Why Is It.......

People think just because you start out helping them that you're supposed to do everything for them for the rest of their lives, at some point you think they would start doing things themselves. I cant count how many people (let's be more specific and say artists but this still applies to everyone who has taken my kindness for weakness) that I've helped over the years since I've started doing music since age 8. I did not give them their talent, they got that naturally but I did assist in nurturing and molding it or just getting them to show the world they had the talent. Whether it was helping them become better songwriters (on-the spot or pre-written), doing a radio edit, performing (rehearsed or freestyle), recording in the studio, learning the business, putting a project together, promoting themselves, putting money behind them and/or their music or just giving them words of encouragement....I've done just about everything imaginable for some of these people (gave folks money for bills, let people stay with my mom and with me when I moved out, paid for abortions, feed people, picked folks up at crazy times and in dangerous situations, etc). What do I get in return for all the help I've given....usually hate. I use to think it was because I was doing something wrong like making them feel insecure (I tried to make everyone feel apart of this by giving them a say in what we did), or treating them like children but I never gave orders (I always made suggestions), I never said you better or you have to (everyone always had a choice about what they wanted to do). No one was ever forced to follow my lead, go with my ideas or as some of them say "follow in my shadow", if they did they did it by choice and shouldn't get mad at me because of the choices they made. A lot of these people are mad because many people respect me for my hard work ethic, willingness to search and study for answers, ability to sacrifice for myself and others and overall kindness towards others. How can you get mad because I've went through everything I've had to go thru to make people see me in those lights and you haven't. They say I'm selfish, egotistical, threatening, and rule in a dictatorship - how, when and are they really serious. Every move I've made has been what the group wanted or made the decision to do, I've always tried to do group or label projects (never my solo - how may compilations had been attempted), hell I kept the label going when the original members left to do their own things when I could have just went solo myself. I give people 3 or 4 chances when they mess up and I stretch myself past my means so others can have an opportunity but I'm all about me because every now and then I'd like a simple thank you. Why is it someone else can can give and give and then expect a thank you but I cant? So to all those I can think of off the top of my head that I've helped or supported in some form or fashion at some point in your life and career...All I ever wanted or expected from you was a thank you and for you to use whatever help I gave you to better yourself and/or your career. I wasn't trying to be yo daddy, yo big brother, yo husband or Hitler - I was trying to be your friend and mentor so that one day you'd think about what I did for you and you could do it for someone else.

Regardless if we're cool or beefing - I've helped the following people in their lives personally and/or artistically:

D'Wayne (TYG), Kendrick (TYG), Twonsta Mac (Mac-N-Smooth), 3 Fresh Posse (South Dallas Records), Joulz Il Duce aka Jewel (HYP/SDR/D.L.C./EE), J-Dunn aka Taz (HYP/D.L.C./EE), Que aka Big Tuck (HYP/EE), Ken-Dogg (SDR/D.L.C.), HYP City Entertainment Consortium (which I help start, did just about all of the work and supplied the studio time and producer (Kevin aka Crucial Fiction), Baby T & Miss K aka Oak Cliff Girlz (HYP), Miss Pooh (HYP), David aka DJ Shadow (HYP), Lady J aka Juliet (HYP), Big Ben (HYP), K-Dogg (HYP), Obie (HYP), Polo (HYP), Solo (HYP), Ronald Washington Jr., Vicious D., K.D.O.N. (EE), Ace (EE), Mike P. (EE), MeShe (EE), J.R. Reed aka DJ Ready (EE), Jest-E (NNP), One Love (Elliot & JR - EE), Dirty Boyz (EE), Dante (EE), T.A.E., Coquette, Ghetto Rebelz, Young Max, B aka Aries (HYP/EE), KB (EE) & D'Shae (EE) all the way to my current artists and Emortul Entertainment (which I help start and again did just about all the work until recent years when XL and others started assisting - there will be a post about the origins of Emortul)... Madame Ice, Big XL, Martinique, Hoo-Daddy, Ms. Royaltee, Shantel, Dano & my staff.

That's a lot of help and a lot of sacrifice. Some of these people don't do music and some still do (hell some doing it very well) but I bet none of them can say that haven't used something they got from me in their life now. So thank you every now and then would be appreciated.