Unpaid Debts

Working in an industry that’s predominately African-American definitely has it’s flaws from the start, and over my 17 years of being in some form of the media business (1992-2002 in music as a recording artist, 2002-present as a photographer/video producer/marketing advisor), whether it’s the mentality of others who are trying to do business with you, or the level of success you aim to achieve, which generally pisses off the next person, as no one wants to see another person move up amongst our own people.

I cant speak for the next person, but I can say that after 7 years of being in this fashion/modeling business, it’s damn near as worse as the music business when it comes to dealing with people who are supposed to be trying to strive for the top, but instead look for the horizontal method of advancing themselves. Is this to say I’m spiteful of the entire business that I’ve now become financially stable off of? I just feel like if it’s not broke, don’t fix it, which is why I’ve chosen to not really do much business outside of my circle of friends and longtime business associates.

Yet, I always feel as if people consistently remind me that my “Dr.Dre” style of business is infact wrong for the business, mainly because I think …. well let’s be honest – I’m not exactly hurting for business these days – it seems as if people feel that I HAVE TO do favors for them regardless, with no other option but to do so.

I built this business (that started as Urban Renewal Media, then URMEG, then back to URM, then to Digital First as of today) on just $100, a broken digital camera that barely worked, no industry contacts, no clients, and no chance of making it beyond a year or 2, and trust me, after my early ride to the top, followed by my nosedive fall from grace via a damaging scandal on my career, to my 2006 resurgence, I’ve been able to watch… and watch… and watch how people treat you at all levels. The old cliche saying is still existant anyway you put it, just as long as you live by it. I don’t answer or back down to anyone, no matter who, no matter how much money they have made for me, my company, or my fam, and I almost feel like that focus, despite it being viewed as a mean streak, is probably my friendliest, because honestly, this whole idea of being nice to friends to help out their friends isnt exactly what it should be.

I did get the chance to help out 2 good friends start what is going to be a wonderful new venture, and what was more rewarding was the fact that they were able to watch my business over the years, and they firmly applied it right away to their daily strategy. Not saying my business mentality is the best way, but it does help having a person next to you who has gone through the motions over the years as your stepping pad sortospeak. I think more than anything, what actually pissed me off was the harsh reaction I received from colleagues, which didn’t make sense but then brought things back full circle to the beginning of this post: blacks don’t even remotely like to see ANYONE get off the ground who has help, no matter how you put it cut & dry. Even worse, when it’s someone who either has the blueprint to jump off the ground early, or its someone who’s been romantically linked to another (hint, LOL), you feel the urge to simply just yell out to friends and such, “what the hell do you want me to do in this situation?” I’m sure if it was any other person, it would’ve been the same scenario, and they would’ve done the same.

The vertical leap is much much more beneficial than the horizontal ladder. I think our race should try it someday and look to better things ahead instead of trying to take the cheap alleyway out then complaining when it leads to a quick dead end.