Last month around this time I was on the interior of the New Jersey penal system and today once again I’m typing a bi-weekly column for the most respected Hip-Hop website in existence. My name is Serius Jones. Those of you who are familiar with my work know that I am far from the caliber of dude that uses my criminal record or street relationships as a gimmick. However, when you live a life as volatile and high risk as mines you might start feeling the urge to express yourself and use any given opportunity as an outlet to the world and hope that someone can benefit from your experience.
If you are the type that thinks because a brother is equipped with this Harvard aptitude and extensive vocabulary that there’s something sweet or “industry” about me you better ask somebody because you obviously are not in the “loop.” Many people are confused about what the loop actually is. Is it the regular population of people that just watch the news and television? Is it those of you who are searching the internet for information? Or maybe the group of those who know the newest music, fashion and gossip when it comes out? The answer to all of those is probably no. Being that we are kept on a need to know basis, the average American has no clue of what’s going on behind the scenes in the streets, the government, corporate America or the entertainment world. We believe what we see and hear because most of us have no other source of information about the industry besides videos, radio and websites such as AllHipHop.com.
I was always the type that wanted to know the REAL. If somebody gets robbed I want to know who’s behind it. There’s no power like information. Being that I have basically become a well known name within the industry and the streets without even having a major record released yet, I’ve gotten to see the machine known as the “industry” from an inside angle. From the outside looking in it may seem as if the industry is a big conspiracy, a cult or some club that you have to know someone to join. Well in all actually it is kind of like a club. I call it the “Club club.”
In this industry your name becomes your all access pass to all the clubs and events. So when I started moving around from club to club, city to city I began to notice something. That song that Nate Dogg and Tupac was singing was real. “Every other city we go every other video I see the same….” Now everyone knows that wherever there’s money you will find the baddest of the bad b######, but I kept meeting and running into the same girls and each time it was the same story. You dudes who are reading this with some kind of game can relate to the invigorating feeling of securing some new thoroughbreds on your roster. However, with the diverse entrepreneurial activities of a young pimpish brotha such as myself the task of orchestrating my schedule so I can find some time to capitalize off each of these dimes without slowing my hustle can be a challenge.
I wound up at an industry party where five of the chicks I bagged in separate venues were ALL there lingering around VIP looking all thirsty and extra trying to catch the eye of one of the many celebrities in attendance popping bottles. Disgusting! I realized all these entertainers are literally smashing the same chicks. I wish I could tell y’all some of the actual situations where I had certain rap stars’ chicks laying in my bed with their weaves twisted. Haha! I’m not in high school though and smashing some dudes chick is really not a big deal in 2006. I’ve realized that this is just standard industry procedure.
So what exactly makes some one “industry?” It’s almost like a programmed protocol that they use to communicate. It’s not real and is annoying how fake it is sometimes. I was mad at it at first until I realized this is the same psychology that applies to any game. When I was involving myself in certain extracurricular underworld activity some of the same rules apply. The power of relationships is what makes the world go round. Therefore what many industry insiders do is meet at a designated venue or club and have surface level conversations with each other to facilitate business. This is an example…
Industry dude says “Hey how you doing Serius, what’s going on with you?”
Translation :(Oh, you again. You look like your getting money, I want in.)”
Serius Jones says “Same s### different water, you know working hard.”
Translation: (Here we go again!)
Industry dude says “Yeah that’s what’s up. How that deal coming along?”
Translation: (How much money you got??)
Serius Jones says “It’s good actually. I got a lot of offers I’m just waiting for the right look naamean?”
Translation: (None of your business)
Industry dude says “Right right, well we need to get up, you got my contact right? You got a Blackberry?
Translation: (Your going to be getting some real money soon so let me pretend that I’m actually cool with you.)
At this point is where I give them my manager’s number and keep it moving. Real talk in the last seven months I’ve had at least 150 of those conversations! Not only can that s### be draining as watching a Bush speech, but it also teaches you to lie. One example could be when that sucka emcee asks me to feature on his new song. I really wish I could say, “Naw dog, no disrespect but I’m not really feeling your style or your music like that.” But instead for the sake of professional courtesy and good business etiquette what comes out is a nice lie like, “Well I’m real busy working on a few projects but you can get in contact with my manager.”
At the end of the day, I’ve come to the conclusion that the “industry” is just that. It exists for the same reason as every industry, MONEY. The pursuit of that almighty dollar naturally corrupts purity, integrity and artistic individualism. Hip-Hop has gotten so profitable that there’s a conflict between art and business. Therefore we have the industry dictating the direction of our music instead of the streets that Hip-Hop was born in. It’s our responsibility as intelligent and talented young black entrepreneurs to take control of our own music and destiny. I guess I got my work cut out for me huh?? Check SERIUS JONES and let me know what you think so far…
Until next time world. Keep it 100. Life is Serius.
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