A Sad Day In Baltimore........

I can't tell you when we were introduced.....I really don't think there was I hi my name is Lisa or a hi my name is OOH.  I can however tell you the first time I seen him.

I had gone to a cd release party at the 13th Floor at the Belvedere.  I had just started showing my face on the music scene and barely knew anyone.  So this group got on stage and started performing.  I was taking pictures....like always because I didn't know people and I wanted to remember the shows.  The guy on the mic said something about being from Poplar Grove!  Oh ok....that's where I live!  Then he raised his shirt and I took pictures of his stomach.  Never knew who he or the group was but I really didn't know but a handful of people at that time.

The next memory I have is when I was on stage at the Baltimore Crown Awards.  I was accepting an award....not sure what it was for...might have been Photographer of the Year or Contribution Award....anyway, I was saying that most of the people in there might not know me and I take pictures of the local hip hop shows, ect.  OOH yells you took pictures of my stomach and said it a couple more times.  It made me smile and laugh and honored that he would speak up like that!  Almost giving me validity in the music scene.

In February, I had my event and The Love Peace Project wanted to be apart of it and I said sure. Love having something different at the event!  Changa then told me that Brown F.I.S.H. was going to be apart of it too!  I was so excited!  By now I knew who Jahiti and OOH were and held conversations and loved being in their presence.  OOH called me and we had a long talk about the event and all the details that he wasn't sure about.  So we made a deal that he would host and I was so excited!!!  The show went till after 2am.  LOL  Larry was trying to tell me to wrap it up.  Solomon was more understanding.  And OOH was his usual smiling and awesome self!

Last night I knew that something had happened to OOH but was hoping that it was nothing serious and we would be seeing him posting about his Save A Dope Boy campaign or something about saving our youth but instead I got a phone call a little after 9pm that had me stunned, my heart hurting, my mind went blank, and tears were streaming.

OOH.....Derrick Jones......Yo Slick.....was gone.

My first thoughts were of his wife, child and family.  I know that feeling.  I have been through it.  No words can comfort.  No words can make you feeling any better!  But I know that with time those words mean a whole lot to them.

This man....this one man was trying to make a difference in the city.  He had an idea and a plan and he made it happen.  He was supported by so many that he supported.

June 3, 2014 we lost a man who not only was a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a uncle....we lost a phenomenal artist, innovator, advocate, legend and most of all a hero.

#SAVEADOPEBOY 

 

The First In The Spotlight of 2014............

Hello everyone!!! This is the first show of the year.  I wanted to have an event that was going challenge not just me but the other artists to do better in their career.

This show has artists from PA and WVA and they are selling tickets and bringing people.  This show has Wisdom Court artists.  This show is going to be an awesome event with an awesome turn out!  If you have never been to a show with Wisdom Court here is the one to attend!!

I need all the artists who have supported and performed at the other In The Spotlight shows because this is going to be a networking event beyond belief!  Different radio shows, media, promoters will be in the building.

This year things are going to be different with the show. I'm hoping that people start coming out just because they want to support the scene.  So the next time you come out bring someone new!

This is the event to attend!!!  Holla at me for tickets.

Take a listen to what you may hear on Saturday!!!

Pit Fights Battle League Has Them As Young As 12 Yrs Old............

I have written about the Pit Fight Battle League before and yeah I may be a little biased because for one I have been supporting the league before he had Grind Time backing and I have been watching and taking pictures of the battles since like 2010.  And for two, most of the administration and battlers have known since 2007.

This battle right here has gotten a whole lot of positive feed back and of course a few negative but I'm here to say that this was a good battle regardless of anything else!!

12 yr old Mash made her Pit debut February 19, 2012 at No Love event where her mother DGK was battling Queen.  Towards the end of DGK's third round, Mash jumped in and with just 4 bars took the whole 3rd round as a win for herself.  That made WorldStar Hip Hop with a total as of right now of 345,508 views. 26, 869 views on Youtube.







Yeah people called it a stunt but how many times have you watched a battle and people have pulled out shirts or photos or other props??  It was clever and Mash writes her own bars.  Of course her mother knows her lines because they go over them.  No different then those in the crew saying your lines with you!  But because she is 12 I guess there was a reason for the hating and negativity!  LOL

Well the new battle was set up and it was only one round.  I'm not gonna spoil it for anyone who hasn't watched this battle at the top but I will say this much......Chris O Dubb Pierce.....O-Dubb did it so great.  No cussing in the battle and was not disrespectful well some of you may not like some of the lines but it was still well played and Mash just shows that with time and studying she is definitely an up and coming artists in battle rap and in music.

Mash and her younger sister Dasha are TeamDGKKids.  The currently have a cd out for sale "Next To Blow" and have performed on stage and have an upcoming show at 5 Seasons 830 Guilford Ave in Baltimore on June 3rd.

This is the bio on the #teamdgkkids Facebook page......YOUNG ENTHUSIASTIC GO GETTERS! STRAIGHT A STUDENTS FIVE TIME 1ST PLACE WINNER IN MY (MASH) LOCAL KARATE TOURNAMENTS! WE APPEARED ON MARYLANDS FOX 45 NEWS PERFORMING OUR SONG "SHINE THE LIGHT ON THE BULLIES WITH NOW OVER 2,000 VIEWS ON YOUTUBE! YOU CAN ALSO FIND ME (MASH) ON WORLDSTAR HIP HOPhttp://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh99JfM76ejcCiNA66WHERE I MADE BATTLE HISTORY IN THE PIT! Recently #teamdgkids released a music video "high off life" with the introduction of "dasha" performing a remake of mgk's song "wild boy" now "wild girl" we are currently working on an album which is due to drop before the summer!

So go check out Mash and Dasha.....hit up their mother Datgirlkesh TeamDgkkids Thestorytellerto find out how you can get that cd.

Please take a minute to look at the battle and regardless of what you think remember it is a battle like any other.  Just it is a child vs adult..

No Love II Feb 17, 2013

Damn!!  I haven't written about a Pit Fight event in a while!!  LOL  For some reason I felt like I needed to write something about the Pit Fights Battle League!!

Now I have been supporting the battles since Shaka had them at the studio on Maryland Ave!!  Small area, too many people crammed into a small space! Felt like summer in the winter time kinda shit! LOL  I'm not a big big fan of rap battles but I am a fan of local artists and music and I try to help get the word out on what is going on!  I am a director of traffic!!

I haven't been to a Pit Fight in a few months.  Actually December 3 was the last one I went to!!  I had different reasons on why I stopped coming!!  I am there to support....not to be anyone's personal photographer!!  If you wanted to pose for pictures all night you should have brought your own camera!  I get shots of the battlers and a few other shots but when it feels like you want a photo shoot I just might snap!!

Anyway, I had to come to this one for a few reasons.  My girl Hazzy was battling Spence, King Major was coming up from VA to battle Tay Brown and Smirf was battling too and I have watched him progressively improve over couple of years.  So I knew I had to be there for these battles at least!

Of course from all the running around I did I didn't charge my battery up and it died!  I tried to run home thinking I wasn't going to miss much and ended up miss Bars' battle!!  He is one of the guys who always appreciates my work!  LOL  Sorry Bars!!  You know I owe you!!!

King Major and Tay Brown

King Major wasn't up to par!  He was sick and this wasn't his best performance from the ones I have personally witnessed and I have watched a couple on YouTube!!  I think that one day these 2 should battle again!!  

Then there was a spur of the moment performance but Team Kremate!  LOL  Their song Burn Everything is a hit!  It is actually the number one song on my mixtape!! I tried putting it somewhere else on the list but I had to open up with that track!!  Just too awesome!!  Team Kremate is  Savage da Beast, Flint, Bones, and Dime Poe!!

Flint, Savage, Dime Poe, Bones

Next up was Smirf's battle with Vizz from Philly!!  I'm not gonna lie, Vizz came to fight but so did Smirf!!  This was a really good battle and I will be glad when the footage comes out so people can hear all the bars and judge this one!!  I know who I thought won!  Everyone has their own opinions!!

Vizz and Smirf

This is when my camera died!!  :(  L Dot and Makk Mizzle and it was only for one round!!  Just a teaser???!!  Really??  LMAOOOO  People were upset about that!!!  But it was a good round!!  Can't wait to see if they are going to do a whole 3 rounds or what!!  LOL

L Dot and Makk Mizzle

This is when I left out to run home to get my charger and missed like 2 battles I think!!  

But I got back in time to see Hazzy and Spence!!  This battle is going to get views!!  I know it will! For one it's Female vs Male and for two they had been going back and forth over Facebook and Twitter!!  LOL

Hazzy and Spence

Now I am just trying to shine some light on Pit Fights!  If you want to see footage go to http://www.pitfights.tv/  Also there is an event every 3 Sunday!  They also have battles on the First Monday of the month!!  

If you can please come out to at least one event!!  I can guarantee it won't be your last!!  These battlers are gifted and will say things that will having you laughing for days and sometimes weeks later!!  LOL

I Humbly Thank You......

On Nov 3rd Baltimore came together for the Baltimore Crown Awards! Well not ALL of Baltimore but more than enough to have a feel good vibe.  I wrote up a little something already but this isn't about the event its self and more of my thank yous and all that!!!

I wrote a speech for the Special Appreciation Award that I won but never got to give it because we ran out of time.....as always.  LOL  There were so many people there and there were new awards and wonderful special performances!!!  But anyway this is suppose to be about me!  LOL

So this is the speech!  I posted it on my page and I posted it in the comments of the picture of my award on the Baltimore Scene Facebook page too!!


I want to thank all who nominated and voted for me. I am appreciative of those who acknowledge the things I do. Too many times we forget and take for granted the things that those we are close to do for us and sometimes a heartfelt THANK YOU means the world.

I sincerely want to thank Bomb. That’s my family and I will always be MIB. And for those who don’t care much for me because I’m too loud or too honest…Blame Bomb! LOL IF it weren’t for him reaching out to me as an artist to a fan in 2006 on MySpace I wouldn’t know any of you!

I want to thank Chin Yer and Shaka Pitts for all the shows and events that they have put together so that I can do the things that I do. Not just the photography but the networking and the relationships I have built over these past 6 yrs! WOWWW 6 yrs!!

Sonny Brown for all the phone calls and wonderful long conversations about business and even personal things I was going through!

Ogun, you are Bmore’s Hero but you are one of my closest friends whether you realize it or not.

My Tay Tay…Thank you just isn’t enough for you!! I love you with all my heart!!

My brother Vision and sister Misha, my BMWB family thank you for always holding me up when I couldn’t hold myself. 1Up 1 Down

Billy Lyve and the entire Wisdom Court, Mai, Sam, Latrice, Penthouse, There is too many of you all to name….I love you guys!! Thank you for the opportunities you have giving me and the ones that are coming. I feel really good about this year coming!!

There are tons of others I wish I could thank but I will save that for my blog! We would be up here all night with all the people I have to thank!!

The things I do are truly from my heart! The advice I give, the connections I make are all for the artists that ask me for them. I’m just grateful that many of you are in my life and I just want you all to achieve your dream. Then one day when you are up on stage receiving a prestigious award and giving your First of all I want to Thank God speech before you get off the mic you say oh and Thank you Lisa Stant Baltimore Paparazzi for taking pictures and believing in me!

Thank you again!!

That was a nice little speech!! LOL  If I hadn't written anything and I got on the mic I probably would have l been a smartass and I have been working on that and my Karma has been wonderful since cutting numerous people out of my world!  Blessings and meeting new people have came my way and good things in  my personal life as well.  So I'm going to try and be Lisa but Liezel might slip out!!  Now we will be good as long as L I stays locked away!!  LOL

I really want to say THANK YOU to everyone I have met since 2008 until now and those I'm going to meet in the future!!  If it weren't for all of you who have shared my photos with my name and logos over the years, no one would even know me or my work!!

I want to thank all of those who introduce me as LISA THE BALTIMORE PAPARAZZI!!  You are helping me expand my brand and my name!  In the past I have had people introduce me as LISA MY PHOTOGRAPHER!!  Sigh!!  Even THE PHOTOGRAPHER would have been better than making it sound like I worked for them!  LOL  Whoooooaaaa  Liezel slipped out!  So thank you to all of you who respected what I do and the role I play!

There are too many names to remember!!  It is so hard to not hurt anyone's feelings but I have met so many awesome people over the years who have added to my success and to my love for the music scene!

Tons of people!  LOL

Bar Cardy, Miss Cream...K's up, RIP Tone and RIP Stryfe, my girl Lena.......

Skarr Akbar who always takes a picture of me because I'm always taking pictures of everyone else!!


Dirt Platoon,
Lebora,
Only.....Love you,
Apex,
J5.....Love you,
Brownfish (Ooh and Jahiti)
Ernest Turner,
John Hudson....Mastermind
Street Heat
Block Hugga,
Sonny Grams,
Wood,
all of 1st Family,
Knatty,
Topp Dogg Hill,
Diablo Slim,
Hollywood
and Freight Train Records,
Block Boy Gang,
Miss Kitten,
Permiss,
Singleton Newman,
Dubbs Lane,
ED aka Frank Lewis,
DJ TNT,
Tiffany Couture and HalfPint,
Clever One,
Lenwood,
Savage Da Beast,
Flint,
Dime Poe,
Josh,
So Swagg (for always wanting a damn photo shoot at any event I'm at lol).......
all the members of MABA Pit Fights and Face Off Battles Leagues.....

I'm drawing a blank mind right now!  WOWWWWW  I know there are tons of others!!

Oh Profitt and Flamez,
Syncere,
Hunnit Proof (Rico Hopes and Talal),
Sonny Reddz,
Damond Blue,
Q Gutta,
Maintain,
Rockwell,
Chyna Doll aka Kima.......
Kelly Connelly,
PX aka Kneel Knaris and Juward
Mark Carey,
Lord Baltimore,
Blizzard,
Kellye Lo,
Yuk,
Baltimore Son,
My man Comp,
JonJon The Son,
My friend Bart Shiflett aka B-Side,
Kae Fields,
Jaydee,
trying to think.......
my girls Carrie, Devon and Nikima who keep me laughing......
Ty Hill who use to be Ty Gudda!! :)  And will always be Ty Gudda to me! LOL

Anyone who has ever offered to take a picture of me, anyone who has taken pictures of me!!

Ok I can't think of anymore people but anyone that I have met, crossed paths with I humbly say THANK YOU!!!


I also want to say thank you to Smif n Wessun aka Steele and Tek. They have re-posted my pictures I took of them.

Thank you to SwizZz of Funk Volume for re-posting the blog that I wrote for the Funk Volume Tour and being such a great guy to talk to!!

Thank you to all the club owners over the years that have been open because if it weren't for them I wouldn't have events to go to!!  Black Hole, Penguins, 5 Seasons, Turntable Club, Bourbon Street, and of course Sonar.

Thank you to the promoters as well!!  Especially Tay Tay who threw shows for anyone wanting to perform!!

Billy Lyve who has been working hard over the past couple of years creating a following and a brand name with Wisdom Court.

I'm sorry if I didn't name you personally by name!  It wasn't on purpose.  Just too many to remember and I have been writing this for hours now!  LOL

And last but not least.......

Thank you to everyone who has ever crossed me too!  LOL  Without you all I wouldn't know real people who appreciate what I do!!


So with all that being said......I can't wait to see what 2013 holds for us all!!  Much Love!!!!

Photo taken by Skarr Akbar!!! Thanks!!

The 6th Annual Baltimore Crown Awards

The 6th Annual Baltimore Crown

On November 3, 2012 Baltimore came out for the 6th year in a row to support one another and as it has been stated numerous times it was like a family reunion!  Seeing "family members" that you haven't seen since last year or meeting new "family members", introducing the new with the old!  

I have had the privilege of being apart of these awards since 2009. I have received Special Appreciation  and Special Contribution awards and last year I was awarded Photographer of the Year.  This year I received Special Appreciation once again! Yayyyy me!!  LOL  Every year the numbers of people who come out grow and this year new categories were added!!

Now these awards are to honor everyone but of course you get those who get mad they weren't nominated or they didn't win and of course they get online and talk major shit.  SIGHHHH  Most of all they just don't realize that if you don't toot your own horn how is anyone suppose to know what you are doing?  This city is so big with rappers, singers, emcees that people forget that not everyone knows who you are and most of all alot of you don't travel in the same circles.  I can't tell you how many people have come up to me in the past 5 years and as me oh you don't know who I am??  No I don't.  Just like most people don't know the artists I know.  When it comes to the Crown nominations, it comes from you or someone nominating you with reasons why you should be considered for the awards!  Not that difficult!!  I have heard so many times rappers saying oh I had the hardest mixtape this year.  Really??  When did it come out??  How many physical copies you sell?  How many downloads you have??  I have you been pushing it since it came out??  I'm just asking!

The Cypher

Back to the awards!

Photo Shoot in the middle of the show!! LOL

Well anyway, I love the atmosphere of the Crown!  Chin Yer always mixes the "veterans" with the new and the awards are more than just hip hop.  It's spoken word and dance also.  It's recognizing media, businesses, the battle rappers, and legends!  When the night was over I couldn't wait until we are all sitting there next year!!  I heard and seen people on Facebook saying next year they were going to win an award.  

For a complete list of winners you can go to the following link and if you haven't already click like on the Baltimore Scene Facebook page!!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.481904405187490.117707.252844041426862&type=1

If you didn't attend this year make sure you attend next year!  If I tried to write everything that I seen this blog would be long as hell!!  Just know that it is our music and art scene's equivalent of the industry music awards.  Being nominated should feel just as good as if you win.  And whether you win or not or if you are nominated or not shouldn't cause you to be mad.   I didn't win Photographer of the Year and I wasn't even mad.  For one, I won last year and I know what I contribute to the scene and two my favorite photographer and a great guy won....J5!!  If I had to "lose" to anyone I'm glad it was him!!

So will I be seeing you all next year at the 7th Annual Baltimore Crown Awards???  I sure hope so!  If you are looking for me, I will be right up front with my camera in hand to capture the moments for those who can't be there!!

So congratulations to all the winners!!!  Congratulation to all the nominees!!!  Congratulations to everyone that came out to show love and support for this event!!

Congratulations again to Skarr Akbar for winning the beat battle even though he only had one other producer step up against him!!  Shout out to  Mr Spaz to not being scared to compete with Skarr!  LOL

Well enjoy the pictures!!  All of them can be found on my Facebook page!!

www.facebook.com/liezel127

Oh and the picture of me was taken by Mr Skarr Akbar as well!!  LOL