NIGGAS & PARIS

"NIGGAS & PARIS"

The Completely Ridiculous Controversy   

    Like most people, my life experiences often shape my view of the world. So before I get to it, I wanna share a quick story with you. I was in the US Navy in 1995 stationed aboard the USS Nassau, an amphibious assault ship. We stopped at various ports in the Mediterranean Sea like Naples in Italy, Haifa in Israel, and Toulon in France. It was the first time  I was away from my home state on my own and my first time leaving the country. 

   While in Toulon, France I had my first experience of racism in a country other than America. I'm from the south, so it wasn't like I've never experienced racism. But when you get it from a person with a deep French accent who barely speaks English, it hits you that it's way bigger than you ever could have imagined.

  I was in civilian clothes at some store like place, and I was struggling to figure out the currency situation at hand. Some French man wanted me to hurry up, obviously I was not moving fast enough for him. I sensed his frustration, although I don't know if he sensed mine. He was obviously upset and his English wasn't  too good. Then he said something I clearly understood:  "dumb nigger". 

  They tell you off top on the ship that when you go out into foreign countries to see the sights when you are over there while in port, you are responsible for your own actions. If you go to jail, the ship will not wait for you to get out. Long before it was a TV show, I was about to star in my own personal episode of "Locked Up Abroad" right then and there. I would like to thank my friends and shipmates that I was with that day for stopping me from going to jail in France for assault. I snapped, lunged at the guy and they held me back. It all happened really quick.  

  That was on the first of three days I spent there and I could tell you a few other obviously racist things that happened to me in France. But the point I want you to gather is I know first hand racism is a global issue. Black people being treated like second class humans, no matter what uniform we may wear, how we may talk, or where we may be from is not a figment of my imagination. That's important to the overall message of this blog, which I am about to go into now.

  A group of individuals attacked multiple targets simultaneously in Paris, France killing over 100 people. Bombs and guns were used, and it was coordinated attack not on a military institution, but on regular civilians going about their normal day. I need to be very clear about something and I'm only going to say this once. That shit was horrible and I hope whoever did it rots in whatever hell they feared while living.  Anyone who helped carry out the plan that didn't die in the attack should be killed. I don't really care what rationale or reason anyone tries to spin and justify that incident, it was cold blooded murder. 

   I don't feel the need to give a lesson about all the things America and France have done to Islamic people or people of color throughout history. This isn't about Haiti, it isn't about the colonization of Africa by the French, nor is it about how Obama has handled ISIS. None of that really has anything to do with the real issue that's bugging people. Most people don't even know history well enough to make intelligent remarks about historical events. 

  You see, this blog is about the world media, and how it influences social media. This whole fake ass "controversy" can be credited to the overall disproportionate coverage of atrocities that happen to other races juxtaposed to atrocities that happen to people of color. If you think its about anything else you are probably making a fool of yourself on either end of the argument on social media already. 

   It's like a fire was set in the woods in the middle of a drought and left to die out unsupervised. All you need is a little spark and things can quickly escalate into an all out uncontrollable wildfire. If the #PrayForParis hash tag sparked the proverbial flame, then Facebook doused it with gasoline in the form of a simple question: "Do you want to change your profile picture to show your support for the Paris victims".

That's all you need, a spark and an accelerator. BOOM!! 

  Facebook is the biggest social media platform in the world, and they gassed up a firestorm among users by doing one simple thing: giving you an option. But it isn't the option itself that makes them guilty of this digital arson. It's when and why they decided to give people the option to make the change. More importantly again, it's also about when they didn't ask that same question to its users. And now you have two groups of people at each others throat, in the middle of a fire, wearing gasoline soaked clothes.

  If you have uttered the words "Fuck Paris" in the last few days either out loud or by typing it on a post or comment, let me say this: you are an idiot. If you think that what happened in Paris can be justified by some sort of twisted sense of "justice" for some shit the government of France did decades or centuries ago, again you are an idiot. If you think people shouldn't send up a prayer for the victims of any tragedy, be it Paris,  New Orleans during Katrina, a Church in South Carolina, a school in Kenya, for the last time YOU ARE A IDIOT.

   Really, who says fuck praying for someone that was just a victim of a senseless murder? Some of you assholes went completely left and made this about the actual crime that happened instead of what its all really about. And that is again, how the world media covers and treats crimes and tragedies that happen to people of color as opposed to the way they cover tragedies against others. The #PrayForParis hash tag should have been no big deal. It should have just been a way for rational people to say "damn that was messed up, I wish the victims and their family well". But no, it just couldn't be that simple.

  So, I did not change my profile picture to "show support for the victims in Paris". I'm also not one the assholes who feel like what happened over there isn't tragic, and that a prayer for the victims of the tragedy is something I should say "fuck that" too either. There is a clear and simple reason I didn't do it, and it wasn't because I didn't think it was tragic. I'm going to tell you why I didn't change my profile in a sec, but I have one more thing to clear up that is pivotal to my reason that you need to know.

                

  Let's keep shit 100, when it comes to social media, your profile pic is important. It doesn't matter what your reason is for being on any social media platform, the profile picture is most often going to relay something you care deeply about. It can be your kids, it can be your business, it can be your current school, or favorite sports team. But that simple little square image really matters to people. Lets not kid ourselves, because if it didn't matter, these last few days of ridiculous back and forth about the Facebook option wouldn't be an issue at all. We treat our social media account password like its our ATM code for a reason.

  So let me say this to all of you: I just didn't care about it ENOUGH to change my personal profile picture. My profile picture has always been an image of something that is important to me ever since I started using social media. Like most people, if it changes in anyway, it's either a business decision, a significant event, or I just simply got tired of it and wanted to switch it. If it's the latter, whatever it is switched to still falls up under one of the aforementioned categories of importance.

  Lets put it all in perspective. I did change my profile picture to me wearing a hood at the height of the Trayvon Martin case. That was because I cared deeply about that issue. That issue was important enough to me that I didn't need Facebooks help to let the world know I was pissed about what happened to that kid and I cared a lot about it. I changed that image on my own. It was also trendy to be honest, but the issue was something that I connected with personally far deeper than what happened in Paris. 

  You see where I'm going yet? The reason so many black people are up in arms about other black people who changed their profile pics is more about the fact that Facebook gave you the option to do so. But Facebook did not come up with a catchy quick way to show support for the the countless black victims of police brutality. They did not come up with a catchy way to let you show support for the students murdered in that college in Kenya a few months ago. They did not come up with a way to show support for the innocent people slaughtered in a church in South Carolina. Many of you black folks have your anger misguided and targeted all wrong this time. You are lashing out other people because they showed support for those victims in Paris, but really its simply not them that's eating at you.

   Does this mean that the ones who did change their profile pic are on some sort of higher moral ground than those that didn't? HELL NO is my answer to that. If we exclude the people who all of the sudden changed their pic in "support" because it was simply controversial and to make some sort of "Its my page I can do what I want" statement, it really wasn't that many people at first. Look, if you REALLY cared that much, I have no problem with that. Some people are compassionate like that. But frankly I actually know some of you people in real life, a fact people sometimes forget about when dealing with the digital world. Some of you really don't care that much about your own damn family, let alone some people you never met halfway around the world. It was just something you did because it was trendy. So well, fuck your profile pic if that's you.

  Loss of life for no good reason is tragic no matter what. But I'm not about to sit here and tell you some bullshit lie and act like I care about what happened to those people in Paris more than I cared about Eric Gardner. Truth is I care more about one than I do the other. And I'm perfectly comfortable with admitting that to the world and I'm unapologetic about it. Sometimes all the obvious bias that is shown in media coverage and by large cooperate platforms like Facebook for other races can make black folks lash out at the wrong thing. This is an example of one of those times, but the underlying anger is still warranted.  

  In closing, I will give you the blunt Ebonics laden truth. Niggas is mad about that hash tag and those profile pics because they sick of the whole damn world always caring about bad shit happening to other people but not really giving a fuck when bad shit happens to them. So, niggas is like "FUCK PARIS" because once again the whole world seemingly feels their pain, but when we say #blacklivesmatter some of you muthafuckas say shit like #alllivesmatter instead of simply saying your absolutely right. The media is the main culprit and it's bad enough that white America and most of the world tend to follow suite, but you got some black people who do this as well. Then the biggest social media platform on the planet lined right up and did the same thing.

  We all pick and choose what we care about, it's human nature. But fake caring about something just because you have been told that it's important and you should is just as bad as not caring about some of the really bad shit that goes on in the world. I don't fake anything. I cared that people died in Paris, I just didn't care enough about the issue to take any action other than thinking to myself, "damn that's fucked up". I'm not mad if you felt a deeper connection to the issue. Don't be mad because I didn't.

BLIZM

K-100 Radio
www.K100Radio.com  

  

The Recording Academy & Grammy Voting Explained

In this VLog BLIZM, Program Director of K-100 Radio, explains the process of becoming a member of The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, aka the people who vote on the Grammy Awards. Still the most prestigious award in music, the Grammy Awards are often criticized by many in the Urban Music industry for not getting the award right, especially in the Rap and R&B genres. BLIZM addresses the issue of the lack of minority and Urban music professional members in the Recording Academy and also breaks down how the voting ballot is structured.

https://youtu.be/rnfKsQYsCXg

#JusticeOrElse : An Open Discussion Live on K-100 Radio

Listen as BLIZM hosts this live interactive talk segment on K-100 Radio. The subject is the Million Man March 20 Year Anniversary and Louis Farrakhan's speech at the rally. Live callers give their accounts of the rally if they attended, and their feelings on the ‪#‎Justiceorelse‬ hashtag and movement. 

https://youtu.be/aBnUwVzmWmU

K-100 RADIO'S BLIZM FEATURED ON THE BIG HOMIE SHOW

CHECK ME BLIZM, THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR OF K-100 RADIO ON "THE BIG HOMIE SHOW" WITH VIC XL & HOMEBWOI ON RIDING DURTY RADIO

This is a dope podcast. We of course keep it all the way 100 about a myriad of things, the music industry and more. #salute to these guys..tell Combat Jack they COMING

http://soundcloud.com/ridindurtyradio/the-big-homie-show-hip-hop-feat-blizm-of-k100-radio

"THE WORST FANS EVER"

  I love a lot of things that I will pay my hard earned money for. These days to be honest, it seems that hard earned money goes to more things my kids love actually. But anyway, in general if I want something I enjoy, I buy it. We are not talking necessities like food and clothing, although my meal doesn’t have to be shrimp, nor my shoes Nike, but they often are. We pay for the things we need and the things we want if we have the money. Unless of course, it happens to be a song we like. In that case, people don’t want to pay for shit!

   Today I will address the cheapskates that think it is okay to love something so much that you can’t fathom life without it, yet won’t pay the price to enjoy it. Before I offer these people up to the music Gods for sacrifice, I must first make it clear how horrible life would be without music. This won’t be hard, all you have to do is imagine every movie, most TV shows, music websites, sporting events, commercials, clubs, and iPod in the world just up and disappeared. While you ponder that nightmare, allow me to get on with my point.

   Music has become so devalued at this point in general because it has become easier to create and steal. Once an item can be created for less cost, and effectively mass produced at a high rate that is normal. All genres of music have had to adapt to the digital age and how it affects sales, marketing and more. But the difference in HIP HOP music is that not only do you have to deal with change in technology, you have to deal with the mindset of a target audience that has more than likely been trained from birth to “get it for the low”.

   Now you see where I’m going with this don’t you? Yes that’s right, I will say it real simple so it does not go over your head: HIP HOP "FANS" DON’T WANNA PAY FOR MUSIC. It had to be said people, don’t shoot the messenger. We created a billion dollar industry out of an art form, raised it up from the streets and turned it into the number one genre of music. We did that because when it popped off, we loved it so much. As fans, we had to have it like those new pair of sneakers. We would come up on some money, hit the mall to hit the record store and to cop our latest jam along with those new J's. Those were the days of old.

   But, as it goes in the hood with our people, no matter how much we love something, cash rules everything. We love to claim Black Lives Matter and we slaughter each other over money and streets we don't own. But, I will digress on that point for now. But as it stands, the less you spend the better and music is no exception. We praise and idolize our favorite music artist like we do our favorite athlete, but we don’t treat their talent with the same level of respect. We know we can’t jump like Jordan, or run a 4 second 40 yard dash, but for some reason, a lot of people think they can be a rapper.

   Let me be clear and frank: as of late the music that has been in the forefront of HIP HOP specifically and on FM radio, I can’t say that I blame people for not wanting to buy a lot of it. Seriously, I thought one of the new “hot” songs on the radio today was a spoof when I heard it. But, even if a song is wack, for the ones who actually do LIKE it, that still won’t make them PAY FOR IT. The psyche of the average urban music fan is “I’m trying to get it for free or cheap”. It doesn’t matter if it’s music, or buying food stamps at half price to double their groceries.

   Far be it from me to tell people how to spend their money, but this blog is about what a real fan is. Country music artist don’t have this issue as much, neither does pop, rock, jazz and so forth. There is a different mindset in general of the FAN of those genres, a higher level of respect for it as an art form. I won’t act like they don’t have piracy issues like any other form of digital music, but it’s far less. Their CD’s are just as easy to jack and steal online, but urban music is pirated at 20 times the rate of their music.

   It’s the target audience, the CONSUMER that is different. An urban music fan can LOVE an artist, and they may even support them by attending a show at the local club. But paying store prices for the album, or .99 cent to download the single? Um…NO, they will get it from the flea market. Sad truth of it all, in Hip Hop especially we sensationalize and give props to illegal activity. Our target audience is a group of people who make heroes out of dope boys, strippers and gang leaders. So to honestly expect those same people not to steal your product is on the verge of INSANITY.

   This goes deeper then skin color of course. It really is an economical issue at the end of the day. Urban music fans tend to be young, broke or a combination of the two. At the very least they may come from a low income family or background. This does not mean that they are "bad people". It just means there is a mindset that comes along with those economic conditions that makes you tend to care less about respecting music as an art, let alone piracy laws. Fueling the flames of this rationale is the fact so many Hip Hop artist give their music away online, or allow a DJ to openly pirate their music. To them this is some form of sick promotional game that is required to build up their “fan” base. Sounds crazy when I say it like that huh?

   So, before I go I just want to say that personally I appreciate every true fan and supporter of Hip Hop. It’s not many but we have take what we can get. But as a fan and supporter, I HOPE that you would BUY an artists product if you can afford it. Every urban music artist has some way you can hear thier music for free that they authorize and promote like streaming sites and such. And much like those favorite shoes you saved up and bought, save up and buy the MUSIC you love too. I know I’m talking real crazy now huh? I thought you said you were a FAN though?

DO BETTER!

-BLIZM (Program Director, K-100 Radio)

Click Here to listen to K-100 Radio

"THE CHOICE IS YOURS"

  Choice is a luxury that was said to be afforded to mankind by whomever you believe created us in this universe. Almost any person, religion, country, and race would agree that choice is pretty much the essence of determining if one is free. Freedom some say is not really free and almost always comes at a cost. Then if choice is indeed the essence of freedom, well then having the chance to choose must inevitably be associated with a cost also. I know, you like I thought this was hip hop blog, not philosophy class, but well I had to set this all up for the point.

 And the point my good readers, is that we often choose bullshit in many aspects of our lives. More specifically, when it comes to radio and urban music, we choose to solicit and support bullshit. Even worse, after people choose the bullshit, they often complain about the very bullshit they choose to endure, when they indeed have the freedom to choose otherwise. Can you tell where I am going with this? Of course you can, so let me cut to the chase.

  I’m done complaining and criticizing terrestrial FM Radio as we know it for the content its airs. I can no longer blame any on air personality, program director or any entity at any station for what they play. I had this epiphany as I was riding in my car one day about 2 years ago, and all three of the major FM radio stations for urban music in the area were literally ALL PLAYING THE SAME SONG. I clicked the internet radio app on my phone, plugged in my auxiliary cable so I can hear it through my car speaker and never looked back.

  It was then that I realized I have had the choice all this time to not listen to those stations, but somehow their enormous presence made me feel like I didn’t. For some reason I gave them a power over me that I could have easily severed years ago. I don’t know why I felt like I had to listen to them, as if I had no choice when I clearly did like millions of others. Even though I live in this high tech age, when it came to radio, a technology that has been around over a hundred years, I just stuck with the status quo. Yet, I pretty much hate all the commercials, same songs and censorship associated with the platform. It’s like going to a restaurant and giving up my seat to a white guy in 2013 just because he asked for it. The sheer ridiculousness of it made me feel stupid.

  Why did I make all those Facebook post about Radio, and how it sucks? What was the point really? We all know that the “programming” of radio in its inception had sinister plots behind it for various propaganda campaigns. It was so powerful because it was the only option, but now we have choices. Why would someone still choose to listen now if they don’t really like it? The bottom line is, if you don’t like FM Radio you can simply choose another form of radio. I can’t stress the word SIMPLY enough. It used to be that other options were not as accessible before, but that is just not the case now.

   I don’t want to downplay the power of the corporations behind the platform, but in the end bullshit radio is as powerful as the people make it. The more I hear people complain about it, the more confused I get as to why it’s still around. Just like cable phased out analog signals and the mp3 is bringing about the end of the CD, I firmly believe internet radio will ultimately put down the media juggernaut that is FM radio. They of course will adapt, they have already by starting online versions of their platforms. But just as NBC, CBS, and ABC had a strangle hold on TV, soon Clear Channel and Radio One owned stations will have share the listeners far more to the internet radio stations, They are the new radio version of what would be FX, AMC, USA or TNT. They are the OPTIONS.  XM or satellite radio would be the proverbial HBO, SHOWTIME, CINEMAX version in this little comparison since they are great, but not free and come with subscriptions.

  I do need to point out why the music industry professionals give so much credence to the format: MONEY. They all have a financial stake in making sure FM reigns supreme as the most important radio format. All the backroom payola deals, the fact that entities like Neilson BDS don’t really count internet radio spins (NO THEY DON’T, LOOK IT UP) are just a few reasons why. They don’t care for any format that the big wigs can’t control. So they downplay it as not "REAL" radio. But once you listen to a good internet radio station, you realize they have been feeding you bullshit. You have been drinking their Kool-Aid too long.

  I am here to tell you to take the red pill. Choose something else if you don’t like what you hear on another platform. Many online stations have commercial free music. Some have great and funny on air personalities. Some have contest, celebrity guest, great news spots, sports highlights and more. You have a choice now to what kind of radio you listen to. If you choose to listen to bullshit radio, then it’s not bullshit radios fault, it’s your own. You can no longer complain about FM and their programming. To do so now would be like crying about being broke but not wanting a job, pretty ridiculous. We choose what we listen to. This is not the 50’s, you don’t have to listen to the same 20 songs all day. Not even in your car.

-BLIZM (Program Director, K-100 Radio)

Click Here to listen to K-100 Radio

"AFTER RAP"

  For most aspiring Hip Hop artist, becoming a “rap star” and performing on the some esteemed award show will simply never happen. It’s not because they won’t work hard, or they are not talented. It’s simply a question of numbers: there are millions of aspiring artist, but only a few slots for super stars. This means that you should go into your grind knowing full well that it is a far greater chance that dream will never happen then it becoming reality. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is simply the reality of the facts and numbers.

   With that being said, I often run into artists with grandiose expectations of breaking into the music industry.  To tell you the truth, getting into the music business and being successful at something other than being a rap star is not only easier with better odds, most of the time its more profitable. I would never discourage any artists from going hard and trying to accomplish whatever they feel they can attain. Whether it’s getting to the level Jay-Z is on or even getting a huge Indie buzz and striking a jackpot slot on a great tour. If your dreams and passion for stardom can withstand all the hurdles you will no doubt face on that path, by all means get out there and grind!

   Let's say you make all the moves you can make, rock hella shows, press up all the CDs, and network with all the right people, . Let's say you do everything you physically can, and it just doesn’t pop off, then what? I used to have that tunnel vision I see in many young indie artists. It was either make it to the top of the rap charts or die trying. I didn’t have a backup plan.  I mean, why would you need one when you are the best MC you ever heard right? You’ve got the streets on lock, right? You’re grinding out here and you’re doing shows so it’s just GOT to work, right? Well, if it was that simple everyone would get on.

   Why should all the connections, all the time and knowledge you have attained about the industry just go to waste because you can’t be a “star”? What about all the OTHER things in the industry you could be doing? Let’s say you do make it and you are the lucky rap lottery winner and gain some measurable amount of success as an artist on a NATIONAL level. How long can you really RAP? How many artists fall off after ONE single or project? You don’t have to go back to the block or a 9 to 5 just because being a RAPPER didn’t work or has run its course. What will you do AFTER RAP is the question you should ALWAYS ask yourself?

   But, you don’t have to take my word for it. You can see for yourself the numerous examples in the industry that indicates what you do after or in conjunction with your role as an artist will determine your longevity in the music business. Frankly, more often than not, you won’t even make a lot of money until you get to this point. It’s not just me talking, it’s the Queen Latifiah’s LL Cool J’s, Flavor Flav’s, Ice Cube’s, Dr Dre’s, and so on that you can refer to for proof. Being a rapper now is more about becoming a brand to be able to sell something else to make money. You can love it all you want, but try getting paid a lot of money off just your music, and those odds we discussed before get chopped into even smaller bits.

   You may know this already, but knowing and preparing for a scenario are two different things. Taking courses on music business, marketing, TV & Film production, broadcasting, these are just a few backup lanes that you can start to prep for NOW while you hit the studio and rock your shows.  If you are not the school type, that still is no excuse to only focus on just being an artist alone. Having a wide skill set on various things in a given industry is always more powerful than being good at just one thing in that industry.

   This blog is not about making you lose focus. Someone will read this and think that it’s in some way admitting you aren’t good enough to make it to the top. Actually it’s quite the contrary, it’s meant to help you understand that if you make it to the top as a rapper, you can take full advantage of that stardom by creating other lanes in which you can keep money flowing to your pockets long after your hot chart topping single has become a part of a karaoke machines play list. What you plan on doing AFTER your rap career is just as important as what you are doing now in pursuit of it.

   There are a lot of occupations in the music industry that may bring you even more satisfaction then you could have ever imagined a Grammy could. The same people you always wanted to work with, you may not do a collaboration on a song with them as an artist, but interviewing them on your own show, starring with them in a film,  partying with them for the release of your new clothing line, all of those could be just as sweet. So, do NOT I repeat do NOT stop going hard for the top. You want to be the next Drake, Kendrick, Meek by all means give it your absolute best shot. But I am willing to bet that even as I type this, those guys are ten steps ahead of me working on all kinds of deals and projects that have nothing to do with being an artist. If they aren’t then their respective managers should be fired immediately.

   What will you do AFTER RAP?

-BLIZM (Program Director, K-100 Radio) 

P.S. I never thought I would be doing radio or blogging when I was making albums and rocking shows. I still cringe a bit when people refer to me as "media" But here I am, and believe me; I’m a LOT more powerful then I have ever been! And some of the same people who ignored me as an artist are now hanging on to my every move. I'm just passing the game along. 

Click Here to listen to K-100 Radio