OPEN LETTER TO PAY-FOR-PLAY MIXSHOW AND MIXTAPE DEEJAYS

I will address this letter to both mixshow deejays AND mixtape deejays, which of course, includes the fast-growing internet deejays. Props given to DJ Just Hits of www.jamcityamerica.com, DJ Ben Hop and the people at www.mocradio.com for running their radio stations like TRUE radio: with DECENCY and DIGNITY. However, we have a problem in the U.S. with radio stations popping up all over the country and paying their rent, mortgage, etc., off the backs of the sweat of artists who only want to get their music on the radio. I don't want to hear how bad you gotta eat, because every promoter that comes through with a B.S. party in your neighborhood can get 1,000 free mentions as long as you can get in with three of your cronies. I'm blank-staring you right now.

It is SUPPOSED to work like THIS: You get a radio station, you find good music, you pay BMI or ASCAP a LICENSE FEE to PLAY music by the Jay-Z's, Justin Timberlakes, or whomEVER's music you're feeling at the moment. The license is for a year, and the license is one set price for COMMERCIAL radio, and another price for NON-PROFIT radio. Don't you know how many so-called non-profit radio stations are operating on the Internet that are NOT registered as non-profits? DON'T have articles filed? And DON'T pay their fees so artists can get payed for airplay? These same radio stations can't get one company in their hood to buy radio advertisements on their station, because they're too busy charging artists to play some of the worst music ever [which does NOT make a listener want to tune in].

The more you line your pockets with money made off of music your non-existent audience doesn't want to hear, the more you lose the true value of your radio station. Think about it, eleven artists pay you $200 each to play their music. You made $2200. Now you have to find places to play those songs and MAKE IT MAKE SENSE. Does the song make sense with the two songs aired BEFORE it? Does it make sense with the two songs that air AFTER it? Matter of fact, does the damned song even make SENSE. PERIOD? The answer is probably "NO" if you had to be PAYED to play it.  Let me ask you something, did Robin Thicke send you a check to get that last joint off for him this past Summer? Probably not. Why WOULD he? So he can be duped into having his song played right next to some B.S. song that PAYED for a slot?

Clear Channel is the GRANDFATHER of this bullcrap, and the disgruntled employees of Clear Channel, and other radio stations, including the disgruntled deejays who never made it to a Clear Channel station or ANY radio station for THAT matter. Now the era of pay-for-play is way out of control. Listen, Clear Channel owns a company called 'Clear Channel Outdoors'... this is their BILLBOARD ADVERTISING COMPANY. People buy ads on those billboards. They buy ads on their radio stations. AND of course, the weekend mix-show deejay who doesn't REALLY get payed, will occasionally take a dollar to play someone's joint in their late-night mix-show. Or, they create a show and PRETEND to show the streets love, but CHARGE for PLAY. This is called PAYOLA and is a federal offense. Can Clear Channel handle that? Yes. They got the loot to stay outta prison. Besides, a corporation can't GO to prison. But YOU can, and sooner or later, you probably WILL.

To the many so-called community radio stations that are charging artists for interviews, shame on you. You aren't a community station if that's what you're doing. But to the artists and their managers... create your own, connect with your own, or just leave those radio stations ALONE. They are NOT REAL RADIO STATIONS. They are also NOT HIP-HOP! This message is to ANY deejay or radio station who is charging artists to be on their mix-tape or radio shows: YOU ARE A FRAUD OF THE INDUSTRY, AND A PART OF THE DEGRADATION OF HIP-HOP CULTURE'S PRESENCE IN MEDIA! This is a demand that ALL of the frauds do away with this practice and get back to the REAL business of radio. Not what the devil taught you about radio. That devil is of course, Clear Channel, (aka "Cheap Channel" to those on staff0.

MIX-TAPE DEEJAYS: Why should an artist PAY you to be featured on your mix-tape? Then that artist has to turn around and PROMOTE that they're on your mix-tape? And the artist gets WHAT? You have got to be kidding me with this bullcrap. Now that all 20 songs on your mix-tape is PAYED for... WHY are you wondering about why NOBODY is BUYING the mix-tape? Why WOULD they buy a mix-tape full of songs that aren't properly mixed, mastered, etc.? Not to take anything away from the underground artists on the grind, but at least show your true compassion for the culture and create a mix-tape showcasing the music of artists in your 'hood, or unsigned artists everywhere. Bring it back to what the ESSENCE of Hip-Hop Culture is: Each one Teach One. Maybe you're not as connected as you would have artists believe. Maybe you don't KNOW what's hot.

I remember when KJ Holiday, one of the 'Yes Men' of Clear Channel tried to clown me about Juvenile's single "Ha". when he was the Program Director and Afternoon Announcer at Clear Channel's '103 Jamz' in Virginia. He said these words: "Why do you think this crap is going anywhere? You always try to give the wackest songs props".

What I told him was: "Everybody doesn't sound like a New Yorker, bro. Only in New York and New England. Maybe Philly. Once you get past that, everybody sounds like the South. But you'll see when the South takes over, though". That was 1998. Need I say more? Now, of course, KJ remains at Clear Channel, and is now in Detroit. And rightfully so. His mind is trained to NOT understand or know what's next. That's what Clear Channel needs. Now, since those of you that I'm talking to in this message are NOT the higher-ups at Clear Channel, and since you so-called "mix-tape kings" are NOT true "mix-tape kings", my advice to you is this: connect with these artists and create a stronger unit and bond that will help both you AND the artist in the end.

I won't even GET into you promoters who are charging artists to get on stage and "open up for a major artist". What part of the game is THAT? Just because you can't pay the artist for his flights, etc., doesn't mean you should try to get that money from the rap acts or singers who will "open up" starting at around 7:00p.m., when nobody's in the building. That's the most absurd and ridiculous thing I have ever heard and seen. You are eating off the desperation of the artists, and that's not wise. Pretty soon, the hardcore desperate artists will be in your face, standing next to the stage, waiting to get on, and you WILL put them on, WITHOUT being paid. Some say the game has changed. No, it hasn't. What HAS changed was, the goons haven't showed up yet. Apparently, that's what a lot of these so-called promoters, mix-shows, mix-tape deejays must want. You can get away with playing these younger artists who are unaware of what's happening, but you WILL BE CHALLENGED BY THOSE WHO KNOW. Again, save the drama about how "We gotta eat. Time has changed". It hasn't. The artists are STILL being raped and robbed. And the mix-show deejays are STILL groupies. Look out for us. We WILL change this fraud and corruption. You have been SPOKEN TO. I have a nation of MILLIONS behind me, and WE own this culture!

Peace!