14 DAYS UNTIL THE RELEASE OF "I GOT THE O.J. GLOVES VOL 1"

It's Jan 31st. 12:20 AM and I'm sitting here listening to Curren$y's "Jets Fool" mixtape. I became a big fan of him out of nowhere. Thanks in part to his videos on CreativeControl.tv. His music is hot. Been listening to alot of artist on the level I'm trying to be at this year. That's the underground artists with mainstream appeal. It's helped me shape myself better because I know what level my shit needs to be at to win people over while still being myself. I have 14 days until the release of my first official mixtape and I haven't started recording yet! Well, one song is done. The rest are written. I might change a couple joints in the next couple days. I'll start recording next week at this super low key spot. I don't like the spot but the guy's letting me do it for free and he has a webcam. I want to Ustream the making of the mixtape. Thought that would be a nice touch.

I've been slacking on working out. I'll get back to that when the sun rises. Wont be a hard routine to get back into. The focus is arms and chest and abs. Think I'mma do a shirtless poster because women don't get mixtapes unless its a nigga they think is sexy lol. How backwards is that?

I was suppose to put this mixtape out last year but put a halt on it when I got my Dipset West position. I'm glad I waited because the songs I would've used then wouldn't be as good as what I have now. This time around I'll be ready. I think it's well rounded. All original beats and better concepts. I still plan to work this like a album. Radio promo, vids, ringtones, tons of shows. First show will be feb 26th in LA. It will serve as the release party.

I'm trynna see if the funds are there to have DJ Ames host the mixtape. I chose him to help me break into that UK market. Travel is important to any artist, especially indie artist like me and the UK hip hop market loves the real US underground that can bring it.

Other than that, life is moving in slow mo. My blackberry is off but should be on in about 10 days. Just in time for the release lol. I'm dropping the mixtape on Valentine's Day because I have love for anyone who takes the time out to listen to me. I haven't finalized my v-day plans yet. I'mma surprise her ass with something tho. Something different.

got my weed recommendation so I can buy medicinal marijuana and it was def worth it. It's a different kind of high. Gonna fully become a weed enthusiast now lol. All kinds of smoking tools and edibles and shit.

Best Coast is slowly coming back. The feb 26th show will be the first BEST OF THE BEST since sept 7th. I'm excited. I'm working with a artist named Anthony Dollar and he's so ready to blow. I really want to see him succeed.

That's it for now. I'm about to roll one up, watch "The Show", write and hit the studio with the set. Peace!

Morning Mansion thoughts

What's good. I'm out in vegas. Just woke up in a mansion. Been here a few days. When ever I'm away from home I wake up wondering where I am but that didn't happen this time. I woke up like "this is they type of life I'm suppose to have". I'm so ready to earn it. Don't want it just handed to me.

This is how you start the new year off. This is more motivation to get up and make moves. I already got motivation at home but this just added fuel to the fire.

The whole trip back I'm working on my plan and getting biz done and getting money. Cuz my ass needs a mansion son lol. Material things aren't everything but once I'm at this level then I know good.

Money is everything cuz without it your girl leaves you, your kids starve, have no roof, no child care so you can work and child services take em away, everything cost.

Anyway, I'm switching subjects so its time to end it.

Peace
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

High.Hip.Hop.Thoughts

So I'm sitting listening to this Lox mixtape with old and new songs. I started thinking how Sheek got better over the years. I used to hate his verses on any Lox song. Then I started thinking about why is hip hop better now. I think its because the artist now actually get better because they are always putting out mixtapes. Practice only makes perfect. Not saying these artist are perfect. What I'm saying is rappers before would make a album and not put another out for 3 to 5 years. No mixtapes or nothin. Maybe a couple features. They never got better so we got bored with it. They albums after the debut is ass because he stop talking about what he knows and starts talking about the money and what he bought with. The artist now put out music at an alarming rate and each mixtape is Kobe shooting free throws and 3's at home, only making them better. Look at Lil Wayne from "wobbly wobbly" to how he is now. Viral videos and dvd's have helped the game to. People feel more relateable to the artist cuz they see they dvd, behind the scenes footage, twitter, Ustream, SayNow's. We idealize artist now more than ever. We buy whatever they sale and they sale a whole lot lol. Aight, I'm out. Just my high hip hop thoughts.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

THE PLAN

So I was recently fired from my marketing day job. Now all I have to focus on is Dipset West. Which is great in my opinion. I'm about to make more money here than that job ever could. You always have to have a plan. If you fail to plan then you plan to fail, get it? Here is my money making plan:

Four shows a month thrown by me
-first of the month rock show
-first of the month ladies hip hop show
-best of the best
-end of the month rock show
-need to make at least $500 from each show

Monthly Dipset mixtape
-$500 to $1000

Radio show
-need $200 a week at least in sponsor money

Promo packages (online, street, etc)
Amount to be determined

BET/MTV quality music videos
-charge $400-$500
-keep $100-$200

Booking shows for bigger named headliners
-500 at least every booking

I've already started putting up ads online. I'm gonna be at every artist showcase I can find selling promo services and mixtape slots.

I'm booking shows for big artist and the deal is they have to take Dipset West with the artist. Put us up in hotels and we are the opening act. I get the price the headliner charges and add 500 to 2000. Depending on how many Dipset West artist are rolling.
You also hire your own local promoters and go half with them.

If you take my plan and it makes you money then you better send me a check lol but so serious. If you follow my shit, you'll make thousands a month in cash or pay-pal.

I've tested all of my plans and got rid of what didn't work in the past. Not saying its fail proof but its easy when you know what you're doing

Fuck anyone who thought I was gonna roll over and be broke. I do have a family to feed and trynna move us all into a downtown loft so money is sooo necessary. Gotta go. Time. Get more money. Peace!

The Life I Lead

I'm writing this from my blackberry, its 6 something in the morning. I'm tired and on my way home. I'm running off power naps. Imma be in the house for a couple hours and then head out to do it all again. This is just the life I lead.

People assume the music business is all bitches, bling, big stacks of money and bottle popping. You couldn't be more wrong.my day consists of emails, phone calls, meetings, studio, building with dj's, online promo and constantly coming up with fresh ideas. I honestly work til I just fall asleep at the computer. Man, I get them super power naps on the couch at the studio lol.

The reason a lot of these artist don't make it is because their mind isn't wired for the music business. They think mixtapes will get them discovered. Couldn't be more wrong. I'm sitting here now thinking about radio promo, ringtones, BET quality music videos, singles, t shirt line, endorsements, touring.

I used to want to be famous. Now I just want to make money. I just want my family to live better than I did. If fame happens then so be it. I would love to just be at home with the misses and kids and just doing the family thing but not gonna happen. Not when there is school fees, bills, rent, new engine needed for the car, clothes, shoes, child support. A nigga got expenses lol.

I don't have time to hang out. I aint seen my friends in years. They know what it is tho. I'm one call away. I missed my daughters 1st birthday and baptism because I had a show. Still super dad tho lol.

But I honestly wouldn't trade this for anything in the world. I love being busy. Means money is coming. I can smell it lol.

I'm off. Gotta long as day ahead of me. Peace ya'll.
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Baggage

So people who have actually been around me know that I always have my back pack on. I take it to work, shows, meetings, etc. My whole life is in there. Years worth of rhymes, beat cds I've collected over the years, show mix cds for performances, 3 cell phones I'll never use again, hip hop magazines, my music biz notes and just a lot of junk. That being said, I wanted to talk about baggage. Both physical and emotional.

PHYSICALLY: I used to use my back pack to hide a lot of secrets. Cell phone my girl didn't know about, shit like that. I don't look as professional wheb I'm out in public with it on. Makes my suit look less like a suit...if that makes sense. I look like the epitome of a back pack rapper lol. In high school my bag was so heavy, the nurse said I had "back pack-itis". I'm trynna down size. I took out all the rhymes. No more hidden cell phones. No more magazines. Just work related items. Bout to get a better looking bag too. Like a louie. They have better men designs than gucci. Trynna get on my grown man lol.

EMOTIONAL: I have a lot of emotional baggage...whether I realize it or not. I've been through a lot in my life that I haven't dealt with. Not that I'm avoiding it. I just don't know how. A lot of shit I thought was normal gorwing up I found out isn't. I'm getting better at this daily. I feel lighter after every issue I deal with. We as people carry a lot of baggage and it either 1) Ruins relationships because we unload on the people we love without then asking or 2) Carry it til it kills us internally and we end up no good to anyone anyway. Let that shit go. Stop holding all that shit and letting it weigh you down.

I've officially gotten rid of both kinds of baggage. You see me with my back pack less and less. That brings less emotional baggage cuz I'm not hiding extra cell phones and shit like that from my girl. I feel lighter. There is a lot more you can do when you not carrying a big ass back pack around lol. Still gonna get the louie back pack tho. Gotta be fly wit it. And it will only carry the essentials.

Best way to get rid of emotional/physical baggage is sorting out what you need in your life and leaving behind what you don't. Travel light.
Peace
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

SELF REHAB: DAY 55

What's good? It's been a minute. I've been wild busy. Trynna get my life right. Marketing job is going coo'. Just takes along time to see that first check. And it's guaranteed that your first 2 checks are shitty but my 3rd one is gonna be niiiccee! I work all day tho. From 10ish to 9ish. Mon-sat. So it kinda becomes your life. I might be the only person there with a real family and no car. Makes the shit hard but some one has to do it.

Dipset West is mooovviiinngg! The album came out yesterday and is up for free download on dipsetwest.blogspot.com. I've been bumping it for about 2 weeks. It's truly one of the best street albums (not mixtape) I've heard. I just blends well from beginning to end. I'm really getting into my position. People are hearing about what we are doing based on the moves I'm making. The CEO said he's proud of me so that's motivation to go harder. It's gonna be alot of things coming with Dipset West if I have any say about it.

Best Coast Ent will be back in Jan. I'm just thinking out events to do. I've done the artist showcase thing to def. I'm not gonna say what type of things I'm planning but they are going to be different. Looking for new artist. As it stands, I have no artist. I'm ready to get back into artist mode. I Just feel real creative these days. I've started memorizing verses on my way home from work. Gonna start doing lil videos of me spitting the verses and youtubing them. Cuz all these lil hip hop shows get you now where really. I plan to get some serious recording done. Especially since I have a steady income. I can spare like 50 a week to knock out a song. I'm looking for male and female rappers. Also looking for male and female singers. Also thinking of trynna start a hip hop band again. Let's see how that goes

Personally I'm in a weird place. All I do is work. And I work quietly. I'm very alone and don't know how to deal with it. I'm not complaining tho. Just kind of a realization...yea...lol...that I realized...as I was typing this blog entry. I'm good tho. Just need an outlet and getting back to music will do that for me.

I worked out this morning and I feel good that I can say that. I need to hit the gym more. I need to get back to my islam studies too. Super need to get back to that.

Time for me to get ready for work. Imma update this more often. I just read a blog about how you should keep updating your blog lol. So expect one of these a week atleast.

Peace!