YOUR preference of what you listen to, but hip hop comes in many forms. STOP trying to make people change their opinions on what hip hop is…to them. Being ignorant and not understand that your OPINION is not FACT, it’s not only disrespecting hip hop, the lifestyle, the foundation and the culture it's disrepectful to those that created the outlet for us to be who we are. LOVERS of HIP HOP!
It disgusts me that people are to ignorant to realize that rap is a FORM of hip hop. Telling a story, having a good time, sharing your life, telling about life and so much more is what hip hop is! I recently watched a video of Brother Ali that talks about how hip hop comes in many ways, when you having a good time or when you sad you listen to different forms of hip hop. I applaud him for saying what he said and I wish more people realized the truth. I couldn’t have said it any better! We all have our OPINIONS of what we THINK hip hop is, but in the end, IT’S ALL HIP HOP!
Hate it or love it, that’s as real as it can get!
-So Sincere
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