Addressing the XXL list........

Ok I have about had it with this mess about the list!!!  What list???  Ok....a local writer Kim Brown wrote a list of 10 rappers that you need to know in Baltimore.  The list consisted of Skarr Akbar, Comp, Mully Man, DBoi, Miss Cream, Los or as he goes by now I guess King Los, Em Sea Water, Mooked Out, Starvation and Off Tha Edge.

Now that last 4 I have never heard of and I have been dealing with this scene since mid 2006!!!  So that right there goes to show you that you aren't going to know EVERY DAMN RAPPER in this scene!!

SIGHHHHHHH breathe Lisa!!!

So all I kept seeing was salty bitter ass feminine ass comments from dudes!!  First of all this isn't at TOP 10 list!!  It is just a list of rappers that the author felt people should get to know!  It is her opinion!!  See we got to come back to the whole opinion thing!!  SMH  In MY OPINION out of the ones I do know 2 of them I'm not even fans of!!  I show love for their grind and their work but their music....not a fan!!!  It is what it is no love lost but I just don't see what their "fans" see!! But that is MY OPINION!!!

I wrote this status on Thursday:

I am so over those of you bitching whining and crying that you aren't named in articles and list!! Do you all know how much I am overlooked for all the stuff and support I do?????? Top anything lists are mostly opinions or whoever is making a name in certain circles!! So all those crying about not being named in the XXL article which by the way WAS NOT A TOP 10 ANY DAMN THING.......do you want me to make you feel special and write an article and name you in it??? For fuck's sake get over that bullshit!!!! PLEASE!!!!! Let the fuckery keep you right where you are!!!! Sitting there complaining instead of taking the opportunity to get your press kit to writers, magazines.......smh. Dumbasses!!!!

Now anyone who knows me knows that I have my favorites!!  Just look at who I really promote and push!! Look at the pictures I have taken of over the years!  Look at the times you actually see me out at the shows!!  I have my favorite artists, rappers and singers!! But I also try and support everyone who is really working to make something happen for themselves and their team!!  Those who don't rap over their vocals ALL THE DAMN TIME!!  Those who have RADIO EDIT versions of their "HIT" song!!  Those who actually SELL their tickets and don't bring back 8 of the 15 saying yo I tried but.......Those are the people who have a business mind and actually want to get somewhere with music.

Now back to this list!!  I met Kim Brown when Ogun did the Winter Coat Drive.  She had used my picture of the I Support Baltimore Hip Hop billboard in an article she wrote!!  She was there to write a follow up article and asked if I could take some pictures for the article!  Of course I would!!  Just because you all know who the Baltimore Paparazzi is doesn't mean others do!! And I'm not mad or bitter that they don't!!  I just give them my business card!!  :)

So Kim writes this list and all hell seems to break loose with bullshit and fuckery!!! I'm sitting here shaking my head thinking as a fan of local music and independent artists, the stuff I'm seeing makes me not even want to be a fan of those names that are being thrown out there with the comments of ....well what about so and so he the hardest rapper in the city!!  Uhmmmmm that may very well be but guess what????  NOBODY KNOWS WHO THE HELL THAT IS!!!

Now if you know me you know that I'm the photographer of Wisdom Court!!  Wisdom Court has artists Billy Lyve, Penthouse and Voice on the roster.  Now none of them were mentioned and with all that Billy Lyve has accomplished anyone who knows that would think he would be mentioned!  But not one of us got on FB bitching, complaining, or moaning about not being mentioned!!  Hell Wisdom Court as a whole makes moves and does things and doesn't get the recognition that I think it deserves from the local scene!!  But it is recognized by the powers that be and by the fanbase it has and shows in the ticket sales at shows and the show offers that Billy Lyve receives!  So being on lists that are a matter of OPINION and who knows who really has no effect!

I understand that everyone wants to be recognized for what they do!  Everyone wants that shine, that moment in the spotlight but if you really aren't working on making your BUSINESS a success then what makes you so special???  There are hundreds if not thousands of rappers in this city and just imagine in the country!!!  Now, why are you bitching about you not being named or your mans and them not being named???  This is the time to get your press kit to people!!  This is the time to get your website out to people!!  This is the time to get your music out to people!!  Funny thing is that most of you who are doing the bitching DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE THINGS!!!  Yeah.....I said that!!!

So a big shout out to Kim Brown for the work she has done for the local hip hop scene!!  Because if she hadn't write articles about the local music then I wouldn't be writing this blog or writing comments or having discussions on this topic!!

Now how many of you that read this are pissed off at me??  LMAOOOO  It doesn't matter!!  At the end of the day, the truth hurts and it is the reality of you having to look in the mirror and face the fact that you aren't grinding as hard as you think or as your "team" keeps telling you that you are!!  I've always been told that real G's move in silence!!

Now get on your grind and start doing better business!!

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